The Democrats Response To Bush

Until Bush is ready to negotiate, they should continue to refuse to meet with him. There's no need to rush the conference supplemental funding bill. Let him lie on the floor kicking his feet and holding his breath until he turns blue. It's time the Boy King realizes he doesn't get to call all of the shots on this one.

In the meantime, Senators Feingold, Reid, Boxer, Dodd, Harkin, Kennedy, Kerry, Leahy, Sanders, and White House have stated their willingness to lead and to establish a bottom line by cosponsoring and supporting Feingold/Reid, legislation that ends the occupation on March 31, 2008. Legislation that reminds Bush that opposition to his war isn't going to go away. Legislation that reminds both Congress and Bush that the majority of the American people, want a timeline for ending this occupation.

This is a ridiculous game Bush is playing. He is manufacturing a funding crisis. The Department of Defense has  the flexibility to transfer funds as needed within budgets to cover any potential shortfall--and it's going to be several months before that would even be a possibility. He is projecting blame onto Congress for his own policies that have damaged the military by sending thousands of National Guard back to Iraq in violation of Pentagon rules, by extending the tours of duty for up to 15,000 U.S. troops serving in Iraq, by sending soldiers back to combat without a year off, and by sending sick and injured troops back to Iraq.

by mcjoan @ Daily Kos Tue Apr 10, 2007

 

Tags: Harry Reid Nancy Pelosi Russ Feingold Ted Kennedy John Kerry Iraq

The Harry Reid/Nancy Pelosi Statement To Bush

"The president is vetoing the bill to provide money for soldiers -- readiness, health care, armaments, etc and a timeline to get out of Iraq."

 

 Harry Reid had a few things to say to Bush today.

   The following is a joint statement issued by Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi.

April 10, 2007

"The American people want the President and the Congress to work together to bring a responsible end to the war in Iraq. Congressional Democrats are willing to meet with the President at any time, but we believe that any discussion of an issue as critical as Iraq must be accomplished by conducting serious negotiations without any preconditions. Our goal should be to produce an Iraq supplemental bill that both fully funds our troops and gives them a strategy for success.

"With his threat to veto such a plan for change in Iraq, President Bush is ignoring the clear message of the American people: We must protect our troops, hold the Iraqi government accountable, rebuild our military, provide for our veterans and bring our troops home.

"The President is demanding that we renew his blank check for a war without end. Despite the fact that the President persists in trying to score political points at the expense of our troops, congressional Democrats have repeatedly reached out in the spirit of cooperation. We renew our request to work with him to produce a bipartisan bill that provides our troops and our veterans with every penny they need, but in turn, demands accountability."   Source

UPDATE: Reid assails Bush during a press conference:

The president is inviting us down to the White House with preconditions. Things are not OK in Iraq. As the Pope said on Easter Sunday, a slaughter is taking place in Iraq. The Pope further said nothing good is coming from Iraq. The president must realize that. He has to deal with Congress. We are an independent branch of this government, and by our Constitution we have equal say that he has. And he’s got to listen to us. Because we are speaking for the American people; he isn’t.

  You can watch the Harry Reid comments on video HERE

   OVERSIGHT is to Bush and company what sunlight is to Dracula! It just melts the shit away!

Tags: Harry Reid Nancy Pelosi Congress Bush oversight Democrats