Big Dogs House

Republicans Play Politics With Defense Spending Bill

Dec 19, 2009 Political

Oh the left is up in arms! The Defense Appropriations Bill is before the Senate and it is usually a bill that passes quickly but Republicans are using legal procedural tactics to delay the vote on the bill. The reason for this is obvious, they want to take up time with this bill to delay getting to the health care bill. This is perfectly acceptable and in no way harms the troops.

The bill had a cloture vote at 0100 this morning and Democrats got enough votes for cloture. They then immediately asked for the bill to be voted on but at least one Republican objected. This means there will be 30 hours of debate on the bill and it will be voted on Saturday morning at 0730. The defense funding ends at midnight but the delay to Saturday morning will not affect anything in defense.

The Republicans are smart to require all procedures to be followed and to use up time. If they can keep prolonging the health care debate by using parliamentary procedures and as long as it does not hurt the troops, which it does NOT, then it is OK.

Democrats are indignant about all of this and want to know how Republicans can do this to the troops. These guys have short memories and seem to forget all the times they opposed troop funding and delayed defense bills. The White House site is scolding the Republicans and using quotes from Republicans that were used in the past to oppose delaying funding the troops:

“Playing politics with the critical funding that our troops need now is political theater of the worst kind.” – Sen. John Cornyn, [Press Release, 4/26/07]
“We have plenty of time and plenty of opportunity to have political debates… but it’s just unconscionable to me to tie the hands of the very troops that we all say we support.” – Sen. John Cornyn, [Transcript, Senate Republican News Briefing, 4/10/07]
“Every day we don’t fund our troops is a day their ability to fight this war is weakened.” – Sen. Mitch McConnell, [Press Release, 3/31/07]
“No way to treat the troops, and it is entirely inconsistent with [Senators’] expressions of support for the troops.” – Sen. Mitch McConnell, [Congressional Record, 10/4/07]
“I don’t understand this attitude of, ‘We can play with; we can risk the lives of these troops by waiting until the last possible minute to get the funding to them.” – Sen. Jon Kyl, [FOX News Transcript, 4/10/07]
“Our obligation to those troops must transcend politics.” – Sen. Jon Kyl, [Press Release, 11/8/07]

All of these quotes were in response to Democrat opposition or delay with regard to troop funding bills. This list of quotes proves that Democrats were guilty of the very thing they are now acting high and mighty about. If Democrats were not guilty of the same thing in the past then these quotes would not exist.

The truth is that when the time for debate is over the bill will pass and all the Republicans will vote for it. They are just using all the time allotted for the debate.

Democrats act as if this delay will be the end of the world. When Obama took 90 days to decide on the troop request for Afghanistan the Democrats said he was deliberative and could not rush into a decision. Republicans use the 30 hours allotted for debate and they are the ones delaying the troops and causing harm.

Another point of contention in this bill is that Democrats added a “doc fix” to it. This is a non defense item that will raise the reimbursement to doctors under Medicare. This does not belong in the Defense bill but it was put in so it would be assured of passage. Putting it here rather than in the appropriations for Medicare allows Congress to hide the true cost of Medicare. This will go against defense when it really pays for Medicare. This is one of the accounting tricks I discussed in the past. The cost of Medicare is much higher than reported because of things like this, which happen every year.

This is the bill that Democrats wanted to add a 1.9 trillion dollar provision to raise the debt ceiling. They could have put it in the appropriate appropriations bill but were afraid they would not get cloture so they were going to put it in the defense bill where they knew they would. It was not added because of other concerns including demands for a balanced budget. If it had been added then I would have expected all Republicans to vote against it.

They would still get a defense bill and fast but it would be without the debt ceiling provision.

In any event, it is the Democrats who are playing politics with the defense bill. They wanted to use it to slip the debt ceiling provision in and they have included the “doc fix” both of which are political issues. Let’s get it clear, the only reason this is in the defense bill is because it will pass that way and so they can hide the true cost of Medicare. The impact on our debt does not change but they can hide the true cost of the Medicare program.

This is what they will do every year if health care overhaul is passed. They will put anything that adds to the cost in other bills to hide the cost and the deficit will continue to increase while they lie about why.

The bottom line is, regardless of all the grandstanding being done by Democrats, the bill will pass and the Republicans will vote for it. It will not hurt the troops or defense.

The Republicans are within their right to use the procedures and they did so. If the Democrats wanted this voted on before the deadline then they should have introduced it earlier. The delay is all their fault and it is a failure of leadership.

At least Republicans are doing things legally. The Democrats stopped the reading of an amendment this week and did so in complete violation of Senate rules. They just decided they were going to stop it and allow the sponsor to withdraw the amendment. This is a violation of Senate rules but that did not bother the Democrats.

Yet when Republicans use the rules the Democrats get upset.

The hypocrisy makes me sick.

I do love it though. This forces them to commute to the Senate chamber in the huge snowstorm that is heading toward DC.

How appropriate considering the snow job the Democrats are involved in.

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Tags: defense, Democrats, health care, hypocrisy, Republicans, senate rules, troops

Obama Can Take Care Of John Murtha

Dec 1, 2009 Political

A report from yesterday indicated that some Democrats were concerned about Obama’s plan for Afghanistan (which he disclosed tonight) and the report cites John Murtha who indicated that he never got a clear indication of what an achievable victory would be. Murtha is just back from Afghanistan and is nervous about Obama’s plan.

“I am still very nervous about this whole thing,” Murtha told POLITICO. “If you had 10 years, it might work; if you had five, you could make a difference. But you don’t have that long.”

OK, so Murtha is nervous. What does this guy know anyway? He accused our Marines of cold blooded murder and has not apologized for that statement even though they have been exonerated.

The concern among the party is how to get the base to go along with a plan that calls for more troops and more fighting. People like Michael Moore are beside themselves (that would be an ugly sight) because they believe that Obama is going in a different direction than he indicated during the campaign. This is hogwash as I demonstrated yesterday but the delusional in the Democrat base did not pay attention. That is not unusual for an Obama supporter.

The concern among politicians is how to get broad support among House Democrats:

But it will be next to impossible for Obama to build broad support among Democrats in the House without bringing Murtha along.

I don’t care about support from Democrats because they have a hard time supporting our troops but people seem to think Obama needs their support and that he can’t get it without Murtha so I want to give Obama some advice.

Mr. Obama, if you really think you need Murtha on board and that having him on board will bring other Democrats to the table then here is how you get him. Wrap some money up in a newspaper and give it to him. Murtha will do anything for money. He is a man whore and has been one for as long as he has been in Congress. Murtha will do anything if the price is right. He thinks America is an ATM machine designed to dispense cash for him. He is even willing to accept illegal money (and has funneled it illegally as well) so all you have to do is pass him some cash and he will be on board.

Murtha would give Satan a Lewinsky if the price was right so he will climb in bed with you for a little scratch.

It should not matter much to you Mr. Obama because payola is the Chicago way. You get to practice Chicago politics and Murtha gets his palm greased.

Murtha will do anything for money. I will pay him a thousand dollars if he jumps off the Empire State building.

I’ll be waiting with it when he lands…

Source:
Politico

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Tags: afghanistan, criminal. payola, nurtha, Obama, troops

The Troops Are A Good Photo Op For Obama

Nov 19, 2009 Political

While Obama dithers on making a troop decision he has taken the time to visit some of them at various bases. One was in Alaska and another in South Korea. Obama told the troops that they made a pretty good photo op.

This is what the Resident thinks of the troops, they are a good photo op. While he is playing games there are men and women in harm’s way who need more support. The request for that support has been on his desk since August but Obama has failed to take a decision on sending the help their commander says they need. Aides say it is unlikely a decision will be taken before Thanksgiving.

While the rest of the nation gives thanks our troops will be praying that they get help sometime within Obama’s first term.

Let’s see. Stimulus, we have to do it NOW. Health care takeover, we have to do it NOW, Cap and Trade, well he wanted it NOW but has to wait until after the next election. Everything is NOW, NOW, NOW with this guy except when it comes to sending help to the troops. That can wait until Obama is good and ready.

How many times have we heard about people dying in the streets because health care is screwed up? This is a blatant lie but it plays on emotions. The only people I have seen die in the streets were involved in accidents or victims of violence.

Health care is a matter of life or death, or so we are led to believe but sending help to our troops is not such a matter of life or death, except to those on the battlefield.

My liberal friends tell me (and I read liberal commenters at other sites) that they like the idea that Obama is taking his time and carefully weighing options with regard to the troops. It shows how deliberative he is.

But the same people are pushing for health care reform right NOW and want no delays. Our troops are getting shot at and some are dying on the battlefield while Obama deliberates. On the other hand Obama is balls to the wall for health care reform. He wants that by the end of the year but when he gets to helping the troops is anyone’s guess.

This is nothing more than dereliction of duty. Just like a Democrat to abandon our troops.

During the campaign Obama said he would have to earn the trust of the troops. I said then that he did not have the experience to be Commander in Chief and he is showing that each and every day.

As for earning trust. Good luck with that.

At least they provide his ego with a good photo op.

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Tags: afghanistan, dithering, Obama, photo op, troops, war

Obama In No Rush To Support The Troops

Oct 20, 2009 Military, Political

Barack Obama made it clear that the war in Afghanistan was a war of necessity and that the war in Iraq was a war of choice. He said, time and again, that he would fight the war in Afghanistan and that it was necessary. Obama’s hand picked commander has submitted a request for the support he needs to fight and that request includes more troops. All of the sudden the war of necessity is not so much so. The request was sent to the White House nearly 80 days ago and no decision has been taken.

Obama is pondering what to do and has stated that he wants to see how the recent Afghan election pans out with either a run-off or co-governance before he decides on sending troops. He is deliberating and giving it thoughtful consideration. At least that is what the White House wants us to believe.

The only thing that Obama has taken his time on since taking office is selecting a family pet. It took him six months to select a dog. He gave it careful consideration.

The stimulus had to be passed immediately, the health care take over must be done now (even though the only thing that will take effect before 2013 is the taxing part of it), the cap and trade bill must be done now as, it would seem, must every other item on the Obama hit list. He wants all the things done by the end of the year and this is an extension of earlier deadlines. The simulus was rocketed through Congress because Obama said now and the Democrats did it now. Then it sat on his desk for four days while he went on a date with his wife.

He is pushing for his agenda items to get through at the speed of light but he is stifled by some Democrats who are worried about their jobs.

The support of the troops in Afghanistan is quite another thing though. Obama received the request nearly 80 days ago and has been stonewalling his commander and the troops. Secretary Gates says we need to act now and not later but Obama is quite busy wetting his finger and sticking it out the window to see which way the wind is blowing. His assertions about the war of necessity and his repeated assertions that this was a war we needed to win have hamstrung him because he would dearly like to appease (he did win a Nobel for that quality) his base and withdraw in defeat. That is what Democrats do.

But he does not want to be seen as a person who trumpeted the war in Afghanistan and vowed to support the troops only to let them down. He does not care about letting them down, he just does not want it to appear that way. So instead of being the Commander in Chief (a job he has no experience to do) he is waffling and stonewalling. He is looking for any reason not to honor the request of General Stanley McChrystal, the man he hand picked to run the war. Obama would love nothing more than to find some reason, any reason, to dishonor our troops so he can appease his leftist loser base.

Obama would not look so bad if he had taken the same stance on Afghanistan that he took on Iraq but he went the other way. He told us it was the war of necessity.

What he needs to do is act like a man instead of the weaselly, limp wristed, metrosexual that he truly is. He needs to man up and honor his commitment to the troops and to the war. He needs to stick to his word and win the war of necessity not only because supporting the troops is the right thing to do but because he told us he would. He needs, for once, to keep his word.

But then again, all Obama promises come with an expiration date.

I loved my 24 years of service to this country but I would not serve in the military under this so called man. He is fortunate that he is wrecking the economy because that has driven enlistments up. People join the military when times are tough because it is a job and it pays. If he had not wrecked the economy and caused such high unemployment then the services would have trouble recruiting.

Who would want to serve under this wishy-washy man? I can’t imagine any of our service members staying in with this guy abandoning them. And it is a certainty that the liberals who support him will not join to protect this country (they will wait for Obama bucks to make ends meet). They live under the blanket of protection provided by better people than they and they like it that way. If Obama does not act like a leader and do it soon then he is going to harm the military worse than Jimmy Carter did.

It might take decades to get the nation’s military strong again.

Obama, man up and take a decision. Do the right thing and support the men and women who were sent to war by the US government. You (the government) sent them there, now support them.

Also:
al-Reuters

UPDATE: What has Obama done since the request for troops was submitted.

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Tags: afghanistan, loser, Obama, support, troops, war

We Are Back To A War On Terror

Aug 31, 2009 Political

It was not that long ago that Barack Obama decided we were not in a war on terror. He decided that this phrase as well as a few words/phrases like Jihadists and global war were no loner acceptable and did not reflect what was taking place.

“The President does not describe this as a ‘war on terrorism,’” said John Brennan, head of the White House homeland security office, who outlined a “new way of seeing” the fight against terrorism. Washington Times

It seems that we are now back to a war on terror and this might have something to do with Obama’s war in Afghanistan. He has sent more troops as part of an increase that started under President Bush’s surge (a strategy Obama said would not work when implemented in Iraq) and now he will likely have to send more if he wants to achieve victory. This has to drive his base nuts because he promised them when he was candidate Obama that he would bring the troops home. It might have looked as if he was heading that way when he softened the terminology but the return to “war on terror” leaves a quick end unlikely.

The term is more threatening than the watered down versions that came out of the White House early on and this might be because Obama wants support for his actions. To be clear, I support any movements that increase troop strength and include tactics aimed at victory but the right is not who needs to be convinced (though we will certainly deride him for his naivete during the campaign). His base is the gaggle that took him at his word when he said he would bring the troops home and they are the ones who need to be convinced.

Obama has not read the assessment of Afghanistan yet (it was sent to the Pentagon today) but it is believed to include the need for more troops. If he decides to send more troops, and it looks like he will, the left will go bonkers. Cindy Sheehan is already ginning up her band of merry mischief makers and it will not be long before the entire left is fed up with Obama and his war.

I want to see an end to war but the only way for it to end is with victory defined on our terms. Obama desperately wants to bring the troops home to fulfill his campaign pledge but now that he is no longer a candidate reality is setting in and he is beginning to see that the decisions are tough and one cannot just make statements or snap fingers and expect results even if the one is the messiah of the left.

It will be interesting to see how the left reacts if this all takes place. The right supports the troops and their efforts and knows that the only exit strategy is victory. Obama won’t have to convince us of the need to support the troops. His task is to reel in his base.

This is a tough position because if they do not side with him he will have hell to pay and if they do it will show once and for all that they are hypocrites.

I think Olbermann will be the first moonbat to jump on board along with tingle leg Matthews. It would not be the first time these guys changed positions based upon the party of the White House occupant.

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Tags: afghanistan, moonbats, Obama, surge, troops, war