Congress passes Iraq war spending bill »
Posted by: STONERS 1 month, 3 weeks agoThe Senate passed a $162 billion war spending plan Thursday, sending to President Bush legislation that will pay for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan until the next president takes office.
Read Full Story at news.yahoo.com
Join the Discussion 
+ Add Comment
Comments So Far: 74
-
0%
Charlson1 month, 3 weeks ago
Gave them what they wanted until the next president takes office.
Reply -
0%
texangelwings1 month, 3 weeks ago
I thought Iraq was suppose to share in the rebuilding costs?
Someone needs to reign in congressional spending! There has been too much money that has been spent (over $9 Billion) on the excessively large, still unfinished US Embassy building, money has disappeared during this war and inadequate services from many contractors! While Iraq has been keeping their oil revenues for themselves!
I heard a congressional representative questioning some pentagon personnel yesterday, asking why we should pay $19,000.00 per 20 manned vehicle, per month, to Pakistan, unknown the number of vehicles that Pakistan is billing the US for.
There doesn't seem to be much oversight of how our tax dollars are being spent! I will get off my soapbox now!
Thanks STONERS!
Reply-
0%
saintetienne1 month, 3 weeks ago
"There doesn't seem to be much oversight of how our tax dollars are being spent!"
Boy tell me about it.... What with colossal welfare payouts, homeless shelters, subsidized housing, the 100-years War on Poverty, Social Security, funding the innumerable government agencies that seem to spring up overnight like fungus, school districts hemhorraging money with no results to show for it, and the endless assault on our lives of more legislation, more regulation, and now universal healthcare rearing its ugly head - - all gouging out our paychecks - - it's a wonder taxpaying citizens can stay afloat anymore.
Why, $162 billion for the war effort is a steal - CHUMP change - compared to the Trillions and Trillions of our hard-earned dollars the government has already wasted, continues to waste and will go on wasting into the future on witless social programs.
I feel your pain, texan.... I feel your pain.
Reply-
0%
antibrainwasher1 month, 3 weeks ago
Classic neocon crap. Divert attention from the war, sending 4500 american to die, 30,000 injured, 10 times that many PST for big oil and a neocon zionist nationbuilding treasonous lie, and then still have the chutzpah to hate the poor. Classic republican neocon zionist nationbuilding anti-american, american hating facism. Don't to forget to vote against military benifits.
The only thing republicans worship is money, and making the rich richer. Working americans only work to serve the rich, at the riches pleasure.
You are a great republican saint. You get more of the militia vote than supersenior grandpa mcSenile. Vote republican, vote for Saint.
Republican values, 4500 dead, but not in vain, look at the military industrial profits. up, up up. Greed is good. The soldiers, they are just mercinaries for the republican rich, protecting the oil, protecting Israel. That's just good old fasion republican values.
Reply
-
-
-
0%
aniokly1 month, 3 weeks ago
"Gave them what they wanted,,,,," That is the point. The entire $650 billion dollars has been authorized by the U S Congress whether they were a Democrat Congress, or a Republican Congress. Every penny we spend is from Congress, not the President. I happen to think the war is worth it, and we will continue fighting it. We are still fighting, and losing, the war on American poverty because we breed the recipients.
Reply-
-
0%
wtagg1 month, 3 weeks ago
Exactly.
It's ironic that some feel that one war we are not winning is worthwhile which sends gobs of money overseas, and the other that we are not winning keeps money here.
The poverty war can be considered trickle up vs trickle down. Either way, the money is spent, for the vast majority, within our own economy.
Both are tragic failures.
Reply
-
-
-
0%
antibrainwasher1 month, 3 weeks ago
Holy crap, another great republican point. If we have a military, they should always be at war, killing and nation building, its all the same price. Great republican talking point.
Reply
-
-
-
0%
aniokly1 month, 3 weeks ago
We have people sneaking into this country to make better lives for themselves. Some how with a language barrier and everything they get jobs, work hard and succeed. You tell me why there is poverty for Americans born into this country, and you justify their need for Government care. We fight a war when we have to, we tried to fight the war on poverty, we lost/
Reply
-
-
0%
getreal11 month, 3 weeks ago
I am tired of giving them what they want. They are short on common sense. Lost money on a pallet dropped in the desert. Don't you think it's time to bring on some embezzlement charges or do we let them keep on? Our country is being devastated by mother earth right now. Our people need help and they don't even have money for that. All I see is one attack after another over there. The middle east needs to think about what is going to happen over there when mother earth decides she has had enough of them.
Reply -
-
0%
amazed1 month, 3 weeks ago
at the risk of sounding harsh, why are those who live in the flood plains not carrying flood insurance?
Reply -
0%
Klarissa1 month, 3 weeks ago
They knew it was a flood plain, why do/did they rebuild there?
Because the thought the government (my taxes) would bail them out.
Reply
-
-
0%
antitrust1 month, 3 weeks ago
I just wish our government was as passionate about funding the war as they were on education, healthcare, infrastructure, etc. For this amount of funding to be injected into our economy, each state could receive 3billion. Imagine how many schools, hospitals, and roads could be built with this amount of money. Sad that we invest so much into a future (oil/security) that will not exist in 20-30 years. Our real security lies in the success and well being of future generations.
Reply-
0%
saintetienne1 month, 3 weeks ago
"I just wish our government was as passionate about funding the war as they were on education, healthcare, infrastructure, etc."
And I just wish that the American public were as passionate about taking care of themselves and being grateful for everything they DO have as they are about whining, griping, blaming, sitting around expecting the government to assist them, taking handouts, demanding more useless, Socialistic services, etc.
Reply -
-
-
0%
willottica1 month, 3 weeks ago
OK, this is just stupid. Isn't flood disaster relief significant enough to merit its own spending bill? Isn't it REALLY BAD ACCOUNTING to claim that funds that you spend on one thing fall into another category altogether?
Flood relief is a defense budget item? WTF?
I really hope that government can budget properly in the future. X dollars are set aside for military spending, Y dollars for emergencies, Z dollars for health-care.
First, budget how much should be spent in each area. Then, figure out how to divvy it up.
It's not rocket science (but then again, political science isn't really science at all).
Earmarks and pork. If I were president, I'd let it be known that I'd veto every single mixed bill. Focus on one issue at a time, people!
Reply-
-
0%
willottica1 month, 3 weeks ago
They're just taking over where the "Print more money Repubs" left off.
There's absolutely no incentive to budget if your budget is unlimited (or limited only in your ability to print money and incur debt).
If a balanced budget were a necessity (as it should be) BOTH parties would be in for some big changes, and it's about time!
Reply
-
-
-
0%
aniokly1 month, 3 weeks ago
What is stupid is pouring millions of dollars into public schools, and producing people who can barely read, and write. If we had a Corporation failing as miserably as Public Education we would force it into bankruptcy. Every year they say if we just had more money, and every year we give them more, and it is never enough.
Reply-
0%
antibrainwasher1 month, 3 weeks ago
Another republican vaalue, destroy public schools. Education is for the private schools, for the rich only. A mal-educated populace is needed for facist republican neocon traitors to complete their defacto coup.
Great republican comment grani.
With just a fraction of the money the military industrial complex takes from our taxes, we could have the best public schools in the world. But that's just against republican christian zionist big oil intrest. If kids were educated, who would we get to die for big oil and neocon zionism?
Reply-
0%
amazed1 month, 3 weeks ago
I'm not certain, but I don't think ani is calling for an end to public education, but an end to INEFFECTIVE public education... and the effectiveness and positive outcome of public education has beeen inversely proportional to the rise of the power of the teachers' unions.
Now, the main thrust of the "education associations" the NEA and the FTA, is increasing teacher salaries and benefits, while reducing workloads. Any suggestion of real competency testing or nerit pay or rating is met with fierce resistance -- and, if enacted, is generally so watered down as to be a joke -- see the certification process in CT.
But, really, that's a topic for another thread....
Reply
-
-
-
0%
Klarissa1 month, 3 weeks ago
The school problems started when the teacher's union forced the establishment of the dept of education.
more money on bureaucracy, union leaders, rules, and substituting the schools for parents.
Reply -
0%
bamababy1 month, 3 weeks ago
This is what happens when you teach to the tast. No Child Left Behind, has left an entire generation behind. Educational reform is desperately needed. WTF are they spending the money on? Not educating the children, no wonder the home schoolers out score the public schools. I choose to make the sacrifice of private school for my son. He's not even in college yet and I've spent thousands and thousands. However,I'd do it again in a heartbeat. The teachers are under paid but are there for the children and the advancement of their little minds. Tuition for high school at base price $5,000.00 add in all the other niockle and dime and it's probably more like 6 or 7 thousand. I will go without as long as it takes in order to know my child is academically ready for the world at large. On a different note, how much of that money is being paid to the "secret army"? You know, Bushes paid terrorists diguised as contractors?
Reply
-
-
-
gbilly08Comment removed: User banned.
-
0%
bonaroo1 month, 3 weeks ago
It's still possible for Bush to veto this funding package. It includes spending for programs that Republicans would normally veto.
"Senate majority leader Harry Reid D-Nev., changed his vote from yes to no in a procedural move to enable him to bring up the bill later. He ridiculed Republicans who sided with Bush in opposing the bill."
"Who would be afraid of him?" Reid said as many senators looked on. "He's got a 29 percent approval rating."
This puts Bush in a bit of a pickle. Good for them.
Reply -
-
-
0%
amazed1 month, 3 weeks ago
Interesting -- I would have to give Kennedy a pass since he's recovering from brain surgery, but what's McCain's excuse? He's not really running against anyone,even, right now -- just coasting to the convention.
And Obama -- I guess he was against the war before he was before it? All this rhetoric about getting us out immediately -- why not vote against this authorization? It would have passed anyway and he could have stayed consistent-- oh but then he would have had to defend himself against charges of not supporting the troops. What's a good peacenik to do?
Reply
-
-
-
0%
bonaroo1 month, 3 weeks ago
Go Bob Barr
In 2002 Barr, like all but six Republicans in the House of Representatives, voted for the Iraq Resolution in 2002.[51] He has since called for withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, leaving no permanent military bases. A press release from Barr's presidential campaign stated: "The next president should commit to a speedy and complete withdrawal from Iraq, and tell the Iraqi people that the U.S. troops will be going home."[52]
Reply -
0%
OHMOI1 month, 3 weeks ago
LET THE ILLEGALS IN THIS COUNTRY SIGN UP FOR THE TOUR OF DUTY. SEE HOW MANY WANT IN THEN!
Reply -
0%
nikkibabe1 month, 3 weeks ago
THIS IS AMAZING:
CONGRESS PUT IT ITS RUBBER STAMP TO BUSH AND GAVE HIM $162B MOST OF WHICH WILL BE USED TO KILL PEOPLE IN IRAQ.
YESTERDAY, BRAD PITT & ANGELINA JOLIE DONATED $1M TO HELP CHILDREN IN IRAQ WHO HAVE LOST THEIR PARENTS IN THE INVASION AND OCCUPATION.
WHAT A CONTRAST.
Reply -
0%
tadair9191 month, 3 weeks ago
******! this is like acknowledging heroin is bad for your kids, but still buying them heroin.
Reply -
0%
mompro1 month, 3 weeks ago
Don't forget in the war financial figuring the over 160,000 claims for disability, by our disabled veterans, since returning from this war. That was the July 2006 figure. We haven't even begun to see the effects of this war on our economy and our returning soldiers and their families. Our entire lifetimes and those to come, are marked with it.
Reply
Submitted By:
STONERS
I've started a ""STONERS Daily News Group"" Please stop by and have a look and join if you like it.. All welcome!!! ;~]
Add your ...
Also submitted:
- 5.8 - Goodyear to close 92 U.S. stores, cut jobs
- 5.1 - 'Boomerang' Fay gains strength over Florida
- 5.2 - Russia starts Georgia pullout
- 5.3 - Trace arsenic in water may be linked with diabetes
Related Articles:
Why not submit a story?
Also Propping This Article
MidnightPrism
Helixbuilder
ciera-marie
berkeley
bonaroo
Ratskii
ameliog
chuck-the-canuck
Eagle_Eye
tehranchik
Groups Watching This
No groups are watching this story. Why not share it with your group?
