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White Flag Dems Watch: Senate passes troop funding bill with no nutroots strings attached

By Michelle Malkin  •  December 14, 2007 09:36 PM

The Democrat meltdown continues–and finally, a Senate defense bill will get to the president’s desk. With no timetable strings attached. Code Pinkos will be seeing red (hat tip - Jim Hoft):

The Democratic-led Congress authorized more Iraq war spending on Friday, sending President George W. Bush a defense bill requiring no change in strategy after failing again to impose a timetable for U.S. troop withdrawals.

The defense policy bill, approved 90-3 by the U.S. Senate, also expanded the size of the U.S. Army and set conditions on the Bush administration’s plan to build a missile defense system in Europe.

The measure already had passed the House of Representatives and now goes to Bush, who is expected to sign it into law. It authorizes Pentagon programs expected to cost $506.9 billion during fiscal 2008, which began in October.

Next stop…appropriations:

The bill authorized another $189.4 billion for the Iraq and Afghan wars, for which Congress has already approved some $600 billion. But it does not deliver the new money. That is done by appropriations legislation at the center of a big dispute on Capitol Hill.

Reax:

“I was pleased to see … no policy changes to the Petraeus plan,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, referring to U.S. Iraq commander Gen. David Petraeus whose plan for a temporary boost in U.S. troops in Iraq has been credited with reducing violence.

“The effort (to change course in Iraq) is not over,” Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat, said after the vote. But he did not know what the next step in that struggle would be.

Here’s the roll call vote:

1warvote.jpg

See what others have said

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Comments

  1. #1
    On December 14th, 2007 at 9:42 pm, TexasTiger said:

    What’s Grand Kleagle Byrd’s beef? Bill didn’t include a missile defense system for West Virginia?

  2. #2
    On December 14th, 2007 at 9:48 pm, right_on said:

    What’s Grand Kleagle Byrd’s beef? Bill didn’t include a missile defense system for West Virginia?

    Close…it didn’t have a missle defense system for West Virginia with his name on it!!!

  3. #3
    On December 14th, 2007 at 9:50 pm, garyt said:

    Tiger thats funny and I am shocked that my two Washington senators Murray and Cantwell voted for this and now I am expecting an earthquake. Anyway its great the troops well get what they needed.

  4. #4
    On December 14th, 2007 at 9:55 pm, nyc123me said:

    Gee look who’s not voting… what a surprise.

  5. #5
    On December 14th, 2007 at 9:57 pm, LC said:

    Somebody answer this one for me. Why is it that senators that decide to focus on their efforts on getting themselves elected as the next POTUS continue to receive a paycheck from the government (read: the people) even though they do nothing? Where else but in the US Congress/Senate would you expect to be paid…even when you don’t show up for work.

  6. #6
    On December 14th, 2007 at 9:58 pm, beenthere said:

    Overall this is good news. The Dem’s smoke and mirrors show is over for the moment. However, I am worried about this:

    set conditions on the Bush administration’s plan to build a missile defense system in Europe.

    What conditions? Why? I realize the administration doesn’t want to offend Putin, who is terrified of an invasion by Latvia, but this sets a potentially bad precedent.

    No conditions on defense, none, ever.
    ___________________________

    For President, Thomas Sowell; for vice-president, Walter E. Williams.

  7. #7
    On December 14th, 2007 at 10:00 pm, taylork said:

    April fools!

  8. #8
    On December 14th, 2007 at 10:01 pm, taylork said:

    Where else but in the US Congress/Senate would you expect to be paid…even when you don’t show up for work.

    and we wonder why they advocate socialism?

  9. #9
    On December 14th, 2007 at 10:23 pm, Jaded said:

    but…but…San Fran Nan said only Republicans liked war…I cannot comprehend those D votes…does not compute…heh…they really are the party of defeat.

  10. #10
    On December 14th, 2007 at 10:26 pm, tarpon said:

    Speechless … I guess surrender isn’t an option afterall. Or maybe it was the thought of those 200,000 union workers being laid off that wasn’t going to work as planned.

    Just imagine if the Internet had been around during Vietnam. The Democrats couldn’t have done what they did to our troops then.

  11. #11
    On December 14th, 2007 at 10:29 pm, shooter said:

    Do Clinton, Dodd, B. Hussein, Boxer, Biden McCain vote on ANYTHING anymore?
    HELLO?

  12. #12
    On December 14th, 2007 at 10:30 pm, backwoods conservative said:

    If the democrats would do what’s right without having to be dragged kicking and screaming into it I wouldn’t have such a low opinion of them.

  13. #13
    On December 14th, 2007 at 10:31 pm, jimC said:

    Unfortunately, the troops won’t get the money quite yet. The money laid out in the bill still needs to go through the appropriations process. So this battle isn’t quite over yet if I understand correctly.

    Jim C

  14. #14
    On December 14th, 2007 at 10:34 pm, jimC said:

    The bill authorized another $189.4 billion for the Iraq and Afghan wars, for which Congress has already approved some $600 billion. But it does not deliver the new money. That is done by appropriations legislation at the center of a big dispute on Capitol Hill.

    This may not be over yet. They could still attach strings to the money in appropriations. In fact, wouldn’t it be easier to do it there?

    Jim C

  15. #15
    On December 14th, 2007 at 10:39 pm, Tennessee Dave said:

    It’s about time. Even though the Air Force had stated that it wasn’t going furlough it’s civilian workers, I wasn’t too sure about it. At least I get to keep getting paid.

  16. #16
    On December 14th, 2007 at 10:45 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:

    Gee look who’s not voting… what a surprise.

    But of course…this is politics as usual. How else would they answer to their left wing loon lib nutbag freak base?

  17. #17
    On December 14th, 2007 at 10:50 pm, WarTip said:

    Those abstaining from voting sure are telling though. Still, it does bode well that perhaps our troops will be able to get their equipment. Now if we can just figure out a “legal” way of dealing with the sedition in Washington.

  18. #18
    On December 14th, 2007 at 10:54 pm, nyc123me said:

    Preemptive strike: impeach Clinton! No, not that one, the other one. Actually, if we can do it retroactively too…
    :)

  19. #19
    On December 14th, 2007 at 11:07 pm, feebiebabe said:

    as it should be (image: feebz rubbing her eyes) - with no timetables.

    absolute miracle.

    all partisanship aside…thank you Democrats (for once).

    That aside, we have a long battle ahead of us. It will be an uphill battle from here on out.

    Thank you to the troops who kept us proud and were steadfast, while these political shananigans were deveoping.

  20. #20
    On December 14th, 2007 at 11:07 pm, Lifeofthemind said:

    On December 14th, 2007 at 9:57 pm, LC said:
    Somebody answer this one for me. Why is it that senators that decide to focus on their efforts on getting themselves elected as the next POTUS continue to receive a paycheck from the government (read: the people) even though they do nothing? Where else but in the US Congress/Senate would you expect to be paid…even when you don’t show up for work.

    Careful what you wish for. The alternative may be better. In fact consider that it might be worth paying these people double to go home and not vote on anything.

  21. #21
    On December 14th, 2007 at 11:10 pm, Lifeofthemind said:

    Tennessee Dave

    Glad to here it but I am puzzled. Thought everyone in the Air Force was a civilian anyway.

  22. #22
    On December 14th, 2007 at 11:11 pm, Lifeofthemind said:

    Tennessee Dave

    Glad to hear it but I am puzzled. Thought everyone in the Air Force was a civilian anyway.

  23. #23
    On December 14th, 2007 at 11:15 pm, TexasTiger said:

    On December 14th, 2007 at 10:29 pm, shooter said:
    Do Clinton, Dodd, B. Hussein, Boxer, Biden McCain vote on ANYTHING anymore?

    Thankfully, no. I hope they stay out on the campaign trail until 2012.

  24. #24
    On December 14th, 2007 at 11:27 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:

    If Clinton doesn’t make it, then onto Plan B. Get her OUT of the senate once and for all next time around.

  25. #25
    On December 14th, 2007 at 11:30 pm, The Raging Republican said:

    Clinton and Obama continue to refuse to vote on anything!

  26. #26
    On December 14th, 2007 at 11:40 pm, DesertLover said:

    LC

    I agree … I have long said that when they decide to run for another office while still in office they should have to resign their current position … Wouldn’t it be nice if we wanted to try to get another job we could have immunity at our current jobs to not show up for work and if we didn’t get the new job we just come back to work …

    I would suspect that removing that safety net would also help keep a lot of the “pretenders” out of the races if they didn’t have their current position to go back to …

    I am glad to see them get this passed … only 2 months + past due … wish I could pay all my bills on that kind of a schedule …

    I can guarantee this is only a lull in the attack though … they will not stop trying to lose this GWOT …

    I just wish they would apply such passion and steadfast resolve to winning … these clowns could not have survived during WWII … someone would have strung them up from the nearest tree …

    Now we have to keep a close eye on the Appropriations Committee …

  27. #27
    On December 15th, 2007 at 12:34 am, RetFireman said:

    I checked…gravity is still working. Can’t figure out just what is wrong in the universe. Has there been some sort of shift is the SPace/Time Continuum that went unnoticed by NASA and Stehen Hawking?

  28. #28
    On December 15th, 2007 at 2:22 am, ThackerAgency said:

    Well Merry Christmas. Congress did what it was supposed to. Hooray for our troops who now don’t have to worry about this while they worry about staying alive while fighting our battles for us.

    Do Clinton, Dodd, B. Hussein, Boxer, Biden McCain vote on ANYTHING anymore?

    OK, this should disqualify all of these people from being Commander-In-Chief. They have an opportunity to do something meaningful that they have been elected to do, and they disappear. How can they lead when they don’t even participate? They all have no credibility to become CIC at this point. Their career is more important to them than the safety of our military. They should be ashamed.

  29. #29
    On December 15th, 2007 at 3:09 am, ArmoredCAV said:

    I don’t get it. How do platitudes by the usual crowd of non-voters actually support the troops?
    I say that your pay as a member of congress should be tied to your vote. No vote, no pay. How embarassing for them that they feel the need to conceal their own record. Or just not establish one.

  30. #30
    On December 15th, 2007 at 3:11 am, RetFireman said:

    And McCain is running for Pres.? I guess that should have read “WAS”

    Buh bye Johnnie Boy. I would have thought a former POW that was tortured the way he was would have had better sense and higher regard. That’s what I get for thinking.

  31. #31
    On December 15th, 2007 at 3:14 am, ArmoredCAV said:

    Have any of these losers voted on anything? Serious, how selective are they being? Do they only abstain when there is a potentially controversial vote, or are they not participating in ANY votes? Anyone know?

  32. #32
    On December 15th, 2007 at 5:11 am, meatpieandtatters said:

    About freaking time!

  33. #33
    On December 15th, 2007 at 6:28 am, graysonret said:

    Clinton and Obama have always been senators “in name only”. The office has been nothing more than a stepping stone to a campaign for the Presidency. They have never attempted to represent the people who voted for them. I doubt they even know what the voters want, and could care less. Clinton, especially, is guilty of this; probably couldn’t point out New York state on a map. So, only realize 98 senators on the Hill, not 100.

  34. #34
    On December 15th, 2007 at 6:56 am, JohnnyD said:

    On December 14th, 2007 at 10:29 pm, shooter said:
    Do Clinton, Dodd, B. Hussein, Boxer, Biden McCain vote on ANYTHING anymore?

    Here’s my take, they probably phoned home and talked to the Big Giant Head, also know as the Reidman, and found out they’re wasn’t any need for them to come and vote. Had there been a chance that their vote would have meant something, Clinton, Obama, Dodd and Macain would have just materialized on the Senate Floor, voted, and poof, gone again.

    Also, because they didn’t vote, they probably will have some cover from the nutroots. On the other hand, the Dems out front on the trail will probably still have to face some criticism from the crazies.

    And here is the best question for them to answer lie about!!

    On December 15th, 2007 at 2:22 am, ThackerAgency said:
    How can they lead when they don’t even participate?

    Finally, TexasTiger and Right_On, you 2 are a hoot. Thanks for the chuckles.

  35. #35
    On December 15th, 2007 at 7:29 am, zorro said:

    So, the miserable, cowardly punks finally did something. I for one am totally underwhelmed. I wish there was a way we could cut their pay by 7/8’s for poor job performance.

    Keep in mind the budget was due back in October.

  36. #36
    On December 15th, 2007 at 7:52 am, almeehan said:

    What’s Grand Kleagle Byrd’s beef? Bill didn’t include a missile defense system for West Virginia?

    Byrd is so far gone, he doesn’t know what day it is, where his pants zipper is, or where he is on a given day, let alone awareness of what Bill he is voting on.

  37. #37
    On December 15th, 2007 at 9:40 am, DesertLover said:

    almeehan

    When they started voting on a military “Support Bill” Grand Wizard Byrd thought they said an additional “Ore Mill” and he figured W.Va. could name another one after him

  38. #38
    On December 15th, 2007 at 9:56 am, ajmontana said:

    Scary thought of the day…
    25 years from now without term limits they may all be in the same condition. :shock:

  39. #39
    On December 15th, 2007 at 9:58 am, DannoJyd said:

    Bush wins again. So much for Democrat leadership .

    Huckabee should think twice before condemning the President. I doubt that he could fare as well against the Democrat Extremist Congress.

  40. #40
    On December 15th, 2007 at 10:47 am, backwoods conservative said:

    Bush wins again. So much for Democrat leadership.

    Yeah. And this is the lame duck president who wasn’t going to be able to accomplish anything with a democrat congress. Democrats and the media have been underestimating Bush right from the start. The man is a lot more savvy than a lot of people ever realized.

  41. #41
    On December 15th, 2007 at 11:23 am, lgm said:

    I wish the Democrats had more backbone.

    Here is a question: What’s the difference between nutroots and wingnuts?

  42. #42
    On December 15th, 2007 at 12:16 pm, Brian72 said:

    Nutroots are wrong about everything.

    Wingnuts are adorable patriotic Americans, and they are usually right, especially when nutroots are concerned.

    That help you out?

  43. #43
    On December 15th, 2007 at 2:00 pm, 30 pcs of silver said:

    Eggcellent! That’s how Mr. Burns from the Simpsons says it.

    Over one hurdle, praying about the next one.

    Go United States Armed Forces!!!

  44. #44
    On December 15th, 2007 at 5:59 pm, ammo john said:

    “The effort (to LOSE in Iraq) is not over,” Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat, said after the vote.

    That is what he’s really saying.

  45. #45
    On December 15th, 2007 at 6:41 pm, Rick Moran said:

    Curious silence on the left today - probably holding their fire for the appropriations debate.

    But that too, is all but over. Basically, the Democrats want to spend about $22 billion more than Bush - they’ll compromise on that and then they’ll surrender again.

    Republicans won’t get any political credit for this - at least its not showing up in the polls - but this is truly a remarkable turnaround.

    If I were a Kossak, I would be steaming hot mad…

  46. #46
    On December 16th, 2007 at 3:10 am, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

    All I can say is that I hope everyone in the White House reads the fine print in that bill and then reads it twice and a third yet again. Somehow the silence to which Rick correctly alludes sounds an awful lot like a con man holding his breath for that critical moment as pen touches contract.

  47. #47
    On December 16th, 2007 at 3:55 pm, Yashmak said:

    There ought to be a law requiring that senators/congressmen running for President are REQUIRED to vote, or they must resign their senate/congressional seat to someone who will actually continue to represent his/her constituents.

    This crap with Obama (and in the last election Kerry) not voting on anything is a crime against those who voted them into office.

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