Democrats Are ‘Retooling’ Their Demands On Troop Funding
Retooling, actually translates to scrapping the idea. But how do they cave on the funding and still save face with their base?
The possible conditions for troop funding include anti-torture rules and benchmarks for Iraqi political reconciliation, language sure to upset an impatient Democratic anti-war base that wants immediate troop withdrawals.
According to one senior Democratic lawmaker, there’s a growing discomfort among pro-defense Democrats about linking a $50 billion Iraq measure to troop withdrawal.
“We have to come off this lack of funding for the military operations,” the lawmaker said. “We have to continue the funding. We don’t want to look like we’re against troop funding. … We should separate the funding discussion from the rest of the war.”
Could it have been the pink slips and the fear of base closures that changed some minds?
Additionally, lawmakers who represent areas with large military bases fear that layoff notices could go out to civilian military employees just a week before Christmas if the Pentagon has to pull money from other accounts to pay for the war.
“The turmoil caused by shuffling the money is making some people uncomfortable,” said Rep. Adam Putnam of Florida, chairman of the House Republican Conference.
Well that’s all good and well, but look at where the two top dogs in the Senate are with the issue:
Still, aides to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) insisted on Wednesday that the Senate would vote on a troop funding bill that contains the same withdrawal language that passed the House last month.
In the House, Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) seemed flustered Wednesday when pressed about whether Democrats would provide Iraq money with no strings attached.
“There’s no doubt the troops will be funded,” Hoyer told reporters. “We believe that technically, the troops are funded right now.”
So Reid has no intention of funding them while Hoyer figures they are funded as long as you shuffle the books a bit.
Instead of recognizing this, the Democrats have tried to double down, and they’ve failed … again. It’s time Reid and Pelosi look for a new strategy themselves, or Democrats look for new leadership.
VP Cheney says:
But his implication was clear: When asked if these men had lost their spines, he responded, “They are not carrying the big sticks I would have expected.”
Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), who as Democratic Caucus Chair is the party’s fourth-ranking House leader, replied: “Some of us were surprised that the president didn’t have a bigger stick when he could have stood up to Dick Cheney.”
H/T to Memeorandum
December 6, 2007 - 10:15 AM on December 6th, 2007
[...] Democrats Are ‘Retooling’ Their Demands On Troop Funding [...]
December 6, 2007 - 11:05 PM on December 6th, 2007
Actually the Dems have caved again. The latest word is that they are drafting a war funding bill, but only to fund the war in Afghanistan. Of course the additional funding will allow money previously allocated for operations in Afghanistan to be shifted to fund continued operations in Iraq. As a result they will fund the war in Iraq but be able to actively lie to their Moveon base. I’m certain that they’ll claim that they were fooled by that rascally George Bush again. It just amazes me how they can be so easily fooled by a supposed buffoon when they are supposedly so smart.
December 7, 2007 - 07:27 AM on December 7th, 2007
GOD Damned Democrats. Let them stand up for their Anti, and Hate, America positions. See them in the unemployment lines in 08.
December 8, 2007 - 02:20 PM on December 8th, 2007
[...] Right Voices: Retooling, actually translates to scrapping the idea. But how do they cave on the funding and still save face with their base? [...]