Senate Approves $70 Billion In War Funds

Money For U.S. Military Efforts In Iraq, Afghanistan A Victory For Bush And GOP Allies

(AP)  The Senate voted Tuesday to provide $70 billion for U.S. military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, handing a victory to President Bush and his GOP allies on Capitol Hill.

The 70-25 roll call paved the way for the Senate to pass a $555 billion omnibus appropriations bill combining the war funding with the budgets for 14 Cabinet agencies.

Mr. Bush was ready to sign the bill, assuming the war funding clears the House on Wednesday. Democrats again failed to win votes to force removal of U.S. troops or set a nonbinding target to remove most troops by the end of next year.

"Even those of us who have disagreed on this war have always agreed on one thing: Troops in the field will not be left without the resources they need," said Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

Twenty-one Democrats and Connecticut independent Joe Lieberman — who stood with Republicans at a post-vote news conference — voted with every Republican present except Gordon Smith of Oregon to approve the Iraq funding.

The year-end budget deal between the Democratic-controlled Congress and Mr. Bush ended months of battling and disappointed GOP purists who complained the bill spends too much money and contains about 9,000 pet projects sought by members of Congress.

"Congress refuses to rein in its wasteful spending or curb its corruption," said Rep. John Shadegg, R-Ariz. Conservatives estimated the measure contained at least $28 billion in domestic spending above Bush's budget, funded by a combination of "emergency" spending, transfers from the defense budget, budget gimmicks and phantom savings.

With Mr. Bush winning the $70 billion infusion of troop funding, other Republicans muted their criticism.

"I do think the president has a victory here," said House Minority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo. But the win was hardly clear-cut for Republicans hoping the president would emerge from the monthslong battle with Democrats over the budget with a result that would more clearly demonstrate to core GOP voters the party's commitment to fiscal discipline.

While disappointed by ceding Iraq funding to Mr. Bush, Democrats hailed the pending appropriations bill for smoothing the rough edges of Mr. Bush's February budget plan, which sought below-inflation increases for most domestic programs and contained numerous cutbacks and program eliminations.

"The omnibus bill largely yields to the President's top-line budget numbers, but it also addresses some of the bottom-line priorities of the American people," said Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa. "The Grinch tried to steal Christmas, but we didn't let him get all of it."

Democrats were able to fill in most of the cuts by using the very budgetary sleight of hand lambasted by conservative groups such as the Club for Growth and Citizens Against Government Waste.

The White House, which maintained a hard line for months, has been far more forgiving in recent days, accepting $11 billion in "emergency" spending for veterans, drought relief, border security and firefighting accounts, among others. Other budget moves added billions more.

"Congress did come down to the president's overall top line," White House press secretary Dana Perino said. "And in regards of the emergency spending, most of that spending would have passed on an emergency basis anyway. It's not added into the baseline of the budget."

The bill passed the House late Monday. Under an unusual legislative two-step, the Iraq portion of the bill would be returned to the House on Wednesday, with Republicans supplying the winning margin. That vote, if successful, would send the entire omnibus bill to Mr. Bush for his signature.

Democrats succeeded in reversing cuts sought by Mr. Bush to heating subsidies, local law enforcement, Amtrak and housing as well as Bush's plan to eliminate the $654 million budget for grants to community action agencies that help the poor.

Democrats also reversed Bush-sought cuts to state and local law enforcement grants, aid to community action groups and airport modernization grants.

Democrats also added funding for food programs, subsidies to community development banks and Homeland Security Department grants to first responders.

Taxpayers for Common Sense, a Washington-based watchdog group that opposes so-called pork barrel projects, counted 8,983 such "earmarks" worth $7.4 billion. These hometown pet projects include economic development grants, aid to local transit and police departments and clean water projects, among many others.

[mcv57]

veteran71,

You are being deceived:

Dec 19, 2007 23:08
Presidential candidate Ron Paul keeps donation from white supremacist
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul has received a $500 (%u20AC348) campaign donation from a white supremacist, and the Texas congressman does not plan to return it, an aide said Wednesday.

Don Black, of West Palm Beach, recently made the donation, according to campaign filings. He runs a Web site called Stormfront with the motto, "White Pride World Wide." The site welcomes postings to the "Stormfront White Nationalist Community."

"Dr. Paul stands for freedom, peace, prosperity and inalienable rights. If someone with small ideologies happens to contribute money to Ron, thinking he can influence Ron in any way, he''''s wasted his money," Paul spokesman Jesse Benton said. "Ron is going to take the money and try to spread the message of freedom."

"And that''''s $500 less that this guy has to do whatever it is that he does," Benton added

An extreme libralist, perhaps??

[mcv57]

simonsez40,

Your nazis Hitler is showing his colors:

Dec 19, 2007 23:08
Presidential candidate Ron Paul keeps donation from white supremacist
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
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What''s this?





Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul has received a $500 (%u20AC348) campaign donation from a white supremacist, and the Texas congressman does not plan to return it, an aide said Wednesday.

Don Black, of West Palm Beach, recently made the donation, according to campaign filings. He runs a Web site called Stormfront with the motto, "White Pride World Wide." The site welcomes postings to the "Stormfront White Nationalist Community."

"Dr. Paul stands for freedom, peace, prosperity and inalienable rights. If someone with small ideologies happens to contribute money to Ron, thinking he can influence Ron in any way, he''s wasted his money," Paul spokesman Jesse Benton said. "Ron is going to take the money and try to spread the message of freedom."

"And that''s $500 less that this guy has to do whatever it is that he does," Benton added

[mcv57]

Morgan Stanley Reports $9.4B Writedown
Mortgage-Related Debts Spur Quarterly Loss - China
NEW YORK , Dec. 19, 2007
Morgan Stanley becomes the latest on Wall Street to be punished by the unfolding credit crisis %u2014 and to be forced to reach out to a foreign government to secure a major investment to shore up its books. The investment bank has just taken a $5 billion infusion from an arm of the Chinese government, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2007. (AP (file))
Get words to the wise, from the wise, on handling, making and saving money.Morgan Stanley, the No. 2 U.S. investment bank, reported a $9.4 billion writedown on Wednesday from bad bets on mortgage-related debt, leading it to take a $5 billion infusion from an arm of the Chinese government.

The writedown, nearly triple what Morgan Stanley warned of in November, pushed the investment house to the first quarterly loss in its 73-year history. Stanley becomes the latest on Wall Street to be punished by the unfolding credit crisis - and to be forced to reach out to a foreign government to secure a major investment to shore up its books. Major global banks have lost $100 billion in the past six months alone.
"The writedown Morgan Stanley took this quarter is deeply disappointing - to me, to our colleagues, to our board and to our shareholders," Mack said.
Bear Stearns Cos. agreed to a $1 billion cross-investment from China''''s government-controlled Citic Securities Co.,

[lochlan-2009]

"Senate to pass a $555 billion omnibus appropriations bill combining the war funding with the budgets for 14 Cabinet agencies"- Get out your check books middle class America, you might also want to grab a little vaseline.

[Con Mohrat]

The Mental Midget who attempted the failed war on terror declared in his campaign promise he "was a Uniter, not a divider." How true that became.

Here is a result of his Unification. The following are now united, on the battlefield, or in spirit. Read it and gloat, neo-conmen.

Al Queda, headquartered in the Hindu Kush mountains
Al Queda in the Land of Two Rivers, in Iraq
Al Queda in the Maghreb, in Algeria
Armed Islamic Group (GIA) in Algeria
Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC) in Algeria who last week set of a large bomb in front of a UN building last week.
Islamic Jihad, in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Lebanon, Egypt and Yemen.
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade. in Palestine
Ansar al-Islam. in Iraq
Jaish Ansar al-Sunna, in Iraq
Harkat-ul-Ansar in Pakistan
Harkat-ul-Mujahiddin
Jaish-e-Mohammed (Army of Mohammed)
Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (Army of the Righteous)
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, in, Pakistan

[hillaryin08]

Ok fine but it was your liberal congress betreyed you again! They took your vote for withdraw and flushed it down the toilet! Is there something they know that you dont?

[simonsez40]

Foreclosure at an all time high, Gas prices at an all time high, food prices at an all time high, China imports tainted with lead, immigration and enforcing immigration laws in shambles, Iraq war STILL going on and making no progress, the Middle East is a hot bed for WWIII, economy sliding fast, administration in a dead lock and compromise is not imaginable under BUSHCO, middle class is shrinking, healthcare is not affordable and oil companies are reporting stellar profits.........

Merry Christmas from George Bush!

[fornicario]

Well, it seems that the Republicons get to kill more American children now, and the former middle class gets to pay for it. At least Pandora gave us her gift early. Glad to know that the Halliburton tree gets to have lots of gifts underneath it, while most Americans cannot buy even one gift for the ones they love. Tell me all you neocons, if you support this war so much, why don''t you pay for it and fight it yourselves, since it is so important to you?

[Con Mohrat]

When it comes down to it, we fund the troops.
Posted by mudrose

~~~~~~~~~~~

Marvellous, isn''t it mudrose?

One side laughs at the Dems because they had to fund troops in "wartime", knowing full well it will not add to the $9 trillion debt that their children will eventually pay.

The money only comes out pockets of other parties, right?

After your mental midget declared the clouds on the horizon will not mean an economic downturn, real economists predict a severe recession when the housing crunch is in full bloom next year.

But then, of course, it will not apply to your ilk either.

[simonsez40]

Posted by SBB2211

Do you REALLY Think anyone has won? Our nation was founde on compromise for the betterment of the people. It was founded on a two-party system that throughout the 200 years has kept the pendalum of our nation in the middle - vearing from the left to the right - yet always hovering over the middle.

So here we sit with a RIGHT President and I''ve never seen our nation in more of a mess. Does anyone win - if Bush acts defiant and throws a tantrum and most likely had ''dirt'' over the majority of Congress (like Hoover did) for his personal gain?

No we all lose and everyone should be FLIPPIN MAD that this moron is sucking the blood out of our nation!

[gunownerdan]

If you love big government, high taxes, and the destruction of our constitutional rights, then Ron Paul is not your candidate.
Support any of the other "front runners".

[gunownerdan]

THEY ARE NOT DEMOCRATS, THEY ARE NEOCONS IN DISGUISE!!!
WAKE UP PLEASE.

[sbb2211]

There is no way that anyone can deny that PRESIDENT BUSH has taken the ''Democrat''s control of Congress'' and SHOVED it back down their throats.

They threatened President Bush when they gained power and he hit them back. HARD!

That''s HARDBALL BABY!

Wave bye-bye to the nice little Democrat''s in 2008.

HA HA HA HA HA!

[sbb2211]

ALL HAIL THE GREAT AND POWERFUL BUSH.

He kicks the Democrat''s butts.

AGAIN!

You Libs are getting too pathetic seeing that you cannot beat "The Dumbest Man in America."

What does that make you?

Answer: BIG LOSERS IN 2008!

HA HA HA HA HA!

[walt1944-2009]

Once again, The Great Emperor Bush II is claiming victory over the evil, cowardly, spineless Whimp-ocrats in Congress, getting all the money he wants to continue his adventures in the Middle East. With the aid of his Fascist, mindless, stupidly loyal Congress people, the Emperor has again demonstrated that HE is more powerful than any official in the country and that no matter what, HE WILL GET WHAT HE WANTS!!!

It must be nice to be able to get whatever you want, and not have to worry about hanging on to your house, paying the bills, feeding your family, or putting gas in your car!!!!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!

[mudrose-2009]

Well now all the little SPs nutjobs can finally grasp the fact that Congress panders to its base with its lips. When it comes down to it, we fund the troops.

[Hybdiesel]

The republicans have ruined this country and the democrats have mush for brains. I am loosing all hope for this country.

[fstop100]

Merry Christmas middle class Americans, we pay the largest part, not the rich poor or illegals.

[omega39-2009]

Oh the poor, poor Democrats. They sold the American people a bill of goods to get control of Congress and they have yet to make good on their word.
Posted by SBB2211

Oh poor, poor SBB2211. He''s too stupid to realize that polls are already showing that the American people are Blaming Bush and the GOP for the obstructionism of the people''s will. Poor, poor sbb211 is using Karl Rove''s "the math" to foretell a sweeping Republican victory next year but he''s too foolish to realize that "the math" doesn''t add up.

[hillaryin08]

70-25 man, a bunch of socialists voted for this!