We Stopped the War Money!

[davidswanson]

On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted No and blocked Speaker Nancy Pelosi's latest proposal to throw another $165 billion into the occupation of Iraq. This happened in large part because ordinary citizens pressured their representatives to vote No. In the final count 149 Democrats voted No, 132 Republicans voted Present (neither Yes nor No), 12 members did not vote, and only 141 voted Yes. Here's the roll call:
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll328.xml

While the Republicans had less of an impact than the Democrats, the corporate media is quickly giving the Republicans credit for blocking the vote. This is nonsense. This vote was blocked by 149 Democrats finally - FINALLY - doing the right thing. We should thank them immediately. We should thank each other for having moved them. We should contact the media and praise them. We should have flowers delivered to their offices on Friday.

Now, the possibility remains that we're being played for fools, and that many of those who voted No intend to make a lot of noise about it and then turn around and try to quietly vote Yes on a different version cooked up by Pelosi or on a version that comes back from the Senate for final approval. But that's all the more reason to make a big giant humungous stink about how amazing it is and how grateful we are that 149 of our representatives FINALLY saw fit to represent us. If we can make this thing stick, we can end the killing and give birth to an opposition Party in one stroke.

In other news, the two separate amendments that went along with the war money did pass. One of them includes money for useful things like veterans care. It may fail in the Senate or in conference or cause a veto. The other restricts the war money to particular illegal activities while prohibiting its use for others. That one looks even more ridiculous than it originally did, because it's now restricting money that wasn't passed. These two amendments were passed by the Democrats, by the way. The Republicans are a minority and were decisive in none of the three votes.

[kentuck]

1. That might be good news for the economy...

All we need to send us straight into a deeper recession is to spend another $160 billion in the rat hole over in Iraq. This is good news.

[spanone]

2. k&r

[Disturbed]

3. Mo $$$ will be forwarded for the US Occupation of Iraq.

The House will pass a Bill, so will the Senate. This only the 1st round.

Shame on Pelosi for forwarding any funding for this on going Fiasco.

[Truth2Tell]

4. I notice Pelosi is playing her usual game

of shepherding these bills to the floor and then voting against them so she can have it both ways.

:crazy:

[Truth2Tell]

5. the possibility remains that we're being played for fools

ummmm, ya think?

[defendandprotect]

21. Yeah, in the sense that they've already cleaned out the Treasury....

and the war is probably funded for the next six months or more . . . ???

What do you think?


I say buy the troops plane tickets home and then no more $$$$ ----

[Truth2Tell]

27. Of course the war is funded for at least that long.

In fact, the money already in the possession to the DOD could likely fund the war for another year and still cover a complete withdrawal - without any supplemental at all. It might require some money moving from other areas but it's not like any checks would bounce.

This is the saddest part of the way this whole debate had been framed by both Parties. The Democratic leadership has gone along with the sick lie that cutting off funds for the war would somehow put our troops at risk. They have not only allowed this gross neocon distortion to go unchallenged, but they have adopted it themselves as an excuse for continued funding.

Very very sad.

[KSinTX]

6. Finally! Acting like a majority

Does it get any better than this? Particularly when the GOP is flailing around looking for a new brand, no better time to strike. Which, of course, explains why they went along with the 149 and want need to get credit.

[Breeze54]

7. I'm in disbelief but I'll thank them ....

for now, for waking up!! :woohoo:

:kick: & Recommended!

[whistle]

8. Only good news if Congress takes the same $160 billon and spends it

...for long term job growth programs like infrastructure rebuilding, education, etc. In otherwords don't dump it into rat hole pork projects to get elected in November, this sure won't get any support from Bush and his cronies who will for certain try to torpedo these efforts

[defendandprotect]

22. Right --- the money that went to the investment banks should have

gone to end the trade agreements and finance new jobs in America ---

and the FEDERAL RESERVE is OPEN for any new requests by these investment banks!!!

[kentuck]

9. Republicans defeated this bill by voting "present"... Why?

Politics! They are running scared. They saw what happened in MS the other night. They can see the writing on the wall. They decided to vote "present". They do not want to be accused of continuing this disaster in Iraq which has given their President a 21% positive rating, the lowest in recorded history.
If we think the Democratic Convention will be chaotic, wait until the Republican Convention! :-)

[defendandprotect]

23. You'll see the same old crap --- they'll fall in place like true robots ---

and support any fascist who comes along ---

[berni_mccoy]

10. K&R!

[lonestarnot]

11. Hot diggity! ABOUT FUCKING TIME!

[puebloknot]

12. Cautiously optimistic, but it's been a long time since ...

... there was any reason for optimism.

Could it be that the Dems are getting a little nervous, what with an election coming up that might remove some of them from office for their failure to stand up for anything "Democratic" (Big D)?

[dixiegrrrrl]

26. My thoughts exactly

The news is out that the Repubs are getting karma, losing state seats, etc. and the Dems now want to appear like they have been the good guys all along, so all of this is for show.
House can play a lot of publicity games, the Senate still has some say,
and of course there are those "quiet" amendments to bills..

Yeah...gotta watch 'em like a hawk.

good news...we have hawk watching tools...DU, Politico, lots of eyes wide open blogs..

[GrantDem]

13. About time...

Long overdue.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. The elections are looming!!

:rofl:

Damn bastards. You know they are thinking about their jobs rather than our soldiers or the Iraqis.

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. Latest update (email) from UFPJ

i tried to send this out earlier but i didnt go....

As you can see below, amendment #1 which would have given $160 or so billion for Iraq and Afghanistan failed. It failed because 132 repubs voted "present." why? it's unclear but already rep. lungren is claiming that dems voted to not fund the troops. also, the repbs know that this money will be put back in by the senate and then approved in conference. it could be a protest against the rule. it could be that they are scared to vote for the war with repubs losing special election left and right and a tough election looming the future.

nonetheless , we can claim this as a victory as 147 dems voted against the funding which is i think 8 more last time and we would of had one more as Rep. Gilbrand was having a baby.

if you have any other intel on this please let me know.

here's the roll call vote. congrats to everyone for their work on this.

http://clerk.house.gov/cgi-bin/vote.asp?year=2008&rollnumber=328

[me b zola]

16. K&R

:kick:

[wiggs]

17. We put a tourniquet on a severed artery. Let's sew it up. Then let's go after

the bastards that took an ax to the country.

[cui bono]

18. Yay! My guy Becerra has been voting nicely lately...

[KSinTX]

19. Acting like a majority

Feels sooo good. Kinda like the hard work is starting to pay off.

[defendandprotect]

20. PELOSI has to go --- what good would it be to win 2008 and keep her????

Since Nancy Pelosi began with ACKNOWLEDGING that the 2006 election was about ending the war in Iraq what the hell has she been doing???

Something turned her around --- those who finance her???

Whatever--- Pelosi has been useless to us these past two years --- and she should be OUT in 2009!!!

Reid, as well --- !!!

[Independent_Liberal]

24. See guys? Anything's possible!

If politicians continue to feel the heat, they can be forced to do anything. If we can force their hand on this, I'd say we can just as well force their hand on impeachment.

[bonito]

25. K&R n/t

[countryjake]

28. Kick!