of course they should have. But Ma’am Speaker Pelosi and all the others are just as spineless and lying as W. Rating = Zero not 11%.
if you look for a torture tape, ask Dick or W. pretty sure they kept one for private viewing.

yes Jack , the presidents veto can’t work if they refuse to fund the troops .
the spinless congress should do the peoples work. it’s the president who is refuseing to fund the troops each time he vetos.if he vetos a bill then congress shouldn’t revisit it agian. his veto says he thinks they can survive without it.

scott emily missouri

Of course they should’ve, but they didn’t- because these days they’re just as bad as the Republicans. The people and the polls are speaking: we want our troops and our country OUT of Iraq. But time and time again we’re ignored. Democrats and Republicans alike should be ashamed of the way they’re “representing” their constituents.

No, Jack, because it wouldn’t have done any good. Anyone who thought the Democrats’ newly-won majority in Congress would result in change was badly mistaken. There was a time when a divided Congress could find compromise so that the Peoples’ work could get done, but these days, a veto-proof majority might be the only way for Congress to put forth its agenda. That is, unless We the People create real change in 2008.

Matt
Naples, Florida

Congress should do as they promised to do, end the war. They have the power to end it, they just don’t have the backbone.

This is the most useless Congress in my lifetime. (I’m 73)

OMG! What part of “voter mandate” and “no more funding without a timeline” do these people not get? With more than two-thirds of the voting public against the war they have backing but apparently no backbone. This is disgusting. While we continue to pour money and bodies down a rathole the Republicans continue to ramrod this disaster down our throats and the Democrats fold like a lawn chair.

Memo to American voters in November 2008. No matter your affiliation, vote them out!

Yes, there should have been a time set for withdrawal.

This is not the real question. The real question is when are the Democrats going to grow a pair and stand up to the bully-boys in the administration. I am so disappointed in their performance to date, particularly on Iraq. Reid is a big fat weinie, and should be retired in favor of someone with some cajones.

When Republicans were in control Bush had a blank. Now that the Democrats are in control Bush still has a blank check. Talk about a bunch of spineless cowards.

Yes, last January. If they had any spine this mess could have been over with by now. The Bush Brat has gotten everything he wants without compromise. JUST SAY NO!

Congress should have never given the green light to go to war in the first place. What did Iraq ever do to any of us or our allies? They may have invaded Kuwait at one time but that was years ago. Since congress passed the funding for war in Iraq we have killed and or caused a lot of innocent people to be killed that had absolutely nothing to do with September 11th 2001. I honestly do not know how those congress members sleep at night with that much blood on their hands.

People tend to blame Bush for all of this but let me tell you folks, without the approval from Congress we could have never started this war. There was a whole lot more then just One moron in charge of this disaster. The rest of them are just cowards that will never take responsibility for it and as long as they can point fingers and cast aspersions on anyone else they will continue to do it to justify their meager existence in congress. This congress is the congress that has cried wolf one time to many. Americans are not that stupid.

I wonder how many of our troops are saying, “pull the plug on this mess”, under their breaths.

NO ONE ON THE HILL REMEMBERS WHAT THE LAST ELECTION WAS ALL ABOUT, END THE WARS (NOW) AND SECURE OUR PORTS & BORDERS (NOW). THESE BAFFOONS ARE NEVER GOING TO STOP SHOVELING MONEY INTO THESE BOTTOMLESS PITS AND ARE NEVER GOING TO ALLOW OUR TROUPS TO COME HOME. I’VE STOOD IN PROTEST MARCHES, WRITTEN, EMAILED, AND PHONED ALL OF MY REPS. ALL HAVE THEIR OWN AGENDA WHICH IS NO WHERE MINE. STOP SPENDING MY TAX DOLLARS AND PUT IMPEACHMENT BACK ON THE TABLE. BE NICE IF SOMEONE FOUND OUT WHERE ALL MY WASTED TAX DOLLARS ARE GOING AND TO HAVE SOMEONE TRY TO GET IT BACK.

yes… i want someone to tell the public how we are going to pay for $700 million a day we are currently spending. how much more will it cost to rebuild iraq, but more importantly when is the iraq government is going to accomplish something. there is no end in sight if the iraqi government wont take over. we dont fund the V.A. but have no problem giving the iraqi people medical care. if bush wants money for this war 25% should go directly to the V.A..

No, Congress should not have refused funding for our troops. They are not simply pawns in some beltway power struggle–they are our sons and daughters, and do need resources to stay that way. Unfortunately, the situation is more complicated than having one right or wrong answer to this political tug-of-war. The real question that should be being asked is whether or not it’s acceptable for the White House and Congress to treat the troops’ welfare akin to a child in a horrible divorce.

They don’t deserve the disservice either branch is granting them.

Are you kidding me? I’m actually supposed to expect that this democratically controlled congress, who claimed they would take us in a new direction with the War in Iraq, to actually keep their word and make some sort of progress? Seriously, stop pulling my leg.

To this date they have done absolutely nothing to bring our troops home and Bush has essentially had his way just as he did when Republicans had the majority.

Very sad indeed.

Jack, If Congress gives Bush another “DIME” for Iraq they are not doing there job.

Yes!

As a veteran of the armed forces I will say this: it is time to get the hell out of the shithole that Bush has got us into. Being that I am only 33 years old, I don’t like being this jaded politically, but I have come to the realization that if the Republicans are for something, than it has a 90% chance of being a bad idea.

Well, duh! The Demowimps have proven over and over and over again, that they are part and parcel of the U.S. government’s sick foreign policy. BUSH may have started this obscene invasion, rape and occupation of a sovereign nation on the wing of lies, but the equally corrupt Democrats have enabled him from DAY ONE.

I am sick to death of the falsehood that we have two main political parties in America: We have ONE party - and all who wish to serve in it must FIRST pay allegiance to IMPERIAL US FOREIGN POLICY.

Let’s see if CNN is willing to print this truth…

Yes. They should have refused to pass any spending legislation, recessed for the Holidays and left George figure out how to run HIS war and the government since he and his neocon-Cheneyites feel that the legislative branch of government doesn’t exist. This has become especially evident sincehe lost his Republican-led legislative rubber stamp. His unwillingness to negotiate with our Congress is tantamount to refusing to negotiate with “We the People”.

The whimper you speak of means that Congress finally understands that a majority of the American people know that to set a time line means more risk to putting troops in harms way. End of story.

On the one hand we have the Bush Administration with no brain, no soul and no conscience. On the other hand, we have the Democratic Congress with no spine and no balls.

I want a government of whole people.

It means that the “Tin Man”, George Bush is still ordering his “Tin Soldiers” to march to his tune, and they can not think for themselves enough to do differently, except for Senator Hagel who is leaving the Senate.

I would hope that if the Democrats had a large enough majority that they would act differently, but then there are always those “testerone members” that love war, such as the “Blue Dogs”.

We need a third party.

There are 2 reasons Congress should not have supplied George Bush with more money for Iraq: 1. If the surge is working as well as Gen. Petraeus says it is, then the military shouldn’t need all the extra money for Iraq. Or:2. The surge is failing & the only thing Gen. Petraeus should be doing is bring our troops home, & he should not need the extra money, because most of the troops that are there were being sent home after their extended deployment anyway.
Either way, Congress should not have let BushCo bully them into giving more money to Iraq.
I’ve said this before, when 9/11 happened I understood the reason for going into Afghanistan to get OBL, I reallllly did. And had BushCo stuck to doing just that, even though I have never liked BushCo, I wouldn’t have complained as much as I have about this man being the worst President since Garfield. But, he went into Iraq & the US has lost what good will the world gave us since 9/11. I will never forgive George Bush, “Dead-eye” Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, or anyone else in this administration for what they have done to our Armed Forces. This Administration is gulity of “Crimes Against Humanity”, for what they have done to the Iraqi people, & the American poeple & they should be led away in chains to stand trial at the Hague.

Jack
Lets be realistic we will have troops in Iraq for awhile and we should support them with the funds they need to operate from day to day as long as they are there. Its not a question of lets bring the troops home and stop this war, you and I both know it aint gonna happen till Jan.20th 2009.

the Democrates THINK that are between the political rock of an apparently successful “troop surge” and the political hard place of their antiwar left wing base. IF they DON’T give Bush the money, the Republicans will scream that “they are not supporting the troops” BUT IF they DO give Bush the funds with no timeline attached, then the antiwar liberal base calls them cowards for not forcing the issue like they were elected to do.

what they SHOULD realise is that a two third majority of the American public WANTS the TROOPS OUT of IRAQ. they SHOULD send Bush the bill WITH TIMELINES and if he VETOS IT, then HE has cut off the funds NOT the Democrate Congress.

And Feingold is the only Democrat who refuses to bow down to the King’s court and he is the only one who has bollocks and too bad there are not more like him. It is time to tell Bush the bank of the American People is shut down in words that he will understand, King George you have bankrupt America. Get your hand’s out of the cookie jar.

NO FUNDS WITHOUT DRAWDOWN COMMITTMENT

You want a “yes/no” answer, Jack? Why don’t you just ask everyone to raise their hands like were asked of the candidates in the debate? Is it really that simple? There is no easy out, Jack. And political posturing by this venal congress is just pandering at its worst.

What Congress should have refused to do is transfer their power to declare war to the Bush regime in the first place. What fools. They are now powerless to end the occupation or even modify it in any small way. And they will be unable to prevent George’s next war with Iran. Oh, it’s going to happen; just look at the map. Iran cradles the Caspian Sea, the worlds largest known oil field. Dick simply cannot resist this oil opportunity. Why do you think Haliburtun moved to Dubai?
I would suggest the Democrats simply walk off the job, essentially go on strike. If they didn’t come back until after the 08 election, at least in their absense they would not be complicit in another imperialistic oil war and the murdering of another million innocent civilians for the oil and the money.

Absolutely! What are two thirds of American taxpayers screaming about? Why are my hard-earned taxes being flushed down the “toilet without a cause”? Why do I have to shell out my own hard-earned money to have innocent (Iraqi) men, women and children killed? Where are all these “promises” from the Democrats? It’s time to DELIVER! Set a deadline, bring our brave soldiers home, focus the billions wasted on our own country…and vote out every one of these morons in office…including impeachment of Bevis and Butthead!

Jack, Jack

Congress should not give Bush one more penny without a deadline to bring our troops home. Congress for one time needs to stand up to George Bush about this nonsense stupid war and give him nothing else but a deadline and zero dollars.

This man has already cause to much greed and heart aces. No more money for this war without a deadline. Enough lives have already been lost.

Olive Branch MS

I am shocked. The congress of the USA has failed to follow though wih their promises. Please tell me it ain’t so. Soon you will tell me that there is no Santa Claus.

No Jack.

It’s essentially like fishing without bait… You’re never going to get anywhere.

Decreasing the funding while making a workable plan for withdrawal would have been the smart thing to do.

The defence budget is through the roof though, and decreasing it will provide more wiggle room for other priorities (e.g. education, public health)

They will be criticized for not standing up to Bush so why not just do what the majority of americans want and demand a timeline. I think they worry about their image too much and we as americans not being totally stupid see that. The troops could have been home months ago.

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. According to a new poll by the State Department, 65% of Iraqis want U.S.-led military forces to immediately withdraw from the country, saying their swift departure would make Iraq more secure and decrease sectarian violence. There was no WMD, no ties to Al Qaeda, and no link to 9/11. The Iraq War has been the biggest foreign policy blunder in the history of the United States.

There is nothing I want more then to see a timeline put to troop withdrawel and I have been very disappointed that the Dems have not been able to accomplish this or anything else for that matter. Having said that, I would not want to see funding pulled from the troops. They’ve been order over there and we have to support them in every way. They did not call this war, but they sure are paying the price for it. Just get them home. Problem solved!

the Democrats better realize soon that the mandate given them in 2006 is reversible if they continue to be afraid to do their job. Stop the funding and you’ll soon see actual compromise from Bush and his cronies. The Bush administration is a severe danger to us all, from Iraq, to outing a CIA operative, to secret government within a government, failure to secure our borders, Bush says hes bringing our men and woman home from Iraq as he knows full well he’s deploying similar amounts of new troops to Iraq. I hope this country can survive till the end of his term.

No. I do not think congress should have approved more funds for irad to begin with. Poor miliatary men and women, my heart goes out to all of them. This is a senseless war and the whole entrie world know about it. What a shame!!

Yes,If you want to end this stupid war you have to stop the funding,just like congress did in Vietnam. The democrats need to show some cojones.

They should have absolutely refused funding. That is what they were elected to do. Put an end of this war in Iraq. But after all.. we all know the opposite of pro-gress in con-gress.

Obviously, congress should have refused to pass the spending bill. It’s ridiculous that congress continues to fund this disaster of a war and yet points the finger at the President for his continued vetoes. If the Democrats had any sense of duty to their constituents, they would cut funding for the war entirely. A great hoax is being perpetrated by claiming that not funding the war means not supporting the troops - a lack of money means we must bring the troops home, not leave them in harm’s way without the proper equipment.

I think they should. If the troops were that desperate, surely BushCo would cave. I mean, the congress have to start showing some spine.

Jack, for crying out loud YES, we need to but a stop to the spending in that war. By the way I forgot why we’re there? Ooh to protect the Americans, ok well then bring the boy’s and girls home and spend that money on their rehab. Congress said there was going to be a limit, to the funds what happen? duh it’s call Politics.

Of course they should have; but why would the American public care? They don’t vote, they don’t want to know what’s going on, they truly don’t care, and the leadership of both major parties know that. They also know they only have to be accountable to their contributors, which for BOTH parties are the same bankers, credit card companies, war products providers, pharma(s), and oil companies. They know they can pull off whatever move they want, and within hours it will be ‘old newz’.
DNC leadership wants the dollars. Leadership provides the lip service, they continue to get rich, we continue to pay the bill.
Who’s to blame? Starts with the apathetic citizenship. If they ever decide to stand up for themselves, we might get lasting effects that make it to being at least a week-long.

They should have done it ages ago and, yes, they should have done it now instead of letting Bush get away with his bullying tactics. They have not shown guts on any issue yet. Time to vote all new representatives in, not just the President who should have been impeached years ago!

Jack, they shouldn’t have passed it because it was a rush job. There isn’t enough time to investigate all the pork that the bill is loaded with–which is precisely why so much got inserted in the first place. The whole thing indicates–once again–corrupt government. This should have been done long ago with enough time to scrutinize it properly. Just shows they aren’t doing their job!

Of course they should refuse to pass funding for the war! My guess is they plan to use this issue as fuel for their campaigns next year. There is no better platform to run on then something 70% of the population agrees on. They are stalling on purpose. I believe Ron Paul has been pushing for our removal for years (even before the invasion). Maybe some democrat voters should look to him to get the job done!

Yes

Geez Jack…why would they? This spineless excuse for a congress hasn’t done anything else they promised either!

Congress should have refused to pass any funding that Bush and Cheney demanded. Instead, Congress should have insisted that they get the funds from Haliburton and the energy companies that have been growing ever fatter by war profiteering.

The democrats acted responsibly. Our country is not a vacuum and for every reaction there is an equal an opposite reaction. That is our society,

Look Jack, from who I see it whats good for all Americans and that so called ”Coalition of the willing” is to be humble. Congress should continue pressing for change, I voted for them and I proudly did it. I believe that for lasting peace diplomatic efforts should be made, but apparently we’d need a new President for that.

Republicans say that you shouldn’t ignore the military progress. Apparently they are fine with ignoring the lack of any political process in Iraq.

Yes, we should get out of Irag and not only there but leave other parts of the world. It is high time America started taking care of America and stop policing the world. We should lead by example and not tyrany. More people should GOOGLE RON PAUL!

Jack, it never ceases to amaze me that so few of the people who write to you have so little common sense, let alone experience in the “real world”. As much as I, and my brethren who have actually served in war, find war in any form abhorrant, to suggest that we should telegraph a timetable for “pulling the plug” is, at the very least, naive. This war was entered into with all parties fully cognizant of the intelligence (no pun intended) that precipitated the decision to go into Iraq. Now, of course, with 20/20 hindsight and no gonads, everybody campaigns as though it was W & Cheney’s fault that they were mislead. We’re there people, and we are not going to be able to pull out until there is some semblance of governmental order in Iraq and the Iranians stop the flow of not so clandestine assistance to the insurgents. Continue to push the envelope for change, but in the meantime, get real and don’t undermine or denegrate those who are serving. Now it’s OUR war, not Bush’s.

USMC vet, Korea/Viet Nam

YES, my God man. The American people sent this Congress to Washington to accomplish one thing: end the war in Iraq. How they have been so thoroughly trounced at every turn by a disastrously unpopular President with no political capital to spend is mind-boggling. If Republican Senators are going to filibuster bills with timelines in them, let’s make them actually filibuster. Having to stand on the floor and explain to the American people for hours why we are continuing the occupation of Iraq will not play with the American people and Republicans know that. Use the bully pulpit and step up, or let’s send some people to Congress who will.

The Democrats bring new meaning to the term “spineless.” They are trying to get the “best of both nworlds” by funding the war to appease the centrist Democrats 9and republicans) while assuming that the more left-leaning Democrats will vote for them no matter what they do because any they think any Democrat is better than any Republican.

They are plaything with fire. As one of those left-leaning Democrats, I see no difference between the parties and I may either vote for some 3rd party candidate or just stay home.

Yes, of course the Democrats should not have “fallen on their sword” AGAIN! by allowing the funding bill to go through with no timelines. And of course, once again, they’ll say they could not get their version of the bill through because of the Republican votes. This is why I will not support the Democratic Party with my hard earned funds unless and until they nominate a candidate who will bring our troops home immediately. And that’ll be a cold day in hell when that happens. What a disaster our government has become.

Yes, they should have refused passing the funding. The Democrats new tagline “we don’t have the votes” is a bunch of bull. They might not have the votes to override a veto, but they don’t have to pass bills. They are weak and spineless and I give the President credit for knowing that if he bullies them long enough, they’ll eventually fold like a cheap suit.

Consider this Jack, if they stood up to the president, then no money would have been sent to the government, so they wouldn’t be able to do anything. So the only change is we might actually like them for trying.

Yes. There is no reason why Congress should be giving Bush all the money that he wants for this war just because he makes a few comments to make them feel guilty and feel as though they aren’t supporting the troops. The Democrats are supposed to support our troops enough to BRING THEM HOME!!

Why not? King Bush could alway declare at the signing that a timeline would infringes upon his executive powers and decline to enforce it.

Of course they should have. I’m tired of them whining about the President doing whatever he feels like doing, when in fact they are the ones who could stop him, as in this instance. Meanwhile he keeps receiving endless funds for the war, and cutting out funds for domestic programs that actually need help.

Obviously the Dems should have lived up to their word and not provided Bush with yet another blank check for the debacle. The US is part of the problem in Iraq, not the solution. The only reason that violence is down is because the US has taken the Sunni insurgency temporarily out by funding and arming them so that as we inevitibly pull troops out - a real bloody civil war can commence. Just in time for Bush leaving office and the Republicans to blame the Dems for losing yet another war.

Those Demowimps have to grow a backbone before it’s to late. It may already
be to late

Congress should have most definitely refused to pass founding this country is supposed to have a system of checks and balances, and in the last 7 years it seems that system has become non existent making this country very close to the dictatorships that we find out duty to eradicate.

I’m a Democrat; And as sad as it is to ever see my controling party buckle at the knees to White house pressure, I don’t know that it is that bad. This isn’t world war 2 and it isn’t Vietnam. Our casualties are minor for the time we have been on the ground in Iraq. I don’t think the Democrats think it is all that important to end the war. I don’t think we should have ever went there. But we are and we should make the best of it.

What in the dickens is this U.S. Congress thinking? ABSOLUTELY there should have been a DEADLINE on concluding this disgracing mess in IRAG. How many congressmen or congresswomen have had their sons or daughters killed in Irag?

Yes Jack. They should have attached timelines to the bill. It is disgraceful and disappointing as to how this President does his job. Mr. Bush was given the privilege to hold the office of the United States but he has used and abused it to his own end. He should be given the same treatment as Saddam was given and then hung for his war crimes against the American people not to mention the Iraqies. This war should have ended when they found no WMD.

Yes, the wimpy democrate congress should have insisted upon a time line for withdrawal. We should not have put the lying Democrates into office because they are cowards. I am sure Liberman is laughing so hard he might forget to vote republican today.

I want the troops out of Iraq as much as the next person, probably more since my husband is about to do his 3rd, 12 month + tour. I am a Democrat but I do not see how setting a timeline for withdrawal helps the situation in Iraq. If you know anything about military strategy, you can not let the enemy know what you are doing all the time, much less when you plan on leaving the battlefield. All we would be saying is “Insurgents, you can take over in this amount of time because we will be gone”. The politicians should not be the ones working to get us out, it should be the military commanders on the ground in the war zone. We should not of even gone there in the first place. What about Afganistan? People seem to forget that we are there too.

Absolutly, We need to start takiing care of our own country before we take care of others. We are fighting a war they won’t let us win.

I’m appalled that the Democrats did not back their threat to withhold Iraq war funding without a timetable on withdrawal. I hate to think that they will cave as the Republicans did on withdrawal from a country we have decimated for little reason. I am a Democrat and counted on them to do the right thing

The Democrats have tried but face a president willing to veto and point a “don’t support the troops finger”. What we need, and what my fellow Democrats don’t appear to understand, is a stand like President Clinton did when he called the Republican Congress on “shutting down the government”.

Go for it like he did and America will back you. We don’t back gutless wonders!

Of course there should be a timetable for the troops withdrawal but it’s becoming more and more of a fantasy as republicans and now even some democrats are asserting that our presence there will endure well past 2010. It makes me sick to think that American lives and money are needlessly being wasted while the game of politics is played by our childish, greedy, and cowardly leaders. Thanks Jack, Happy Holidays.

The Iraq war is a disaster now 4 plus years running. The military will NEVER solve the problem there. All we are doing is shipping billions of dollars into a huge sink hole while that money could have been spent here at home improving OUR lives. Our infrastructure is crumbling, bridges fall, and just recently Oklahoma has been without power from an ice storm that comes yearly. (Bury the power lines) American’s, regardless of their political persuasions need to WAKE UP and demand some common sense.
Bob/Seattle

Jack,

Again, you request a simple answer to a complex question. If, the Iroq war funds could be seperate from the General Defense spending funds your question would be valid. Bush’s planned response to no funding was to shut down domestic and other batant military spending, not withdraw from Iraq.

His war would continue through 2008 and only then can there be change with the right vote.

Jack

I think its unfair when you said the Democrats have no backboned to stand up to the President. It’s the 49 Republican Senates who voted against all things Democrats stand for, which include the continue to fund the endless war in Irag. I wondered why you did not mentioned them when issues not to your liking were passed?

There is a reason that the President is the Commander-in Cheif of American Armed Forces.

This reason is that wars are tough to fight. And if you’ve ever attempted to make a decision with a group you know it is an obscenely difficult task. It would be easier to clean the Augean Stables. Only in our circumstance there is a lot more to clean.

So what are we going to do?

Will we have our troops march to the ends of the earth, and then refuse to pay them?

No, We should let our armed forces do the Job they are supposed to do. When the Job is done, they come home. And unless we want our own bad press to be right, we should let them finish the Job.

So, we will fight until the Job is done, and THEN we will bring the troops home. To do so otherwise is to spit in the faces of all of the now dead soldiers.

Of course they should have. They are so afraid that they will be painted as the party that cut off the funding for our brave soldiers but as I see it if Bush vetoes a bill that has the spending he is the one who cut off funding

Jack how do you think we got into this war in the first place? In a word, CONGRESS.
We would not be in Iraq now if Congress had voted NO in the first place.
How can you count on the same CONGRESS now to do the right thing.
Just say NO to CONGRESS. Should be on a bumpersticker on every Americans car.

If Mr. Bush vetos the buget with time lines on the war, does that mean that congress won’t get their paychecks come January 1 of next year. I’m a democrat and I expected change with the 2006 elections. I guess I was wrong.

The Democrats don’t have enough votes to overturn a Presidential veto.
Also the funding bill that was passed contained a lot more than funding for the war. What do you want….. the government to grind to a stop?
It will take a regime change in Washington to bring about massive changes in foreign policy. You think the Republicans are going to bring about those massive changes? Shoot, no ! That’s why I plan to vote Democratic in 2008.
Also I thought your comment about the French was nasty and narrow-minded.

Yes. this Democratically led Congress has sadly been a showcase of puffing and posturing. I’m a Dem who has supported the war from the beginning. It has been painful and sad watching my party’s leadership sell out the troops for what they thought would be their personal poltiical gain. It was obvious from the get-go that Pelosi, Reid et al never believed in anything except bashing Bush. They have failed because they deserved to fail.

NOOOO !!! Because the Democrats don’t believe in timelines themselves. A good percieved sound bite as tough, but if they were in the White House and majority in both houses, they wouldn’t change a thing … All bliuster and talk .no substance !!!

Jack, I am a democract and this democratic congress has failed us all. If I could ask this democratic congress one question it would be, If Gas needed to be passed, Can you guys at least Pass Gas? Stop disappointing us democrates that elected you and grow a backbone. Stop giving Bush his way.

As the saying goes: 1 Man’s Pork is Another Man’s Bridge Repair. Is there pork in this spending bill, hell yes!! But, it’s not as much as when the Republicans were in the majority. And I didn’t notice BushCo demanding the Republicans take their PORK out when signing those spending bills in the 1st 7 years of his administration, did you??? If it weren’t for all the Republican PORK during the last 7 years of BushCo thia country wouldn’t be in debt to Communist China some $2TTTTTTRILLION DOLLARS, when you factor in the trade deficit. You Republicans have only yourselves to blame!!!

Jack, the answer is ABSOLUTELY! This is the very reason so many of us voted for the Democrats to have a majority. So, they would stand up to the Bush Administration and fight to end this miserable war, restore the Constitution, have accountability for the Executive Branch. However, in every instance, this congress has behaved like the Rubber Stamping Republican Congress! I guess we need to boot them out as well.

I believe Congress should not have passed a bill to fund the war without a timeline of some sort for the withdrawl of troops. However, how the democrats can be blamed for not doing so is beyond me.

Bush is so stubborn that it is obvious that he would veto any such legislation regardless of the consequences and his veto would undoubtedly be upheld because the Democrats do not have the votes to override it, even if they all voted to override it. This mess was created and continues to get worse by a Republican President and a Republican Congress. I wish people would stop blaming the Democrats- they have done everything they could to keep their promise to end the war- it would be completely irresponsible to continue to send funding bills that they are certain to be vetoed.
John Ulman
Bakersfield, California

Yes-Yes-Yes
I heard the same thing over and over while in the Air Force fighting in Vietnam.
It is a meaningless threat that means NOTHING.
We always had enough money no matter what the threat is.
Do the Americans honestly think that we the military fighting and not fighting will be left standing without?
Please, give me a break. That’s nonsense.
P.S.
Also when we got one of these threats in Vietnam another plane landed as we offloaded more Steaks. Fillet-“T” Bone Fresh Eggs Ect.
Never sacrificed anything in 20 years.

YES, because continuing to fund the war is condoning it! The time schedule
can be summed up in one word-NOW! There should be an IMMEDIATE
troop withdrawal to include every single service man or woman now there.
This so called “war” is the dirtiest blot in the history of our Nation. It was
conceived in falsity and conducted with unimaginable stupidity. When, in the
name of common sense, will it be announced that this “war” should never have happened ??? Enough is enough!!

No. Bush will be gone soon enough. Let whoever is elected deal with it. Messing with it now, when the congress does not have a veto-proof majority just stops up all the other business too.

Yes, without an acceptable timeline for troop withdrawal, the Congress should have refused to pass the funding bill. Maybe we the people should demand the bill’s earmarks be linked to a troop withdrawal. Would it not be fair to link earmarks to hazards our troops endure if the earmarks are passed and timeline withdrawal not. Perhaps a congressman earmarking a pet project can explain how valuable the project is versus the soldiers that died or were maimed since the bill was passed.

If that is the only way they can get Bush’s attention, yes, congress should refuse to provide any additonal funds for Iraq. Let Bush veto the funding bill and shut down the government, we would probably be better off, anyway. Most of us are fed up with the gutless democrats in congress.

I just retired from the military after 30+ years and am saddened by the spineless Democrats and Republicans for adding so much pork to the bill and not sticking to there guns about the time line. There should be one in place or we will never leave. This will mean Hilliary will have to bring our troops home, that will most likely hurt her chanses for a reelection bid. These guys have not accomplished to much before the break because they are worried more about the CIA tapes and any other dirt they can stir up instead of working for the people that elected them.

Thanx
Mack

I am an ashamed life long democrat that is also living under spiteful republicans in the congress and white house, where oh where is my america. Everything is going to hell in a handbasket carried by Bush and the republicans and greatly assisted by the spineless whiney democrats. All seems lost unless we the people take to the streets and take our country back from BOTH parties

Jack,

If we are going to keep a two party system in this country it appears it will have to be the RepubliCrats and the Independents. After all it looks like the Democrats are no more than Republicans, They no longer have a backbone.

Bill

Yes. No funding, even if they have to shut down.

Absolutely, positively there should have been timelines or no money. President
Bush has turned the Democrats into a bunch of whimps again. It is
almost 2008 and the Democrats have whimped out on Iraq and all that
accountability and everything else they promised to fix. Shame on them.

How can you expect the democrates to suceed with anything with leaders like Pelosie and Ried.. They are both absolutely worthless. They should keep sending bills with timelines to withdraw as soon as Bush’s term is up. I do not understand why they are wasting everyones time with CIA tape destruction as nothing will be done. The entire Bush administration should be impeached, including Pelosie and Ried as they would be absolutely worthless in Bush’s position.

yes

Every death in Iraq, American and others, is on Bushman for vetoeing the time- limit. These obscene and unnecessary deaths are George W’s Legacy. Own it, Bushie!

They better fund the troops, in case you along with most Americans haven’t figured it out we will be in Iraq forever! Afganastan too! If we leave, the bad guys come back, kill way more people than we have and rebuild their terror organizations and we have another 9/11 on our hands. Get your heads out of your hidey holes and take a look at reality!!!
JL

Of course congress should refused to pass funding for the war in Iraq without a timetable to get out. The thing that really gets to me is that people in this country are saying that the war isn’t their first priority anymore. We send our solders to die for Bush’s war, we ignore them when they come home and need help, and now we don’t think it’s a priority? God help us all.

The answer to a spineless congress is to vote against ANYONE currently in office. No matter what new unknown then gets elected, it has to be better than the dunderheads who don’t seem to to remember why we voted democratic in the last election.

Course I live in Florida so my vote doesn’t count. We don’t get a primary this time around and in the general election the republicans will count votes however they want. I’ll have to go live and vote in a third world country to get my vote to matter.

Oh wait, The U.S. is a third world country in terms of health care, infant mortality, literacy rate and after W gets through, we will be third world in terms of average income. And once the foreigh banks buy up everything, we will be owned by third world countries. Let the good times roll.

The Democrats cannot be expected to refuse to approve more funds for the military operation in Iraq, before the public, whom they represent moves to a position that is close enough to a desire to end the American mission in Iraq. The fact that the Democrats were not given a veto-proof majority in the Senate during the last election is one of the indicators of the fact that the public is not ready politically, to countenance a swift cut off of funds for the Iraq operation.

Fubara David-West

Seems to me that incumbent congressional democrats just committed political suicide. Much to the disappointment of of everyone who voted for change last year - the will of the decider has prevailed time and again. No way that another nickel yet to be earned by our grandkids should go to that war.

Tens, maybe hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis have been killed or maimed - a nation’s infrastructure, economy and political structure still lies in tatters because of our aggression, a few thousand American soldiers have been needlessly murdered by their leadership - but hey, the news now is that our troops are not dying as frequently.

So now the focus moves to our ever-empty wallets.

Tim K.
Indianapolis

I think the real question is “WHY did they pass it without a timeline?” and the answer is that they really passed it so they could get all the OTHER provisions in the bill passed that were payoffs to different special interest groups. The war is only temporary, although we don’t know how many years that entails, but the rest of the provisions to spend OUR tax money are much more permanent and will be increased regularly to buy more votes.

Jack, I’m a moderate with pro right views! I’m amazed when I hear a Republican debates, when every candidate prases Ronald Regan in regards to government spending, but at the same time Iraq war spending has reached a mark of over $415 billions dollars. I would love to ask those presidencial canditates about fiscal responsibility. So, the answear is no!

They could only try. They could not override Bush’s promised veto. What is imperative for voters to know, is that Bush and his fellow Republican supporters are to blame for the failure in Iraq and its far-reaching effects (and, of course, other failures too numerous to mention).

YES! This congress was elected to do the work of the majority of the people. They best get on with it! We have to get “the village idiot of Crawford Texas” out of Washington ! Isn`t it time for the people to realize that you can`t get Presidential Timber from a Bush!

My comment about this situation is very difficult to discribe mainly becuase My fiancee is over in Iraq and i don’t get to talk to him very often except when he can call, he says that he wants to come home, I myself am Active Duty in the military and I am scheduled to go to Hawaii for my active Duty station in January, and it’s rumored that i will be going to Iraq as well. The war is stopping my fiancee and I to get married, and we still have to continue to put the date off, im worried about other couples and families that are going through the same thing. Does the government care at all what its citizens are going through and what the families have gone through who have lost loved lones from Iraq. Do they care! They may care about the Economy but the only reason they care about the econony is becouse it’s hurting right now in our country, wouldn’t it be better to bring the troops home and use the money that is going for the war in Iraq to help the Economy. Terrorism is one of the main focus issues in the military right now, but haven’t we been over there long enough isn’t it time to start thinking about our nations security in other ways such as Economy and financial security. Then battling a war that I thought we had taken care of.

YES,

This is a fundamental question for the American People, who in Congress represents me and my concerns.
I am sick and fed up with the war. It was started on LIES and is being funding on the backs of the AMERICAN PEOPLE. Our congressional folks do not or choose not to represent what we want.

We want OUT OF THERE YESTERDAY. Powell warned the people BEFORE WE GOT into this MESS. IT YOU BREAK IT, YOU FIX IT. Let the congress and the President pay for the mess with their fat pensions and the money they STEAL DAILY FROM THEIR DISTRICTS AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

We need to elect a brand new congress (folks who enter politics without experience) and a PRESIDENT (without experience). The only criteria will be
1. COMMON SENSE (crucial)
2. INTEGRITY, HONESTY, TRUTHFUL AND A BELIEF, YOU REEP WHAT YOU SOW
3. POOR TO MODERATE INCOME BRACKET
4.CARES ABOUT THE NEXT GENERATION. AND THE PLANET WE SHARE WITH OTHERS

Larry from Sarasota–

Is anyone listening to the people? We voted you in to get us out of this war. You are either stupid or you are a coward. You don’t have the brains or the guts to understand that Lieberman is sharing all of your strategy with the republicans.

Jack, A bunch of cowards, that have unloaded trillions on a failed war, and continue to do so. Our country is broke, we are not only hated by the rest of the world but a laughing stock. We need change Badly!!!!!….Where’s Ron Paul!!!!

The democrats are worse than the Republicans. The Republican party and it’s cheif ,President Chaney (ooops I meant Bush) are out in the open with their contempt and lack of concern for the Constition. The Democrats lack any courage in opposing the Republicans leaderships subversion of our constitution. They are complicent and by refusing to stop this illegal war are complicant in subverting our constitution.

The issue with funding the continuation of the Iraq War isn’t so much IF it should be tied to withdrawal of our troops. Rather, the issue is that there is MASSIVE corruption, by both Iraqis and Americans, with this funding. Why should we taxpayers provide funding when these people literally “urinate” it away? Also, how much is being spent on “Information Operations” which is nothing less than PR (also known as propaganda) about the so-called “surge”?

See the website http://www.luiscarlosmontalvan.com for more on this.

Jack,
Yes the congress should have told the president the only money your getting from We the People (that is the American people ! remember us the folks on the other side of the TV screen that voted you into Congress to represent us ) will give you Mr. president as much funding you need to bring are troops home period and far as a time line Mr. president how about a week from last tuesday.

Doug
Chicago Illinois

I had my dog neutered last week. When I went to pick him up the next day, I thought the crowd was quite large. When they opened the door to lead him from the kennel area, I saw the Democrats from Congress looking out. Now I know why.

People get the type of government they deserve and much of the credit for the mess in Iraq lies with the American public. We sit on the sidelines and allow our representatives to give their votes and support to the Bush administration while ignoring the wishes of their constituents.

Yes. One would think that our elected officials would notice how the popularity of McCain dropped after embracing the Bush Iraq policy. My memory is long so being an independent voter who was going to vote for McCain but watched him flop to bush my vote just might change for senate, congress, etc..

how many body bags can you buy for a billions of dollars.?

Republicans have a Mantra, We dont want to raise your taxes’. but We do want to stay in Iraq and borrow the $$$$$ from China to fund the war and to all you complainers , Who says we have to pay the Chinese back we could declare bankruptcy .. or pass the debt on to YOUR children , or the middle class if there are any left.

Jack, I’m a moderate with pro right views! I’m amazed when I hear a Republican debates, when every candidate prases Ronald Regan in regards to government spending, but at the same time Iraq war spending has reached a mark of over $415 billions dollars. I would love to ask those presidencial canditates about fiscal responsibility. So, the answear is yes!(correction)

Jack, the only thing congress can pass is, hang on now, GAS! Gas of the smelly kind. If this hypothisis holds true, then congress should NOT pas anything.

You know Jack, I cannot believe that you continue to beat this “dead horse” to death! I want YOU to answer me how cutting off funds is going to get our troops out of Iraq as long as the President will not come to comprise with the Democratic Congress. All this country needs at his junction of time is another fight over who (the President or Congress) are endangering our troops because they do not have the equipment, arms, amunitions, and support to either continue to fight or EVEN to withdraw. And for all the ones that are “whining” over the Democratic Congress’s failure to cut off funds, they need to get real - either understand how the Congress and the Executive branch’s operate when a veto cannot be overturned, or deludge the Congress and White House with their calls of outrage and force the Republican congress members to join in with the Democrats in representing the majority will of this country and overide the President’s veto.

Yes they should have attached a timeline to the Bill! Congress has got to do the will of the majority. I and most of the folks that I know have no trust in this administration! You can`t get presidential Timber from a Bush!

Congress should have refused funding the war period!! Unfortunately the Democrat congress sang same tune as Bush in going to war mainly they were towed by special interest group like AIPAC and other pro Israel group in order to maintain Israel the only super power in the ME so that they continue the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from their land

Yes Jack,
It’s all about promises made and promises NOT kept. Democrats promised their constituents that they would NOT fund the war without restrictions-they didn’t.
The massive Omnibus Bill also broke other promises too Jack and I hope the media spreads the word. Namely earmarking to the tone of 16.4B dollars(OMB) , the Secure Fence Act was gutted, stricter ID standards were stalled, no ban on federal aid for sanctuary cities, but believe it or not, taxpayer money WAS funded for lawyers of illegal immigrants.
Unfortunately, we really don’t know how much more there is to find out in this 3,500 page bill containing 700 pages of earmarks.
What I don’t want to hear is any more claims from these candidates that they are the BEST Presidential candidate for the Economy or National Security. Where were they when this vote was cast??

As Bill Maher put it….”I’m Swiss”. I am so dismayed by the political machine in this country that I can’t hardly stand it. The Democrats are spineless and the Republicans are without conscience. They keep insisting the best thing we can do for our troops is to fund them and keep them in harm’s way. For the life of me I can understand the logic in that position. It’s high time we outlaw party affiliation in this country and have our representatives vote there conscience and not their affiliation.

Randy
Sonora CA

Hi Jack,

Having just completed reading your book, here’s the most pertinent reason why Congress should not have passed the Legislation!

First of all, in the Mid-term elections, we the American Public, in no un-certain terms voted to replace almost half the republican pundits that supported the governments postion. We said, I’m tired of this…… and I’m not taking it anymore.

For a few weeks, the Feinstien led coalition, acted as if this was important, and now, they have returned to status quo. We are not winning this war, we are only alienating the Muslim Nations around the world. We have a simple Neo-Con agenda which supports the Oil Industry, and Big business in their Global Economy efforts. We are not so simple that we can’t recognize the blatant lies that present themselves as political end-runs around the will of the people.

I can’t wait until all the Soldiers who supposedly are winning the war in Iraq, return as skilled killers disenchanted with the abuse of this government. There will be hell to pay, for all those empty promises.

You probably will not read this on air, because the media is part of this endless exploitation of the American Public. But I’m sure I’ve made you look, and believe me these Kids are made as hell!

Get real, the Dems stance on removing troops was a vote getting ploy. They know the right thing for our troops is to stay and get the job done. The took a stance got the votes to get elected and never gave the people what they promised. How smart are they, make a promise dont keep it and blame the other party. Jay

No Jack .
” United We Stand ” no matter how politically correct everyone tries to be!! thanks,
Rick in Rome,Ga

I do not understand why the option of funding the troops only up until the time of George Bush’s inevitable departure from office (with a grace period figured in to allow for the resettling process) and then take another look at what’s needed at that point and act accordingly has not been considered a valid one. Certainly we have minds who are trained in this field,couldn’t be too difficult to count the cost.Of course ti would have been better to have done this beforehand! Trying to wrap my mind around these stiffnecked bully tactics of holding the democratic process hostage in order to get your way,gets my head spinning. Isn’t that a form of extortion? I thought only bad guys resorted to these underhanded measures. It puts everyone at a disadvantage and is unworthy of true leadership.I do not see any wisdom in folding when you have the winning hand,Congress..I would have called his bluff and if he pulled an ace out of his sleeve ,as happens with folks who like to change the rules so they appear to be the winner…well ,I’d of exposed him and laid down my royal flush.

they should refuse any funding not directly used in an orderly pull out

Would we Democrats really stand for a government shut-down?? I would, but, I don’t know about the rest of us. However, I AM GOING TO TOOT THE HORN OF 1 DEMOCRAT: CHRIS DODD!!! He stopped the re-authorization of the warrantless wire-taps by threatening a filibuster to Harry Reid!!! That Took Real Guts!!!!
AND THAT MAKES ME PROUD TO BE A DEMOCRAT!!!!

Should Congress have refused to pass funding for the war in Iraq without some timeline for troop withdrawals?

Hell’s yes they should have refused.
I’m amazed at how powerful this lame duck president has become under the democratic controlled congress. At core approval ratings of 30% _w_ is still able to strong-arm the congress.

From the disgracefully corrupt rubber-stamp congress of Dennis Hastert to the roll-over and obey rubber-stamp congress of Nancy Pelosi, we Americans are at a loss for representation.

What a disgrace!

Fund the thing already without strings because if the policy is sound, then maybe it will further the ‘objective’, and support the troops. If not sound, then it sounds like extortion to me.

Yes we should cut off every dime to this illegal,immoral war, I have Bush Fatigue. I’m fed up past the point of full with their immoral and vulgar behavior, Bring the troops home now.

Shame on George W. Bush for starting an immoral, unecessary war, squandering our troops, our resources and thousands of Iraqi civilians.
AND, shame on all of the Democrats who voted to support the effort.
There is enough money in the pipeline to bring the troops home safely.
Dennis Kucinich who has consistently voted against the war and the funding has pointed that out repeatedly. The voters in 2006 sent Democrats to the House and Congress to end the death and destruction. They have failed in their attempts. We are all the losers.

Jack,
Why is it that nobody realizes why the Democrats have not gotten us out of the war in Irag or carried out any other promises. We are the culprits because we did not give the Democrats enough power to override vetoes. So BUSH IS STILL IN CHARGE.

Why is Russ Feingold and other Democrats still running around talking as if we have lost the WAR? Are they blind or just ignorant? It is clear that after years of failed policy in IRAQ the surge is now working. John McCain was right all along. By every measure, things have improved measurably and many Democrats are still pretending the situation is as bad as it ever was. It we had listened to the Democrats and pulled all of our troops out then McCain would be right one more time as the Radical Islamist would be running around correctly saying that they defeated America and they would now own IRAQ. Wise Up People!

It really irritates me to hear the Democrats being blamed for not getting the changes they promised to do if elected. The public failed by not giving the democrats enough votes to override the presidents veto// Give the democrats a chance with enough votes that they can get things passed. Some bills have gone as many as 3 times to the president and he vetoed it all 3 times. Why can’t the media and public see this???

Jack at this point I really don’t think it matters, the politicians that we have in office are soooo crooked that one way or another either the current administration’s going to TAKE what it wants and get away with doing it- or congress is going to GIVE it to it, Republican controlled, or Democratically controlled- they’re all on the same side: MONEY!

No Jack it takes a super majority to override the certain Bush Veto. Most of the country would screem bloody murder (including you I bet) is the Dems shut down the Government. Iraq is big and should never have happened; however, the Democrats are trying to investigate some of the times Bush has ignored the Constitution. let’d hgive them credit for something.

It means that Bush has about succeeded in destroying our currency in order to change us over to the Amero. The media has been eerily quite on this subject.

Jack:

It seems to me that the Democratic Congress didn’t get the “mandate” that they think that they received, and that the Clinton News Network (CNN) seems to keep pushing. Get real, our troops need and have the support of the American People. You and the Dems can rant, rave and point fingers all you want but all you are doing is blowing hot air!

Get a life, perhaps if you gave the troops the same level of support that you give the efforts to undermine them and our President, this war might be over by now!

As I’ve said before, Loony Tunes!

Funny how little they fight for something we voted them in power to handle. apparantly fixing Iraq is higher priority than the gulf coast, unemployment, trade, and the housing market. Brad Pitt has done more for the American People than our current executive and legislative branches combined.

If 73 year old George Koger knew how things work in Congress he wouldn’t be so harsh on them. With the presidents veto pen ever looming at the end of everything Congress tries to accomplish, they virtually have thier hands tied until we have a Democratic President in office. Wait til then to judge them.

jack the democrats aren’t the only ones in congress let’s see if you will give the republicans in congress some of the blame, who have marched locked step with this tyrant from day one. yesteerday trent lott jumped of the ship there will be more jumping before we throw them of in nov. 08

It seems to me Congress only response to special interest groups be they democrats or republicans. So the question should be asked of the Lobbyist. Their opinions really matter to the administration and the congress. It is only our sons and daughters, husbands and wives or other relatives that are fighting and dying in these wars.
I’m sure even if the congress would stand up to this president and say no more funding and mean it the troops would still have ammunitions, and the equipment they need to fight the war. After all we have submitted over One Trillion dollars for the war effort. So, I’m not convinced they need any more funds to support the troops. Where has the money gone to date.
The war is over and we need to bring the troops home. Saddam is dead and his army dismantled what else is there for us to destroy.
I’m sure the Iraqi people can finish destroying their country themselves without any more help from the good old USA.

Yes the Congress is a sissy when it comes to war funding.