RE: 200 billion ... 70 billion .... they're out of touch with us
It does no good to write to members of congress.All of them are in someone's pockets and they could care less about their constituents.Here is Tom Cole, our US Rep. Tom Cole did not vote on final passage of the House immigration reform bill.
Vote all incumbents out in 2008.
Find out whose pockets your congressman/woman is into.
RE: 200 billion ... 70 billion .... they're out of touch with us
They're all drunk on power and the figures are meaningless to them also.
I'm of the opinion that even the most pro-Iraq Americans have no concept of the total amount of our treasury we've firmly pledged to a nation whose interests are still out of line with ours.
RE: 200 billion ... 70 billion .... they're out of touch with us
"I'm of the opinion that even the most pro-Iraq Americans have no concept of the total amount of our treasury we've firmly pledged to a nation whose interests are still out of line with ours."
Exactly.Note also that the Iraqi "government" is very cozy withAhmedinejad.
RE: 200 billion ... 70 billion .... they're out of touch with us
While I agree that we've spent boatloads of dough, I don't see this as anything other than just another battle in the war on terror. Iraq was a dud...not much found there and crummy intel, but we DID KNOW he HAD wmd's. Part of the ceasefire agreement for the 1st Iraqi war was to allow access to UN weapons inspectors who were NOT looking for wmd's; their job was to witness the destruction of the wmd's which were known to be in existence at the time. The Iraqi government did not comply, despite 14 U.N. resolutions.
I dunno guys...I lost buds in the attack on the World Trade Center. I have a real problem when I hear ANY muslim speak on ANYTHING without wanting to gut him like a bluefish just for 's**ts and giggles' and that's a result of 9/11, pure and simple. When the president committed this country to the eradication of terror on a worldwide basis, we all agreed and said 'go for it'. Even then, 6 years ago, before the 1st boots were on the ground in Iraq, the president said we'd weary of this war... How short the memories. I hear democrats and anti-war types whining about bringing the troops home...I wonder when we will esclate this war beyond Iraq and Afghanistan in furtherance of the war on terror's goal of wiping out terror. We lost more U.S. casualties in the attacks on the WTC and the Pentagon than we did when the ***anese bombed Pearl Harboro and effectively sank the Pacific fleet...and then we committed millions of U.S. servicemen to the battle to defeat fascism. We rationed milk, butter, sugar and gasolene, all for the 'war effort'. People planted 'victory gardens' so farm produce could go to feed servicemen overseas. We dedicated more than 30% of our GNP to the war on Fascism. On September 11th, we have taken a bigger hit than Pearl, against innocent civilians. This was an act of war against the U.S.; in the face of rising criticism we have dedicated less then 3% of our GNP to this war effort and people can't see why we're spending all this money ! All this fuss is about survival in the face of religious zealotry and hatred ! They say 'Let's stop fighting" and "there's no good reason for all this". Have we turned into a nation of jellyfish which no longer has the belly to stand up and fight for it's own existence ? If we fail to fight, make no mistake, we will cease to exist.
RE: 200 billion ... 70 billion .... they're out of touch with us
"Have we turned into a nation of jellyfish which no longer has the belly to stand up and fight for it's own existence ? If we fail to fight, make no mistake, we will cease to exist."
Please note the failure to declare war since WWII: Do you think this is just an oversight on the of part of politicians? It is not. If war is declared the public will support that war to the hilt. The public would expect a much expandedmilitary and would supporta draft. The public would expect an all out war on whatever demon was attacking the US. Politicians would not have any wiggle room for behind the scenes negotiations and sneaky deals. Once a politician voted to declare war and then wussed out and changed his/her mind, their pitifulpolitical career would be over.
The US congress and the last several presidents to occupy the white house are/were wussies.
"I hear democrats and anti-war types whining about bringing the troops home...I wonder when we will esclate this war beyond Iraq and Afghanistan in furtherance of the war on terror's goal of wiping out terror."
It ain't just the Democrats. Several Republican politicianswho have been to war and done that are getting very tired of the botched "war on terror" and are speaking out. The fact is that the invasion of Iraq interfered with the real war on terror in Afghanistan. Vital intelligence folks and special operations troops were pulled out of Afghanistan in order to fight in Iraq.
RE: 200 billion ... 70 billion .... they're out of touch with us
Quote:
ORIGINAL: falcon
"Have we turned into a nation of jellyfish which no longer has the belly to stand up and fight for it's own existence ? If we fail to fight, make no mistake, we will cease to exist."
Please note the failure to declare war since WWII: Do you think this is just an oversight on the of part of politicians? It is not. If war is declared the public will support that war to the hilt. The public would expect a much expandedmilitary and would supporta draft. The public would expect an all out war on whatever demon was attacking the US. Politicians would not have any wiggle room for behind the scenes negotiations and sneaky deals. Once a politician voted to declare war and then wussed out and changed his/her mind, their pitifulpolitical career would be over.
The US congress and the last several presidents to occupy the white house are/were wussies.
"I hear democrats and anti-war types whining about bringing the troops home...I wonder when we will esclate this war beyond Iraq and Afghanistan in furtherance of the war on terror's goal of wiping out terror."
It ain't just the Democrats. Several Republican politicianswho have been to war and done that are getting very tired of the botched "war on terror" and are speaking out. The fact is that the invasion of Iraq interfered with the real war on terror in Afghanistan. Vital intelligence folks and special operations troops were pulled out of Afghanistan in order to fight in Iraq.
I will grant you correct on all points, to varying degrees. All I will say is that while there are pro and con members of both parties, it is the Democrat party that uses 'withdrawal' as a plank in their national platform, and are plying their pusillanimous policy among those among us of like mind. The Republicans are running on a will for 'victory' as their national platform, a position I must support because defeat and disgrace are not things I espouse. I cannot abide democrats nowadays; they are socialists and do not seem to be working for the good of the people. Being the richest members of congress, they 'talk the talk' but they don't 'walk the walk'....
Interesting about the 'failure to declare war'. I'm not sure how the constitutional process applies to a War Declaration....I thought it came from Congress as a matter of constitutional law. While traditionally that declaration has come in response from a request by a sitting president, constitutionally, Congress legislates a declaration of war, not the president.
I will point out that the time period you speicify was a 40-year period where Congress was Democratically controlled...I won't go any further there, other than to say the majority dictates the direction for the most part....
All this rigamarole is well enough, except for 1 thing. I must consider any legislator or elected official, on any governmental level an abject disgrace if he or she provides rhetoric which encourages or emboldens the enemy, and conversely is destructive to American morale overseas. I don't see republicans doing it, but the dems are standing on each other's shoulders to shout their hatred for the American war effort.
And you can count that idiot peanut farmer from Georgia, and Ex-President of the United States of America who went to Europe and bad-mouthed the sitting President. He is a disgrace and an embarrassment to all Americans. As far as the current crop of Democrats hogging the sound-bytes on TV, they're a bunch of warmed-over 1960's era hippies and are an embarrassment to this country, especially when Americans are enlisting and fighting and dying for the principles upon which this country was built and they're declaring the war as lost, and decrying the expense, and calling American troops murderers, rapists and terrorists. These elected officials are a disgrace and an affront ! They should be dragged from their homes, tarred and feathered and banished from this country. This is a disgrace, and it belongs to the Democrats, lock, stock and barrel.
RE: 200 billion ... 70 billion .... they're out of touch with us
"He is a disgrace and an embarrassment to all Americans. As far as the current crop of Democrats hogging the sound-bytes on TV, they're a bunch of warmed-over 1960's era hippies and are an embarrassment to this country,"
Can't dispute that.
"I will point out that the time period you speicify was a 40-year period where Congress was Democratically controlled...I won't go any further there, other than to say the majority dictates the direction for the most part...."
Pardon me while i play devils advocate:
That paragon of virtue Richard M. Nixon, ran on a platform of pulling US troops out of South Viet Nam. Then he wussied around for over four years before surrendering US POW/MIA folks to a life of torture at the hands of the North Vietnamese. Bush I never asked for a declaration of war before going into the middle eastand restoring the corrupt Emir to power in Kuwait.
After7 years of continuous Republican rulethe US is totally in bed with communist China. Never mind that the dirty deal was started under Clinton: Most Republicans in congress voted to jump into bed with communist China.
We have these folks like yourself who are very critical of "socialists" here at home whogiveGeorge Bush a pass when it comes to his dealings with communist China. Mark my word, we will rue the day when we allowed US politicians to put the interests of communist China above the interest of US citizens.
Republican Senator, Chuck Hagle, a decorated Viet Nam veteran,hasbeen openly critical of the Iraq war. Republican Senator John Warner, a Marine,is also critical of the war and wants the troops to come home.
The Iraq war has lasted longer than WWII. It has lasted this long because the neo-cons in the White House openly criticized US general officers who wanted an invasion force of sufficient strength to secure Iraq and its borders. The neo-cons did an invasion on the cheap, the Iraqi army was allowed to go home, ammunition depots were not secured, the borders of Iraq were not secured. The present "government" of Iraq is a total joke. Most of the so called Iraqi government ministers are Shiites who have their own militias and their own agendas.
iretired from the US Army in 1979. Been thereand done that at another time. Junior NCOs are leaving the US military in droves. They are leaving because they are being run to death with deployments.
The US Army and Marine Corps should have twice the number of troops that they have. No one, especially the White House, wants to pay for it so they run the under strenth military to death with deployments. It willtake the US Army 10-20 years to recover from Iraq. Equipment is in shambles and unmaintained. Troops are not being used in their areas of expertise.
No provisions were made in the military or VA systems for the thousands of casualties from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Wounded troops and their families have been treated very shabbily.
While spending 26 billion dollars on pork barrel projects, the 1996 congress cut troop brain injury research by six million dollars. So much for "compassionate conservatism."
RE: 200 billion ... 70 billion .... they're out of touch with us
Quote:
ORIGINAL: falcon
"He is a disgrace and an embarrassment to all Americans. As far as the current crop of Democrats hogging the sound-bytes on TV, they're a bunch of warmed-over 1960's era hippies and are an embarrassment to this country,"
Can't dispute that.
"I will point out that the time period you speicify was a 40-year period where Congress was Democratically controlled...I won't go any further there, other than to say the majority dictates the direction for the most part...."
Pardon me while i play devils advocate:
That paragon of virtue Richard M. Nixon, ran on a platform of pulling US troops out of South Viet Nam. Then he wussied around for over four years before surrendering US POW/MIA folks to a life of torture at the hands of the North Vietnamese. Bush I never asked for a declaration of war before going into the middle eastand restoring the corrupt Emir to power in Kuwait.
True and True. I don't remember enough about the Nixon administration to argue the point, and I don't know if his actions regarding the POWs were his alone, or if his democratically controlled Congress was in agreement or even left him no choice (pure conjecture on my part...I SHOULD go look it up, but it's too early and I gotta go to work....).
After7 years of continuous Republican rulethe US is totally in bed with communist China. Never mind that the dirty deal was started under Clinton: Most Republicans in congress voted to jump into bed with communist China.
We have these folks like yourself who are very critical of "socialists" here at home whogiveGeorge Bush a pass when it comes to his dealings with communist China. Mark my word, we will rue the day when we allowed US politicians to put the interests of communist China above the interest of US citizens.
You're right, it did start under Clinton, and while most Republicans voted for a commie involvement, the Dems did too, so they're no 'paragons of virtue' either. It's GREED that's fueling that fire, and now the Chinese can do to us economically what they could never do militarily....bring us to our knees.
Republican Senator, Chuck Hagle, a decorated Viet Nam veteran,hasbeen openly critical of the Iraq war. Republican Senator John Warner, a Marine,is also critical of the war and wants the troops to come home.
The Iraq war has lasted longer than WWII. It has lasted this long because the neo-cons in the White House openly criticized US general officers who wanted an invasion force of sufficient strength to secure Iraq and its borders. The neo-cons did an invasion on the cheap, the Iraqi army was allowed to go home, ammunition depots were not secured, the borders of Iraq were not secured. The present "government" of Iraq is a total joke. Most of the so called Iraqi government ministers are Shiites who have their own militias and their own agendas.
There has been no war where anyone said we did it exactly right. I will admit the war could have been executed a lot better, and there were lots of mistakes, but I gotta say the even tho' this war exceeds the duration of WWII, how many U.S. casualties have we had in Iraq vs. WWII ? I understand that our enemies in WWII were much more able to inflict casualties, but at the expense of sounding crass, Iraq has no resulted in the types of casualties in U.S. personnel to compare with WWII. I was against boots on the ground anywhere, either in Iraq or Afghanistan. While I watched the smoldering wreck of the World Trade Center in '01 from across the river in Jersey, I'd have pressed the button and nuked them for sure. Iraq could have been handled a-la-Hanoi where we carpet-bombed the place. The Iraqi government is a joke, but it's their elected government just the same, their FIRST post-dictatorial government...give 'em a break...they're not used to self-determination.
iretired from the US Army in 1979. Been thereand done that at another time. Junior NCOs are leaving the US military in droves. They are leaving because they are being run to death with deployments.
The US Army and Marine Corps should have twice the number of troops that they have. No one, especially the White House, wants to pay for it so they run the under strenth military to death with deployments. It willtake the US Army 10-20 years to recover from Iraq. Equipment is in shambles and unmaintained. Troops are not being used in their areas of expertise.
No provisions were made in the military or VA systems for the thousands of casualties from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Wounded troops and their families have been treated very shabbily.
While spending 26 billion dollars on pork barrel projects, the 1996 congress cut troop brain injury research by six million dollars. So much for "compassionate conservatism."
I understand that with the volunteer army, (and no recruitment, as proposed by NY Congressman Charles Rangel), people are being 'shanghai'd' into longer military service than they contracted for. This is wrong. I"d like to know why 'brain injury research' was cut ? Um....'compassionate conservatism' did not start until Bush II took office in 2000...you're talkin' Clinton here. The republican congress had already lost the respect of their electorate by kow-towing to the Dems who, while the minority, acted and performed like the majority. Budgets must cross the desk of the president who can veto or sign. As he gutted the military and hamstrung U.S. intelligence organizations, Slick Willie signed the budget cuts for the military he hated....
200 billion ... 70 billion .... they're out of touch with us
