CNN: "Harry Reid warned the president not to expect Congress to "rubber-stamp" the latest request."

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Bush wants another $42 billion for wars



The request is bound to kick off another debate on Capitol Hill over the course of the Iraq war. Bush's last supplemental spending request led to a showdown with the Democratic leaders of Congress, who pushed for a withdrawal of American combat troops in 2008 -- a demand dropped after the president vetoed the measure.

Minutes after Bush spoke, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, warned the president not to expect Congress to "rubber-stamp" the latest request.

"In the coming weeks, we will hold it up to the light of day and fight for the change of strategy and redeployment of troops that is long overdue," Reid said. He said the new request means the overall cost of the widely unpopular war now approaches $650 billion since the March 2003 invasion that toppled Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. "The entire war in Iraq is being paid for with borrowed money," Reid said.

He contrasted the Iraqi funding with Bush's October 3 veto of a $60 billion children's health care bill that had bipartisan support and would have been paid for by an increase in cigarette taxes. Bush called the bill too expensive and a step toward government-provided health care.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/22/war.spending/index.html

[Sukie1941]

1. Yawn

[bluestateguy]

2. I'd rather them just capitulate right away rather than threaten to fight and then give up

It really looks pathetic to make threats to fight right before you give up.

A more defensible position would be to just give in without even pretending to stand and fight. That would at least be honest.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

4. He's setting the stage for another "process"...

..."In the coming weeks, we will hold it up to the light of day and fight for the change of strategy and redeployment of troops that is long overdue"...

I understand that a fight, especially one between the President and Congress, takes time. But there's too much "here is what we're going to do" in the wording and not enough "throwing down the gauntlet."

I think the war-weary public that elected Mr. Reid to office is looking for a statement that's a little more direct.

If anyone remembers Dana Carvey's Ross Perot impression on SNL, you know what I'm talking about. He used to say something like "I don't make a decision unless I can see it, feel it, hear it, touch it, smell it, taste it, and pass it through my lower intestine." Reid has difficulty in throwing down the gauntlet because he first wants to discuss the gauntlet. You don't discuss gauntlets, you throw them down. That's why they're called "gauntlets" and ballroom dancing is called "ballroom dancing." In the first one you get busy, and in the second you twirl your partner about the floor.

Reid twirls.

Meanwhile, I can imagine Bush's "Here we go again" reaction to the statements as he sits back and waits for his latest rubber stamped approval. CNN also injected a subliminal "here we go again" editorial tone into the piece, because while Reid has used the words "rubber stamp" in the past, they are not part of a direct quote in this article. As such, the statement that he "warned the president not to expect Congress to "rubber-stamp" the latest request" is completely false. He did not.

:patriot:

[Richard Steele]

3. No, he better expect them to POSTURE before they rubber-stamp it. Just like I do. nm

[Double T]

5. Dammit Harry. Don't make threats YOU know you won't keep.

"Sheep in sheep's clothing" always cave to their masters.

[acmavm]

6. Tough Talking Harry Reid, the guy who's accomplished so much so

far.

Just bend over Harry, you gotta be used to it by now.

:sarcasm:

[zeemike]

7. Bottom line is, bush gets what he wants

All the rest is just smoke and mirrors

[journalist3072]

8. Actions, not words, is what we need Senator. You are the Senate Majority Leader, so start leading

Just an idea

[AndyA]

9. Here's the real conversation between Reid and Bush:

Reid: George, I'm going to have to fight you a bit on this one. You understand, of course.

Bush: Yeah, Harry, I understand you have to make it look right for your people, but take it as easy as you can because my poll numbers are in the toilet. (Heh heh heh)

Reid: Your poll numbers make mine look like they've been buried.

Bush: Well, what can I say - I'm a likable guy, the one everyone wants to have a beer with. (Heh heh heh)

Reid: You'll get your money, of course, but we're going to have to figure out a better way for next time. It will be getting too close to the elections.

Bush: I'm thinkin' about another $100 billion or so in early spring 2008, which should be enough to get us through the summer. Halliburton doesn't want their stock price to drop, you know, and we're going to have to find a good balance between improving conditions on the ground in Iraq and a tight oil supply, to keep them gas prices up. My buddy at Exxon wants a new cabin cruiser to leave at his place in Hawaii, and he says the little woman is itchin' to redo the house in the Hamptons. Gotta have some serious money fer that, dontcha know... (Heh heh heh)

Oh, and by the way, tell Nancy I like her new approach: not so much screechin' at me, but a quieter, more reserved criticism.

Reid: We're really taking a beating from our constituents and our base over this, George.

Bush: Now don't you worry a bit about that, Harry. We've got the fix in place for voting in November. All will be well. You and Nancy come by the White House for lunch sometime next week, I've got this great bottle of wine - really expensive - for us to drink. The American people want us to enjoy the finer things in life, right? (Heh heh heh)

:puke:

[Elidor]

10. It's almost as though Tom Daschle never left

We still have an ineffectual, milquetoast leader in the Senate. Flap your gums some more, Harry. Nobody is listening.