Rep. Kucinich says Congress should vote down funding for Afghanistan escalation

[bigtree]

from The Hill: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/69415-kucinich-says-congress-should-vote-down-supplemental-funding-surge


11/25/09 09:50 AM ET

CONGRESS should take a stand against any war supplemental bill to fund a surge in Afghanistan, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) said Tuesday evening.

Kucinich, a liberal Democrat who's long urged a U.S. pullout of Iraq and Afghanistan, chided an expected Obama administration decision to send 34,000 more troops to Afghanistan, and urged fellow lawmakers to try and block it.

"We cannot just put this only on President Obama's shoulders," Kucinich said of the responsibility for making decisions on strategy in Afghanistan.

"There's speculation that we're going to be asked for another $50 billion supplemental," he said. "It's Congress that has to take a stand here, as well, and Congress should say it's time to end the war."

"It's clearly an escalation. And when the president's talking about 'finish the job,' the president should be aware that the jobs that people are worried about in the United States are getting people back to work," Kucinich said. "It's not defensible. It's not connected to our national security. And it really raises questions about the extent of the Pentagon's influence on the administration."


article: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/69415-kucinich-says-congress-should-vote-down-supplemental-funding-surge

[Mari333]

1. God, how I wish they would.

another rec for Kucinich who at least takes a stand against the MIC and those who wont stand up to the MIC.

[G_j]

2. only Congress is given that power

however, I have ZERO hope they will use it responsibly.

[bigtree]

5. right

witness how our new majority basically codified Bush's Iraq exit plan. While it may well result in an end to that occupation, Congress' action (and the administration's) adopted most of the false premises about the fiasco which may come back to bite us. Already the commander there, Odierno, has said he's free to advise staying longer (he says he has up until March to make that decision) if there's some political problem with the installed regime he can point to.

I too want Congress to exercise their responsibility, but look at the irony in that. Without officially declaring war under the War Powers Act, they are merely pantomiming their responsibility and barely brushing up against the administration's intentions as they obligingly open up the cash drawer.

[MadHound]

Once more, Kucinich speaks the truth,

And sadly he'll be ignored or belittled, in Congress, in the media, and around here.

[Fumesucker]

8. Especially here..

I've heard the term "Kookinich" enough times to be thoroughly sick of it.

[Echo In Light]

3. "It's not defensible. It's not connected to our national security."

Rec :thumbsup:

[SIMPLYB1980]

4. All the Republicans will support it as

well as plenty enough Democrats to pass it over the objections of the anti all war crowd.

[bigtree]

13. you say that as if their natural tendency toward political timidity makes them right

You can cheer lead this all you want, but you've yet to make arguments which justify your support for an Afghanistan policy, one way or the other. Merely pointing to the political cravenness of Washington as validation is weak and as intellectually vacuous as the republican arguments (first proffered under Bush) for keeping us militarily bogged down in the country and the region looking for some 'victory' or 'success'.

[SIMPLYB1980]

19. Just stating the way I think it will go down.

Getting your hopes up that the Anti Afghanistan Democrats are going to stop Obama's plan will just lead to more disappointment.

[bigtree]

24. thanks for your concern

. . . for my hopes. I'm guessing that your posting on this thread is your way of cheering this escalation on.

[SIMPLYB1980]

26. Not cheering I just agree with the decision.

Which makes me a cheerleader on DU so I give you what you want. Just playing my part like all others on this site.

[bigtree]

30. playing

. . . that's the part which I question.

[SIMPLYB1980]

33. You play your anti Afghanistan part

and I play my part. Isn't that what Democracy is all about? Anyone that supports a politician or does not support a politician are still just playing their role in Democracy. After being called a cheerleader for so long though I decided to embrace it instead of try and hide from it.

[bigtree]

35. Cheering on the Afghanistan deployments is disgusting

It contradicts and belies the concern you express for the family members you say are a part of the rotation there. The most obnoxious part is that it comes with almost no actual discussion of the issues at hand. Your post suggests that you're relishing the 'disappointment' folks feel about the deployments and are happy to rub it in.

I should remind you that this president came into office on a wave of resentment about Bush's reflexive and persistent militarism abroad. It's only a matter of Afghanistan devolving into the state we objected to in Iraq before cheerleading like yours becomes nothing but salt in a festering wound. So, have your fun.

[SIMPLYB1980]

36. Go team! Go!

[bigtree]

37. clown

welcome to ignore

[SIMPLYB1980]

38. Thank you now others will have to tell you

what I say. :P

[mike_c]

41. LOL-- I see you've had an encounter with Ignore....

There are only a couple DUers on my ignore list who haven't been tomb-stoned yet-- I find that Ignore is an excellent predictor of DU longevity. Both the current hold-outs are asshats of the first degree.

[bigtree]

45. at least

. . . he makes more sense this way

[arikara]

47. Sick

warmongering is sick. Cheering for war is sick.

[Faryn Balyncd]

6. Should not occupations and surges at least be DEFICIT NEUTRAL?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7086202



k and r

[Ichingcarpenter]

7. Heroin Addicts Pressure President To Stay Course In Afghanistan

LOS ANGELES—As the White House considers sweeping strategic shifts in the war in Afghanistan, heroin addicts across the nation called on President Obama Monday to stick with the current U.S. policy, which has flooded the world market with low-price narcotics. "There's no need to change nothing,

http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/heroin_addicts_pressure

[fascisthunter]

9. they won't.... Congress doesn't have enough decent minded people

too many upper crust sycophants.

[KharmaTrain]

10. Force The GOOP Into A Corner...

David Obey has it spot on. Force a House vote to fund the escalation by raising taxes. Let the rushpublicans have to vote either to raise taxes and show real support for the troops. Let's see if they can justify not supporting our troops and voting down a funding increase that would, in essence make it difficult to carry on the Iraq/Afghan "missions".

The problem with "defunding" is the money always goes to blowing things up first...and if money is cut, it will be found somewhere else. It will mean hardships for those not on the front...and their families. It won't end the adventurism as much as stress the military beyond the already overstretched limits.

I'm fully against President Obama's escalation...this "involvement" has to end or if there is a need for more forces to "stabilize" Afghanistan, then there should be contributions from our "allies" as well. Time to end the "go it alone" cowboy adventurism.

[QC]

11. Do you hear that sound? Off in the distance? The rustling of angry pom poms? n/t

[optimator]

12. awesome

time to take away Obama's credit card until he gets his priorities straight.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

14. That's what finally ended that other "necessary" lost war. K&R

Of course, the chickenhawks then warned of falling dominoes that didn't fall, and a bloodbath that didn't happen, after we finally left.

And, the current chickenhawks are using the same tactics now with dire warnings of the Taliban wielding nukes and an orgy of blood throughout the region if we finally acknowledge we lost.

[Mari333]

16. +10000

[glitch]

43. +1,000,000$/troop. nt

[DontTreadOnMe]

15. Good thing McCain didn't win!

because he was on the 100 Year Plan... Obama has a new and improved 50 Year Plan.

Hope is NOT paying the rent anymore.

[bigtree]

17. good thing the election is over

. . . now on to the business of vigilance, activism, and advocacy as our legislators confront these decisions from the White House and the Pentagon.

[HamdenRice]

18. In other news, Rep. UFOinich suggested troops buy their own ammo and plane tickets home nt

[SIMPLYB1980]

20. You must be kidding?

Link?

[HamdenRice]

22. Left out the sarcasm smilie -- sorry. nt

[Flaneur]

44. Wow, our very own two-man asshole convention.

[LWolf]

21. He's right. As usual. nt

[gkhouston]

23. If he wants it voted down, add an amendment for single payer healthcare.

That should do the trick. And if it doesn't, at least some good will come of this senseless slaughter.

[Karmadillo]

25. Damn Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party. It refuses to support

our criminal wars, it refuses to support the massive transfer of wealth to the rich, it refuses to support the assault on public education, it refuses to support the insurance industry bailout. If it can't support the bipartisan positions of the Corporate Party, what's the point of letting it hang around?

[Greyhound]

39. +01

[LWolf]

42. +1,000

[grahamhgreen]

27. NO TO WAR IN IRAQISTAN.

[Individualist]

28. K&R

[Vidar]

29. K&R

[fascisthunter]

31. kick(nt)

[flvegan]

32. As usual, he's right.

Nothing much more to say.

[Greyhound]

34. They should. K&R.

One of these days he'll be wrong, but not today.
:kick: & R

[mike_c]

40. what a refreshing change THAT would be!

Don't expect it to happen during my lifetime, though.

[Political Heretic]

46. He continues to be a principled man, and thus losing popularity with party loyalists.

See sig to understand why.

[David Zephyr]

48. K&R.

thanks bigtree for the link.

[BeFree]

49. K&R

Except when I R'd it it didn't move up.

I'm free to R but what good is it it if won't be R'd?

Congress, ya know, those people who are supposed to represent us
need to do more than resent us and rep us to end this steenkin' war!!