Kerry backs Bush's $81.9 billion war money request

[jswordy]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic Sen. John Kerry, whose baffling explanation of votes on Iraq war funding hurt his 2004 White House bid, said on Tuesday he would back President Bush's new $81.9 billion request for Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I think we're in a very different situation," Kerry told reporters. "I'm going to vote for this ... I think this money is important to our being successful and to the completion of the process."

The Massachusetts senator, who failed in his bid to unseat Bush last November in an election focused on national security, defended his decision to not back the president's previous request to fund military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Mine was the right vote at the time and I wouldn't change it if we went back to that point in time because it was the right vote," Kerry said. "We didn't have a plan and they didn't spend the money correctly."

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=7637317

[okieinpain]

1. and they are not going to spend it correctly this time. but I guess

kerry wants to get this out of the way before 08.

[hippiechick]

11. they didn't spend it correctly last time, either ...

:shrug: So what's new in DC ?

[LiberalFighter]

84. They couldn't have when they couldn't account for the cash

to contractors and Iraqi's

[Barrett808]

2. Kerry Backs Bush's $81.9 Bln War Spending Plan

Democratic Sen. John Kerry, whose baffling explanation of votes on Iraq war funding hurt his 2004 White House bid, said on Tuesday he would back President Bush's new $81.9 billion request for Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I think we're in a very different situation," Kerry told reporters. "I'm going to vote for this ... I think this money is important to our being successful and to the completion of the process."

The Massachusetts senator, who failed in his bid to unseat Bush last November in an election focused on national security, defended his decision to not back the president's previous request to fund military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Mine was the right vote at the time and I wouldn't change it if we went back to that point in time because it was the right vote," Kerry said. "We didn't have a plan and they didn't spend the money correctly."

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/nm/20050215/pl_nm/iraq_kerry_dc

[Rose Siding]

3. War budget request loaded with extras

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration asked Congress on Monday to provide $82 billion to cover unbudgeted costs in the global war on terrorism, but the request includes funds for a long-planned military reorganization and for activities such as tsunami aid that are seemingly unrelated to terrorism.

The president's supplemental request seeks $42.5 billion that would pay for military activities in Iraq and Afghanistan through September, the end of the 2005 federal fiscal year, as well as $12 billion more to refurbish and replace worn-out vehicles, weapons and equipment used in those operations.

The request includes $3 billion that is unrelated to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and $19 billion more that is not directly related to U.S. military costs there.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0502150213feb15,1,4022913.story?coll=chi-news-hed

[Avalux]

4. Dammit Kerry!!!

And you think they're going to spend this $81.9B correctly now?? I'm sorry but you are wrong. :grr:

[zann725]

88. I agree. But I guess he figures if he "votes for it" this time, then when

he runs in '08, at least they won't harass him about flip-floppin?!

That however is NO reason to vote FOR it now, or EVER. I am soooo disappointed with JK lately. To say more, would be called "Kerry Bashing," so I'll leave it at that.

But this is NOT the JK of the 70's. Seems he's turned into that which he despised. How disappointing.

[jayctravis]

140. Well...if it gets us out of there safely.

But I doubt that's what they have in mind.

[aikido15]

118. They will use it for the NEXT illegal invasion...

on Syria, or Iran, or Venezuela.......KERRY = DUMB ASS.

[TheFarseer]

5. Damn fool should have voted for the original one

If he voted for the $87 billion, he could have said, "I don't necessarily agree with why we went to war, but as long as we're there, I'm going to make damn sure we win"

[hopein08]

10. That was Feingold's rationale....

for voting against the war but for the $87 billion.

Kerry is becoming clearer and clearer to me as we get farther from the election. I'm beginning to be a little disappointed in myself for thinking he made sense (to a degree) during the campaign!

[TheFarseer]

16. If we are honest with ourselves

Kerry's stance on the war never made a damn bit of sense. All our candidates that were not anti-war from the start had confusing contradictory positions with the exception of Joementum who was balls to the wall for the war. The only possible way to salvage his position was to claim that we would not have gone to war if we knew there weren't any WMDs(which would have raised all sorts of "hard to answer questions" for the chimp), but he never even said that! No matter what was said, everyone on this site knows president Kerry wouldn't have touched Iraq nor would president Gore.

[Borgnine]

50. You're right.

I knew Kerry was talking out of his ass, but I willingly swallowed the flavor-aide in order to get Bush out of office.

[hopein08]

52. Me too... n/t

[Pastiche423]

72. It wasn't as willing for me

Once I filled out most of my paper ballot, I sat it aside for a week. The last arrow to fill in was for president.

As I sat staring at it, the fear of four more whistle assing years overcame my disgust for Kerry and Edwards.

I now wished I had left it blank.

[The Zanti Regent]

106. HOW MANY MORE CHILDREN HAVE YOU CONDEMNED, KERRY?

Mr. Skull and Bones, YOU sent my only child to die.

How many more children have YOU sentenced to die?

[brainshrub]

6. I'll bet Barbara "Backbone" Boxer will do the right thing.

[calimary]

89. Truly!

I for one am FED UP with any story that starts with "Kerry backs bush's (whatever plan or move or demand it is)."

FUCK THAT.

Hello, John: THAT KIND OF SPINELESS CAPITULATION CRAP IS WHAT LOST YOU THE ELECTION. BE THE OPPOSITION, FOR ONCE!!!!

[noamnety]

7. I knew he would

but urggggghhhhhhh.

With the stories of them handing out stacks of cold cash without any accounting whatsoever, and the $9 billion missing, it's infuriating.

It's like welfare - you have a moral obligation to provide for the common good. But if you find a particular family that you know is committing massive fraud, you cut them off.

[0007]

8. This stinks! Bring the troops home

[denverbill]

9. What fucking moron wrote this article?

How is it 'baffling' to want to pay for the Iraq war costs by scaling back tax cuts rather than borrowing the money from our grandchildren?

[jswordy]

13. Come on now, you know what it says.

It says his campaign explanations of his votes were baffling. If you think it says otherwise, you'd, uh, be in need of remedial reading courses.

And you know, I did indeed find "I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it" a baffling explanation at the time. I recall shaking my head and thinking: That's as good as he could do?

Oh yeah, the so-called "fucking moron" who wrote the story also gave Kerry two chances in it to come back from that gaffe and explain it, even this late.

The Massachusetts senator, who failed in his bid to unseat Bush last November in an election focused on national security, defended his decision to not back the president's previous request to fund military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Mine was the right vote at the time and I wouldn't change it if we went back to that point in time because it was the right vote," Kerry said. "We didn't have a plan and they didn't spend the money correctly."

...and...


"Should we have done a better job, could I have done a better job personally in fighting back on defining that?" Kerry asked. "The answer is yeah."

Kerry said the United States would have made better progress on Iraq, where an insurgency continues to rage almost two years after the March 2003 invasion, if he had been elected. He asserted the Bush administration was only now "trying some of the things" he proposed such as focusing on training Iraqi forces and getting other countries involved.

"I think my security proposals for the country were smack on, dead on," Kerry said.

[mourningdove92]

19. I just read your predictions.

Great stuff. Looks like you are right on target

[Say_What]

12. Man, did this guy turn out to be BushLite

I reserved judgement on Kerry after the Selection and have come to the conclusion that this guy's obsession to be president outweighs everything else. Never again will he get my vote.

[ElectroPrincess]

14. He's not the man he used to be in the 1970s, he's changed. : (

[blm]

21. You didn't like his work in the 80s or 90s either?

.

[fassia]

96. I liked his album in the late 60's

Though you can only get it on 45's now.

[blm]

113. Much more important than exposing IranContra, BCCI and illegal wars in

Central America.

[gratuitous]

15. So, they didn't have a plan and didn't spend correctly last time

What has happened since the last time this corrupt administration asked for a blank check that suddenly persuades Kerry (or anyone) that they now have a plan or that they will feel constrained to spend the money correctly?

Answer me that question, and I'll let you off the hook for this stupid vote that will be seen as a continuing endorsement of the administration's war crimes. Otherwise, you might as well change your registration to "R" for as much opposition as you're showing.

[jswordy]

26. What happened since? WE LOST!

It's the same loss of power in Washington that allows "Democratic" minority "leader" Harry Reid to say he will back a bill by Republican Charles Grassley that will make it harder for Americans snowed under with debt to file bankruptcy.

The Grassley bill has be introduced seven or more times before, and has always FAILED. But now with the backing of our so-called "Democratic leader" Reid, it'll probably pass.

Oh BTW, that bill is just about deadbeats, right? Not about me? Well, the No. 2 reason for bankruptcy is medical costs arising from an unexpected crisis. These costs force middle class people into bankruptcy, and almost all of those folks DO have health insurance, it just doesn't cover all the costs.

We're all a heart attack away from massive debt.

Here ya go: http://www.alternet.org/story/21211

GO HARRY!

[Demeter]

17. JUST SAY NO!!!

When is this Congress going to get some sense? As for Kerry, I'd recommend a low profile.

[LeaderlessResistance]

18. Bush & More Money

The United States Government is hopelessly bankrupt, has a huge debt problem, and is still looting Social Security and playing accounting games to try to hold things together.

[glitch]

58. Very true - and I like your screen name. Welcome to DU! nt

[Vektor]

20. The Repukes will still find a way to twist this

into "Kerry doesn't support the troops - he'd send them in there with spitballs....bla bla bla"

Grrrr.

[Swamp Rat]

22. Another rubber stamp for a litany of crimes... n/t

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

23. Don't intend to hijack this thread

but I have a question that maybe you folks can answer.
This money figure is flung around like a rag doll, and it leads me to ask if * wants $82 billion for his precious little war,how much would it cost to 'fix' Social Security'?
Wouldn't $82 billion patch every friggin' leak in that program?
Sign me,
Curious..........

[jswordy]

29. Yes, but that would not achieve the 70-year-old GOP objective...

...of killing off the program.

[KingoftheJungle]

24. Makes me wonder why they bothered rigging the election in the first place

He basically tows the Bush line, only with the face of a democrat.

[KissMeKate]

25. why is this news?

why is the media covering Kerry's vote on this bill? Is this another excuse to bring uip the "flip flop" meme?

[jswordy]

28. Oh Lord! THIS IS NEWS!!!!

When the guy who was bashing the prez over how the war was conducted during the campaign -- the same guy who came up with a strange-sounding explanation of his past votes on appropriations -- then votes FOR the next appropriation to come along after he loses the campaign?

THAT IS NEWS in its purest sense!

[politicasista]

31. Uh Oh, I smell some Kerry bashing coming

If only he hadn't voted for the IWR. Look at us, singling out Kerry and making all the other candidates look like geniuses. :nopity: :scared: :shrug:

[jswordy]

32. All I said was THIS IS INDEED NEWS. Seems self-evident to me.

[saracat]

38. And exactly how would you get our soldiers home, and not leave the people

defenseless, without spending more money and sending more troops? Do you think you just waltz out and it doesn't cost anything??? Do you think we don't have to protect the troops that are there , let alone the people to whom we caused this to happen?
You are right. This is news. Unlike the Bush moron, Kerry takes reponsibility and behaves like an adult! Even when assuming the responsibility isn't popular.

[jswordy]

41. Scratching my head...man, you guys can draw a lot out of a..

simple reply and a rather simple news story. It's news, is all I said, and I told why it is news. The rest is your conjecture and opinion, to which you are entitled. But man oh man, does it have to come with personal attack and hyperventilation, too?

LOL.

[AlGore-08.com]

34. Probably because he asked them to

It's an opportunity for him to cast himself as strong on National Security - - just like his trip to Baghdad right after the election. He really thinks that will win him the nomination again.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

47. It may very well win him the nomination again

Just so long as it makes the media convince the people that he's the most "electable".

[spanone]

27. It's like money for the war on drugs. Damned if you don't

I'd tell bush* to shove the request up his presidential ass, or put it in his budget.

[ladjf]

30. And he wants to send another 40,000 troops to Iraq.

That is a terrible idea. What is he thinking?

[TayTay]

39. No he doesn't

He wants another 40,000 troops because we do not have the troops levels right for our committments in the world. He specifically said that he doesn't want them in Iraq. (Which will probably draw down troop levels gradually anyway.)

The demands made on the military by the * Admin leaves the military on the brink of deep problems. Kerry wants to correct that because it is a better way to manage our military, not to have more troops for the failed Iraq war.

[jswordy]

44. The question is, how do we get more troops?

Recruitment levels are way off now, signing incentives are way up, and a story in "Rolling Stone" recently hinted that there may indeed by a type of draft coming, citing White House memos and position papers.

In this kind of draft, if you are deemed a needed expert in some field, like medical doctor, you subject yourself to being called up whenever there is a military shortage. Interesting article.

My own concern is North Korea. We are understaffed to rattle the sabre there in ways the situation is increasingly calling for. Then you look at Syria and Iran (Iran being the big regional winner in the Iraqi elections) testing our resolve every day. Could get dicey.

[Pinboy]

42. NOT to Iraq. Quote from his speech yesterday in Worcester, MA:

"I first called for expanding the Active Duty Army in the summer of 2003 when it became apparent that the Iraq invasion had stretched our forces to the breaking point. Let me be clear: this was not, and is not a proposal to increase U.S. forces in Iraq itself."

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2005_0214.html

[XemaSab]

101. Sort of like

the IWR wasn't a blank check to Bush to go to war......RIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT.

[Triana]

33. Wroooooooooooooooooong!

Wrong
Wrong
Wrong

He should have voted against it.

[davidinalameda]

35. flip

flop
flip
flop

[Dr Fate]

36. I disagree with "The Shadow President" on this one.

n/t

[rodeodance]

37. seems to me the press is treating him like a candidate

[acmavm]

40. Great, while thousands file for bankruptcy because they can't

afford their medical bills, our kids get shit education because either they've cut the funding for them or the grants so that a person can get an eduation, no money for cops, cut the programs to train people to get off welfare, cut funding for afterschool programs, cut funding for food for people who don't get enough to eat, BUT GOD DAMN WELL AND GOOD TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON THIS ENDLESS WASTE OF HUMAN LIFE AND ASSESTS CALLED "OPERATION SCREW THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER AND THE REST OF THE PLANET AS WELL".

I fully understand that according to my beliefs that to hope for someone (or multiple someones) to spend an eternity in hell puts my immortal soul in dire jeopardy, but I have a whole list of people I want to see in Hotel Hades. And anyone who supports this frigging administration in this project, in any way, can join them.

Cut the money off and how long would this fiasco last? Maybe we should damn well find out if the BFEE is willing to spend it's own money on this obscene war.

[smirkymonkey]

78. Thank you for saying it for me.

Throwing good money after bad. Why rollback taxcuts to the rich when there are so many DINO's willing to suck us dry to fund this disaster of a "war."

Kerry will never get my vote again. I at least expect our Democratic leaders to show some resistance instead of rolling over every time the Chimp calls for more $$ for the war chest.

And whose pockets do you think that money will find it's way into? Sickening. :nuke:

[SammyWinstonJack]

43. Sure why not?

So ** can open more "Firehouses in Baghdad and close them at home." :shrug: Looks like more 'planes full of cash' to disappear. :argh:

[jswordy]

45. I like yer lil smiley there...but that could get expensive! LOL n/t

[LinuxInsurgent]

46. wake up Dems...

this is the real face of Kerry.

He wasn't anti-war..he was anti-BUsh lies and the occupation...now that the election has, in his mind, legitimized the American presence in Iraq, he's not against funding our military boys in Iraq.

Now...for him, it's a legitimate peacekeeping force fighting off anti-democrat insurgent forces...and that, in his mind, is worthy of 81 Billion more dollars of military aid.

If you actually thought Kerry was against the U.S. presence in Iraq, you were fooled.

[bluedog]

48. I think

he is trying to make his case about the last time.voting for.voting against........he wants to make up for his past statements.so as the GOP won't be able to use this aginst him in his next run.

as for me.I think its a damn stupid request.....and the money should be spent on our own programs...the defense dept has the money to fund the troops...........its about about the "I wants" of bushy boy and I am sick of it

when will the real Democratic Party come foreward and demand accountibility....


We should all say::::::::::

Show me the results!!

That's what Bush asked of the social programs that his budget seeks to cut - he wants to see that results.

Do the same with the Pentagon and the CIA - show me the results - why continue to waste money on the military and intelligence agencies? They have been consistently WRONG about every aspect of the war in Iraq - WRONG, time and again WRONG!

If they want my tax dollars - show me the positive results of the other $200 billion spent on this fiasco.

[karynnj]

60. Kerry has been consistent

Although he did explain a million times that the IWR was not a vote for war and that was should have been a last resort. But as we did go to war, he did give what his plan was. He is not arguing (as in 71) to leave immediately, he is still arguing to quickly work with to train Iraqis, step up diplomacy to help things work out and to quickly work on reconstruction. He did agree with Kennedy that our presence was part of the problem and was against the idea of long term bases. (None of this has changed in the last half year.) He stated his motivation was that a failed state in Iraq is not a good option.

If Kerry were President, he would be asking for funds to do this. Bush has really not layed out his plan in comparable detail and there is good reason not to trust him. But, as Kerry can only vote "yes" or "no", how could he vote "no" and argue they can't just leave and potentialy have a failed state in Iraq? To me knowledge, no Senator has called for an immediate end to the war.

[LinuxInsurgent]

97. that's my point...

those that thought Kerry would stop the war were fooled.

At the heart of it all, the discussion is between those that feel the occupation is illegitimate, and those that feel its legitimacy can be proven through our actions. Kerry is of the latter group, I am in the former..

and that's really the division line in the Dem. party, between those that say "this war was illegal and illegitimate" and those that say "well, we disagree with the way the war was handled...but now we got to clean up the mess".

I take the Kucinich approach...it was bad going in, it's bad being there, get out.

[grumpy old fart]

49. Attach a Damn ACCOUNTABILITY RIDER!!!

Now's the time to attach a rider to the appropriation requiring hearings on the waste, fraud and corruption in this illegal war. Congress HAS to pass this bill, so attaching an appropriate and germane rider requiring hearings and accountability is our chance to get into this muck and FOLLOW THE MONEY!

There's precedent for this, and there have been bills put forth to this end independently. But such bills don't have a prayer unless attached to "Must Pass" Repuke appropriations. Now is the time to act.

http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=18536

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1596824&mesg_id=1596824

[Kashka-Kat]

109. YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

and, YES again.

For crying out loud, stop being enablers!!!!! Enough already.

[mmonk]

51. Now you know why we lost

The public doesn't decipher the contradictions.

[grumpy old fart]

54. Exactly, and we are missing a golden opportunity for quid pro quo

They need this money. Congressional Dems can't just say "no" to "troops" etc...but we can demand accountability, and it sure would look bad to even the sheeple if Chimp & Co. say "no" to accountability....

[kypper]

55. Of course not

I mean, neither can we.
Compared to the rest of the world, he's fucking right wing. Bush is just frothing... it's like comparing a pit-bull to a dog with rabies. They both need to be put down.

[EST]

87. Wow!

I just love your analogy-may I borrow it, please. (sure beats Hobson's choice)

[Kashka-Kat]

110. I dont get it either

and I want to believe, I'm trying my damnedest. Just does not compute.

[onehandle]

53. Bush started the fire. Of course we have to sustain our troops.

But I hope the Dems will go on the verbal warpath as they are signing the checks.

[kypper]

56. Sorry

Parents don't continue to give lunch money if they find their kids are buying drugs with it.

[grumpy old fart]

"Verbal warpath" is worthless...but hard indictable facts are not....

and if the dems will only play hardball, for once, we have a real opportunity to open a real can of legal, indictable, impeachable, worms here....Require hearings NOW! Hell, to start off with there's about $9 Billion unaccounted with Halliburton....

[gatorboy]

57. I can't even understand what he says anymore....

So I guess, he'll be against the $81.9 billion in 2008...

[Leilani]

59. Sadly, it's all about 2008

Since the election, Kerry is making all his decisions based on 2008.

His votes are completely illogical; nothing has changed since his "No" vote on funding, but it hurt him during the campaign.

So now he votes "Yes" thus changing direction again.

[bluedog]

61. He shouldn't worry about it!!!

"Kerry is making all his decisions based on 2008".

this is soooooooo true.........I hope he doesn't run again for all our benefits.........

[yinkaafrica]

68. He has absolutely no chance of winning in '08. He needs to move on

We need him to stand up for us NOW!
Do your damn job, Kerry!

[Lorien]

91. No, but he would help the GOP "win" again

maybe that's the DLC game plan?

[lyonn]

108. Ain't that the truth

"We need him to stand up for us NOW!"

[leftofthedial]

62. they've done so well with that last loan our grandkids gave them

we need to face facts.

Kerry is one of them, not one of us.

Other than a few (mostly African American) members of the House, there is no opposition to the ruling cabal in Murka.

[shance]

63. Its time for John Kerry to become employed like normal Americans

If this doesnt prove he's on the side of the corporate oligarchy, what will?

Kerry, as do others needs to be fired from the Senate. He has squandered his position, never been held accountable, along with the nomination of the presidency.

How much more denial are we going to engage in?

This isn't about being a "Democrat", although to me he clearly isnt who he was back in the seventies.

It IS about ethics and doing what is right. How many more no-brainer wrongs are we going to swallow?

At the least, consider about the kids over in Iraq. Consider what we are doing to them for no reason other than for the richest .03 percent to become richer.

Because John Kerry sure isnt.

If Kerry was thinking about these kids and the fact we are engaging in an illegal and immoral war, he wouldn't be calling Ted Kennedy down and then literally promoting this killing spree in Iraq by signing another check for the Bush Administration so they can make more money off of this invasion.

[paineinthearse]

64. That's it, I'm supporting Corsi in 2006

Call it a "protest" support.

p.s. If this does not make sense, see my thread in the Massachusetts forum.

[UCLA Dem]

65. what makes you think they'll spend it any better this time?

what a disappointment.

[AgadorSparticus]

67. no shit. he just voted to give halliburton & the military complex

70+billion to hord in their pockets. this is throwing more money that we don't have down a black hole. can't believe he or any dem would vote for this. :grr:

[SOS]

66. Why ANY extra money?

The US has a $420 billion annual budget for the War Department.
That's not enough to occupy a tiny third world country?

[Kagemusha]

69. There's a reason Europeans don't try it anymore.

Yes, it is damned expensive to occupy a third world country. It's not that tiny. But most of that money isn't going to troops on the ground obviously.

[Halliburton]

70. Well he is running in 2008...

what an asshole

[ElectroPrincess]

80. He won't score my vote (and hopefully many enlightened Americans) again!

[slothrop]

71. why the surprise?

He would have made the same request if he had won, take a look at his campaign.

[Massachusetts]

73. WTF

:wtf:

[Politicub]

74. Figures.

Blah. rubbish.

[candy331]

75. Kerry is doing what he should have done from the start, he voted

for the war so he should have voted for the funding to be at least consistent with his vote. How in the Hell do you vote for war then say I am not voting for the resources to win the war? Seems he really likes the flip flopper label because surely he must know Bush will have to ask for more money several times before 08 so will he decide by testing his finger to the wind on which way to vote? He should at least be strong with his wrong rather than a weak kneed panderer. Sometimes it is better to quit while you are viewed a hero and have a heroes place in history rather than try to soar higher and loose even the place you had.

[bluedog]

76. How many more

Democrat Senators are going to get in line and on the list to get dick whipped by bush yet again....I'm curious...they know our own budget is being cut.yet they want to spend spend and not be held accountible.........how much more does this country have to take?

Does NO ONE listen to the People???After all They work for US..........

[Amonester]

77. and how much for the tax

payers?



ah well, i know... i know... pass the bill to the next generation(s)

couldn't say it's alright just for the poor tsunami victims (?)

or didn't "forget" Poland (?)

pay later :(

[leesa]

79. What a disappointment this guy is. Just throw more money

and troops at an illegal, immoral adventure. No accountability at all. Why isn't he demanding an account of where the money is, including the 9 billion that disappeared? How much are Kerry and HIS friends making on this deal? Is he like Feinstein and cashing in bigtime?

[ElectroPrincess]

81. I think it's time for us to come to the realization that

both powerful Republicans and Democrats are the tools of the large Corporations. What few honest Democrats are left have NO power. The Corporate media rules the air waves.

Basically, we're screwed ... for now.

[aikido15]

119. BINGO!

[ckramer]

129. Right on!

Shame on Kerry.

[leftyandproud]

82. Thanks again Kerry!

God bless the DLC!

</sarcasm off>

[wildmanj]

83. vote

will be a cold day in hell before i cast another vote for kerry---its about time for america to cast a vote for americans---to heck with sending our money all over the world and americans going without----america first all other countries second

[wisteria]

85. This is a necessary yes vote.

No matter what your feelings are over this war we are know faced with a job only partially done. The additional money Bush is asking for is needed to rebuild and stabilize Iraq. We have no other choice, but to try and clean up this mess that Bush has created in Iraq. If we don't succeed and Iraq is a failure we are faced with more than 1,400 soldiers loosing their lives in vain and billions of our dollars wasted. I think John Kerry is making a wise decision.

[EST]

93. Just because 1400+ soldiers died

for something that so many knew was a bottomless pit of lies and criminal delinquency does not justify spending another dime. This thing is never going to end. There will always, always, ALWAYS be another request for embarassingly large amounts of money to kill more people with. It..ain't...ever...gonna...stop! We just have to stop it. There is never going to be a "good" time to end. The only way, ever, is going to be when we just simply refuse to fork over one red cent-then it'll stop because it can't continue. This is the best time-right now-to say 'NO!"

[lyonn]

111. Got an idea

Let's make a deal with the Mullahs for cheap oil for the next 50 years and we will get out of there immediately! And, promise to protect their oil fields from their enemies.
edited to "get out of there immediately)

[EST]

122. Heheh

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

86. 2 years of health care for all...

...down the shitter.

:hurts:

[reprobate]

90. Article is Wrong. Should be Republicrat Sen. John Kerry

Kerry is part of the power structure. He is one of the wealthy elite. He could NOT say anything against bush, who had the support of the rest of the power elite.

IMO Kerry was the Manchurian candidate, in that he was not more than a placeholder, whose job was quite simply to be a foil for bush to look good against.

If he was a boxer and that were a prize fight, the boxing commission would yank his license for throwing the fight.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

98. Very well said. Thank you. n/t

[SlavesandBulldozers]

102. i disagree

"whose job was quite simply to be a foil for bush to look good against."

sorry man, i saw those debates - and the runup to the elections =- and Kerry wasnt a foil. Neither did Bush look good, so if your scenario is accurate they failed miserably at the little conspiracy. Plus, as far as I can tell Kerry won the election. So you see, the Kerry as foil theory is laughable.

The fact of the matter is our society is like a sea of ignorant assholes, so this outcome cannot be placed solely on Kerry. just my opinion.

in re: to Kerry's vote in this recent gazillion dollar request, play out the scenario in your mind in Re: to what you would do and how - either way - nobody will be happy with the outcome. Its not an enviable position for him to be in.

[d.l.Green]

92. Oh, this is really responsible. Where's the friggin' $9billion that's

still unaccounted from the previous monies?!?!?! We sure are in "a different situation", we are now SURE that the people controlling the distribution of this money lie and cheat and lose it! And if the money is so important why is there still not a PLAN? I think the Repugs were right about this, Kerry is out of touch and he's still sitting on close to $50million in donations that WE gave him to make sure all the votes were counted. Hey, it wasn't his money! Why worry?

[HeeBGBz]

147. Exactly. Account for the $9 billion

Before throwing away more money we don't have.

[raysr]

94. I'm starting to

REALLY believe he threw the election!

[SlavesandBulldozers]

103. really

so you think he lost the election?

[raysr]

115. I think he

he could have ran away with it if he'd have wanted to. I think it was stolen, but they couldn't have done it so easily if it wasn't close. IWV and Swift Boats got him I think.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

128. no doubt swiftliars

i think the blind allegiance to the chimp was another factor.

[chlamor]

95. Kerry said he plans to file legislation to increase size of military

Kerry said he plans to file legislation to increase the size of the military by 40,000 -- 30,000 in the Army and 10,000 in the Marines -- to help support the country's efforts in Iraq and the larger war on terrorism.
"The war in Iraq proved that a lightning-fast, high-tech force can smash an opposing army and drive to Baghdad in three weeks. But there is no substitute for a well-trained and equipped infantry to win the peace," Kerry said in remarks delivered Monday
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/02/14/kerry_calls_

It seems that the tsunami relief aid as part of the "supplemental" is going to go to bringing back old bases in SE Asia, particularly in Thailand. All of our tax dollars being funneled into the Military Machine.

The Pentagon has announced it is returning to its old Vietnam War haunts at Utapao Royal Thai Naval Air Force Base 90 miles south of Bangkok on the Gulf of Thailand. In this clear escalation of the American military presence in Southeast Asia, the ostensible plan is to set up a "command center" for the tsunami emergency relief effort. Utapao air base will serve as a staging base for U.S. military and rescue aircraft. The emergency relief operations appear to provide a windfall opportunity for beefing up the American military presence in Southeast Asia, part of the expanding Pentagon strategy of "forward positioning," establishing sites, so-called "air cargo hubs," where American forces can stash equipment and enter and leave as desired.
Despite Thailand's neutrality on the war in Iraq, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra allowed Utapao to be used by American warplanes flying into combat in Iraq last year, and into Afghanistan earlier. There is also speculation that Utapao, with its infamous facilities for 'sophisticated interrogation' (a military heirloom from the Vietnam era), is probably where various al-Qaeda suspects have been secretly grilled.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/SIR502A.html

[INDIA]

99. HEY!!!

Lay offa John Kerry! I voted for him and I'm damn proud of it. He is trying to work in a system hopelessly dominated by the GOP; he has to compromise sometimes or he'll become COMPLETELY obsolete!

[SlavesandBulldozers]

105. i disagree

he doesn't have to compromise for the sake of avoiding obsolescence in the mind of the reich.

[Laurab]

100. How are the other Dems voting? n/t

[lyonn]

104. How about some oversight on this $$$

The Dems need to demand receipts or something. The administration looses billions over there and "nothing" happens to change things.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

107. how about the right demand some

fucking accountability. or some receipts? oh that's right, to them accountability and responsibility is something the Other should possess. not them, dear Jesus no not them.

[lyonn]

117. Now you are asking for a miracle

Repubs don't owe anyone anything in the way of proof. But I wish more Dems would do more objecting with their votes in congress.

[Califooyah Operative]

112. I'm amazed

at how many people can turn their backs on kerry and for such childish reasons. So he wants to fund our troops, wow. It's not the time nor the place to complain about policy or the reasons for the war, it's about funding troops already out in the field.

[belab13]

114. Is there any oversight attached to this or is it another blank

check for Bushco?

I'm very dissappointed in Kerry.

[aikido15]

116. OH, HELL NO!

OMFG! I am dying laughing! And later on Kerry will say, "I voted against it before I voted for it!"


I CAN NOT BELIEVE I VOTED FOR THIS IDIOT!

[aikido15]

120. Can we support a third party now?

Can we, leave the corrupt two party system, huh, can we, please?

:bounce:

[raysr]

121. I voted for Kerry

too. But to get back to the election, what was that convention (Dems) about? "Don't attack Bush". And then they turn around and crucify Kerry. And what does he do in retaliation? Nothing. Maybe there's something to that "Skull&Bones" shit.

[fshrink]

123. This must be"political sense".

The kind of sense that makes lots of sense when you're not pressed by anything, danger, poverty or suffering. The kind which is condescendingly, compassionately as it were, explained to those who are in situations of danger, poverty or suffering. Stop the show.

[proudbluestater]

124. But he said he was AGAINST a blank check for Halliburton!

And, with reports our troops are still dying because they lack proper army and vehicle armor, that's exactly what he's doing.

What's worse, there is a LOT of money missing. Lots. Where is it? Who took it? Why won't Congress DEMAND an answer before they give more of OUR money to this regime?

[YvonneCa]

125. I'm disappointed in this thread...

...it shows an amazing lack of knowledge on the part of some participants. Kerry is doing what is necessary to support the troops in Iraq, given the current situation, which would never have occurred on his watch (or Al Gore's for that matter). After visiting Iraq in January, he knows money is needed for armor to protect our troops. He also knows that we can't just immediately pull our troops out, no matter how much we may think we shouldn't have gone in in the first place and no matter how much we want to bring our troops home. We have to get out, but there is a right way to do it to promote stability in the region. Lack of stability in the Middle East would be dangerous for the entire world. I suggest reading some of NYT's Tom Friedman's books (such as the Lexus and the Olive Tree) to understand more about "the Pottery Barn Rule" and how George Bush broke it.:-(

[wmills551]

148. That was a great post!

[Gyre]

126. Kerry is only surpassed by the chimp

in talking out of both sides of his mouth at once. Probably better Kerry lost. I'll take republican-hating to dem-hating any day. :puke:

Gyre

[MAlibdem]

127. Wow.

There goes any hope of a 2008 presidential victory for him. I don't care what his reasons are, THIS IS THE SECOND "FLIP-FLOP" ON IRAQ and AFRGANISTAN FUNDING. SAY IT AIN'T SO!

[ckramer]

130. That's it. Tomorrow I'm taking the Kerry for President sticker off my car

[YvonneCa]

131. Still disappointed... n/t

[ckramer]

132. John Kerry probably will lose his senate seat in MA soon too.

[Hardrada]

142. And he can stay out of Iowa too

In case he thinks he can come over and hustle for caucus support again. I won't welcome him back. Well, I wasn't for him in the first place. Dennis K. was my choice.

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

133. Shut up, John.

Seriously, go away. You had your chance to do what was right for the American people, and instead you sold them out to the neocon agenda. Either you fell for their tricks and let them define you, or you were in on the whole scheme from the beginning. Either way, you're no good to the Democratic party or anyone else anymore. And if Howard Dean has any sense behind that freakishly large forehead of his, you and all your surrender-monkey clones will soon find out just how well America can get along without you.

Fuck you and the swift boat you rode in on.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

134. Raise your hand if you still think he's "working behind the scenes"

for us. You still think he's a mixture of Holmes, Columbo, and Kojak, fighting crime from the shadows in the name of the Democratic Party?

Dare to dream. He's NOT gonna get MY vote a second time.

[Rex]

135. Why wouldn't he vote for it? He voted for the murder of Iraq!

Some of ya'll need to wake up!

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

136. what A SLUT-->he should be legislating a WITHDRAWAL-what, money talks?

to the tune of Beverly hillbilies:
Well the next thing ya know ol' John's on the Carlyle Group,
the Dem folks said John- what'd we do about our troops?
Sittin on the board's now the place he wants to be,
So he showed us he's a slut,
and he sold us out for greeeeee---d,


oil that is,

black gold,

Texas Tea,

Ya'll come back now,

ya'hear !

[YvonneCa]

137. STILL disappointed...n/t

[sampsonblk]

138. This is why we need Dean and Clark more than ever

John Kerry lost his way a long time ago.

[lala_rawraw]

139. oh good god, not this crap....

WHY???

[Imagevision]

141. Did they ever find the "missing" 9 billion in Iraq??

[neweurope]

143. And you expect the foreign press to understand what's going on in

your country... Kerry is seen as the head of the US opposition. As long as he votes with the Bushistas everything MUST be just dandy.

------------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[mittenlandgirl]

144. remember msm

and how they portray his words...

go past the sound bites. Maybe read his statement he made on the supplemental on his website. (not johnkerry.com) go here:

http://kerry.senate.gov/bandwidth/home.html#


John Kerry: Military Families Must be Part of Supplemental


Below is a statement from Senator John Kerry on the military supplemental spending request that Congress will soon consider.

Tuesday, February 15, 2005

“It's the right thing to do for Congress to stand by military families as part of the supplemental funding that will soon face a vote in the United States Senate. Starting with the coming debate on the supplemental, I will fight to pass as much of my Military Family Bill of Rights as possible. There's no time to wait. Congress must act now.

“We're told that supplemental funding is needed to deal with emergencies around the globe, and I agree. But the urgent needs of our military families must also be addressed. Military families have higher expenses during deployments, and they should be able to make penalty-free withdrawals from their Individual Retirement Accounts for increased child care and other deployment-related expenses.


more here: http://kerry.senate.gov/bandwidth/home.html#



Of course personally I think standing by our military families would be getting us the hell outta there, I guess in the meantime

[Vidar]

145. In a word, pathetic.

[HeeBGBz]

146. How about some f-ing accountability with that cash?

Whose pockets need lining now?