Leahy HOT - - under the collar. C-Span 2 NOW

[revcarol]

He introduced an amendment to the emergency appropriations that would turn over reconstruction and USAID over to the State Department "where it belongs."

State Department wrote a nasty note and said they wouldn't do it. Other Senator against the amendment said this was from the President on down..

Leahy really angry.Said that military overstretched, had no plan for reconstruction, that 8 page "detailed" plan from Bremer was only given to repugs...

Other Senator says this will endanger our troops...So Leahy started calling him "my good friend from Virginia" until he cooled down...

State Department - who's going to be responsible. Far more money being spent in Iraq than here....

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Ok was this a pug

coup and we are just all waiking up to the nightmare

[clar]

2. Oh I wish I could watch this

I love Pat Leahy. Now there's a guy I'd vote for for President in a heart beat. And yes I love his temper. Go Pat!

[revcarol]

3. Other Senator said things were going so well in Iraq....

Nasty move that Leahy got undercut and the State Department won't do what the State Department is supposed to do....gotta keep this a military occupation...no civilians wanted!!

Leahy said maybe they should reduce the State Department appropriations!! One of his big arguments was that Iraqis would be more likely to cooperate with the State Department and know that this was not going to be a long occupation.

[revcarol]

4. Talking about tabling his amendment, but they haven't voted on tabling.

Repug is talking how giving all this money will make Iraq a democracy.:puke:

so enriching all those contractors in full sight of the Iraqis will lead to democracy?

[realFedUp]

5. What happened with the Biden amendment?

Vote count on it?

[revcarol]

6. It got tabled, but think vote is coming up later.

Repug says we will face more danger for troops if they don't vote reconstruction(lots of pork) moneys at the same time as troops moneys.

But Bremer said they probably had enough recon. money through late Dec., but the repugs want to rush the pork through.

[Pastiche423]

7. Dorgan (D-N Dak)

Talking about the troops having to pay their own airfare - it is WRONG!