It's the corruption, stupid

[TayTay]

Tbe GOP is supporting a corrupt, morally reprehensible and fiscally irresponsible regime in Washington that is unwilling and unable to explain where the money is going. The amount of money that is unaccounted for in Iraq has been estimated at $9,000,000,000.00 (Nine Billion Dollars) and counting.

This amount of money is greater than that taken in by 32 of the 50 United States in their accounts for fiscal year 2004. See this report for verification: http://www.nasbo.org/Publications/fiscalsurvey/fsspring2005.pdf

The Bush Administration has 'lost' in Iraq more money that these states individually took in and spent on education, infrastructure, health care, salaries, road maintenance, construction and upkeep:

Maine
New Hampshire
VErmont
Rhode Island
Delaware
Michigan
Iowa
Kansas
Missouri
Nebraska
North Dakota
South Dakota
Alabama
Arkansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Mississippi
South Carolina
Tennessee
West Virginia
Arizona
New MExico
Oklahoma
Colorado
Idaho
Montana
Utah
Wyoming
Alaska
Hawaii
Nevada
Oregon

Repeat, the Bush Administration refuses to account for this missing NINE BILLION DOLLARS! They don't believe they should be held accountable by Congress or the American people for this colossal piece of mismanagement and cronyism.

We need to get this message across. The Bushies have lost more money than it takes to run the state of Tennessee for one whole year. If that isn't corruption than I don't know what is.

(Should this be a DU General thread?)

[karynnj]

1. wasn't lack of oversight one of the reasons

Kerry voted against the $87 billion - and he wanted to roll back some tax cuts.

[fedupinBushcountry]

4. Yes

Yes instead of getting a $89,000 tax cut they would get 83,000 or close to that I can't remember the exact figures. One Republican voted for the admendment Chafee, what surprised me was the number of Dems who voted against this reasonable admendment.

These are the Dems who voted against it:

Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Breaux (D-LA)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Miller (D-GA)
Nelson (D-NE)
Pryor (D-AR)

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00373

[karynnj]

5. What's really annoying is

that there are very few members of the top 1% living in these states. This was purely bowing to political pressure from the Republicans. In Arkansas, it is likely that only the Waltons, a few money managers and Bill Clinton (Who said often and clearly that he didn't need the tax cut) would be affected.

I think the problem last year, was the country was not ready to believe that money was being this blatantly mismanaged (the kindest word to use). I think there are likely things we still don't know as to where the money went and it is most likely not incompetence, but willful use of the money for purposes other than those it was legislated for.

The administration used much of the money to fight terrorism in Afghanistan to start the build up for Iraq. Although various Democrats spoke up loudly on this, the majority of the people either agreed with Bush that he could use it against terrorists anywhere - designated by Bush - or didn't care or hear. It may well be that the Iraq reconstruction money was diverted to new goals - Iran? What's clear is that the Bush administration has nothing but contempt for our democracy with its checks and balances.

I do think you may be right that it's the corruption, stupid. If so, is there a potential 2008 candidate who has fought corruption for about 20 - 30 years? One whose local paper has never found any quid por quo or other corrupt actions, though they looked very very hard?

[TayTay]

6. You caught me. Exactly

Corruption and outing it out and exposing it is Kerry's 'thing.' It's what seems to motivate and activate him more so than any other thing. It's why he took on Iran-Contra, drug-running in Central America by American quasi-governmental agencies and why he took on BCCI.

It's also the side of him that offered to Chair the POW/MIA committee even though every single staffer in his office told him not to do it because it would damage him politically. And he brought that committee in with a unanimous approval of his conclusions. (Which certainly was a stunning achievement.)

Yup, Kerry and fighting corruption go together quite naturally. And it just so happens that I honestly and truly believe that this is THE issue for 2006. Those friggin bastards in the Rethug Party have been gorging themselves at the public trough and have not been held accountable or responsible for their actions. They need an ass-whomping.

[karynnj]

7. Also, if that;'s the issue, you don't want Clinton

As you've pointed out they have some corruption problems themself and for some reason Bill is moving Hillary to the right on Iraq.

[TayTay]

8. Ding, Ding, Ding! We have a winner!

Why, oh Why do all the wrong people wind up as consultants in DC? (or newspaper writers who futilely try to puzzle out what candidates or possible candidates are doing in speeches and such?) Why, oh why don't all the smartie pants people who can put two and two together and come up with four not work in DC for candidates who would deeply appreicate their deductive skills. Sigh!
(Mutual admiration society....
And I'm spent!)

Ahm, by the way, good people of the Kerry forum, ahm, fair-warning. I have been put on a temporary medication to help me get over the Super-Hives that I contracted in Scotland and haven't yet gotten rid of. Ahm, believe it or not, it makes me hyper (and I am a diagnosed ADHD to begin with.) And, ahm, it kind of removes the filters that I work so hard to put into all my quiet, refined, reserved and dignified postings on this here group. Mea Culpa. It's temporary. My apologies in advance.

[globalvillage]

11. You mean you weren't previously medicated?

:wow:

I kid Tay Tay.

BTW, fun post in GDP. Thanks.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2027171

[fedupinBushcountry]

2. Most definitely

Topics like this is what should be discussed, on a Democratic site. Lately I feel like DU has become lala land.

[TayTay]

3. Okay, let me give it a shot on GD - politics

and ask for corrections. I am hardly an accountant and numbers are funny things.

But I think this will stand up.

Thanks!

[Island Blue]

9. I totally agree

This should be an issue that is mentioned every time a Democratic leader (or Democratic hopeful) opens his or her mouth! Party of "moral values" my ass. How the hell do you just lose nine billion dollars? Whose pocket is it going into?

Another question I have is why hasn't the media jumped all over this issue (I know, I know). I've seen a few stories here and there, but not much at all. To me this is something I think most people would be very interested in - people are generally opposed to government waste, mismanagement and corruption. It's not like this issue is difficult to explain, it's not. I just don't get it.

I really think though that this should be a major issue for any and all Democratic candidates running in '06 and beyond.

[karynnj]

10. It scares me more that it might not be mismanagement,

waste or petty corruption, but that the money was diverted to a very large covert action, beyond democratic government control slush fund in some secret accounts. Nine billion dollars can not simply be lost - they forgot to put the amounts in the check book ledger.
The same people did divert Afghanistan money illegally to start the Iraq buildup - which really made the war inevitable.