Can anyone tell me why Nancy Pelosi won't cut the funding to Iraq?

[Luckyduck]

The only reason I have heard is that we cannot leave the troops there without bullets etc.

Does she really not get that we are trying to force Bush to bring the troops home?

Why is she getting away with such a ridiculous excuse?

[mdmc]

1. She doesn't want to admit defeat in Iraq

We need to support the troops over there. Bring them home with victory and honor.

[Luckyduck]

3. Why does she say Bush is ignoring the will of the people

when she is as well?

[mdmc]

6. she is doing it a little bit less

folks don't want to cut funding. They don't want to pay, but they don't want to cut and run.

[sallyseven]

2. You haven't been listening

The money is already allocated. Now when he asks for more money something can be done but until then he is scott free. You need some civic lessons.

[John Gauger]

7. What about the War Powers Act?

The War Powers Act of 1976 says that Congress can immediately withdraw American forces from a hostile environment with a concurrent resoution, and the President can go fuck himself. Why hasn't she done that yet?

[LSK]

9. because shes not an idiot???

:shrug:

[John Gauger]

30. What is that supposed to mean?

I don't feel that my question is any more answered than it was before you answered it.

[Luckyduck]

19. that makes no sense

they are asking for more to keep them there longer

[Seattleman]

4. I have been predicting this for quite some time

I am more active on other forums and have repeatedly stated that the American people would clearly express their desire for a de-escalation in Iraq, but that the Democratic Leadership would work closely behind the scenes with the Neo-Conartist Mafia to continue the occupation unabated. However, they would tell us platitudes in an attempt to pretend that they are horses of another color.

[Luckyduck]

24. tell us platitudes in an attempt to pretend that they are horses of another color

yes, that is what it seems is happening.

I just don't get why so many at DU think it is okay???
:shrug:

[MadMaddie]

5. Sallyseven is correct the money was already allocated

But Nancy has already said any further requests for money must go through the regular funding process. There will be no more emergency funding for the war. Which means that when he submits his request he has to detail down to the dime what the money is going to be spent on and there will be audits to ensure the money is being spent as it should.

[LSK]

10. she has said that and Ried and Biden many times....

[Luckyduck]

20. They are asking for more to keep the troops there longer

and of course pay Halliburton for building permanent bases.

At what point are we going to say ENOUGH!

The American people want US out of Iraq. Why are the Democrats pointing the finger at Bush, when they are ignoring US as well?

Which part of OUT do they not understand?

[LSK]

8. keep watching....

1. As Senator KENNEDY has said, they have the money from budgets passed in the last Congress.

2. Im not going to be reacting to things that have not happened yet. Thats just STUPID.

3. This is a long complicated process that has begun. Watching Congress this year vs the last 6 years has been night and day.

4. There will be a supplimental bills coming up.

5. Watch what Biden and the Senate are doing.

[Luckyduck]

12. Bush is asking for more funding this time than ever before

probably to pay for Iran.

I think we should pressure congress to cut the funding in the next coming months.
Nancy says she will not.
She said Iraq is her top priority, what is she doing to stop it? I don't get it???

[LSK]

13. when did he ask for more funding????

Nothing has been proposed yet.

PS turn on CSPAN right now and start learning how this works.

[Luckyduck]

16. Kucinich...

"We were put in power because people expected a new direction in Iraq. It goes without saying that they expect greater transparency and oversight, but they also expect us to do something to bring the troops home. Now, if Congress goes ahead under Democratic leadership and votes to approve what some are now estimating as an additional $160 billion for the war in Iraq, bringing the total for the fiscal year to $230 billion, the Democratic Congress will have bought George Bush’s war...

What can people do?

Kucinich: People first of all need to know about this. People need to know that there is an attempt by our leadership to support the supplemental, and what the consequences are.... The most difficult part of the challenge is to get members of Congress to understand that they themselves voted for a bill which went into effect on Oct. 1 that appropriated $70 billion, which could be used to bring the troops home. Unfortunately, our leadership is saying they’re supporting the supplemental as a way of supporting the troops. So if we continue to ignore the money that’s there right now to bring the troops home, we’re losing an opportunity to bring the troops home now. People are now saying that they oppose the war, but they’re continuing to fund it in the name of supporting the troops.

They say they’re not going to abandon the troops in the field. We’re professing a strange love for these troops by keeping them there"
http://www.truthdig.com/interview/item/20061206_dennis_kucinichs_showdown/

[LSK]

18. how is the 109th Congress relevant???

Pelosi had no power then.

[Luckyduck]

22. I'm talking about the 110th

supporting more funding for the war in Iraq and Iran in the coming months

[LSK]

25. there have been no formal requests for funding yet for the 110th

[Luckyduck]

26. What's your point?

Do you think that they will not ask for more? Why has everyone been talking about the war funding?

[LSK]

27. they will ask for more yes

My point is to watch and see what the Dems do before throwing them under the bus.

Please turn on CSPAN and start watching the process.

[Luckyduck]

29. Nancy already said she wouldn't cut the funding

They are only asking Bush nicely to end the war and it is not working.

[MadMaddie]

15. Fortunately and Unfortunately this is a Democracy and with it

there is process...

What we have to examine is how the Vietnam war was stopped by Congress...
We have to look at history.

In the mean time in the last two weeks the Democratic Congress has moved more bills through than the last year of the Republican Congress. I do share frustration but they have only been there two weeks.

I think they are formulating a plan or may already have one...they will have to pick the right time and place to present it to the public.

Don't forget the media is still uber neocon so they can formulate and impact public opinion.

Welcome to DU!
:hi:

[Rydz777]

11. Cutting funds

There is no political will to do anything that could be used in soundbites as "betraying the troops." So, why not go the route of readiness, i.e. prohibit sending troops to Iraq who have already been there a total of nine months. Forbid sending any units to Iraq that fail to fully meet readiness standards, including proper armor.

[LSK]

14. thats what the hearings are for, to lay the groundwork for defunding

[bullimiami]

17. i dont think they are starting with a last resort.

[illinoisprogressive]

21. The funding is already done and out of congress's hands. The next budget

is in Feb. But, they are proceeding a step at a time.
You don't just cut the funding and oops. It is something debated and voted on and the congress would look evil and pay a political price.
If they do pay that price, we'll be with republicans for 30 more years

[Luckyduck]

23. The war is a lie

We have already lost.
The American people have spoken WE WANT OUT!

The only way the democratic party will pay a price is if they do not act and continue to enable Bush.

[Nutmegger]

28. "Soft on Terra"?

:shrug:

[Luckyduck]

31. more from Kucinich

"In the spring of 2007 a new Supplemental Appropriations bill, estimated in published reports at $130 billion will be brought to Congress. Added to the $70 billion bridge fund, this equals $200 billion for Iraq in FY2007 alone. Compare this with $117.6 Billion for all missions in FY06.

Without the cost of the Iraq war the Department of Defense's budget exceeds $400 billion annually. In a period of just two years, from FY2007 through FY2009, the combined DOD and the Iraq war spending could cost our nation over $1 Trillion!

It is a destructive fiscal policy. Worse than destroying itself, our government in choosing destruction is destroying our children's future and the future of our nation. We are borrowing billions from Beijing (with whom we have a $220 billion trade deficit), to fight in Baghdad. How can we control our own future if our driving national purpose is to deprive others of their own future?

The longer term costs of the war reveal a darker nightmare. Nobel Prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz and Linda Bilmes of the Kennedy School at Harvard University wrote "The Economic Costs of the Iraq War: An Appraisal Three Years After the Beginning of the Conflict" Their study, was released in January of 2006, estimates moderately that the total economic cost of the Iraq war will be $2.239 trillion."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-dennis-kucinich/there-is-only-one-way-to-_b_35453.html