MEME MEMO: $87 billion hand-out to HALLIBURTON

[ClassWarrior]

Kerry and Edwards voted against an $87 billion hand-out to Haliburton. Plain and simple.

The troops were going to get their body armor anyway.

The bill was about how it should be funded. Bush* and Cheney* wanted to fund it via a massive corporate welfare check to Halliburton. Guess what? Only $450,000 of the $87 billion has reached the troops so far.

Repeat it often - and keep this kicked.

The MEME MEMO: Because message matters.

[A_Possum]

1. Thanks

Bill was not about funding, but about HOW to fund? This is the first time I've heard it stated that way.

[ClassWarrior]

2. When Dems in Congress wanted to make it a loan to Iraq...

...to be funded by the oil wells, Bush* threatened to VETO it. That was the bill that Kerry voted FOR. It had to be a giveaway to Bush's* corporate donors, or no way at all. That was the bill Kerry voted AGAINST.

[cthrumatrix]

17. bush wanted a gift is right.... why not a loan when you are flush with oil

and as usual zero accounting validation on this moeny spent ..the UN said $25B was missing by their count.

[rfranklin]

3. Any sources for this?.

We need some legitimizing quotes.

[ClassWarrior]

5. Here ya go...

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/10/21/sprj.irq.congress.iraq.ap/

[lovedems]

4. What I don't understand is despite Kerry's vote, Bush got his 87 bill.

and the troops STILL don't have what they need. Kerry's vote is no excuse for how that money has been mismanaged.

[k in IA]

6. How about pointing out that all the Repubs voted against the $87 billion

before they voted for the $87 billion?

[ClassWarrior]

7. Great point!

[buycitgo]

8. REALLY!!!!

god DAMN it!!!!

why isn't that more common knowledge?????

this is the KERRY CAMPAIGN's FAULT!!!!!

in ex fricking SCUZABLE!!

I mean it

that REALLY pisses me off to the max

they are SO inept that I'm starting to bleed from my left eyeball

KICK

[shraby]

9. They GOT the 87 billion

and the troops STILL don't have all the body armor they need OR enough bullets OR armored humvees.

[ClassWarrior]

11. Great angle. Love it.

[ClassWarrior]

10. Pardon me... I've been working with the Kerry campaign...

And they are the tightest, most disciplined campaign I've seen in all my years of volunteering. If Kerry's not saying something you think he should - then email him, his campaign, your newspaper, radio stations, TV news networks, and anyone else you can think of.

And start passing around this MEME. If we can get enough people to start repeating this, it'll get to the campaign.

[rumguy]

12. I dig it

This is issue should be framed as a matter of principle.

[ClassWarrior]

13. It is a matter of principle.

[sandnsea]

27. Fiscal responsibility

Congressional oversight. That's how it should be framed, IMHO.

[rumguy]

14. kick

[cthrumatrix]

15. why let truth get in the way of a smear against kerry

[in_cog_ni_to]

16. Didn't Kerry also want to use part of the chimp's tax cut,

$20 Billion of it, to help fund the $87 Billion? If so, was that part of the bill he voted FOR? Or not. Where does that $20 Billion come into this? I'm having a hard time keeping all of this straight in my mind. ;)

[in_cog_ni_to]

18. Does anyone know the answer to my question?

Thanks! :hi:

[ClassWarrior]

19. I'm not sure if $20 billion of the tax cut was in the original bill...

It'd only make sense if it was. Perhaps you and I can do some research on this. I do know for sure that part of the original bill was earmarked as a loan, and that was Chimpy's sticking point.

[in_cog_ni_to]

20. OK. Thanks.

I have to leave here soon, but when I get back this afternoon, I'll try to google up some info on it.

[ClassWarrior]

21. Same here. Thanks in_cog...

:toast:

[in_cog_ni_to]

22. I found THIS!

http://www.factcheck.org/article.aspx?docID=155

This is a GREAT sight! It explains everything and also includes links to the votes and bills. I don't have time right now to read them, but will do so later. I want to read the amendment Kerry co-sponsored on the roll back of the tax cuts for people who make more than $400,000 a year. That must be the $20 Billion I've read about.


March 18 Update:

New Version of Ad Goes National

On March 18 the Bush campaign released a new version of the ad and said they would run it nationally on network cable television, as well as in West Virginia.

The updated version of the ad was nearly identical in wording but added near the end footage of Kerry giving an awkward but widely quoted explanation of his position:

Announcer: And what does Kerry say now?

Kerry: I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it

.Kerry was referring to a measure he co-sponsored that would have provided the $87 billion while also temporarily reversing Bush's tax cuts for those making $400,000 a year or more. That measure was rejected 57-42.

The Bush campaign named the revised ad "Troops-Fog" and issued a news release saying Kerry's stance is part of a pattern of equivocation. Kerry spokesman Michael Meehan called the ad misleading and said: "John Kerry opposed a red inked, blank check on Bush’s failed Iraq policy."

[ClassWarrior]

23. That's awesome!

I'll spend some more time with this later.

That is... unless some enterprising DUers want to do a bit of afternoon research in our absence...

[ClassWarrior]

24. Look here...

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

That's the actual Senate vote. So the original $87 billion bill - the one that Chimpy OPPOSED - was paid for through a combination of loans to Iraq AND a rollback of the tax cuts to the fat cats.

The second one - the one Bush* SUPPORTED - foisted the ENTIRE COST on US TAXPAYERS.

Good catch in_cog!

[sandnsea]

26. Bush threatened to veto it

There were several versions of this bill. I think Kerry voted for all of them except the one that just handed over $87 billion with no oversight at all. Kerry was on the right side of this $87 billion. The fact that the new defense bill for 2005 calls for money for body armor, yet again, is more proof that you just can't trust Republicans with our money. (Thanks to Howard for that one)

[ClassWarrior]

28. That's right - the Bush* thugs just looted it.

[in_cog_ni_to]

31. That's the one.

S.AMDT.1796
Amends: S.1689
Sponsor: Sen Biden Jr., Joseph R. (submitted 10/1/2003) (proposed 10/1/2003)
AMENDMENT PURPOSE:
To provide funds for the security and stabilization of Iraq by suspending a portion of the reductions in the highest income tax rate for individual taxpayers.

TEXT OF AMENDMENT AS SUBMITTED: CR S12301

STATUS:

10/1/2003:
Amendment SA 1796 proposed by Senator Biden. (consideration: CR S12260-12269; text: CR S12260)
10/2/2003:
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S12311, S12316-12337; text as modified: CR S12316)
10/2/2003:
Motion to table amendment SA 1796 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 57 - 42. Record Vote Number: 373.
COSPONSORS(7):

Sen Kerry, John F. - 10/1/2003
Sen Chafee, Lincoln D. - 10/1/2003
Sen Corzine, Jon - 10/1/2003
Sen Feinstein, Dianne - 10/1/2003
Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. - 10/1/2003
Sen Carper, Thomas R. - 10/2/2003
Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham - 10/2/2003


Here's the debate on the bill.....Very interesting. Byrd and Durbin making excellent arguments on holding back the $20 Billion. Scroll down the page for the debate and click on a link to read the full page of the debate.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/R?r108:FLD001:S12260

[ClassWarrior]

33. So there it is.

Kerry voted FOR a fiscally-responsible that pays the $87 billion with a combination of loans to Iraq and deferred tax cuts to the fat cats. And incidentally, holds back $20 billion for competitive bids.

And he voted AGAINST a bill that foists the costs upon us, the US taxpayers, for a giant Halliburton hand-out.

Wouldn't you??

[sandnsea]

25. They don't HAVE the body armor

The new defense bill, just signed this week, has allocations in it for... BODY ARMOR!!! And armor for the Humvees. So if this $87 billion was all important for the safety of our troops, why the hell didn't Bush make sure the BODY ARMOR money was allocated????

[in_cog_ni_to]

32. Good grief.

and the Dems are suppose to be bad with "the people's money?" Give me a damn break!

[ClassWarrior]

35. This isn't bad with money. This is criminal theft.

Oh the RepubliCONs are good with money alright... They're good at stealing it.

[ClassWarrior]

29. .

[ClassWarrior]

30. ..

[Tight_rope]

34. Kick...

[ClassWarrior]

36. ...

[Pallas180]

37. Criminal charges are under review for Cheney/Halliburton

by Prosecutor Fitzgerald and the French Judge.

Look at the thread "COVER UP OF TREASON" - it' s a letter/flyer

to be spread around and sent to all rethuglicans and democrats
on Capitol Hill or at their home offices.

They dont like him anyway, and this is a way to light a fire under
them to get them to remove him and his Perle and Wolfowitz and the rest of the neo-con pre emptive war thugs.

We gotta get those people out of govt. FOR GOOD. They;ve been hiding
in there waiting to do this for 30 years, since Nixon.

[ClassWarrior]

38. Thanks Pallas - I've already saved it!

[ClassWarrior]

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[ClassWarrior]

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