Newsview: Showdown on Defense Looming (GOP vs Bush

[wakeme2008]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Politics-of-Defense.html?

August 6, 2005
Newsview: Showdown on Defense Looming
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 1:17 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The White House and Republican Senate leaders are rumbling toward a defense showdown with their GOP rank and file that could embarrass President Bush and take a rare wartime slap at Pentagon authority.

When the Senate returns this fall and resumes debate on a defense bill, several Republican senators plan to continue trying to tack on amendments that would impose restrictions on the Pentagon's treatment of terror suspects in U.S. custody and delay proposed military base closings. There's no indication the White House will drop its veto threats against those efforts.

That could make for a confrontation fueled by members of the president's own party. Such a standoff was averted last month when Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., abruptly pulled the defense bill from the floor after efforts to kill the amendments failed.

''We look to the future{Nov 2006 IMHO},'' said a clearly disappointed Sen. John Warner, R-Va., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee that crafted the bill. ''We'll take it up again in September.''

..link...

[babylonsister]

1. It's long overdue, but welcome. As the blivet

would say, bring it on!

[cliss]

2. Again, I take offense to the wording here.

The AP minimizes these monumental issues into verbs like "embarrass" and "slap at Pentagon". This is make-it-or-break-it time for the US. We are hemorrhaging to death financially in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This country is already broke, by accounting standards. If things don't change soon, we will become a Third World country. Our current debt is so staggering, that I can't wrap my mind around it. Next year, our military spending will be more than ALL other countries in the world, COMBINED.

Who gives a shit if Bush is embarrassed? I couldn't care less if the Pentagon is "slapped". In my opinion, the Pentagon needs to be "incarcerated" for what they've done.

[wli]

6. well, the idea is to prop the economy up by force

So there's really no way out. Iran sells oil in Euros and they're sunk. If they spend more money on wars, they're still sunk. No-win situation. Except where is the 2+ trillion annual black budget going?

[iconoclastic cat]

3. They are really worried about 2006.

[bandy]

4. Let them eat cake! n/t

[wli]

5. more like "let them eat depleted uranium"

[MichiganVote]

11. They should be. I can't believe how pissed people are getting

I live in an area of heavy republicans and everyone has something really bad to say about Bush and this congress.

[deadparrot]

7. Oh, yes, indeed, election fever is in the air.

I can feel it now.

[TahitiNut]

8. One-Party Kabuki

"See, citizens? The Democrats are superfluous - mere obstructionists. The GOP is the party of discussion and collaboration."
:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[wakeme2008]

10. Until you are a lame duck President

with on 42% of the people think you are doing the right thing, and a mid term election is coming up.

[geek tragedy]

9. McCain must not want the Rethug nomination after all.

Only Loud and Proud torture advocates can appeal to the Republican base.