« previous | MUCK HOME | next »
Murtha: We Have The Power of The Purse
Rep. John Murtha (D-PA), appearing just now on Hardball and gifted as always with the ability to speak plainly, couldn't have been clearer on the controversial issue as to whether Democrats have the ability to restrict the Bush administration's funding of a troop increase in Iraq.
Yesterday, Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) confused the issue by claiming that it was "constitutionally questionable" whether Congress could preempt funding of Bush's desired "surge."
"No, that's not true at all," Murtha said, adding "we have every ability."
On the question of why certain Democrats were shirking from this option, he offered, "I'll tell you, it's all political."
Of course, since Murtha is the Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, it's in his power to push such a limitation on funding. We'll have more on this later on.
Senator Biden's appearance on " Meet the Press " made me sick .
January 8, 2007 7:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I had the impression Biden was talking out of his @ss when he said that. It seemed to be more his way of keeping the focus on its being the president's problem -- not congress'. I don't think it worked though.
January 8, 2007 7:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Murtha or somebody who is not worried about anything has to ask for Bush's Resignation NOW.
Or impeach him NOW.
This man MUST be STOPPED!!!
January 8, 2007 7:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Article 1 of the Constitution says that it is the responsibility of Congress to, among other things: "declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water...and To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years." Congress has the purse strings, period. Biden, for all his seeming intelligence, apparently hasn't read the Constitution lately.
And whatever happened to the teeth Congress has to limit additional forces on the basis of the War Powers Act of 1973?
January 8, 2007 7:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Biden is just trying to make certain that Iraq remains Bush's problem to solve. The worst thing that could happen for the Democrats is for the public to start believing that the Democrats are somehow responsible for coming up with a solution. This IS Bush's mess, and I think Biden is simply trying to pin sole responsibility for it on the White House--where it belongs.
January 8, 2007 8:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Everything Biden says will have to be taken with a grain of salt because he is running for president. And it will have to be a large grain because Joe likes to talk.
January 8, 2007 8:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Democrats *are* responsible for coming up with a solution - Bush sure as hell isn't going to! They need to make it very clear that Bush is steering this country and our nation's military as recklessley as he was steering his car on that fateful night of September 4, 1976 (did I say fateful? Oh, I'm sorry, I meant to say meaningless) and that they are going to use every means at their disposal to take the keys away.
January 8, 2007 9:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Statutory limitations on the number of troops is the correct move.
I want this war over as quickly as possible, preferably without too much long-term damage to the Democratic Party. A direct attempt to go for defunding the war would probably prompt some (perhaps small) type of backlash, and then fail in the Senate.
But if we try to limit Bush, and he goes ahead anyway, Biden style, as he ALMOST CERTAINLY WILL, then we can lower the boom on him and defund the whole thing. And we can say, hey, we tried to be civil about the whole thing, but what else could we do?
Another option: Defund HALLIBURTON. And a few other choice private contractors. Take away funding for that. Nobody can say you are cutting off the troops just because you cut off Halliburton.
January 8, 2007 9:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
ITMFA.. or maybe that should be ITMFCF (Impeach That Mother Fucker Cheney First!)
January 8, 2007 9:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
On Chris Matthew's Sunday show, one of the panelists referred to Joe Biden as the "Bloviator." It's pretty clear this guy likes to talk and lecture to the audience. Just what we need, another prima donna. I did like his line though, about the Republicants realizing what a mess they'd made, and now just jockeying so that they aren't in charge when the helicopters are ferrying out the last Americans in the Iraq emabassy.
January 8, 2007 11:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lieberman, Biden, Obama,...and a few others seem to have only one purpose: provide excuses for the most disasterous, dictatorial and dumb regime this country has endured in the past 100 years or so.
And you can throw in Lee Hamilton and his ilk in the same basket of snakes.
If these 'Democrats' are incapable of reading the opinion (collectively) of voters on the adventure in Iraq and the Bush bungling, they should resign.
Biden reminds me of the perfect example of a used-car salesman...to slick by half.
January 9, 2007 12:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think you are being unfair to Biden.
He used the phrase "constitutionally questionable" in response to a question about legislating the number of troops deployed to Iraq. I can easily see where telling the "Commander-in-Chief" where and how to deploy his troops might be "constitutionally questionable".
His answer about funding had more to do with the practical abilities of the Congress to limit what gets spent on Iraq, given the size of the standing army and the non-Iraq-specific money that has to go towards its maintainance.
Disagree with his conclusions if you want. But he did not say cutting off funding was "constitutionally questionable".
January 9, 2007 12:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
To all current or potential Gore supporters, I've got two words for you: Joe Biden.
In Nov. of 2005, Biden boldly called for a timetable for US withdrawal; last May, he boldly said it would be reasonable to partition Iraq into 3 territories.
Now, he's tripping over his own schwanz trying to blow fog about Iraq war funding. In December, he became a candidate for president!
As a predictor to anybody who is wondering what it would be like to see the "new" Al Gore run for the presidency, Biden tells you all you need to know: as soon as Gore actually IS a candidate, he'll start to deteriorate before your eyse into the what he was before--the worst Democratic candidate the Democrats ever nominated.
The only reason Gore is relaxed, natural, funny, and appealing now is because he has nothing to lose. Once nominated, he'll stiffen like quick-drying cement and make every campaign mistake conceivable, and some that were inconceivable-- just as he did last time.
January 9, 2007 1:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Its a shame but Biden just blew it.
I actually would have voted for him before obama.
Not Clinton though.
Bill maybe the only one with any trust around the world to actually get something done.
Do you really think Hillary will be running the show.
We need to clean up our own house before we clean up another country.
We must first stop our dictator and make him pay the ultimate price for his crimes.
Then once we clean all the Neocons out and band the Republican party may we begin to gain some respect back form the world.
Yes I said ban the Republican party.
What are they good for but creating enemies for America.
Do I need to give you the list.
From selling weapons to the Iranians to Supporting Saddam killing his own people to training the Shias of Iraq so they can join with their brothers in Iran.
I ask what is the Republican party good for besides creating enemies for America.
Absolutely nothing.
January 9, 2007 2:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
I strongly suggest everyone to notify their representatives and tell them, NO MOE TROOPS and NO MORAE MONEY for Iraq. Enough is enough. Bring our troops homne now!
http://www.house.gov
http://www.senate.gov
January 9, 2007 6:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's time for the pitchfork brigades. If Americans began to gather in Washington at the White House shouting -- "HANG EM BOTH!!" - perhaps the weenies in congress would get it.
This isn't like the impeachment of Bubba. Bubba was a sleazy southern pol hoisted on his own petard.
This messianic smurf is about to get us into WWIII with his crazy zionist buddies in Tel Aviv.
Americans need to take back the country. By force if necessary - if thousands and thousands gathered at the White House demanding that Bush and Company be tried as War Criminals - we might just clean house.
Activism is what's necessary. I'm willing to go if a movement gets started...AIPAC, the 700 Club apocalyptic crazies and other cancerous tumors must be cut out of the body politic if we are to survive.
Let's not forget - our congress is OWNED by a foreign government. 13 Jews in the Senate. 30 in the House. That's a pretty large presence for Israel.
Rememember - there are more Mormons than Jews in America... where are all those Mormon congressmen???
uh huh.... and they tell us Jews aren't in control
January 9, 2007 6:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Senator Biden always makes me sick, no matter where he's "appearing." He's a preening peacock.
Murtha--as usual--is right on the money (pun entirely intended). Perhaps Murtha has actually read how our founders intended things to be:
Madison: "The Constitution expressly and exclusively vests in the Legislature the power of declaring a state of war [and] the power of raising armies. A delegation of such powers [to the president] would have struck, not only at the fabric of our Constitution, but at the foundation of all well organized and well checked governments. The separation of the power of declaring war from that of conducting it, is wisely contrived to exclude the danger of its being declared for the sake of its being conducted."
January 9, 2007 7:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
Biden makes me sick! They have the power of the purse regardless of its constitutionality! The Supreme Court selected Bush right? Then let them select his course of action in Iraq if it comes down that way! I voted Democrat this time because I want my fellow soldiers OUT!!! Let the Iraqi's decide! If they want to buther, kill, maim, or rape each other, well so be it! Concentrate on our borders and infrastructure.
January 9, 2007 7:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
The oil companies are prepared to wait this out for the big prize. They get 70% of the oil revenues if they can wait it out. In the meantime they still make money thru Halliburton etc. This war is for control of the oil. So let ExxonMobil and the others pay for it and pay mercenaries to secure it for them. Why use the cover of the U.S. and why have the children of the poor pay in their lives?
Privatize, conservatives. That's what you like. Go do it.
January 9, 2007 9:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
It appears that Murtha is the only democrat in the House or Senate whose testicles has actually descended. I'm so sick of the mealy-mouthed, weak-willed and namby-pamby demo-pussies constantly caviling and crawling to the republithugs because they're so afraid of taking a position with which someone somewhere may disagree. With all their faults - and they are legion - the thugs at least aren't afraid of their shadows. ITMFA!!!
January 9, 2007 9:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
We have to assume that the president consulted all groups and came to right decision. That means he did not consult adequately in the past, and as a result the goal, if there is one, was only partially achieved. The public sentiment is withdrawl of troups from Iraq. I hope they do not mean 'after achievement of the goal'. Could be that the goal itself is withdrawl of troups for which the process should start immediately. That also means no fresh infusion of troups. I am sure that is what was November election promise by democrats. Would this election trump Bush's election 2004. That it trumps should only be proved by inexpensive direct vote by all the people against Bush's proposal. It can not be judged by media polls or on the ground situation in Iraq. It is for the people to make that judgement given all the info from all sources. Some democrats are already showing how they can not stand on their feet by interpreting constitution to justify their timidity.
January 9, 2007 12:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Biden is an idiot. Good grief, he couldn't stop the Clarence Thomas nomination when Democrats had a Senate majority and he was the Chair of the Judiciary Committee. And OK, you can say the GOP tactics used then were still kind of new and excuse him a little for that, but there's no evidence he's gotten any smarter. I'm afraid he's going to blow the hearings, big time.
January 9, 2007 1:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
HOW MANY MILLIONS OF TIMES TIMES DO BLOGERS HAVE SAY 'IMPEACH BUSH-CHENY'!!
BIDEN IS SHAFTING HIMSELF WITH NO BALLS TO SPEAK SUCH INACCURATE ITEMS WHICH ANOTHER INTELLIGENT BLOGER HAD TO SHOW HIM ....RIGHT IN THE VERY WORDS OF THE CONSTITUTION !
GEEZZ,OUR OWN BRAVE-CONCERNED AMERICAN BLOGERS COULD RUN THE CONGRESS BETTER THAN LAWMAKERS,IF SUCH SIMPLE CONSTITUTIONAL BASICS ARE NOT KNOWN BY IDIOTS LIKE BIDEN!
AND PELOSI HAS REALLY SHOWN HER INEPT 'COLORS' WHICH IS MOSTLY 'YELLO-LILY-LIVERED' COWARDECE CHICKENSHIT,DO NOTHING TO HURT HER POSITION ,WHEN NEXT TIME VOTERS REMOVE HER FOR NOT GRANTING THE ABOVE STATMENT-IMMEDIATLY OF IMPEACHMENT PROCEDINGS,SINCE MC KINNEY WAS THE ONLY ONE ON HER WAY OUT TO DO THIS FOR ALL THE TIMID AND USLESS DEMOCRATS,EXCLUDING SOME WHO STILL HAVE THE BALLS TO REMOVE BUSH.
January 9, 2007 1:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope that the senate will vote on cutting off the money for more troops. If they do the American people will know who supports this war and who dosen't. We will know in 2008 who to vote out of office.
January 9, 2007 2:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
From the Kucinich Plan for Iraq http://kucinich.us/node/1780
Quote:
Congress, as a coequal branch of government has a responsibility to assist in the initiation of this process. Congress, under Article 1, Section 8 of the US Constitution has the war-making power. Congress appropriates funds for the war. Congress does not dispense with its obligation to the American people simply by opposing a troop surge in Iraq.
There are 140,000 troops remaining in Iraq right now. What about them? When will they come home? Why would we leave those troops in Iraq when we have the money to bring them home? Soon the President will ask for more money for the war. Why would Congress appropriate more money to keep the troops in Iraq through the end of President Bush's term, at a total cost of upwards of two trillion dollars and thousands of more troop casualties, when military experts say there is no military solution? Our soldiers stand for us in the field, we must to stand for them in our legislature by bringing them home.
It is simply not credible to maintain that one opposes the war and yet continues to fund it. This contradiction runs as a deep fault line through our politics, undermining public trust in the political process and in those elected to represent the people. If you oppose the war, then do not vote to fund it.
If you have money which can be used to bring the troops home or to prosecute the war, do not say you want to bring the troops home while you appropriate money in a supplemental to keep them in Iraq fighting a war that cannot be won militarily. This is why the Administration should be notified now that Congress will not approve of the appropriations request of up to $160 billion in the spring for the purposes of continuing the occupation and the war. Continuing to fund the war is not a plan. It would represent the continuation of disaster.
January 9, 2007 10:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Horray for John Martha, he is the only one with the guts, experience, to bring light to darkness to challenege JWB in a way the ordinary folk can get behind him and support.
January 9, 2007 11:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ms. Glifford,
There is a difference between "Jew" and "Israeli".
The Left does not need your racism. Please go peddle your hateful wares elsewhere; or better still, abandon them in favor of rational thought.
January 10, 2007 8:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here's a sure fire way that Congress can put the brakes on this war and any other war.
Pass legislation that makes it illegal for a military contractor to charge more than cost.
No profit, no war.
Simple.
January 10, 2007 4:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
They are ALL responsible for this war mess!!
Not one of them is innocent.
Not one of them is worthy of being a president of this country.
And not one of them is intelligent enough to help run a country as evidenced by thier past performance.
I don't think any one of them can run a highway diner without leaning on someone to make a decision, do the work or take the responsibility.
January 11, 2007 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope John Murtha and Ike Skelton both drive more data to emerge from the blizzard of b.s. that comes from the White House about the escalation of the War. It is now clear that the proposed "strategy change" is neither a "surge" nor an "augmentation." When the Administration goes straight to the mat between the executive and legislative, over the degree of flexibility it has to attack Iranian diplomats inside Iraq, then there is nothing else to call this but escalation.
Apparently, President Bush is sending Patriot missile batteries to Iraq. Patriots are ground-to-air interceptors, not ground-to-ground missiles. What, pray tell, would they intercept from Iran? Are we to assume that the Administration worries, or hopes ?? that Iran, responding to provocation(s), sends cruise missiles into Iraq?
Aircraft?
What?
Patriots may be able to shoot down Katyusha rockets, and/or 122mm artillery rockets, nor incoming mortar fire. I don't know that, though. If a Patriot rocket is fired against a barrage of Katyushas, then what a terrible waste of Patriots. Again, I do not know if they are even effective against Katyushas or the other type rockets we saw Hizbullah use in Lebanon.
The point is: Congress must, as George Stephanopolus elicited from Congressman Murtha, be explicit in its restrictions against the movements of President Bush.
President Bush, desperate to blame someone or some nation for his utter failure in Iraq. We must be very wary of this man. He also is a total Israelophile and will do whatever he is told by Israeli Intelligence about Iran.
January 14, 2007 6:22 PM | Reply | Permalink