Booman Tribune ~ A Progressive Community

Bad Dogs

by Steven D
Tue Jan 23rd, 2007 at 07:28:10 AM EST

If fiction, this would be a almost Kafkaesque in its absurdity. If true ....?

A group of forty-four "fiscally conservative" Democrats will not call for an end to America's military involvement in Iraq, RAW STORY has learned. Instead, the Blue Dog Coalition of House Democrats will introduce legislation this week focusing on accountability for money the White House wants to spend on the nearly four year long Iraq War.
In a press conference last Friday, Rep. Jane Harman, the California Democrat who was formerly the ranking minority member of the House Intelligence Committee, announced a bill she would sponsor this week on behalf of the Blue Dog Democrats: "Providing for Operation Iraqi Freedom Cost Accountability." The provisions of the bill focus on Congressional oversight of the funds used to pay for operations in Iraq.
The Blue Dogs will not speak out as a group on whether or not to call for an end to the Iraq war. "They will not draft a resolution or course regarding the troops other than one of support for our soldiers in harm’s way," said Jon Niven, Communications Director for Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR), who co-chairs the caucus.

Support the Troops! Let more of them get killed or maimed in the crossfire of a civil and religious war for a failed policy by a moronic, megalomaniacal President whose approval rating is at 28% in the latest poll, for a war that cannot be won militarily.

Thank you Jane Harman. Thank you Blue Dogs. And thanks for taking a stand on that accountability issue. That must have must taken real political courage, eh? Because no one but you favors accountability, right?

Bad Dogs | 10 comments (10 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Bad Dogs (4.00 / 4)

I would love to see someone held accountable for this war. For the loss of human life, money, opportunity, stature, freedom, morality, spirit.

Ultimately, we are all going to be held accountable and we are all going to pay a price.

If the Blow Dogs really have any courage, they will demand that the Congress -- as a responsible, accountable body -- come up with a source of the funds for this war.

If everybody's taxes went up to pay for this debacle, I guarantee the populace would say "NO" in a way that could not be ignored.

If you want things to get better, be prepared to deal with change.

by Kahli on Tue Jan 23rd, 2007 at 08:00:58 AM EST

Wanna be"fiscally responsible"? (4.00 / 2)

pay, yourself, not your kids, for the wars you start...

I have argued for the following War Tax before:

Whenever the US engages in foreign conflict, a war tax is triggered, for the duration of the war, like so:

200 bucks a day for the upper tax bracket

1 buck a day for the rest of the population

30% of yearly profits from all areas of industry that stand to profit from war

This tax would be used to pay for the war, with large percentages set aside for reconstruction and welfare of military families. It would make the decision to go to war much more costly, politically, and therefore a true last resort.

Happyness is not virtue's reward, but virtue itself Spinoza

by caribeyandino on Tue Jan 23rd, 2007 at 09:09:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Wanna be"fiscally responsible"? (4.00 / 2)

What you say is so true.

I would love to see the Blow Dogs stand up against the war because it is immoral, illegal, and damaging to this country (not to mention Iraq). But if they can and will get it stopped by demanding fiscal accountability, so be it.

I'm not holding my breath.

If you want things to get better, be prepared to deal with change.

by Kahli on Tue Jan 23rd, 2007 at 09:15:53 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Wanna be"fiscally responsible"? (4.00 / 2)

I was just talking to my sister about this also...a war tax that was automatically triggered when our country went to war. It seems to me that if everyone in the country knew ahead of time that if we decided to go to war our taxes would automatically increase-dramatically even there would be a hell of a lot more thought and debate into going off to war.

'Poverty is the worst form of violence'--Gandhi

by chocolate ink on Tue Jan 23rd, 2007 at 11:03:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bad Dogs (4.00 / 3)

Blue Dogs: No dollar left behind, but many soldiers will be.

Oh, there you are, Perry. -Phineas -SLB-

by boran2 (blogistan@yahoo.com) on Tue Jan 23rd, 2007 at 08:52:01 AM EST

Re: Bad Dogs (4.00 / 2)

This is so morally irresponsible. You make the money more important than bringing the troops out of harms way? WTF! Jane Harman needs to get major emails and phone calls on this one folks. I am all for finding out where the money went but there is plenty of time for that. How many lives will have been wasted?

Frodo failed...Bush has got the ring.

by alohaleezy on Tue Jan 23rd, 2007 at 09:38:16 AM EST

Re: Bad Dogs (4.00 / 2)

When you're thanking Harmon and the others, make sure to give locally-beloved "progressive" *cough* Patrick Murphy and sure to be frequent aisle crosser.

What votes will be hard for you to make?
I'm a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, fiscal conservatives who believe we should have a pay-as-you-go system.
If we want to put forth a piece of legislation that's going to help out people, which is a good piece of legislation, I'll support it. But we have to figure out first how we're going to pay for it because we cannot keep racking up these record debts and these deficits.
How will you reconcile your call for fiscal discipline and the Democratic call for more health-care spending?
I'll sit there with them and I'll say, "Let's make sure that we do everything possible that we could pay for." Because we do need to fix the system so that there aren't children, there aren't people in America who go without health care.

Yup, that's appeasing Wall St. BEFORE caring for needy citizens. Of course, that need goes out the window when it comes for paying for imperial murder and death, "Blue Dog" Murphy wants to make sure the ACCOUNTING of the tools of murder is done more accurately.

Thanks PA.

"Whenever a Voice of Moderation addresses liberals, its sole purpose is to stomp out any real sign of life." - James Wolcott

by Madman in the Marketplace on Tue Jan 23rd, 2007 at 11:11:18 AM EST

What the F? (N/M) (none / 1)

by northcountry on Tue Jan 23rd, 2007 at 10:47:03 AM EST

Re: What the F? (N/M) (none / 0)

Yes, my initial reaction too.

A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned how to walk forward. Franklin D. Roosevelt

by Steven D on Tue Jan 23rd, 2007 at 10:52:48 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bad Dogs (none / 1)

And just why is it exactly there can't be accountability for money spent and be for bringing troops home...what, they can't have two thoughts in their pretty little heads at once?

'Poverty is the worst form of violence'--Gandhi

by chocolate ink on Tue Jan 23rd, 2007 at 10:53:43 AM EST

Bad Dogs | 10 comments (10 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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