The Push For Approval Is On

Hey folks,

Yesterday was all about the sudden 180 in Congress. This new and sudden change is NOT sitting well with the LWL. Of course the big news was the fact that The House approved and expanded the dreaded and evil Bush “illegal” wiretapping program. More on that in a second. But they also did this. According to AP -House approves $460B Pentagon budget By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press Writer

The House approved modest changes to President Bush's record Pentagon budget proposal early Sunday, but Democrats signaled plans to resume a more contentious debate over the Iraq war after the August recess.

They had to throw that in for the moveon.org Looney types

The House's $459.6 billion version of the defense budget, approved on a 395-13 vote, would add money for equipment for the National Guard and Reserve, provide for 12,000 additional soldiers and Marines, and increase spending for defense health care and military housing.

As soon as they did this, they left. They will be gone until Labor day.{Laughing} They did it and ran.

The White House criticized Democrats for cutting Bush's request and effectively transfering $3.5 billion of the money to domestic spending programs. It is likely the cuts will be restored this fall when Congress passes another wartime supplemental spending bill.

The administration has not threatened to veto the measure.

The measure does not include Bush's 2008 funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Democrats say they want to consider that money in separate legislation in September. This approach would set the stage for a major clash over the war; Democrats are likely to try to impose conditions on the money.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, like timetables, surrender policies, ETC. The same old, same old. Some past opponents of any increase in “Bush’s War” came out in support of this bill.

Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., a point man on military matters for Democrats, told reporters this past week that he backs only short-term extensions of war spending.

The massive military measure represents a nearly $40 billion increase over current levels. The Pentagon would get another several-billion-dollar budget increase through a companion measure covering military base construction and a recent round of base closures.

The defense legislation largely endorses Bush's plans for major weapons systems such as the next generation Joint Strike Fighter and the F-22 Raptor fighter jet, which has been beset by cost overruns.

The Democratic military budget would provide $8.5 billion for missile defense, about 4 percent less than requested by Bush but $1 billion more than current spending.

Get this.

Murtha had prepared amendments to close the prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and require troops be fully trained and equipped before going to fight in Iraq. But facing the prospects of losing votes and inflaming partisan tensions, he withdrew them.

The bill contains a provision barring the establishment of permanent bases in Iraq.

Thats not going to sit well with the Looneys.

But the big news was this. According to the AP-House approves foreign wiretap bill By CHARLES BABINGTON, Associated Press Writer

The House handed President Bush a victory Saturday, voting to expand the government's abilities to eavesdrop without warrants on foreign suspects whose communications pass through the United States.

The 227-183 vote, which followed the Senate's approval Friday, sends the bill to Bush for his signature.

Late Saturday, Bush said, The Director of National Intelligence, Mike McConnell, has assured me that this bill gives him what he needs to continue to protect the country, and therefore I will sign this legislation as soon as it gets to my desk.

The administration said the measure is needed to speed the National Security Agency's ability to intercept phone calls, e-mails and other communications involving foreign nationals reasonably believed to be outside the United States. Civil liberties groups and many Democrats said it goes too far, possibly enabling the government to wiretap U.S. residents communicating with overseas parties without adequate oversight from courts or Congress.

If you remember, this is the same LWL that was crying for impeachment or censure of President Bush for this VERY thing. Now they voted FOR it 227-183.

The bill updates the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, known as FISA. It gives the government leeway to intercept, without warrants, communications between foreigners that are routed through equipment in United States, provided that foreign intelligence information is at stake. Bush describes the effort as an anti-terrorist program, but the bill is not limited to terror suspects and could have wider applications, some lawmakers said.

Now if a communication by an American citizen is intercepted and that person falls under suspicion, they will still have to get a warrant for further surveillance. Of course that’s not good enough for the Looneys.

This bill would grant the attorney general the ability to wiretap anybody, any place, any time without court review, without any checks and balances, said Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., during the debate preceding the vote. I think this unwarranted, unprecedented measure would simply eviscerate the 4th Amendment, which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures.

Just plain Bunk.

According to the AFP -US Congress approves expanded wiretap powers, LWL member and Traitor Reid was not happy either.

My Republican colleagues chose to rubberstamp a flawed administration proposal, said Democratic Senate Majority leader Harry Reid, accusing the White House of misusing anti-terror powers in the past.

Democrats were angry because they claimed the Republican approach would allow Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, target of their demands for perjury and impeachment proceedings, to authorize wide-ranging surveillance.

Some of them voted for it. Quiet a few. I remind you, the vote was 227-183, the Republicans are the MINORITY. So do the math.

Even CNN pointed out the obvious

Despite the push from the Democratic leadership for their bill, several Democrats said during debate that they would vote in favor of both measures.

All the bills are temporary fixes -- the Democratic bill would have expired in four months, while the GOP bill gives lawmakers six months to overhaul the 30-year-old law.

So why did these people that have been fighting tooth and nail over these things, suddenly turn around a vote for them? 3 percent approval rating. 16 percent overall approval rating. They seemed to make this move, as I pointed out before, they hit and RAN, to increase their support. Their approval. Maybe they are finally starting to realize that they cannot win elections, like 08, by simply attempting to satisfy a minute group of far left Looney Fringe idiots, no matter how much money they are giving them. I doubt it, but we can hope.
Peter

Sources:
AP -House approves $460B Pentagon budget
AP-House approves foreign wiretap bill
AFP -US Congress approves expanded wiretap powers
CNN -Congress gives Bush administration more eavesdropping leeway