House Leaders Reach Iraq War Funding Deal Without Deadline For Withdrawal

New York Times:

House leaders struck a bipartisan deal on Wednesday night on a major spending measure that would provide money for the war in Iraq through the end of the Bush administration, establish a significant new education benefit for veterans, and meet Democratic demands for added unemployment benefits.

The bill, which could be voted on as early as Thursday in the House, would effectively bring to a close the two-year battle between President Bush and Congressional Democrats over war financing by allocating about $163 billion for combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan through early next year without imposing conditions like a withdrawal deadline.

White House officials took part in the talks that produced the agreement, suggesting the president was willing to sign the emerging legislation.

"I think we have an agreement," said Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the majority leader, who worked out the final deal in talks with Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, the Republican leader, as well as senior members of both parties from the Appropriations and Ways and Means Committees.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[AryanMjolnir]

Military...meet bleeding as$hole.

[957]

I asked all my senators to justify their being in washington and to tell me what they have done to directly affect the people of my state vs what they have done for the iraq people , haven't heard back its been a month.

[MikePatronSaintofTruth]

Yet ANOTHER reason not to vote for Democrats in November. I mean, really! They're busting their asses to be just like the Republicans. I cannot bring myself to vote for the timid, pathetic, spineless Democrats.... I will vote a straight green party slate. Period.

[JiminNC]

The cowardly congress of 2008 bends us over again and gives us the finger on the way. The leadership of this congress must be changed.

[watchingthings]

Nancy wouldn't allow anyone to attach a deadline date for the troops to be taken out. That would hurt W's feelings....not to mention other friends and acquaintences.

[esquire07]

Nancy is on her knees and Georges fly is wide open. What a useless piece of work Pelosi is.

[scooperss]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. phone companies would be shielded from potentially billions of dollars in lawsuits under an anti-terror spy measure that appears headed toward approval, congressional sources said on Wednesday.

House of Representatives Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer, a lead negotiator on the bill, said, "We're very close to having an agreement," and a House vote could come as early as Friday.

[heal57]

The spineless dems are at it again. Don't fund the wars! Enough already. This is disgraceful. I have zero faith in the dems. People, vote out the lousiest of the incumbents. Just do it.

[CaptainHowdy]

Good to see the Democratic Congressional ENABLERS hard at work.

Thanks for nothing...

[AlphaDoc]

The Dem leadership doesn't want to bring light to the end of the tunnel until after the election. They're using the war as a campaign tool, figuring that as long as it's going on, Bush will be blamed and McCain will be connected to it. Problem is, our troops are still dying or suffering life-altering injuries, and we are still spending billions of dollars on a tragic mistake. If we are truly smart, we will vote in new Dems to replace those who care more about political strategy than they do about people.

[hyacinthbucketvotesdem]

Probus, you make excellent points!

I completely agree. Couldn't have put it better myself.

Blue pups should show more back bone. They've been eating from Royal Doulton too long.

[Probus]

We should send in Elizabeth to break all of their Royal Doulton.

[Probus]

We need to get rid of the Blue Dog dems who often vote with the GOP.

[CaptainHowdy]

That would be about more than half of them then...

http://tinyurl.com/5hwqee

[Uselessboy]

Hey, 20-30-40 years, we might even be able to reduce our expansion of carbon emissions too.

[TheEmptinessOfTruthiness]

Finance reform would seem to be the best bet to set them free from Mama's purse strings.

[KOisGod]

$165 billion

How much for 'THE TROOPS'

How much for those GD contractors?

We got issues here, in this country that need THAT MONEY. So SICK of this whole f'in war.

[Mk26gmls]

"We got issues here, in this country that need THAT MONEY. So SICK of this whole f'in war."

Here is a better idea. How about we not spend that money at all since we don't have it!? We actually need to raise taxes and cut back services at the same time. The dollar is only going to weaken more as countries see we aren't serious about paying off our massive debt.

[LiberalBuzz]

And ONCE AGAIN, the cowardly dems cave again.

Talk about being frightened of mice that roar.

I just wish all dems could be voted out and replaced with REAL DEMOCRATS!!!

[wanked]

Lets see how REAL Obama turns out to be. He.s cozied up to AIPAC, is in favor of bombing Iran, wont consider impeaching bush/chaney, and now says NAFTA might not be so bad......

[TheEmptinessOfTruthiness]

Serously?

Can you link to something tangible please? I would like to see/hear this for myself.

[sandiegoconservative]

Hmmm. Interesting. Your loveable, hugable, Democrat congress once again doing what already has been done for years. It leads me to believe a few possible conclusions:

-The Repubs were actually right about a few things and the Dems see it.

-There might actually be some progress made in this drawn out, too long war, despite all the talk that it has been lost.

-Perhaps funding the troops is the best example of supporting them, rather than only standing on street corners and waving home made posters.

-The Dems have no spine, just like conservatives have been saying all along.

-All libs can do is piss and whine because they won't get their way.

And I also predict that if progress is made into the next administration and McCain is president, the Dems will say that it succeeded because they put "partisan politics" aside and reached across the isle. If Obama is president, then Dems will somehow say that it succeeded because of him.

[Probus]

While it is unfortunate that the dems gave Bush his war funding, it doesn't mean that dems agree with Bush on this war. This may have been done more out of political expediency (this being a presidential election year) than any sense of agreement about the direction of the Iraq war. One reason that the dems may have caved in to Bush would be the lack of votes in the Senate. You can bet that this Nov we will have won a lot more seats in the Senate than the current 51 majority we have. No progress will be made in Iraq between now and the time the next president is inaugurated. Considering the fact that McCain would keep troops in Iraq for the next 100 he is the least likely to be the next president.

[KOisGod]

LOL, F it. Put that 165 on the 'ol credit card eh?

Anyone bother to ask ---- WHERE IS THIS money GOING???

ANYONE?

[Uselessboy]

We won't have filibuster-proof strength, and President Obama will accomplish kind of not so much.

[scooperss]

Yeah *political expediency* is always a good reasons for honest to God real life people to DIE! NOT!
I'm so sick of the lying enabling dems.

[MikePatronSaintofTruth]

It appears as though the Dems act ONLYout of political expediency! What kind of way is that to run Congress????

[KOisGod]

OR -

The REPIGS are the real terrorists ?

They are doing a damn good job at destroying this country, Better then Osama could have ever imagined.

Mission accomplished

[marinemomof3]

SandiegoCON:

How many benchmarks have been met w/the "surge"


OceansideMOM

[mgloraine]

Steny Hoyer stabs the nation in the back again! His idea of "compromise" amounts to "I'll vote for whatever you want, as long as I get a piece of the action!"

Pelosi and Reid have deliberately sold us all out, talking tough for a few minutes at a stretch, then quickly making deals behind our backs. They get fatter and richer while the peasants starve at home or are sent to Iraq to kill and be killed for corporate profit.

It would be something approaching justice to round up all of Congress together with all of BushCo and send them off to Iraq to fight their stupid war for themselves, while we bring the troops home - except for Petraeus. Petraeus loves his war so much, he should be handed a gun and booted out of his luxurious (and safe) hiding place to join his pals Bush, Cheney, Rove, Rumsfeld, and the whole rotten gang out walking patrols through Sadr City.

[BadCompany]

This is so depressing.
I don't know why I bother to vote.
I care less and less all the time.
It hardly seems possible after all this time with King George W...

[darthdarcy]

That's some deal Steny who give them $163 Billion, and we get what..?

That's what I call a deal alright, how did you ever get them to take all that money, you must be some negotiator..?

We are so screwed...