CALIFORNIA YANKEE

Dem's Slow Bleed Antiwar Strategy Delays War Fighting Funds

54 DAYS AND COUNTING

Caught in a bald face lie when he said there was no rush to get the supplemental war funding bill to the President because he wrongly claimed Defense Secretary Gates said it wasn't needed until May, Senate Majority Leader Reid has come up with another excuse to try to avoid the blame for delaying the supplemental funding to support our troops fighting the war. Now Reid is relying on a Congressional Research Service memo, conveniently dated March 28, to get the main stream media to report "the Army could finance the O&M (operations and maintenance) of both its baseline and war program ... through most of July 2007" by shifting around money in existing accounts.

I say conveniently dated because the Congressional Research Service's website only posts memos dated as recently as March 27 making it impossible for us to review the March 28th memo. Nevertheless, let's assume for purposes this argument that the memo actually says what Reuters reports. Even if it is possible for the military to move funds around, that just moves the negative impact of the Democrats delaying the money needed by the troops fighting the war.

The pork-laden legislation Pelosi and Reid designed to guarantee defeat in Iraq and to force a presidential veto waits in congress. Pelosi, in her rush to visit the one of the original state sponsors of terrorism, couldn't even be bothered to appoint the House members who will meet with the Senate delegation to reconcile the House and Senate versions of the war funding measure. So Pelosi has neatly delayed the meetings required to reconcile the two bills until the middle of April when Congress gets back from its Easter break. After the bills are reconciled, the legislation will be sent to the president, who will veto it immediately. Because the Democrats do not have the votes, even with the few turncoat Republicans, the whole process will start over. It has already been fifty-four days since President Bush submitted his Iraq war emergency supplemental funding proposal. It looks like it will be another month before the Democrats send the legislation for its promised veto.

Money will have to be moved around so our troops fighting the war are supported. Defense Secretary Gates has spelled out the effects of the Democrats forcing the military to make such moves:

“If the Supplemental is not passed by April 15th, the service will be forced to consider the following kinds of actions:

(1) curtailing and suspending home station training for Reserve and Guard units;

(2) slowing the training of units slated to deploy next to Iraq and Afghanistan;

(3) cutting the funding for the upgrade or renovation of barracks and other facilities that support quality of life for troops and their families; and

(4) stopping the repair of equipment necessary to support pre-deployment training.

Don't take my word for it - watch the video:

Will it be August before the Democrats send the president a bill that provides the necessary funds to support our troops fighting the war?

The Democrats should stop playing politics and fund the troops without trying to legislate defeat, handcuffing our commanders, and buying votes the DEmocrats need with tens of billions of dollars in pork spending.

Iraq The Model House Searched

In Baghdad, Omar Fadhil's house is searched. Omar blogs at Iraq The Model.

Read Omar's account of the search. It doesn't sound anything like the footage of the searches we see on TV.

Thanks to Glen for the tip.

Pelosi To Visit Syria

The Imperial Speakership - Chapter Three

Not satisfied with giving comfort to our enemies by legislating defeat in Iraq, Speaker Pelosi has decided to also provide comfort to one of the original state sponsors of terrorism and visit Syria.

Pelosi fails to acknowledge that, under the constitution, the president of the United States is the unitary head of our government, particularly in matters concerning foreign affairs.

The Imperial Speaker's visit will be made over the objections of the administration:

"We don't think it's a good idea," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino. "This is a country that is a state sponsor of terror, one that is trying to disrupt the Siniora government in Lebanon and one that is allowing foreign fighters to flow into Iraq from its borders."

[. . .]

"I'm not sure what she's hoping to accomplish there, I know that Assad probably really loves people to come and have a photo opportunity and have tea with him and have discussions about where they're coming from," Perino said, referring to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

"But we do think it's a really bad idea," she said.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack also criticized Pelosi's visit to Syria, saying Damascus typically used such visits as proof to the rest of the world that nothing was wrong with its policies.

No good can possibly come Speaker Pelosi's visit to Syria. Syria supports Hezbollah, the terrorist organization which has killed more Americans than any other in history except for Al Qaeda. Syria is also complicit in helping supply rockets to Hezbollah which were recently used against Israel. In addition Syria allows foreign fighters through its borders into western Iraq. I guess all that doesn't bother Pelosi.

The Speaker's visit can only send a mixed message regarding U.S. policy. The message that America is divided, not united in fighting the war on terror.

Reid Lies About Impact Of Supplemental Spending Shenanigans

Harry Reid isn't satisfied with legislating defeat in Iraq. The majority Leader lies about the impact of forcing a confrontation with President Bush over providing necessary funding our troops in harms way. There is no doubt that the veto the Democrats did their best to invoke will delay the supplemental war funding. Reid isn't concerned about making the troops wait for the money, but he doesn’t tell the truth about what the Secretary of Defense says will be the result of the delay.

In a press conference Tuesday, Harry Reid said the following:

A week ago last Sunday, the secretary of defense was on one of the Sunday shows. He said, ‘We're in good shape until May 1st; we're in no real rush for money.’

[. . .]

The secretary of Defense was on television a week ago Sunday saying we needed to have something done by May 1st, and we're going to do everything we can to finish this by May 1st or sooner.

That is simply not true. I encourage you to review the transcript of the Mach 18, 2007 edition of "Face The Nation." I have read the transcript and Secretary Gates said no such thing. the transcript is available here in pdf format.

Here's what Secretary Gates actually said about the impact of the Democrats' Supplemental Shenanigans:

“If the Supplemental is not passed by April 15th, the service will be forced to consider the following kinds of actions:

(1) curtailing and suspending home station training for Reserve and Guard units;

(2) slowing the training of units slated to deploy next to Iraq and Afghanistan;

(3) cutting the funding for the upgrade or renovation of barracks and other facilities that support quality of life for troops and their families; and

(4) stopping the repair of equipment necessary to support pre-deployment training.

Don't take my word for it - watch the video tape:

It's bad enough Reid and the Defeatocrats are trying to legislate a defeat in Iraq, why do they have to lie about the legislation's impact as well? Is it because the American voters don't approve of the Defeatocrats' Supplemental Spending Shenanigans?

Corzine Backs Hillary

New JerseyGovernor Jon Corzine will formally endorse Senator Clinton's presidential campaign Monday.

That may not be a surprise. The question is how valuable is Corzine's endorsement? Peter Woolley, a Fairleigh Dickinson University political science professor and pollster, told the Associated Press that the endorsement will reinforce Clinton's front-runner status.

Woolley may be right, but Corzine carries his share negative baggage. An ethics charge has been refiled against Corzine over gifts he gave a former girlfriend Carla Katz, president of Communications Workers of America Local 1034, the largest state worker union chapter. After Corzine broke up with Katz, he forgave a half-million-dollar mortgage loan he had given her. Corzine also may have paid her kids' tuition and helped Katz with other expenses.

This is more than a story about two lovers breaking up. As the governor and the president of New Jersey's biggest state employee union, the former lovers have been on opposite sides during contract talks covering 40,000 state workers. Their romantic and financial ties raise conflict-of-interest questions. According to the Associated Press the question is:

Are Corzine and Katz faithfully serving the people they represent? Or are they hopelessly compromised?

That's a "culture of corruption" question that needs to be answered.

Are all of Hillary's endorsements tainted?

President Bush Having Fun At The Radio and Television Correspondents' Association Dinner

Just Watch the video.

Say what you will of W -- he has a sense of humor.

MC Rove

Having some fun with Carl Rove at the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association Dinner:

You have to give a little respect to anyone who will do that.

Tancredo Hedges His Bet

U.S. Representative Tom Tancredo, one of the 24 prospective 2008 presidential candidates, isn't giving up his congressional seat. Election rules allow him to run for his House seat and the presidential primary at the same time. Tancredo said yesterday that he doesn't intend to decide between the two.

"I don't know that I won't run again, should things not turn out that I was president of the United States," Tancredo said.

Such hedging bothers me. I think these presidential wannabees should have to chose one or the other. What would be wrong with that?

Guilt By McCain-Feingold Association

In the rush to anoint former Senator Fred Thompson as the favored conservative 2008 presidential candidate, let it not be forgotten that Thompson voted for McCain-Feingold. Worse, according to Mark Salter Thompson's efforts were crucial to the law's passage:

"If McCain-Feingold passes, it will not have happened if it weren't for Fred Thompson," said McCain's chief of staff, Mark Salter, on Wednesday evening.

I remain determined to not yet make up my mind about supporting any of the prospective 2008 presidential wannabees.

Fred Thompson makes 24

With Fred Thompson considering a presidential run there are 24 prospective 2008 preseidential candidates.

Potential Republican 2008 Presidential Candidates:

1. Kansas Senator Samuel D. "Sam" Brownback
2. Illinois attorney John H. Cox
3. Former Virginia Republican Governor Jim Gilmore
4. Former US House Speaker and Georgia Congressman, Newton L. "Newt" Gingrich
5. Former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. "Rudy" Giuliani
6. Nebraska Senator Charles T. "Chuck" Hagel
7. Former Arkansas Governor Michael D. "Mike" Huckabee
8. California Congressman Duncan L. Hunter
9. Arizona Senator John S. McCain III
10. Former New York Governor George E. Pataki
11. Texas Congressman Ron Paul
12. Former Massachusetts Governor W. Mitt Romney
13. Colorado Congressman Thomas G. "Tom" Tancredo
14. Former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson
15. Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy G. Thompson
16. Former Virginia Senator George F. Allen
17. Former Senate Majority Leader and Tennessee Senator, William H. "Bill" Frist
18. Former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating

Potential Democratic 2008 Presidential Candidates:

1. Delaware Senator Joseph R. "Joe" Biden Jr.
2. Retired Army General Wesley K. "Wes" Clark
3. New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
4. Connecticut Senator Christopher J. "Chris" Dodd
5. Former North Carolina Senator and the Democratic 2004 vice presidential candidate, John R. Edwards
6. Former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel
7. Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich
8. Illinois Senator Barack Obama
9. New Mexico Governor William B. "Bill" Richardson
10. Indiana Senator and former governor, Evan Bayh
11. Former Senate Majority Leader Thomas A. "Tom" Daschle
12. Wisconsin Senator Russell D. "Russ" Feingold
13. Former vice president and 2000 Democratic presidential nominee, Albert "Al" Gore Jr.
14. Massachusetts Senator and 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, John F. Kerry
15. Former Iowa Governor Thomas J. "Tom" Vilsack
16. Former Virginia Governor Mark R. Warner