George Bush spends $40,000,000 on his inauguration party.

[iwillfearnoevil]

How many of those years were we involved in a war like Iraq?

[shmokes]

The military NEEDED to be gutted.  What kind of fool maintains a cold-war military AFTER the cold war?  Keep in mind that what the Russians couldn't do in Afghanistan in a decade Clinton's "gutted" military did in a month (because, of course, in October 2001 G.W. Bush was still using Clinton's military).

Some of you people should really make an effort to look at issues for issues.  The only reason gutting the military was bad is that Clinton is the one who did it.  We still spend a WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY larger percentage of our GDP on our military than any other nation. 

Same goes for this $40 million thing.  It's totally normal.  It's a little obscene, but hey, it's nothing compared to what many leaders of other countries do (even leaders of very poor countries).  Hell, look at the royal family in England.  Talk about retarded.

This whole, "yeah, but we're at war," bit is a total smokescreen for blind partisanship.  So, what if Bush decided to do it on the cheap this year and spent $25 million.  An extra $15 million would barely put a scrach in military supplies.  That's like, A MISSLE. 

It's so comical to see everyone working up such a froth over this kind of money when they could be talking about Bush's tax cuts or the elimination of the estate tax or overfunding NASA or any one of a thousand lame-ass pork projects that $10 or $40 or $100 million get's dumped into every year.

This party is just small potatoes.  Not only that, it is apparently the same size potatoes that get served at every inaugeration party.

I could understand the clutching at straws if Bush wasn't such a bafoon with such an absurdly poor record.  But there's plenty of really legitimat grievances to focus on, IMHO. 

[DrewKaree]

Arcadiac's got the most well-educated birds in history folks.  If'n you ask him real nice, and give him a shiny nickel, he may let you see them....but be careful, they tend to treat non-conservatives none too kindly 


Shmokes, I gotta pm you in a sec if you're staying online, otherwise you'll just end up reading it tomorrow.

[shmokes]

I'll say.  Any creature with the presense of mind to take a crap on Drew's posts MUST be smart.   

[Dexter]

Actually, it was congress that gives the power to the President to go to war in the US.

[fredster]

What was Boxer's answer to the terrorist situation. 

"NOT" what the President prescribed, and little else.

Her answer was to pass a resolution that Syria stop funding terrorists.  Wow. How effective.

Dexter seems to do a lot of quoting of Boxer.  But he doesn't seem to want to quote Condi's answers.  Nice.  I guess it doesn't matter what Condi had to say.

Congress were presented with information manufacutred or manipulated to suport the case for war. If the bush regeime had toed the line they are now i.e. freeing the iraqi people from tyranny, there would have been no war. Lies + BS by war criminals, nothing more, thats what congress voted for...self defence, not 'liberation'.

So how do you explain Tony Blair and Howard from Austrailia?  They agreed.  Putin Agreed.  The UN agreed with it.

Here's a link to the actual Bill so we call all read it and see if it's just weapons of Mass destruction:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c107:5:./temp/~c107yCgDVi::

[Arcadiac]

Temporary file not found. Display failed.

Just like the WMDs.  Hmmm. 
BTW my bird is more regular that ever, thanks Drew! 
ARCADIAC!

[patrickl]

saint, use the Bureau of Labor Statistics' inflation calculator:
http://www.bls.gov/bls/inflation.htm

That gives the same numbers Peale gave

don't always trust "your sources". we all know what happened to dan blather and cbs. your sources use too low a value in yesterdays dollar so out lower after adjusting.

What makes your sources more right than others (ie why trust a lone webuser over newsweek)? Looks to me like he did a double inflation on some figures.

[DrewKaree]

Here's a link to the actual Bill so we call all read it and see if it's just weapons of Mass destruction:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c107:5:./temp/~c107yCgDVi::

They're currently on the new Congress.  Where would they have the archives to search?  Everything turns up new....and some frighteningly lame crap too!


*edit*
Nevermind, found it.  Also, fredster, I'm guessing the reason the link doesn't show is that search links time out and you have to re-do 'em. 

I'm off helping someone with something I can solve, mebbe once that's taken care of, I'll stop back here to help you with showing folks information they can't be bothered to read (or will read and change their rationale to suit their now-current argument) unless you find it before me.  Mebbe copy/paste when you find it again, and link to the search along with your keywords and.....nevermind, why would they go through all that when you're a liar anyway?

[fredster]

It has to do with the query I ran.

You have to dig for it pretty good.

Here it is -

107th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. J. RES. 114
To authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq.


IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

OCTOBER 2, 2002
Mr. HASTERT (for himself and Mr. GEPHARDT) introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


JOINT RESOLUTION
To authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq.

Whereas in 1990 in response to Iraq's war of aggression against and illegal occupation of Kuwait, the United States forged a coalition of nations to liberate Kuwait and its people in order to defend the national security of the United States and enforce United Nations Security Council resolutions relating to Iraq;

Whereas after the liberation of Kuwait in 1991, Iraq entered into a United Nations sponsored cease-fire agreement pursuant to which Iraq unequivocally agreed, among other things, to eliminate its nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons programs and the means to deliver and develop them, and to end its support for international terrorism;

Whereas the efforts of international weapons inspectors, United States intelligence agencies, and Iraqi defectors led to the discovery that Iraq had large stockpiles of chemical weapons and a large scale biological weapons program, and that Iraq had an advanced nuclear weapons development program that was much closer to producing a nuclear weapon than intelligence reporting had previously indicated;

Whereas Iraq, in direct and flagrant violation of the cease-fire, attempted to thwart the efforts of weapons inspectors to identify and destroy Iraq's weapons of mass destruction stockpiles and development capabilities, which finally resulted in the withdrawal of inspectors from Iraq on October 31, 1998;

Whereas in 1998 Congress concluded that Iraq's continuing weapons of mass destruction programs threatened vital United States interests and international peace and security, declared Iraq to be in `material and unacceptable breach of its international obligations' and urged the President `to take appropriate action, in accordance with the Constitution and relevant laws of the United States, to bring Iraq into compliance with its international obligations' (Public Law 105-235);

Whereas Iraq both poses a continuing threat to the national security of the United States and international peace and security in the Persian Gulf region and remains in material and unacceptable breach of its international obligations by, among other things, continuing to possess and develop a significant chemical and biological weapons capability, actively seeking a nuclear weapons capability, and supporting and harboring terrorist organizations;

Whereas Iraq persists in violating resolutions of the United Nations Security Council by continuing to engage in brutal repression of its civilian population thereby threatening international peace and security in the region, by refusing to release, repatriate, or account for non-Iraqi citizens wrongfully detained by Iraq, including an American serviceman, and by failing to return property wrongfully seized by Iraq from Kuwait;

Whereas the current Iraqi regime has demonstrated its capability and willingness to use weapons of mass destruction against other nations and its own people;

Whereas the current Iraqi regime has demonstrated its continuing hostility toward, and willingness to attack, the United States, including by attempting in 1993 to assassinate former President Bush and by firing on many thousands of occasions on United States and Coalition Armed Forces engaged in enforcing the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council;

Whereas members of al Qaida, an organization bearing responsibility for attacks on the United States, its citizens, and interests, including the attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, are known to be in Iraq;

Whereas Iraq continues to aid and harbor other international terrorist organizations, including organizations that threaten the lives and safety of American citizens;

Whereas the attacks on the United States of September 11, 2001, underscored the gravity of the threat posed by the acquisition of weapons of mass destruction by international terrorist organizations;

Whereas Iraq's demonstrated capability and willingness to use weapons of mass destruction, the risk that the current Iraqi regime will either employ those weapons to launch a surprise attack against the United States or its Armed Forces or provide them to international terrorists who would do so, and the extreme magnitude of harm that would result to the United States and its citizens from such an attack, combine to justify action by the United States to defend itself;

Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 678 authorizes the use of all necessary means to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution 660 and subsequent relevant resolutions and to compel Iraq to cease certain activities that threaten international peace and security, including the development of weapons of mass destruction and refusal or obstruction of United Nations weapons inspections in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 687, repression of its civilian population in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 688, and threatening its neighbors or United Nations operations in Iraq in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 949;

Whereas Congress in the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1) has authorized the President `to use United States Armed Forces pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 678 (1990) in order to achieve implementation of Security Council Resolutions 660, 661, 662, 664, 665, 666, 667, 669, 670, 674, and 677';

Whereas in December 1991, Congress expressed its sense that it `supports the use of all necessary means to achieve the goals of United Nations Security Council Resolution 687 as being consistent with the Authorization of Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1),' that Iraq's repression of its civilian population violates United Nations Security Council Resolution 688 and `constitutes a continuing threat to the peace, security, and stability of the Persian Gulf region,' and that Congress, `supports the use of all necessary means to achieve the goals of United Nations Security Council Resolution 688';

Whereas the Iraq Liberation Act (Public Law 105-338) expressed the sense of Congress that it should be the policy of the United States to support efforts to remove from power the current Iraqi regime and promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace that regime;

Whereas on September 12, 2002, President Bush committed the United States to `work with the United Nations Security Council to meet our common challenge' posed by Iraq and to `work for the necessary resolutions,' while also making clear that `the Security Council resolutions will be enforced, and the just demands of peace and security will be met, or action will be unavoidable';

Whereas the United States is determined to prosecute the war on terrorism and Iraq's ongoing support for international terrorist groups combined with its development of weapons of mass destruction in direct violation of its obligations under the 1991 cease-fire and other United Nations Security Council resolutions make clear that it is in the national security interests of the United States and in furtherance of the war on terrorism that all

relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions be enforced, including through the use of force if necessary;

Whereas Congress has taken steps to pursue vigorously the war on terrorism through the provision of authorities and funding requested by the President to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations or persons who planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such persons or organizations;

Whereas the President and Congress are determined to continue to take all appropriate actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations or persons who planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such persons or organizations;

Whereas the President has authority under the Constitution to take action in order to deter and prevent acts of international terrorism against the United States, as Congress recognized in the joint resolution on Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40); and

Whereas it is in the national security of the United States to restore international peace and security to the Persian Gulf region: Now, therefore, be it


Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This joint resolution may be cited as the `Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq'.

SEC. 2. SUPPORT FOR UNITED STATES DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS.

The Congress of the United States supports the efforts by the President to--

(1) strictly enforce through the United Nations Security Council all relevant Security Council resolutions applicable to Iraq and encourages him in those efforts; and

(2) obtain prompt and decisive action by the Security Council to ensure that Iraq abandons its strategy of delay, evasion and noncompliance and promptly and strictly complies with all relevant Security Council resolutions.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.

(a) AUTHORIZATION- The President is authorized to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to--

(1) defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and

(2) enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq.

(b) PRESIDENTIAL DETERMINATION- In connection with the exercise of the authority granted in subsection (a) to use force the President shall, prior to such exercise or as soon thereafter as may be feasible, but no later than 48 hours after exercising such authority, make available to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate his determination that--

(1) reliance by the United States on further diplomatic or other peaceful means alone either (A) will not adequately protect the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq or (B) is not likely to lead to enforcement of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq; and

(2) acting pursuant to this resolution is consistent with the United States and other countries continuing to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations or persons who planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorists attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.

(c) WAR POWERS RESOLUTION REQUIREMENTS-

(1) SPECIFIC STATUTORY AUTHORIZATION- Consistent with section 8(a)(1) of the War Powers Resolution, the Congress declares that this section is intended to constitute specific statutory authorization within the meaning of section 5(b) of the War Powers Resolution.

(2) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER REQUIREMENTS- Nothing in this resolution supersedes any requirement of the War Powers Resolution.

SEC. 4. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

(a) The President shall, at least once every 60 days, submit to the Congress a report on matters relevant to this joint resolution, including actions taken pursuant to the exercise of authority granted in section 3 and the status of planning for efforts that are expected to be required after such actions are completed, including those actions described in section 7 of Public Law 105-338 (the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998).

(b) To the extent that the submission of any report described in subsection (a) coincides with the submission of any other report on matters relevant to this joint resolution otherwise required to be submitted to Congress pursuant to the reporting requirements of Public Law 93-148 (the War Powers Resolution), all such reports may be submitted as a single consolidated report to the Congress.

(c) To the extent that the information required by section 3 of Public Law 102-1 is included in the report required by this section, such report shall be considered as meeting the requirements of section 3 of Public Law 102-1.

[DrewKaree]

fredster, that's a pretty long list of manipulations!

Don't you think they could have shortened it and just said what Boxer-fanboy said?

"We are typing this all out to mislead and misrepresent what intelligence agencies worldwide have stated in agreement with our own intelligence that Sadaam has no WMD's, but by stretching this out in legal-speak, we can dupe the rest of these guys into thinking he does, and start a war based ONLY on WMD's, regardless of all the other reasons we've given that Congress looked at.  No one will ever figure us out, unless Ms Boxer is given a microphone, because she's an absolute genious to the point that she doesn't have to read stuff to know what it means"

See how much space that takes up, compared to what was actually said?

I mean, since Ms Boxer "cleaned Condi's clock" with this info, surely she already knew the information you gave us, orrrrrrrrr..........d'ya think she just "couldn't be bothered to read the FAQ's"?

Dexter's already been given this info by jened, perhaps you giving it to him might shine some light on the info for him, but he's changed his stance after jened's post from "Bush LIED" to "Bush MANIPULATED OR MANUFACTURED".  You prolly just entrenched the "manipulation" theory.