Breaking: House unable to override Bush’s veto
posted at 2:41 pm on May 2, 2007 by see-dubya
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Final vote: 222-203, with at least six Democrats voting against the override according to the tally below:
“The president has turned a tin ear to the wishes of the American people,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif., said during the hour-long debate before the vote. “The president wants a blank check. The Congress will not give it to him.”
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Pwn3d!
This is very good news.
The Democrats now face an impossible situation.
They can either send a bill with no surrender clauses, piss off the Nutroots and risk them whipping themselves into a frenzy that will spill into the mainstream, which is the last thing they need, particularly with 08 closing in. The last thing they need is a buncha kooky Nutroots becoming a public fixture, it’ll be McGovern all over again, which is kinda ironic given the left’s insistence on turning Iraq into another Vietnam paradigm.
Or they can keep trying to pass surrender bills and have them vetoed, and risk pissing off the mainstream by denying the armed forces the funds they badly need. You can’t openly screw the troops anymore funding-wise with political impunity, not after Vietnam. Particularly given the left’s insistence that it supports the troops.
Bad Candy on May 2, 2007 at 2:53 PM
So, Biden, when is that “shoving it down his throat” happening again?
JinxMcHue on May 2, 2007 at 2:53 PM
I don’t ever recall the president asking for a blank check, do you? Where does this come from?
lorien1973 on May 2, 2007 at 2:58 PM
First of all, your post is one big either-or fallacy.
I don’t see how some people can view this as only the Democrats fault when it is the President who is vetoing the bills. You need benchmarks with consequences to get something done and get the government motivated. If we continue to say to the Iraqi government “We want you to do this, but keep in mind that if you don’t we won’t do anything” nothing is going to get done.
Nonfactor on May 2, 2007 at 3:00 PM
Oh, and not just the “nutroots,” but more than 60% of the American public.
Nonfactor on May 2, 2007 at 3:02 PM
Good job Pelosi, paint yourself into a corner. The Blue dogs become more red each day. Now watch the Dems up for reelection track right the closer we get to November 2008.
Theworldisnotenough on May 2, 2007 at 3:04 PM
NF, you lefties throw around this “60%” number like it means something to you. It doesn’t mean shit to me, as it is a media creation, and therefore worthy of great skepticism.
Jaibones on May 2, 2007 at 3:05 PM
Isn’t the failure to override the veto the “wishes of the American people”, too?
Dusty on May 2, 2007 at 3:06 PM
fixt.
Citizen Duck on May 2, 2007 at 3:07 PM
Hmmm… I just saw poll results with the opposite of your statement…
It all depends on how you ask the question, which pollsters have know for year.
Do you want the troops out of Iraq?? HELL YEAH!!! I do too!
Do you want to surrender??? Hell no.
Its all in how you ask the question.
Romeo13 on May 2, 2007 at 3:09 PM
Bravo for the Dems who didn’t blindly follow the party line. This is actually a rare moment when the Dems didn’t unanamously vote as one. It goes against the Dem motto of “A mind is a terrible thing to waste, so the Democratic Party shares one”.
DAT60A3 on May 2, 2007 at 3:17 PM
If their bill is truly the “wishes of the american people” then why did they need to spend two or three weeks buying votes for it by tacking on all that pork?
Wouldn’t have needed to buy any votes if the constituencies were really in favor of this fiasco.
These sorry excuses for human beings cannot open their mouths without lying.
It is pathological.
.
The Machine on May 2, 2007 at 3:18 PM
Questions like: Do you want the U.S. to pull the troops out of Iraq within the next six months almost always result in a 60% “Yes.” Questions like: Do you think the U.S. plan in Iraq is working almost always result in a 60% “No.”
Sure, people don’t want to “surrender,” but believe it or not most Americans don’t think leaving Iraq after we’ve taken out a dictator and created a Democracy counts as “surrender.”
Nonfactor on May 2, 2007 at 3:18 PM
Fixed that for ya. Now RESIGN, you old bat!
CrimsonFisted on May 2, 2007 at 3:18 PM
The Pentagon should “redeploy” funding currently allocated to VIP travel to make up for funding shortfalls in more essential areas. Pelosi can fly commercial until Congress provides funding with no strings attached. If Congress wants to cut funding and bring the military home, then they need to step up and admit that that is what they intend to do.
rw on May 2, 2007 at 3:20 PM
Pelosi’s phrase, ‘wishes of the American people’, is the new ‘do it for the children’.
Retread on May 2, 2007 at 3:22 PM
Tell that to Harry Reid, the leader of the Democrat party who said (quoting CNN), “Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Thursday the war in Iraq is “lost,” triggering an angry backlash by Republicans, who said the top Democrat had turned his back on the troops.”
Matticus Finch on May 2, 2007 at 3:25 PM
Who were the two “Republicans”? let me guess:
1. Wayne Gilchrest,R?-MD
2. Walter B. Jones R?-NC
netherman79 on May 2, 2007 at 3:25 PM
Everybody with an iPod should scoot over to Mark Levin’s website and download the 4/30 Audio Rewind with Stupendous Inspirational Barry Goldwater Sound Bites!
RushBaby on May 2, 2007 at 3:26 PM
http://www.marklevinshow.com/
RushBaby on May 2, 2007 at 3:26 PM
“And let me remind you….that extremism in defense of liberty…is no vice!”
Heard them two nights ago…
netherman79 on May 2, 2007 at 3:28 PM
CrimsonFisted,
‘Cmon. You know her ears are made of plastic, not tin. Gives tin a bad name. This is especially egregious after all the struggle to clear its good name after that “Wizard of OZ”
moviesmearjob on tin.All joking aside, she’s creepy. Have another facelift, Nancy.
No, seriously, please do.
/shudder
JunkCoast on May 2, 2007 at 3:30 PM
The President’s criteria for withdrawal is the meeting of objectives – many of which have been tirelessly explained over and over again to those who refuse to listen and continue to maintain that there is no plan for withdrawal. This criteria acknowledges a difference between success (meeting objectives) and failure (not meeting objectives).
The Dems criteria is a calendar date. Success or failure is irrelevant. When one does not care whether one is successful or not, one will not be successful.
Mibrilane on May 2, 2007 at 3:32 PM
Tin ear?
Jesus, the stupid woman can’t even get a cliche right.
It’s “deaf ear”, Nance. “Tin ear” means he’ll never play the violin.
mojo on May 2, 2007 at 3:32 PM
Hey Nancy….. F.O.A.D.
infidel4life on May 2, 2007 at 3:32 PM
fortunately we weren’t designed to be run by mob rule, rather a representive republic.
although if the Dems wanted to play this game, it would be interesting to apply it to other issues.
jp on May 2, 2007 at 3:33 PM
Some understand what is at stake about the war and what it means if we leave before finishing the job. Then there are those who don’t. That scares me to no end.
Kini on May 2, 2007 at 3:36 PM
She uses this one often too (bold text) ……
It’s a favorite of Blitzer, Matthews, Olberdunce and every warmed-over cadaver at 60 minutes too.
fogw on May 2, 2007 at 3:38 PM
Answering to my : May 2, 2007 at 2:53 PM
It might be a logical fallacy, which I doubt it is, but even if it is, politics is rarely a logical game. Its all about perception.
The left doesn’t have the pro-military street cred to get away with this, given the fact that it has long been viewed as an anti-military party (since ‘Nam). So for the left, it constantly has to prove its friendly to the military, hence the constant “I support the troops but oppose the war” mantra from your politicos.
Bush can operate with the public assumption that he’s pro military, because the right is viewed as friendly to the military and he inherits that in extension. This is because the right has a much more friendly relationship with the military for the past few decades.
Me :They can either send a bill with no surrender clauses, piss off the Nutroots and risk them whipping themselves into a frenzy that will spill into the mainstream
You:
Again with this talking point from you. God, you sound like Alan Colmes. The American public may hate the Iraq War and want out, but they don’t wanna go out with a loss for now.
The public may thiink Iraq was a mistake, but they aren’t about to adopt the “grab yer ankles” policy of the left yet. They get that the various terrorists and dictators your side wants to negotiate with are NOT people you negotiate with. People may not get the importance of Iraq, but they know that capitulation to terror is unacceptable.
Bad Candy on May 2, 2007 at 3:39 PM
Links please?
Heres one of mine… with interesting historical data…
http://www.usiraqprocon.org/pop/Resources-Polls.html
Shows the absolute power of our own Press and enemy propoganda.
We have not lost a battle. We have (in historical terms) lost very few people. Patreus says interIRAQI violence is down, with Al Q violence up… which is what makes the news EVERY night.
We hear NO good news. We see no Heros. Every night we are bombarded with loss…
Last night, here in Denver, I watched 3 news stations.
The local news had a story on the loss of 3 guys from Fort Carson, and the usualy daily Al Q carbombs.
Fox news had nothing positive. Just more loss statistics, and covered how the Prince would be a detriment…
Late news? Same story, not a single positive story… all loss and bombs.
When the ENEMY control the information flow, they can make it appear like you are loosing, even when you are winning.
Perfect example… Tet offensive in Nam. Destroyed the Norths ability to project power, but OUR press called it an American loss… so the people believed it.
We are winning in Iraq… we are loosing the propoganda war here.
Romeo13 on May 2, 2007 at 3:40 PM
NF, do you believe that?
Do you, personally, believe that U.S. forces can cut and run in 6 months and it won’t be anything less than a surrender?
billy on May 2, 2007 at 3:43 PM
their worldview is destroyed by the islamist threat, its that simple. Mark Steyn’s book is a good analysis of why.
what worries me is those on the “Fortress America” right, who do not get the modern technology advanced world and global economy.
jp on May 2, 2007 at 3:44 PM
Yep. Them two.
And, what is with Kucinich answering “present”? Not that I care all that much about Kucinich, but, is this a way for a rep. to be non-committal? Just curious.
nailinmyeye on May 2, 2007 at 3:46 PM
When the Democrats pass a bill that is so vile that they had to bribe members of their own party with pork to get it passed, it is the president’s duty and responsibility to veto it. Congress can force a withdrawal at any time by defunding the war, but they are well aware that they would get eaten alive in the next election if they did that. So, like a stage magician, they are trying to use misdirection to attain a result that is pleasing to their more rabid fringe, but will look palatable to mainstream voters. They are more interested in gaining and holding power, than being honest. Currently, that thin majority in Congress is trying to abrogate the presidents war powers and micromanage the war. I don’t know about anyone else, but the idea of war and defense run by committee scares the heck out me.
coyoterex on May 2, 2007 at 3:48 PM
Nonfactor, I’d like to point out that you use your “60%” as if it’s fact. First of all, these poll are being conducted by calling about 400 people, in the middle of the afternoon. People who are actually, you know, working, don’t have the opportunity to answer with their opinion.
Next, where are these surveys being taken? Odds are, not in Anytown, USA. They’re being conducted in New York, Washington, LA, etc. How about all of the smaller cities and towns, where people also have an opinion.
Those polls you quote, are pointless. Basically it means, that 60% of the 400 people we asked in Los Angeles, agree with you. Let’s conduct a survey among 10 of my friends, asking if they like me. 100% “Yes”. Oh my God! The whole nation likes me! Yeah, about the same holding.
amerpundit on May 2, 2007 at 3:49 PM
Um, because even Charles Rangell said that the Democratic leaders had to put mounds of pork in the bill, to get the fellow Democrats to vote “Yes” on the bill. Here ya go, complete with video:
http://hotair.com/archives/2007/04/02/video-rangel-admits-dems-abused-war-funding-bill/
amerpundit on May 2, 2007 at 3:52 PM
This bill is a perfect example as to how useful a line item veto would be.
Canadian Imperialist Running Dog on May 2, 2007 at 3:55 PM
The Dems are spending too much time listening to moveon.org. They think they are making political points but it looks to me that all they are doing is losing in 2008. If they read their tea leaves correctly they would discover that although a majority would like to be out of Iraq that same majority wants to win first. The longer they push their insane strategy the more pressure they put on their more conservative members. It seems entirely possible that if pushed far enough that a combination of conservative Dems and the Republicans could end up controlling the House agenda.
duff65 on May 2, 2007 at 3:56 PM
While it is nice to hoot and holler that they failed to squash the veto it is pretty damn sobering to realize that they were only 30 some votes short out of 433. Add in the NV and neys on the Donkey side and it is just 20. This is just the start of all the cr(a)p. I have to wonder how many of those 203 nay votes have the gumballs to stay standing. I hope the RNC is passing out baseball bats.
Limerick on May 2, 2007 at 3:58 PM
I swear the democratic party has become the snake oil “Magical Cure” party.
Want a cure for cancer ? We have it in Stem Cell Research!
Want Good paying jobs ? We will raise minimum wage !
Want a end to global warming ? We will legistate it !
Want an end to the War on Terror ? We will pass a bill !
but then that has been the history of the democratic party. making worthless promises that it can never keep.
William Amos on May 2, 2007 at 4:03 PM
The Prez sayz: All your bills are belong to me.
- The Cat
MirCat on May 2, 2007 at 4:24 PM
Look, lets not forget, A LOT of those votes had to bought with promises of big-time pork which is always a last ditch move of desperation. It would take so much pork to get an override there would be accusations of bribery with the public coffers it would still hurt the Dems.
Bad Candy on May 2, 2007 at 4:24 PM
Kucinich voted against the funding originally, so he can’t vote to override the veto. He also can’t vote to sustain the veto because that would appear to support the President, so he’s stuck voting “present.”
rw on May 2, 2007 at 4:25 PM
I only have one thing to say to nancy Pelosi,
PALAMINO!
JayHaw Phrenzie on May 2, 2007 at 4:30 PM
Ahhh. Thank you. That makes sense.
nailinmyeye on May 2, 2007 at 4:32 PM
Hagel is a traitor. I hope Nebraska votes his ass out just like SD did to Tom Dashle.
msipes on May 2, 2007 at 4:37 PM
Nonfactor: “Oh, and not just the “nutroots,” but more than 60% of the American public.”
Who then goes on and cites some BOGUS talking point statistics.
First of all, you’re a f*cking liar, like most of your traitorous ilk.
I’m sick and tired of letting liars like you get away with spouting this bullsh*t! You assclowns rely too much on the “big lie” tactic overcoming America’s real opinion on Iraq. It isn’t working….
The American public does NOT want the United States to lose in Iraq. The American public does NOT want to see the terrorists win in Iraq and will not support doing anything that would lead to that eventuality.
From an IBD/TIPP poll: “How important is a US victory in Iraq?” Very important: 42%, Somewhat important: 24%, meaning tht 66% of Americans THINK IT IMPORTANT TO WIN IN IRAQ. 53% of Democrats agree, by the way, as do 63% of independents and 85% of Republicans.
“How hopeful are you that we will succeed?” Very hopeful: 35%, Somewhat hopeful: 23% meaning that 58% of Americans DO NOT THINK THE WAR IS LOST as you traitor nutroots do.
http://www.investors.com/editorial/editorialcontent.asp?secid=1501&status=article&id=256522262721962
At least your “handle” (i.e., “nonfactor”) is appropriate.
You are NOT a factor. You’re a lying troll who has just been exposed as such.
The President isn’t flouting the will of the American people, he is HONORING IT and exposing you Democrats as the Al Qaeda supporting traitors you all are.
VOTE DEMOCRAT, VOTE TRAITOR!
georgej on May 2, 2007 at 4:37 PM
Bad Candy….I agree with you….it was simply an observation (poor I admit) that a choice between national survival and suicide could ever be this close.
Limerick on May 2, 2007 at 4:50 PM
True enough Lim.
Bad Candy on May 2, 2007 at 4:53 PM
It doesn’t matter if Nonfactor believes that. It doesn’t even matter if 100% of the American people believe it. It matters with the Islamist terrorists and dictators of the Middle East think. They will interpret it as surrender–there is absolutely no doubt of that. Their belief that they won will embolden them, and life will get far worse for the West and for the oppressed peoples of the Middle East. We can think we didn’t surrender all we want. It’s what they think that matters. They are the aggressors, despite what liberals believe. The Islamists started this with acts of terrorism and defiance of the international community. They will continue it, especially if they think they are winning. There is no other way for them to interpret us leaving. None.
aero on May 2, 2007 at 5:24 PM
How come no pollster ever asks the American People if they want Victory over the terrorists? I wonder if that’s considered and inconvient truth.
Iblis on May 2, 2007 at 5:29 PM
That depends upon how the pork is attached to the bill. If they are rider amendments, they are not line items and a LIV couldn’t be used on them. If all appropriations called for in the bill are itemized as a budgetary structure, then it would work. But I don’t think you’re interested so much in the added pork.
The deadlines which the bill attempts to set could not be lined out by the President while maintaining the appropriations portion. The language doesn’t work that way.
A line item veto doesn’t allow the Executive to simply edit and redact a bill at whim to get it to look as he wishes.
Freelancer on May 2, 2007 at 6:08 PM
Beyond what anyone believes, the consequences of our leaving would mean the indiscriminate slaughter of hundreds of thousands, potentially of millions of people.
The liberald don’t give a rats ars about that because ‘they could win seats’ as the Reaper Reid said, and as Pelosi et Nonfactor believe.
Here’s hoping that the “majority of the American people” are more humane than that, if not smarter…
And, please, never, ever, write ‘progressive’ about the liberals, without putting the word in single-quotes. They don’t give a damn about other people’s liberty and freedom, so long as they win seats.
Entelechy on May 2, 2007 at 6:22 PM
Nonfactor, do you think the situation in Darfur justifies a military presence due to the civilian deaths?
If so, it’s easy. we send our troops to Darfur while Iraq gets worse that Darfur is now… Then we can come back.
Right?
We just need to let it go to hell before we can justify being there. Stopping it from going to hell is pointless and we need to leave.
Or did I miss something there?
gekkobear on May 2, 2007 at 7:21 PM
Where is the surprise? The Defeatocrats knew the results before they called the vote.
The Defeatocrats are catering to the far Left with this vote. If they gain more power in 2008 we have just a small taste of what damage they will do to this country.
It is time those who oppose the Left give on economic issues to deny the Left a clear victory in the next election. They can start with increasing the minimum wage, cease opposition to the Alternative Minimum Tax and Inheritance Tax, and enforce immigration laws that will free jobs for AMERICANs. If Republicans do not give on economic issues you have just a preview of what the Defeatocrats will do to our country.
omegaram on May 2, 2007 at 7:23 PM
Do I want the troops home in 6 months? Yes.
Do I think we’re going wrong in Iraq? Yes.
I guess I’m part of that 60%.
Do I think that the latter is necessary cause for the former? No.
Whoops. Maybe I’m not part of that 60%. Or maybe that 60% is nothing more than rhetorical fodder.
spmat on May 2, 2007 at 7:42 PM
aero on May 2, 2007 at 5:24 PM
I agree with you. Didn’t Hezbollah declare victory in the fight with Israel last summer? After Israel stopped short of obliterating them.
I really hope that this country’s voters have more common sense than the Dems give them and vote Republican. We Republicans can’t stay home in protest either.
I shudder at the thought of what this country might become if the Dems get the White House. Can you imgagine that they invite the Islamofacist to come here for a “dialogue of peace and chit chat etc” so that “we all can just get along” and so as not to offend them, don’t take the necessary security precautions and they nuke us or something upon their arrival? Oh, then they will turn around and blame it on Bush because he was such a bad president that it forced Americans to vote for a Democrat and on and on and on…
CCRWM on May 2, 2007 at 8:01 PM
Where’s the old Reagan style swagger? “Go ahead, make my day.” I wish Bush would relate better to us. I’m SOOOOoooo glad he vetoed the surrender bill. The Dhems surrendered after we had won in Vietnam (we won according to the VC generals at the time) and now they’re up to their old tricks again. Shame on them.
Mojave Mark on May 2, 2007 at 8:08 PM
God Bless George W. Bush.
Maxx on May 3, 2007 at 1:28 AM
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