Republicans show their support of our Troops

[MannyIsGod]

By bickering over irrelevent in congress.

One Minute Speech by Rep. S ey Berkley this AM; transcript

28 September 2006

United States House of Representatives



Madam Speaker, Congress is waiting for the Republican leadership to bring the Department of Defense Authorization bill to the floor for a vote. So what's holding it up? Believe it or not, the Republican leadership wants to add a provision to the defense bill to help the troops, no, to add to their salaries, no, to help us buy equipment for them so they'll have state-of-the-art equipment, no, it's a provision to ban internet gaming. And if you guessed that, you're absolutely right, a ban on internet gaming in the defense bill.



How ridiculous is that? At a time when we have brave American men and women fighting and dying in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Republican leadership is more worried about Americans playing poker online than in protecting our troops in the field. The Republicans talk about patriotism and supporting our fighting men and women, but when it comes to voting for our nation's defense department, they're more interested in banning internet gaming than they are in providing what our troops need in the field of battle.

This Republican congress is so god damn useless. Thanks for standing for smaller government guys. Thanks.

[johnsmith]

By bickering over irrelevent in congress.

This Republican congress is so god damn useless. Thanks for standing for smaller government guys. Thanks.

This is sort of like the HD tv thing. All broadcasts must be done in HD by whatever the the date is now. Who the cares what signal television is being broadcast in, it will just cost those without HD televisions more money to have to go out and buy HD boxes. We can't figure out , but we'll be damn sure that Americans have a clear television screen.

I don't blame it on Republicans or Democrats, I blame it on the jackasses that we've voted into these seats because our other options are bigger jackasses.

[101A]

By bickering over irrelevent in congress.

This Republican congress is so god damn useless. Thanks for standing for smaller government guys. Thanks.

...because Congress was such a well-oiled efficient machine in from the 18th century to 1994.

The Republicans HAVE been a major disappointment in Congress to conservatives, but the Dems. were certainly no better. At least I got a tax-cut so they have less of my money to piss away.

[boutons_]

I guarantee that if there was a provision in the DA bill for cu ng taxes for the rich, it would have already been done.

People have been watching, Congress has approval rating of 25%, even further down the toilet than dubya's.

Here's another turd in the Repug constipation congress.


==================

Visas for Skilled Workers Still Frozen

By S. Mitra Kalita
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, September 28, 2006; A12

For technology companies and research ins utions that have spent recent autumns lobbying for permission to hire more foreign workers, this was supposed to be the year that ended the annual rite of desperation.

A bill that passed the Senate this spring would have doubled the number of visas issued every year for highly skilled professionals, such as scientists and engineers. And it would have helped clear a backlog of applications for permanent residency from such workers.

But the attempt by Congress to rewrite the nation's immigration laws has bogged down in controversy over border security and illegal immigration. That means changes in the skilled-worker programs, while less controversial, are also in limbo.

With Congress due to recess tomorrow, advocates of the programs have given up on winning immediate change. Now they're hoping members of Congress will focus on the issue in the lame-duck session late this year.

"It is incredibly difficult to pass major legislative reforms in any areas, and they tried to bite off a lot," said Jenifer Verdery, a policy director for Intel Corp., which has lobbied for more skilled foreign workers. "We've made a strong case, and we're hoping to take that to the finish line . . . if there is any policymaking left to do after the election."

For years, many of the country's largest technology companies and most prestigious research laboratories have said they are unable to find enough U.S.-born scientists and similar workers to fill their openings. They have depended on the H-1B visa to bring overseas talent into the United States. The companies also sponsor such skilled workers for green cards, which allow them to live and work here permanently.

But only 65,000 H-1B visas are issued each year, and demand has been so high recently that all of them are taken instantaneously -- mostly with tech workers from India and China. People from those countries also face among the longest waits for green cards.

The Senate plan would have nearly doubled the H-1B quota to 115,000 a year, and it would have helped clear a backlog of green-card applications.

The technology industry mounted a huge push on the issue this year. Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates met with members of Congress. A group of computer programmers hired a lobbying firm. An industry coalition handed out fake green cards imprinted with their demands.

A few professional associations and anti-immigrant groups oppose expanding the skilled-worker programs, contending that they can depress wages, but the programs have historically drawn support from both political parties.

At Microsoft, H-1B and green card reform has emerged as the "top legislative priority right now," said Jack Krumholtz, the company's managing director for federal government affairs. "We are really at a crisis in terms of the industry's ability to hire the best and the brightest and retain them."

A company spokeswoman estimated that about 7 percent of Microsoft's hires over the past five years had H-1B visas. Of the company's H-1B employees, 20 percent a year obtain green cards. The company said the low number stems from delays in processing green cards. An estimated 500,000 green-card applications are pending nationwide.

The employees describe agonizing, life-altering waits. In some cases, marriages, home purchases and retirement investments are put off. Graduates of master's and doctorate programs describe stringing together fellowships and one-year appointments to stay in this country. A spokesman for the National Ins utes of Health said those on temporary work visas have trouble qualifying for federal research grants.

Immigrant scientists call the policies crippling and said they had expected relief from a provision in the Senate bill that would have allowed favorable treatment for graduates in the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

"In the midst of this whole debate, very little is said about legal immigration. And even within legal immigration, little about PhDs and scientists," said Jai Pathak, a research scientist who lives in Washington. "There are a lot of very fine scientists the government would like to keep, but their citizenship status impedes it."

Pathak cited the Hungarian roots of Intel Corp. co-founder Andrew S. Grove, whose work helped create the modern computer industry that employs millions of Americans.

"What would have happened if the United States had decided to close the doors on him?" Pathak said.

© 2006 The Washington Post Company

[Yonivore]

I can't say I agree with Congress on this one but, I will make the general argument that the business of the country goes on, even during a war, and that even the little stuff needs to be attended.

"This is sort of like the HD tv thing. All broadcasts must be done in HD by whatever the the date is now. Who the cares what signal television is being broadcast in..."

You say that until you can't find a television that receives the signal or a you can't receive a signal because your television isn't capable.

Essentially, you're right. It's not the government's business. Industry should somehow arrive at a consensus on broadcast standards and technology and coordinate their rollout of products and services so that we don't have to buy a new television every 3 months in order to watch our shows.

It's kind of like the DVD standard and the blue laser fiasco. We'd survive it, but it's be a whole of a lot more convenient if there were some way to force providers to be reasonable about technological advances.

[AFE7FATMAN]

they're more interested in banning internet gaming than they are in providing what our troops need in the field of battle.

Speaking of what our troops need:


Rehydrating
Due to a shortage of supplies on the mountain mission, a soldier from the 82nd Airborne uses an IV pack to rehydrate. Initially, the mission to provide a security perimeter for a Special Forces operation was intended to last a few hours, but the Airbourne troops stayed on the mountaintop for as long as two days, with limited supplies






Where are you sleeping today?








Bet the recruiters don't mention what it takes to get fluids. or what the sleeping quarters were like.
WAR is

[Ocotillo]

...because Congress was such a well-oiled efficient machine in from the 18th century to 1994.

The Republicans HAVE been a major disappointment in Congress to conservatives, but the Dems. were certainly no better. At least I got a tax-cut so they have less of my money to piss away.

Bullsh*t!! This abortion is the worst congress in the storied history of this country.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

I don't think it's right to classify it as Republicans showing their support of troops, even in sarcasm.

They didn't all slap this on the defense bill, Frist pulled rank and added the flyer. It's bull , no sugar coating on that one.

[RandomGuy]

...because Congress was such a well-oiled efficient machine in from the 18th century to 1994.

The Republicans HAVE been a major disappointment in Congress to conservatives, but the Dems. were certainly no better. At least I got a tax-cut so they have less of my money to piss away.

Heh, that is the problem. They spent it anyways by borrowing it.

They not only spent your money now, they spent it with 20-30 years worth of interest thrown in.

[MannyIsGod]

...because Congress was such a well-oiled efficient machine in from the 18th century to 1994.

The Republicans HAVE been a major disappointment in Congress to conservatives, but the Dems. were certainly no better. At least I got a tax-cut so they have less of my money to piss away.

I'm no fan of the Democrats, but Republicans have always been the party that stands for smaller government. And boy, we get a Republican president and a Republican congress and we've grown government so much its disgusting.

This is Frist being an idiot, but the House Speaker is up to the same games wanting to attach riders to this bill as well. And well, Mr. Bush made a very nice effort in going up to the Hill a few days ago and basically telling the Republicans to give in to whatever Frist and the Speaker want.

It just turns out that Bush isn't the most popular guy even in his own Party, and Senator Warner has basically said nothing but germane items are getting into this bill.




However, this just means that Frist and Hasert had to move onto another bill. It now looks like they're very close to attatching all of these riders to the Port Security bill which may pass in the next 2 days.

The Port Security bill has been stripped down and isn't a very comprehensive bill that will accomplish all that it should, bit it sure as is going to try to stop internet gambling!

This is flat out ridiculous. I hope when it comes election time, you all look at what the people who you put in office actually do and what they consider important.

[FromWayDowntown]

It's political gamesmanship. If the Republicans put a rider (like an internet gaming ban) into a bill that otherwise appropriates funds to a defense issue, and Democrats vote against the bill, the ads in October and November will paint them as weak on defense or security because they voted against the bill, neverminding the basis for doing so.

[MannyIsGod]

The defense bill has been filed, it is free of all riders. Warner wrote a letter to Frist he made public that was basicly " Off" in congressional speak. I was pretty impressed by the way he stuck to his guns.

It seems as though Frist is trying to work it into the Port Security bill today, but the latest I just read from people on the Hill is that the Republicans may have ed themselves in how they are forumlating this bill by locking out the Dems at the last minute. So it may not pass either.

Frist may have cost everyone port security becuase of this internet gambling ban. Chew on that for a second and think about this guy running for president.

[boutons_]

defense bill just passed, 100-0 in the Senate.

[Ya Vez]

as opposed to democrats support..

Anxious Dems eye power of the purse on Iraq
By Bob Cusack

Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) will chair the powerful Ways and Means Committee if Democrats win control of the House next year, but his main goal in 2007 does not fall within his panel’s jurisdiction.

“I can’t stop this war,” a frustrated Rangel said in a recent interview, reiterating his vow to retire from Congress if Democrats fall short of a majority in the House.

But when pressed on how he could stop the war even if Democrats control the House during the last years of President Bush’s second term, Rangel paused before saying, “You’ve got to be able to pay for the war, don’t you?”

Rangel’s views on funding the war are shared by many of his colleagues – especially within the 73-member Out of Iraq Caucus.

Some Democratic legislators want to halt funding for the war immediately, while others say they would allocate money for activities such as reconstruction, setting up international security forces, and the ultimate withdrawal of U.S. troops.

“Personally, I wouldn’t spend another dime [on the war,]” said Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.).


http://thehill.com/thehill/export/Th...aqfunding.html

[boutons_]

After Frist stuck is remote nose in the Terry Chiavo business, I started paying attention to the guy. The guy is a real zero, no presence, can't speak, nothing, except the trite John Kennedy/Joe College hairsrpay hair-do helmet swept across the forehead a Trent Lott clone. Do these Southern Repug mother ers have ANY individuality outside of their public persona?

Frist is an empty, talentless, boring man.

[boutons_]

I wouldn't it put it past the Dems to be so stupid as to try to choke off funds for the troops.

Nobody I know wants any harm to come to troops. The Repugs undermanning and underequipping the troops is already bad enough.

We need 400 or 500K troops for Iraq and Afghanistan, or the Repugs are going to lose them both.

[MannyIsGod]

as opposed to democrats support..

I want to you to grasp a concept here that you usually fail to realize. Everytime someone calls out the republicans on something, you're quick to draw a comparison to Democrats.

Here is the thing, you don't have to be happy with what one party does to be upset at the other. Can you wrap yourself around that? I don't have to like what what the Democrats do - and I usually don't - when I deem something the Republicans are doing as idiocy.

You don't have to run and pull out some info on what Democrats do everytime someone is criticla of Republicans. Its OK to be critical of your party if you are a Republican. In fact, you should be far more critical of those you support than those you oppose.

[Extra Stout]

Sen. Warner is from the old school of the GOP, back when they had principles, back before the criminals took over power.

[clambake]

right manny. The people investigating Abrahamoff went to the WH administration and asked to see specific do ents. That's all, just asked to see them. The WH responded by calling Abrahamoff a "known liar". Investigators said thanks for that comment, now can we have the do ents?

[MannyIsGod]

Sen. Warner is from the old school of the GOP, back when they had principles, back before the criminals took over power.

I was seriously seriously impressed by the way he handled this. Dude actually gave me faith in congress for a bit. Just a bit though.

[clambake]

But there is so few of them. No effort to reform social security, no effort to reform lobbyist. These people aren't likely to kill off their cash cows.

[boutons_]

"faith in congress"

Congress can be run with seriousness, efficiency, bi-partisanship, a committment to moving the counry forward, to addressing the country's problems. I don't even ing care if the Repugs take the lead, but it's clear Congress is broken beyond repair, and much of the blame lies with how the Repugs have conducted themselves as dividers, polarizers, smash-mouth/no-compromise partisans, poisoners since Gingrich in 1994. That is not saying I'm a Dem or pro-Dem, just that the Repugs have been playing "Repugs first, last, and always, and the USA". Iraq is prime example.

[Spurminator]

This is absolutely ridiculous.

[Ya Vez]

You don't have to run and pull out some info on what Democrats do everytime someone is criticla of Republicans. Its OK to be critical of your party if you are a Republican. In fact, you should be far more critical of those you support than those you oppose.

wouldn't a fair debate articulate what the other side is doing as well.. or are we to allow one side to dominate the agenda in a public forum?

[boutons_]

"allow one side to dominate the agenda "

The Repugs have had complete power over Exec and Legislative for 6 years. They are the ones running/fumbling the ball. They naturally should be the center of the critiques, not the Dems.

Any critque of the Repugs doesn't get defended with positive comments about the Repugs but with subject switiching to trash-talking Clinton and the Dems who haven't had any power for 6 years.

The best the Repug defenders can do is say "The Repugs are no more ty than those really ty Dems".

A list of Repug accomplishments since Jan 2001:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

etc

and you better be super strong in filling in the blanks because you know there is a mountain of undenialbly negative Repug to off-set, starting with Iraq.

Whenever you're ready ....