President Obama Remarks on Advanced Manufacturing Partnership
President Obama traveled to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh were he launched the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership. This national effort aims to bring together industry, universities, and the federal government to invest in the emerging technologies that will create high quality manufacturing jobs and enhance our global competitiveness.
REPUBLICANS WOULD RATHER DESTROY THE ECONOMY THAN RAISE TAXES:
There are basic accounting principles that every family follows to sustain a balance between solvency, extreme debt, and starving to death. When expenses exceed income, sane individuals realize they must either reduce spending or increase revenue to avoid experiencing extreme debt, and eventually bankruptcy. The smartest approach is one where expenses are reduced and income is increased to maintain a standard of living that is neither too extravagant nor too austere, and most Americans use a balanced approach. After ten years of Republican out-of-control spending on two unnecessary wars, an unfunded Medicare prescription program, and unfunded tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, the nation must come to terms with solving a Republican-made deficit that is choking the life out of the country’s fiscal health.
From the start of the 112th Congress, Republicans have opted to cut spending in order to maintain tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations and refused to consider any means of increasing revenue to address the staggering national debt. If any American family followed the Republican fiscal model, they would have suffocating debt, bankruptcy, and end up living on the street. The Republicans in Congress are on pace to bankrupt the country, and in effect, put America’s standing in the same category as most third world countries where 98% of the population live in abject poverty so the wealthy can continue living in opulence. The Republicans have assailed Democrats and the president for suggesting that increasing revenue through tax increases on the wealthy and corporations is part of a balanced approach to solving America’s debt crisis that Republicans caused.
These jerks are unbelievable, deciding who they want to undermine more, PBO’s efforts to avoid a humanitarian crisis or Ghaddafi’s bloodbath:
Libya: House Rejects Obama Authorizing U.S. Strikes, Threatens to Cut Funding
The House of Representatives this afternoon declined to grant the president the authority to continue supporting the NATO mission in Libya, another sign of rebellion brewing thousands of miles away on Capitol Hill as NATO’s bombing campaign in support of Libyan rebels enters its fourth month.
Frustrated lawmakers from both parties have threatened to cut off funding for U.S. operations there amid concerns about their cost and growing dissatisfaction with the Obama administration’s skirting of the War Powers Resolution.
With wide bipartisan opposition, a vote on a resolution to authorize operations failed today 123-295, with 70 Democrats joining 225 Republicans in opposing authorization. Just eight Republicans and 115 Democrats voted to give the president the authority.
To limit the use of funds appropriated to the Department of Defense for United States Armed Forces in support of North Atlantic Treaty Organization Operation Unified Protector with respect to Libya, unless otherwise specifically authorized by law – 180 AYES and 238 NOES
Clearly, their own egos and agendas are more important than any lives that might be lost. It’s unforgivable for them to do this when Gaddafi is already close to giving up. What exactly do they stand for, and what do they want America to be seen to be standing for? Makes me sick.
They better not dip their grubby fingers in the pot asking for any of hte money President Obama has raised for the Democratic party – they aren’t Democrats. And they better not ask him or Michelle to say one word on their behalf. Not. one. word.
It might be worth thinking about what they’re doing if they exhibited any evidence that they have the vaguest idea what the heck they’re doing at any given time. I’m so totally sick of Congress.
I’m glad the vote to defund the efforts in Libya failed but I am disappointed and frankly frustrated at spineless dems who don’t seem to understand, that constitutionally the President did not violate the war powers act and to try to undermine him by taking away his continued authorization on the limited engagements in Libya is prepostrous.
B
y the way C-span is showing the President speaking about manufacturing and the economy At Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh
The Democrats in Congress have been really making me upset for the past two years. They have yet to realize that backstabbing the President is a stupid idea. Two years after POTUS was sworn in, and Democrats in Congress still are fighting him on everything, but seem to be afraid to ACTUALLY fight the real enemy.
Good Afternoon TOD family. Thanks meta for the roll call. I wanted to see where my Rep. voted. I knew he would. However, I woke up to this and immediately got pain, but we will overcome this one also. I am with you on that theo67. I am so sick of the hateful people. These people have no goodness of heart for what is right, but for what is best for their next elections and egos. It is very sad. But we will support the President. We are stronger together than falling apart. Thanks for all of you here. I appreciate you all so much.
HZ – take a look at the wonderful images from South Africa to lift your spirits again. These people will get their just desserts, and they can’t keep the President down. Even if they succeed in chasing him out of the White House, that’s not going to stop him from working for the people of this world, and that’s what’s keeping me going these days. There are many more people in this country and in this world who want him to succeed, and will continue to support him, no matter what the other vile nobodies do to him.
HZ, as Theo67 so aptly said, please take care and let’s focus on the things that bring us some joy and pride. The House Democrats will face their comeuppance soon. This Obamacrat is not going to support anyone who betrayed our President at this crucial juncture in our operations.
😦 you are still getting pains HZ. Oh no. I really hope you feel better soon. Don’t let the idiots get to you and I hope you do take theo67’s advice. Here’s a wonderful video of how our wonderful First Lady is touching lives….
I am not surprised by the Republicans and some democRATS like Kucinich but can I guess I’ve come to the conclusion that folks had rather we;the supposed leader of the Free Word have Benghzi turn into Rwanda just to score political points
I tell ya what.Those DemocRATS have opened my eyes even more so than the Tea’s because I know they want him to fail and because of that I will make sure to call myself an Independent as of now!
Benghzi has brown people and the man trying to prevent another Rwanda is President Barack Obama, even if he is a Democrat, you know those fihgters for human rights. Nough said!!!
Um, gee, it turns out that McKinsey report was a little bit of a stretch.
About That McKinsey Report … The Critics Were Right
McKinsey & Company has finally released the details of its controversial paper on the likely effects of health care reform. And it looks like the paper’s critics (including yours truly) were right to raise questions about it. Based on what the company has said, the paper offers no new reason to think Americans with employer-sponsored insurance will lose that coverage because of the Affordable Care Act.
[snip]
And it turns out the survey had a few weaknesses. For one thing, a quarter of respondents didn’t know the salary breakdowns of their companies—in other words, how many workers were making high salaries and how many were making low salaries. In addition, more than half of respondents weren’t even aware of what their companies spent on health benefits. The survey didn’t ask respondents about the ages of their employees. Were they relatively old? Young? A mix of the two? And when survey administrators “educated” respondents about the health law, they didn’t remind them about the effects of the employer tax exclusion, which makes job-based health insurance worth a lot more to employees.
Newt Gingrich is trying to help “The Blacks” my asking his fellow Republicans to go in those tough neighborhoods and try to talk to them. Obama has failed Black people says Newtser. So he is going to be their savior. Iam smelling Voter suppression. Did Arianna give him that advise?
huh? 🙄 Black people aren’t leaving Obama for any of them, much like the KKK and rich country club folk ain’t leaving him and his ilk for PBO. Is Newt really this dumb?
West and Smiley should do themselves a favor (not that it would surprise me at this point mind you) and publicly endorse Gingrich and Bachmann for President and be done with it!
I saw Newt telling repubs and black people that President Obama had failed them. That he is a huge disappointment and if there was a choice between choosing food stamps and voting for President Obama, that black people should choose food stamps. He is a vile, racist douchebag. This is the same buffoon who was on Meet The Press and called President Obama the food stamp President. Implying that President Obama ran for office so he could dole out food stamps to lazy black people. I don’t understand what gave him the idea that people on food stamps are only African-Americans or that people on food stamps are lazy greedy individuals. He knows nothing of their life stories or why they have to be on the receiving end of crucial governmental help for survival. Now he wants black peoples help at the voting booth. You know what I say? Fuck you Newt Gingrich. You souless destroyer of dreams.
This is in response to Meta’s links to the House votes on Libya today.
Is Congress confused on Libya?
By Felicia Sonmez
As of Friday, the House has now held four votes on Libya — and at first glance, the message members are sending to the administration seems somewhat muddled.
On June 3, the House voted against immediately removing all U.S. forces from Libya. The same day, it voted to rebuke President Obama on Libya and called on him to report to Congress within two weeks with further details on the objectives of the mission.
Then, this afternoon, the House voted against authorizing U.S. military operations in Libya. But it also rejected a measure that would have limited funding of the mission.
Got all that?
Things in the Senate aren’t much clearer. The upper chamber voted unanimously on March 1 to call for the possible establishment of a no-fly zone over Libya, more than two weeks before Obama authorized U.S. military operations in the country.
But the Senate has yet to pass a further resolution in the 97 days since Obama’s announcement, and a bipartisan resolution authored by Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.) begins working its way through the committee process next week and remains unscheduled for a vote.
All of that would seem to suggest that Congress is at something of a loss when it comes to handling the U.S. military intervention in Libya. The slow-moving Senate has had difficulty agreeing on what type of resolution, if any, should be brought to the floor, while the faster-paced House has voted on a flurry of resolutions that have sent mixed messages at best.
At least one apparent contradiction became resolved during Friday’s floor debate in the House: Most members had rejected the second resolution (on limiting funding of the Libyan operation) not because they support U.S. operations in Libya, but rather because they viewed the measure as a back-door authorization of U.S. participation in the NATO-led mission.
“(The defunding measure) specifically grants to the President what up until now he has completely lacked: Congressional authority to engage in every conceivable belligerent act short of actually pulling the trigger,” Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) said on the floor of the House.
McClintock, who had voted in favor of Rep. Dennis Kucinich’s (D-Ohio) measure this month to immediately remove U.S. forces from Libya, argued that Friday’s defunding measure would have allowed the U.S. military to engage in “refueling bombers on their way to targets; identifying and selecting targets; guiding munitions to their targets; logistical support; operational planning.”
“These are all acts of war in direct support of belligerents at war – and this bill authorizes them,” he said.
After Friday’s roll call came in, it appeared that most liberal Democrats agreed with McClintock and other Republican opponents of the U.S. involvement in Libya that a vote on limiting funding would have amounted to a de-facto authorization of the mission.
Reps. John Larson (D-Conn.) and Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.) – the chairman and vice-chairman of the House Democratic Caucus – voted against the partial defunding measure (as did all other House Democratic leaders), even though Larson and Becerra had both previously joined most Republicans (and all Republican leaders) in voting against the authorization on Friday.
Earlier this month, 121 Democrats voted against immediate withdrawal from Libya. That was more or less on par with the 115 Democrats who voted Friday to authorize the mission.
Things were less clear-cut on the Republican side: Even though 144 House Republicans voted three weeks ago against immediately pulling out of Libya, only seven of those 144 voted Friday to authorize the mission.
They were Republican Reps. Charlie Dent (Pa.), David Dreier (Calif.), Steve King (Iowa), House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter King (New York), Adam Kinzinger (Ill.), David Rivera (Fla.) and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (Mich.). Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.), who was not present during the vote this month, also voted Friday to authorize the mission.
Also worth noting is that those eight Republicans are different from the 10 Republicans who voted this month against the House’s rebuke of President Obama on Libya. Those 10 were Reps. John Campbell (Calif.), Jeff Flake (Ariz.), Louie Gohmert (Texas), Tim Huelskamp (Kansas), Tim Johnson (Ill.), Walter Jones (N.C.), Steve Pearce (N.M.), David Schweikert (Ariz.), Joe Walsh (Ill.) and Allen West (Fla.).
So in short, the House demonstrated three weeks ago that it doesn’t want to immediately withdraw from the Libyan conflict, but it also showed Friday that it doesn’t authorize the mission.
The next test for Congress will probably be a vote next month on another Kucinich amendment calling for a defunding of the entire Libyan mission.
“If what I’m hearing is accurate, I think we can win that amendment for a cutoff of funds in two weeks,” Kucinich said after Friday’s votes.
Still, if the House’s recent track record is anything to go by, nothing is a sure thing when it comes to Libya.
Obama White House.gov
The Obama Diary 
😦
…..see ya later, Chips…. 😀
Have a great weekend, Ms Chips!
President Obama Remarks on Advanced Manufacturing Partnership
President Obama traveled to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh were he launched the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership. This national effort aims to bring together industry, universities, and the federal government to invest in the emerging technologies that will create high quality manufacturing jobs and enhance our global competitiveness.
http://www.c-span.org/Events/President-Obama-Remarks-on-Advanced-Manufacturing-Partnership/10737422478-1/
West Wing Week
http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2011/06/24/west-wing-week-receding-tide
Another great post from PoliticusUSA……
REPUBLICANS WOULD RATHER DESTROY THE ECONOMY THAN RAISE TAXES:
There are basic accounting principles that every family follows to sustain a balance between solvency, extreme debt, and starving to death. When expenses exceed income, sane individuals realize they must either reduce spending or increase revenue to avoid experiencing extreme debt, and eventually bankruptcy. The smartest approach is one where expenses are reduced and income is increased to maintain a standard of living that is neither too extravagant nor too austere, and most Americans use a balanced approach. After ten years of Republican out-of-control spending on two unnecessary wars, an unfunded Medicare prescription program, and unfunded tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, the nation must come to terms with solving a Republican-made deficit that is choking the life out of the country’s fiscal health.
From the start of the 112th Congress, Republicans have opted to cut spending in order to maintain tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations and refused to consider any means of increasing revenue to address the staggering national debt. If any American family followed the Republican fiscal model, they would have suffocating debt, bankruptcy, and end up living on the street. The Republicans in Congress are on pace to bankrupt the country, and in effect, put America’s standing in the same category as most third world countries where 98% of the population live in abject poverty so the wealthy can continue living in opulence. The Republicans have assailed Democrats and the president for suggesting that increasing revenue through tax increases on the wealthy and corporations is part of a balanced approach to solving America’s debt crisis that Republicans caused.
There’s more here – http://www.politicususa.com/en/debt-ceiling-taxes
These jerks are unbelievable, deciding who they want to undermine more, PBO’s efforts to avoid a humanitarian crisis or Ghaddafi’s bloodbath:
Libya: House Rejects Obama Authorizing U.S. Strikes, Threatens to Cut Funding
The House of Representatives this afternoon declined to grant the president the authority to continue supporting the NATO mission in Libya, another sign of rebellion brewing thousands of miles away on Capitol Hill as NATO’s bombing campaign in support of Libyan rebels enters its fourth month.
Frustrated lawmakers from both parties have threatened to cut off funding for U.S. operations there amid concerns about their cost and growing dissatisfaction with the Obama administration’s skirting of the War Powers Resolution.
With wide bipartisan opposition, a vote on a resolution to authorize operations failed today 123-295, with 70 Democrats joining 225 Republicans in opposing authorization. Just eight Republicans and 115 Democrats voted to give the president the authority.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/house-rejects-authorizing-us-libya-threatens-cut-funding/story?id=13923365
Here is the vote roll call:
Authorizing the limited use of the United States Armed Forces in support of the NATO mission in Libya – 123 AYES and 295 NOES
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll493.xml
and
To limit the use of funds appropriated to the Department of Defense for United States Armed Forces in support of North Atlantic Treaty Organization Operation Unified Protector with respect to Libya, unless otherwise specifically authorized by law – 180 AYES and 238 NOES
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll494.xml
Clearly, their own egos and agendas are more important than any lives that might be lost. It’s unforgivable for them to do this when Gaddafi is already close to giving up. What exactly do they stand for, and what do they want America to be seen to be standing for? Makes me sick.
They better not dip their grubby fingers in the pot asking for any of hte money President Obama has raised for the Democratic party – they aren’t Democrats. And they better not ask him or Michelle to say one word on their behalf. Not. one. word.
I did not think a 149 Democrats would vote NO.
It might be worth thinking about what they’re doing if they exhibited any evidence that they have the vaguest idea what the heck they’re doing at any given time. I’m so totally sick of Congress.
I’m glad the vote to defund the efforts in Libya failed but I am disappointed and frankly frustrated at spineless dems who don’t seem to understand, that constitutionally the President did not violate the war powers act and to try to undermine him by taking away his continued authorization on the limited engagements in Libya is prepostrous.
B
y the way C-span is showing the President speaking about manufacturing and the economy At Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh
The Democrats in Congress have been really making me upset for the past two years. They have yet to realize that backstabbing the President is a stupid idea. Two years after POTUS was sworn in, and Democrats in Congress still are fighting him on everything, but seem to be afraid to ACTUALLY fight the real enemy.
Good Afternoon TOD family. Thanks meta for the roll call. I wanted to see where my Rep. voted. I knew he would. However, I woke up to this and immediately got pain, but we will overcome this one also. I am with you on that theo67. I am so sick of the hateful people. These people have no goodness of heart for what is right, but for what is best for their next elections and egos. It is very sad. But we will support the President. We are stronger together than falling apart. Thanks for all of you here. I appreciate you all so much.
HZ – take a look at the wonderful images from South Africa to lift your spirits again. These people will get their just desserts, and they can’t keep the President down. Even if they succeed in chasing him out of the White House, that’s not going to stop him from working for the people of this world, and that’s what’s keeping me going these days. There are many more people in this country and in this world who want him to succeed, and will continue to support him, no matter what the other vile nobodies do to him.
Same for you, too, Fred.
HZ, as Theo67 so aptly said, please take care and let’s focus on the things that bring us some joy and pride. The House Democrats will face their comeuppance soon. This Obamacrat is not going to support anyone who betrayed our President at this crucial juncture in our operations.
I hope you feel better HZ.
good words Theo.
😦 you are still getting pains HZ. Oh no. I really hope you feel better soon. Don’t let the idiots get to you and I hope you do take theo67’s advice. Here’s a wonderful video of how our wonderful First Lady is touching lives….
That was a very nice clip and these tweens are really impressive.
Feel better dear.
I am not surprised by the Republicans and some democRATS like Kucinich but can I guess I’ve come to the conclusion that folks had rather we;the supposed leader of the Free Word have Benghzi turn into Rwanda just to score political points
I tell ya what.Those DemocRATS have opened my eyes even more so than the Tea’s because I know they want him to fail and because of that I will make sure to call myself an Independent as of now!
Benghzi has brown people and the man trying to prevent another Rwanda is President Barack Obama, even if he is a Democrat, you know those fihgters for human rights. Nough said!!!
I know what you mean AT2 but this is still discouraging you know …
It is fraustrating, Fred. We just have to continue to have his back. After PBO, I don’t know if I will continue following politics.
It is very discourging.
Um, gee, it turns out that McKinsey report was a little bit of a stretch.
About That McKinsey Report … The Critics Were Right
McKinsey & Company has finally released the details of its controversial paper on the likely effects of health care reform. And it looks like the paper’s critics (including yours truly) were right to raise questions about it. Based on what the company has said, the paper offers no new reason to think Americans with employer-sponsored insurance will lose that coverage because of the Affordable Care Act.
[snip]
And it turns out the survey had a few weaknesses. For one thing, a quarter of respondents didn’t know the salary breakdowns of their companies—in other words, how many workers were making high salaries and how many were making low salaries. In addition, more than half of respondents weren’t even aware of what their companies spent on health benefits. The survey didn’t ask respondents about the ages of their employees. Were they relatively old? Young? A mix of the two? And when survey administrators “educated” respondents about the health law, they didn’t remind them about the effects of the employer tax exclusion, which makes job-based health insurance worth a lot more to employees.
http://www.tnr.com/blog/jonathan-cohn/90696/healthcare-mckinsey-obama
Chips……………… 😦 not again. Do enjoy your time out and we’re waiting on your return :).
😆 I’m back!!!!!
😀 and I see you’re on the bal!l with the updating already!
http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0611/renaissance_man_55c8bee7-7810-4cd9-abb2-1f68509315ed.html
The president talks jobs and robots!
So, David gregorys favorite governor Christie is on mtp! Barf!
surprised it isn’t McCain 🙄
Bill Maher makes fun of Rick Perry starting at 2:31. Prior to that he makes fun of Batshit and Pig-in-Lipstick @ 1:42
better more precise clip that lasts about 4:52 minutes about Rick Perry can be found:
http://www.hbo.com/real-time-with-bill-maher/episodes/0/212-episode/video/212-may-6-overtime#/real-time-with-bill-maher/episodes/0/217-episode/video/clip-new-rule-no-new-texas.html/eNrjcmbO0CzLTEnNd8xLzKksyUx2zs8rSa0oYc5nLlTPz0mBCQckpqf6JeamsjFyMjKySSeWluQX5CRW2pYUlQLFAFv-Fzg=
Bill Maher making fun of Rick Perry @ 2:28, prior to that he makes fun of Batshit and Pig-In-Lipstick @ 1:42
Better more precise clip of Maher making fun of Perry can be found at
http://www.hbo.com/real-time-with-bill-maher/episodes/0/212-episode/video/212-may-6-overtime#/real-time-with-bill-maher/episodes/0/217-episode/video/clip-new-rule-no-new-texas.html/eNrjcmbO0CzLTEnNd8xLzKksyUx2zs8rSa0oYc5nLlTPz0mBCQckpqf6JeamsjFyMjKySSeWluQX5CRW2pYUlQLFAFv-Fzg=
those zingers at Perry are funny as hell 😆
Newt Gingrich is trying to help “The Blacks” my asking his fellow Republicans to go in those tough neighborhoods and try to talk to them. Obama has failed Black people says Newtser. So he is going to be their savior. Iam smelling Voter suppression. Did Arianna give him that advise?
huh? 🙄 Black people aren’t leaving Obama for any of them, much like the KKK and rich country club folk ain’t leaving him and his ilk for PBO. Is Newt really this dumb?
Thanks soooo much for the video Lisa. I love me some Bill Maher. Those zingers were hilarious and spot on.
West and Smiley should do themselves a favor (not that it would surprise me at this point mind you) and publicly endorse Gingrich and Bachmann for President and be done with it!
I saw Newt telling repubs and black people that President Obama had failed them. That he is a huge disappointment and if there was a choice between choosing food stamps and voting for President Obama, that black people should choose food stamps. He is a vile, racist douchebag. This is the same buffoon who was on Meet The Press and called President Obama the food stamp President. Implying that President Obama ran for office so he could dole out food stamps to lazy black people. I don’t understand what gave him the idea that people on food stamps are only African-Americans or that people on food stamps are lazy greedy individuals. He knows nothing of their life stories or why they have to be on the receiving end of crucial governmental help for survival. Now he wants black peoples help at the voting booth. You know what I say? Fuck you Newt Gingrich. You souless destroyer of dreams.
This is in response to Meta’s links to the House votes on Libya today.
Is Congress confused on Libya?
By Felicia Sonmez
As of Friday, the House has now held four votes on Libya — and at first glance, the message members are sending to the administration seems somewhat muddled.
On June 3, the House voted against immediately removing all U.S. forces from Libya. The same day, it voted to rebuke President Obama on Libya and called on him to report to Congress within two weeks with further details on the objectives of the mission.
Then, this afternoon, the House voted against authorizing U.S. military operations in Libya. But it also rejected a measure that would have limited funding of the mission.
Got all that?
Things in the Senate aren’t much clearer. The upper chamber voted unanimously on March 1 to call for the possible establishment of a no-fly zone over Libya, more than two weeks before Obama authorized U.S. military operations in the country.
But the Senate has yet to pass a further resolution in the 97 days since Obama’s announcement, and a bipartisan resolution authored by Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.) begins working its way through the committee process next week and remains unscheduled for a vote.
All of that would seem to suggest that Congress is at something of a loss when it comes to handling the U.S. military intervention in Libya. The slow-moving Senate has had difficulty agreeing on what type of resolution, if any, should be brought to the floor, while the faster-paced House has voted on a flurry of resolutions that have sent mixed messages at best.
At least one apparent contradiction became resolved during Friday’s floor debate in the House: Most members had rejected the second resolution (on limiting funding of the Libyan operation) not because they support U.S. operations in Libya, but rather because they viewed the measure as a back-door authorization of U.S. participation in the NATO-led mission.
“(The defunding measure) specifically grants to the President what up until now he has completely lacked: Congressional authority to engage in every conceivable belligerent act short of actually pulling the trigger,” Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) said on the floor of the House.
McClintock, who had voted in favor of Rep. Dennis Kucinich’s (D-Ohio) measure this month to immediately remove U.S. forces from Libya, argued that Friday’s defunding measure would have allowed the U.S. military to engage in “refueling bombers on their way to targets; identifying and selecting targets; guiding munitions to their targets; logistical support; operational planning.”
“These are all acts of war in direct support of belligerents at war – and this bill authorizes them,” he said.
After Friday’s roll call came in, it appeared that most liberal Democrats agreed with McClintock and other Republican opponents of the U.S. involvement in Libya that a vote on limiting funding would have amounted to a de-facto authorization of the mission.
Reps. John Larson (D-Conn.) and Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.) – the chairman and vice-chairman of the House Democratic Caucus – voted against the partial defunding measure (as did all other House Democratic leaders), even though Larson and Becerra had both previously joined most Republicans (and all Republican leaders) in voting against the authorization on Friday.
Earlier this month, 121 Democrats voted against immediate withdrawal from Libya. That was more or less on par with the 115 Democrats who voted Friday to authorize the mission.
Things were less clear-cut on the Republican side: Even though 144 House Republicans voted three weeks ago against immediately pulling out of Libya, only seven of those 144 voted Friday to authorize the mission.
They were Republican Reps. Charlie Dent (Pa.), David Dreier (Calif.), Steve King (Iowa), House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter King (New York), Adam Kinzinger (Ill.), David Rivera (Fla.) and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (Mich.). Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.), who was not present during the vote this month, also voted Friday to authorize the mission.
Also worth noting is that those eight Republicans are different from the 10 Republicans who voted this month against the House’s rebuke of President Obama on Libya. Those 10 were Reps. John Campbell (Calif.), Jeff Flake (Ariz.), Louie Gohmert (Texas), Tim Huelskamp (Kansas), Tim Johnson (Ill.), Walter Jones (N.C.), Steve Pearce (N.M.), David Schweikert (Ariz.), Joe Walsh (Ill.) and Allen West (Fla.).
So in short, the House demonstrated three weeks ago that it doesn’t want to immediately withdraw from the Libyan conflict, but it also showed Friday that it doesn’t authorize the mission.
The next test for Congress will probably be a vote next month on another Kucinich amendment calling for a defunding of the entire Libyan mission.
“If what I’m hearing is accurate, I think we can win that amendment for a cutoff of funds in two weeks,” Kucinich said after Friday’s votes.
Still, if the House’s recent track record is anything to go by, nothing is a sure thing when it comes to Libya.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/2chambers/post/is-congress-confused-on-libya/2011/06/24/AGYMRRjH_blog.html?hpid=z1