It appears that Pelosi is on a roll.  She’s pushed (and bribed) an unacceptable bill of defeat.  Now, reports have surfaced that she is, currently, refusing to allow a House Resolution (HRes 267)  up for a vote.

The resolution (see above link) condemns Iran for it’s abduction of the British Marines and Sailors.

Today, Iran released another propaganda video, forcing a British Marine to make a statement.  Hot Air (see link) also has a link to the third letter the female sailor (Faye Turney) has, presumably, been forced to write or sign.

Power Line has more information on Pelosi’s refusal of a vote on a resolution regarding the hostages.

BlackFive has an interesting post up. It’s entitled Troop Reaction to the Democrats. I highly recommend you take a look at the post as well as the comments from soldiers and their families. BlackFive is a former paratrooper with loads of links etc in the military. Michael Yon is another excellent site for dispatches from the front lines by a blogger (former military) who actually stays with military units rather than collecting ’stringer’ reports from the green zone.

I know it seems like beating a dead horse but the Democrats can’t seem to get it through their head that the troops believe we will win and do NOT feel supported by the cut-and-run rhetoric. They don’t seem to buy the shoddy “I support the troops but not their mission” line. It makes sense, they overwhelmingly believe in their mission, so they aren’t going to feel supported by people fighting so hard to defeat that mission.

Read the Black Five post, then take action (see The Battle for April 15th for links etc) and keep tabs on Victory Caucus for more information.

First, April 15th is when war funding runs out.

Yesterday’s Senate vote wasn’t much of a surprise and, the more I think about it, works out better for those who want our servicemen/women to get the funding and support they need.  If the amendment would have passed, the conference committee would have put the retreat wording back in and only delayed everything even more.

It’s better the let the Dems get their bill to the President for his immediate veto so that we can get to work on a clean bill without the billions in pet projects (pork) and idiotic timetables.

That being said, public pressure is key.  It is, again, time for us to stand up for those on the field of battle and, unequivocally,  let legislators know that political pandering to special interests and pork spending have no place on a bill that funds our soldiers in combat zones!

The time to act on this is NOW.   Call and email your Senators and Representatives.  Demand that a clean emergency appropriations bill be passed ASAP.

Endorsing Gen. Petraeus (including his plan) and then trying to pull funding to score points with your donors when Gen. Petraeus’ surge is being implemented and appears to be working , is nonsensical.  This behavior must stop.

Note: If the Dems just can’t give up the pork and pandering by April 15th, it may be possible for President Bush to use executive  orders and shift money from other programs/agencies to fund our soldiers.  However, I am NOT 100% positive about this.  Thus, April 15th is a major deadline.

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday endorsed a March 31, 2008, target date for withdrawing American combat troops from Iraq, moving Congress a step closer to a showdown with President George W. Bush over the war.By a vote of 50-48, the Senate defeated an amendment that would have stricken the withdrawal language from a $121.6 billion bill that mostly would fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A final vote on the bill is expected later this week.

I believe the amendment would’ve also stricken the pork from the bill - I’ll have to double check that, though.

Senator Lieberman and Senator Pryor voted for the amendment. While I disagree with him on other subjects, both deserve our thanks (click the links) for giving our soldiers priority over politics. Republican Senators Gordon Smith and Chuck Hagel could learn a lesson from them (both voted for defeat). Since Senator Ben Nelson survived his reelection bid, he also voted for defeat (hey, he got his 6 years). Please note: Senator Enzi (WY) was unable to vote because he was attending to a sick family member.

Click here for the list of votes (see how your Senators did).

Now, don’t get too angry. Even if the Victory Senators had succeeded, while sending a much better message, the bill would’ve gone to the Conference Committee (where the select House and Senate members hash out a compromise on changed bills), the Democrat-dominated committee (they’re in the majority) would have, assuredly, stuck the language back in. The only result would have been a longer delay prior to President Bush’s veto, which would also further delay  getting necessary funding to our military in the combat zone.  Note: funding runs out on April 15th!

This allows the President to issue a veto and have Congress actually get our troops funding without the pork and defeatist barf.

Remember, this is a mirror site.  UtahRattler's main site is at wordpress.com: utahrattler.wordpress.com

Now that the Senate is grappling with it’s own version of the House surrender bill, I thought it would be timely to post a quick reminder to contact you Senators and politely ask them to oppose the defeatist bill and not pull funding from our military:

Click here for the list of Senators (”find you Senators” is also at the top right of the page)

Additionally, consider contacting the following Senators:

Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR) - (202) 224-2353 or click for contact form
Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) - (202) 224-6551 or click for contact form

Do it NOW - they may vote on the measure today.

Remember, this is a mirror site.  UtahRattler's main site is at wordpress.com: utahrattler.wordpress.com

Just prior to the start of Utah’s legislative session, the Deseret News wrote a nasty editorial full of personal attacks and race-baiting remarks.  I commented on it in my Preemptive Race Baiting blog post (includes a link to the original editorial).  In that post I made the following prediction:

Unfortunately, in today’s politics, race baiting and personal attacks happen but I can’t wait until, a few weeks from now, the Deseret News prints the obligatory editorial decrying the personal nature of politics, wishing everyone would hammer out policy in a civil manner.

OK, it did take longer than a few weeks but guess what:

In the past, the Deseret Morning News has had “enhancing civil discourse” as one of its yearly goals. Judging by recent events, we either didn’t do much of a job, or the issue needs to be revisited.

That’s the intro line to the editorial written last Friday (I didn’t bring it up then - had other issues I was more interested in).

Anyway there’s a taste of the local drive-by media for you.

This is likely an unintended consequence of the Democrats’ fishing expedition. I doubt they really wanted this information to get out given their pro-amnesty stance. The information also indicates a good reason why several of the 8 attorneys deserved to be fired.

It is obvious that we need to streamline the visa process and make it easier for people who desire to become citizens to enter the country.  It is also not an unreasonable expectation that immigration law be enforced and identity theft that goes along with illegal immigration be addressed.   Clearly, that is not the case.
Excerpt from FoxNews:

Guidelines issued by U.S. attorneys in Texas showed that most illegal immigrants crossing into the state had to be arrested at least six times before federal authorities would prosecute them, according to an internal Justice Department memo.

The disclosure provides a rare view of how federal authorities attempt to curb illegal immigration. The memo was released this week in response to a congressional investigation of the dismissals of eight U.S. attorneys.

The Border Patrol makes more than 1 million arrests a year on the U.S.-Mexico border. T.J. Bonner, head of a union representing Border Patrol agents, said it’s unrealistic to prosecute all violators.

“Let’s be honest, there isn’t enough jail space to incarcerate everyone who crosses that border,” said Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council. “If everyone demanded hearing in front of an immigration judge, it would bring our system to a grinding halt in a matter of days.”

It is unclear when the memo was written, but the Justice Department reviewed the guidelines sometime after a February 2005 performance review of Carol Lam, the top federal prosecutor in San Diego from 2002 until she was fired last month. Some Republican lawmakers had complained that Lam failed to aggressively prosecute immigration violations.

Excerpt from the Houston Chronicle:

The prosecution guidelines have been a source of frustration for years among the ranks of U.S. Border Patrol agents, said T.J. Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council. Smugglers can figure out the criteria by trial and error, he said, and can exploit it to avoid prosecution.

“It’s devastating on morale,” Bonner said. “Our agents are risking their lives out there, and then they’re told, ‘Sorry, that doesn’t meet the criteria.’ “

The memo was written in response to DOJ inquiries at five U.S. attorney offices, including Houston, about immigration prosecutions. The others — San Antonio, San Diego, Phoenix and Albuquerque — cover the 2,000-mile border.

In a statement, DOJ spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said the agency sent 30 prosecutors to districts along the Southwest border in 2006. The added manpower “will permit districts to adjust their guidelines and take in more cases,” according to the statement.

Remember, this is a mirror site.  UtahRattler's main site is at wordpress.com: utahrattler.wordpress.com

Pelosi was able to bribe enough Democrats to eek out passage (218-212) of her bill of surrender.

So much for the “Blue Dogs” pledge to be specifically responsible and oppose pork (all 14 freshmen Democrats voted for the bill). Maybe “Blue Hogs” would be a better name. Democrats made a rush to the trough in exchange for their votes in support of a bill promoting retreat or defunding our troops while they’re in the field.

Click here for the list of votes. At least Utah’s Rep. Matheson (D) did vote against the bill.

President Bush has vowed to veto the bill and it is unlikely to make it through the Senate. Check Hot Air for the video of President Bush’s response (a must see). A transcript of his remarks is also available at the White House site.

Nevertheless, this bill results in a delay in getting necessary funds (if they are, eventually, approved) to our troops in a combat zone, despite the surge’s successes. Sec Def Robert Gates weighs in:

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Robert Gates called for Congress to pass a bill quickly, or the military would be forced to take severe stopgap measures because of a lack of funding.

Among those measures, Gates said, would be slowing deployment of replacement troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and extending the tours of units already there.

“This kind of disruption to key programs will have a genuinely adverse effect on the readiness of the Army and the quality of life for soldiers and their families,” Gates said. “I urge the Congress to pass the supplemental as soon as possible.”

Some choice quotes from the President’s response (I recommend the full response available at the Hot Air and WH links above):

The purpose of the emergency war spending bill I requested was to provide our troops with vital funding. Instead, Democrats in the House, in an act of political theater, voted to substitute their judgment for that of our military commanders on the ground in Iraq. They set rigid restrictions that will require an army of lawyers to interpret. They set an arbitrary date for withdrawal without regard for conditions on the ground. And they tacked on billions for pet projects that have nothing to do with winning the war on terror. This bill has too much pork, too many conditions and an artificial timetable for withdrawal.

…Today’s action in the House does only one thing: it delays the delivering of vital resources for our troops. A narrow majority has decided to take this course, just as General Petraeus and his troops are carrying out a new strategy to help the Iraqis secure their capital city.

Amid the real challenges in Iraq, we’re beginning to see some signs of progress. Yet, to score political points, the Democratic majority in the House has shown it is willing to undermine the gains our troops are making on the ground.

UPDATE: Human Events has a good piece on the Blue Hogs.  Amanda Carpenter discusses the pork and ‘forgotten’ campaign promises and lists those voting for pork (36 of 43) and against it (7 of 43).

Excerpts from FoxNews:

The British personnel from the frigate HMS Cornwall were “engaged in routine boarding operations of merchant shipping in Iraqi territorial waters,” and had completed their inspection of a merchant ship when they were accosted by Iranian vessels, the ministry said in a statement.

“Two boats, each with a crew of six to eight multinational forces, were searching Iraqi and Iranian boats Friday morning in Ras al-Beesha area in the northern entrance of the Arab Gulf, but big Iranian boats came and took the two boats with their crews to the Iranian waters,” said the [Iraqi] fisherman.

I wonder what was on the boats they were searching…

On the surface, it seems those boats may have been smuggling something Iran was willing to risk an international incident to protect. 

Remember, Britain is withdrawing from its AO in Iraq and Europe has been trying to negotiate with Iran, basically telling us to leave them alone. 

Why put all this in jeopardy?  What was on the boat(s)?  More arms, munitions, bombs, personnel, something more insidious?

HR1591, the Emergency Supplemental Spending Bill that includes funding for the Iraq war, would also require a withdrawal (retreat) by August 2008. Pelosi and Democrats stuck the unacceptable provision into the bill.

No problem, Bush will veto the bill. Well…if he does, troops in Iraq will be left without any funding for ammunition, equipment, etc. In other words, Democrats are happy to ensure our defeat or let our soldiers twist in the wind. Clearly this is designed to be a “catch 22?.

The only way to stop this from harming our troops and their mission is to defeat the bill in its current form and have a ‘clean’ appropriations bill pass. Fortunately, this is reasonably likely (rumor has it that Pelosi is not making headway on this and will allow a clean bill through if it fails). Apparently, her stink bomb malfunctioned.

Anyway, your representative needs to hear from you on this. This bill must be stopped! Contact your Representatives (especially Democrat Reps) and ask them to oppose the current bill:

List of Representatives (there is also a zip code box on the top left of the page to find your Representative).

For those of us in Utah (I recommend everyone contact Matheson):

Jim Matheson
email/contact page (local and DC phone/fax numbers - at bottom of page)

Rob Bishop
email page
main page (local and DC phone/fax on left side)

Chris Cannon
Contact page (email plus local and DC phone/fax numbers)

UPDATE: Bishop and Cannon will oppose the bill. Matheson is “trying to work something out”. Again, it is important that Matheson be contacted and encouraged to oppose this bill.

Remember, this is a mirror site.  UtahRattler's main site is at wordpress.com: utahrattler.wordpress.com

I was able to attend the Gathering of Eagles - Salt Lake City rally. About 40-50 others attended (all were war veterans and former military).

It was great. Three veterans spoke (two vets of several wars including Iraqi Freedom and one was a Vietnam veteran). Here are some highlights:

• The Vietnam vet asked the combat infantry vets what was the greatest cause of casualties. All responded, “complacency”. He likened that to the current PR war stating that the silent majority is too complacent and allowing the leftists get away with their disingenuous rhetoric. It is time to start standing up for the troops and the war effort. Whether it is finally piping up and saying you support the war when anti-war folks at work etc engage you in conversation (rather than just nodding and walking away) or finally countering some of the rhetoric and outrageous statements they make or attending a pro-troop/freedom rally…

• Iraqi war vets noted that while the soldiers moral is high and they understand that the majority do want victory, they are still affected by the anti-war people and feel they are not supported due to the fact that servicemen/women overwhelmingly do support their mission.

• They mentioned that they were involved in community efforts. Schools have been built (noted that girls, in particular, have much more opportunity now), roads constructed/improved, infrastructure (electricity in areas that never had it, sewer lines rather than holes etc) is also being built and improved.  Iraq is a far different place from the one portrayed in the main stream media.  They are very optimistic about Iraq’s future if allowed to complete their mission.  They expressed frustration about the old media entirely ignoring the positive stories and improvements that have been made, feeling that the media tends to pander to the leftist crowd.  The old media folks stay in the ‘green zones’ making only rare, brief visits to FOBs and relying on ’stringers’ to bring reports. They do not feel the old media is producing an accurate picture of Iraq.  [note: every Iraq war vet I’ve talked to has expressed the same frustration; also, several stringers CBS/AP/CNN used were found to have ties to insurgent groups  see here and here, among others].

• Things are tough in the field.  There are long days and little sleep.  Bombs designed to fly a few times (prior to being dropped) are being constantly refurbished in order to maintain their reliability (they are trying to avoid duds, and they do occur).  The same, obviously, applies to other equipment.  Despite the challenges and long hours, they feel the mission is worth it.

• The Vietnam vets feel Jane Fonda’s apology a few years ago, was insincere given her recent actions involving another difficult war. [Vietnam Vets call her “Hanoi Jane”, Iraq Vets are calling her “Jihad Jane”]

I guess that about sums it up.   It is time to stop ‘hiding your light under a bush’ and stand for your convictions, even if it simply means saying “I support the troops and their mission, I believe in victory“.

Moral of the story: Complacency kills.

Here are snippets from the press release:

“Alabama will always welcome those who follow the law when they enter our country, but we will not stand idly by and do nothing about those who don’t,” Governor Riley said. “During the past four years, our state has been a leader in a growing national effort to combat illegal immigration, and those efforts will continue and expand.”

The three bills:

Require adults seeking a government benefit from a state agency to be in the country legally. The verification of legal status includes three steps: producing a secure photo identification, having a sworn affidavit and having the application approved through the SAVE program – Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements. SAVE enables government agencies and licensing bureaus to obtain immigration status information on individuals. Senator Beason and Representative Hammon are the bill’s sponsors.

Require employers to attest that they do not knowingly employ illegal aliens before their companies could qualify for state economic development grants or do business with state agencies. Senator Orr and Representative Hammon are the bill’s sponsors.

Require that government entities issue and renew commercial and professional licenses, permits and similar authorizations only for those lawfully present in the U.S. Senator Orr and Representative Hammon are the bill’s sponsors.

This follows Missouri Governor Blunt’s Executive Order on March 6th.

Meanwhile, Utah remains a welcome state offering up lucrative State contracts and economic development funds to businesses encouraging illegal immigration and enabling identity theft.

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