Lee Holmes--In your post you mentioned that Reid showed hypocrisy by, among other things, "swiping New Orleans levee dough for Vegas Corps of Engineer projects." I'd like to know more about this, like when did it happen--before or after Katrina?

It's all about us, so far as the hawks are concerned. I'm sick and tired of hearing that phrase that goes "it's better we fight the terrorists there than here". Why? Because this great Christian nation has God on our side and no matter what we do it's ok? Bull! We made war on a country that was already suffering from having a violent and insane leader...Saddam. We were told there were WMDs there. We were told that they were part of 911. All lies. Now we've taken down Saddam and finally everyone with a brain knows that our administration was lying to us from the get-do about the WMDs, etc. We've killed thousands of innocent people in Iraq, and our presence has drawn the terrorists there and they've killed other innocents. We've lost over three thousand of our own young people. For what? So we can continue a never-ending war? The Russians almost destroyed their economy and their military fighting year after year in Afghanistan. We're on the road to doing the same. Mr. Reid is not a traitor. He's just telling the truth which is something that has rarely been heard in Washington since the Bush administration took office.

Joe Brignoli is right about one thing: bush and them never intend to leave Iraq. That country has not been liberated, it is being permanently occupied. Huge permanent bases are being built in Iraq, and our reasons for occupying Iraq have nothing to do with the lives or well being of the Iraqi people, or with "fighting terrorism". This is all part of the American Empire, intended to have troops, air bases and naval bases all over the world, forever, in furtherance of our imperial ambition. Or until the Empire collapses unpon itself in bankruptcy. Rome gave up democracy to keep its empire, while Great Britain gave up its empire to keep democracy. Which will it be for America, and which one do you think bush and them want?

Olivia-Before and after,to the tune of nearly 1.6 billion dollars that were seized by lawmakers including Reid for porkbarrel projects back home.Reid took a 79.5 million dollar cut for CoE projects south of Las Vegas and in the Carson City area that were a portion of a stand-alone appropriations bill that was destined for New Orleans levee projects.Other pork included several million to the U of Nevada[Las Vegas] studies of seismic control,bird counting,and highway projects loosely tied to state water recreation in the form of boat ramps,road access,campgrounds and sanitary facilities.In addition,while never proven,Reid may have used federal monies for pet projects tied to real-estate speculation in the Vegas area which were in fact later purchased for private development by Reid campaign contributors including those with ties to the Mafia.[Los Angeles Times;''In Nevada,Reid Is The Name To Know''Archive Keyword:Reid,Harry]Vegas'paper of note,the Journal,is keeping track of further developments in this area.Reid tried to keep the lid on,but a March 2006 article by the AP tied to another release by Citizens Against Government Waste[www.cagw.org] found that Reid,as ranking member of the Senates powerful Water and Energy Appropriations Committee had grabbed over 83 million dollars over a two year period beginning in the summer of 2004 for porkbarrel projects back home,sliding money from underneath CoE levee projects in the New Orleans delta area.While GOP members racked up their share of pork,[New Mexicos Domenici and Mississippis Cochran chief among these],the top moneygrabbers during this critical period immediately before and after Katrina were Reid of Nevada and Byrd of West Va.It is thus hypocritical of Reid to blast the administrations response to that disaster while he played such an important role in seeing that needed money for New Orleans never made it there.['bird counting',indeed....]

I agree with Joe Brignoli that the main reason (of many) that we went into Iraq was to establish a permanent base and that there was never any intention to get out of Iraq even after "winning." This gets far too little scrutiny by the media. But I have to disagree that this plan is "BRILLIANT" or in the best interests of America or Iraq. I also believe that the bases in Guantanamo, Germany, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, etc need to eventually go. We need to bow out of the policeman of the world role which I would think true conservatives would support.

Can you believe that hypothetical sh_t people are trying to lay on Reid in their comments for standing up and saying what the majority of voters want. Some mention him adding pork to the bill. The GOP is the undisputed King of adding pork to a bill for the wealthy, so those who talk about a Dem adding some pork are reaching. Treason - if you're labeling Reid with Treason for wanting to get our people out of Iraq, you better hand this administration a Treason charge for lying their way into Iraq. People who make these types of claims strike me as being awfully paranoid and tremendously shallow thinkers. Let's stop spending the lives of our youths so wastefully and Trillions of Dollars in the middle East and bring both back home where they belong. Put those arrogant asses who so boisterously speak of treason and pork in Iraq since they believe its the right thing to be doing.

Several posters have asked for a workable solution. I think the only possiblity (and it's a slim one) is to partition Iraq into three separate countries: one for Sunnis, one for Shiites, and one for Kurds. All three of these groups carry grudges against one another that go back centuries. They hate each other, and nothing we can do will change that anytime soon. Modern Iraq was put together artificially following British occupation during World War I. The reason for Saddam Hussein was that only someone like that (a dirty, rotten, ruthless, murdering scumbag) could hold such a "country" together. Taking him out created a power vacuum which IMHO only another dirty, rotten, ruthless, murdering scumbag can fill. Better to partition the country and let each of the relatively homogeneous groups figure things out for themselves. Still have the big problem of how to divvy up the oil money. And Turkey (a major US ally in the region) will be royally pissed to have an independent Kurdish state on their border. It ain't gonna be easy...

Im so sick and tired of all these so called "I support the troops but I don't support what they are doing" people and their arm chair general tactics. Most of you dont know anyone in the military much less are affected in your day to day lives by the war. As a 3 tour veteran of Iraq I can tell you that all of the professional soldiers (not disgruntled Nationalguardsmen or Reservist because they are called up) do not appreciate your fair weather support. You constantly criticize our leader to which we take offense but yet you want us to see things as a liberal. This is the reason most in the military are republican. War is what we train for..point blank....not to sit back and play politics. Harry Reid should go to Iraq, see if the soldiers love him so...I think he would be in for a shock because they hear everything that is said.

Im so sick and tired of all these so called "I support the troops but I don't support what they are doing" people and their arm chair general tactics. Most of you dont know anyone in the military much less are affected in your day to day lives by the war. As a 3 tour veteran of Iraq I can tell you that all of the professional soldiers (not disgruntled Nationalguardsmen or Reservist because they are called up) do not appreciate your fair weather support. You constantly criticize our leader to which we take offense but yet you want us to see things as a liberal. This is the reason most in the military are republican. War is what we train for..point blank....not to sit back and play politics. Harry Reid should go to Iraq, see if the soldiers love him so...I think he would be in for a shock because they hear everything that is said.

Bush wants us to stay there as long as it takes. But even his General Patreus has stated there is no military solution in Iraq. So why are we still in Iraq if a diplomatic solution is the only answer? In the meantime, our soldiers continue to die or be maimed for life with no change in the situation whatsoever. Its pure madness, very similar to the madness the U.S. displayed almost 40 yrs ago when Johnson "surged" our troops in the "Tet Offensive". It was the beginning of the death spiral that would engulf our best and brightest, culminating in 58,000 U.S. military killed in action. The reason it went on for so long was because we didn't want our reputation tarnished as the mighty, invincible U.S. military. All the military advisors knew Vietnam was a lost cause but fundamental human pride stood in the way of stopping the madness that consumed so many lives, including 2 million of the enemy. Under different policial circumstances, Bush woulod be facing impeachment proceedings. But the country does not want another round of impeachment after the Clinton saga, although to an independent observer, Clinton's lying about a consensual sexual affair comes no where close to an impeachable offense compared to taking the country to war when it was not necessary to do so.

The War on Terror requires a global swat team to find and liquidate terrorist training camps, and CIA infiltration of terrorists groups to determine their plans and activities. The Iraq War does not fit either. The Iraq War is neo-con nation building (destruction) and Bush's personal vendetta with Sadam. Support the troups: set a time table, get the troups out, let the civil war run it's course, the Bush administration take responsibility for their actions, and create/fund the real War on Terror strike forces.

Why must it be the President and his politics vs the thoughts of the Democrats? Why not think of the Sons and daughters as well as their Familys,We are involved in a position controlled by big Business so let's get our Troops Home where they belong!!!

Reid is doing an excellent job doing exactly what the majority of Americans support. Bush and this war was a big mistake, but he is too proud & stubborn to admit it. Unfortunately, his arrogance is costing young men & woman their lives in Iraq and is accomplishing nothing.

I am truly tired of the White House and the Republicans in Congress use "Our Troops" to try to send the rest of us on guilt trip because we oppose the war. I do not! Repeat, DO NOT want to hear about "Our Troops" from those who sent them to be killed and maimed under false pretenses; from those who sent them to war on the cheap...without the proper equipment and training; from those who brought them back severely wounded and put them in Building 18 and finally, from those who have managed to practicall devastate the United States Army! If this is caring about our troops, these guys must be on drugs!

Hey, since Bush and his 37% of those right wing neocon, war mongers, seem to be the gang that couldn't shoot straight, i.e. Cheney, I will bet you half of those still supporting this invasion, I refuse to call it a WAR because in a WAR we have allies, we only attack those that attack us, this isn't the case with Iraq. They didn't attack us, and we all know the story of how we got over there, not the why's which we will learn years after Bush has left office, someone will finally cave and say that Iraq was planned way back in 98 and Bush and Cheney just needed an excuse to go in, 9-11 provided that. These people could care less about the Soldiers, I'm so sick and tired of these so called "patriots" accusing anyone and everyone who doesn't agree with them that they are "traitors, cut and runners' etc. These people are talking "suits" who think because they are capable to stringing a sentence together, except for their idiot leader, that were all suppose to go along, well, I may be well over 50, but I can tell you this, you cannot put out a fire without water, and in the case of Iraq, we ran out of water long ago! I believe that recent polls show 69% of the AMERICAN PEOPLE, want us out of Iraq, What part of majority doesn't the President understand? Why do people keep saying the Democrats need to come up with a plan to get us out, Bush and Cheney took us in, I believe we need to begin Impeachment proceedings if they are going to continue to ignor their bosses! That's what happens to any of the rest of us, so to BUSH, CHENEY, ROVE, RICE, ET AL "YOUR FIRED! Nothing speaks more of patriotism then trying to avoid our military being killed, as apposed to using them as targets for Bush legacy!!! His legacy will be the biggest failure in history, there aren't enough military lives that will be lost that's going to change that fact! So, if Bush decided to veto the bill, then he's the one cutting off funds to the troops. I'm sure Rove and Cheney are busy down in the basement, burning papers and evidence of their wrong doing and all Bush can do is talk about "chicken plucking plants" what a maroon!

this administration is a farce. this war is all about money and oil. halliburton, bush and cheney are all in it together. they keep trying to label anyone that speaks out against the war as a traitor, when in reality, they should be lauded as patriots. it is our constitutional duty to speak against this kind of subversive government. history will look back on this president and judge him harshly...as well it should. the only "surge" that is showing any progress is the "surge" at the gas pumps. a 33% increase in as many days. impeach bush and cheney NOW!!!

Our Brave American young men & women are dying everyday for nothing. The Dem's do support our troops and want them home safe. End this stupidity now. Harry Reid step it up a notch. Let's protect our Country at home not in Iraq. You can't protect your house if you we're in another city. Tighten up our borders and you'll see a safe America.

Big John-Nonsense.Democrats, according to all independant watchdog sources neither tied to the right or the left[of which I have listed at least two],are the top pork Kings in America,with guys like Reid,Byrd,Inoye,and Conrad leading the pack.Think that Dems do not ''add pork for the wealthy''?Think again.DEL-WEBB is a multi-billion dollar real estate business which has staked out tens,even hundreds of millions in prime Vegas real estate,and this company has been a direct recipient of Reids pork.[indeed,one of his sons used to be a DEL-WEBB legal hired gun]. Reids other son Rory was given a slot in,of all places,Vegas'land development board.Thats how Reid was able to take a purple BALTIC property and turn it into PARK PLACE in less than two years.Obviously none of the above posts are based upon a ''hypothetical''situation.They are facts that are a portion of the public record and domain.Reids Iraq stunts cannot hold water when compared to the Tony Soprano schtick he and his family is pulling in Vegas.

Bush keeps saying "Failure is not an option" in Iraq. The reply to this insane statement from W needs to be ..."but, Gerogie, we've already failed."

this administration is a farce. this war is all about money and oil. halliburton, bush and cheney are all in it together. they keep trying to label anyone that speaks out against the war as a traitor, when in reality, they should be lauded as patriots. it is our constitutional duty to speak against this kind of subversive government. history will look back on this president and judge him harshly...as well it should. the only "surge" that is showing any progress is the "surge" at the gas pumps. a 33% increase in as many days. impeach bush and cheney NOW!!!

If We do lose the war in Iraq I feel our Congress is to blame. You can not have two Partys running one Country and that is what Congress is trying to do.The war on terror has to be a Team of all. Please do not tie My Sons hands over there. Do any of the Congress have Sons or Daughters in Iraq. This a lot of us would like to know.

Senator Reid's comment that the war is lost is the truth. It in no way was intended to disrespect the troops nor was it a slam on the courageous job they are doing every day. What Bush and his spin doctors are trying to convince the American people of is ridiculous and it is time for them to stop. Most everyone in Nevada and elsewhere support our troops not the Bush war. When is our President going to accept what the majority of Americans want?

Comment to Dogface - Just because you have trained to fight doesn't mean we have to be at war!Just because someone says Bush is Commander in Chief doesn't mean you have to believe his lies! Bush is making fools out of not only our country but our fighting forces and you einstein along with others buy into it. No wonder the world thinks were stupid! Stupid!

So let me get this straight... What Harry Reid has done is treason, yet what George W. Bush did, i.e. Lie to get us into a war, is NOT treason? You Right-Wingnuts sure do have an interesting sense of values.

Thankfully Bush/Chaney is in the last throes of their incumbency!

Question is! How do we get this wealth of support for Reaid to the chief moron and Cheney etc:It appears from the last six years they aren't capable of reading / thinking or representing the American people which is why they were hired. These morons work for us as in "We the People"! We must find a way to impeach them or we must do what everyone does not want to do and that is cut off funding for this debacle! PERIOD! Enough of Bush, his afmily, his freinds and all their crap!If Bush wants a legacy he has surpassed the moron in chief of all times - LBJ!

Americans'..... Just to let all of you know. There is a meeting on May 28th in Iraq with the three big oil companies, BP, Chevron and Exxon. I wonder what they'll be talking about? I wonder why we went to Iraq?

Lee Holmes--Thanks for your response. I've lost all my respect for Harry Reid.

Its amazing..we now have posters even claiming to know the secret thoughts of the President.. Joe in Florida..and using these secret thoughts..which are contrary to what he is actually saying.. he supports Bush! Some want to impeach Reed. Interesting since these same folks dont want to hold Bush accountable for the disaster he created. If finding WMDs and destroying them was the reason for the war then we have lost since there are none there. If denying a safe haven for Al Quida was the reason then we have lost. Al Quida was never there. If building a democracy in the Middle East was the goal..we lose again. If destroying the American military, ruining our name around the globe, killing thousands needlessly and tying us up in a no win situation was the goal, then I guess whoever's goal that was has won! ( Osama are you reading this?) You Bush lovers are absolute hypocrites if you dare tell me or anyone else on this board that if Clinton had done exactly the same thing you would not be calling for his impeachment and trial and worse! I cant deal with the hypocricy of all these Bush bots! These people are ruining America and you just dont want to admit you are wrong and the entire war was and is wrong...And now Bush is not going to withdraw primarily because he wants to hand off another of his many failures to someone else who will then take the blame when the entire situation collapses. We always hope that who ever is President will bring out the best in the US people.. Bush has clearly brought out the worst!

What do you call people who lie and spin information to start a war? What do you call people who out cia agents working for the security of the U.S.A. for political reasons? I CALL THAT TREASON!

Matt from Texas--FINALLY someone who offers a possible solution. I believe Sen Hagel is one who thinks along those lines--dividing Iraq into three manageable areas. As for the long posts by Lee Holmes and Joe Brignoli--interesting stuff and it appears to be factual. (Although how will anyone know, w/o a lot of digging into past history?) But all the rhetoric does not solve the problem facing the US at THIS time, unless you are correct in saying that the Admin had no plan to EVER leave the ME. If that is so, well, we do have a long way to go to match the deaths in Vietnam and the other wars. Which once again brings up the thought of reinstating the draft. Because, will the US be able to get enough volunteers to match the deaths in Vietnam? Perhaps so. When a GI is interviewed on the battle field, he always says he believes in what he is doing. Those who are wounded want to return. (A post from a GI on this board said much the same.) The families of those who died, say they are proud of their GIs, that they died doing what they thought was right. So, back from history, please Holmes and Brignoli, and to the present: If you are correct that the US will be in the ME for a long time, HOW do we accomplish that and still retain US dignity and HOW does the US repair its damaged image in the world community? There has to be something more concrete that "stay the course" or "bring the troops home".

I believe it's time to bring the troops home. We have already spent over half a trillion dollars and the amount is rising daily . McCain said a U.S. pullout would cause "genocide." Excuse me, but what about the estimated 600,000 Iraq civilians that have already died because of this war? Cheyney and Bush should be impeached, they did not bring democracy to Iraq as they promised. They're

Come 1.20.2009, let's deport Bush, Cheney, and their regime to Iraq. Better still, let's demand that they go to the front lines now and handle this war up close and personal. They wanted this war, they got their way, and they said "mission accomplished" on 5.1.2003. Gee, that's almost four years ago, isn't it?. Didn't we acconplish our mission in two world wars (against major powers) in less time? Perhaps they would be happier in Iraq, dressed in military garb for their photo ops. Just think how many of us would feel so much better and safer if they were there.

I believe it's time to bring the troops home. We have already spent over half a trillion dollars and the amount is rising daily . McCain said a U.S. pullout would cause "genocide." Excuse me, but what about the estimated 600,000 Iraq civilians that have already died because of this war? Cheyney and Bush should be impeached, they did not bring democracy to Iraq as they promised. They're

To Dogface Soldier, Ft. Benning: I don't care if you and the other soldiers don't appreciate our "fair weather support." Your job, as a soldier, is to follow the orders set down by the commander and accomplish a mission. It's not your fault (or mine) that the Commander in Chief and his staff have put the military into a no-win situation where the military objectives have already been achieved and it's difficult to identifiy who the enemy is. If what we're doing in Iraq is so central to the overall war on terror, who is the enemy in Iraq that we're fighting? The Sunni insurgents? The Shia insurgents? Al Quaeda? You see, we can support the troops and have complete disdain for what they're being used for. The U.S. Military is not trained to act as babysitter, or referee in the midst of a civil war among three or four entities as each struggles to assume a position of power and influence. I don't think any of the players in the Iraq civil war even view the United States of America as their enemy. We're just in the way and getting our soldiers killed because of it.

I'm really trying to understand where the Ultra-Right Wingnuts are coming from... trying to understand the mindset. This is what I have so far-- Grounds for Impeachment: 1) Getting a BJ and lying about it. (Clinton) 2) Claiming we have lost a war. (Reid--Yes, someone above ACTUALLY suggested we should impeach the leader of the senate. SEE CIVICS 101 to reference the stupidity of this assertion.) Grounds for Praise, and a 2nd Term: 1) Keeping hundreds of thousands of Americans in the middle of a thousand year ethnic conflict that now has erupted into a civil war in the hopes that we can secure reconstruction projects for Administration friendly contractors, and build US bases to ensure energy resources. Or, if those words are too big--"fight them there so we don't have to fight them here." (Bush) 2) Drain US financial resources into military spending and create a mound of debt that threatens the economic security of our children and grandchildren. (Bush, Reagan) OK... I get it now. If you do something that benefits yourself, you should be IMPEACHED. But if you do something that benefits yourself, and screws a bunch of other people in the process, you should be PRAISED.

Bob said Reid is just trying to get a democrat in the White House? BOB THERE WILL BE A DEMOCRAT IN THE WHITE HOUSE IN 2009. COME OUT OF YOUR DREAM WORLD THAT SAYS THE REPUBLICS HAVE A CHANCE IN HELL. Martial Law is the only way the criminal right wing can keep control of America.

Harold you said we can't have two parties running one country. Where did you learn about democracy. what country have you been living in. Its apparent you think only the republics should be the only politicians running America? Thats a facist oligarchy!

Harold- If you don't want your son's hands tied over there, then encourage the president not to veto funds for the troops. I'll repeat that... encourage the president not to veto funds for the troops. If the president signs the bill, you will also see your son back home sooner. Yes, many congressmen and women have sons and daughters in Iraq--Jim Webb ran on the issue.

I applaud Senator Reid for telling the truth, and standing up to the Whitehouse bully. American credibiltity is at an all-time low, but rather than acknowledge this "war" is a failure that has cost the lives of more than three thousand troops, the right side of the aisle would rather perpetuate the lie rather than face the truth. Since day one of this war, all we've seen fromt he right side of the aisle is the impugning of the people's patriotism who question their policies. The right has yet to address the fact that not one single pre-war assertion that was cited by the Bush administration as justification for this war has turned out to be credible. Instead, all we hear from the war are shifting rationale and justifications for a war that they themselves refuse to fight. This war has been given every pseudo and ludacris justification that the right can muster. Ironically, not a single one of those "justifications" have sent the right to recruiting offices in droves.

Reid and Pelosi are handing Iraq over to Al Qaeda and Al Qaeda is making plans as we speak to use Iraq's oil wealth to further its terrrorist agenda. They see they have the West on the run. Nuclear confrontation with the West and a radicalized Muslim world is inevitable. If Reid and Pelosi were in charge at the beginning of WW2 the world would be a much different place and it will be under their "leadership". The lessons of history have fallen on deaf ears and cowardice from our leaders will not make this country safer but will bring about a nuclear Armageddon which is Al Qaeda's agenda. History will remember this action as the beginning of the fall of Western Civilization.

that's the whole point Harold, we need to get your sons and daughters out of Iraq because not only don't Congress have children there, the Executive Branch most certainly don't. You must be blind to all that's happening around you to make such a statement. WAKE UP !!!!

Reid and Pelosi are handing Iraq over to Al Qaeda and Al Qaeda is making plans as we speak to use Iraq's oil wealth to further its terrrorist agenda. They see they have the West on the run. Nuclear confrontation with the West and a radicalized Muslim world is inevitable. If Reid and Pelosi were in charge at the beginning of WW2 the world would be a much different place and it will be under their "leadership". The lessons of history have fallen on deaf ears and cowardice from our leaders will not make this country safer but will bring about a nuclear Armageddon which is Al Qaeda's agenda. History will remember this action as the beginning of the fall of Western Civilization.

I hope were finally watching the self destruction of the right wing of the GOP. They want your sons and daughters to fight these wars while they get rich of off defense contracts, while at the same time cutting funds for education, health care, etc. We are sending billions to Iraq while this country's working class are struggling to just get by. This whole administration should have been impeached when they sold the American people this bunch of lies to get us into Iraq!

"And it's 1-2-3 What Are We Fightin' For?" Country Joe and The Fish during that other misguided disaster called Vietnam

Lew Dear, (from Vancouver, WA) the Iraqi oil fields are not ours to give up! They belong to the Iraqi's. Now clearly that is one of the reasons Bush took us to war but, they are still not ours to give up!

if you still support bush then you are either an idiot or you profit from the war or both. he is a criminal and needs to be brought to justice. impeachment is WAY too good for him and would be a waste of time. indictment and imprisonment would be more appropriate. and please, mr obama, don't pardon him.

To all the WAR supporters, I said "WAR" not Troops. Do you have children, family, friend fighting in the war(s)? Would you go since you feel so strongly? Would you send those children, family and/or friends, if you feel, we (The United Staes and the Bush Policy) is so right? I have fought, Vietnam, 58,000+ died and what was the end result? Should we go down that road again to save face? There are no simple answers except if we continue this course, we will surely mimic Vietnam's numbers.

thank you for allowing me the forum. I am sadden by losing fellow Americans, Soldiers and decent folks trying to to do the right thing but are being chewed up by a failed policy.

I support funding to be allocated for our troops withdrawal not to continue to do this meaningless war. American people voted for this and President Bush is either blind or he is afraid to face this reality.

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