quote:

Republicans were almost completely unified in their fight against the bill, which they said was tantamount to admitting failure in Iraq.

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Democrats still face long odds of ultimately being able to force a troop withdrawal. In the Senate, Democratic leaders will need 60 votes to prevail — a tall order because they will need about a dozen Republicans to join them. And should lawmakers send Bush a compromise House-Senate measure, both chambers would need two-thirds majorities to override him — margins that neither seems likely to be able to muster.

quote:

WASHINGTON - The U.S. House began debating a bill to pay for the Iraq war Thursday, but behind the scenes negotiations had as much to do with spinach, peanuts and tropical fish as the unpopular war.
Democratic leaders who are having trouble rounding up enough votes to pass the $124-billion emergency spending bill have resorted to a time-honored tradition: offering up goodies in exchange for a vote.
That includes $25-million for spinach growers, $74-million for peanut storage and $5-million for tropical fish.
Ranchers and farmers in Colorado would benefit from billions of dollars for drought recovery in Republican Marilyn Musgrave's district. Spinach farmers would benefit from millions meant to offset losses from last year's contamination outbreak in California Democratic Rep. Sam Farr's district. Hurricane victims would benefit from billions of aid in Louisiana Republican Rep. Bobby Jindal's district.
Rep. Charles Boustany Jr., another Louisiana Republican, spent more than a year trying to get money to prevent saltwater from damaging rice fields in his district. Fifteen million dollars - twice as much as he wanted - showed up in the Iraq spending bill.
Source: http://www.sptimes.com/2007/03/23/Worldandnation/Iraq_vote_brings_back.shtml

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ORIGINAL: Mercnbeth

But how did it pass?

Congratulations to the Democratic leadership for again providing an example that there is no difference in the parties. The bill passed because as a result of many politicians coming to feed at the buffet serving their favorite food - PORK.

You'll see from the article that both sides of the aisle were bribed. But will that change anyone's perspective? Of course not. The tropical fish vote along with the spinach and peanut vote will put money in the pockets of the campaign from the representative from those districts. It doesn't take much bribe money to a district to get those heads bobbing.

I haven't read the entire bill in its final form, but I'll let you know where this year's "bridge to nowhere" is being built so you can plan your summer vacations around a visit to seeing your tax dollars at work.

Congress can end the war today if they wanted to stand behind there expressed belief;  but that would require integrity. As many of the Democratic representatives wanted, why not make the timing tomorrow? Put that to a vote and be respected. They say they are acting on behave of the will of the people. Do any of the people agree in deferring? Wouldn't we all be happier to get a result today? Wouldn't we all like to have people we voted for act with integrity? Why should they have integrity when we don't demand it and keep sending the same people back to represent us, because our spinach growing and tropical fish are being taken care of by the "nanny state".

The timing is great - August 2008. A nice deferral for more wasted USA blood. Insurance of deferring the final decision to the peak of the political voting season. And a nice date for the enemies of our troops to add to their 2008 calendars. They now know the date for surrender and can get a discount in production by ordering their 2008 calenders early, and plan for their celebrations.  

This article was published prior to the final vote. Check the details and see how this "success" came about:

quote:

WASHINGTON - The U.S. House began debating a bill to pay for the Iraq war Thursday, but behind the scenes negotiations had as much to do with spinach, peanuts and tropical fish as the unpopular war.
Democratic leaders who are having trouble rounding up enough votes to pass the $124-billion emergency spending bill have resorted to a time-honored tradition: offering up goodies in exchange for a vote.
That includes $25-million for spinach growers, $74-million for peanut storage and $5-million for tropical fish.
Ranchers and farmers in Colorado would benefit from billions of dollars for drought recovery in Republican Marilyn Musgrave's district. Spinach farmers would benefit from millions meant to offset losses from last year's contamination outbreak in California Democratic Rep. Sam Farr's district. Hurricane victims would benefit from billions of aid in Louisiana Republican Rep. Bobby Jindal's district.
Rep. Charles Boustany Jr., another Louisiana Republican, spent more than a year trying to get money to prevent saltwater from damaging rice fields in his district. Fifteen million dollars - twice as much as he wanted - showed up in the Iraq spending bill.
Source: http://www.sptimes.com/2007/03/23/Worldandnation/Iraq_vote_brings_back.shtml

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ORIGINAL: puella

There is 'pork' in every bill.  It does not negate the good and important that is the main thrust.