Murtha wants to shut Gitmo, end signing statements, block permanent bases

[Greeby]

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/notion?bid=15&pid=156916

At a hearing on Iraq today convened by the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Congressman Jack Murtha offered a preview of how he plans to rein in the Bush Administration, from the perch of his chairmanship of the Defense Subcommittee on the House Appropriations Committee.

Murtha announced his intention to use the power of the purse try and close US prisons at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay, eliminate the signing statements President Bush uses to secretly expand executive power and restrict the building of permanent bases in Iraq.

And starting February 17, Murtha will begin holding "extensive hearings" to block an escalation of the war in Iraq and ultimately redeploy US troops out of the conflict. Murtha predicts that a non-binding resolution criticizing Bush's expansion of the war would pass the Congress by a two to one vote. But he believes that only money, not words, will get the President's attention.

When he receives the Bush Administration's $100 billion supplemental spending request for Iraq on February 5, Murtha says "they'll have to justify every cent they want." He'll insist that no money be allocated for an escalation unless the military can meet normal readiness levels. "We should not spend money to send people overseas unless they replenish the strategic reserve," Murtha says. He expects to have one hundred and twenty days to act before the Administration deploys the second phase of additional troops to Iraq. "If he wants to veto the bill," Murtha says of Bush, "he won't have any money."

Asked whether Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi supports his plans, Murtha responded: "Absolutely."

Allies of the President claim that the war effort should not be "micromanaged." But Murtha says that's exactly what is necessary as the US reaches its fourth year in Iraq. "The Defense Department needs to be micromanaged," he says. "They have been out of control."

[Mandate My Ass]

1. Ohh I like the sound of this!

Murtha has been tireless since he turned against this war. I love it.

[woodsprite]

4. I find micromanagement is the quickest way to shut down

productivity. I LIKE IT!!! I can see a definite usefulness for it here. Now, where I work, it's just a plain P.I.T.A.

[blm]

2. GREAT WORK, Congressman Murtha.

Nods to Pelosi for sticking with you.

[fooj]

3. Thank God for Jack!

Whatever he says...I'm behind him 100%!

[Deep13]

5. Law-and-order Democrats hate America.

"war effort should not be 'micromanaged.'"

or managed at all, apparently.

[Benhurst]

6. Way to go, Congressman Murtha! Recommended #1

[pocoloco]

7. Sweet music to my ears!!!

Breathing easier also!!!

[The Stranger]

8. One man with courage makes a majority.

[ananda]

9. OK then, just do it!

I'm tired of talk just talk.

[sinkingfeeling]

10. He's not the only one.

[porphyrian]

11. Who said Democrats can't fight? - n/t

[mmonk]

12. He should be majority leader in these times.

He sure is maximizing his position though.

[Cameron27]

13. I'm going to plan my days off

around those hearings.

Thank you :patriot:

[chill_wind]

14. K&R (nt)

[happydreams]

15. Yessss! Going after the permanent bases!

[Homer Wells]

16. I am DEFINITELY in favor of ending Presidential

Signing Statements. Any totally Extraordinary situation which might possibly come up needs to be dealt with as it comes up.

No President was meant to wield the kind of "above-the-law" power the Weed has been exercising.

I believe that this one thing could slow this clown down very quickly, and should be legislated in immediately.!!!

[lonestarnot]

17. Love that man!

[WiseButAngrySara]

18. Once again. Thank God for MURTHA! ....n/t

[WiseButAngrySara]

19. tee-hee... only money, not words, will get the President's attention! n/t

[Jacobin]

20. excellent start

[texpatriot2004]

21. Thank you Congressman Murth. I would like these things to

happen as well.

[Cha]

22. "MICROMANAGED"??!!

They don't know the meaning of the fucking word.

Micromanaged is what Al Gore would have done as the inaugerated Prez and we wouldn't even have had a fucking 9/11. But, where would bush, cheney, rice, snow, and all the rest of history's tragic figures be without the blood of our citizens on 9 fucking 11?

[MasonJar]

23. Wow! So many great democrats taking the reins in Congress,

responding dynamically with bills & investigations & correspondingly immediate impact for good! DU is alive with good news...Murtha and Webb and etc.

[bvar22]

24. I love to see Murtha working with the Progressive Caucus.

:patriot: