Daily Gusto: 'I Actually Voted for the $87 Billion Before I Voted Against It'

May 10, 2004

'I Actually Voted for the $87 Billion Before I Voted Against It'

Imagine you're a Senator during wartime. The military has requested $87 billion of further funding for their missions overseas. Strangely, your president hasn't asked financial sacrifice of his citizens to fund the wars -- he's continuously pushed for almost a trillion dollars in tax cuts, despite growing national deficits and debts.

This is the dilemma that faced John Kerry. He made the choice to fully fund the military's request, but in a fiscally responsible way. He co-sponsored an amendment to the $87 billion bill, which funded the military by rolling back an equal amount from Bush's tax give-aways for the wealthiest Americans.

Kerry voted for the responsible version of the bill. But his amendment was defeated by a vote of 57 - 42, because a majority of lawmakers thought taking on more debt was a better choice for the nation than rolling back tax cuts for the wealthy. Kerry protested this fiscal irresponsibility by voting no on the other version of the bill, which is now law and is being funded by the federal government borrowing more money.

This is the source of Kerry's quote that "I actually voted for the $87 billion before I voted against it." I bring all this up because I keep hearing Republican friends site it as an example of Kerry's "flip-flopping." Bush still sites it on the campaign trail as an example of Kerry's double-speak. I guess when you understand the world through soundbites, and not through the actual complex legislative choices Senators have to make, it makes sense to talk about Kerry "flip-flopping."

What would you have done in his circumstance? Kerry knew the $87 billion would pass easily. As a Senator who's made fiscal responsibility one of his core beliefs, should he have gone quietly? Although I have problems with Kerry, I respect his standing up for what's right. Trying to balance the budget, trying to take care of government finances while taking care of the troops, and needling your colleagues to say they're making the wrong choice are all things I can respect. Bush's exploiting one line of a speech out of context and without explanation is just politics as usual.

Posted by harry at May 10, 2004 06:10 PM | TrackBack

Comments

Exactly. Why can't our inept press understand this simple message. It's not IF the appropriations would pass, but HOW. Not only that, but Bush's position on the $87 billion appropriations was just like Kerry's. Bush supported one of the bills and opposed the other. He threatened to veto it if it passed.
The Bush Administration is spending billions to mislead the public. And our news organizations are just letting it happen. Even when they do report on it, it's in an "Opinion" piece. Thank God for the internet.
Message to America's Press: Please, for the integrity of America's press and the love of America, do the research and hard work it takes to REPORT THE FACTS.

Posted by: Brian Nelson at May 27, 2004 01:46 PM

ANd none of Kerry's ads mislead the public?

Like the one where they cut of Bush's "British intelligence has some reports that..." and just used what followed, making it sould that Bush was much more certain in something that turned out to be false.

And Michael Moore is the genius at doing things like this.

Welcome to the real world. It's politics. THings like this is how all of those people make their money.

If you don't like it, vote for a 3rd party candidate.

Posted by: Vadim Elenev at June 30, 2004 01:33 PM

Why can't our inept press understand this simple message.

Interesting question, considering the "inept press" is the mouthpiece for the DNC. Terry McNugget should spend that $18 million he scored off Global Crossing to buy himself some better media.

Posted by: Rob Schellinger at July 4, 2004 11:11 PM

The problem with people thinking that the press is the mouthpiece of the DNC is that these people have been watching too much Foxnews. They sit there watching that absurdity and then they think everything else they see must be "liberal" news. The truth is that Foxnews is so far to the right that those that watch it can't even see the middle anymore.

Posted by: NSBKILLER at August 9, 2004 01:31 PM

Doyle McManus (LA Times): "If that amendment does not pass, will you then vote against the $87 billion?" Kerry: "I don't think any United States senator is going to abandon our troops and recklessly leave Iraq to – to whatever follows as a result of simply cutting and running. That's irresponsible." (CBS's "Face the Nation," 9/14/03)

Posted by: Phil Cinefro at August 11, 2004 03:33 PM

KERRY: "Oh, I think we clearly have to keep the pressure on terrorism globally. This doesn't end with Afghanistan by any imagination. And I think the president has made that clear. I think we have made that clear. Terrorism is a global menace. It's a scourge. And it is absolutely vital that we continue, for instance, Saddam Hussein." (CNN's "Larry King Live," 12/14/01)

Posted by: Phil Cinefro at August 11, 2004 03:36 PM

SEN. JOHN KERRY: "I said at the time I would have preferred if we had given diplomacy a greater opportunity, but I think it was the right decision to disarm Saddam Hussein, and when the President made the decision, I supported him, and I support the fact that we did disarm him." (ABC News, Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Columbia, SC, 5/3/03)

Posted by: Phil Cinefro at August 11, 2004 03:38 PM

June 2003: Kerry Said "It Would Be Irresponsible" To Suggest President Misled On WMD. ABC'S GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: "I know you said you're agnostic about whether or not he misled the public on weapons of mass destruction. But do you have a hunch on whether you think they hyped the intelligence?" SEN. JOHN KERRY: "George, again, I think it would be irresponsible of me at this point to draw conclusions prior to all the evidence being on the table." (ABC's "This Week," 6/15/03)

June 2003: Three Days Later, Kerry Said President Bush Misled On WMD. "Kerry said Wednesday that President Bush broke his promise to build an international coalition against Iraq's Saddam Hussein and then waged a war based on questionable intelligence. 'He misled every one of us,' Kerry said." (Ron Fournier, "Kerry Says Bush Misled Americans On War," The Associated Press, 6/18/03)

Posted by: Phil Cinefro at August 11, 2004 03:39 PM

FOX'S TONY SNOW: "Senator Kerry, should it be official U.S. policy that we want to see Saddam Hussein removed from power, not necessarily assassinated, but removed from power?" SEN. JOHN KERRY: "I believe yes. I believe I've been arguing for that for some time within the Intelligence committee and elsewhere." (Fox News' "Fox News Sunday," 11/15/98)

Posted by: Phil Cinefro at August 11, 2004 03:42 PM

"We must recognize that there is no indication that Saddam Hussein has any intention of relenting. So we have an obligation of enormous consequence, an obligation to guarantee that Saddam Hussein cannot ignore the United Nations. He cannot be permitted to go unobserved and unimpeded toward his horrific objective of amassing a stockpile of weapons of mass destruction. This is not a matter about which there should be any debate whatsoever in the Security Council, or, certainly, in this Nation. If he remains obdurate, I believe that the United Nations must take, and should authorize immediately, whatever steps are necessary to force him to relent--and that the United States should support and participate in those steps." (Sen. John Kerry, Congressional Record, 11/9/97, p. S12255)

Posted by: Phil Cinefro at August 11, 2004 03:45 PM

"As the world's only current superpower, we have the enormous responsibility not to exhibit arrogance, not to take any unwitting or unnecessary risks, and not to employ armed force casually. But at the same time it is our responsibility not to shy away from those confrontations that really matter in the long run. And this matters in the long run. While our actions should be thoughtfully and carefully determined and structured, while we should always seek to use peaceful and diplomatic means to resolve serious problems before resorting to force, and while we should always seek to take significant international actions on a multilateral rather than a unilateral basis whenever that is possible, if in the final analysis we face what we truly believe to be a grave threat to the well-being of our Nation or the entire world and it cannot be removed peacefully, we must have the courage to do what we believe is right and wise. I believe this is such a situation, Mr. President. It is a time for resolve." (Sen. John Kerry, Congressional Record, 11/9/97, p. S12256)

Posted by: Phil Cinefro at August 11, 2004 03:46 PM

I have found the best site to:

order Viagra
order Levitra
order Cialis

Posted by: cheap Viagra at August 14, 2004 11:04 PM

6938 check out the hot blackjack at http://www.blackjack-p.com here you can play blackjack online all you want! So everyone ~SMURKLE~

Posted by: blackjack at August 23, 2004 08:30 PM

8017 Herie http://blaja.web-cialis.com is online for all your black jack needs. We also have your blackjack needs met as well ;-)

Posted by: blackjack at August 25, 2004 12:46 AM

6507 check out http://texhold.levitra-i.com for texas hold em online action boodrow

Posted by: online texas hold em at August 26, 2004 04:33 AM

1322 Look at http://oncas.tramadol-web.com/

its the hizzy for online casino action any where!

Posted by: online casino at August 27, 2004 06:56 PM

795 Hey man get it at http://www.onlinecasino-dot.com thats good s2hx. So play at this online casino and win big.

Posted by: online casino at August 30, 2004 05:38 PM

4173 http://www.e-free-credit-reports.com cool eh?

Posted by: credit reports at August 31, 2004 03:42 PM

5350 here is the Tramadol http://www.rxpainrelief.net/tramadol.html Ultram

Posted by: Tramadol at September 1, 2004 09:57 AM

6145 online casinos can be
played here at http://online-casinos.freeservers.com

Posted by: online casinos at September 1, 2004 12:01 PM

1844 hey ganny video poker great job

Posted by: video poker at September 1, 2004 05:51 PM

7106 Did you know payday loans is the?

Posted by: pay day loans at September 2, 2004 06:25 AM

3619 Ever wanted tobuy viagra online ?

Posted by: buy viagra at September 2, 2004 12:26 PM

3640 Learn all about the best texas holdem here

Posted by: texas holdem at September 2, 2004 10:02 PM

2409 Learn all about the best merchant account here

Posted by: adult merchant account at September 3, 2004 07:30 PM

266 High risk credit card processing is fr

Posted by: credit card processing at September 4, 2004 10:01 AM

1691 High risk online pokerwww.poker-w.com

Posted by: online poker at September 4, 2004 07:52 PM

8003 Try new online poker www.onlinepoker-i.com

Posted by: online poker at September 5, 2004 01:32 AM

7481 Thanks so much for all the help to buy ink cartridges

Posted by: inkjet cartridges at September 6, 2004 01:37 AM

8325 http://www.fioricet-dot.com fioricet

Posted by: fioricet at September 6, 2004 08:00 AM

3207 check out the tramadol online

Posted by: buy tramadol at September 6, 2004 06:14 PM

8831 visit http://www.cialis-dot.com for Cialis online.

Posted by: cialis at September 7, 2004 03:21 AM

4475 http://www.slots-w.com click here to play Slots online

Posted by: slots at September 7, 2004 02:20 PM

1974 High riskmerchant account thanks

Posted by: merchant account at September 8, 2004 02:55 AM

5943 http://www.video-poker-w.com play video poker online.

Posted by: Play Video Poker at September 8, 2004 11:57 AM

3071 get high riskinternet merchant accounts account

Posted by: internet merchant account at September 9, 2004 01:22 AM

7766 http://www.briana-banks-dot.com for Briana Banks movies. or if you would rather diecast here.

Posted by: Briana Banks at September 9, 2004 08:40 PM

2362 really nicely done. i hope all works well in timefree credit report

Posted by: free credit report at September 10, 2004 12:34 AM

4007 http://online-poker.order.gb.com heres is the place to play online poker for real dough.

Posted by: online poker at September 10, 2004 08:54 PM

3460 http://online-casino-w.netfirms.com check out this online casino for some action.

Posted by: online casino at September 12, 2004 04:08 AM

8750 play texas hold em online for real money. http://onpak.tramadol-web.com

Posted by: Texas hold em at September 12, 2004 11:53 PM

1584 http://www.texas-hold-em-w.com online card room for texas hold em for your pleasure.

Posted by: texas hold em at September 13, 2004 12:08 PM

8794 Very interesting poiuntsmerchant account for your pleasure.

Posted by: merchant account at September 14, 2004 05:10 PM

Enjoy your life with online poker .

Posted by: online poker at September 15, 2004 12:43 AM

3001 http://cialis.levitra-i.com good site to buy Cialis online.

Posted by: cialis at September 16, 2004 01:01 AM

8020 http://viagra.web-cialis.com visit us to buy Viagra online.

Posted by: Buy Viagra online at September 16, 2004 09:27 PM

8646 http://texas-holdem.order.gb.com play for real money at texas holdem for gaming action.

Posted by: texas holdem at September 17, 2004 11:19 AM

4863 Z - thanks for teh wonderful iunsightcredit repair

Posted by: credit repair at September 18, 2004 10:04 PM

1548 http://www.roulette-w.com click here to play roulette online.

Posted by: play Roulette at September 21, 2004 01:37 AM

Whether you have a rigid online poker strategy in mind before you hit the table or whether you play it.

Posted by: online poker at September 21, 2004 05:20 PM

Enjoy your life with internet poker online poker with empire poker.

Posted by: online poker at September 27, 2004 11:00 AM

2577 http://www.online-poker-big.com check out this online poker site!

Posted by: online poker at September 28, 2004 12:30 AM

HI slots also check online slots also check play slots online also check

Posted by: online slots at September 28, 2004 06:20 AM

Hi there roulette
slots also check
craps and
baccarat and
video poker getting tired
blackjack gretas

online roulette good buy
online slots now
online craps back from
online baccarat visitation
online video poker nowadays
online blackjack gigabyre

play roulette online best
play slots online luxury
play craps online polica
play baccarat online joke
play video poker online laos
play blackjack online stop now.

Posted by: online roulette at September 28, 2004 08:34 PM

Now craps and online craps and play craps online .

Posted by: online craps at September 28, 2004 08:49 PM

668 http://www.casino-games-i.com click fro casino games online.

Posted by: casino games at September 29, 2004 05:20 PM

3940 http://www.texas-holdem-now.com play texas holdem here!

Posted by: texas holdem at September 30, 2004 12:02 AM

Posted by: online pharmacy at September 30, 2004 06:57 AM

Hi there roulette
slots also check
craps and
baccarat and
video poker getting tired
blackjack gretas

online roulette good buy
online slots now
online craps back from
online baccarat visitation
online video poker nowadays
online blackjack gigabyre

play roulette online best
play slots online luxury
play craps online polica
play baccarat online joke
play video poker online laos
play blackjack online stop now.

Posted by: online roulette at September 30, 2004 10:14 AM

3864 http://www.casino-online-i.com the best online casinos on the web.

Posted by: online casinos at September 30, 2004 02:19 PM

enjoy your life with online blackjack

Posted by: online blackjack at September 30, 2004 05:08 PM

Free Poker Rooms is your one stop
source for the hottest Online Poker
Games that offer free cash or an incredible first-time deposit bonus. All of
these sites offer excellent customer support, a variety of games, and thousands
of real players . Free Poker Rooms
offers the best Online Poker Rooms
and Free Poker Tournaments on the
net with a variety of tables and limits for poker players at every skill level .

Posted by: free online poker rooms at October 1, 2004 07:47 AM

Tens of thousands of players play online poker daily on
Online Poker Free, and there are
many good reasons why! Here are the largest
Online Poker Rooms in the world
and we offer a variety of Free Online
Poker Games and Tournaments, including Texas Holdem, Seven Card Stud and
Omaha high/low .With thousands of players
Online Poker Free provides the
best in live, multi-player online poker, offering a wide variety of
free online poker games and
daily, weekly, and monthly free poker
tournaments with generous cash prizes. Guaranteed security and fairness !

Posted by: online poker free at October 1, 2004 05:50 PM

1406 http://www.play-poker-i.com

Posted by: Play Poker at October 1, 2004 10:30 PM

Welcome to our Online Blackjack guide. At
this site you will find information about
Blackjack and the best Online Blackjack
Casinos to play Blackjack on the
Internet. The rules for Online Blackjack, the
history of the games, Blackjack basic
strategy and more. The best free bonus promotions from safe casinos,
Online Blackjack Casino reviews and links to
other games like video poker, baccarat, roulette, craps and more.Join one of our
internet casinos for playing Online Blackjack
and take advantage of the best Online Blackjack
Casino bonuses. Play Blackjack and Enjoy
it !

Posted by: play online blackjack at October 2, 2004 03:28 PM

Welcome to X-Craps where you can find
everything you need for playing Online Craps
. Here is the newest and the most attracting
Online Craps Casinos information. We hope this site will assist you with information, links
and other resources that will help you learn the rules, strategies and
mathematics you need to enjoy and profit from the game of
Craps. For you open-minded souls, make sure
you check out all the information we provide at this website and learn how to
make Craps a positive expectation game!

Posted by: online craps at October 2, 2004 03:28 PM

Ultram Generic Fioricet most likely reduces heart attack risk by irreversibly blocking the enzyme COX-1 online fioricet, thereby impairing the ability fioricet of platelets in the blood to form clots, Dr. Tobias Kurth of Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, and others explain in the American Heart Association's journal, fioricet Circulation. NSAIDs buy fioricet also lock on to COX-1, but the effect is reversible. Cheap Generic Fioricet or visit this site: http://www.top-fioricet.com

Posted by: fioricet at October 3, 2004 05:27 AM

8382 http://blackjack-w.netfirms.com blackjack can now be played online!

Posted by: play blackjack at October 3, 2004 10:09 AM

4815 Very well said http://e-debt-consolidation.netfirms.com

Posted by: http://www.e-debt-consolidation.netfirms.com at October 3, 2004 09:09 PM

1254 http://craps-w.netfirms.com check craps online here.

Posted by: Craps at October 3, 2004 11:00 PM

Texas Hold ?em online poker is not an easy game to play well. To become an
online poker game expert you must balance many concepts, some of which occasionally contradict each other. In 1988, the first edition appeared. Many ideas, which were only known to a small, select group of
online poker rooms players, were made available to anyone who was striving to become
play online
poker an expert, and the hold ?em explosion had begun. http://www.thecraftersgallery.com

Posted by: online poker at October 4, 2004 10:33 AM

Since we started playing at online texas
holdem poker rooms online casinos, we are constantly seeking to find the
best online texas holdem rooms and
online texas holdem casinos to play
and gamble at. After experiencing tens of
online texas holdem rooms and online
texas holdem sites , we chose some of the best and You can find them here at
this website . Why did we choose these and not others? In our minds, the main
criteria for judging an online online
texas holdem room and casino are payout percentages, bonuses and the
online texas holdem gambling and
betting players and operators quality. Plus, each of the casinos and
online texas holdem rooms that has
made it into the list has passed our test for honesty, reliability and
exceptional online texas holdem
customer service. These test were done by us, and also by many of our friends
who we share our experience with. The trusted
online texas holdem rooms and casinos
below are the ones we both highly recommend .
http://www.johnhowesatty.com

Posted by: online texas holdem at October 4, 2004 11:07 AM

6693 http://www.caribbean-poker-web.com very fun

Posted by: caribbean poker at October 4, 2004 09:08 PM

5190 Play poker here poker

Posted by: http://www.888-texas-holdem.com at October 5, 2004 01:04 PM

482 Very well said in the first place! http://www.online-poker-net.com

Posted by: online poker at October 6, 2004 10:17 AM

8214 http://slots-online.fateback.com play online slots here.

Posted by: slots online at October 7, 2004 12:00 PM

6968 How can this all be as nice? Check out my site http://www.pai-gow-keno.com

Posted by: pai gow at October 8, 2004 12:49 AM

5768 http://harley-parts.ownsthis.com motorcycle parts harley parts harley davidson parts

Posted by: harley davidson parts at October 10, 2004 06:04 PM

6935 http://www.texas-hold-em-i.com play texas hold em online here.

Posted by: texas hold em at October 11, 2004 08:11 PM

7902 well said ol' boy!

Posted by: phentermine at October 12, 2004 06:42 AM

Use
fioricet for depression. Best
buy fioricet at online stores.
Cheapest
online fioricet can be found at
USA only. Buy
cheap fioricet buy read
fioricet side effects before
treatment.
http://www.buy-fioricet-here.us

Posted by: buy fioricet at October 12, 2004 07:28 AM

Best regards from the casino played
texas holdem be all the way near online texas holdem to
polin casino blackjack players texas
holdem poker rooms here to play online free games texas holdem
game for you all guys why you choose to play
texas holdem go to http://www.i-texas-holdem.com

Posted by: texas holdem at October 12, 2004 06:02 PM

7172 http://slots-online.fateback.com/roulette.htm

online roulette

Posted by: online roulette at October 13, 2004 07:38 AM

2489 http://www.e-texas-holdem.info

texas holdem

Posted by: texas holdem at October 13, 2004 11:09 PM

6906 http://www.e-texas-hold-em.com

texas hold em

Posted by: texas hold em at October 14, 2004 02:34 PM

2974 I agree wholeheartedly. Good thing I run a home based business

Posted by: home based business opportunities at October 15, 2004 10:34 PM

6768 http://video-poker.uni.cccheck it out! Video Poker yabba dabba doo
online Video Poker

Posted by: Video poker at October 16, 2004 09:23 PM

4826 http://www.rapid-debt-consolidation.com

consolidate debt

Posted by: debt consolidation at October 17, 2004 04:34 AM

1650 http://www.e-roulette.info

Posted by: roulette at October 18, 2004 01:18 AM

1182 http://video-poker.6x.to play video poker online

Posted by: video poker online at October 19, 2004 05:07 AM

Ambien - Buy Ambien Online - Zolpidem Tartrate -
Cheap Generic Ambien AMBIEN () ZOLPIDEM 10mg (50) $135.00 10mg (80) 10mg (120) Ambien is use for short-term treatment of insomnia, or difficulty falling asleep. (amien ambuen anbien amiwn anbiem ambiem ambuen ambin anbin amben anben teatment sedative sadative sedativ)
Buy Ambien is a type of sleeping pill from a newer group of drugs called imidzopyridines. It is effective for short-term treatment of insomnia in adults. All symptoms of insomnia can be treated with Ambien.. Ambien - Buy Ambien Online -
Free Shipping - Cheap Generic Ambien cheap Ambien is able to help you get a great
http://www.buy-ambien-free-shipping.us
nights rest when pain, discomfort, or just stress in your life will not let you sleep well.
Buy Ambien is a prescription that will require you to complete the online medical form so that your prescription for Ambien can be written and you can then
Buy Order Ambien order your prescription. You do not have to see the
Ambien Buy Order doctor in order to place an order online. The medical form combined with the medical consultation will enable us to provide you with the prescription Ambien.

Posted by: buy ambien at October 19, 2004 10:22 AM

8993 http://online-poker-big.fateback.com online poker slots online poker texas holdem

Posted by: online poker room at October 20, 2004 12:35 AM

4850 phentermine texas
hold em

Posted by: texas-hold-em at October 20, 2004 03:48 AM