It occurs to me that it wouldn't really be fair of me to make the claim without leaving proof. I'll drop some votes and pick it back up on Monday.
Republicans: weak on defense
Democrats offered amendments to shift $322 million from reconstruction to safety equipment for U.S. troops in Iraq (Sen. Dodd) and to shift $4.6 billion from Iraqi reconstruction to support and safety for our troops including critical funding for repairing and replacing the critical equipment for combat in Iraq (Rep. Obey). Both of these efforts were rejected by Republicans. [RC 376, S.Amdt. 1817 to S. 1689, 49-37, 10/2/03; H.R. 3289, House Vote #547, 10/16/03.] Rejected 209-216]
Democrats succeeded in providing an additional $213 million to the army for the procurement of up-armored Humvees only because less than half the Republicans crossed the aisle to make it happen. [RC 108, S.Amdt. 520 to S. 1268, 61-39, 4/21/05]
Bush drastically under-funded not only the National Guard and reserves, but also the Coast Guard. You remember them? The ones actually doing the fighting? In the middle of the War on Terror(tm)!
Bush "forgot" to budget VA for the returning vets from Iraq. Testimony of Secretary of Veterans Affairs before Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, 6/28/05]
I'm not the first one to ask about a Republican "plan". The Dems have been ignored for years about this.
Democrats Call for a Comprehensive Strategy to Win the Global War on Terror. In contrast to the Bush Administration's piecemeal approach, Democrats have advanced a comprehensive U.S. strategy to win the war on international terrorism. This strategy calls for increasing Army special operations forces, curbing terrorist financing, preventing the growth of radical Islamic fundamentalism, and advancing U.S. interests through diplomacy and development in the Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Democrats have introduced measures to increase foreign language expertise to meet the challenges of international terrorism and have called for the establishment of a commission to develop a set of metrics for measuring success and assessing U.S. efforts in the war on terror. [Targeting Terrorists More Effectively Act of 2005 (S. 12); Reid, Akaka Amendments to S. 1042, Vote. #413 to H.R. 2800; Vote #194 to S. 2845, Vote #203 to H.R. 1815, Vote #413 to H.R. 2800]
So if you think that the stuff outlined above was a "stunt"....think again. They've been getting voted down for years trying to get this stuff.
Democrats also have called on the Administration to undertake all efforts necessary to security 100 percent of former USSR weapons-grade nuclear materials by 2008. [Cooperative Proliferation and Interdiction and Conventional Threat Reduction Act (S. 1949)]
What did he do instead? On the Bush Administration's watch, North Korea has withdrawn from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, kicked out international inspectors monitoring rods containing nuclear material, and quadrupled its nuclear arsenal. Expert estimate North Korea's stockpile has grown from one to two weapons to at least 8 and perhaps as many as 12 weapons.
The Administration has been unable to develop a coherent policy toward North Korea. As a result, the North Korean threat has grown and America has been made less secure.
Democrats have advanced intelligence reform initiatives, as recommended by the bipartisan 9/11 Commission, to increase coordination and information sharing among intelligence agencies as well as efforts to ensure effective Congressional oversight of U.S. intelligence activities. Democrats have pushed for bipartisan examinations of the role of policymakers in the development and use of intelligence related to Iraq and to the NSA wiretapping program. [Vote #191, #192, #193, #195, #196 to S. 2845 Vote #287 to H.R. 2658; Vote #395 to H.R. 3289]
Meanwhile, Bush has been illegally spying on Americans without a warrant and the Republicans in congress are trying to make it legal instead of protecting our rights.
Since 9/11, Senate Democrats have repeatedly tried to make homeland security a top budget priority. For example, Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT) offered an amendment to the FY 2006 Budget Resolution to provide an additional $8 billion for homeland security, including $1.6 billion for first responders, $1 billion for transit and rail security, $1 billion for enhanced bioterrorism preparedness, $400 million for Port Security Grants, and $150 million for chemical security. House Democrats have also fought to make homeland security a top priority. House Democrats have also repeatedly fought for homeland security as a top priority. For example, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) offered a Democratic substitute to the FY 2006 Homeland Security Authorization. The substitute included an additional $6.9 billion for homeland security, including meeting the commitments of the 9/11 Act, such as $380 million to ensure 2,000 additional Border Patrol agents; $160 million for securing air cargo; and $92 million for radiation portal monitors.
Bush Republicans in the Senate Defeated the Amendment by a Vote of 43 to 53. [Senate Vote #59, 3/16/06]
Bush Republicans in the House Defeated the Substitute by a Vote of 196 to 230. [2005 House Vote #187, 5/18/05]
Senate Democrats have repeatedly fought to increase port security investments. For example, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) offered an amendment to the FY 2005 Homeland Security Appropriations bill to increase funding for Port Security Grants by $300 million. House Democrats have fought for port security. Since 9/11, House Democrats have repeatedly tried to increase investments in port security. For example, Rep. Martin Sabo (D-MN) offered an amendment to the FY 2006 Supplemental Appropriations bill to increase port security funding by $825 million. The amendment includes $400 million to place radiation portal monitors at all U.S. ports of entry.
Bush Republicans in the Senate Blocked the Amendment, by a Vote of 45 to 49. [2004 Senate Vote #171, 9/9/04]
Bush Republicans in the House Defeated the Sabo Amendment by a Vote of 208 to 210. [2006 House Vote #56, 3/16/06]
There's much, much more to follow on Monday.
Republicans: weak on defense
Democrats offered amendments to shift $322 million from reconstruction to safety equipment for U.S. troops in Iraq (Sen. Dodd) and to shift $4.6 billion from Iraqi reconstruction to support and safety for our troops including critical funding for repairing and replacing the critical equipment for combat in Iraq (Rep. Obey). Both of these efforts were rejected by Republicans. [RC 376, S.Amdt. 1817 to S. 1689, 49-37, 10/2/03; H.R. 3289, House Vote #547, 10/16/03.] Rejected 209-216]
Democrats succeeded in providing an additional $213 million to the army for the procurement of up-armored Humvees only because less than half the Republicans crossed the aisle to make it happen. [RC 108, S.Amdt. 520 to S. 1268, 61-39, 4/21/05]
Bush drastically under-funded not only the National Guard and reserves, but also the Coast Guard. You remember them? The ones actually doing the fighting? In the middle of the War on Terror(tm)!
Bush "forgot" to budget VA for the returning vets from Iraq. Testimony of Secretary of Veterans Affairs before Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, 6/28/05]
I'm not the first one to ask about a Republican "plan". The Dems have been ignored for years about this.
Democrats Call for a Comprehensive Strategy to Win the Global War on Terror. In contrast to the Bush Administration's piecemeal approach, Democrats have advanced a comprehensive U.S. strategy to win the war on international terrorism. This strategy calls for increasing Army special operations forces, curbing terrorist financing, preventing the growth of radical Islamic fundamentalism, and advancing U.S. interests through diplomacy and development in the Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Democrats have introduced measures to increase foreign language expertise to meet the challenges of international terrorism and have called for the establishment of a commission to develop a set of metrics for measuring success and assessing U.S. efforts in the war on terror. [Targeting Terrorists More Effectively Act of 2005 (S. 12); Reid, Akaka Amendments to S. 1042, Vote. #413 to H.R. 2800; Vote #194 to S. 2845, Vote #203 to H.R. 1815, Vote #413 to H.R. 2800]
So if you think that the stuff outlined above was a "stunt"....think again. They've been getting voted down for years trying to get this stuff.
Democrats also have called on the Administration to undertake all efforts necessary to security 100 percent of former USSR weapons-grade nuclear materials by 2008. [Cooperative Proliferation and Interdiction and Conventional Threat Reduction Act (S. 1949)]
What did he do instead? On the Bush Administration's watch, North Korea has withdrawn from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, kicked out international inspectors monitoring rods containing nuclear material, and quadrupled its nuclear arsenal. Expert estimate North Korea's stockpile has grown from one to two weapons to at least 8 and perhaps as many as 12 weapons.
The Administration has been unable to develop a coherent policy toward North Korea. As a result, the North Korean threat has grown and America has been made less secure.
Democrats have advanced intelligence reform initiatives, as recommended by the bipartisan 9/11 Commission, to increase coordination and information sharing among intelligence agencies as well as efforts to ensure effective Congressional oversight of U.S. intelligence activities. Democrats have pushed for bipartisan examinations of the role of policymakers in the development and use of intelligence related to Iraq and to the NSA wiretapping program. [Vote #191, #192, #193, #195, #196 to S. 2845 Vote #287 to H.R. 2658; Vote #395 to H.R. 3289]
Meanwhile, Bush has been illegally spying on Americans without a warrant and the Republicans in congress are trying to make it legal instead of protecting our rights.
Since 9/11, Senate Democrats have repeatedly tried to make homeland security a top budget priority. For example, Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT) offered an amendment to the FY 2006 Budget Resolution to provide an additional $8 billion for homeland security, including $1.6 billion for first responders, $1 billion for transit and rail security, $1 billion for enhanced bioterrorism preparedness, $400 million for Port Security Grants, and $150 million for chemical security. House Democrats have also fought to make homeland security a top priority. House Democrats have also repeatedly fought for homeland security as a top priority. For example, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) offered a Democratic substitute to the FY 2006 Homeland Security Authorization. The substitute included an additional $6.9 billion for homeland security, including meeting the commitments of the 9/11 Act, such as $380 million to ensure 2,000 additional Border Patrol agents; $160 million for securing air cargo; and $92 million for radiation portal monitors.
Bush Republicans in the Senate Defeated the Amendment by a Vote of 43 to 53. [Senate Vote #59, 3/16/06]
Bush Republicans in the House Defeated the Substitute by a Vote of 196 to 230. [2005 House Vote #187, 5/18/05]
Senate Democrats have repeatedly fought to increase port security investments. For example, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) offered an amendment to the FY 2005 Homeland Security Appropriations bill to increase funding for Port Security Grants by $300 million. House Democrats have fought for port security. Since 9/11, House Democrats have repeatedly tried to increase investments in port security. For example, Rep. Martin Sabo (D-MN) offered an amendment to the FY 2006 Supplemental Appropriations bill to increase port security funding by $825 million. The amendment includes $400 million to place radiation portal monitors at all U.S. ports of entry.
Bush Republicans in the Senate Blocked the Amendment, by a Vote of 45 to 49. [2004 Senate Vote #171, 9/9/04]
Bush Republicans in the House Defeated the Sabo Amendment by a Vote of 208 to 210. [2006 House Vote #56, 3/16/06]
There's much, much more to follow on Monday.
