http://projects.washingtonpost.com/cong … votes/175/usmarine2 wrote:
I would like to see who voted no.
Also, good job democrats. You campaigned on pulling out of iraq in order to win, and we are still there and this is what you are doing. fucking losers.
Just think: this is the stupidity we're trying to keep in the African gene pool.Kmarion wrote:
Stupid just got stupider.The reasoning is that the blood produced by raping a virgin will cleanse the virus from the infected person's blood.
Doesn't Bush have the final say?usmarine2 wrote:
I would like to see who voted no.
Also, good job democrats. You campaigned on pulling out of iraq in order to win, and we are still there and this is what you are doing. fucking losers.
Many of these politicians and their wives travel on military jets rather than commercial flights. The military does not release the costs associated with junket travel, but flights to Italy, Norway, and Greece do not come cheaply. American taxpayers wind up footing the bill not just for their elected representatives, but also for their families to enjoy exotic, beautiful locations that their constituents only enjoy through the National Geographic channel on cable TV.While many Americans watched their wallets, several dozen members of Congress used the Memorial Day recess to travel overseas to places including Rome, Venice, and Athens without digging into their own. At least 64 lawmakers traveled abroad that week, many with spouses in tow, a U.S. News review found. The largest contingent was 17 members of Congress ensconced for five nights in the $480-a-night Rome Cavalieri Hilton, courtesy of the Aspen Institute, a nonprofit group famous for transporting lawmakers to chic destinations, ranging from the Grand Cayman Islands to Istanbul, for in-depth looks at foreign policy and other issues.
The Aspen Institute brought the lawmakers to Rome for a seminar called “Political Islam: Challenges for U.S. Policy.” But it wasn’t just the members of Congress who benefited, at no cost to themselves, since all but one brought along a spouse or child. Trips for two soared as high as $20,120, and the bottom line for members and their companions rose to nearly $263,000, according to disclosure reports. …
Although “recess” isn’t the official term anymore, the globe-trotting during Memorial Day weekend debunks the idea that members are at home during the break. The Senate called the week a “state work period,” and the House used the term “district work period.” Several lawmakers ventured into war zones, such as Iraq and Afghanistan, or to strategic locations, such as Pakistan, which Congress watchers don’t question. But they raise flags when members travel to picture-perfect places such as Italy, Greece, and the arctic reaches of Norway, as they did over Memorial Day.
Ten lawmakers went on a weeklong, taxpayer-paid trip from May 23 to 30 for meetings of the Transatlantic Legislators’ Dialogue in Ljubljana, Slovenia, with subsequent stops—and la dolce vita—in Venice and Naples. The dialogue unites lawmakers with peers from the European Parliament. Seven in the U.S. delegation had a spouse along, says Lynne Weil, spokeswoman for the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
This is something I noticed about Europeans. They don't quite understand our government (not that many Americans do either). In the US the President has no power to make laws. You have 3 groups, the Senate, the House, and the President. The Senate and House can propose the law and then it takes 2 out of those 3 to make it a law.JahManRed wrote:
Doesn't Bush have the final say?usmarine2 wrote:
I would like to see who voted no.
Also, good job democrats. You campaigned on pulling out of iraq in order to win, and we are still there and this is what you are doing. fucking losers.
Overriding a veto requires the support of 2/3 of both Houses. In most cases, this effectively gives the president the final say, unless there is a massive amount of bipartisan support for the bill.paul386 wrote:
This is something I noticed about Europeans. They don't quite understand our government (not that many Americans do either). In the US the President has no power to make laws. You have 3 groups, the Senate, the House, and the President. The Senate and House can propose the law and then it takes 2 out of those 3 to make it a law.JahManRed wrote:
Doesn't Bush have the final say?usmarine2 wrote:
I would like to see who voted no.
Also, good job democrats. You campaigned on pulling out of iraq in order to win, and we are still there and this is what you are doing. fucking losers.
So if the Senate proposes and votes for a law it goes to the President. If the President likes it he will sign it into law. If he doesn't like it and he veto's it, then it goes to the House. If the House passes it then it is law. If they don't then it isn't law.
So the president cannot propose laws and he is not the final word. However, Presidential veto's are powerful.
The president also serves primarily to enforce the law.
I never heard about it. What the hell are they thinking more importantly what are they doing to us? An newbie could run a campaign against one based on that one vote. Where was all the news about it? Damnit.Kmarion wrote:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25708560
Senate agrees to triple anti-AIDS funding
U.S. to spend up to $48 billion in ambitious foreign public health programWe are fighting two wars and facing our own financial crisis. They are going to triple the amount of money we (the taxpayers) give to other countries. Somebody get me some rope... now. How about we invest that 48 billion into our own "public health program"? Or I don't know.. maybe border security?WASHINGTON - The Senate voted Wednesday to triple spending for a much-acclaimed program that has treated and protected millions in Africa and elsewhere from the scourges of AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.
The 80-16 vote committed the United States to spending up to $48 billion over the next five years for the most ambitious foreign public health program ever launched by the United States.
Last edited by xRBLx (2008-08-08 10:24:32)
It's just more proof that we are working hard on improving the health in countries amidst massive failings at home.xRBLx wrote:
Shoot every one AIDS/HIV and wipe out the viris? That would be cheaper.
But srsly thats alot of money to give away, I would be pretty pissed too.
Dont be a fool wrap you're tool!
Write that down...
Very true.... AIDS in America has gone from being a mostly gay white male disease to a mostly black disease. If we don't take serious measures to slow down the spread of AIDS here, it's going to be a "general population" disease rather than focused on any one group.Kmarion wrote:
It's just more proof that we are working hard on improving the health in countries amidst massive failings at home.xRBLx wrote:
Shoot every one AIDS/HIV and wipe out the viris? That would be cheaper.
But srsly thats alot of money to give away, I would be pretty pissed too.
Dont be a fool wrap you're tool!
Write that down...
As things currently stand, multinational corporations are raping Africa of resources while the general population suffers. Capitalism isn't really the answer here, but yeah, throwing money at them isn't so great either.TrollmeaT wrote:
The answer isn't to throw our money at them in a socialist style, while the select few in power line their pockets with it.
If anything we should be setting up capitalist governments in the affected areas so they can create their own wealth.
Last edited by Turquoise (2008-08-10 08:59:34)