Top Republican Threatens Security Spending Revolt

By Cernig

"Hey, Dubya, the cheerleaders are revolting!" "Yeah, I know, but if they keep voting the way I tell them to they can be as revolting as they wish."

Maybe not for much longer, says one senior Republican.

The top Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee, normally a Bush loyalist, is threatening not to support certain administration spending priorities if counterterrorism funding to police and firefighters is cut.

After learning of Bush administration plans to slash counterterrorism funding for police, firefighters and rescue departments across the country by more than half next year, Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., said the president should not expect his support on major votes in the future.

``This is not the direction I want my party to go in,'' King said Monday. ``If this is their mentality, I'm not going to support the budget. I'm not going to support their spending priorities.''

Perhaps Bush would do better to court Democratic congresscritters instead of attacking them for doing what he wants done. That's the truth behind the spin over the Iraq budget, according to the AP:

The measure orders that troops start coming home in 30 days - a requirement that Bush is already on track to meet as he begins reversing this year's troop buildup in Iraq. And the 2008 goal to have most troops home is a nonbinding goal, which means Bush could ignore it.

So it would not tie the hands of military commanders, as Bush suggests, nor would it force a change in strategy, as Democrats say.

What a bunch of jokers on the Hill - like either King or the Dems are really serious about standing up to the Decider. Oh, it is to laugh. And as usual "the people" are the butt of the joke.