Sarah Palin, Republican Vice Presidential Candidate

[aurik]

Sauce plox.

[Kuya]

http://www.reuters.com/article/polit...080918?sp=true
By Jim Wolf

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a $612.5 billion defense spending bill for fiscal 2009, including $70 billion for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

As passed on an 88-8 vote, the measure would authorize $103.9 billion for Pentagon procurement, $1.2 billion more than President George W. Bush's request. Overall, Bush had asked for $611.1 billion for national defense.

The bill shifts more of the costs of Iraq's reconstruction onto Baghdad. It also puts further restrictions on contractors working in Iraq, including prohibitions on interrogations and the performance of "inherently governmental functions" in combat.

The measure must now be reconciled with the $612.5 billion version passed by the House of Representatives on May 22.

The Senate bill would let the Pentagon spend $70 billion in Iraq and Afghanistan in the fiscal year that starts October 1 and authorize a 3.9 percent pay raise for military personnel, half a percentage point more than sought by Bush.

House and Senate negotiators are due to meet next week on a compromise version that can be sent to Bush for signing into law.

Among sticking points is the Boeing Co-led Future Combat Systems, the centerpiece of Army modernization. The House cut $200 million from the $3.6 billion requested to continue development of a $160 billion system of digitally linked vehicles for air and ground combat.

The Senate approved without major change the Bush administration request for Future Combat Systems. SAIC Inc is Boeing's co-lead manager on the FCS program.

The Senate bill would authorize $8.9 billion for Missile Defense Agency programs, $411.8 million less than Bush's request.

(Reporting by Jim Wolf; Editing by Eric Walsh)

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/9/2...d_barack_obama

JUAN GONZALEZ: The country has been deep in debate over the $700 billion bailout package for Wall Street since it was announced last week. But almost unnoticed, Congress approved another bill last week for over $600 billion. The Defense Authorization Bill for 2009 was passed by the House on Wednesday and cleared by the Senate on Saturday.

The bill authorizes $612 billion for national security programs in the Defense and Energy departments, including $68 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to the Associated Press, the bill eliminated language barring private interrogators from US military facilities. It opens the door to a missile defense system in Europe but does not mention troop withdrawal from Iraq and no longer requires congressional approval for a security pact with Iraq.

The bill received no mention during Friday night’s presidential debate. But Senators Barack Obama and John McCain did lay out some of their national security proposals with respect to Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and Russia.

Everything seems fine, i guess, except that part about no congressional approval for that unfavorable security pact Bush has been trying to push with Iraq.

[aurik]

Oh, that bill. I thought you meant a revised wall st. bill.

[Kuya]

That would have been weird.

[Day]

I want some of that money

[Correction]

I want some of that money

Become a defense contractor.

[aurik]

Or be this guy:
http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline...-feds-cha.html

[Day]

This is where I want to be like why the hell can we spend all that money on other countries when we are in not so good shape? We can't buy food but we can bomb the shit out of you!! I'm sure my ignorance is showing.

[Beckwin]

guys, clearly this means our priorities are mixed up.

why do we still spend 18 billion on earmarks!?!??!?!?!??!??!

[Aerin]

Couric Interview: McCain Says Quoting Palin On Pakistan Is "Gotcha Journalism"

So after she gets nailed on her last interview, they decide the best way to make her look good is have McCain by her side watching over her? LOL

[Beckwin]

I wonder if it ever crossed anyone's mind that someone with a degree in broadcast journalism ought to be wise to "gotcha journalism"

[Correction]

You think a degree in 'broadcast journalism' is a real degree?

[Beckwin]

not really but I have a BFA so I try not to judge.


idk, I just find it ironic that a broadcast journalist is so fucking terrible at being interviewed. i mean this is the one area of her political career that her education ought to inform on some level.

[Deftscythe]

When watching commentary on the first interview with my mom, she was making excuses for Palin, saying stuff like like "Of course she's nervous with Couric glaring at her like that." I asked her wtf she thought Palin was going to do when she has to talk to foreign leaders. I mean really, if you can't handle Katie fucking Couric what are you going to do if McCain asks you to go talk to Putin? Of course, that might not be a big worry for her since McCain believes in acting like a bitchy girlfriend and giving people the silent treatment.

[GRT]

You think a degree in 'broadcast journalism' is a real degree?

Wait... it isn't? What is it then?

Anyway, so apparently one big reason why Palin has risen so far was that her opponents always underestimate her. Think she's gonna pull anything out of her hat in the debate on Thursday?

[archibaldcrane]

I don't think there's any way she could be "Katie Couric interview" bad, and honestly even a mediocre performance will be such an improvement that her detractors (read: non-morons) will be disappointed, and her supporters (read: morons) will be elated.

[Aerin]

I don't think there's any way she could be "Katie Couric interview" bad, and honestly even a mediocre performance will be such an improvement that her detractors (read: non-morons) will be disappointed, and her supporters (read: morons) will be elated.

Couldn't agree with you more. As much as I dislike her, I can't imagine her doing that horrible in the debates. Especially if they've been preparing her since Friday? And ya I'm sure that so long as she doesn't completely bomb it and do something insane, it won't hurt them. Everyone's expectations are set so low, how can you go wrong?

[Deftscythe]

I like McCain's "gotcha journalism" line. Uh, isn't that exactly what happened to Obama with his famous "clinging to guns and religion" comment?

Edit: Also about that email thing a couple pages ago, wouldn't John the Apostle have no frigging idea what a Muslim was? I'm not so good at ancient history but wasn't Islam founded long after the writing of Revelations?

[Kuya]

Gotcha is exactly what they've been both playing.

Cucame Cuco, no, no, no me cuques Cuco.

[aurik]

Wow, Sarah Palin looked like she was about to cry at the start of that interview.