Why would soldiers need time off between deployments overseas? Isn't this what they signed up for?

Besides, the President takes enough vacation for everyone.

Maybe they want to go home and clear some brush?

OK, seriously, is it just me and this has always been the case... But when did Presidents get to repeatedly deny the elected officials of the American people, doing the will of the American people at their whim? and WTF can't they overrule him on ANYTHING? just once. overturn the veto and force him to eat it.

That's Shoes For Industry! Those soldiers and Marines have to fight on until free hands on both sides of The Big Ditch can press The Button at the same time!

(Or words to that effect)

Not that his vote would have changed anything, but once again, Joe Lieberman proves himself to be Bush's (American) poodle. There has to be a special corner in hell reserved just for him.

During the supplemental funding debacle the Democrats backed down as soon as the Republicans rebuffed their witholding challenge by calling them unsupportive of the troops. A few statements from the right and weeks of talk fell asunder while puddles of urine were abundant at press conferences to the tone of: 'No, no, they are wrong, we totally support the troops and to prove it we will pass this bill unquestioned'.

It seemed an ample opportunity to challenge the patriotism of the republicans when looking at the provisions of this bill.

Expatriate community anyone?

Of course it is disappointing that Webb's amendment failed, but getting up to 56 votes is new and exciting territory. Only a handful more defections are needed for real power to be returned to the American people.

How many times do these assholes need to be told that our military is burned out and at its breaking point before they would vote for something that would limit soldiers' physical and mental exhaustion? This is another classic case of disconnect because Lieberman and the spineless Republicans don't have the fates of their own kids at stake.

Webb's bill would have given National Guardsmen three years off for every one they served in Iraq. How is that unreasonable to grant to people who signed up thinking they would be helping out in crises on the home front, not getting sent to risk death in Iraq?

Let's face it, despite the rhetoric the troops come last because they don't have the lobbying clout of a McDonnell Douglas or a Grumman or any of the other big-bucks military contractors.

Congress is a useless body of cowering politicians. They're afraid of the president; they're afraid of the voters; they're afraid of doing anything that might smack of courage in the face of controversy. I say vote them all out. The new Democratic majority doesn't show any leadership or passion or capacity. We need a fresh start in this country and a representative government. These people have all forgotten for whom they actually work

Writes Rick Maze for Army Times, “A Senate proposal to guarantee combat troops more time at home was derailed Wednesday by a procedural roadblock thrown by Republicans.” http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/07/military_webb_dwelltime_070711w/

This amendment allowed for waivers in the event of a national security emergency. It allowed soldiers themselves to redeploy early if they so chose. Yet apparently even this was too stringent for Bush and his Republicans.

Read the heart-breaking Army Times editorial about fifteen-month deployments which reads, in part:

Fifteen-month deployments mean some soldiers can expect to miss two Christmases, two anniversaries, and two of the same child’s birthdays in one war tour. It means more mental health problems for soldiers, more stress on families and less support for the mission at home.

http://www.armytimes.com/community/opinion/army_opinion_editorial_070709/

Maybe Bush will create some Faith-based Initiatives to put these soldiers’ families and lives back together.

To go completely crazy....to allow the PTSD shot they just took in Iraq to wreak havoc on their minds..?

Begin the 3 years it will take for these 'soldiers' to completely melt down, lose their families and hide from the world until they eventually commit suicide in 7 to 10 years..?

Better keep these guys really busy - in therapy, and maybe some acid or ectasy or something can erase the mental damage absorbed from this slaughter.

These are not the best and the brightest...so no loss for the elite class...

Watch, wanna bet Halliburton (really a fine company) or another thief of the masses is moving into the HMO/Mental health business...how can they make money off of these poor patriotic imbeciles from the midwest.

Webb's heart is in the right place as is the others who joined

...soldiers are going to need mental health care...spend the money there!

Or you will be spending it on private-contracted Halliburton prison camps in the Midwest to keep their biomass alive for the profit/investment value.

If the republicans are going to filibuster an amendment to protect our troops, let them. The democratic leadership needs to show some spine and sit through that filibuster. They only needed 4 more votes, a week long filibuster maintain the military family only draft we have running right now would devastate Republican approval ratings. Harry Reid blew an excellent shot at making the repubs look ridiculous.

we've heard about how military families overwhelmingly vote Republican because, they support the troops and Democrats are "soft" on defense. Let's be clear, Republicans support the MIC, not soldiers (see armored humvees and vests), not veterans (see Walter Reed), and not their families (see stop-loss and involuntary deployment extensions).

Sadly, soldiers and their families are now reaping what they have sown by supporting Bush and the Republicans. There was even some electoral funny business in the last two presidential elections about counting military absentee votes. I would now expect them to vote Democrat. But, I have seen soldiers and so-called people from the "heartland" vote against their interests before.

Recruiting Poster Idea:

Show some handsome, smiling US Troopers and Marines on a beautiful sunny beach, on the Tigris River or the Euphrates...

And show their Water Boards... And make sure they have some cute Trooper Chicks with them, Lyndie English et al...

"Uncle Sam Wants YOU! Join Up, And Learn To Waterboard! Surf on the Surge!"

Who wouldn't join up? If they get more recruits, they can give everybody longer breaks from combat. And if they believe they can surf during their Iraq tours, maybe they won't even want to come home.

Ossama don't surf!