It's really ridiculous the Bizarro-world in which we live. This same bill that Bush threatened to veto back in May he is now using to slam his critics
President Bush, (Friday morning):
I'm joined by veterans and military families here to express support to our troops and their mission in Iraq. I want to thank you all for being here today. We've just finished a really good meeting. In our discussions, these folks had a message that all of us in Washington need to hear. It is time to rise above partisanship, stand behind our troops in the field, and give them everything they need to succeed. In February I submitted to Congress a Defense Department spending bill for the upcoming fiscal year that will provide funds to upgrade our equipment for our troops in Iraq and provides a pay raise for our military - a comprehensive spending request - that Congress has failed to act on.
Military Pay: The Administration strongly opposes sections 601 and 606. The additional 0.5 percent increase above the President's proposed 3.0 percent across-the-board pay increase is unnecessary.
I would ask how George W. Bush sleeps at night but, knowing that he's not much of a deep thinker and doesn't possess much in the way of conscience, I would bet he sleeps more soundly than Rush Limbaugh on an Oxycontin bender.
The latest bit of reality-defying hypocrisy from Bush comes in the form of a speech he gave yesterday morning, in which he bashed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senate Democrats for yanking the Defense Authorization bill from consideration -- after Republicans filibustered yet another Iraq vote -- and implied that Democrats are against a military pay raise.
"It is time to rise above partisanship, stand behind our troops in the field, and give them everything they need to succeed," said Bush. "Even members of Congress who no longer support our effort in Iraq should at least be able to provide an increase in pay for our troops fighting there."
Argh...Must. Resist. Temptation. To. Throw. Something. Think Progress has the video and Reid's response to Bush's underhanded and hypocritical jabs.
UPDATE: Taylor Marsh rightfully slaps down the Washington Post for their White House stenography of the debate. Maha and Booman weigh in as well.
