Kline's Looming Looney Crisis

Congressman John Kline was speaking the truth when he calls the entitlement crisis created by him while in office…looney!

Entitlement...ya you betcha...Kline invented the entitlements that are driving America towards bankruptcy...but don't take my words for it...take his:

“We are in a looney entitlement crisis in this country. The operating deficit we have now, is a small part of the bankruptcy to come."

When Bush went into office there was a budget surplus from the Clinton years…that quickly was eroded and replaced with the largest deficit in U.S. history (8.7 Trillion!)…

All this was done under Bush and Kline's looney entitlement crisis of giving megabucks no-bid contracts to big corporations, having no oversight on their spending , borrowing more foriegn money than all the combined Presidential administrations, and because they cut taxes for the very wealthiest in America while slashing programs for our returning veterans, seniors and children.

Message To Kline: Body Bags Are Permanent

In a dear colleague letter two GOPers urged Republicans to dodge debating the Democratic Iraq resolution in terms of international terrorism and discuss “radical Islamists and the consequences of not defeating radical Islam in Iraq”. So it was with little surprise that Rep. John Kline was picked by the GOP to speak on the House floor against the Democratic nonbinding resolution that ask the Bush administration to face the facts.

Kline, as one of the Bush’s administrations key pro-war Republicans, argued that the Democrats NONBINDING resolution would demoralize US troops and embolden the enemy. Kline even went so far as to imply the Democratic election win was a win for the terrorist! As usual Kline tried to used scared tactics to bully the Bush administrations position through the House.

Kline warned that Democrats want to ‘defund’ the war…as if most Americans would find that offensive?! Gee, defund a war that was started with false US intelligence data intentionally and knowingly used by the Bush administration, then micromanaged by the executive branch with no oversight while billions of US tax dollars for reconstruction has disappeared and all along our troops have had inadequate numbers and armor. Hmm… What's to dislike...My question to Kline would be, why wasn’t this done years ago? Apparently, as many as 40 of the dissenters are from Kline’s own party, including Jim Ramstad, of Minnesota.

Under the Democratic plan any troops sent to Iraq must be deemed fully trained and equipped under existing military standards. The resolution is not to deny support, but to slowly choke off the war by stopping the never ending deployment of troops from units that have seen combat for an excessive four straight years!

The White House and GOP leadership have conceded defeat on this resolution and are now digging in for a fight regarding the funding of the additional 21,800 surge troops. But it's time to stop the bleeding both in dollars and lives. As Rep. Ric Keller of Florida pointed out, “a ‘surge’ of troops has already been attempted in Baghdad. The benefits were temporary….the body bags were permanent.”

Kline-atine

Two weeks after voting NO on ethics reform Rep John Kline is to serve on the House Ethics Committee...(small irony there!)

Minority Leader John Boehner, who among other ethics violations in his past- was caught handing out checks on the floor of the House while in session from tobacco companies...announced Kline's appointment. (even more irony!)

Showing his biting wit Kline improvised:
"I will do my best to bring a healthy dose of common-sense Minnesota values along with a touch of no-nonsense Marine Corps toughness to the Ethics Committee and look forward to beginning our important work on this panel."

ROFL
(rolling on the floor laughing)

This is almost as funny as Kline saying he supports minimum wage, but voting against it, or that he's a fiscal conservative while he's been in office the U.S. has an all time high deficit with record trade imbalances.

LOL.

Dead Veteran Just Another Number To Kline

Mr. Kline, We're not going to continue to 'wait' while our sons and daughters die!

While we're being told to 'wait' by Bush and Kline with their new (but certainly not improved) 'surge' plan.... more are dying. Both in Iraq and here at home....it's unforgivable...

The following are excepts from the story of Johathan Schulze from WCCO: Former U.S. Marine Jonathan Schulze committed suicide last week. A Purple Heart recipient, he became overwhelmed by grief after seeing several of his friends killed in Iraq.

A government report issued in December 2006 said one of every 5,000 military personnel who served in Iraq has committed suicide -- an increase of one percent compared to the prior two years.Yet the same report stated soldiers have better access to behavioral health care -- a claim Schulze's parents could clearly dispute.

It is estimated that about 17 percent of military personnel returning from Iraq suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or severe anxiety and depression. That's compared to about 6 or 7 percent of the general population.

The father of a six-month old child, Jim and Marianne Schulze remembered their 25-year-old son as a bubbly, fun loving person. But, when he came home from Iraq almost two years ago, his personality had changed.....

Schulze's own personal war raging within him brought him to the Veterans Administration Hospital in St. Cloud, Minn., where he was reportedly told the wait for psychiatric services was shorter than at the VA facility in Minneapolis.

On Jan. 11, Schulze reportedly told a member of the medical staff that his inner torment made him contemplate suicide. However, he was turned away because there was no room at the hospital's psychiatric unit.One day later, a counselor told Schulze by phone that his case was 26th on the waiting list at a facility with only 15 beds. The earliest he could be seen at the VA Hospital in Minneapolis was March.

Apparently Jonathan Schulze was just another number to Bush and Kline:

"What happened that a young man who was a marine veteran with two Purple Hearts turns up at a VA center and says: I am thinking of committing suicide, can you help me, can you admit me, and he is told: No, the list is 26 long in front of you?"

Say what you will at the hidden costs of war...this was a death that was preventable. I would like Kline to explain to the parents why there are 15 beds and a waiting list of double that size...How can Kline sleep at night with the blood of this on his hands?

He survived all of that only to come home and find neglect, the results of an administration big on tax cuts for the wealthy, but not real strong on taking care of Veterans returning home from the war created by the George W. Bush and, until this month, left unchecked by the do-nothing Republican Congress.

How [can] the United States government give aid to foreign countries, but yet can't adequately fund medical and psychological needs of the boys they send off to war," asked Jim Schulze.

How indeed Mr. Kline?!

Kline Still Refuses To Hear Consituents

Only one Minnesota Congressional Congressman decided to boot members of a peace group from his Minnesota office. (hint: it's the same one who's staff pretended to closed his office rather than meet with consituents last year and has refused to open discussion within his congressional district!). To find out more visit Inside Minnesota Politics or listen to their podcast.

Twin Cities Peace Campaign organizer, Marie Braun, tells us the sit-ins have been going without any problems with one notable exception. (As this podcast was published she had yet to hear from CD 6- Rep. Michelle Bachmann's office)Representative John Kline's staff booted the group from its Burnsville office after an hour. Kline's office had called police even before the group arrived. Kline spokesperson Mike Osskopp (who has been featured here before on video shouting racial slurs) met with the group of about 17 CD 2 residents for about an hour. He abruptly ended the meeting when the group gave him a petition asking Congressman Kline to hold a town hall meeting on Iraq and potential military action against Iraq.

Kline Asked To Hold Town Meeting On Iraq

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 5, 2006 For more information, contact: Greg and Sue Skog 651-454-3850

Citizens of Congressional District 2 ask Congressman Kline for a dialog about Iraq occupation

A group of non-partisan citizens will visit Congressman John Kline's office at 9am on Tuesday February 6th, seeking to start a dialog about the US occupation of Iraq. A petition signed by CD2 constituents will be given to the Congressman asking that a town hall meeting be scheduled to answer many questions about the Iraq occupation.

This action is part of a nationwide campaign of Sustained Nonviolent Action to End the Iraq War, which has prompted many citizens across Minnesota to visit the offices of U.S. Senators and Representatives throughout the state of Minnesota.

Many of Kline's constituents who oppose the continued occupation of Iraq and the "surge" of more troops into Iraq want to know if Congressman Kline will stop funding of this occupation and bring the troops home or redeploy them as soon as can be safely arranged. It will also be asked that the Congressman vote against any commencement of military hostilities with Iran.
This is the petition that will be given to Congressman Kline:

We, the undersigned CD-2 residents, oppose the continued occupation of Iraq. We oppose President Bush's call for a "surge" of U.S. troops into Iraq. And we oppose the commencement of military hostilities with Iran. Inasmuch as a large majority of CD-2 constituents support the redeployment of military troops from Iraq as soon as can be safely arranged and no escalation of the war to encompass Iran, it is requested that Congressman Kline conduct a town hall meeting in the district at his earliest convenience to provide and discuss his positions on these issues.

To sign the petition: write "petition" in the subject line to: peacepetition@gmail.com

For more information: State Coordinator Marie Braun at 612-522-1861 or the specific team leader at the end of this email.

Occupation Project, a campaign to challenge our United States Representatives and Senators to vote against supplemental funding for the occupation on Iraq will begin Tuesday, Feb. 6 at 9 am. Constituents will be present in the offices of their elected representatives every Tuesday from 9:00 am -5:00 pm for eight weeks or until their representative publicly declares that he/she will vote against supplemental funding for the occupation of Iraq.Participants will maintain a presence in the offices of their elected officials each week to remind them that the people of Minnesota want an end to the occupation of Iraq, that they want their elected officials to vote against supplemental funding for the occupation, and that they want our government to begin an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.A statement issued by organizers says in part, "President Bush is now sending more troops to Iraq. We know that strategy will only mean more lives lost.

It is now up to Congress to use their legitimate "power of the purse" to cut off the funds that allow this war to continue. There is enough money already appropriated to bring the troops out quickly and safely."

Occupation Project is being organized nationally by Voices for Creative Nonviolence, Chicago IL.

The following are MN team leaders:
Senator Coleman's office - Sarah Standefer 612-437-0222 (cell)
Senator Amy Klobuchar - Marie and John Braun 612-522-1821; 612-275-2720 (cell)
Rep. Jim Ramstad - Roxanne Abbas 763-476-7643Rep.
Betty McCollum - Betty McKenzie 651-644-1337 and Kate Havelin-651-642-1242
Rep. John Kline- Sue and Greg Skog 651-454-3850
Rep. Michelle Bachman- Bill Oldfather 651-275-0247
Rep. Tim Walz - Joe and Elaine Mayer, 507-289-4154
Rep. Colin Peterson - Jim Hubley-507-532-6846 (Marshall) and Lucy Tokheim - 320-769-2142 (Willmar)
Rep. James Oberstar - Michelle Obed Naar-218-728-0629; 312-285-7061 (cell)
Rep. Keith Ellison- Congressman Ellison has said he will vote against funding.