Thank You President Obama!

BREAKING NEWS

Sunday, May 25, 2014 12:30 PM EDT 

Obama Makes Surprise Visit to U.S. Troops in Afghanistan 

President Obama made a surprise trip to Afghanistan on Sunday to visit American troops there, landing at Bagram Airfield outside the capital, Kabul, for the first time since a visit in 2012 when he signed a strategic partnership agreement with the government there to bring the war to an end.

The trip was unannounced, and Mr. Obama slipped out of the White House secretly on Saturday evening in advance of what White House officials said would be a Memorial Day rally with the troops.
Officials said the president is also expected to get an on-site briefing from his military commanders and visit wounded service members.

Officials said that Mr. Obama will rally with some of the 32,000 service members who are currently in Afghanistan, many of whom are due to return home at year’s end when the 13-year war is officially brought to an end.

Brad Paisley, a country music singer, traveled on Air Force One with Mr. Obama to Afghanistan and will perform at the rally on Monday. The president is expected to use the appearance there to offer thanks to the members of the military, but is not expected to make any major policy announcements.

Instead, Mr. Obama is expected to wait until he returns to the United States to offer his latest foreign policy and national security vision, during a speech that he is scheduled to give at the West Point graduation on Wednesday.

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel is on the Ground in Afghanistan Today

“That transition has to be done right,” Mr. Hagel said. “It has to be done in partnership with the Afghans, with our allies.” He emphasized the importance of “our continued focus and energy and attention on Afghanistan” even as the number of American troops sharply declines. 

The fact that Secretary of Defense Hagel is now on the ground in Afghanistan to visit the War Zone "in a surprise visit" should not surprise anyone as he is going to be a proactive Secretary of Defense for President Obama.

World News Syndicated New US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel in Kabul on surprise visit 

NEW US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel landed in Afghanistan on Friday on an unannounced visit nine days after he was sworn into office, vowing to ensure a successful withdrawal of international troops. 

Mr Hagel arrived in Kabul as the US-led military coalition prepares to pull out by the end of next year and leave Afghan security forces to battle the Taliban insurgency that has raged across the south and east of the country.

What I didn't realize was his last visit to Afghanistan as a Senator was made with then Senator Obama.  No wonder he was Obama's pick to be Secretary of Defense.  Obama knows he can trust Hagel as well as sharing similar views on the military.

His most recent visit was in July 2008, when he accompanied a Democratic senator from Illinois — Barack Obama, who as president nominated Mr. Hagel to his current post. Since retiring from the Senate in 2009, Mr. Hagel has not been as directly involved in Afghan policy as was his predecessor, Leon E. Panetta, who arrived at the Pentagon from a tour as C.I.A. director.

Secretary of Defense Hagel traveled to Afghanistan as ForeignPolicy.com put it:

"Sgt Hagel visits troops in Afghanistan" 

That is exactly what makes him the perfect choice for Secretary of Defense - he knows what it is like to be that infantryman on the ground.  The E-4 flying Command Post was used for the visit to Afghanistan by the Secretary of Defense:

Chillin' on the Doomsday. Hagel is on his first trip on the famed E-4B Airborne Command Post, a 1970s-vintage "survivable" flying command center from which the defense secretary can "execute emergency war orders" and is known affectionately as the "Doomsday" plane for its Cold War-era capabilities, antiquated-looking telephones, leaky roof and oddly-long tail antennae. Hagel, who's known for vectoring in on whatever enlisted people are around, visited with the Doomsday's Nebraska-based crew - Nebraska being his home state. "He mingled with them, the press corps, and the traveling DoD delegation," Situation Report is told. And began his remarks to the press with a tribute to the Doomsday's crew. 

Love the description of the E-4B which has been undergoing major upgrades and overhaul by Boeing - should have been upgraded long before the boondoggle of the F-22 and F-35 which were the brain child of the fighter pilots who move up the ranks with their 'shiny and new' philosophy.  Global Security has the unclassified information on the E-4B and its status.

Our troops have to be very happy to see SecDef Hagel because he has walked in their shoes during Vietnam  -- they know he will put the men and women of our Armed Forces with their safety first.  Obama will be getting a fair and honest assessment of the reality of what is being faced with the draw down in Afghanistan.  Hagel is a straight shooter who will deliver the facts to the President so he can make informed decisions.

New Defense Chief Visits ‘Reality of Combat’ in AfghanistanBy THOM SHANKER 

Published: March 8, 2013  

KABUL, Afghanistan — In his first overseas trip as defense secretary, Chuck Hagel landed Friday in Afghanistan, a country fast fading from political debate and public interest at home, but where 66,000 American troops continue to experience what he described as “the ugly reality of combat and the heat of battle.”  

“We are still at war,” said Mr. Hagel, who earned two Purple Hearts while serving as a combat infantryman in Vietnam. 

Before landing in the Afghan capital, Mr. Hagel said a significant focus of his visit would be assessing the detailed plans for transferring responsibility for security to the central government, army and the police here by the time the NATO combat mission expires in December 2014 (snip)

Mr. Hagel has visited Afghanistan four times before, while serving as a Republican senator from Nebraska. His first trip, in January 2002, came just a month after the rout of Al Qaeda fighters and the Taliban government that had provided Osama bin Laden safe haven. 

(snip)

Given the evolving mission, Mr. Hagel acknowledged that another goal for his visit was “to better understand where we are in Afghanistan” as the American and allied role shifts from combat to a mission focused on training and advising. 

“Even as we move into more of a support role, this remains a dangerous and difficult mission,” Mr. Hagel said in a separate statement to American and coalition personnel issued upon his arrival. “But the goal we have established — to have Afghans assume full responsibility for security by the end of 2014 — is clear and achievable.

Read More at NY Times
 

Inhofe Leads "Filibuster" Against Secretary of Defense Hagel - Cloture Vote on Friday Morning

"It is tragic that they have decided to filibuster this qualified nominee," said Reid. "It is really unfortunate."

There is no better example of Republicans in the Senate putting Party over Country then the fact at noon tomorrow, Secretary of Defense Panetta officially leaves office which means the Department of Defense will not have a permanent Secretary of Defense, but acting.  Republicans should be ashamed with their attacks on Hagel especially on Benghazi which he had nothing to do with but they are trying to score political points against President Obama.  This group of cowards who are afraid of a Tea Party primary challenge don't deserve to be reelected to the Senate ever again if they vote to continue the filibuster when you read the following:

NATO is hosting Defense Minister meetings next week in Brussels where the allies will discuss the ongoing war in Afghanistan.

A meeting of NATO on Afghanistan and we have no permanent Secretary of Defense thanks to the obstructionist Republicans who keep opposing Obama on everything.  This is one more obstruction in a long list that has a lot of Republicans saying they will not support or vote for a Republican in 2014 including this one.

Majority Leader Reid weighs in on the GOP Filibuster of Chuck Hagel showing the hypocrisy of Senate Republicans once again:

Senate Majority Leader Says ‘It’s Tragic’ GOP Is Filibustering Hagel

By Ben Armbruster on Feb 14, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) 

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced today that he has scheduled a cloture vote for Chuck Hagel’s nomination as Defense Secretary for Friday morning. 

In an impassioned speech on the Senate floor, Reid lambasted Republicans for their “unprecedented” obstruction on Hagel (this is the first time in the history of the United States that a president’s nominee for Defense Secretary has been filibustered). “It’s shocking,” Reid said, “that my Republican colleagues would leave the country without a fully empowered Secretary of Defense during all the things that we have going on in the world including a war”: 

REID: I have heard speeches from the other side a lot saying, “you know the president should have the right to choose whoever he wants.” He has the support of this body, a majority vote in this body in this democracy. We are a nation, Mr. President, at war. We are whether we like it or not the world’s indispensable leader. We’re it. For the sake of our national security it’s time to put aside this political theatre and that’s what it is. 

People are worried about primary elections. We know how the Tea Party goes after Republicans when they aren’t conservative enough. Is that something they need to have on their resume? “I filibustered one of the president’s nominees.” Is that what they want? The filibuster of Senator Hagel’s confirmation is unprecedented. I repeat. Not a single nominee for Secretary of Defense ever in the history of our country has been filibustered. Never, ever!

“We need a Secretary of Defense,” Reid said later. “It’s tragic that they’ve decided to filibuster this qualified nominee. It is really unfortunate.” Watch the clip: 

Senate Democratic aides are reportedly saying they may not have enough votes to break the filibuster while some are reporting that there are enough votes for cloture, but the actual vote on Hagel’s nomination won’t take place until after the recess.

However, NATO is hosting Defense Minister meetings next week in Brussels where the allies will discuss the ongoing war in Afghanistan. “We need our new defense secretary to be there,” a White House spokesperson said today, calling the GOP obstruction “unconscionable” and adding, “It does not send a favorable signal for the Republicans of the U.S. senate to delay a vote. …It’s difficult to explain to our allies why that’s happening.”

Congress is going on a week's recess next week for President's Day which is one day.  They have been back in DC for six weeks and already need a week off?  Sequestration coming up on March 1st and they take next week off?  The 112th Congress was the most do nothing Congress in modern times but the 113th is starting out worse.  The House GOP may be the laziest group of Representatives ever as they were on vacation last year more than they worked.  Guess a week's recess is more important then confirming a Secretary of Defense or working to avoid Sequestration?

Why are GOP Senators filibustering Chuck Hagel when it makes the Republican Party look nastier and spoiled sports after they lost the election.  The way this group of GOP in the Senate is going, they will never win the White House unless they move back to the center right after all of their lies and innuendos against President Obama and now his cabinet picks.  Inhofe has gone so far as to say he doesn't think Obama should be picking the Defense Secretary.  Talk about stupid - it sounded like he was inferring that Obama was not smart enough to pick his own cabinet.  Obama won the Presidency by 5 million votes but Republicans refuse to acknowledge with winning elections comes being able to choose your own people which Inhofe and other Republicans refuse to acknowledge.

Majority Leader Reid weighs in on the GOP Filibuster of Chuck Hagel showing the hypocrisy of Republicans once again:

Senate Majority Leader Says ‘It’s Tragic’ GOP Is Filibustering Hagel

By Ben Armbruster on Feb 14, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) 

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced today that he has scheduled a cloture vote for Chuck Hagel’s nomination as Defense Secretary for Friday morning. 

In an impassioned speech on the Senate floor, Reid lambasted Republicans for their “unprecedented” obstruction on Hagel (this is the first time in the history of the United States that a president’s nominee for Defense Secretary has been filibustered). “It’s shocking,” Reid said, “that my Republican colleagues would leave the country without a fully empowered Secretary of Defense during all the things that we have going on in the world including a war”: 

REID: I have heard speeches from the other side a lot saying, “you know the president should have the right to choose whoever he wants.” He has the support of this body, a majority vote in this body in this democracy. We are a nation, Mr. President, at war. We are whether we like it or not the world’s indispensable leader. We’re it. For the sake of our national security it’s time to put aside this political theatre and that’s what it is. 

People are worried about primary elections. We know how the Tea Party goes after Republicans when they aren’t conservative enough. Is that something they need to have on their resume? “I filibustered one of the president’s nominees.” Is that what they want? The filibuster of Senator Hagel’s confirmation is unprecedented. I repeat. Not a single nominee for Secretary of Defense ever in the history of our country has been filibustered. Never, ever!

“We need a Secretary of Defense,” Reid said later. “It’s tragic that they’ve decided to filibuster this qualified nominee. It is really unfortunate.” Watch the clip: 

Senate Democratic aides are reportedly saying they may not have enough votes to break the filibuster while some are reporting that there are enough votes for cloture, but the actual vote on Hagel’s nomination won’t take place until after the recess.

However, NATO is hosting Defense Minister meetings next week in Brussels where the allies will discuss the ongoing war in Afghanistan. “We need our new defense secretary to be there,” a White House spokesperson said today, calling the GOP obstruction “unconscionable” and adding, “It does not send a favorable signal for the Republicans of the U.S. senate to delay a vote. …It’s difficult to explain to our allies why that’s happening.”

From James Fallows at The Atlantic comes more information about the filibuster of Chuck Hagel:

As has been evident for some time, Hagel has majority support in the Senate for his confirmation as secretary of defense. As has become increasingly evident these past few days, much of the opposition to Hagel has become a parody of itself. Former Republican Senator and foreign-policy grandee Richard Lugar, himself the victim of a Tea Party challenge, said yesterday that the attack on Hagel was "unfortunate and unfair." Meanwhile the publisher of the Omaha World Herald answered allegations that Hagel (who represented Nebraska) was anti-Semitic with an article headlined, "Impressive Omaha Jewish Support for Chuck Hagel," and Aryeh Azriel, the rabbi at Temple Israel in Omaha, said that accusations that Hagel was anti-Israel were "extremely stupid." 

The new development is reported by Josh Rogin on Foreign Policy's The Cable blog, which says that several Republicans intend to filibuster Hagel's nomination -- but are looking for some way to weasel around the word "filibuster." They don't like that word (a) because they have tried to normalize the idea that a 60-vote super-majority threshold, which is the margin required to break a filibuster, should be seen as the routine requirement for Senate action of any sort; (b) because several prominent Republicans, including John McCain, have already said that they don't want to filibuster Hagel; and (c) because in the long history of Cabinet-level nominations, outright filibusters are either unknown or exceedingly rare. You can get all the details on their extreme rarity from the Congressional Research Service.

Rogin points out the machinations through which the Republican opponents of Hagel (a Republican) are trying to insist on a 60-vote threshold without calling it a filibuster. For instance, he quotes our old friend Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, plus Sen. John Cornyn of Texas:

Inhofe's demand for 60 votes is related to his overall objection to Hagel becoming defense secretary, which is based on Hagel's past record on issues ranging from Iran, Israel, Hamas, and cuts to the defense budget. Inhofe also wants Hagel to further disclose financial records related to his past speeches.

"We're going to require a 60-vote threshold," Inhofe told The Cable. 

Cornyn told The Cable, "There is a 60-vote threshold for every nomination." 

Cornyn may think that, but it is not so. As a matter of history, it has obviously not been the case for Cabinet nominations; and as a matter of legality, it is true only if the opposition is willing to transform the balance of American politics by filibustering every nominee. 

Turn to Rogin for more, including curlicues like this (emphasis added):

Inhofe insisted that his demand for a 60-vote threshold is not a "filibuster." Inhofe said he will object to unanimous consent for a simple majority vote, which will prevent Reid from bringing the Hagel nomination to the floor without first filing for cloture, which requires 60 votes to proceed to a final vote.

"It's not a filibuster. I don't want to use that word," Inhofe said. 

(snip)

But I am anything but agnostic about the tactics being used against Hagel. They started with personal smears, and they've led to this new version of Congressional obstructionism. It will be a shame all around if these tactics "work." This is a fight the administration should take on, and be sure it wins.

Read More at The Atlantic

Now Inhofe doesn't want to use the word filibuster but wants to require sixty votes when only 51 votes are required?

This is it for me when it comes to the Republican Party unless there is a huge change in the future.  For 2014 and 2016, I wouldn't vote for any Republican for Congress or President after what we have been witnessing.  These Senators are so afraid of being primaried they won't stand up to the Tea Party or should we say Koch Brothers?  How about grow a spine and do what is best for the Country and not worry if you are going to be primaried.  Selling out the Country to keep a job as a member of Congress shows a great lack of integrity and a willingness to see the Country go down because some Republican doesn't want to be tea partied in the primary.  Vote 'em out in '14!

Time for term limits?

Inhofe Informant: Watch Senator Inhofe Stand Up for Domestic Energy

May 22, 2010

Dear Friends,

As the Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, last week I soundly stood up to Sen. Sanders (I-VT) amendment to the Tax Extenders bill that would have imposed a multi-billion tax increase on America’s domestic energy producers. To punish American owned energy companies with a multi-billion dollar tax increase is not the answer. Instead, BP should be held solely responsible for the Gulf of Mexico catastrophe. In the end, the Senate spoke with a clear bi-partisan message in agreement with my position by defeating the Sanders amendment with a 61-35 vote.



I attended a Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) hearing regarding the war in Afghanistan. I questioned key witnesses including U.S. Gen. David H. Petraeus and Hon. Michele A. Flournoy. Both Petraeus and Flounoy agreed that cutting dollars to the Commander’s Emergency Response Program (CERP) and withdrawing our troops based on the President’s timeline and not for the better of Afghanistan would be disastrous. After hearing both Petreaus and Flournoy’s testimony, I believe Congress needs to continue funding CERP at the President’s request of $1.1 billion dollars which will provide basic services as water and energy which will improve the people of Afghanistan’s security and economy well-being.

The U.S. Army celebrated their 235th birthday last week. As a senior member of the SASC and the co-chair of the Senate Army Caucus, I attended the Army's reception on Capitol Hill. It was an honor to meet the many soldiers servingin the U.S. Army that have worked both here at home and abroad to protect our nation’s freedom.

Additionally, the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) awarded me with the Benjamin Franklin Public Policy award. As someone who previously worked in the insurance industry, I appreciate this award and NAMIC’s promotion of free markets.

Sincerely,

Jim Inhofe


POLL RESULTS
Have you been happy with the Obama Administration's handling of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico?

Answer Total

No - 91.63%
Yes - 3.98%
Not Sure - 4.38%

Pence Stands Up for U.S. Forces Fighting in Afghanistan

Washington, DC - U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, Chairman of the House Republican Conference, delivered the following remarks today on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in opposition to H.Con.Res. 248, the "Afghanistan War Powers Resolution," a resolution that would direct the President of the United States to withdraw the U.S. Armed Forces from Afghanistan:

"I thank the distinguished Ranking Member of the Committee [Armed Services] and the Chairman of the Committee [House Armed Services] for their words and efforts today. I think the gentleman from Ohio [Rep. Dennis Kucinich] knows I respect his passion, but I rise in strong opposition to this resolution today. And I believe that it should be opposed because H. Con. Res. 248, directing the president, pursuant to the war powers resolution, to remove United States armed forces from Afghanistan is not supported by the law, it is not supported by the facts, and it is not supportive of our troops. It should be opposed. Let me speak to each of those issues.

"First with regard to the facts. The war powers resolution requires the president to notify Congress within a specific time of committing forces. Its constitutionality has been questioned over the years. This is a matter of clear public record. The gentleman cites the Constitution frequently. There is great constitutional debate about the very foundation of that legislation. But specifically, and I believe the distinguished Chairman has made this point several times during the debate, the powers that are being cited here only apply in moments where there has not been a declaration of war or statutory authorization for the use of force.

"I was here on September 11. I was here for the debates, Madam Speaker, over the resolution authorizing the use of force in Afghanistan. Therefore, I believe this resolution is out of order. While I don't raise a procedural motion on that basis, I think it's worth noting.

"Secondly, I think this resolution is not supported by the facts. I just returned from a bipartisan delegation trip to Kabul and Kandahar. I met with General McChrystal. Stanley McChrystal is the commander of ISAF [International Security Assistance Force]. I met with our soldiers at Camp Eggers. Went out to Afghanistan, and I have strongly supported President Obama's decision to send reinforcements into Afghanistan. The sense that we receive from our military leaders in Afghanistan, from the Afghani military and political leaders, and most importantly from our soldiers on the ground, is that we are leaning into the fight. We are providing our soldiers with the resources and reinforcements they need to succeed and come home safe.

"Now is not the time for the Congress of the United States to be second-guessing our commanders in the field and second-guessing our commander in chief. I believe, based on what I have seen and heard within the last month and a half in Afghanistan, that we have the right strategy, we have the right tactics, and we ought to continue to proceed on the course that we are proceeding on.

"We are talking about real lives. I can't help but reflect on the experience of having been just north of Kandahar where we visited with the governor of the Arghandab River area. He spoke about the Taliban being on the run. You know, Kandahar, there is an old proverb that says he who controls Kandahar controls Afghanistan. The Taliban was in effect born in Kandahar. This spring there is, as is evidenced on the evening news, there is an effort by the Taliban to reclaim that historic city. But as I talked to the governor of the Arghandab River province, he said that the only thing that the Taliban has anymore with population is threats. They don't have popular appeal, or so he told me. The very idea that U.S. Forces, or forces in the NATO coalition, would precipitously withdraw would leave a vacuum in which the Taliban would readily flow.

"It has been discussed here eloquently by Congressman Duncan Hunter, who wore the uniform in harm's way, that vacuum would not just be filled by the Taliban, but by their evil twin, al Qaeda, to no doubt to nefarious effect.

"I think this resolution is wrong on the law. I think it's wrong on the facts. But lastly, let me just say, I believe it's also not supportive of our troops. It's impossible for me, in the many trips that I have made downrange to visit soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, it's impossible for me to meet with those soldiers without being profoundly inspired. I will acknowledge the gentleman from Ohio [Rep. Dennis Kucinich] has spoken in glowing terms about those in uniform and I do not suggest that he has done otherwise.

"But I believe with all my heart that a resolution of this nature in the midst of a moment when we are, in fact, providing our soldiers with the reinforcements and the resources to be successful in Afghanistan has the potential of having a demoralizing effect on the very men and women who separated from their families and in harm's way are doing freedom's work. And so I believe this resolution, however intended, should be opposed. It's not supported in the law, it's not supported by the facts, and it's not supportive of our troops and I believe it should be rejected."