Bush Calls Democratic Leadership in Congress 'Irresponsible' for Doing What They Were Elected To Do

Bush : How Dare They Do What They Were Elected to Do?

President Bush says it is "irresponsible" for the Democratic leadership in Congress to follow the will of the people. Speaking to an audience of veterans at an American Legion post in northern Virginia, Mr. Bush said he has invited congressional leaders from both parties to meet with him at Andrews Air Force Base, where they will be "rendered" to an undisclosed location next week.

He again called on Congress to send him a supplemental war spending bill without timetables for withdrawing U.S. troops or anything else the American people demanded in the November 2006 midterm elections.

Both the House and the Senate have passed versions of a bill funding military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, but including a timetable for bringing U.S. combat troops home from Iraq. Mr. Bush has vowed to "do what's right for America, in spite of the wishes of the majority of Americans," and veto any such bill.

The president says U.S. forces may soon feel the effects of the funding shortage. But an independent government report last month said the Army has enough money to fund its military operations in Iraq through July. An unidentified source close to top White House officials remarked, "That's what THEY think."

Earlier Tuesday, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland said he is worried that National Guard troops who have been told to prepare to deploy to Iraq will not have proper training and equipment.In an interview with National Public Radio, the Democratic governor said he believes the men and women of the National Guard are going to pay the price for the Bush administration's failure to adequately plan and predict. The President said, "Shut up."