Not unexpected, as we knew yesterday. Not a problem because this thing is DOA via a veto, but interesting to note what Democrats find much more important than victory in Iraq - PORK!

Via Victory Caucus as the dirty secret of the Senate appropriations bill. This thing is so porked it would make Jimmy Dean’s nipples hard. For example:

$24 million for funding for sugar beets.

$3 million for funding for sugar cane (goes to one Hawaiian co-op).

$20 million for insect infestation damage reimbursements in Nevada, Idaho, and Utah.

$2.1 billion for crop production losses.

$1.5 billion for livestock production losses.

$100 million for Dairy Production Losses.

$13 million for Ewe Lamb Replacement and Retention Program.

$32 million for Livestock Indemnity Program.

$40 million for the Tree Assistance Program.

$100 million for Small Agricultural Dependent Businesses.

$6 million for North Dakota flooded crop land.

$35 million for emergency conservation program.

$50 million for the emergency watershed program.

$115 million for the conservation security program.

$18 million for drought assistance in upper Great Plains/South West.

Provision that extends the availability by a year $3.5 million in funding for guided tours of the Capitol. Also a provision allows transfer of funds from holiday ornament sales in the Senate gift shop.

$165.9 million for fisheries disaster relief, funded through NOAA (including $60.4 million for salmon fisheries in the Klamath Basin region).

$12 million for forest service money (requested by the president in the non-emergency FY2008 budget).

$425 million for education grants for rural areas – (Secure Rural Schools program).

$640 million for LIHEAP.

$25 million for asbestos abatement at the Capitol Power Plant.

$388.9 million for funding for backlog of old Department of Transportation projects.

$22.8 million for geothermal research and development.

$500 million for wildland fire management.

$13 million for mine safety technology research.

$31 million for one month extension of Milk Income Loss Contract program (MILC)

$50 million for fisheries disaster mitigation fund.

$100 million for security at the Presidential Candidate Nominating Conventions

$2 million for the University of Vermont

Via Don Surber:

“This is worse than war profiteering. At least Haliburton gave the troops something, even if it was tainted water. What does Congress give them?

Are those critters from the Ewe Lamb Replacement and Retention Program going to supply one ounce of wool for armor?

Democratic senators — including Byrd and Rockefeller — put the presidential conventions ahead of the troops, by making sure there is plenty of money fior those party comnventions 17-18 months ahead, while next year the troops will have to go through this emotional roller coaster again.

Disgusting is too nice a word for people who voted to send troops to Iraq in 2002, and less than 5 years later play political chicken with funding for those very troops.”

2008 is coming fast folks, time to throw these bums out! Let’s get busy!

UPDATE: Joining Capt Ed in welcoming Chuck Hagel officially to the Democratic Party. Fact is that a recall looks like it’s in the works. Either way this cat is history in the GOP. Can you say “Conservative Blogger Blogswarm”?

UPDATE II: Remember 2008 is where all 435 house seats are up as well as 33 Senate seats!