AP: Republicans block Senate debate on Iraq

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070205/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq;

Mission Accomplished! Well, this is the headline that will appear on tomorrow's newpapers around the country. I am sure this will be well-received by the American public, a majority of whom want debate AND an exit strategy.



WASHINGTON - Republicans blocked a full-fledged Senate debate over Iraq on Monday, but Democrats vowed they still would find a way to force President Bush to change course in a war that has claimed the lives of more than 3,000 U.S. troops.

"We must heed the results of the November elections and the wishes of the American people," said Majority Leader Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record).

Reid, D-Nev., spoke moments before a vote that sidetracked a nonbinding measure expressing disagreement with Bush's plan to deploy an additional 21,500 troops to Iraq.

The vote was 49-47, or 11 short of the 60 needed to go ahead with debate, and left the fate of the measure uncertain

what DUers had to say about it!

Or should we be wimps and keep taking this shit?

No wonder we are so utterly, utterly fucked.

I think that makes a difference.

This is incompetence on a profound, unprecedented scale.

1. They settle for a "non-binding resolution;"

2. While the troops are dying and civilians murdered, they try to negotiate the terms of a meaningless "non binding resolution;"

3. They are embarrassed when they are robbed even of the chance to debate what was in itself a complete fucking waste of time.

It doesn't matter what the people think -- the Democrats are so fucking inept, they are worse than the Republicans.

This ranks up there with the Dick Durbin running outside of the Capitol in a panic to apologize for daring to speak of the concentration camp at Gitmo run by the Neonazicons.

The measure was doomed, so why didn't the Democrats introduce something meaningful.

Is our ammunition still dry?

procedural vote..This vote was for no debate..Correct? We must remember that Democrats hold a thin Majority in the Senate.Now Republicans are lovin this.. Here we are pissed of at the Democrats and the Media picks up on this and of course runs this through the mill hundreds of times that Democrats yes Democrats are not fulfilling their promise to the voters..So now the Repukes sit back even though Mcconnell was the one that said hey Republicans you owe it to the party to vote the way I tell ya to.Yet the Democrats are being slammed and the media is making sure the public forms the impression that Democrats are no better than a Republican controlled congress.. All because of a procedural vote.

not when popular.

Spineless, worthless pieces of shit. All of them. So, so afraid to fight the republicans, then and now.

We're so fucked.

Er...how did that happen, again?

So all we have shown is that, despite the voices of the American people demanding change, and despite us having the majority, the GOP can still do whatever they can to destroy our country, and do so with abandon.

Then again, the GOP is showing those who want an end to the war and accountability for those who lied us into it that they could care less about the United States or what her citizens want. They look like obstinate warmongers, as usual. It's just that this time, people are finally paying attention.

I'm just done with the whole dysfunctional, dying-empire mess. Just DONE.

And I literally cried when our United 777 touched down in San Francisco on our return trip home.

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

And to all of you who wish to respond negatively, let me preemptively strike with a big "fuck you if you do't like it!"

We're headed to New Zealand in October permanently. We lived there for 13 months before. I have no desire to return. If you think that there is Democracy in this screwed up nation then I think that you're drinking the kool-aid. The Congressional District we live in is solid Repuke and will never change do to Gerrymandering---our vote simple does not count. Most of the US has safe districts. then there is the issue of the militay---the US spends more on the military that all the rest of the world---new budget wants more money for the military and cuts to social programs. The USA is a dead country and doesn't know it. Will be glad to get out of this fucked Kountry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If your under 55 New Zealand is a great place---lots of work---national health care. In the last elections the two major party canidates said they were either agnostic or athiests---so much better than this hipicritical counrty and the Born Again Crowd. I will never support the US again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I prefer to FIGHT, not GIVE UP

I do hope it doesn't "catch on." Whether you live in this country or not, if the right wing holds power the country will eventually come to you. The PNAC plan is clear. The neocons hope to extend U.S. influence and hegemony throughout the world, and if the Middle East falls under U.S. control then all other nations are at risk of being the next target. I don't for a second think that the neocon "spirit" would disappear if we leave Iraq. I've learned over many years of living that the struggle for any ideal must be engaged over and over and over as each new generation comes along. I do believe, though, that it can be contained, at least for now, and if we can prevent the neocons from winning in Iraq it will be easier for the next generation to contain them. If we cannot...

my husband and i...well, mostly me...have thoughts about leaving the country. new zealand is definitely of interest. you mentioned 'if you're under 55, new zealand is great'. my husband is 60 and i'm 53. is there something with having to be under 55? can you direct me to a good site for information on new zealand? thanks.

...is that many of us don't even have that option. Call it jealousy because I wish I did. Someone who was trying to help me figure out a way to get out of my community finally decided that the best answer was to move to a country with a better safety net. But of course no country in its right mind is going to take a disabled person who can't work.

I often dream of moving to Australia, mostly because of the fauna (I love wildlife). New Zealand would be pretty cool, too. As it is, I can't even make a trip.

So...which Democratic legislators do I eviscerate with scathing e-mails? They're supposed to be brave for us. We elected them to be brave for us. This is really pissing me off.

somewhere, or a real Democrat, who can lead the country out of this nightmare.

He was Presbyterian minister and several time Socialist candidate for president.

We need some more real liberals like Kucinich running, and an actual liberal progressive political party.

We could all join the Wobblies in the meantime.

If any DEMS did, I presume they are having lunch with Lieberman - we won't forget!

What did the Democrats fail to do? Did they fail to put a gun to the Republicans' heads and threaten them to vote in favor of the resolution 'or else'?

Chuck Schumer was on the Daily Show. He said the Dems needed to take baby steps to take on Bush.

Some people think that if even the baby steps are too hard to take, we should just lash out and submit a real threat to Bush, like impeachment. The GOP will filibuster, but at least we get our licks in.

they could not even do that!

and are treating * with kid gloves, or are they waiting for him to illegally attack Iran before they realize this madman is putting all of us in danger.

We're not fighting. We're allowing the republicans to do to us what they NEVER allowed us to do to them while they were in power. And fuck that.

You don't like that I don't like that? You don't like that I said it makes me want to puke? You don't like that I'm not making excuses for them? Well, too fucking bad.

for the Republicans not voting for the resolution. "We're not fighting" is not a specific; it's just a pointless slam.

And if we don't engage in arm-twisting, schoolyard-bully-esque threatening tactics with the republicans--just as they did with us (think: nuclear)--they'll continue to walk all over us.

Oh, and I assure you I'm quite capable of debating the highly complex ins and outs of capitol machinations.

votes truly necessary? why didn't we just go with a simple majority?

also--i saw on msm the other day that in new hampshire 89% of people are against the war. and of course john sununu voted with the pukes. i wonder how many of his folks back home will appreciate that crap? (is it too early to say so-long sununu! ? )

and then warner & hagel voted against this? what the hell is that all about?

cedual vote to agree to DEBate the 2 resolutions. (which failed)

What the American People want... Why haven't they at least looked at John Conyers evidence and started an impeachment proceeding? Just starting the investigation into impeachment would Cull the Rethugs.. otherwise they will continue with this mess... They can't see the forest through the trees... They still think Iraq is winnable.. They hypnotize with the if we pull out they will come here bullcrap... anyway its time for our leadership to get serious... The way they are managing Congress you would have thought they lost seats...

introduce an impeachment resolution.

I am so upset that the fucking repuks have managed to control things yet again! These Dems that WE put in office better grow some spine.

Other than ranting on an internet message board?

Do you have a plan that would get those 11 additional REPUBLICAN votes to stop debate?

I'm sure Sen. Reid would be interested...

...but I'm leaving to teach at a university abroad, and will probably stay abroad indefinitely.

I suggest Senator Reid go back and re-read his notes from when the republicans controlled the senate the past few years and learn from their tactics.

What's YOUR plan?

I just love that those who would defend such passivity on the part of our leaders demand that we come up with an answer to such behavior any time we dare criticize it. DO get over yourself.

that's my plan...

The Republicans had a ten seat majority when they controlled the Senate. Reid does not have this luxury, or a Supreme Court controlled by right wingers to back up the threat of a "nuclear option".

----------------


I just love it when posters resort to childish insults in lieu of a real argument....

I voiced my displeasure, as did many others. You think Reid is doing just fine? Well, I most decidedly do not. It wasn't a "childish insult," it was pointing out the absurdity of that demand of yours.

Even with a one-seat majority, we can still threaten to go nuclear--that's an immediate threat, and one that's not affected in the short-term by the prospect of the SCOTUS weighing in. We have power, and we're not using it.

Lather, rinse, repeat: WE HAVE POWER, AND WE'RE NOT USING IT.

And the repubs KNOW we won't use it. And yeah, I'm disgusted by it.

Republicans hell for the fillibuster, the way the Dems were blasted for even considering a fillibuster on Alito.

Remember the "Gang of 14" wanted to make themselves more important than they really were so they made sure we couldn't filibuster Alito.

would make it impossible to filibuster.

The Democrats didn't have enough votes to "fillibuster" (sic) Alito. But keep up with the Democrat-bashing; you're staying consistent.

And the GOP didn't have enough votes to can this debate two days ago either. Wake the fuck up.

they are hellbent on ignoring the voice of the majority of the people saying NO MORE WAR in Iraq. Yes, this will help us in 08, but I'm more disturbed by the war continuing.... those SOB's!



www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable <<-- antibush prodem stickers/shirts

:thumbsdown:

This will really do wonders for their popularity with the American public. :sarcasm:

If they can send thousands upon thousands of young men over there, and endorse this bloodshed, they should have no issues with open debate on the Senate floor. I mean, it's a just cause worthy of defending, isn't it Republicans?

let the american people see the repubs as warmongers.

Msongs
www.msongs.com

Republics refuse to discuss Iraq, refuse to even take up a non-binding resolution. Republics refuse to look at the issue that America is almost unanimous on. Republics don't want to take action on the biggest issue in this country today, but they will have a special session to invade the private life of Terri Schivo. Sen. Reid needs to ask very publicly: What are they hiding, why are they afraid to discuss this?

the publics opinions on the issue.

n/t

right.

advantage. Frist did it a couple of times as Senate leader.

Can someone clarify?

and well what did we expect? Principles?

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00044
Coleman R- MN, Collins R- ME, voted Yea, LIEberman ID- Conn., Reid D- NV voted Nay, (I think Reid voted Nay so he could bring it up again) Johnson D -SD, Landrieu D-LA, Martinez R-FL, McCain R- AZ did not vote

No surprise there.

and he is FINALLY voting in their interests.

Same for the other Repugs that voted as reps of the people, not Bush & Cheney.

I hope Arizonians are planning to sit in at McCain's Phoenix office tomorrow.

NOT

the American dream of being a democracy is over. It's been over since 2000 and the supremes' decision. What do I tell my grandkids? That we used to have a government for the people, by the people? That we used to be the greatest nation on earth

in a monarchy, and for us to say "remember when" and they will reply "why didn't you do anything?" this situation with our elected officials will have to come to some conclusion or action.

and publish it far & wide so they can't run from their crimes

U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 110th Congress - 1st Session

as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill Clerk under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate

Vote Summary

Question: On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to S. 470 )
Vote Number: 44 Vote Date: February 5, 2007, 05:44 PM
Required For Majority: 3/5 Vote Result: Cloture Motion Rejected
Measure Number: S. 470
Measure Title: A bill to express the sense of Congress on Iraq.
Vote Counts: YEAs 49
NAYs 47
Not Voting 4
Vote Summary By Senator Name By Vote Position By Home State

Alphabetical by Senator Name
Akaka (D-HI), Yea
Alexander (R-TN), Nay
Allard (R-CO), Nay
Baucus (D-MT), Yea
Bayh (D-IN), Yea
Bennett (R-UT), Nay
Biden (D-DE), Yea
Bingaman (D-NM), Yea
Bond (R-MO), Nay
Boxer (D-CA), Yea
Brown (D-OH), Yea
Brownback (R-KS), Nay
Bunning (R-KY), Nay
Burr (R-NC), Nay
Byrd (D-WV), Yea
Cantwell (D-WA), Yea
Cardin (D-MD), Yea
Carper (D-DE), Yea
Casey (D-PA), Yea
Chambliss (R-GA), Nay
Clinton (D-NY), Yea
Coburn (R-OK), Nay
Cochran (R-MS), Nay
Coleman (R-MN), Yea
Collins (R-ME), Yea
Conrad (D-ND), Yea
Corker (R-TN), Nay
Cornyn (R-TX), Nay
Craig (R-ID), Nay
Crapo (R-ID), Nay
DeMint (R-SC), Nay

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00044#position
Dodd (D-CT), Yea
Dole (R-NC), Nay
Domenici (R-NM), Nay
Dorgan (D-ND), Yea
Durbin (D-IL), Yea
Ensign (R-NV), Nay
Enzi (R-WY), Nay
Feingold (D-WI), Yea
Feinstein (D-CA), Yea
Graham (R-SC), Nay
Grassley (R-IA), Nay
Gregg (R-NH), Nay
Hagel (R-NE), Nay
Harkin (D-IA), Yea
Hatch (R-UT), Nay
Hutchison (R-TX), Nay
Inhofe (R-OK), Nay
Inouye (D-HI), Yea
Isakson (R-GA), Nay
Johnson (D-SD), Not Voting
Kennedy (D-MA), Yea
Kerry (D-MA), Yea
Klobuchar (D-MN), Yea
Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Kyl (R-AZ), Nay
Landrieu (D-LA), Not Voting
Lautenberg (D-NJ), Yea
Leahy (D-VT), Yea
Levin (D-MI), Yea
Lieberman (ID-CT), Nay
Lincoln (D-AR), Yea
Lott (R-MS), Nay
Lugar (R-IN), Nay
Martinez (R-FL), Not Voting
McCain (R-AZ), Not Voting
McCaskill (D-MO), Yea
McConnell (R-KY), Nay
Menendez (D-NJ), Yea
Mikulski (D-MD), Yea
Murkowski (R-AK), Nay
Murray (D-WA), Yea
Nelson (D-FL), Yea
Nelson (D-NE), Yea
Obama (D-IL), Yea
Pryor (D-AR), Yea
Reed (D-RI), Yea
Reid (D-NV), Nay
Roberts (R-KS), Nay
Rockefeller (D-WV), Yea
Salazar (D-CO), Yea
Sanders (I-VT), Yea
Schumer (D-NY), Yea
Sessions (R-AL), Nay
Shelby (R-AL), Nay
Smith (R-OR), Nay
Snowe (R-ME), Nay
Specter (R-PA), Nay
Stabenow (D-MI), Yea
Stevens (R-AK), Nay
Sununu (R-NH), Nay
Tester (D-MT), Yea
Thomas (R-WY), Nay
Thune (R-SD), Nay
Vitter (R-LA), Nay
Voinovich (R-OH), Nay
Warner (R-VA), Nay
Webb (D-VA), Yea
Whitehouse (D-RI), Yea
Wyden (D-OR), Yea
Vote Summary By Senator Name By Vote Position By Home State

Grouped By Vote Position
YEAs ---49
Akaka (D-HI)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Byrd (D-WV)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Clinton (D-NY)
Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Conrad (D-ND)
Dodd (D-CT)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Kohl (D-WI)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lincoln (D-AR)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Obama (D-IL)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Webb (D-VA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)
NAYs ---47
Alexander (R-TN)
Allard (R-CO)
Bennett (R-UT)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burr (R-NC)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Craig (R-ID)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Dole (R-NC)
Domenici (R-NM)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hagel (R-NE)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
Lott (R-MS)
Lugar (R-IN)
McConnell (R-KY)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Reid (D-NV)
Roberts (R-KS)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Stevens (R-AK)
Sununu (R-NH)
Thomas (R-WY)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Warner (R-VA)
Not Voting - 4
Johnson (D-SD)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Martinez (R-FL)
McCain (R-AZ)

Vote Summary By Senator Name By Vote Position By Home State

When is she up again?

Everyone should e-mail her and give her hell!


http://landrieu.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

Even had she been present, and voted 'yea', we'd still only have 50 yea votes, 10 votes less than the 60 needed for cloture. As it was, two Republicans didn't show up to vote.

Quelle surprise, asshole!

I hate to get that out.

Fuck him --Fuck Fuck, Fuck.

Bastard.

sorry, stupid question.

The Republican Way.

Will Democrats now grow a fucking spine and deny Chimpler funding for his war?

If they keep this up, the Republican Party as we know it is dead.

And I welcome it.

Who will be the new opposition party?

The Democrats bent over backwards trying to get these various factions together on one weak resolution -- and the Repunks decided to bear-hug themselves with the anchor that is the Bush/Cheney White House and the Iraq War.

Let them all sink like stones.

soldiers. This is worse than spitting on our soldiers and calling them baby killers!

That didn't happen. It was, and is right wing bullshit.

We are such suckers. The Republicans say, "jump," and we go out and buy a trampoline. No wonder they're rich and we're not.

By the way, I know it's always tempting to rewrite history, but there is film out there with anti-war protesters being unkind to our soldiers during the Vietnam Era.

Correction. I can remember specifics. I remember the actual conversations held by young adults. The general open sentiment was that soldiers, during the Vietnam War, were stupid for enlisting. It was a divisive time, and the right-wing exploited it very well.

I had hoped that baker/hamilton would have given cover for both sides to get the troops out. Well,so much for that idea. If the boys want to play hard ball,let's put it on full auto and commence to kick some ass.
Cut the funding! IMPEACH his ass! Or get the fuck out of the way!

Hopefully the US majority received the Republic message loud and clear.

And will respond appropriately in 2008 and beyond.

they are the GOP kings

Nuclear option.

:wtf:

BY VOTING AGAINST AN IRAQ DEBATE, SENATE REPUBLICANS VOTE IN FAVOR OF ESCALATION
Only Sen. ME. Susan Collins* and Sen. MN Norm Coleman* Voted for Debate on Rep 2008 Slate

AK Ted Stevens R Sr 2008
AL Jefferson Sessions R Jr 2008
CO Wayne Allard R Sr 2008
GA C. Saxby Chambliss R Sr 2008
ID Larry Craig R Sr 2008
KS Pat Roberts R Jr 2008
KY Mitch McConnell R Sr 2008
ME Susan Collins* R Jr 2008 Voted For Debate
MN Norm Coleman* R Jr 2008 Voted For Debate
MS Thad Cochran R Sr 2008
NC Elizabeth Dole R Sr 2008
NE Charles Hagel R Sr 2008
NH John Sununu R Jr 2008
NM Pete Domenici R Sr 2008
OK James Inhofe R Sr 2008
OR Gordon Harold Smith R Jr 2008
SC Lindsey Graham R Sr 2008
TN Lamar Alexander R Jr 2008
TX John Cornyn R Jr 2008
VA John Warner R Sr 2008
WY Michael Enzi R Jr 2008

yet once again, he walks the walk down party lines despite all his talk. That is why he will be unemployed come 2008.

We are comin for you.

She is a DINO. However....

My math may be off, but even with Landrieu and Loserman, it would have failed... because Cheney would have voted to break the tie.

:mad:

We needed 60 for cloture, we weren't even close.

Headline: Republicans block Senate debate on Iraq

I'll deal with the implications of the story later. Right now, I just can't believe that the M$M would actually print that Headline!

The worm has turned!

Particularly Hagel - the only rethug I've given kudo's too for speaking out so loudly opposed to Shrub's war.

He voted no? If so, how the hell did he justify this huge contradiction to what he's been preaching???

The public will be disgusted at the GOP...NOT the Dems on this.

I seem to recall a case when Bill Frist was required to vote against one of his own red-meat proposals, and everyone on DU wondered why. Then someone explained that, if a proposal before the Senate fails, it can't be reintroduced by someone who supported it the first time. Therefore, by voting against their bill once they knew it would never pass, Warner and Hagel would retain the right to bring it up again later.

He needs to run to the right to even survive. He hasn't announced yet, but his vote shows he's running.

ok..this sucks, but what is the positive from this?

The Democrats pushed for a non-binding resolution...essentially a meaningless resolution as far as the president is concerned. The public, however, was very much behind it. The public agrees with the Democrats on this. The public is so pissed off at Bush and his cronies that this could be another huge nail in the GOP coffin.

The Democrats say, "We wanted to send a message to the President from the American people about their disfavor with this war, but the president's party did not have the courage to stand up to their leader. We firmly believe in the rules of the Senate that allow for the minority party to disallow a vote through the use of the filibuster. While this action by the Republicans is regrettable, it is their right and we defend that right. We sincerely hope that the Republican Party understands that their actions will be viewed by the citizens and soldiers of this great nation as kowtowing to a reckless, out of control president whose actions are destroying our country. We pledge to the citizens of this country that the Democratic Party will continue to keep this man in the oval office in check as far as the constitution will allow. While we are sad that the party of George W. Bush does not have the courage to challenge his misguided leadership, we will continue in our effort to stop the madness."

So, for the positives:

1. The resolution would have done nothing to stop the war. George would have ignored it anyway.
2. The sad display by the GOP and a few foolish Dems will be seen by the public as an act of cowardice by the GOP. GOOD!
3. The Dems must state how disappointed they are in their fellow Senators but that they will continue to follow the rules of the Senate which allow for filibusters. Anything else would be unacceptable.
4. The Dems must at any opportunity point out that the Republicans are afraid of George Bush and that we hope they will get some courage and do what is right for America, our soldiers, and the world.

This can be a winner for the Dems in the long run.

I remember reading that Mitch McConnell said he would try to filibuster this if it ever came to the floor anyway.

not just the president

the entire Senate is worhtless, If the had some guts they would make this a binding resolution not some waste of time.

Just one week ago Mitchy said:


Today, Mitchy boy said:



Just how many faces does he see when he looks in the mirror?

...is a lying POS from way back. Hope he's enjoyed his ride and his glory because he will be going down in the next election--Kentuckians are growing in their hatred of that asshat.

:eyes:

I left the house and when I came home, the breaking news was that there was a partisan vote to not invoke cloture.

I thought for certain, given what Snow had said about Warner yesterday, that he, Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, and Chuck Hagel would have been pissed off enough to get this toothless "sense of the Senate" motion thru...

Guess I was wrong.

Much of the parliamentary maneuvering was so arcane that I, who can usually follow it, was baffled, and when I left viewing, somehow Warner wanted Collins to have 10 minutes, but Spector was confused...

I just don't get the votes, myself...Warner wanted it, now he doesn't...WTF?

Why did he spend almost 50 minutes talking about coal miners when they were supposed to be debating the war? What did I miss here?

The title of the motion was, Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to S. 470; A bill to express the sense of Congress on Iraq.

We wanted to move forward and actually debate and vote on S.470. The Repugs want nothing to do with S. 470 so they wanted to keep it from going to the floor where it would passed on a straight up or down vote. They didn't do this to kill the debate, they did it to kill the final vote.

If the senate does not bow to the american people, we should make it bow to the american people.

Could they asked for a worse headline?

What a PR disaster this is for them.

It's so frustrating to live in a state with both senators following Bush like lemmings.

and the Democratic resolution had been against open debate. What clowns.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/06/washington/06cong.html?_r=1&th=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&emc=th&pagewanted=print&adxnnlx=1170752448-eSEH9M5o25n0iPiKwerBuw

.......

Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska, a Democratic co-author of the resolution who typically promotes comity in the Senate, accused Republicans of stalling. “If not now, when?” he said. “If not now, do we wait for more troops to die before we oppose the president’s plan?”

In addition to the resolution introduced by Mr. Gregg, declaring that Congress should not cut off financing for forces in Iraq, Republican leaders had sought a Democratic commitment for a vote on another alternative, one introduced by Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona. That measure would set 11 conditions for the Iraqi government if it wanted to retain American support. The Republican approach would need 60 votes for passage.

Democrats said that the Gregg initiative was meant as a distraction and that they wanted to focus on the question of whether senators supported Mr. Bush’s plan or opposed it. “We are witnessing the spectacle of a White House and Republican senators unwilling even to engage in a debate on a war that claims at least one American life every day and at least $2.5 billion dollars a week,” said Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Democrat.

Some Republicans admitted that they were unsure how long the unity would last and whether Republicans could continue to make a case against the resolution on procedural grounds. And two Republicans facing re-election in 2008, Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Norm Coleman of Minnesota, joined Democrats in voting to begin the debate.

smirking!! )


.....The White House welcomed the Senate vote. “All sides have a right to be heard in this debate, and we support Senator McConnell’s and the Republicans’ right to be able to offer the amendments they want to offer,” said a spokeswoman, Dana Perino.

Senator John Sununu, a Republican of New Hampshire who is also up for re-election next year, acknowledged that voters were likely to be unhappy with the procedural wrangling over an issue as grave as Iraq.

Mr. Sununu, who sided with Republicans, but declined to say whether he would ultimately vote to oppose the Iraq plan, said, “It may come as a surprise to my colleagues, but most voting members of the American public think that the Senate spends all too much time talking and not enough time casting votes.”

I live in NH and am disgusted with this Bush ass kissing SOAB.

Dear Senator Gregg - Just a note to thank you and your Republican colleagues for blocking any discussion on the war in Iraq. You're saving Democratic Senate campaigns large amounts of money. The people spoke in November; Republicans didn't listen. We'll speak louder in November, 2008. Sincerely, Vinca

be taken lightly by Congress that so many here have expressed such strong views. For a citizen, a Patriot to feel so failed by their government to leave the country or desire to, should send a loud and clear signal. I personally have been at this point for some amount of time. I'm rather surprised it has taken so many this long to know on an emotional level that we're fucked.

We should send this thread to our Reps. Send it to the MSN, send it to your local newspaper. Nobody cares about the voice of the people in the end. They won't read it or comment on this piece.

The GOP will not debate this war. Do any of you get nauseated thinking about the issues we are confronted with? I do. Nearly everything Bush does makes me feel sick. His budget has cuts for Medicare and Medicaid. He made promises to Seniors about not cutting Medicare short. It is a constant assault on citizens, their rights and their wills.

Pelosi, who I've never felt positive about, doesn't allow impeachment to even be an option taking office. What a tone that set. I don't trust her and I don't trust the process she has in mind. The only thing on the table should be immediate impeachment and prosecution. We cannot afford to do otherwise.

What would the world think of America if we practiced democracy and followed the Rule of Law? Show the world by removing this decider - when was the last time you heard Bush call himself The President? Take down this dictator and I'm sure the respect we've lost we can regain. The alternative is for me, to grim too imagine.

A letter to the Bushie would serve the same purpose as a vote - and free the Senate up for more important stuff.

out. The only weapon we have against these filibustering warmongers is the threat of losing their jobs.

Obviously they either don't feel threatened enough, or they don't care about losing their jobs and just want to get their licks in on Democrats on their way out of even more power.

Unfortunately, I don't think many of these Rethugs care about keeping their jobs as they probably want to hurry up and grab their after-office golden parachute from some big business that they are spending most of their time representing.

The way to stop some of them from filibustering everything is to shine a light on and attack this patronage. Perhaps pass as many laws as Constitutionally possible against this.

Also, remember that part of their strategy is to prohibit Democrats from passing important legislation, therefore making naive Democratic-leaning voters angry. They want voters to be angry at Democratic politicians, rather than the Rethugs who are filibustering. I'm unhappy to read that some impatient people here, who should know better, are falling into that trap.

This whole charade stinks of it. We need more Murthas and Feingolds willing to make real changes in policy.

Not "Republicans", but "Senate". Bastards :grr:

Republicans blocked debate on ALL the resolutions, compromises as well as Feingold's. What is the alternative? What should they do to fight more?

Our leadership in Washington D.C. is utterly USELESS.

Harry Reid is a fucking joke.

THIS is what we voted for?

A majority party that STILL gets pushed around?

It's getting hard to keep supporting this shit...

We would have needed a lot of turncoat GOP to overturn attempted cloture, so this result is no surprise. Now what we have to do is hammer them in the media for obstructionism.

I wonder how Lieberman voted on this.....

BY VOTING AGAINST AN IRAQ DEBATE, SENATE REPUBLICANS VOTE IN FAVOR OF ESCALATION
On 2/5/07 only Sen. ME. Susan Collins* and Sen. MN Norm Coleman* Voted for Debate. The Rest of
the 2008 R Senate Slate basically voted in favor of escalation by not allowing a DEBATE on a
NON-BINDING ANTI-SURGE proposal.

AK Ted Stevens R Sr 2008
AL Jefferson Sessions R Jr 2008
CO Wayne Allard R Sr 2008
GA C. Saxby Chambliss R Sr 2008
ID Larry Craig R Sr 2008
KS Pat Roberts R Jr 2008
KY Mitch McConnell R Sr 2008
ME Susan Collins* R Jr 2008 Voted For Debate
MN Norm Coleman* R Jr 2008 Voted For Debate
MS Thad Cochran R Sr 2008
NC Elizabeth Dole R Sr 2008
NE Charles Hagel R Sr 2008
NH John Sununu R Jr 2008
NM Pete Domenici R Sr 2008
OK James Inhofe R Sr 2008
OR Gordon Harold Smith R Jr 2008
SC Lindsey Graham R Sr 2008
TN Lamar Alexander R Jr 2008
TX John Cornyn R Jr 2008
VA John Warner R Sr 2008
WY Michael Enzi R Jr 2008

The complete Senate vote on the Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to S. 470; A bill to express the sense of Congress on Iraq. can be found at this link

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00044

To contact your Senator You may phone the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. A
switchboard operator will connect you directly with the Senate office you request.

for impeachments-Bush & Cheney.

Get Nancy Pelosi in to take care of things.
Then in '08 vote in a dem who did not vote
for this so-called war.

I am afraid that * is not going to pay attention to anything Congress decrees anyway. So let the GOP carry this invasion on their backs into next November. Between 20,000 dead and wounded soldiers, a broken treasury, and a Resident with a 20% approval rating, they'll be lucky to have 42 Senate seats in Jan 09.

The GOP playing politics with people's lives just sickens me!

I don't, for one minute, think Rove is sitting back twiddling his thumbs while the Republican power goes down the drain. Look for this whole thing to be used to slap Dems in the face somehow.

Dems had 2 ways of stopping him... 1. impeachment 2. not funding the war
They refuse to do either.

If the Senate Republicans want to play hardball.

Not sure what sort of leverage Reid can apply in the Senate. Even a reach for a nuclear option would probably fail to get 51 votes. Can he make life miserable for their staff? What little petty shit can he do to make them miserable?

I know in the House it is easy for the Majority to be really rough. Pelosi should do it.

Or maybe we should just impeach in the House, since they can't filibuster that in the Senate. If that's the only way we get a vote in the Senate on George Bush and his war, so be it. Impeachment would provide a vehicle for a Congressional referendum on this war.

fixing the problems!

Take them up on their offer to allow a vote to cut off the funding? The vote they want? EJ Dionne's column on this said that's a vote we will lose if it takes place today.

In the long run, politically the Republicans will lose because they are flatly on the wrong side of this issue. They're doing what they usually do, projecting their own craven behavior onto us. They're playing politics with the lives of young men and women and accusing us of doing it.

If we win the funding cutoff vote they will blame us for losing the war. That would be a nice political problem to have because it would mean that we were able to serve the American people.

If we lose that vote today, they can say the Congress had a chance to cutoff funding and approved the President's surge plan by failing to do so. That means the war goes on longer and they hang around in Iraq until 2009 and dump it in our laps.

That's what we Democrats do. The Republicans lie to the people about things and make a mess, we clean it up, we pay the political price. Guess that's just our job. Then they try to make the public mad at us for not keeping their destructive fantasies going and letting the air out of the balloon. If they learned anything from Bush 41 it was to not leave one of their own holding the bag. Gerry Ford was another bagman for them. In a way they need a Democratic interregnum too.

What part of NON-BINDING do people not understand?

The best the Dems can do is come up with a NON-BINDING resolution? Baby-step my ass. What a friggin' waste of time. Might as well not even show up for work. The Dems are like a dog that's been beat too much, they cower. I want a dog with TEETH that's not afraid to BITE, not some Non-Binding Bullshit.

I'm just wondering...does anyone have the list?

And thanks of course!

credibility as far as I'm concerned; 4) To the rest of the GOP: You will burn in hell for your failures on the issue of Iraq and karma will be a bitch...the blood of our soldiers and of innoncents Iraqis is on your hands.

The voters of America and history books will remember you all....

I don't think his speech has been fully restored yet.

Ok...being in the hospital is an excuse :hi:

Sorry, but I'm just fuming mad about what is happening....

An open letter to Republican Senators:
While you were playing political games with a non-binding resolution,8 more servicemen were killed-bringing the total of servicemen killed to 3101.I hold you responsible for their deaths.While you bickered,more servicemen were maimed and wounded,bringing the number of amputees to over 500-I hold you responsible for their disability.While you refused to go on the record with your opinion-and the opinions of your constituents-more families received that late night phone call or that knock on the door,confirming what a parent fears most.I hold you personally responsible for the grief these families endure-so that you can do more posturing for the camera.While you stalled and wasted my tax dollars,thousands of soldiers and Marines are looking at their third and fourth tour in a war zone,many of them staring down a bottle or the barrel of a gun.I hold you responsible for the trauma they will endure for years to come-trauma you,who have never served,will never know.While you stalled and hemmed and hawed,thousands of innocent Iraqi men,women and children were killed and wounded.I hold you responsible for the hatred that ALL Iraqis now have for America.The results of the 2006 elections have given you a mandate,Republicans.Your constituents do not want this insane war.We are tired of seeing our troops abused for your political and financial gain.2008 will be here soon enough.Do the right thing for once in your political career.It's what We the People elected you for.

those evil bastards come election time.