Hotline confirms that there will be a "Murtha Vote" by 7 pm

November 18, 2005
GOP Tries To Call Murtha's "Bluff"
We can now confirm that there will be a "Murtha Vote" later this p.m. Speaker Dennis Hastert's spokesperson Ron Bonjean tells The Hotline that it's a "vote to send a message to our American troops that we believe in their mission of fighting terrorists and we must not retreat and defeat."

Angered by what he saw as House Dems "applauding but then backing off" Murtha's statement on 11/17, Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ) rose this a.m. at the House GOP Conference and suggested that they call for a vote to force Dems to show "where they stand to the American people," according to his spokesperson Larry VanHoose. Hayworth's call was met with what VanHoose described as "enthusiastic applause" from the rank-and-file GOP.

Pushing aside votes on extending the tax cuts, reauthorizing the Patriot Act and a long-awaited measure on federal flood insurance, the GOP leadership has turned Hayworth's idea into a resolution and will bring it to floor of the House for a vote by 7 pm, according to senior GOP leadership sources.

The question now is what Leader Pelosi and her caucus will do. After keeping her Dems in line on both major fiscal votes on 11/17, does she stick them all in cabs and push them off to DCA, IAD and BWI? Or will some Dems from conservative or military-heavy districts insist on staying and casting their "nays?"

CNN is reporting that Dems are planning on having just Murtha debate the resolution, but it remains to be seen how and if the rest of the caucus votes.

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/

this will be very interesting. I may even try to sneak a peek at C-span even though I'm at work. Thank goodness for live streams :)

:popcorn:

the Dems had better not disappoint on this one.

Like you're going to vote Republican?

That's not just me being a wiseass, that's the reality of the situation. But this is just the kind of situation where the pressure of the "Two Party System" can be put to use. The GOP has a lot to lose, too.

The answer lies in what WE do, not "the Dems". They're the ones caught between the rock and the hard place. WE are the ones who can raise hell and demand that Team Bush be held accountable for its lies and fraud.

And actually, we're doing that. Bush is at 35% or less. Our Grand and Glorious War of liberation is about as popular as a rotisserie chicken that has fallen behind the fridge and escaped notice until just a few days ago.

WE have to get to the phones and tell our Democratic representatives that we will back them to the hilt on this one. And if the rep is Republican, we can tell them to vote against the war, anyway. Every little bit of pressure will help.

--p!

Rep. Murtha has flatly stated that the American people are way ahead of them on this issue. Let's show them just how "ahead" we really are!

Peace.

If it's not some sleazy deceptive BS, if it is a real call for immediate withdrawal, it is the patriotic duty of every Democratic Representative to vote for it. Are we Dems or mice?

.

vote of confidence/no confidence about the war? Would it have been a resolution by McKinney, perhaps? What was the result? My fondest hope is that tonight's vote show progress - I doubt very, very much that Pelosi can - or will try - to hold the Dems together on this one.

:shrug:

What the hell is wrong with those repuke yahoos?

We must not defeat???

It's time for everyone truly to SUPPORT THE TROOPS AND GET THEM OUT OF THIS ILLEGAL (and now civil) WAR.


Peace.

I'm sick of their tactics. This is serious business, and Rep. Murtha is a very serious man. The least they can do is address the issue with the gravity it deserves instead of resorting to cheap tricks and empty rhetoric.

The GOP wants to play games? I think it is very poor "strategery" on their part to open up this question for on-the-record statements supporting the war - they know how many Americans want us out ASAP, and feel the war was a mistake. Now they're going on record as supporting Bush? They are idiots. I don't think they'd be making this mistake if Delay was still there. Too bad for them !

how deeply irresponsible & reprehensible

before he was a congressman. now i hear he wants to run for governor of arizona.

A petty backlash to a man bravely stating his opinion and then standing up to critics.

I think the Dems should refuse to vote and should make noise about this waste.

Some believe we should do a slower withdrawal, they believe that is the best answer. However much they respect Murtha if they don't agree with immediate withdrawal it would be stupid to vote for it. Yet the vote against it will be used as spin to put down Murtha.

The vote is a sham, a shame, a game and should get no respect. Walk out en masse.