Iraq Resolution Typifies Rift in Senate

GOP Leader Won Battle on the Floor, but Perhaps Not in Court of Public Opinion
Since the new Congress convened, Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) have emerged as the Senate's odd couple, the even-tempered McConnell hurling parliamentary brickbats at the quirky Reid with an even smile and a "Who, me?" shrug.

But though McConnell may be winning procedural battles -- on ethics legislation and a minimum-wage increase and by stopping a high-profile Iraq debate -- Reid, at least this past week, may have played the stronger hand on the war issue, on which public opinion is clearly on his side.

The drama started Monday evening, when McConnell rallied GOP senators to block from the Senate floor a nonbinding resolution opposing President Bush's plan to increase troops in Iraq. But since then, the headlines have been withering, blaming Republicans for sidetracking the debate. Rank-and-file Republican senators are grumbling and threatening to break with McConnell, as the much ballyhooed war debate has morphed into a procedural spat with the GOP playing defense.

"I'm very surprised how they handled this," Reid said of McConnell and his Republican leadership team. "It was so obvious. I just think they miscalculated. And it keeps getting worse."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/10/AR2007021001240.html

If the Dems can't plan of getting an act through, what happens to that bill Kennedy wanted, to prohibit any attack on Iran without congressional authorization? This resolution was, I believe, a test to see what kind of bipartisan support the Dems could get, knowing they need 60 votes for many types of resolutions.

McConnell doesn't mind our soldiers dying for nothing or the Iraq civilians destroying each other. It is all about an endless war and kissing crazy king george's a**.

"McConnell, who is married to Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao, is a staunch conservative who is regarded as one of President Bush's closest allies in Congress. He has vowed to do whatever he can to prevent Congress from passing a resolution criticizing Bush's war policies."

In McConnell speak this means - Do not criticize my king george.

"McConnell complained that the Democrats were denying Republicans a vote on alternative resolutions supportive of the war effort."

In McConnell speak this means - Everything my king does is wonderful and thou shall not hinder the king's war.

Edited for the heck of it. :)