41 NO votes, so it can't pass

:grr: :mad:

Not a bad thing IMO

it worked for the pukes

what their 2006 mandate is, they can show how much obstruction the 'cons are creating. It's win-win for the Dems. Both as doing the will of the people, bringing the occupation to a close, and showing the 'cons as pathetic and out-of-touch with Americans.

Keep at it Dem leadership. I'll CRITICIZE you in a heartbeat, but I'll also praise you when you are doing the right things.

This is simply another exercise in grandstanding futility on the part of the Dems. The only way that this war is going to be stopped is by holding up each and every supplemental war funding bill in committee and defunding the war. No vote, so signature needed.

But sadly the Dems don't want to use this weapon, making them increasingly complicit in the continution of this illegal, immoral war.

Meanwhile halfway around the world real people are getting killed and injured by the thousands in a real battle. This is simply another bullshit distraction that enables the Dems to act all concerned while allowing the war to grind on.

End the war, defund it and force our troops to come home. It is the only logical and moral thing to do.

Not the point. This is a battle for control of the Senate.

It doesn't matter in the least if we lose the vote. What we gain is control of the Senate, and a public record of the GOP vote which we can use against them '08. That's why, instead of hiding behind "We don't have the votes," the Dems should let the Rethugs obstruct and filibuster all they want!

:headbang:
rocknation

In other words what you're saying is that this little exercise was more about playing politics than anything else? Great, so while thousands continue to die, the Dems are playing political games:eyes: All the while they can end the war simply by defunding it.:grr:

But losing isn't so bad, because it puts a nail in their coffins. I hope it's the first sign that the Dems have decided not to go down without a fight. And maybe defunding the war will be a little. easier now. Hopefully, it WILL be the next step. I was a LOT unhappier when they were whining about not having the votes--that no reason not to take action at all.

:headbang:
rocknation

There was the Civil Rights Movement, the anti-Viet Nam War movement -- over and over, it was all grandstanding futility, but eventually it worked. People started paying attention, and policy changed. We Democrats got into trouble when we STOPPED the grandstanding and gave in to the futility. Grandstanding futility is the secret weapon of the powerless. It is all we have at this point.

Yet they refuse to use it. The could, very easily and very constitutionally, hold up every single war funding bill in committee, defund the war and force the troops to come home. Instead they are indeed grandstanding with futile, meaningless gestures like this.

The public is out ahead of Congress on this one, with seventy percent of the public wanting the troops brought home. Hell, there are even more of the public who want the war defunded than are against it.<http://www.foxnews.com/projects/pdf/030107_Bush_Iraq_Iran_web.pdf> This isn't the case of the Congress leading the public, it is the public trying to pull the Congress along and getting them to do the right thing. This POS stunt is not the right thing.

They continue the obscene kabuki of attempting to impose a FUTURE date for withdrawal. Thus they set up a scenario where the enactment of legislation must clear the hurdle of filibuster. They could turn that around in the blink of an eye and refuse to pass any funding for the occupation of Iraq - and that refusal would only require 41 votes.

"fund the troops." I know it sucks, but there it is.
:grr:

:shrug: The GOP has no fear of being called obstructionist. The GOP had no problem VETOING funding for the troops. Fuck the lies and clay feet.

The GOP has no fear of being called anything, because they own the media.

McConnell is a narrow, compromised, stubborn old goat. Each strategy we enact against his position weakens his position and strengthens ours. Also it reveals the Democratic majorities in both chambers to be in alignment with the will of the voters.

It places a pro-war administrative mouthpiece like McConnell on the defensive everywhere he goes.

GOP folks in the Congress must privately realize their position is untenable. They have the blocking votes right now, yes. But there's an election a'comin' and it ain't lookin' good for their team.