Democratic Leaders Rally Prominent Party Members To Support Iraq War Bill

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON: Up to a dozen Democrats might resist setting a deadline to end the war in Iraq, prompting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to rally prominent party members to help widen the margin for a nail-biting vote.

Former Rep. Lee Hamilton, who co-chaired the Iraq Study Group, is expected to extend his support for the measure before the House votes on Thursday. Former Florida Sen. Bob Graham and President Jimmy Carter's national security adviser, Zbigniew Brzezinski, backed Pelosi's proposal on Tuesday.

The bill "will clarify the U.S. role in Iraq and generate performance by the Iraqis that in all likelihood would otherwise be postponed," Graham wrote in a letter to Pelosi. "In doing so, the bill provides what is currently missing, a plan to redeploy our troops from a situation that cannot be improved by their continued presence."

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Pelosi's intense lobbying reflects the high stakes for a new speaker trying to prove that she can govern. With Democrats holding 233 seats and Republicans with 201, Democrats can afford only 15 "no" votes and still be assured of passing the legislation.

---END OF EXCERPT---



Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/20/america/NA-GEN-US-Iraq.php

[pinto]

1. Even if "up to a dozen" Dem's withhold support, we pass this one.

From the same article:

"I'll say we are closer to the 218 today than we were yesterday, and we'll be closer to it tomorrow than we are today," House Majority Whip James Clyburn said Tuesday after emerging from a caucus meeting.

Leadership hopes the endorsements will buoy support for a bill that some moderates say goes too far and liberals say does not go far enough. Pelosi received her first big political boost on Monday when the grass-roots anti-war group MoveOn.org extended its support.

The momentum continued Tuesday in a private meeting of party members, where Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Illinois announced she would not stand in the way. Strongly against the war and initially expected to vote against the bill because it would not end the war immediately, Schakowsky said she planned to send a letter to her liberal colleagues urging them to drop their opposition.

The legislation "moves our position forward by focusing — not on if we will get out of Iraq — but when we will get out of Iraq," she said.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/20/america/NA-GEN-US-Iraq.php

[rodeodance]

3. Schakowsky is the one of the leaders of the Progressive Plan (vs the

Pelosi Plan

[pinto]

4. Yeah, and she states it (Pelosi's bill) "moves our position forward."

I think that's heads up legislative savvy to stake a place in the debate while moving your agenda forward. Schakowsky holds a place at the table, as does the Progressive Caucus.

:thumbsup:

[still_one]

2. My prediction, In five years we will unfortunately be talking about the same thing

[maddezmom]

5. Reuters: FACTBOX-U.S. Democrats' Iraq withdrawal proposals

HOUSE BILL:

July 1, 2007: Bush must certify Iraq is making significant progress in securing the country, sharing oil revenues equitably among all Iraqis and other political and military benchmarks. If Bush does not provide the certification, an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops must begin and be completed by December 2007.

Oct. 1, 2007: Bush must certify Iraq achieved the benchmarks. Otherwise, U.S. troops must begin withdrawing immediately and be out of Iraq by March 2008.

Sept. 1, 2008: If both of the above certifications were provided by Bush, U.S. forces would begin withdrawing by March 1, 2008 and would finish by Sept. 1, 2008.

SENATE BILL:

March 31, 2008: U.S. troops would begin to withdraw from Iraq no later than four months after enactment of legislation "with the goal" of finishing the withdrawal of combat troops by March 31, 2008.

Both bills would allow some American troops to remain in Iraq to help train Iraqi forces, to protect U.S. personnel and to conduct counterterrorism operations. But combat troops would be withdrawn.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N22364084.htm