Democrats Won't Temper Iraq Legislation

[Rose Siding]

Source: AP via SFGate

After weeks of suggesting Democrats would temper their approach to Iraq legislation in a bid to attract more Republicans, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid declared abruptly Tuesday that he had no plans to do so.

The Democratic leader said he will call for a vote this month on several anti-war proposals, including one by Sen. Carl Levin that would insist President Bush end U.S. combat next summer. The proposals would be mandatory and not leave Bush wiggle room, said Reid, D-Nev.

"There (are) no goals. It's all definite timelines," he told reporters of the planned legislation.
.......
Reid's hardline stance, announced after the party's weekly policy lunch on Tuesday, reflects a calculation by Democrats that Levin's proposal probably would have failed either way......When asked why Democrats won't soften the deadline, the majority leader said he doesn't have confidence Republicans are willing to challenge Bush on the war.

"I think they've decided definitely they want this to be the Senate Republicans' war, not just Bush's. They're jealous," he said with a smile.



Read more: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/09/18/national/w131138D56.DTL

[Rose Siding]

1. FINALLY! Could it be that they HEARD us?

Words, so far, but the RIGHT words, at least.

[Demeter]

11. Let's See If They Carry Though n/t

[MindMatter]

31. Maybe not directly but the candidates in the field are getting a heavy dose of grass roots

It's a Ghandi thing. "There go my people, I must run to catch up with them for I am their leader."

[Steve_in_California]

35. Alert!!!!

We need to help Senator Leahy with his restore habeas corpus act. Joe Biden has already said he wil vote yes. They need only a few more votes to avoid fillibuster. Please check your senator’s position and take appropriate action. Here’s the link: http://restore-habeas.org /

[terip64]

50. This needs its own thread. n/t

[terip64]

51. And Welcome!

[niceypoo]

42. No, we have been here before

and every time we get screwed.

[blayne]

2. I like the new spin he is putting on it...

"the Senate Republican's war, not just Bush's." I think that will do more to scare the shit out of the many Republicans who are worried they're going to fail miserably in the next election. They just need to keep reinforcing that truth.

[frogcycle]

45. bingo

this is exactly what they need to do. Scare the shit out of them. And let the voters hammer them all we need is a few to fold; the rest will go like tenpins

screw "we don't have the votes"
GET THE VOTES!

and not by caving in and voting their way

[jaybeat]

3. Hell YES! About time! (nt)

[Kagemusha]

4. I have to laugh at the people cheering. You realize Reid gave up, right?

He's doing this because he gave up on anything actually passing, now that Bush's maybe sort of possibly troop reduction by Christmas has flattered Warner's ego and gotten Warner back on Bush's side.

[Rose Siding]

5. I didn't want any of those toothless compromises to pass

Reid gave 'em a chance to deal and has FINALLY (belatedly) acknowledged that it ain't gonna happen.

Now they can do what we sent them to do.

[trashcanistanista]

6. Reid gave up?

Last I heard the split in the Senate was 51/50 the one being Leibermen. Reid stood his ground. Maybe but a big maybe, Hagel will swing over but the rest of them won't. Reid needs to keep pushing it for a vote and then maybe the rest of the country will know who to blame for this. The rethugs should be the ones worrying right about now.

I just wanted to add: People are so god damn sick and tired of this war and accompanying congressional bs that if it is not ended soon the Dems will wipe this country clean of rethugs in 2008 and will be able to do whatever they want. If that prospect doesn't send a chill down a rethug's spine, they are dead and/or crazy.

(can't spell today)

[Kagemusha]

7. Will know who to blame for this?

Fine, if they can make political hay about failing to end the war, I hope it helps them. It certainly won't be helping anyone else.

I don't want to lose perspective of that.

[trashcanistanista]

8. It seems that

that may be the only way to end it.

[PSPS]

9. The senate is irrelevant

If the house won't fund the madness, that's the end of it. All that is required is a simple majority in the house to fund a withdrawal. Beyond that, it doesn't matter at all. The senate can scuttle it or bush can veto. It doesn't matter. All that is required is a majority vote in the house that doesn't continue to fund bush's madness. Once that's done, every possible outcome will accomplish the desired goal provided the house democrats don't roll over yet again.

[Roy]

10. What happened to the word "OBSTRUCTIONIST"

Dems hold up bills that hurt the public and it's called obstructionist.

Repubs hold up bills to stop kids dying for profit, and it's called Dem failure.

The Dems have everything going for them, but they really need to speak up for themselves and not let Repubs speak for them.

[frogcycle]

46. Well, John Kerry has been sending out emails

soliciting help to "stop the Obstructionist Republicanss" for quite some time now. You should get on his mailing list.

[Roy]

48. Kerry's is but one email list I am on. I was referring to ......

pronouncements in the visible media by elected Dems and Dem talking heads.

[rodeodance]

12. Democrats won't temper Iraq legislation

Source: ap



Democrats won't temper Iraq legislation

By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 9 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - After weeks of suggesting Democrats would temper their approach to Iraq legislation in a bid to attract more Republicans, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid declared abruptly Tuesday that he had no plans to do so.


The Democratic leader said he will call for a vote this month on several anti-war proposals, including one by Sen. Carl Levin that would insist President Bush end U.S. combat next summer. The proposals would be mandatory and not leave Bush wiggle room, said Reid, D-Nev.

"There (are) no goals. It's all definite timelines," he told reporters of the planned legislation.

Levin, D-Mich., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Monday night he would have agreed to turn his summer deadline into a nonbinding goal if doing so meant attracting enough votes to pass. Several Republicans have said they are uneasy about Bush's war strategy but do not like the idea of setting a firm timetable on troop withdrawals.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070918/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq;_ylt=AlRoXYxIeZ_meBdXy1GhgfWs0NUE

---

well, maybe they got the message?-----force the votes!

[terip64]

13. kick and recommend and rate this up at Yahoo! n/t

[rodeodance]

16. yes ----do rate it up

[rodeodance]

14. Reid's hardline stance, announced after the party's weekly policy lunch on Tuesday, reflects a calcu

Reid's hardline stance, announced after the party's weekly policy lunch on Tuesday, reflects a calculation by Democrats that Levin's proposal probably would have failed either way. Democrats hold a thin majority in the Senate and similar legislation has repeatedly fallen short of the 60 votes needed to break a GOP filibuster.

When asked why Democrats won't soften the deadline, the majority leader said he doesn't have confidence Republicans are willing to challenge Bush on the war.

"I think they've decided definitely they want this to be the Senate Republicans' war, not just Bush's. They're jealous," he said with a smile.

[rodeodance]

15. Look---Boxer, Feingold, Dodd----FORCED his hand on this!!

Democrats are in a box on the Iraq war debate, lacking the votes to pass legislation ordering troops home but tied to a support base that wants nothing less. Several Democrats, including Sens. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, Russ Feingold of Wisconsin and Barbara Boxer of California, have said they will not vote for anything short of a firm deadline to end the war.

[trashcanistanista]

40. If that's true

I thank god for the mighty three - Feingold, Boxer and Dodd and I am not a religious person.

[rodeodance]

17. Your Recommendation:

[msongs]

18. let us insist they stick to it this time. then I will praise them like I have admonished them nt

[rodeodance]

22. YES--ALL need to send emails, call NOW

[rodeodance]

24. 3.7 stars

RECOMMEND THIS STORY

Your Recommendation:

Average (146 votes)
3.7 stars

[calimary]

43. And call 'em in the morning. These delicate backbones that may have

started to grow need SERIOUS reinforcements. Call them in the morning with some calcium supplement! Please note the handy TOLL FREE Capitol Hill switchboard numbers located in my sig line below, for your convenience.

[mike_c]

19. no negotiation-- end the illegal war against Iraq NOW!

This is very good news if the dem leadership will just stick to their guns. First and foremost, NO funding for continuing the war!

[terip64]

20. kick!

[rodeodance]

21. Levin's legislation would require that the U.S. begin withdrawing some troops from Iraq within 90 da

Levin's legislation would require that the U.S. begin withdrawing some troops from Iraq within 90 days, which Bush has already said he plans to do. It also would require that the U.S. hand off the combat mission to the Iraqis within nine months and restrict U.S. troops to such tasks as fighting terrorists and training the Iraqi security force.

Reid said the bill will be considered as an amendment to a defense policy bill on the floor, along with a proposal by Feingold that would cut off money for combat operations next year and one by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., limiting combat tours.

McCain blasted Webb's amendment as "unconstitutional."

"The Congress of the United States has the right to declare war and to fund armies and navies. It says nothing about setting tours of duties," he said.

[terip64]

23. Are you kidding me that nobody is sending this to the greatest page? Come on people!

[rodeodance]

25. This IS the best news I have seen in MONTHS.

[terip64]

26. I agree! I think they may finally be getting it! We need to keep up the pressure! n/t

[rodeodance]

27. "There (are) no goals. It's all definite timelines," he told reporters of the planned legislation.

The Democratic leader said he will call for a vote this month on several anti-war proposals, including one by Sen. Carl Levin that would insist President Bush end U.S. combat next summer. The proposals would be mandatory and not leave Bush wiggle room, said Reid, D-Nev.

"There (are) no goals. It's all definite timelines," he told reporters of the planned legislation.

[superkia]

28. They just dont want it dumped in their lap to take the whole blame.

They gave him a loaded weapon and ammo whenever he wanted it until now? Americans have been pissed about this war for a while now but we didn't matter, now that it could dirty up some political careers, its time to save lives. Dennis Kucinich was the guy that voted against it and said it was a war about oil but for some reason no one else followed? Wonder if there hand has been in the cookie jar too?

[Gregorian]

29. Yay. Let's dance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTxxaRrUFJg

Note: I think this was the birthplace of bad republicans. Don't ask why I'm watching this.

[w4rma]

30. Good. (nt)

[madrchsod]

32. tim johnson is back

and that certainly helps the cause...reid mentioned this fact last week

[yodermon]

33. This is the "easy" part. What about after the veto? n/t

[TankLV]

34. I'll believe it AFTER it happens...I won't hold my breath...

I've heard this all the times before, only to be severly disappointed when they capitulate to the repukes or give up once again...

Make it different this time around...

[unkachuck]

36. so what....

....does this mean?....when you and I both know, after all is said and done, Harry and Nancy will give bush what he wants....

..."including one by Sen. Carl Levin that would insist President Bush end U.S. combat next summer."...

....insist?....well maybe, but you must ask bush nicely, try saying,'pretty-please'....that might do it....

[Hydra]

37. Finally!

Let's see some teeth! Take the fight to them, rather than letting the Repubs set the rules of engagement!

[Hulk]

38. I'll believe it when I see it too...but it's a damn good idea!!

It's like "impeachment" folks. Get it on the record at the very least!! Discuss it!! Open up the can of shit that sits in the middle of the living room and acknowledge the pile of shit in the White House and the mess he has this country in.

If the repugs want to kill it...then they can wear the scarlet letter. Show some balls!! It's what we sent you there for!

[SlowDownFast]

39. K&R. Indeed. n/t

[wisteria]

41. Good. n/t

[happygoluckytoyou]

44. NEWS ALERT.... HARRY GONADS SIGHTED

NOW IF ONLY NANCY P. COULD GROW A SET

[GMFORD]

47. I guess when the polls against the war didn't change

after Petreus report, he finally got the message we want out. Or maybe it was the new Pew poll that asked whether the dems are going too far or not far enough to fight Bush's Iraq policy. If you haven't seen it (DKos has the stats) you can imagine how it came out...dems and independents say overwhelmingly not enough, repugs say too much (do we care what they think?)

[terip64]

49. kick for the morning crowd. Hope on the horizon...n/t