Senate Republicans halt Iraq withdrawal plan

[sabra]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Republicans on Friday blocked a $50 billion Iraq war bill because it had a troop pullout plan, defeating Democrats' latest attempt to end the war while continuing the battle over funding it.

The Senate action stopped a Democratic proposal that had passed the House of Representatives on a largely partisan vote on Wednesday. The measure needed 60 votes to pass under Senate rules; it only got 53 votes, with 45 senators voting against.

The measure would have given President George W. Bush about one-fourth of the $196 billion he wants for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in fiscal 2008, while setting a goal that all U.S. combat soldiers withdraw from Iraq by December 15, 2008.

Earlier, Democrats blocked a Republican proposal to give Bush $70 billion of the war funds he seeks, but without the withdrawal timetable attached.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/16/AR2007111600428.html

[rodeodance]

1. yup

[TwilightGardener]

2. Total standstill. As long as Chimpy hasn't won yet, I'm OK with it.

[rodeodance]

7. yes, congress will go home for over two weeks now.

[AndyA]

3. Further proof the Republicans don't support the troops.

They send them to die in a war based on lies.

The troops don't have the proper equipment.

They are served contaminated water by companies awarded no-bid contracts by the Bush Administration.

They aren't cared for properly when they return home if they're injured.

And they are being forced to remain in country when it's generally accepted the only solution at this point is a political one, not a military one.

Bring the troops home now. End this sham of a war. Impeach Bush/Cheney. Support the troops.

[MaineDem]

4. Why isn't the headline that the GOP plan was defeated?

God, I hate headline writers! Thank you, Washington Post.

[rodeodance]

12. that would have been a grand one

[BootinUp]

5. DU Speak translation: THose Cowardly Dems!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! nt

[rodeodance]

6. Glad to see this Headline by Reuters. Puts the blame on Repugs where it belongs!

[rodeodance]

8. REC for the great headline!!

[rodeodance]

9. AP stupid headline:Senate blocks Iraq war money

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071116/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq;_ylt=AgEYyHg_UnXcSHrhasNKCJ.s0NUE

Senate blocks Iraq war money

By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer
7 minutes ago

[liberal N proud]

10. The truth behind that headline...

Republicans block support for the troops.

[rodeodance]

11. yes, but that will never see the light of day

[gratuitous]

13. So Little Boots doesn't get his $50 billion or his $70 billion

I'm not sure if I can see a downside to this. Because when the inevitable yammering kicks up from the usual sources, it can be fairly and truthfully pointed out that it was the Republicans who wouldn't vote to cut off debate so that Congress could enact the Will of the People on an Up or Down Vote.

Then step back when their tiny little heads pop.

[TwilightGardener]

14. Forgot to say: Kudos to both my Senators, Nelson and Hagel, for both voting NO

on cloture for the Repub bill, and YES on cloture for the Dem bill. I can never take those two for granted, so I'm always pleasantly surprised when they come through for us.

[Brrrp]

15. Now the ball is in Nancy's court.

All she has to do is not agendize any bill that funds the troops except to get them out. Funding originates in the house. If she sits on it, she can stop the war. But she will have to take a lot of heat.

[DeepModem Mom]

16. Democrats Unable to Bring Troops Home: Won't bring up another war spending bill until next year

Source: LAT/AP

By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer
November 16, 2007

WASHINGTON -- Nearly a year after anti-war voters put them in power, congressional Democrats remain unable to pass legislation ordering troops home from Iraq.

Frustrated by Republican roadblocks, Democrats now plan to sit on President Bush's $196 billion request for war spending until next year -- pushing the Pentagon toward an accounting nightmare and deepening their conflict with the White House on the war. "We're going to continue to do the right thing for the American people by having limited accountability for the president and not a blank check," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Senate Republicans on Friday blocked a $50 billion bill by Democrats that would have paid for several months of combat but also would have ordered troop withdrawals from Iraq to begin within 30 days. The measure, narrowly passed this week by the House, also would have set a goal of ending combat in December 2008.

The 53-45 vote was seven votes short of the 60 needed to advance. It came minutes after the Senate rejected a Republican proposal to pay for the Iraq war with no strings attached.

Now, Democratic leaders say they won't bring up another war spending bill until next year. They calculate the military has enough money to run through mid-February. The delay will satisfy a Democratic support base that is fiercely anti-war. But it also will give Republicans and the White House ample time to hammer Democrats for leaving for the holidays without funding the troops....

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wire/ats-ap_top11nov16,0,2213623.story?coll=la-ap-topnews-headlines

[rocktivity]

17. and hopefully the Democrats will hammer right back

with the threat of de-funding the war altogether--or at least demanding an audit of what's been spent already.

:headbang:
rocknation

[RiverStone]

20. damn right!

Given a majority of the American public side with the Dems on establishing a time-line to bring the troops home, they have every thing to gain by growing some teeth.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

18. Can Bush start a war on his own during the holiday break?

I wouldn't put it past him.

[rcsl1998]

19. 'Procedural Maneuver' ???

Call it what it is! A Republican filibuster! Stop the freaking Orwellian word games!