What is happening in the US Senate? Iraq?

[janx]

I've seen talk online that Boxer just said that the Senate is united in its stance on Iraq...

I don't have access to CSPAN at the moment.

Can anybody enlighten me?

[TayTay]

1. They are debating the Iraq Amendments on C-Span 2

Warner is speaking for the lesser Repub Amendment (that is a watered down version of the Dem Amendment) Leiberman is with the Repubs on this.

Kennedy, Levin, Biden and Reid are speaking for the version that has the request for the US to say we can't stay in Iraq indefinitely and that the Pres submit updates on the progress in IRaq every 90 days (along with other updates.)

It think the Repub version will pass, the Dem one probably won't, but I have some hope.

[realFedUp]

2. any links to what these amendments say? TIA, nt

[TayTay]

5. HEre is the Dem Text

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2249522&mesg_id=2249554

[janx]

12. Levin! Excellent!

Thanks for posting the link. I've been very busy with work and had not heard about this.

This part is encouraging:

The Senator from Michigan , for himself, Mr. Biden, Mr. Reid, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Reed, Mr. Kennedy, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Obama and Mrs. Boxer proposes an amendment numbered 2519.

[realFedUp]

20. thanks. nt

[realFedUp]

3. Is this just political posturing on both sides?

We are building permanent military bases...anyone
addressing that issue?

[TayTay]

9. No, it is a real effort by Congress to actually have a voice in IRaq

That said, will it end the war? No. But it is a big step forward for the US Congress to admit that everything is not all right in Iraq and that Congress demands that certain things be done to assure that we are doing all we can to get the Iraqis to take over their own security. (Eventually.)

Dem proposal has a sentence that says the US cannot stay in Iraq indefinitely. (Rpubs took this out.)

Dem proposal asks for updates, reports and proposals from the Bush Admin every 90 days. Repubs took this out.

Is it everything, no. Is it real progress? Yes it is. And it is a Dem plan. Even the Repub 'plan' being voted on is just Dem Lite.

[janx]

14. I can't believe it. That is, I can believe that Repubs are taking

parts out, but...is this really, finally happening? Some people in government really care about getting our military out of this?

They're voting on the Dem version now, it seems.

[realFedUp]

15. It is progress, but political also...Bush's numbers down

and both sides can smell the change in the wind.

The fact is that we are building permanent bases
which no one is talking about. We are bombing
on the Syrian border. This just looks like window
dressing but if it helps Dems and it puts
some kind of end to our illegal occupation
of Iraq then so be it.

[janx]

6. The Senate hasn't been receiving updates?

Are you kidding?

[realFedUp]

4. Frist calling Dem plan "cut and run"

framing the framers before they frame you...

come on Dems.

[janx]

8. I'm able to watch it now. Frist seems to be spinning his

interpretation of the amendments...It'll be interesting to see how many Repub senators distance themselves from the administration's approach to this QUAGMIRE.

[realFedUp]

11. yeah, that's why it's so important to post the language of the amendments

gads, they vote quickly on this stuff...too quickly.

[bluedog]

13. Frist is an idiot

our troops can not keep going over and staying for 2 to 3 tours od duty....Republicans want to stay forever?.........then start a draft......for the welfare of our troops.....the stress they are under....with no return in site is unhealthy and the troops will not be fit for duty much longer.

[Jacobin]

38. I prefer 'peace with honor' which Nixon trademarked

Hey, we're getting our asses kicked, they will NOT tolerate occupation by a western power and we might as well leave and be done with it because its never ever going to work.

Pick your own euphemism...I don't care,....cut and run, peace with honor, victory by defeat....who gives a rats ass

[kentuck]

7. Repubs are trying to give themselves some cover for next election

So they can have something to talk about when their constituents ask about how the war is going?

[janx]

16. Yes, but it's mind boggling to realize that the Senate

hasn't been receiving regular updates about getting the heck out of there.

[TayTay]

18. Welcome to BushWorld

Where the less you know, the better off you are. Congress is not a co-equal branch of government, it's an obstacle to be ignored. Sigh!

[janx]

19. Yep. And...

Clearly, the senators are going to vote along party lines.

[SCDem]

10. Imagine that Iraq were Vietnam (the country not the war)

And we say that we are going to be there indifinitely to help you establish a sound government for this country and defend it. Why Iraq? Why can we do this here? How many countries can we extend this foreign entitlement program to for individuals who do not pay taxes?

Why can't normal thinking people see this or normal thinking media see this?

[janx]

17. I have no idea.

It is unbelievable that the WH has been able to ramrod this crazy policy.

[realFedUp]

21. Mr. Jeffords aye on Levin amendment. nt

[realFedUp]

22. Ms. Murkowski no.....WTF

[TayTay]

25. The Sen. From Alaska

who is a Repub. The Senator from MD, Ms. Mikulski will probably vote Aye!

[realFedUp]

26. oh thank heavens...sorry I got those two gals mixed up

[TayTay]

29. Hahahaha! Like I haven't.

No problem. I often have to check twice.

[janx]

23. The amendments are so similar that it doesn't matter much...

Overall, this is good news. The Senate is finally standing up to the exec. branch, even if some of the Repubs are doing so for purely political reasons.

[realFedUp]

24. I'd love to read the text of the Republican amendment...

where do they differ?

[TayTay]

27. See this from yesterday

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2249522&mesg_id=2249567

This is what the Dems wanted and the Repubs took out. Otherwise the Amendments are the same.

[realFedUp]

31. 3 things...thanks

Repub amendment:

1.2006 year of transition to Iraqi sovereignty.
2.Tell Iraq Us will not stay definitely.
3. Submit on a quarterly basis, timetables and reports on the War!!

[Deb]

28. Most of the GOP Senate members can now say

"I voted against it before I voted for it." :grr:

[realFedUp]

32. lol....nt

[realFedUp]

30. Voting now on Warner amendment....nt

This will pass.

[janx]

33. No doubt!

I hope they all vote for it. At least it would be a start, eh?

[realFedUp]

34. is there a website that keeps up in real time regarding Congress?

yesterday's digest just doesn't cut it.

[realFedUp]

35. Everyone voting for Warner amendment

still looks like window dressing but what the heck.

[janx]

37. I'm currently not able to watch it (again)--

how's it going?

[The Witch]

36. 73-15

Kennedy & Kerry voted no... thinking lang is not strong enough, I assume... byrd voted no, a few far-righties voted no too.

Levin's failed, i suppose...