home

The Godot Republicans

As most know by now, the Republican caucus in the Senate blocked an up or down vote on Jim Webb's amendment on troop readiness. The vote was 56-41.

I did not devote much time to the debate in the Senate and, frankly, I won't, as the Republicans will not vote to buck Bush and change course in Iraq, much less vote to end the war.

I respect what Reid and Co. are doing -- they are making sure Republicans can not play this 'talk the talk but not walk the walk' game. But that does nothing to end the Debacle.

My friends (in the rhetoric of the Senate), we all know there is only one way to end the Iraq Debacle, set a date certain when the Democratically controlled Congress will no longer fund the Debacle. Until the Democratic leadership fully embraces this strategy, the Iraq Debacle will not end.

< Special Treatment | A Tribute To Lady Bird Johnson >
  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


  • Display: Sort:
    Not surprising ... (5.00 / 4) (#2)
    by Sailor on Wed Jul 11, 2007 at 06:52:42 PM EST
    ... after the Dems didn't filibuster anything when they were the minority, and did everything to compromise with repubs.

    The repubs are filibustering everything now that they are in the minority.

    You can't reason with terrorists, and no one is more responsible for the growth of terrorism in the world than bush and his cabal of republicans.

    It's pretty fascinating (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by Edger on Wed Jul 11, 2007 at 06:59:55 PM EST
    to see the Republican fake moderates get destroyed, but it's pretty clear why they won't work against the war.  Newsweek reporter Sam Stein wrote about the reason in an important and somewhat overlooked article.  Republicans who break ranks on Iraq get a primary challenge from the right. It's not just Chuck Hagel in Nebraska.
    ...
    If only the Blue Dogs and New Dems would wizen up, we could actually stop the war.


    No, no, no ... (3.66 / 3) (#5)
    by Meteor Blades on Wed Jul 11, 2007 at 07:08:12 PM EST
    ...haven't you heard? When September comes, all those moderates who are "defecting" will be on "our side."

    If, that is, "our side" means supporting a plan to withdraw, say, a hundred thousands troops while leaving 30-50,000 "residual" troops behind. If, in fact, we can even get a "veto-proof majority" to go that far. Which I doubt.

    I have to stop now, I am wearing out my " key.

    Parent

    Armando! Meteor (1.00 / 2) (#14)
    by talex on Wed Jul 11, 2007 at 09:02:25 PM EST
    I have yet to hear from either one of you how you are going to cutoff funding without cutting off the troops.

    Bush won't sign a withdrawal bill. Iraq has  been run  supplementals from day one and it is off the regular DOD budget. And monies can't legally be transfered from other DOD accounts as Webb and Sestak have mad that clear. So you just can't so that's it and move on to Finance Reform or some other bill.

    So Armando how do you defund without cutting off the troops?

    Parent

    Only because (5.00 / 2) (#15)
    by Edger on Wed Jul 11, 2007 at 09:05:15 PM EST
    You either refuse to read, or none of it ever sinks in.

    I lean toward the second. Which is it, talex?


    Parent

    I have (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by taylormattd on Thu Jul 12, 2007 at 02:27:12 PM EST
    a feeling it is both.

    Parent
    Actually, I was giving talex the benefit of doubt (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by Edger on Thu Jul 12, 2007 at 02:32:15 PM EST
    Because I have a feeling it is "pretending" to be both. With all that implies.

    Parent
    it's funny that (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by taylormattd on Thu Jul 12, 2007 at 02:29:29 PM EST
    someone who repeatedly insists "impeachment is teh only way!!!!!1@" is demanding (already provided) details about defunding.

    Parent
    It's an elephant stampede, I know. (none / 0) (#6)
    by Edger on Wed Jul 11, 2007 at 07:13:49 PM EST
    They're stomping all over the democrats every time they send another funding bill to Bush.

    Parent
    btw (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by Edger on Wed Jul 11, 2007 at 07:18:22 PM EST
    Is "funding" supposed to be spelled with "ck" instead of "nd"?

    Parent
    Indeed (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by andgarden on Wed Jul 11, 2007 at 10:12:29 PM EST
    The more this goes on, the more obvious it becomes that you were right all along.