Tails Between Their Legs
According to Senator John Thune, interviewed this evening on Hugh Hewitt's radio show, Democratic senators and complicit Republicans (like Senators Hagel and Collins) have abandoned their efforts to secure a vote on the non-binding defeat 'n retreat resolution.
Why? Not because Republicans succeeded in "cutting off debate" -- as much of the MSM would have one believe. Rather, it's because Democrats wouldn't agree to a vote on the Gregg resolution(readily summarizable as a "put up or shut up" measure), which would have required senators to vote on whether to defund the war in Iraq.
Because Dems wouldn't agree to a vote on the Gregg resolution, Republicans wouldn't agree to a vote on the Warner-Levin measure. And the Dems -- who clearly were more interested in political posturing (even at the expense of American troops) than actually exerting leadership -- have effectively skulked off with their tails between their legs.
Why? Not because Republicans succeeded in "cutting off debate" -- as much of the MSM would have one believe. Rather, it's because Democrats wouldn't agree to a vote on the Gregg resolution(readily summarizable as a "put up or shut up" measure), which would have required senators to vote on whether to defund the war in Iraq.
Because Dems wouldn't agree to a vote on the Gregg resolution, Republicans wouldn't agree to a vote on the Warner-Levin measure. And the Dems -- who clearly were more interested in political posturing (even at the expense of American troops) than actually exerting leadership -- have effectively skulked off with their tails between their legs.
posted by LadybugUSA at 6:36 PM
5 Comments:
The Republicans were against it, before they were for it, before they voted against it, and now they say they were for it.
Come on, all except two Republican Senators used a procedural move to block debate on their "own" resolutions.
And now Americans are really upset with the Republican rubber-stampers who can start a war, send troops to fight and die in their war but, don't have the spine to debate what so far as been a fiasco and disaster.
First, all the Republicans but two actually voted to continue debate on the cut 'n run resolution. A vote in favor of cloture (supported by only two Republican senators, as noted above) is actually a vote to cut off debate and vote. A vote against cloture means that debate should be continued, and that's what Republicans supported.
Second, it's not clear what resolutions are being considered the Republicans' "own." There was Warner-Levin (cut 'n run), which was supported by almost all Democrats and almost no Republicans (with some pathetic exceptions). There was also the McCain resolution, which likewise didn't have majority Republican support (but on which Harry Reid would have allowed a vote).
Finally, there was the Gregg resolution, opposing a funding cut-off. That was the one upon which Dems were divided, and on which Reid wouldn't allow a vote. As a result, Republicans declined to allow a vote on Warner-Levin.
Readers are certainly entitled to their own opinions, but they're not entitled to their own facts.
Cloture in this instance was to limit non-germane amendments. Voting for cloture would have allowed 30 hours of debate prior to voting.
On the Senate Floor Reid said:
I offered to schedule an up-or-down vote on McCain -- that is a resolution supporting the President's plan -- and on the Warner-Levin resolution in opposition. That is votes up or down on these two amendments. This offer was rejected.
We then offered the Republican leadership up-or-down votes on those two resolutions I just talked about and they had another one. The Republican leader had another one. I read it. It is the Gregg amendment. So we said let's go ahead and vote on that. I was turned down there also.
So much for facts.
A cursory inspection of any complete newspaper accoun will disclose that the stumbling block was, indeed, the Dems' unwillingness to vote on the Gregg amendment. Harry Reid, too, is entitled to his own opinions, but not his own facts.
The exchange between Reid and McConnell took place on the Senate floor and was covered by C-SPAN. Mitch had ample oppurtunity to refute what Reid stated to him and he did not.
As you originally wrote MSN stated republicans blocked the vote and then tried to spin it. Fact of the matter is that they reported the story correctly.
Post a Comment
<< Home