Pressure mounts as Senate war votes loom (Collins gets call from WH)

[rodeodance]

Source: usaToday



Pressure mounts as Senate war votes loom
Updated 2h 38m ago

By Kathy Kiely, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — Four months ago, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, was one of 50 senators who voted against a resolution calling for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq by next March. On Tuesday, she said she'll vote to recommend a spring pullout — and may back a measure to mandate it.

"I attended a funeral last week of a soldier killed in Iraq. We received a notification last evening of another Maine soldier being killed," Collins said. "It's extremely difficult, especially when I don't see the Iraqi government stepping up to the plate."

WHITE HOUSE: Meeting meant to gain support of GOP senators

Moments later, she stepped away to return a phone call from the White House.

It was a scene that summed up the situation here as the Senate heads toward another series of votes on Iraq policy: As Republican divisions over the war grow more apparent, furious efforts are underway by President Bush and his allies to convince lawmakers to wait until a September progress report from Gen. David Petraeus, commander of U.S. forces in Iraq.........

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-07-10-iraq-congress_N.htm?csp=1

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WH--Hadley is meeting with lots of GOPers today

[wakeme2008]

1. Love to be a fly on the wall of that meeting

:popcorn:

[Red1]

3. Probably Go Something Like This

Bush: "look how about the feds give maine a few xtra billion for, um,
mosquito control and terrorist countermeasures?" "just need your support
here on my little war. wink wink"

[MaineDem]

2. This will be interesting

She's in a tough re-election fight. I expect she will flip flop on the war. She'll be against it before November of '08 despite all her support of the President. She'll cut him loose.

[blondeatlast]

17. Her vote, like Coleman and Smith's, was safe. They knew very well

the measure would fail.

It was cold, calculating, and purely political.

[rodeodance]

4. Durbin not sure can get 60 votes

A potential vehicle for Republicans who want to register disapproval with the Bush policy: a bipartisan amendment that calls for implementing the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group. That measure urges, but does not require, a withdrawal of most American troops by next spring. When Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., introduced the measure Tuesday, it had a dozen co-sponsors, six Republicans and six Democrats. Salazar said he hopes there is enough support to get it "past the finish line."

Democratic leaders are less optimistic because the measure lacks specific deadlines. "I'm troubled if the best we can do at the end of the day is to have a general statement on policy goals," Durbin said.

[rodeodance]

5. Lugar and Domenici will NOT vote with Dems! (and Nelson, NK is sitting on the fence)

Still uncertain: whether supporters of a troop withdrawal will have the 60 votes they need for Senate passage.

Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the assistant Democratic floor leader, said he's not sure of conservative Democrats such as Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska. And Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., said he doesn't believe there are enough Republicans ready to vote for a deadline.

"So far, most of them are hedging their bets," Biden said of Republicans during a conference call with reporters. "They're just saying … we think the president has to change strategy. But my guess is most of them will hold off until September to actually beginning to vote with us."

Sens. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and Pete Domenici, R-N.M., though outspoken critics of Bush's Iraq policy, both said Tuesday that they will not back a mandatory deadlines for troop withdrawal.

[sallyseven]

6. Keep bringing it up until the american people get

sick of bush's lies. Sooner or later it will pass. Make bush look like a soldier killer.

[arewenotdemo]

12. ....which he is....

[0007]

8. I hope New Mexico will run that son of a bitch Peter Domenici

out of office on the next election. What a worthless asswipe!!

[gasperc]

16. Nelson on the fence? he just got re-elected

who the fuck butters this guy's toast?

[MaineDem]

7. Collins told a local paper that Iraq was not a main concern of Mainers

The woman must be in total denial or something. Both of our Congressmen and Senator Snowe all agreed that Iraq was the Number One issue of constituents. Not Susie! I think she said the economy but Iraq is not a high priority.

Why did we re-elect her in '02? Blows my mind.

[AlinPA]

10. I could never figure Maine electing her. Must be a real shortage of

qualified Democrats?

[Divine Discontent]

11. you got me...

I've always wondered that... I know ME is very progressive and all but they have such a b*sh arse kisser for a senator, and I think it's coming from the redneck vote all around the state, I believe the cities support the Dems but all the rural areas heavily back repubs outside of the Environmentalists scattered around the landscape...

[MaineDem]

14. Actually her opponent was excellent

Chellie Pingree should have been in the Senate for the past 5 years. But Susie has people convinced she is that "moderate" Republican she claims to be.

This time, she's promised to only serve two terms and his running for her third; she's joined at the hip to George Bush and his policies; she has another excellent opponent who, as a Congressman, voted against authorizing the war in Iraq. She's going to have a tougher time keeping her job.

[Marthe48]

13. Iraq is a main concern when a local person dies

We just lost a young man in our area, a guy who was well-known, involved in his community, well-liked and sadly missed. As you drive into Marietta, the businesses have sympathy signs up and flags are flying at half-mast in Ohio and WV.
Only if Collins loses someone near and dear, only if her local area loses someone near and dear, will her stupid pose change. BUt, I sure don't wish that kind of pain on anyone.

We have lost 3610 soldiers as of 5 PM this afternoon. When will this blood-soaked disaster be a main concern to our f*ing fearless leaders, not just the fmailies of the dead?

[zanne]

9. That "progress report" is sure to be a doozy....

That's the only defense the Iraq war backers have to say these days; "Wait until September, when a report will point out all the positive things being done and none of the negative". We're already hearing that the surge is proceeding well and making a difference. Gee. Can't wait.

[gasperc]

15. hopefully Rove didn't tell her he'd fuck her like she's never been

fucked before, that would creep me out