House Democrats bracing for unpalatable Iraq vote

[ProSense]

House Democrats bracing for unpalatable Iraq vote

By Mike Soraghan
May 24, 2007

House Democrats head into their last vote on the Iraq supplemental budget today with a sense of resignation, with fewer than half expected to vote in favor of a bill that gives President Bush nearly everything he wants.

The number of Democrats likely to vote for the Iraq measure ranges from about 60 to a slight minority of the caucus, around 110.

Even House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is expected to vote against it. But House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) will probably vote yes.

“With a stubborn, delusional president, we’re never going to win,” said Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.). “We’re dealing with an administration that refuses to deal with reality. We have no way to evict him from office.”

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Pelosi is voting against it. Who the hell wants this bill?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Biden's for it.

And Hillary won't say -- she's probably waiting for her focus groups to report back.

[muntrv]

2. Uh, Jim McDermott? We elected Democrats in November so that YOU

would slap the shrubster back to reality.

[ShortnFiery]

Vote "Hell NO" and send it back until DimSon accepts the deadlines.

I wish. <frustrated sigh>

[Heath Hatcher]

7. So is McDermott going to vote againist this bill or not

I couldn't read between the lines on that one and it would be weird for him to vote for this bill.

[eppur_se_muova]

3. "We have no way to evict him from office."?!? WTF ??

Have you actually TRIED impeachment? NO ?? Then how the fuck do you know he's immune ?

[Patsy Stone]

17. Yep. That one's a rocket scientist.

“With a stubborn, delusional president, we’re never going to win,” said Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.). “We’re dealing with an administration that refuses to deal with reality. We have no way to evict him from office.”

[Dhalgren]

4. A Democratic congressman says this?

"We have no way to evict him from office." WTF? Can he be unfamiliar with the IMPEACHMENT process? Does anyone know what the hell he was talking about?

[Heath Hatcher]

14. I don't

This can't be the Jim McDermott I know talking, because the Jim McDermott I know would give in that easy and would make forceful comments about Bush and Iraq.

They had to interview the wrong guy, this is not the real Jim McDermott.

[global1]

5. So It Looks Like The Democrats Serve At The Pleasure Of The President......

caption this - "Ha Ha - You Caved!!!! Thank you for pleasuring me."

[Solly Mack]

6. Uh...amazing

“With a stubborn, delusional president, we’re never going to win,” said Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.). “We’re dealing with an administration that refuses to deal with reality. We have no way to evict him from office.”

[Blue Fire]

8. Find your gonads, Dems!

Have you already forgotten why YOU....the DEMOCRAT CONGRESSIONAL MAJORITY.....have the majority ANYWAY??????
We worked our asses off to help you get elected. DO NOT SELL US OUT by caving in to that worthless buffoon in the WH!! Keep in mind......2008 is only a year away....Don't give the American electorate a reason to give control back to the damned rethugs!

[Heath Hatcher]

9. Self deleted

Deleted by Heath Hatcher due to stupidity and saying an wrongful comment

[IndianaGreen]

11. And your apology to DU was so heartfelt, and here you go again, getting personal

I am just crushed! :-(

[Heath Hatcher]

12. Don't be IndianaGreen

I was just frustrated at the comment, I seriously need to pick and choose my battles here.

Would you feel better if I deleted my post, it's not a good thing to say I mean I used the F word.

Sorry, this Iraq war bill is just getting

Sorry for the attack blue fire and Indiana Green, this won't happen again

[Heath Hatcher]

13. It's deleted

Sorry for going off the wall. Seriously the Democrats need to get some gravitas on this issue.

[IndianaGreen]

10. "Unpalatable Iraq vote"? They are not the ones riding a Humvee through Baghdad

They are not the ones that will pay with their lives, limbs, or health for the folly that this war is.

[ShortnFiery]

22. I've never been more ashamed of our Democratic Leadership.

I thought that I could not be more disappointed since the IWR was passed ... I was wrong. :(

Cowardly Democratic Representatives! I hope you all lose in your next primary. :grr:

[no_hypocrisy]

15. Can't the majority of the dems vote abstention repeatedly to show both

their opposition to such a bill and displeasure with their leadership? They could be heroes like the Texas dems who bolted versus voting (and losing) the restricting lines that Tom Delay drew up?

[Heath Hatcher]

16. Yes it's not that hard to oppose the bill and show displeasure towards Reid and Hoyer

Let me show, i'll pretend to be a Dem Congressman

Congressman: "I will be voting for this bill because it dosen't give a way out to this war, America voted in 2006 to get us out of Iraq and this bill dosen't do it, I will support the troops and vote this bill down and I hope my collegues. I am ashamed too at our leader Mr. Hoyer for coming up with such a bad bill, I know we have a narrow majority here in Congress but we can truely do better on this bill with what we have but Mr. Hoyer don't want to take the time and effort to do it."

Is that good?

[movonne]

18. This is why the DLC dems wanted hoyer instead of murtha.. and

clinton and obamba won't say how they will vote, that tells me something.(also the DLC wanted lieberman)

[Heath Hatcher]

19. As much as I wanted Murtha as our leader

It was ethically right. Okay in the 2006 election besides ending Iraq what did we campaign on? having a clean ethical Congress (which is what is going on) see in the 70's Murtha was caught in the ABSCAM sting operation by the FBI I believe. If we would of chosen him as our leader we would of came off as hypocrites since we pledged to have a clean Congress but at the same time have as our House leader someone that had ethics problems in the past. It makes sense

[ShortnFiery]

20. Hoyer is a POS. He needs to be replaced with someone less beholden to Corporations. n/t

[Heath Hatcher]

23. Self deleted

[Heath Hatcher]

24. Your so right I don't know where to begin

I never like Steny, never from the start he's a bad egg and he scares the crap out of me. Now it's much worse since he's now our leader.

[ShortnFiery]

27. Yes, we need NEW Democratic Representatives - Term Limits.

On that, both Democrats and Republicans can agree: PRESENTLY OUR ENTIRE CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP IS PIG-SHIT. :thumbsdown:

[Heath Hatcher]

29. The Republican tried that when they were elected to Congress in 1994

It got struck down by the Supreme Court as being "unconstitutional"

[Heath Hatcher]

21. Here's what I mean about ABSCAM

John Murtha's involvement

John Murtha (D-PA) was one of the Congressmen videotaped in an encounter with undercover FBI operatives.<6> Although never indicted or prosecuted, he was named an "unindicted co-conspirator" in the scandal. As such, he testified against Frank Thompson (D-NJ) and John Murphy (D-NY), the two Congressmen mentioned as participants in the deal at the same meeting. A short clip from the videotape shows Murtha stating "I'm not interested... at this point" in direct response to an offer of $50,000 in cash. <7>

While this statement has been a reference point for Murtha and others who proclaim his innocence, detractors point to the complete video, which offers a more ambiguous picture.<8> At issue are the indeterminacy of Murtha's intentions along with the fact that he did not report the attempted bribe following the meeting, a violation of House Ethics Rules. Murtha was also taped saying, "You know, we do business for a while, maybe I'll be interested..." - causing many to question what role he may have played had the operation not been ended early due to media exposure.

In November 1980, the Justice Department announced that Murtha would not face prosecution for his part in the scandal. The U.S. Attorneys Office reasoned that Murtha's intent was to obtain investment in his district. Full length viewing of the tape shows Murtha citing prospective investment opportunities that could return "500 or 1000" miners to work. In July 1981, the House Ethics Committee also chose not to file charges against Congressman Murtha, following a mostly party line vote. The resignation later that day of Republican E. Barrett Prettyman, Jr., the panel's special counsel, has been interpreted as an act of protest.<9>

Mr. Murtha remains prominent in Congress, and has been re-elected by his constituency 13 times over a course of 26 years

[ShortnFiery]

25. Yeah, it's so much better having a Corporate Warmonger in the Position.

:eyes:

I opt for a third choice?

[Heath Hatcher]

26. You think i'm happy with Hoyer as our leader

Come on man no. I was saying that we would come off as hypocrites by the MSM if Murtha was elected as our leader that's all. No I was backing Jack from the start, Hoyer was never my man.

[ShortnFiery]

28. OK, I'm sorry. Just Frustrated.

Excuse me. :blush: :hi:

[Heath Hatcher]

30. Do don't apologize, it's cool

Because it's a joke like Steny Hoyer as our leader I would freak out too.