WP,pg1: Senate GOP Iraq dissenters rally against leadership, seek ways to force Bush's hand

[DeepModem Mom]

In GOP, Growing Friction On Iraq
Senate Dissenters Chafe at Tactics Of Party Leaders
By Jonathan Weisman and Shailagh Murray
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, July 11, 2007; Page A01

Facing crumbling support for the war among their own members, Senate Republican leaders yesterday sought to block bipartisan efforts to force a change in the American military mission in Iraq.

But the GOP leadership's use of a parliamentary tactic requiring at least 60 votes to pass any war legislation only encouraged the growing number of Republican dissenters to rally and seek new ways to force President Bush's hand. They are weighing a series of new proposals that would change the troops' mission from combat to counterterrorism, border protection and the training of Iraqi security forces.

"I think we should continue to ratchet up the pressure -- in addition to our words -- to let the White House know we are very sincere," said Sen. George V. Voinovich (R-Ohio), who broke with the president last month.

The maneuvering in the Senate came as Bush traveled to Voinovich's home state to appeal for more time on the war, and as presidential candidates in Iowa and on the Senate floor escalated their rhetoric in a debate that once seemed headed for culmination in September but appears to be fully engaged now. House leaders announced last night that the chamber will vote tomorrow on legislation to begin withdrawing troops within 120 days, with complete withdrawal by April 1, 2008, unless the president reports to Congress why some troops must remain to fight terrorism or train Iraqi forces.

The president appealed to lawmakers yesterday to hold back on legislative responses at least until September, when the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, delivers a crucial progress report on the military and political efforts there. And last night the White House formally declared that the president would veto virtually any of the war proposals being considered....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/10/AR2007071001860.html?hpid=topnews

[Old and In the Way]

1. Must be hard for these rubberstampers to grow a backbone in 6 months.

They acted as mindless robots for 6 years. Of course, Bush doesn't care...he's done in a year and a half, but the Republican Party has a quandry - hang with Dimson and insure their self-implosion in 2008 or side with the Democrats and start ending the war now. Sucks to be them.

[DeepModem Mom]

2. You're right. They were happy to rubberstamp until Election Day gets closer.

Still, if they can help get us out of the war, bring em on.