Please consider thanking these Republican senators, especially if you live in their state.

[calteacherguy]

Webb Amendment Vote

Senators on Wednesday refused to bring to a vote an amendment written by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Virginia, that would set time limits between U.S. troop rotations in Iraq and Afghanistan to give troops more time at home.

The tally was 56 to 41, failing to receive the 60 votes required to cut off debate on the amendment so a vote could be held.

Republicans voting for cloture:
• Sen. Norm Coleman, Minnesota
• Sen. Susan Collins, Maine
• Sen. Chuck Hagel, Nebraska
• Sen. Gordon Smith, Oregon
• Sen. Olympia Snowe, Maine
• Sen. John Sununu, New Hampshire
• Sen. John Warner, Virginia

Edit: And, even more importantly, if you have or Republican senator who is not on this list (or live in Connecticut, ahem) please contact your senator and let them know your displeasure in whatever way you deem appropriate. We only need 4 more votes next time this one comes up!

Thank you.

[napi21]

1. Along with your thank you, you might want to ask them to pressure

their fellow Senators to join them! This issue is not dead, and every time it comes up on the Senate floor, they get a few more supporters. Warner especially should be able to convince enough other Pub Senators to join him. I believe we only need 4 more!

[calteacherguy]

3. Yes, please see my edit in th OP! nt

:thumbsup:

[swag]

2. Thanks, I will, but truth be told, Gordon Smith only votes against Bush

when

1. a loss of the measure is assured

and

2. Gordon Smith will benefit politically from futilely opposing Bush.

Gordon Smith, Bush's Buddy who has voted in accord with Bush's wishes 90% of the time, will be defeated by an Oregon Democrat in 2008.

Count on it!

[sandnsea]

5. Thank you

I was about to post the same thing. What a pathetic excuse for a human being. He hasn't ever led on anything. Smith has got to go.

[TwilightGardener]

8. I don't know, he's not my Senator, but he's been pretty consistent

lately--I give him credit. How is he any different than Hagel? They have pretty much been voting the same way.

[swag]

11. Good question.

Why admire Hagel?

[TwilightGardener]

16. I admire both of them for doing the right thing on critical votes, no matter

what their motives are--it's not easy to stand up to ChimpCo. There is some hell to pay, and Hagel in particular has been paying it. He's going to lose his Senate seat in opposing the war. I admire that kind of political courage.

[sandnsea]

20. Smith isn't going against Bush

He's just trying to play both ends against the middle, with Bush's approval. If it comes down to real opposition to Bush, Smith won't be there. Not unless there's a significant movement within the party as a whole. Nothing courageous about the man. He's a weasel. The only reason to say something nice to him is to fill his fat head with nonsense so he thinks we're buying his bullshit.

[Inuca]

29. Because he is doing the right thing

and truly fights for something he believes in. You do not have to agree with somebody on everything to respect and even admire that person.

[sandnsea]

14. Smith always does this

He runs as a moderate centrist and whenever there's a vote that will get him in trouble in Oregon, the environment for instance, he'll vote with the Dems just as long as the vote is a done deal. But if there's any chance the vote will go against whatever Bush wants, well then Smith just puts his nose comfy cozy up Bush's ass. Every single time.

Hagel is a conservative, right down the line. If he goes against the Party, you know he means it. It might take a while for the votes to follow, but eventually they will. He's the best true conservative Republicans have, I can't figure out why he isn't running.

[blondeatlast]

9. I suspect the same behavior explains Norm Coleman as well. nt

[swag]

12. Me three.

[sandnsea]

22. Speaking of Stopping Gordon Smith

StopGordonSmith.com is stocked with all new information, including the video we released yesterday on Gordon Smith’s support for the war’s number one cheerleader, U.S. Senator John McCain.

The reworked site offers a blog, background sections on Smith’s abysmal record on a woman’s right to choose, the environment, the Iraq War, his consistent support for President Bush, the gap between his votes and his quotes and other issues. Activists can also sign up for email alerts, send a letter to the editor, forward information to a friend and contribute money to the eventual Democratic nominee.

Please use the new site to write a letter to the editor about the gap between Smith’s votes and his quotes.

Our campaign has already signed up more than 850 members who have written letters to the editor, called into talk radio, blogged on Smith’s record, contributed money and recruited new members into the group

So click in, search through, blog on – and write a letter.

http://www.stopgordonsmith.com

[MaineDem]

25. Same for Collins

Although both may change that as they face re-election.

[Dervill Crow]

28. Thanks for the clarification!

I was surprised to see Gordon Smith's name on the list. Now I get it.

[TwilightGardener]

4. Will definitely send Hagel another thank-you note--

he also put up an amendment with Levin (defeated) that would have limited Iraq deployments to 12 months--that would have been a real morale-booster, compared to 15 months (I know, my husband served a year in Korea, and it seemed like forever--AND he wasn't in danger--15 months would have seemed like an eternity). Call and write, give the GOPer rats their positive-reinforcement pellet!

[The Magistrate]

6. Not A Chance, Sir

Every one of these is a target for '08, and needs to be defeated soundly. This kind of noise cannot and ought not save them.

"There are no good Republicans."

[calteacherguy]

10. I'm not saying vote for them...I'm saying play them.

Encourage them to encourage their collegues to follow their, er, "lead." Make them *think* you might actually vote for them or might actually encourage others to vote for them if they do.

The troops are more important than anyone's personal feelings in this matter. Please put your personal feelings aside for the troops!

[sandnsea]

18. You might be right

I don't see a down-side at this point. I think he'd probably be more easily manipulated with praise than calling his bluff.

"All my friends are so pleased you are leading on ending the war. I hope you will encourage your colleagues bla bla. I am so going to vote for you now!"

Yeah right. But I could do that if it would help.

[Buck Rabbit]

23. Agreed, I will send Gordo a note. And contribute to his 2008 opponant.

He is trying to play us. I will play my part in returning the favor.

[sandnsea]

15. Amen

"There are no good Republicans."

That cannot be said often enough.

[TygrBright]

7. Wow... Weasel-boy really IS running scared, isn't he? But frankly...

...I wouldn't thank him if he rescued me from a burning house. You can bet your last nickel he'd only do it if a) there was no slightest risk to him and b) he'd get some kind of political payoff for doing it.

disagreeably,
Bright

[Hippo_Tron]

13. Well my Senator is David Vitter, I think he's a bit pre-occupied at the moment

Being a slaezy hypocrite is a full-time job in itself.

[TwilightGardener]

17. I suggest you thank him too. He's a gift that keeps on giving this week.

[Cameron27]

19. No kidding, we should take up a collection and

buy him something appropriate.:evilgrin:

[The Magistrate]

21. You Are A Cold One, Ma'am....

[Inuca]

30. I feel guily for enjoying the Vutter saga so much :-)! n/t

[Hippo_Tron]

24. Holy political pandering Batman, it's a bunch of vulnerable Republicans up for re-election in 2008!

The only ones who may have voted for this genuinely are Hagel, Snowe, and Warner. Snowe isn't up for re-election and Hagel and Warner are seriously considering retirement. Hagel is unlikely to face a strong challenger even if he does run again. Warner isn't sure about re-election but even if he does run he may have to face Mark Warner.

[MaineDem]

26. Snowe was re-elected last year

But she may be working to give Collins a bit of cover.

[Totally Committed]

27. Have you ever heard some of the absolute sh*t that has come out of Norm Coleman's mouth?

The only reason he supported cutting off debate on this bill is because Al Franken is running against him, and he needs to look more "moderate" to even have a chance to beat him.

I wouldn't thank Norm Coleman if I was on fire and he put it out. F*ck that!

I will, however, gladly call Holy Joe's office and let them know I'm not happy with him -- for about the thousanth time this year.


TC