NYT tomorrow: Sensing a Shift, Reid Will Press for an Iraq Exit

[babylonsister]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/08/washington/08reid.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Sensing a Shift, Reid Will Press for an Iraq Exit


By CARL HULSE and JEFF ZELENY
Published: July 8, 2007

WASHINGTON, July 7 — Democratic voters are not the only ones bitter over their party’s failure to use new Congressional power to force a withdrawal of troops from Iraq. Senator Harry Reid, the occasionally obstreperous Democratic leader, is upset as well.

“We haven’t done enough,” said Mr. Reid, a onetime moderate who has evolved into one of the party’s most fervent critics of the war.

That view captures not only Mr. Reid’s sentiment but also the shifting political dynamic on the war, as public frustration remains high, the conflict dominates the presidential campaign landscape and senior Republicans have chosen to break with President Bush even as the administration has urged patience.

Sensing momentum from the new Republican defections, Mr. Reid and other leading Democrats intend to force a series of votes over the next two weeks on proposals to withdraw troops and limit spending. Democrats are increasingly confident they can assemble majority opposition to administration policies.

“It is going to be harder for Republicans to not sign on to something with bite in it, a clear Congressional assessment that change is needed,” said Senator Carl Levin, the Michigan Democrat who is chairman of the Armed Services Committee. “I think it is more likely there will be a majority around here that say we should begin to redeploy some forces by a certain date, and I hope it would be a larger majority.”

The coming debate will provide a showcase for senators from both parties to debate Iraq war strategy. The four Democratic presidential candidates in the Senate are expected to push their own antiwar proposals and views, and contrast their stances with those of Republicans, notably Senator John McCain of Arizona, who has been among the strongest supporters of the war.

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[ryanmuegge]

1. Sensing a shift? How about having principles.

[babylonsister]

2. Agreed, but read this. This change in attitude is really big imo:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1271518&mesg_id=1271518

[bleever]

3. Push, push, and keep pushing.

K&R.

[NRaleighLiberal]

4. ALL politicians need to be reminded that people are needlessly dying -

as they piddle along with politics and posturing.

[babylonsister]

5. I'm heartened to see Reid admitting it; we shall see. nt