Conyers:Steps Closer to Ending the War

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We have often been reminded that, for the passage of any major piece of legislation, the support of nine Republican Senators is needed to beat a filibuster. This is why we Democrats have not been able to end the war as quickly as we would like. We know the country is clamoring for us to do this, but the stark reality is that we need the support of Republican Senators to get this done.

Thankfully, many of them are up for re-election and gradually some have been peeling away from the president's escalation policy. This is the result of a lot of grassroots activity and the urgent appeals from the Senators' constituents. Most recently Senator Warner has signaled his opposition to the President's policy in the Washington Post. There is also a story on the rising war opposition in small town America.

These are significant steps that I believe are an indication we are closer to turning the tide against the president and his ill-conceived war.

http://johnconyers.com/node/143#new

Midwest Towns Sour on War as Their Tolls Mount
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/13/AR2007071302017.html?hpid=topnews

Two GOP Senators Defy Bush On Iraq
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/13/AR2007071301314.html?hpid=topnews

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1. Republican unity on Iraq to be tested

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The Senate's Democratic leadership also is cool to the Warner-Lugar proposal, but for different reasons. Democrats favor tougher steps to restrict Bush's options, but need more Republicans to peel away from Bush before they can prevail.

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Democrats are coordinating a week of maneuvering that will call to account the small but growing number of wavering Republicans.

One Democratic measure last week, which sought to influence troop deployments, fell four votes short of the 60 needed to advance.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070716/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq