Republicans block Levin-Reed amendment

[babylonsister]

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/republicans-block-levin-reed-amendment-2007-07-18.html

Republicans block Levin-Reed amendment
By Klaus Marre
July 18, 2007

After an all-night debate session, Republicans succeeded Wednesday in blocking an amendment that would have required President Bush to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq within 120 days.

Four Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Chuck Hagel (Neb.), Gordon Smith (Ore.) and Olympia Snowe (Maine) voted with the Democrats to support the withdrawal. But supporters of the measure fell short of the 60 votes required to overcome a GOP filibuster.

Republicans had called the overnight debate political theater and a stunt that was aimed at appeasing the Democrats anti-war base more than anything else.

Democrats had asserted that it is clear that the troop surge in Iraq had failed to produce the desired results of getting the Iraqi government to move closer to reconciliation. They argued that the country should not have to wait until September, when General David Petraeus is to report on the progress in Iraq, to change course.

Independent Democrat Joe Lieberman (Conn.) was the sole defector from the Democratic caucus.

[Bluzmann57]

1. To the surprise of absolutely no one

"Lieberman was the sole defector from the Democratic caucus". Proving once again that the Dems really don't have a majority in the Senate. Fuck him.

[More Than A Feeling]

2. Hey, we picked up Collins!

She wasn't expected to switch, was she?

[TwilightGardener]

19. No--she was a nice surprise.

[More Than A Feeling]

22. Excellent, its working just like we thought it would.

Bring up Iraq enough, and eventually we'll have enough Republican WINOs (waverers in name only) switch to redeploy, or withdraw, or whatever it is we are going to do, before Bush's term is up. That'll be a huge service to our next Democratic president. The Republican plan to blame him or her for "losing Iraq" will fail if the course changes while Bush is still in office.

[LSK]

3. wow that was fast

52-47 cloture vote fails

[southerncrone]

7. Anybody have a list of how they voted?

[LSK]

13. will be up on the Senate site sometime this morning

[BOSSHOG]

4. They are now on record - let the commercial production begin

Political theatre my ass, wait till ya see the commercials against incumbent republicans who said fuck you troops; we want you all to stay in Iraq until you are all dead because we are too proud to admit that the leader of our party is a lying psycopath.

[Inuca]

5. Something does not add up

The tally said 52-47, adds to 99, so only Johnson not voting. We picked Hagel, Snowe, Collins, and Smith. 49+4=53. Or did I not hear the tally correctly (I was only listening, not watching).

[Inuca]

17. Silly me....

Reid changed his vote at the end. Nevermind.... :-)

[blondeatlast]

18. He had to in order to reintroduce the bill. nt

[SoonerPride]

6. Bring the amendment up every day. Make them talk till they fall down.

Reid can stop all other work until they drop from exhaustion.

As the controlling party, they can exert extreme pressure on the Republicans to force them to allow an up or down vote.

Make them filibuster again tomorrow all day and all night.

[southerncrone]

14. That's right. Our troops are "in the trenches" 24/7 w/limitless redeployments

We need to show the troops that Dems can at least sit in air conditioned luxury for a few days while trying to bring them home from *'s disaster!

[AndyA]

20. That's exactly right. Ram the frickin' bill down their f*ckin' throats every day

until the assholes vote on it.

Scream to the media how the Republicons are killing our troops by refusing to vote on this. Make them pay DEARLY for their support of Bushco.

[EVDebs]

8. It's all on the Republican's heads now. No excuses.

Military, you now have to look at Sen Mitch McConnell for your leadership. Same course same results. Enjoy the ride.

[Inuca]

9. Did Reid just resubmit Levin/Reed? n/t

[BlooInBloo]

10. Those ~150,000 Democrats who voted for Lieberman must be SOOOOO proud!

[Nimrod2005]

23. Fuck them....They can go to hell!!!

[welshTerrier2]

11. i think this was a dog and pony show

it's fine to "put republicans on record" ... it's fine to show that Democrats care about ending the occupation ... it's fine to prove that republicans are obstructionists ... and it's all total bullshit ...

you end the occupation by refusing to provide additional funds and / or by impeaching bush ...

Reid will be stomping his feet and getting nowhere a year from now and more will die ... the Founders gave Congress the power of the purse and Reid refuses to use it ... it doesn't take 60 votes to pass a funding bill; it takes 50 votes ...

[SoonerPride]

15. The next funding cycle is a couple of months way, right?

Though I'm sure they won't defund the occupation of Iraq.

[corkhead]

12. We will know how successful this will be by listening to how shrill the fatfuck oxy-moron squeals

I would never listen to that fucker, but the squealing today ought to be entertaining.

[blondeatlast]

16. OBSTRUCTIONIST RRRepublicans. Fry in hell, motherfuckers.

Better yet, fry in Iraq and let out families be united again.

[blogslut]

21. Good for The Hill

an honest headline

[babylonsister]

24. Good point, because the Hill is not always so forthright. nt

[liberal N proud]

25. Proving they have no respect for those who are making the biggest sacrifice

in this folly of George W. Bush