REID's Rope-A-Dope: "I emphasize the word "temporarily" & NOTHING ELSE HAPPENS UNTIL THEN

[kpete]

Harry Reid announced that he will allow no more votes on the Defense Authorization Bill until Republicans stop filibustering votes on Iraq-related amendments.


What this means is that Reid isn't allowing any votes on any other Iraq amendments -- not the toothless Warner-Lugar amendment, not the Ken Salazar amendment that would force adoption of the Baker-Hamilton plan, nothing.

Because the Pentagon's priorities won't become law until a Defense Authorization bill is passed, the Pentagon's fiscal 08 priorities won't get funded until this standoff is resolved -- and Reid is insisting that won't happen until the GOP allows a vote on the Iraq withdrawal measures.

Reid said:

I have temporarily laid aside the Defense Authorization bill and have entered a motion to reconsider.

But let me be clear to my Republican colleagues – I emphasize the word "temporarily". We will do everything in our power to change course in Iraq. We will do everything in our power to complete consideration of a Defense Authorization bill. We must do both.

So we will come back to this bill as soon as it is clear we can make real progress. To that end, I have asked the Democratic Whip and Democratic Manager of the bill to sit down with their counterparts to work on a process to address all outstanding issues related to this bill so the Senate can return to it as soon as possible.


http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/jul/18/breaking_reid_yanks_defense_authorization_bill_to_force_gops_hand

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. What I'd like to see

is no work on ANYTHING until the bill is passed and we have a way out of Iraq.

[Bluerthanblue]

6. me too-

but i'm not going to hold my breath.

[blondeatlast]

2. Yes. Yes. YES. nt

[LSK]

3. stick to it this time Sen Reid

Please stick to it.

[KharmaTrain]

4. We Are In Gridlock...

and so be it. There's a ton of legislation that is being held up by McConnell and Reid's got the wind at his back.

Note that there were NO Democratic defections...not the Nelsons, not Salazar...Reid held the caucus united and strong. If anything, it's getting stronger.

McConnell's sand is shifting. Two more peeled off on this vote...Collins and Snowe. Other are "WINO"ing...Waivering and boooshie is barely hanging onto them. The clock now ticks as the end of the fiscal year will force the WINOs and other softening GOOP knees from bringing the entire funding process to a halt and, in essence being held responsible for defunding the war. Reid has 'em in a vise.

[John Q. Citizen]

5. That's a good baby step on Reid's power of the purse. He's asserting it,

even temporarily.

[EVDebs]

24. Federal fiscal year ends Sept. 30, 2007. The clock is now ticking...nt

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

7. Then I'll temporarily champion Reid.

[JacquesMolay]

8. they've got to cut off the money, use that as a bargaining chip ...

... if the GOP Senators are going to talk out of both sides of their mouths about how they oppose the war, but then vote for Bush, just CUT OFF THE MONEY!

[LSK]

9. Specter is now crying over this

[OzarkDem]

19. Interrupting the GOP campaign money laundering machine

GOP candidates are very dependent on donations from corporations doing government contract work. This puts a serious hitch in their campaign financing racket.

[kpete]

10. MORE

What Reid did was pull the Defense Authorization bill from the floor in its entirety. Because the budget items do not go into effect for the DoD until October for this particular appropriation, there is no question of this keeping money from the troops — and any Republican who says so is lying — let me just get that out there up front.

This is a pretty in-your-face procedural move from Reid — who gave the GOP leadership an opportunity to vote on all of the amendments up or down and, when they refused, Reid left the Grand Obstruction Party to stew in its own obstructionist failure. He’s left no cover for them or for the Bush Administration for continued stall and obstruct maneuvers on this — instead, the onus is on them to explain why their actions are focused on protecting the President’s flank, rather than on standing up for American soldiers and against more failed policies.

http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/07/18/grand-obstruction-party-continues-to-stand-for-failed-status-quo/#comments

[blondeatlast]

11. It's the rope-a-dope and they fell for it just as sure as Foreman did.

I swear they never saw it coming.

[kpete]

12. had to use your line in my heading

priceless observation, kp

[blondeatlast]

13. Especially since he was a boxer.

:thumbsup:

[Melissa G]

14. 'Splain it to us non-boxers, please...n/t

[kpete]

15. some would call it

an awesome display

I will wait and see, but I have a hunch about this, kp

[Melissa G]

18. Thanks! n/t

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

23. The Rope-A-Dope

is a boxing style where the fighter leans into the ropes (usually a bad idea) and allows his opponent to slug away for several rounds. The idea being that after a while the opponent becomes arm-weary, and the fighter can then go on the offensive. To use the strategy, the fighter must be a) very good at fighting defensively or b) able to withstand brutal physical punishment (Ali vs. Foreman). It's not a generally recommended practice.

[Melissa G]

25. Thanks for the elucidation!

knew there was a good story in there...

[rateyes]

29. Muhammad Ali was famous for "rope-a-dope"....

He would cover his stomach with his elbows and his face with his hands, and let his opponent keep punching and punching his arms until they wore themselves out, and then he would beat the crap out of them.

[EVDebs]

26. And the Homeland Security financing was mentioned to at last minute

but pulled back, HR 2638. That was another 'in your face' to the G.O.P.

Gen Petraeus report is due Sept 15th. The federal fiscal year ends Sept 30th.

[EFerrari]

16. Thank Harry Reid:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1368149

[kpete]

17. nice to see Reid taking charge.

nice to see Reid taking charge.

Sure is! And we can help.

imho, folks here are correct in saying Reid & Dems will be a target of ridicule by the mighty repug smear machine, as they try to de-fuse the effect of what he’s done. They obviously can’t beat him on the facts.

Let’s all try to be prepared to understand what’s happening now, well enough, so we can explain to others what’s being done, and what’s not.

You can bet the repugs will counter by trying to blame every problem in the universe on the Dems. Rover’s blackberry is smoking-hot as we speak.

Go Blue!

got this sage advice from a commment at: http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/07/18/grand-obstruction-party-continues-to-stand-for-failed-status-quo/#comments

[blondeatlast]

20. "He’s left no cover for them or for the Bush Administration ..."

Leave it to Bob to explain it so well.

Great read, thanks.

[EFerrari]

21. Yes! They will try to do their usual smear/ridicule. Let's send

Harry some love, can we? It takes 30 seconds and he's gonna need it. :hi:

[blondeatlast]

22. done. I could hardly hold my excitement in! nt

[rateyes]

27. That must have been what really ticked Arlen Specter off

this morning. Crossing my fingers that we stick to our guns.

[blondeatlast]

28. Did he really tear up, as I read somewhere else? nt

[rateyes]

30. I don't know...

I was listening to it while at work and didn't catch a lot of it...I just know from the first part of his remarks that he was really steamed.

[jazzjunkysue]

31. Call Harry 202 224 3642 only 30 sec wait

The staffer I got was great. I told him Harry is a hero and patriot and representing me and keeping democracy alive. I told him not to back down. I also asked how the phone calls are running today and he said it's mostly positive. I thanked the staffer for taking all the hits today and being on the front lines. He was sweet and businesslike, but considering the idiots he's listening to today, hes' doing great.

Give Harry some LOVE!! It FEELS GOOD!!!
:hug: