Anti-War Dems Could Derail Bipartisan Compromise On Iraq

[unhappycamper]

Anti-War Dems Could Derail Bipartisan Compromise On Iraq
Sam Stein
September 10, 2007 10:44 PM

An effort by Senate Democratic leaders to develop a bipartisan compromise on Iraq war legislation may ultimately be defeated at the hands of the fiercest war critics in their own party.

The leadership, under intense pressure to produce some action on Iraq, has been working with a small group of Republicans to produce what most likely will be non-binding legislation calling for the start of a troop pullout by the end of this year but no end date for a complete withdrawal.

A mounting chorus of Democratic defectors, many of them responding to growing demands for withdrawal, may oppose the compromise legislation. Sen. Chris Dodd, D-CT, announced last week he won't support such a measure. Sources on Capitol Hill told the Huffington Post that Asst. Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin of Illinois, Russ Feingold, D-WI, Patrick Leahy, D-VT, and Bernie Sanders, I-VT are also potential no-votes. And with the presidential campaign in full swing - and judging by their comments in Monday night's Univision debate - Sens. Barack Obama, D-IL, and Hillary Clinton, D-NY, are more than likely to buck such a bill.

"It wouldn't be a shocker, if there were as many Democratic defections as Republican gains," one Hill staffer with reservations about the legislation told the Huffington Post.

The loss of Democratic support, political observers predict, could mean that approximately a dozen Republicans will be needed for the bipartisan measure to pass; an unlikely outcome.

"The (Democratic) purists are going to vote against it," said Steve Clemons, a fellow at the New America Foundation. "A good chunk would vote for it.... Several Republicans will come on board, but the broad outline is designed not to win."


Rest of article at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/09/10/antiwar-dems-could-derai_n_63864.html

[goodhue]

1. we should be so lucky

[ShortnFiery]

2. I see no compromise: Just Democratic Leaders rolling on their backs, begging Bush for tummy rubs.

:thumbsdown:

[Greeby]

3. Good nt