Senate Democrats Backtrack on War Funding

[babylonsister]

What a surprise.


Senate Democrats Backtrack on War Funding
By Josh Rogin, CQ Staff

Senate Democrats moved closer Tuesday toward acceding to the Bush administration’s demands on war funding.

With a growing number of lawmakers deciding that legislation providing some money to the troops could not be put off until next year, the Senate Democratic leadership discussed different approaches to preserving some of the many restrictions on the war funding that House Democrats passed.

Aides said the Senate could hold a series of votes this month, each with progressively less restrictive language on the administration’s ability to conduct the war.

The options that Senate leaders were considering included omitting withdrawal dates or designating funds only for Afghanistan.

However, with the Senate’s legislative calendar already full for the remainder of the year, a consensus appeared to be growing that a prolonged fight over Iraq policy with President Bush probably would have to wait until next spring.

more...

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=news-000002635872

[Tesha]

1. We really need new Congresscritters.

Ones who actually *STAND FOR SOMETHING*,
or know when to take full political advantage of
an opportunity (like the NIE) that falls right
into their laps.

Tesha

[AndyA]

2. The war in Iraq is a lie.

It's an ILLEGAL WAR. Always has been, always will be.

There were no WMDs. There was no threat.

NO MORE MONEY! BRING THE TROOPS HOME!!

Reid and Pelosi should start their new careers as White House door mats. It's what they do best.

[ixion]

4. spot on, Andy

:applause:

It's too bad we don't have real leadership in this country. :-(

[EFerrari]

8. And that money is blackmail dressed up as war funding.

Pelosi and Reid aren't children. They know what they're doing.

[yourout]

3. Wow what a suprise.

Retreat! Retreat! Retreat! Retreat!....faster than a French foot soldier.

[LeFleur1]

6. Calls from Democratic Fundraisers...

...have been unsuccessful at our house, and the poor callers get an earful with the directive to "Tell their bosses". They will not get a penny from us until they stand up to Bush. They have acted in a cowardly manner and I will not support them.
What is the difference between them and Bush if they constantly vote for what he wants?

[mmonk]

5. Why do today what has been put off since Nov. 2006?

[TwilightGardener]

7. Senate GOPers are just waiting them out. They know they'll ultimately

hand over the cash with no strings attached. Embarrassing.

[spanone]

9. i think our senate's continual support of this war is appalling.

republicans and democras alike

[paparush]

10. No One Could Have Predicted

that Senate Dems would fold like a f#cking napkin. Doin a heck of a job Reid.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

11. Color me surprised at the lack of spine.

Unbelievable what passes as leadership. No convictions, no spine, no resolution. Meh.

[magellan]

12. They're playing right into Repug hands by caving over and over again

They'd stand a much better chance in elections next year if they kept pushing the same funding with the same conditions, because the mood in America is overwhelmingly AGAINST keeping our troops there any longer. Bush**'s vetoes would make the Repugs look very bad in contrast, rather than the current impression being given that the whole flipping government is hell-bent on keeping our troops there against the will of the people.

[Marr]

13. I honestly don't know what these idiots are thinking. Even if they only care about their party and

their careers, this would still be the time to draw a line in the sand. Let Bush punt this problem into 2009 and it will demolish the party in power.

And that's ignoring little things like law, morality, public opinion, etc. Even the cynical political hacks should be helping to stop this now. Instead, they're allowing the GOP to saddle them with this mess, and making themselves look weak and cowardly in the process.