Democrats turn to the GOP for help in trying to get the necessary votes on new Iraq bill

[jmc247]

Democratic leaders are turning to Republicans to help them pass a new Iraq war spending bill that President Bush won‘t veto — unlike the one Congress will send him next week with a timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops.

"If the Congress wants to test my will as to whether or not I‘ll accept the timetable for withdrawal, I won‘t accept one," Bush declared.

Democrats were already looking for ways to draw Republican support for a new spending measure, knowing they would need GOP votes to pass any bill that Bush would sign. However, a move to water down the withdrawal language is virtually certain to cost them the votes of liberal Democrats who have been uneasy about supporting any war funding.

Democrats are "going to have to pull out the surrender dates — clearly those are the most unacceptable items — as well as the strings on our troops," Putnam said in an interview. Senior Democratic aides say there may be little point now in pressing their confrontation with Bush on the Iraq spending bill, and suggest it is more likely they will try to use future measures — such as a defense authorization bill or other spending bills — to challenge the president.

http://www.onelocalnews.com/newhopecourier/stories/index.php?action=fullnews&id=104006

[Greeby]

1. Very telling that the leadership would seek Repuke votes to get one passed

Means that there are enough Democrats to shut such a bill down.

Of course, this could just be horseshit from Putnam

[jmc247]

3. To over ride a veto takes a super majority

[dweller]

7. who T F is Putnam?

sorry, not sure if he's a R senator, or some lame pundit.

"Democrats are "going to have to pull out the surrender dates — clearly those are the most unacceptable items — as well as the strings on our troops," Putnam said in an interview. "Democrats and Republicans alike would like to see accountability, particularly on the Iraq government, and that can come in the form of benchmarks."
"Consequences are a little more divisive," he said. "

is this a meme developing?

dp

[Greeby]

8. Congresscritter Adam Putnam (R-FL)

Along with Patrick McHenry, part of the new breed of evil little snots the GOP is building up

[More Than A Feeling]

2. *bleep*

When are we going to say: "across this line, you shall not pass"? At any point before Bush leaves office? We know that Bush is just trying to run out the clock, why enable that? Is it even a good idea to stand firm, or should we continue to pursue a bend-but-do-not-break strategy?

[jmc247]

4. The votes aren't there

And, Bush could fund the war anyway by taking money from the Navy and Air Force.

[More Than A Feeling]

5. And even after that, he could just steal some more money from Afghanistan

and buy more mercenaries...I'd better stop before I get more depressed. God damn our government sucks:(

[jmc247]

6. Look in a year and a half he will be out of office

And then a new President will decide what to do in Iraq.

[Richard Steele]

9. And how many more people will DIE during that time?

Sitting and waiting is NOT an acceptable plan.

[jmc247]

11. Sorry, but the current plan Congress is pushing

Would have Americans continue to die in Iraq until Bush leaves office as well. All combat troops out in a year and a half it says.

The problem is US troops as they are leaving would be in the middle of a civil war not like we have seen to date. More like the genocide in the Congo with more modern weapons.

Either we leave fast or not at all. This idea that we can slowly draw down was tried by Rummy last year and it failed horrifically and led to more deaths Iraqi and American. If we leave fast the situation will explode and lots more Iraqis will die, but lots less US soldiers will die. It we leave slow like the bill in Congress wants us to the situation will explode and lots more Iraqis will die and lots more Americans will die as well because Americans then will be in the middle of a fullscale civil war.

[More Than A Feeling]

10. and if we are lucky, it won't be Rudy Giuliani or Fred Thompson.