Reply #27: Actually, I didn't slander Smith--I have defended him pretty consistently

[TwilightGardener]

over the past few months for voting where his mouth was. I appreciate his stand. I just think the idea that some GOPer Senators were actually going to vote for cloture and then changed their mind because of the all-nighter is bull--that's just a way for the GOP to try to "get back" at the Dems for the sleepover. Warner, Lugar et al. had already declared they would not vote for timelines on the war--I doubt Voinovich or Domenici would have either. I don't give props to Collins--she's spineless. Her cloture vote was nice, but not especially helpful if she won't add her support for Levin-Reed. Hagel was the first Repub Senator (besides Chaffee? or Jeffords?) to criticize the war, has been doing it for years now, much to the detriment of his political career here in red Nebraska and nationally within the GOP--he's a true rebel on the issue, even warned about the unintended consequences that might come of our invasion of Iraq in a floor speech before he cast his vote on the IWR in 2002. Smith has been vocal largely within the last year, at least according to what I've read from a George Will column. I think he is genuinely opposed, though most folks (including his constituents who post here) think he's doing it for re-election purposes. n/t = no text, eom = end of message (same purpose as n/t), K= kick (sends thread back to the top of the pile), R = recommend. Welcome to DU!