Reid Tries Again to Force Iraq Debate in Senate

[rodeodance]

http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/

February 15, 2007

Reid Tries Again to Force Iraq Debate in Senate

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., will file a cloture motion today in a bid to force Senate debate on the House Iraq resolution.

If cloture succeeds, the Senate would proceed directly to debate on the issue and debate could stretch into the weekend.

Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., have already clashed earlier this afternoon on the issue, with both men objecting to the other's proposal for conducting the debate. Reid wants an up-or-down vote on whether senators approve of President Bush's plan to send more U.S. troops to Iraq. McConnell, for his part, wants votes on several resolutions, including one vowing that Congress will never cut funding for troops already serving in Iraq, and he also is seeking to make sure that any proposal that's voted upon must have 60 votes to pass. The two sides have been squabbling over the ground rules for an Iraq debate since last week, when Republicans backed McConnell and refused to give into Reid's demands.

Reid's latest move may just be another public-relations stunt, although Democratic leadership aides claim the vote will be close. Reid would need 60 senators to vote for cloture in order to begin debate, meaning a number of Republicans would have to switch sides since last week's cloture vote, in which Reid only got 49 votes.

"We know how to count votes. We know we don't have enough to do what we want." Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., just acknowledged on the Senate floor.





posted by John Bresnahan 01:43 PM | comments (0) | post comment | permalink

[youngdem]

1. Uh oh, look out...Harry might clear his throat and ask nicely

Grow a spine and see a doc about getting your fellas to drop, Harry....My terrier has more backbone and bite.

[ClassWarrior]

4. Yeah, he should use charm instead, like you.

:rofl:

NGU.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ClassWarrior]

12. Good strategy.

Spewing vulgar bitterness ought to do the trick.

:eyes:

NGU.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[blondeatlast]

6. An up-or-down vote isn't direct enough for you?

You are indeed young, grasshopper, and it shows.

[Daylin Byak]

7. If you don't like what Senator Reid is doing

Then plain and simple leave the Democratic Party plain and simple. The party dosen't need anymore negative vibes just because you can't have it your way. In 2006 I bust my butt working on various campaigns not to mention the Westmoreland County Young Democrats to get the Dems back in power and i'll be damned if that's going to go away in two years just because a few voters don't like what Reid is doing, the war won't end by the end of the 110th Congress as long as Bush is the Commander in Chief. Majority Leader Reid is doing the best he can under the circumstances and I commend him for it.

I worked too long in the last election for a couple of voters to fuck it all up and cost the Dems Congress just because you can't have it your way.

You don't like what I say that's fine your entitled to your opinion.

[Dr Fate]

8. I'm not second guessing Harry on this one- but I disagree with your mandate.

If someone disagrees with strategy, I believe they should say so.

You may not remember, but DEMS have engaged in poor strategy from time time- maybe we should learn from those mistakes and let them know about it when we see it happening again.

"Having it your way" is what politics is all about- it's about who gets to have their way.

In this case, the folks who applaud & like Harry's approach are having their way- those who dont like and say so can still be good, loyal DEMS.

[oasis]

11. Wow. I like your spunk.

[rodeodance]

2. cspan saying Reid will have the vote on SATurday--critters do not want to

go home and face their constituants without something happening!

some Senators have to cancel plans ho ho they are having a testy fit.

[rodeodance]

3. they said Harry called their bluff and now they have to stay in for Recess

[Doondoo]

5. K&R

[babylonsister]

9. Yes! And up or down vote should sound familiar to those nasty rethugs. nt