Posted on 07/18/2007 9:38:10 AM PDT by tcrlaf
Ratcheting up the stakes in the wake of the GOP's successful blocking of a vote on Iraq withdrawal just moments ago, Harry Reid just announced on the Senate floor that he won't allow a vote on the entire Defense Authorization bill until the Senate GOP drops its filibustering of votes on Iraq.
The move is significant because it could hold up the funding of the Pentagon's fiscal 2008 priorities until the standoff is resolved.
It comes only moments after the Republican filibuster succeeded in preventing a vote on the Reed-Levin amendment, which would have mandated withdrawal by April 2008.
Reid said:
I have temporarily laid aside the Defense Authorization bill and have entered a motion to reconsider.
But let me be clear to my Republican colleagues – I emphasize the word "temporarily". We will do everything in our power to change course in Iraq. We will do everything in our power to complete consideration of a Defense Authorization bill. We must do both.
And just to remind my Republican colleagues – even if this bill had passed yesterday, its provisions would not take effect until October.
So we will come back to this bill as soon as it is clear we can make real progress. To that end, I have asked the Democratic Whip and Democratic Manager of the bill to sit down with their counterparts to work on a process to address all outstanding issues related to this bill so the Senate can return to it as soon as possible.
What this means is that Reid isn't allowing any votes on any other Iraq amendments -- not the toothless Warner-Lugar amendment, not the Ken Salazar amendment that would force adoption of the Baker-Hamilton plan, nothing.
Fellow TPM reporter Spencer Ackerman also says that Reid's move is very significant in another way:
Because the Pentagon's priorities won't become law until a Defense Authorization bill is passed, the Pentagon's fiscal 08 priorities won't get funded until this standoff is resolved -- and Reid is insisting that won't happen until the GOP allows a vote on the Iraq withdrawal measures.
More soon.
Bono and those rock bands that organize concerts to raise money for global warming and condoms in Africa and whatnot should do something really useful for once and have a show to raise money for the troops.
WOW! What an idea!
Get Sean and Rush and Mark and the other show hosts on board and start with Sean's line up of the Freedom Tour...What a PR boon for talk radio especially with the "fairness doctrine" crap going on, and what a slam to dingy Harry!
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Where are the blistering commercials accross the fruited plain?
Where are the LOUD exclamations showing that the Democrat party is ANTI AMERICAN?
This can’t go over well with any Democrat who is facing election next year, can it?
It is incredible that Harry Pouter is so eager to surrender to the islamofascists.
Good Ol’ Harry.
He’s From Mindshaft,
Nevada or such, I hear.
What a gem.
Reid will have to cave or be accused of not funding our national defense. When Gingrich had the budget showdown with Slick, much of the government was shut down (DoD) for a couple of days, but then the DoD appropriations bill was passed. The shutdown was blamed on Gingrich, even though Slick vetoed the balanced budget.
Reid is making a huge political mistake which, if they're properly aggressive, the Republicans can use to destroy him.
President Bush needs to schedule a prime-time speech to dissect Reid's (and Pelosi's) idiocy.
If al-Qaeda has an equivalent to the Medal of Honor, Harry certainly deserves it.
You don't know the half of his corruption, either.
God has blessed us with these enemies
Good translation there
That’s a great idea - start having “bake sales” to fund our troops because the evil Democrats have taken away their funding...
Your pic of the slimy Reid in younger days reminds me that the corrupt politico portrayed by Dickie Smothers in “Casino” is said to be based on Reid.
What a slimeball.
“The Democrats don’t have the votes.”
But...
But...
John Kerry told us yesterday they had 60 VOTES!
SURELY, he wouldn’t LIE, would he?
Let’s make sure that get themselves labeled as the SURRENDER party....
They have certainly earned it with hard work , hot air and insults all around.
DeFeatocRats.. The Left gone mad.
I’m available lets get started! I’ve heard talk of this and it is sounding like a great idea. I think ried is treason! (hope I spelled that right)
Could Reid stoop any lower?
John Kerry told us yesterday they had 60 VOTES!
___________________________________________________
He also mentioned he was in the war.
Hey was Kerry in Nam? lol
Good info.
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