Posted on 09/09/2013 12:49:47 PM PDT by Da Bilge Troll
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services, released the following statement today on Syria:
“Assad’s chemical attacks on his own people were abhorrent, and I join the President in condemning his actions.
“It is clear that the Administration’s policies toward Syria have not worked. The refugee problem has destabilized the region, and the addition of outside radical groups increases the likelihood of long-term danger for Syrians and their neighbors.
“During the first months of the insurgency, I believed that we could and should assist in establishing a safe zone for refugees and those challenging Assad. This is a position I publicly held as late as March of this year, but the longer these things are allowed to drag on in the Middle East, the harder they are to impact in a positive way.
“I respect the President’s responsibilities as Commander in Chief. In this case, the President has asked the Congress to support very specific tactics and strategies. He has asked Congress to endorse a ‘shot across the bow’ and has said that Assad will stay in place while a political solution is sought, which stands in contrast to his statement more than two years ago that Assad must ‘step aside.’ I’m not convinced that the President’s strategy lines up with the policy goals our country should have, or that the Administration currently has realistic policy goals in Syria.
“After careful consideration and a number of briefings on this topic, I believe this strategy and the unknown response it may provoke are the wrong thing to do, and I will not support the resolution the President has asked for.”
Another moderate puts his finger in the wind!
Right now the Senate tally is about 30-30.
Maybe Corker and Hoeven can swing in and save the president’s agenda at the last minute! (or at least pass the buck to the House)
I have Hoeven as a No.
Roy finally comes through and earns at least a portion of my vote...
I was kidding but it’s good to see he’s not dopey enough to vote for this thing. As one tweeter put it, we’re basically going to egg Assad’s house. That’ll show em!
I wonder how many phone calls these Senators would get if the media would report that this is only being done so the Saudis can make a lot of money selling natural gas to Europeans.
I had Ayotte as a YEA, but CNN says she is undecided.
Yep. First he had to study all the issues. Then he had to find out what the vote tally is going to be. “Mitch, are you voting with the president?”
“Yes, Roy.”
“Can I vote against him?”
“I think you’re safe at this point. I’ll let you know if you have to change your vote after you’ve been given ‘more information’.”
We’ll see how it shakes out. I personally think the Senate will pass it, but it’ll be relatively close. The key issue is cloture. If 60 Senators allow for the vote, you’ve pretty much got your answer. And of course, dingy harry won’t allow a vote that he thinks dear leader will lose.
We burned his phone lines up.
Tennessee will remember in 2018. Corker thinks we’ll forget, but we won’t, will we boys?
Maybe he can tell Johnny Isakson to pull HIS thumb out of his a$$ and put it in the wind!
About time...
He got called out on vacillating this morning by Dana Loesch, and less than a couple of hours later comes out with this statement.
There’s no way any Republican who hopes to have a political future can stick his neck out and vote YES on this.
Outside of Cruz and Paul I don’t trust the rest of the GOP senators.
They make conservative noises and record as many NO votes on bad issues that they can sneak in under public pressure.
We are being faked and phonied constantly. In their hearts they are GOPe and must be replaced.
Blunt is a bought-and-paid-for professional douchebag. Honestly, I’m suprised that he got this one right. It must have really grated on his nerves.
Agreed. Blunt has been remarkably weak from my state, like a lukewarm McCaskill. Can’t MO do any better? Ugh.
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