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.
I don’t recall Chafee being anything like Leiberman. And I mean that as a slam against Chafee of course. I fail to recall one patriotic move Chafee made.
Chafee deserved to lose, and if the RNC had any sense at the time they’d have diverted their funds and energy to closer races elsewhere like in virginia, Missouri etc..rather then fighting to preserve a lost cause in Chafee that only served to alienate the base more.
Allen and talent losing MATTERED. Santorum MATTERED, but Santorum wasn’t going to win no matter what given his location. Losing Chafee MATTERED, but only in the sense the RINO’s had one less ally.
Reid doesn’t seem to recall the American public’s distaste for high-handed behavior among Congresscritters.
This is a senate phone system crashing issue.
Immigration, funding the war and the “faaaa-ir-ness” doctrine are the ones for me.
That’s exactly what I was thinking. The Dems block support of our brave soldiers so we the American people have to do it themselves. How do we get this thing organized? I’m in.
Sorry for double post.
This pretty much goes to show everyone just how much the Democrats disdain the military, regardless of what they say. A picture (metaphorically) is worth a thousand words!
Harry needs to be deported to Iran, preferably via a size 15 bootprint on his sorry backside courtesy of the 82nd Airborne Division. Let that kook Amad-nut-job have him!
It would make the Senate 50-50, but the VP (Cheney) would break all ties. Hence, Mitch McConnell would becone the majority leader.
Perhaps Harry Reid's corrupt practices needs its own thread.
FastCoyote is an expert on Reid's corruption and this will be the second ping to him. He doesn't seem to be online, but I'm sure he will reply.
DEMOCRATS VOTE TO ABANDON TROOPS IN THE FIELD!
Sen. Reid... Here's your sign.
Don’t. It’s not like Americans will have an opportunity to know and understand; I mean after all, it’s not we have a media that objectively informs the public.
I just got some retirement papers in the mail yesterday that indicated I had served honorably for 31 years, 9 months and 27 days. Never during that time did I ever feel that the Democrats cared one iota about the military.
I wish it would be reported that way.
A headline like, "Reid demands accountability from obstructionist Republicans" is far more likely.
The repubs and conservatives ought to be beating this up all over the place.
Democrats. Doing the work Americans won’t do. Wasting everyones effing time.
Here is a post that needs to be refreshed. And this is a perfect thread for a repost:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1818112/posts
Greetings from the FRONT LINE! By: David C. Osborne
Greetings from Baghdad, I trust this note finds you well.
Things in Baghdad are extremely complicated, and only the Lord knows what challenges each day will bring.
I wish it were possible to talk to every American citizen at one time, and ask youBEG YOU to not give up on ME.. I am fighting a terrible war, not against any nation or “army” but against an evil ideology (Satan Himself I believe) that is anti-American and anti-Freedom...
Few things in THIS life are worth fighting for, but in my opinion this IS one of those few things...
It is sad to see that some soldiers, and a growing number of American Citizens either do not understand this, or no longer believe that FREEDOM IS still worth fighting for.. I do not know what the future holds for us, but I SINCERELY believe that if WHEN the American people order us to stop fighting here in IRAQ, the battleground of our choosing.....
that in essence we will have allowed our ENEMY to select the battleground, perhaps, New York, Los Angeles, or maybe even Tallahassee...
In addition we will have abandoned the people that have lost the most in this war and that is the IRAQI PEOPLE..
I will not be able to look my Iraqi Soldiers in the eye (any one of whom would take a bullet that was meant for ME ).. and tell them “I am sorry, but my country has given up on you, Fi AMMAN ALLAH, which is an Arabic term for “Go with God”.
The Iraqi people desperately want security and stability... how many soldiers... how many nations.. how many American CITIZENS are willing to help them achieve that, AT ANY COST ! What is the “price tag” of freedom? I say that there IS no price tag, Freedom is NOT FOR SALE ! The enemy knows that without security and stability, Iraq will NEVER be FREE, and there is no DOUBT that the enemies of FREEDOM are committed to THEIR cause, my question for you is this... Are YOU as committed to Pro-American, Pro-Freedom values, as the enemy is to Anti-American, Anti-Freedom values? IF your answer is yes, please let me do MY JOB !!
If you know anyone who is on the fence and considering supporting this push for an “American SURRENDER to TERRORISM” please forward this note as a personal favor to me.
Thank you, and may God Bless all those who ALL OF THOSE who FIGHT for FREEDOM, and may God Bless the United States of America !!
Thanks you for your service to our country, AlaskaErik.
The amazing thing about Congress' rating being lower than GWB's is that Republicans and the DBM aren't bashing Congress everyday.
That says a lot, especially since most people don't pay attention to these things like we do.
Sen. Reid, if you can’t get behind our troops, GET IN FRONT OF THEM!
That’s my sign :)
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