According to Roll Call (sub. required), 8 Republicans join the trio in opposing the White House: Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, Richard Lugar, Mike DeWine, Gordon Smith, John Sununu, Lincoln Chafee (natch), and Chuck Hagel.
Makes me all the less bothered DeWine's reelection prospects aren't so hot.
The Roll Call piece also says:
With 11 GOP supporters and the expected backing of a majority of Democrats, the Armed Services proposal, which passed the panel with largely Democratic support last week, could draw as many as 56 votes.
But the senior Senate GOP aide noted that that count would apply only if those Senators actually have an opportunity to vote for the Warner-McCain-Graham alternative to the president’s bill. Frist could decide to use a procedural maneuver, known as filling the amendment tree, to prevent an up-or-down vote on the trio’s proposal. Still, Frist would need 60 votes to choke off any potential filibuster of the president’s plan — a tall order.
While it is always possible that Frist could decide to bring up one or both proposals with no restrictions on amendments, giving opponents an opportunity to present their alternatives, the more likely scenario is one in which Frist tries to restrict the debate in an attempt to minimize the damage that already has been done to a national security message that was supposed to be the Republicans’ ace in the hole going into the Nov. 7 elections. Additionally, adding structure and limits to the debate could also serve to head-off the potential of Democratic attempts to hijack the proceedings with other issues.
Of course, Frist also could decide to punt the issue into next week or beyond if talks between the warring parties appear to be bearing fruit.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Thanks for the heads up
Frist wants to run for President. He knows this is the kiss of death for him. The RINOS bill will not see the light of day.