Buildup to Senate fight over war leads to a letdown ~ the Senate has tied itself up ...

Los Angeles Daily News ^ | 02/06/2007 08:47:00 PM PST | CARL HULSE, The New York Times

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

WASHINGTON - At a time when even President George W. Bush acknowledges the war in Iraq is sapping the nation's spirit, the Senate has tied itself up in procedural knots rather than engage in a debate on Iraq policy.

Given the influence that voter frustration with Iraq had on the November elections, the national unease with the mounting human and financial costs, and the raw passion on all sides, even some lawmakers say they are astounded that the buildup to the Senate fight over Bush's proposed troop increase has produced such a letdown.

"It just floors me," said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a freshman Democrat from Minnesota who campaigned against the war, as the two parties pointed fingers on Tuesday. The day before, the Senate proved unable to agree on a plan to even begin debate on a bipartisan resolution opposing the administration strategy. "People in Minnesota, when they see a debate we should be having - whatever side they are on - blocked by partisan politics, they don't like it," Klobuchar said.

The fact that Democrats could pull together only 49 of the 60 votes needed to break a procedural impasse on the resolution opposing Bush's plan was a product of many competing agendas.

There was the Democratic desire to avoid getting tied up on any vote that could be perceived as undercutting U.S. troops or endorsing Bush's plan. At the same time, a surprising number of Republicans showed they were not yet ready to abandon the president even though many blame him for their November election losses and worry he will hurt them again next year.

[smoothsailing]

[darkwing104]

"We have the high ground here," said Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. "We have the high ground substantively. We have the high ground politically. We're not going to give it up."

You just got your butt handed to you Smucky, deal with it.

[ken5050]

I caught the opening of the Senate this morning. I thought that Harry Reid was going to start crying. And then McConnell and Lott laid into him pretty good, as a bonus.

[aquila48]

"the Senate has tied itself up ..."

Good news! One of its best recent achievement...let's hope it stays that way for a while.

[theDentist]

The fact that Democrats could pull together only 49 of the 60 votes needed...

Well, one of their Senators is in the hospital, so who defected?

[camle]

how much time have they wastede on this versus what they could have done in the meantime?

[adorno]

...even some lawmakers say they are astounded that the buildup to the Senate fight over Bush's proposed troop increase has produced such a letdown.

I thought the job of the senate, and of the house, was to get the work of the people done and not to pass meaningless and idiotic resolutions that just express how a group of people "feel" about an issue. Either pass a resolution that has meaning and teeth behind it or move on to the next issue that matters.

[Eagle of Liberty]

a surprising number of Republicans showed they were not yet ready to abandon the president even though many blame him for their November election losses and worry he will hurt them again next year.

Now if that isn't biased. A "surprising" number? Why would it be surprising that Senators want to side with US victory? And if they for one second blame the President for their November losses, they need to look into a mirror and what they did from January 2005 to November 2006 to SUPPORT the campaign platform that the President ran on. This platform is what won him his re-election and the Republican-controlled Congress immediately abandoned him and his reform ideas.

[massgopguy]

Anyone know what group of nuts disrupted the session?

[B.O. Plenty]

Schmucky ain't never going to be in the "majority"...even when his "side" wins.

He was, is, and always will be a lothsome, pathetic loser.

He should have stayed in the House...at least his "vote" would count there now.

He is in fact, worse off now than when the Senate belonged to the RINO's.

[mewzilla]

Ancient Rome declined because it had a Senate, now what's going to happen to us with both a House and a Senate?

Will Rogers

[B.O. Plenty]

Senator Lieberman?

[smoothsailing]

Joe Lieberman?

[Eva]

Probably, Joe Lieberman. It's not really a defection, he's never supported the cut and run 'rats.

[sgtbono2002]

Yup its the best thing that could happen. Anytime the Dem majority Senate is tied up and cant do anything it is good for America.

Note to Democrats.
How does it feel when this crap comes back to haunt you guys, Bwahahahahahahaha