Senate votes to require Iraq withdrawals

AP ^ | April 26, 2007 | ANNE FLAHERTY

[50mm]

WASHINGTON - A defiant Democratic-controlled Senate passed legislation Thursday that would require the start of troop withdrawals from Iraq by Oct. 1, propelling Congress toward a historic veto showdown with President Bush on the war.

The 51-46 vote was largely along party lines, and like House passage of the same bill a day earlier, fell far short of the two-thirds margin needed to overturn the president's threatened veto. Neverthe less, the legislation is the first binding challenge on the war that Democrats have managed to send to Bush since they reclaimed control of both houses of Congress in January.

[pillut48]

From Drudge's front page--the title? "Bye bye, bipartisanship"! Resign, Harry Reid, and take the rest of your America/troop hating seditionists and traitors with you!!! >:-(

[mort56]

Hagel and Smith voted for it and McCain and his VP “Little Lindsey” didn’t bother to vote.

[You Dirty Rats]

May God have mercy on their souls

Exactly, because none of us on the rock should have any mercy for any of them.

The saddest part of all of this is that most of the country really doesn't care. American Idol or Britney Spears get more attention than this. Even on FR this is far from the biggest topic of discussion, and I don't get that at all. Don't people care about what this vote has done to our men and women in Iraq?

[edcoil]

McCain and Lindsey did not vote? Do we know why?

[You Dirty Rats]

Boycott Nevada!!!!

[goldstategop]

Again, the Defeatocrats could muster only a ONE vote majority for their CUT N RUN position. One has gotta feel sorry for them. Defeat is not a popular position with the American people and their bill will face a swift veto and it will be sustained.

"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

[pillut48]

Not on our troops’ watch!! >:-(

Anybody know the answer to this question?

Can the troops and military leaders DEFY the Democrats in Congress by actually *refusing* to leave Iraq before the job is done?? Could this actually happen? If soldiers deferred pay and private citizens donated equipment, supplies, etc to the troops instead of relying on the do-nothings in Congress?? Could this happen?

[norton]

"Missing from the vote were GOP Sens. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) of Arizona and Lindsey Graham (news, bio, voting record) of South Carolina, both staunch advocates of the president's Iraq policy."

What's this about?

Too busy telling everyone how much he supports the WOT?

[Carling]

I just called Smith’s office. The poor sap who answered the phone sounded like she was going to cry. I told her that after voting for Smith in his last election, I will be voting for the Democrat this time around. At least I know what I am getting with that vote. I also said that her boss just left the GOP with this vote.

Senator Gordon Smith 503-326-3386.

Here is his email link.

http://gsmith.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home

[Republican Red]

I believe they knew in advance that their vote would not change the outcome so McCain continued campaigning. I got no idea why Graham skipped out on the vote.

IMO, there is no excuse not to be on record.

[fatnotlazy]

“These are not you father’s Democrats...”

***

Boy I’ll say. My father was a lifelong Democrat, but toward the end of his life (he passed in 1992), even he began to sour on the Democrats. I know he would not have been too thrilled with this vote today.

I can remember a time when I first started voting — at least on foreign policy issues — the two parties were very close together. At the very least, the differences were so minor that they would have been able to work them out and come up with something a heckuva lot better than this. Not now.

[Islander7]

".....Dear Friends, Last week, I indicated that I would seriously consider running for the U.S. Senate regardless of Sen. Hagel's plans. This week, The Friends of Jon Bruning Exploratory Committee released poll numbers showing me leading Sen. Hagel 47% to 38% in a 2008 GOP Senate Primary. The poll also showed that I lead Senator Hagel 55% to 31% when his criticism of President Bush and his vote - along with the Democratic Leadership - for a strict troop withdrawal deadline from Iraq are considered. Those poll numbers confirm what I have been hearing as I travel the state talking to Nebraskans about their vision for Nebraska and our country. Given the momentum and tremendous encouragement pouring in from all over the state, I'm not surprised that the negative politics they teach you in Washington have begun. Unfortunately, in the coming days, you will see the lengths some will go to in an effort to discredit any challenge to the status quo. In fact, you will see me being attacked for articles I wrote 15 years ago as a student. It's true that I, along with President Reagan and Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns were all registered Democrats in our youth. In fact, Secretary Johanns once ran for Chairmanship of the Nebraska Democratic Party. It's no secret that as we mature, so do our views and values. I became a Republican because of my strongly-held values and beliefs. I am pro-life. I believe that marriage is between one man and one woman. And I support Second Amendment rights. As a two-term state senator and as attorney general, my record in support of conservative issues is clear. Period. I have been repeatedly endorsed in my elections for both Legislature and Attorney General by Nebraska Right to Life and the National Rifle Association. Simply put, my conservative record is rock-solid. In contrast, in the last 30 days, Sen. Hagel voted with the Democratic leadership in favor of a strict timeline for U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq and said the impeachment of our President is a real option. My conservative record is solid. Let the record speak for itself. Deonne and I remain grateful for your continue....

Looks like you may have good guy running against Hagel. I wish him luck.

http://www.jonbruning.com/index.php?PAGE_ID=1

[headstamp]

Senator Gordon Hairspray (D”R”-Surrender)

[Milwaukee_Guy]

“Yawn~

Unconstitutional.

Congress can only fund or defund,

not set foreign policy.”

You are correct!

If the Dems want to play hardball, then quit wasting time and defund the Iraq war.

Do the actually think GW is going to be intimidated by this vote, or what?

[headstamp]

Where do I send the check.

[LowOiL]

[pleikumud]

Clinton (NY) voted “yes” - for surrender

[jackv]

And when Bush vetoes it, the libs and all the press will blame Bush for not giving the troops what they need.
Stupid people won’t bother with the details.
Republicans better get out there and fast or this is going to hurt eveyone but the damned liberals who are responsible.

[You Dirty Rats]

I saw an interview with Bernard Goldberg (sp? — think he was the author of “Bias) who said that the problem the ‘rats have is that their party is moving more and more towards their extreme wingnuts.

If the ‘rats want to replay 1972 again I’m all for it.

[bw17]

I sent Bruning’s 2008 campaign a contribution of $50 with a note of encouragement to get that RINO Hagel out of our party. I recommend that all Freepers do the same.

According to the internal polls in Bruning’s camp, he’s out-polling Hagel by nearly 10 points...and by nearly 20 points when Hagel’s Iraq vote is the most important issue.