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.
Translation:
“I will hold paychecks of troops being shot at to ensure that we capitulate to Al Qaeda!”
So he want to give the GOP the talking point of Democrats denying funding for the troops because of a political temper tantrum? Yeah, brilliant stategy.
Dor all Daschle’s faults, he wasn’t as incompetant as Reid is for the Democrats.
And congress’s ratings just go down and down. Do you think Reid and Pelosi will wake up to the obvious? I hope not.
Why don’t they arrest that bastard.
What a turd...
Numbnuts ain’t got enough sense to stopping digging the hole for his party.
Roots him on and throws a bigger shovel.
That's the whole problem. The Senate has no power to "change course" in Iraq other than holding up funding measures.
Looks to me like he just de-funded the war.
Bastard.
We may need to have a telethon to raise money for the troops.
Bono and those rock bands that organize concerts to raise money for global warming and condoms in Africa and whatnot should do something really useful for once and have a show to raise money for the troops.
"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
(hurls)
When does funding actually run out? When will this have an effect?
Nevada's Traitor Reid: "Death to America."
Fine, then NOTHING gets through.
bingo.
We need Liebermann to come across to the republican caucus to stop this crap.
"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
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