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Daschle 'Not Committed' to Vote on Iraqi Invasion
www.cnsnews.com ^ | September 12, 2002 | Melanie Hunter

Posted on 09/12/2002 1:11:36 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe

Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) expressed concern Thursday about what he called was the "politization" of the coalition against Iraq, including the possibility of voting on a resolution before the November elections.

Reacting to President Bush's speech before the UN on the Iraq issue, Daschle said congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle are taking their time to consider what action should be taken.

"I don't know that his [Bush's] lack of a time frame necessitated any particular expectation as regard to how we might respond. I think that it's very important for us to be deliberate," he said. "I think the vast majority of members of Congress believe this - that we wanna do it right. We don't care if we do it quickly."

Daschle added that the president has yet to formally request a resolution from Congress.

"Until he asks for a resolution, we will continue to work with the administration and continue to talk among ourselves about what the appropriate strategy ought to be and how we might respond," he said.

Daschle said the Bush administration must first make its case, then make a request.

"Third, the Congress needs to take into account the request based on that information provided, and fourth, make some deliberative decision with regard to how we would proceed on a resolution," he said.

As far as voting on a resolution before the elections, Daschle has reservations.

"[Former 1996 presidential candidate] Bob Dole objected to having this debate prior to the last incursion in Iraq. He objected to having a vote. On that very basis, I think we've got to take those reservations and those concerns into account. That's why I say I don't think anyone's committed to a course of action legislatively or militarily at this point," he said.

Meanwhile, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Republicans stand behind Bush in his bid to garner support for a war on Iraq. He said winning a war against Iraq won't be as difficult as some make it out to be.

"What member of the Iraqi army is willing to die for Saddam Hussein when they know he's going to be taken down? So I don't think it's going to be nearly as difficult as some assume," McCain said.

As far as Daschle's reluctance to vote on a resolution, McCain said congressional leaders should try their best to convince him that a timely vote is necessary.

"I think that it's pretty clear from Senator Daschle's remarks that he is not committed to a vote before we go out of session. I don't think he has rejected it, but I don't think he's committed to it. I hope that we can convince him that it's necessary to for us to have a debate and the vote before we go out of session," he said.

Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott (R- Miss.) said the United States should approve an attack on Iraq before the United Nations makes its decision.

"And we shouldn't wait for the United Nations to act. We should show that we are united in our support of this president and the goals that he has laid out. That's part of our leadership role in the world," said Lott.

"It bolsters the president's argument when he has an expression [of support], which I think would be a significant majority of Congress being behind him and [supporting] him," McCain said.

He said if Congress drags its feet and does not vote before the session ends, Bush would have to either call Congress back or wait for their approval before carrying out military action.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: littletommy
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1 posted on 09/12/2002 1:11:36 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
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To: Tailgunner Joe
Daschle makes me so angry. How many times and in how many ways must President Bush make his case?
2 posted on 09/12/2002 1:13:36 PM PDT by Utah Girl
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To: Tailgunner Joe
Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott (R- Miss.) said the United States should approve an attack on Iraq before the United Nations makes its decision.

Now he finds his spine.

3 posted on 09/12/2002 1:15:33 PM PDT by Fzob
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To: Utah Girl
I hope he votes against it. He is only cutting his own throat in the process. Go Dasshole Go!!
4 posted on 09/12/2002 1:15:58 PM PDT by Corporate Law
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To: Tailgunner Joe
Listen Tommy, there is nothing political about it. You are either for or against an invasion of Iraq. What's political is putting the most important vote in congress in 60 years off until after the elections.
5 posted on 09/12/2002 1:16:33 PM PDT by The Vast Right Wing
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To: Corporate Law
Daschle won't have to vote against it if he keeps it from coming to the floor. But then that failure should be made an issue in this year's election. Perfect way to nationalize all the Senate elections.
6 posted on 09/12/2002 1:18:15 PM PDT by aristeides
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To: Tailgunner Joe
Daschle said congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle are taking their time to consider what action should be taken.

Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott (R- Miss.) said the United States should approve an attack on Iraq before the United Nations makes its decision. "And we shouldn't wait for the United Nations to act. We should show that we are united in our support of this president and the goals that he has laid out. That's part of our leadership role in the world," said Lott.

McCain said a timely vote is necessary, "It bolsters the president's argument when he has an expression [of support], which I think would be a significant majority of Congress being behind him and [supporting] him."

Slam Dunk...

7 posted on 09/12/2002 1:18:43 PM PDT by rface
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To: The Vast Right Wing
How long do you have to live in SD to vote? Can you jump primaries there?
8 posted on 09/12/2002 1:19:32 PM PDT by PROTESTBYPROXY
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To: Tailgunner Joe
Please, Mr. President ask for a resolution....lob that ball in Tiny Tom's court and let's see what he does.
9 posted on 09/12/2002 1:19:42 PM PDT by mystery-ak
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To: Tailgunner Joe
We don't care if we do it quickly.

Butt-wipe, what part of "Immediate" do you not understand?

10 posted on 09/12/2002 1:21:13 PM PDT by mhking
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To: mystery-ak
He DID in a Cabinet Meeting!!! There's a thread about it around here somewhere.

Da$$hole is LYING! He is Such a HUUUUUUGE PUNK!
11 posted on 09/12/2002 1:21:27 PM PDT by Frank_Discussion
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To: Tailgunner Joe
We don't care if we do it quickly."

that's it, they don't care

12 posted on 09/12/2002 1:22:28 PM PDT by knak
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To: Tailgunner Joe
Damn, but Daschle's a fool on this one. It's obvious that he's only playing politics here -- he even says so.

But politically, Bush holds all the cards: he need only ask them publicly to debate it, and they absolutely have to do it.

About the only way tommy gets away with this is if he already knows the timetable, knows it's all post-election, and is therefore using it as a club.

I think he does know the timetable. Assuming Bush hasn't asked him to act like a A-hole on purpose, tommy's little game will surely cost him.

13 posted on 09/12/2002 1:22:53 PM PDT by r9etb
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To: Tailgunner Joe
South Dakotans, why don't you recall the little hsit?
14 posted on 09/12/2002 1:23:07 PM PDT by OKSooner
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To: Tailgunner Joe
Daschle is the proverbial turkey voting for Christmas. Given the power of the President's speech, it is hard to see how he can survive the firestorm of disapproval for his stance that is sure to come.

Regards, Ivan

15 posted on 09/12/2002 1:24:00 PM PDT by MadIvan
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To: Frank_Discussion; Miss Marple; Howlin
See Miss Marple's recent post to that effect.
16 posted on 09/12/2002 1:24:17 PM PDT by OKSooner
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To: Tailgunner Joe
Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) expressed concern Thursday about what he called was the "politization" of the coalition against Iraq, including the possibility of voting on a resolution before the November elections.

Pot meet kettle. Nobody is into "politization" more than Daschle. Am I reading this right? He wants to wait until after the elections because he's afraid this won't work out well for his party?

"I don't know that his [Bush's] lack of a time frame necessitated any particular expectation as regard to how we might respond

Guess he missed the part where the President said "immediate". How's that for a time frame, Tom?

17 posted on 09/12/2002 1:24:22 PM PDT by McLynnan
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To: Frank_Discussion
Here is the thread you mentioned
18 posted on 09/12/2002 1:24:31 PM PDT by ravingnutter
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To: ravingnutter
Danke.
19 posted on 09/12/2002 1:25:59 PM PDT by Frank_Discussion
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Comment #20 Removed by Moderator


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