Oh, I'm sure he could, knowing Reid...
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.
How low can Harry’s numbers go!
I must say I am impressed. The Republicans would never have done something so bold when they were in power. Sure we all think Reid is very wrong, but he is using his power as a leader should.
My thoughts exactly!
Yet the left then complains that we do not have enough equipment, but they are the ones who deny the funding for it (the M1114 HMMWV was available in the late 90s, but never had procurement funds).
“Disgusting traitors” does not even BEGIN to describe my opinion of the left.
To Sen Reid:
A better action you should put forward is to answer, under oath, why the Federal Marshalls investigating the Senate have been re-assigned, fired, or otherwise removed from their jobs after they found out what you were really doing.....
Liebermann did vote with the Republicans!
During the Sore-Looserman days I would never have imagined that Joe would worm his way into my respect. He is the last real liberal left in government: The rest are just rich, power hungry frauds.
Thank you Joe Liebermann!
Isn’t this the bill that funds the entire defense department? What if it does not pass by October 1st? Does the country’s defense system shut down?
It seems to me that Reid is really playing with fire on this one. Can you imagine what would happen if soldiers families don’t receive their paychecks? How about the military’s hospitals, etc?
Dems have signed off on another hundred years of being the opposition.
I just hope the pubbies throw it in their smarmy faces every day during the campaign.
Jerks and traitors.
From a purely political standpoint, Obama would do himself a world of good to stand up and completely break with his party on this issue. He almost put it together a while back when he made a statement about not cutting funding for the troops. If he did that he would suddenly flank Hillary IMO. I think only the very kooky fringe would be in favor of cutting funding, and the Dems are misplaying evne a show of such a thing.
It would be interesting how a GOP senator was running for President that had a chance (McCain aside) would handle this debate. I suppose if George Allen hadn’t blow up his candidacy/senate seat, this would have been his moment to get out in front.
Would have been nice for Santorum to still be around as well.
I love our energy..but do we really think the Republicans are going to fight back? They have been beat up and beat up...opening after opening..and they stay silent...Pres Bush will miss another great opportunity to paint the differences while he still has the bully pulpit. I fear in all of this momentum for our side..we will hear nothing but silence
Interesting. Can you elaborate?
Thanks for the ping, xzins. Harry Reid and the Democrats who are playing politics with defense funding are playing with fire. I guess they’re in a huff because the Republicans wouldn’t play truth or dare last night at their slumber party.
Now what? When does the pay stop? IF it does stop, can we help them out? or is the amount of $$$ way beyond our abilities?
Maybe Milkulski was hoping to play spin the bottle with Graham..or 7 minutes in heaven with Allard and they both told her no...Republicans are obvioulsy no fun at slumber parties
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