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.
Obama is talking the language of losers and traitors. I heard his quote from the other day and it’s more of the liberal claptrap I’ve come to know and despise.
When “Empty Suit” steps outside of his useless platitudes, there’s nothing new and nothing that other liberals don’t embrace. His voting record is almost identical to Shrillary and Edwards.
His big claim to fame is that he wasn’t around on the war vote. So he’s given some sainted status by the left and media.
Horsefeathers.
John Rockefeller...senator W. VA ... he’s being investigated by DOJ along with Durbin for passing our secrets around.
I agree!
Reid scuttles the chess pieces when he realizes he is boxed in.
I think that's the problem...they do have the simple majority necessary to pass.
I volunteer to arrest Reid .....just give me the authority!!
Reid’s approval rating should be 8 or 9% by mid august : )
If I don’t see this from another source PDQ, I’m going to discount it.
B U M P
You got it! :)
what is it going to take for joe lieberman to jump to the the pubbies. This gets more insane every day
Two leftists in search of a clue : )
I am for it!!!...Let the fun start!!!!!!....Sorry (Funds)
In ancient Rome, when the Roman Senate refused to pay the Roman Army, the Roman Army started executing Roman Senators.
The tagline remains until Jim or a moderaor asks that it be removed. If it concerns you, well, that’s life.
If you wish knowledge of its origin, which you did not bother to ask but merely decided you knew the answer to....
It’s a direct play on the election in 2000 when freepers on behalf of BUSH and CHENEY went to where Gore resided and shouted for him to get out of Cheney’s house. I’m going to guess that incident didn’t inflate your “concerns” about how it didn’t actually belong to Gore or Cheney. Did it?
It’s also a slam against Bush for using conservatives to get elected twice, then stabbing them in the back. Reagan wasn’t perfect, but he didn’t stab the movement in the back that got him there once he was safely elected to a second term. I don’t want Reagan back in the oval office and, no, the office was not “his” anymore then it belongs to any President. But I do want the spirit of conservatism back in that house again, duly elected, represented and respected. As it once with Reagan.
You need to add Leaky Leahy and Turbin Durbin to that group. Oh hell...make it an even dozen and add Bill & Hill, while you’re at it! The Dirty Dozen.
He (Reid) kinda reminds me of what one of the judges at the Salem witch trials would have looked like. Pure evil.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.