Via WaPo: Republicans Stall Senate’s Debate on Iraq War - washingtonpost.com:
A long-awaited Senate showdown on the war in Iraq was slammed shut before it even started last night when a nearly united Republican front voted to stop the Senate from debating a resolution opposing President Bush’s plan to send 21,500 additional combat troops into battle.A day of posturing, finger pointing and backroom wrangling came to nothing when Democratic and Republican leaders failed to reach agreement on which resolutions would come to a vote and which would be subject to a filibuster. Republicans insisted that the impasse soon would be broken, but after Democrats came up 11 votes short of the 60 needed to break the filibuster, a solution was nowhere in evidence.
I must confess: it is amusing how the parties (either one) find the rules that empower the minority to be fantastic when they are in the minority, yet decry them when they are in the majority.
Wasn’t this the exact behavior that the Republicans spent the last several years griping about when utilized by the Democrats?
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February 6th, 2007 at 9:39 am
Blocking a non-binding resolution is a far cry from blocking judicial nominations or meaningful legislation.
This is a pure political stunt by the Dems meant to please their base. Many of us recognize it for what it is and see that nothing good can come from it. Blocking it makes sense.
February 6th, 2007 at 10:03 am
Blocking a non-binding resolution is a far cry from blocking judicial nominations or meaningful legislation.
Indeed. It is really quite ridiculous to block something that will have no effect even if it passes! Unlike say, a lifetime appointment to a federal court.
Regarding pleasing the base. In the case of the judges, the party with the majority in seats (but never in votes for senate) was pleasing its base by installing partisan judges. In this case, the party with the majority of seats includes within its base the median voter.
Indeed a far cry separates these examples.
February 6th, 2007 at 11:51 am
What’s that they say about turnabout being fair play?
I wonder if the Dems wish the Republicans HAD used the so-called nuclear option at this point.
February 6th, 2007 at 11:52 am
Media Lies Again….Anyone Surprised?
The DEMOCRATS blocked further debate because they do not wish to have any other resolutions considered, other than that of John Warner/Carl Levin…. a quick note: Warner voted against debate on his own resolution
February 6th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
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