Senate Republicans Block Pro-Troop Legislation

Associated Press:

The Senate blocked legislation Wednesday that would have regulated the amount of time troops spent in combat, a blow for Democrats struggling to challenge President Bush's Iraq policies.

The 56-44 vote was four votes short of reaching the 60 needed to cut off debate. It was the second time in as many months that the bill, sponsored by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., was sidetracked. In July, a similar measure fell four votes short of advancing.

Read the whole story: Associated Press

Comments

[Ammobob]

Reid and the Democrats did their head-counting this afternoon, and thought they finally had a window of opportunity in order to declare rhetorical defeat in Iraq in the Webb troop rotation bill. The Democrats moved up the vote, tried to spring the anti-war trap, had one extra vote going in with the appearance of Tim Johnson, and got 56 votes, four short of what he needed. Reid got beat again. Instead of marching through the Carl Levin defeat bill, or any of the myriad of defeat bills he had hinted was coming earlier in the day, Reid retreated. As Joe Lieberman said to the media outside of the Senate chamber, the Webb amendment was the last chance of victory for the anti-Iraq crowd, and they lost.

Reid played the 'spoiled brat' once more and took his 'bills' home with him.

DEFEATOCRATS 'CAVE' once more. Everything is right with the universe.

[Canukistani]

These Republican senators have no moral compass of their own. They have no understanding of their own. They do what they're told by the White House, because that's what a good Republican is supposed to do. Doesn't matter what the issue is, the reaction would be the same.

[olivia]

One silver lining:

This virtually guarantees that Senators Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts will not survive another election in Kansas.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Good riddance

[olivia]

But will Deziray and VerlDe down in SmallTown, RedState, U.S.A. learn about this?

Will the media report it?

I'd say everyone should write letters to the editor to point out that Democrats tried to do this for the troops and Republicans obstructed it - but those people do not read the paper either.

[wild1a]

I am tired of hearing that Congress should not micro manage the war. Bush has given the job to Petraeus, and the general can only address the military aspect which has not succeeded in helping the political aim of Shia-Sunni reconciliation. Crocker is just an ambassador. So no one is really in charge. Bush just wants to run this out so he can accuse the next administration of inglorious defeat. Oh, I forgot if the Republicans win it will be some future administration.

[Gatormouth]

At last, an article in the open press giving the lie to the Republican's brag of "We Support the Troops"! REAL Republicans (they didn't all die with Eisenhower and Goldwater) would be appalled.

[Desertview]

May I suggest those republican senators who voted against the bill, join the troops non-stop tour of duty. Stay in Session for fifteen consecutive months 24/7 without going home.

[Johnson55]

The next time you hear a Republican say they "support the troops" laugh right in their face.

Just off the top of my head in the past 6 years Republicans have: sent our troops into combat without proper armor or armored vehicles, increased the length of combat tours, extended enlistments past their exit date, eliminated combat pay for troops serving in Afghanistan after the Iraq war started, threatened to veto a pay raise over 1/2 of a percent, increased their medical costs, failed to plan for casualties especially head wounds, lowered recruiting standards, and then of course there is Walter Reed.

Still the Democratic leaders run like scared rabbits every time a Republican threatens to say they don't support the troops. It's time to get some new leaders with both guts and communications skills so the military knows who really supports them.

[Ammobob]

The Defeatocrats were pretty 'transparent' on this one, once the 'consequences' of such a law would do to troop deployments. The 'backdoor' attempt to force RETREAT wasn't so covert afterall. Sen McCain aided the troops by proposing alternative legislation to make it a 'goal' and not a law. If passed, Pres Bush would have used his VETO pen, anyway.

No clue, NO SUBSTANCE, no chance. You got to love LIBS.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Apparently Ammobob the armchair general has never heard of Battle Fatigue or why its important for men in the military to get time off.

[Ammobob]

Go tell it to my Dad, he survived Europe for 3 years, culminating in the Battle of the Bulge. Your 'transparent' faith in the resilience of the American soldier is pathetic. Get some perspective.

[CheGuevara1]

Piss off. Ann Coulter is calling you.

[givemycountryback]

The repugs are the onstructionist here. And dont be fooled for a minute about them changing sides on this debate. Not one of them will. They talk a good game in front of the cameras, but when it comes to the vote, they are repug through and through. Dont blame the dems. They are trying. We have to get a bigger majority and then you will see change. They dont have the votes now. What is so hard to understand about that.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

That's right Repukes, make that noose and hang yourselves. This is proof positive that the worthless Repukes have no love for the troops. All that "God Bless the Troops" is just lip service. Fuck the repukes, clean them all out of the Senate and the White House. It is time to get this nation cleaned up.

[ednasliver]

The MSM is reporting another Democratic defeat.. How is it a Democratic defeat!?!?!?
Republicans voted not to stop debate. They are the obstructors.. How do we get this word out?
Why aren't the Repubs blamed for harming the troops? This is ridiculous.....
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chris]

edna would that make the dems in the previous congress the obstructors?

[cheneyhasawarmachine]

11% ers are irrelevant

[nick1936]

A DEFEAT FOR THE DEM'S MY ASS> THIS IS A DEFEAT FOR OUR TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

ALL THE REPUK'S CAN DO IS TALK ABOUT SUPPORTING THE TROOPS UNTIL IT BECOMES TIME TO DO IT.

IF THE REPUK'S WOULD SPEND MORE TIME SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS INSTEAD OF LOOKING FOR COCK TO SUCK IN MEN'S ROOMS OR MOLESTING YOUNG BOYS.

WHY OH WHY DO REPUK'S HATE AMERICA????

[frappe]

What I would like to know is why the national media always portrays the Democrats in Congress as failing to pass this or that when, in reality, the focus should be on the obstructionist Republican party's attempts to foil anything and everything that the Democrats attempt to do?

In other words, it's not so much that the Democrats are failures, it's more accurate to say that the Republicans are strict obstructionists -- doing their level best to block any and all Democratic legislative efforts to redress the public's grievances, apparently in a deliberate effort to give voters the wrong impression that the Democrats are not doing what they were elected to do.

I wish the media would for once make it clear to the American public what exactly is going on and expose the Republicans for the complete frauds that they are.