Senate Republicans back off on Iraq withdrawal objections
Legislative gamesmanship is heating up inside the Beltway with Republican senators indicating they won't block a vote on the military funding bill even if language mandating a target date for withdrawal of troops in Iraq remains in the measure. Capt. Ed reads this manuever as a time-saving strategy and I think he's partly correct. Certainly, with the deadline looming so close, the last thing anyone wants to see is the funding for our deployed troops endangered over political power plays. Better to get it to the President's desk for the promised veto and go on from there.
However, I also think the GOP can read the polling same as the rest of us, and the most recent polls clearly indicate a strong majority of Americans want a firm pull-out timetable for the occupation. It's entirely possible the GOP, who still have to face the voters in 08, are unwilling to hold onto to this hot potato issue and are more than willing to toss it into Bush's hands, whose future tenancy inside DC is not at issue. Besides, it's effectively Bush's personal war at this point, so why shouldn't he be the one to take the heat?
However, I also think the GOP can read the polling same as the rest of us, and the most recent polls clearly indicate a strong majority of Americans want a firm pull-out timetable for the occupation. It's entirely possible the GOP, who still have to face the voters in 08, are unwilling to hold onto to this hot potato issue and are more than willing to toss it into Bush's hands, whose future tenancy inside DC is not at issue. Besides, it's effectively Bush's personal war at this point, so why shouldn't he be the one to take the heat?
Labels: Bush, Iraq, Republicans, Senate, spending
posted by Libby Spencer at 12:13 PM
4 Comments:
I was against this at first but now I can see the logic of it. what is bush going to say when a benchmark date comes up? it will be his fault
Bush will find somebody to blame, or more likely just lie, and say everything is just fine. Clearly, it's up to Congress to do something but who knows what will work really Lester? All I know for sure is it is time to try something different. It's seems hard to believe anything could result in a worse outcome than the present situation.
well, they are clearly struggling with trying to find a way to stop the war. I don't understand the pork that's on the bill at all. it makes the whle thing look like some stupid liberal misadventure.
I agree with you there Lester. It's ridiculous that they're confusing the issue by larding the bills.
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