Harry Reid Cuts Off The GOP's Escape Routes-This NOT All-Night Session Is The REAL Story Here.

[kpete]

This, not the all-night session, is the real story here.

Harry Reid Cuts Off The GOP's Escape Routes
by Phoenix Woman
Thu Jul 19, 2007 at 08:09:07 AM PDT

...............

Here's the deal: The Republicans, especially the infamous fake "mavericks" like Specter, wanted to be able to vote for toothless amendments and legislation like the Salazar Distraction and the Warner-Lugar amendment, so they could tell their constituents that they voted for withdrawal when they really didn't.

.........

By yanking the defense authorization bill until the GOP ends its filibuster of the Reed-Levin bill (which really DOES get our troops out of Iraq), Reid also prevents any of the weak-ass pretend-withdrawal legislation from being considered -- and forces the "mavericks" to put up or shut up:

4. What are the prospects for the Dems succeeding in breaking the GOP filibuster?

They're actually better now that the softer Iraq amendments can't get passed. That's because yanking the bill rules out the introduction of other, nonbinding amendments that nervous Republicans were inclined to support. Without the option of supporting such amendments, Republicans can't plausibly claim to constituents to have done anything to stop the war. In turn, that increases the pressure on them to support the only available option left -- i.e., a binding measure mandating withdrawal, such as the one favored by Dems.

That's probably the real reason why Republicans are furious with Reid today for removing the bill and all its amendments. (Well, that and sleepiness.) Case in point: Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA). In his floor statement right after the cloture vote failed, a visibly angry Specter inveighed against the Senate's lack of debate on the most prominent GOP amendment -- John Warner and Richard Lugar's toothless proposal for Bush to submit a post-surge strategy to Congress after Petraeus's report. Specter, clearly, wanted the option of supporting Warner-Lugar, an option Reid has taken away.

As a result, when debate eventually resumes, Specter will have to choose between either staying with the surge or mandated redeployment. Even for a moderate GOP Senator not up for reelection next year, stark choices are not pleasant ones.

more at:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/7/19/105332/066

[senseandsensibility]

1. Brilliant

and I only hope he sticks to his guns.

[JacquesMolay]

2. He called bull**** on the naysayers in the GOP...

... they've been talking this s*** about how the war is not going well, but then they stand with Bush. I tell you, they're going to pay come next election. I thought Reid showed backbone.

[Kagemusha]

3. Ah, so THAT is what they're upset about.

Still seems to me they won and that's that though.

[Old and In the Way]

4. As it should be.

Time for the Republicans to come to the table. As Bill Frist would say..."up or down vote!"

[EVDebs]

5. What do you think of this scenario ?

Gen Petraeus's report comes to us Sept 15th, federal funding deadline is Sept 30th. It looks to me that money for funding can be cut off sometime during that two week period, unless they're using the 'surge' for a buildup for an attack on Iran--without the required Congressional AUMF.

[blondeatlast]

7. I don't think the timing is getting enough play.

This may force them to put off the August recess, too--and that would entirely be the hardline RRRs fault.

[Strawman]

6. Good move, but one question...

Levin-Reed is gonna pass. They're going to have to let it pass and then rely on the veto. Can't wait to see what tricks he has up his sleeve to try to get that veto overridden.

What's our margin in the House?

On edit: I thought Harry said he would consider other Republican amendments as long as Levin-Reed got a vote. Couldn't they still compromise and vote on all of the competing amendments as part of some king of the hill rule and settle on a weaker one? I wouldn't totally rule out that possibility. I hope that doesn't happen.

[blondeatlast]

9. We have 233, they have 202. An override in the House

is possible if the re-electables are pressured enough, but it would be very difficult to get one in the Senate.

It would take 288 in the House if my calcs are correct.

[Strawman]

13. I have a feeling that they will get something less than Levin-Reed

But more toothy than the ISG proposals if they can get something that has 67 votes, perhaps by negotiating with this Group of 13 plus some others who can possibly be bought off with pork. And that won't rule out having a vote on something more like Levin-Reed again in September.

That would be an accomplishment. Just to break the White House's death grip on the Republicans in Congress without compromising so much that it is an entirely hollow victory. That would be a big step forward.

[EVDebs]

14. Iranically, the GOPs only hope is to get a NEW AUMF with a loophole for Iran

But now that ain't gonna happen at all. Bush/Cheney are now tempting impeachment with any non-diplomatic moves on Iran. The 'surge' was their last legit subterfuge.

[TwilightGardener]

8. So Reid understood that they were going to shoot down Levin-Reed pretty

damn quickly, in order to get to the GOP POLITICAL COVER amendments, otherwise known as the Warner-Lugar and the Iraq Study Group amendments. Reid denied them political cover, denied them the opportunity to buy time and take the pressure off of themselves and the WH to change course with a meaningless, toothless amendment. Brilliant maneuver!

[rateyes]

10. Don't forget the parliamentary manuever he pulled off at the

end of the cloture vote. He changed his vote to "no" because only a Senator voting with the prevailing side can move to reconsider a vote...which he immediately did...this keeps Levin/Reed on the table. Gotta say one thing for Harry, he ain't stupid. Now, let's just hope he sticks to his guns.

[blondeatlast]

11. We've had some here trying to play that aspect up. The good news

is that most DUers knew, or found out quickly, precisely why he did that.

Watch for 'em, they aren't even that sharp. :evilgrin:

[emulatorloo]

12. kick and GOOD LUCK n/t

[rodeodance]

15. so, unless the Reauthorization bill is off the table till after the recess, Repugs

are without an answer to their constituants.

They can always blame the Dems. yup

[radfringe]

16. when the republics woke up the next morning they found:

Sign up for a FREE SUBSCRIPTION and get the toons e-mailed to you at Radical Fringe on Comics Sherpa

[MiniMe]

17. And now, Petreaus' deputy has declared that they won't be able to assess

if the surge is working until November. I'm surprised that they used 2 months instead of 6 months.