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Senate vote: Wow ... not even close (update)
Posted by: McQ on Thursday, March 15, 2007

Sen Harry Reid, speaking of the Democratic plan to withdraw troops from Iraq had this to say before the vote:

But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid warned that Republicans were playing a dangerous game if they had allowed the debate to go forward feeling completely confident they would be able to stop the measure.

"They may wind up with a surprise," Reid, a Nevada Democrat, told reporters. "More Republicans than they think may wind up being in favour of this."

Well not really. The Senate measure calling for troop withdrawal from Iraq failed 48-50. One Republican voted for it while 3 Democrats voted against it.

Did anything pass in the Senate? Well, yes:

The Gregg Amendment – Congress should not eliminate/reduce funds for troops in the field – has passed 82–16.

And the the Murray Amendment – Congress should provide funds for training, equipment and other support for troops in the field; and health care to those who have served – has passed 96-2.

So all of this:

Anti-war Democrats prevailed on a near-party line vote of 36-28 in the House Appropriations Committee, brushing aside a week-old veto threat from the administration and overcoming unyielding opposition from Republicans.

Doesn't mean a whole lot in the end.

UPDATE: In case you're wondering, and Aldo did ask, the 16 who voted against the Gregg amendment (14 Dems, 1 Republican, 1 "Independent") were:

Dem - Daniel Akaka, Joseph Biden, Jeff Bingaman, Robert Byrd, Christopher Dodd, Russell Feingold, Edward Kennedy, Patrick Leahy, Robert Menéndez, Patty Murray, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Jay Rockefeller, Sheldon Whitehouse.

Rep - Bob Corker

Ind - Bernie Sanders

Not casting a vote - John McCain and Tim Johnson

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I need to know who voted against the Gregg and Murray Amendments, so that I can do everything in my power to work for their defeat in the next election.

Written By: Aldo
URL: http://

Word from A Secondhand Conjecture’s comments section is that it was Bob Corker and Orrin Hatch voting against the Murray Amendments

Written By: ChrisB
URL: http://

Check it out: Even the MyDD crowd isn’t buying Stoller’s spin on this.

Written By: Joe Tobacco
URL: http://www.cadillactight.com

Here’s my favorite Joe:

God, I need a drink.

by BingoL on Thu Mar 15, 2007 at 08:58:09 PM EST

Written By: Aldo
URL: http://

So all of this:
Anti-war Democrats prevailed on a near-party line vote of 36-28 in the House Appropriations Committee, brushing aside a week-old veto threat from the administration and overcoming unyielding opposition from Republicans.
Doesn’t mean a whole lot in the end

Not true. It means I get to laugh my head off while the Dems flounder about in their very own Iraq quagmire.

Written By: shark
URL: http://

Might the way this vote panned out, explain why Hillary Clinton backed off of her ’90 days’ statement, I wonder?

Written By: Bithead
URL: http://

Aldo:

Nice, indeed. I imagine much of the "progressive" community will be availing themselves of the green beer this weekend :-)

Written By: Joe Tobacco
URL: http://www.cadillactight.com

Funny thing is how DailyKos is spinning it.

as 49 Republicans and Lieberman.

With math like that, it is no wonder they have such a difficulty winning elections.

Written By: capt joe
URL: http://

I’ve gotta feeling that it’s dawning on the Democrats that they’ve baked their last ’tater in the coals of Iraq, with someone in the government finally realizing, at the last possible minute, that this clear and hold thing actually works against insurgencies. This indeed may not be the last "surge," but if there is another it won’t be as a followup to failure but as a followup to success, and opposing it will simply appear truly stupid, nakedly venal, or seditious. The smart ones are already preparing for victory in Iraq, and they will be the only ones left standing after 2008.

yours/
peter.

Written By: peter jackson
URL: www.liberalcapitalist.com

So if I understand the Gregg Ammendment correctly, Congress now has almost no authority to eliminate funding for a war or conflict, thus diverting more power into the hands of a single person, the president. Are any other libertarians out there concerned about this? Isn’t this an essential check on executive power?

Written By: fatwesley
URL: http://

So if I understand the Gregg Ammendment correctly, Congress now has almost no authority to eliminate funding for a war or conflict, thus diverting more power into the hands of a single person, the president. Are any other libertarians out there concerned about this? Isn’t this an essential check on executive power?

That’s what the Senate just did ... checked it and voted to approve it as such. Now you may not agree with them or their vote, but it certainly falls withing the parameters of ’checking’ executive power.

Nor does it preclude them from changing their mind in the future. And that’s certainly not inconceivable. The power of the purse still remains with Congress, and what has been passed can just as easily be amended or changed.

So no, at the moment, it doesn’t concern me that much.

Written By: McQ
URL: http://www.qando.net/blog

Why hasn’t McCain been voting on any of these recent measures?

Written By: Balding dude
URL: http://

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