Reid to bring resolution to the Senate floor on Saturday

On Friday, the House is going to pass a resolution supporting the troops and criticizing the president’s escalation strategy. On Saturday, the Senate may do the same thing. From a press release issued by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: (thanks to L.M. for the tip)

“For nearly four years, the Republican-controlled Senate stood silent on the President’s flawed Iraq policies and watched as the situation deteriorated into a civil war. The American people have chosen to change course. Democrats have chosen to change course. Unfortunately, Senate Republicans have chosen obstruction. Almost every Republican who expressed concern about the escalation chose to block the Senate from debating the issue.

“Today, Democrats offered Republicans another chance for compromise, suggesting the Senate debate one resolution in favor of escalation and one resolution opposed to escalation. Once again, Senate Republicans refused.

“Democrats are determined to give our troops and the American people the debate they deserve, so the Senate will have another Iraq vote this Saturday. We will move for a clear up or down vote on the House resolution which simply calls on Congress to support the troops and opposes the escalation.

“Those Republicans who have expressed their concern over the Senate’s failure to debate the war in Iraq will have another opportunity to let their actions speak louder than their words.”

Sens. Coleman, Collins, Hagel, Snowe, Smith, Warner, and Voinovich? I think he’s talking to you.

It should be interesting. Stay tuned.

a debate on escalation/surge/reinforcement is not a debate on the Iraq war, it is a political ploy akin to the loaded question … have you stopped beating your wife?

  • I get the feeling the biggest issue for Repubs will not be the bill but the fact that Repubs will have to work on a Saturday.

  • Well, not Coleman and, who was it, Collins I think. They actually did vote with the Dems. The other 5 are the subject of Reid’s comments.

  • On Saturday??? He’s gonna have them come to work on a weekend?!?!? Don’t they have electioneering to do and lobbyists all lined up to cozy up to? Will they ask for overtime pay?

    Oh my, this is gonna be fun…

  • Although it may only be non-binding it is the first of many steps that will hopefully lead to a White House purge and dual-impeachment trials. So far the Bushista have claimed everything they did was with the approval of Congress – making it hard to bring real impeachment charges.

  • Harry should bring this thing to the floor every damned day of the week, morning, noon, and night. He should tie it to every defense funding bill that comes up for a vote. If the Rethugs and their Seven Cowardly Twits want to stall the debate, then they’ll have to stall funding for the war….

  • Not just any Saturday – but the Saturday of a 3 day weekend!
    That’s cojones.

    Shock AND awe….

  • It is such a timid first step, but at least it is a first step. What makes any of us think this vote will be any different from earlier this week? Did I miss something ? Have the rules changed?

  • I agree with Steve (#6) — bring it up 24/7, attach it to everything the GOP has its heart (or whatever passes for one in their case) set on. I will never understand why we play fair with this bunch of thugs. We won, and politics ain’t beanbag.

  • Very good move by Reid. The public is blaming the Republicans for not debating this issue, so by accepting the watered-down version from the House, Reid may be able to get the votes necessary to debate.

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