Senate advances legislation to cut off money for Iraq war
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Senate Republicans have agreed to advance a bill that would cut off money for Iraq because they say it will let them tout progress in the war.
Senate Repulican Leader Mitch McConnell said that debate "would give us a chance to talk about the extraordinary progress that's been made in Iraq over the last six months."
The Senate voted 70-24 to begin debating the bill. A final vote was expected later this week or next week. Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said, "It's obvious, this is only an effort to stall."
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For political wonks like me, this might be one of the funniest stories in politics...for two reasons...
1) I'm NOT making this up when I say that this bill is something like the 43rd bill the Democrats have brought to the floor in an attempt to surrender...The whole procedure itself is like rolling the rock up the hill only to have it roll to the bottom again.
But THIS TIME the Republicans called them on it...Reid expected the Republicans to go to the microphones and complain how the Democrats want to lose the war...Instead, the Republicans said "Sounds like a plan!"...
They AGREED to open the floor up for 30 hours of debate...That gives them AMPLE time to both promote the surge and then watch Democrats try to weave through dangerous language which could result in another Dick Durbin moment...
At the same time, the Republicans will have a stage to actually discuss WHY ending the war without completion is such a terrible idea and get the word out...
2) Reid's reaction...
Quote:
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Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said, "It's obvious, this is only an effort to stall."
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Excuse me Senate LEADER Reid...YOU were the one that brought the bill to the floor...YOU were wrong in your expectation of how the Republicans would react...
Reid - "How DARE they actually publicly debate a bill...They were SUPPOSED to block it!"...
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