US Senate panel approves use of force against Syria by 10-7 vote

[The Straight Story]

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Senate panel has voted to give President Barack Obama the authority to use military force against Syria in response to a deadly chemical weapons attack.

The vote Wednesday was 10-7, with one senator voting present. The full Senate is expected to vote on the measure next week.

The resolution would permit Obama to order a limited military mission against Syria, as long as it doesn't exceed 90 days and involves no American troops on the ground for combat operations.

The Democratic chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Bob Menendez, and the panel's top Republican, Sen. Bob Corker, crafted the resolution.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/senate-panel-votes-authorize-force-syria

[TM99]

1. Is there a link yet to the vote breakdown?

I definitely want to know who to NOT support in upcoming Senate elections.

[The Straight Story]

3. Not yet, will post one when I find it (still breaking and updating story) (nt)

[alcibiades_mystery]

4. The vote breakdown is as follows

YEA

Menendez (D)
Boxer (D)
Cardin (D)
Shaheen (D)
Coons (D)
Durbin (D)
Kaine (D)
Corker (R)
Flake(R)
McCain (R)

NAY
Udall (D)
Murphy (D)
Risch (R)
Rubio (R)
Johnson (R)
Barrasso (R)
Paul (R)

PRESENT
Markey (D)

[polichick]

8. What's with the "present" vote? No opinion?

[alcibiades_mystery]

10. Perhaps Markey is still weighing his options

Maybe he doesn't want to be tied to a Committee vote as he still wants to hear discussion on the full Senate vote.

[TM99]

13. Good for Udall & Murphy.

Markey's Present was not surprising. Given his connections to Kerry in Mass., could he realistically vote against the former Senator and have any chance of winning and retaining his seat? Obviously getting votes is more important than principles.

Rubio just secured himself an election 2016 front runner status as a presidential candidate.

Way to go Democrats. Way to fucking go!

[Robbins]

24. Oh great

Now Rubio and Paul can run as antiwar In 2016 If things go bad.

If this turns Into prolonged involvement eather one If they can win nomination can appeal to antiwar people

Shame only Udall and Murphy acted like Dems.

[G_j]

2. role call?

inquiring minds...

[The Straight Story]

5. the no votes (so far)

Here's are the Senate committee NO votes, via CNN's Jake Tapper. Five Republicans and two Democrats (Udall and Murphy). One abstaining, Ed Markey, Democrat of Massachusetts.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/middle-east-live/2013/sep/04/syria-crisis-putin-warns-west-live

[avaistheone1]

9. Markey -abstaining!

What a chickens**t!

The only comfort is that he at least didn't vote for it.

[G_j]

17. thanks!

sort of what I expected.

[LearningCurve]

6. And so it begins n/t

[Berlum]

7. Republicon House still AWOL

golfing, I suppose.

[avaistheone1]

11. Boxer voted for the resolution!!!

Retire her.

[HardTimes99]

23. I guess she or her staff didn't bother to listen to my voicemail in her D.C. line before

she cast her vote.

Oh, well. I tried. Feinstein's phone line rings perpetually busy. Hmm, wonder why?

[avaistheone1]

25. Her San Francisco office rang busy too.

Try Fresno I was able to get through on that line.


Sad about Barbara. I have lost a great deal of respect and admiration for her as a result of her reckless vote.

[HardTimes99]

26. Following on Bvar22's pledge from a few days ago, if Obama and the war mongers

manage to shove this shitpile down an unwilling American public's throat, I shall never vote Democratic ever again.

[avaistheone1]

27. I am evaluating our leaders too

and leaving this party which is some ways stinks more than the republicans is an option for me.

[Union Scribe]

12. So, anyone who knows, is this the version

WITH the new "regime change" language?

[alcibiades_mystery]

14. I think this is the Menendez-Corker language without modification

i.e., McCain assented to the language.

[Union Scribe]

16. Thanks! nt

[alcibiades_mystery]

21. Correction: see pinboy and my post below, as well as TM99's

Some modifications by McCain and Coon, but no change to the prohibition on ground combat troop authorization, as far as I can tell. Looks like a compromise with McCain to get his vote.

[Union Scribe]

22. Yeah, but thanks still :P

[pinboy3niner]

18. It includes two added amendments by McCain

It adds McCain language on slowing the regime's momentum on the battlefield--but I think that is focused mainly on supplying arms to the opposition.

[alcibiades_mystery]

20. My mistake...they were amendments by Coon and McCain...but no change to the "boots on the ground"

language.

It seems there were compromise amendments added to the Menendez-Corker language - pushing towards more attention to regime change, but leaving the prohibition on ground troops intact:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/05/world/middleeast/divided-senate-panel-approves-resolution-on-syria-strike.html?hp&_r=0

[TM99]

15. Yes, it is.

McCain made sure of that.

To think I once respected that man. Ah well, no one is all good or all bad, but this is politics as usual in the NeoCon US of A.

[Union Scribe]

19. Thanks, I found an article citing that

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/senate-panel-approves-syria-use-of-force-resolution?ref=fpb

Mission creep is a go.