Democrats back away from Iraq plan

[ProSense]

Democrats back away from Iraq plan

By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 20 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Democratic leaders backed away from aggressive plans to limit President Bush's war authority, the latest sign of divisions within their ranks over how to proceed.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record), D-Nev., said Monday he wanted to delay votes on a measure that would repeal the 2002 war authorization and narrow the mission in Iraq.

Senior Democrats who drafted the proposal, including Sens. Joseph Biden (news, bio, voting record) of Delaware and Carl Levin (news, bio, voting record) of Michigan, had sought swift action on it as early as this week, when the Senate takes up a measure to enact the recommendations of the bipartisan Sept. 11 commission.

Reid, who will huddle with Democrats Tuesday to discuss whether to postpone the Iraq debate, cited pressure from victims' families for quick action on the Sept. 11 bill as the reason for doing so.

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[MadMaddie]

1. Once again Harry Reid proves my point...he doesn't have the

backbone to pursue this like it should be pursued....The American people are demanding change and he wants to think about it....Delay the vote for what?

[baby_bear]

2. Oh, is that what is, backbone, that he lacks?

I was thinking of some other part of the (male) anatomy, but, what the hey.

We are sinking fast, regardless.

b_b

[burrowowl]

3. For Iraq they swallowed yellow cake

and now they are swallowing green salt!
DISGUSTING!

:mad: :puke: :mad:

[oasis]

4. "Days not weeks" before returning to the issue, Reid says. (eom)

[Prophet 451]

5. WTF is he doing?!?!?! n/t

[karlrschneider]

6. I'm sorry, but Reid is a chickenshit coward.

:grr: :puke:

[AshevilleGuy]

8. Damn, you scooped me!

Can't top that. WHY IS IT that we get saddled with these fucking milquetoast Minority/Majority Leaders in the Senate?? Lyndon Johnson is no doubt turning in his grave tonight! He really was Master of the Senate.

Yeah, I know: he was really wrong later in Vietnam, but earlier in his Senate glory days...

[FrenchieCat]

7. AP is good at this......

Let's give our good Democrats some room, instead of being on their backs all of the time. AP is not the bible.

[Daylin Byak]

9. Hey DU, here's something to chew on for a while

Who's going to be the leaders of the 111th Congress, U.S Senate. You think this will be accurate:

President Pro Temore: Ted Stevens (R-AK)

Senate Majority Leader: Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

Senate Majority Whip: Trent Lott (R-MS)

Senate MINORITY Leader: Harry Reid (D-NV)

Senate MINORITY Whip: Richard Durbin (D-IL)

You like that lineup? cause that's how exactly it will be if the Democrats keep this shit up regarding Iraq. Americas voted these "Democrats" in cause they want a change in Iraq, this isn't a change it's a mockery.

Keep it up Harry just keep it up and your party will be back in the minority faster then I can say "Joe Lieberman is a dirty bastard".

[job777]

16. Time is a running out

It might not take that long if we get a jumpin Joe L on a flip.

[karynnj]

17. Highly unlikely

Have you looked at the seats in both parties that are up in 2008?

[AshevilleGuy]

10. Seriously, WHY is Harry Reid leader?

Was it his TURN?? Did he have the largets number of chits to cash in?? Was it just a backroom deal of factors we would never think of??

WHY is Teddy Kennedy not Leader?? Or Boxer? Or Durbin??

Reid is the best we can do?? :shrug:

[OneBlueSky]

11. business as usual . . . don't make waves . . . support the status quo . . .

seems that these are the bywords of the "new" Congress -- the one we were counting on to actually DO something . . .

[Leilani]

12. They don't have the votes

Lieberman will not join them. Republicans have also refused to support this measure.

Should they bring it to the floor, knowing the vote will fall far short of 60?

[AshevilleGuy]

13. Yes, they should!

Dem Senate candidates were elected last November to do *something* about Iraq, not run from the debate! If they bring this bill up and debate it and then not have the votes, the public will understand and blame the repukes. If the media report that he repoobs are filibustering it, that works as well. But if they don't even TRY, then guess what will happen in 2008?

Reid is a bloody disgrace! And I thought Daschle was pathetic... x(

[EndElectoral]

14. If voters were told in November, "we're doing an escalation" and Dem's are going along with it...

Would the Dem's have won? would you have been as impassioned about your vote?

Right now I'm angry. I'm angry at non-binding bullshit. I'm angry at HRC for not apologizing for a war that has lead to the death of countless thousands. I'm mad at Joe Lieberass, BUT I'm mostly mad at the fact that our congress is NOT forcing GW to veto bills.

Congress needs to dictate we are not goign to be in Iraq, and if we do it is on you and only you.

Right now Congress is afraid to pull the purse because they're afraid of what people will think, and thus THEY ARE BECOMING A PART OF THE PROBLEM because they've become a party to the Repubican argument rather than challenging it.

Instead of allowing the Repubs to say "If you don't fund the full amount, then our soldiers deaths will be on Democrats hands." Dem's need to say, "No, we've budgeted this amount NOT to support an escalation, and IF the President goes forward with an escalation without the mandate of Congress and defying the American people who voted in the last election not to increase tha war, then HE is the one that is endangering our troops."

WHY DO THEY LET THE REPUBS FRAME THE ARGUMENT THE WRONG WAY?????????????????

[karynnj]

18. If you magiucally replaced Reid as majority leader

where would you find the votes?

I think Reid and the establishment have done a poor job - if they had their way Iraq would not even have been discussed in 2006, but the blame for the escalation is due to Bush. Even if EVERY Democrat voted against the surge on some binding legislation - it still couldn't get past a filibuster and if it did Bush would veto it.

[KoKo]

15. Reid seems good at Stunts like shutting down Senate or calling them

back on a Saturday for a hollow vote...but he seems to lack "follow up" and makes us look weak.

I'm very tired of him after putting up with Daschle who wrung his hands when Jeffords switched, always saying there was little he could do.