Warner Makes It Official: Will Vote Against Webb Troop-Rest Bill
A little while ago, GOP Senator John Warner -- who supported Jim Webb's troop rest bill last time around -- made his newfound opposition to it official, declaring on the Senate floor:
"I intend to cast a vote against it.”
What changed? As he explained it on the floor, he met with some military brass today, and they leaned on Warner to change his vote:
In explaining his decision, Mr. Warner said he had been persuaded, at a meeting earlier in the day with senior military officials, that the Webb plan could not be carried out without causing havoc for the armed forces, potentially lengthening soldiers’ tours in Iraq.“It is a change of vote for me, I recognize that,” he said. “I changed that vote only after lot of very careful and analytical work with the uniformed side of the Department of Defense.”
Yesterday, however, Warner said that he was considering voting against the proposal because the President had agreed to bring a few thousand troops home before Christmas. More soon.
Comments (9)
CT Voter wrote on September 19, 2007 3:51 PM:Warner is doing an Arlen Specter here. Therefore, any future statements on his part about "supporting the troops" ought to be ignored, until he votes that way.
Same as any statement out of Arlen Specter's mouth that gets misrepresented by the traditional media as "standing up to the president".
Talk is cheap. And for these men, extremely cheap.
Jolly Ranchero wrote on September 19, 2007 4:00 PM:Repeat after me--IT DOESNT MATTER.
60 is 7 short of what's necessary to override the obvious veto. Then, 67 is pointless as Bush adds a signing statement, or more brazenly just declares "Article II and AUMF, bitches!" and his clear intent to ignore the law.
Dems write angry letters, Republicans cheer him on. It doesn't matter what Congress does; Bush will not be bound to anything they pass.
Daniel wrote on September 19, 2007 4:05 PM:It does matter because it gives the impression Dems still haven't managed to pass a law on Iraq.
www.campaigndiaries.com della Rovere wrote on September 19, 2007 4:29 PM:courageous leaders like John Warner will be missed. imagine if we had a Senate full of them.
Captain Nemo wrote on September 19, 2007 4:33 PM:Warner does not support the troops.
DrFrankLives wrote on September 19, 2007 4:37 PM:John Warner - backstabber.
wbboei wrote on September 19, 2007 5:20 PM:I am sorry to see Senator Warner back down. This does an injustice to the troops and hurts morale.
Brian wrote on September 19, 2007 5:38 PM:Make some additional room in the Executive Suite in Hell for John Warner.
GW, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, Rove, et al and now Warner.
No air-conditioning and all the pretzels you can eat.
Doug Gentry wrote on September 20, 2007 12:36 AM:I have been a registered republican and always voted, but i will punish all i can
at every level for the phoney war and their vote against Webb, iam not party i am american, republicans have made me so
ashambed. With exception of Ron Paul.
