It's Over: Webb Troop-Rest Resolution Goes Down
The voting is over on the Webb troop-rest amendment. It passed 56-44, meaning it didn't get enough votes to clear a GOP filibuster.
When the Webb amendment passed last time, it got exactly the same amount of support -- 56 votes. This time, GOP Senator John Warner, who backed it last time, voted against it. We believe that the loss of his vote was made up for by Democratic Senator Tim Johnson, who missed last vote due to brain surgery but was present today. We'll bring you the roll call as soon as it's available.
Late Update: The roll call is here, and it confirms that the only change in voting was that John Warner decided to vote against it this time, a change that was offset by Dem Tim Johnson's return into the Senate. Also, GOP Senators David Vitter and Sam Brownback, who were no-shows last time, showed up to vote no this time.
Bottom line: Not a single Republican moved from the No to the Yes column. In fact, the only Republican movement was towards the "No" column. As Atrios put it, "welcome to September."
Later Update The sham GOP nonbinding alternative went down, 55-45, with mostly Dems voting against it.
Still Later Update: Harry Reid responds to the defeat of the Webb measure:
“In blocking this bipartisan bill, Republicans have once again demonstrated that they are more committed to protecting the President than protecting our troops. They have shown they will allow President Bush’s flawed war strategy to continue to strain our military rather than allow the availability of troops to dictate our operations. And they believe it is in our national security interest to push our brave troops and their families beyond their breaking point.“Democrats disagree. We care deeply about rebuilding our badly overextended military and ensuring our troops have the time to properly train, prepare for and recover from battle. And Democrats remain committed to repaying in some small measure the sacrifices our brave troops are making every day.”
Comments (19)
caliph garrett wrote on September 19, 2007 6:14 PM:Yes, Magic September...was it worth the wait, Senate Democrats?
zach wrote on September 19, 2007 6:15 PM:Isn't this more or less the perfect opportunity for Dems to actually force Republicans to filibuster for once instead of just threatening? The soundbites practically write themselves ... "we'll make Republicans hold the debate over Thanksgiving so they can't go home to see their families, either." If the GOP made such hay over this to push through a few judicial nominees without much of any popular support, I hope the Dems aren't worried about coming out poorly if they'd actually hold their ground here on an issue that the public's in wide agreement on.
Righteous Bubba wrote on September 19, 2007 6:19 PM:Isn't this more or less the perfect opportunity for Dems to actually force Republicans to filibuster for once instead of just threatening?
Yes. Let the politicking be visible for god's sake.
phil james wrote on September 19, 2007 6:31 PM:OK. So it didn't get enough votes to clear a filibuster. Fine. So let's have the filibuster. I can't believe Dems keep walking away from this. Let the Republicans filibuster until they dry up and blow away. This is the ONLY business the Senate should be about.
oleeb wrote on September 19, 2007 6:37 PM:Now can we drop the quixotic dream of Republican defections and simply refuse to send any bill to the President that continues funding for the war? Please?
It's the only thing that makes sense. The people support cutting the money spigot off. What the hell are they waiting for other than some reason that might come along to cover their chicken asses? Now is the time for Democrats to demonstrate that they believe in what they say and they are actually willing to do something about it.
I will not be holding my breath waiting for the stem cell research it will require to regenerate a spine for the Congressional Democrats on this or frankly any matter.
Long Memory wrote on September 19, 2007 6:43 PM:I'm for bringing this to some kind of vote every day for the next year. Then, each day, we tally up the number of days the Republicans have blocked a vote on these measures.
MarcNYC wrote on September 19, 2007 6:45 PM:Well, stem cell research = killing babies. Democrats don't want to have their spines regenerated at such a horrific cost.
Is it any wonder that the Congressional approval rating has it an amazing 11%? The Repugs obstruct and the Dems do nothing about it.
tbhull wrote on September 19, 2007 6:46 PM:Bring on the fucking filibuster. Let it go forever, even if it means shutting down the government. 56-44 was a voted for. Why do the dems always give up and fold without 60 votes?
Q: How many pieces of legislation passed in the republican lead Senate before the '06 elections with less than 60 votes?
A: About every fucking piece.
While the repubs do what they always do and votewith/cower down before our ignorant cocksucker in chief, the spineless dems never call their bluff and never force a filibuster. Fucking impose your will and take advantage of the majority you have, even if it means shutting down government as long as it takes. This is a balls to the wall power politics pissing matching/gun fight and the dems have only brought a knife so far.
Congress failing to impose its will and lead at all costs is why Congress enjoys an approval rating of 11%. Only one thing is more unpopular than a dumb fucking idiot such as GWB, and that is a coward(s) in a position of leadership (example: the current Democratic Congressional majority).
Dismayed Liberal wrote on September 19, 2007 6:59 PM:The Democrats really need to push hard for this bill and make the Republicans fillibuster it until they're blue in the face. This is one of the few ways you can hit the Republicans on the war without it being possible to spin it as against the troops or the mission. In fact, Republicans trying really hard to extend the tours should be hammered on by the Democrats as against the troops. Force feed them their own medicine for once...
chisholm wrote on September 19, 2007 7:10 PM:Can anyone actually name a Democrat who thinks tactically?
Rusty Austin wrote on September 19, 2007 8:24 PM:Your headline is wrong. There was no filibuster, merely the threat of a filibuster.
Why don't the Democrats force the Republicans to actually filibuster, instead of caving in to the mere threat of a filibuster? Those SOBs are so old they wouldn't last a day and a half without giving it up. WHY SENATOR REID WHY WHY WHY! People are dying needlessly while you guys dither and fret. Make them actually filibuster and we'll see who blinks first...
cwf wrote on September 19, 2007 8:54 PM:Yes, as Kevin Drum illustrates, this is shaping up to be a banner term for unforced filibusters[1]. Just a couple years ago a certain majority was threatening to remove the possibility of that tactic, going nucular as it were. Not to endorse that move, but don't Democrats remember the hay made over "blocking an up or down vote?" Don't they remember how effective that rhetorical tactic proved to be?
[1]http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2007_09/012097.php
NJ Lawyer wrote on September 19, 2007 9:03 PM:Remember when the Republicans wanted to end the filibuster? That was sweet. ;)
ArticleISec9 wrote on September 19, 2007 9:54 PM:Far more important than the games being played on the Iraq war and the Webb/Hagel amendment is the filibuster of the Dodd amendment to restore Habeas Corpus. This is getting no attention in the media, and even on this site. Lindsay Graham apparently filibustered this legislation. I am appalled and stunned. We are now officially a police state where anybody can be disappeared if the government says so. Shame on the Republicons, shame on the media for reporting both of these stories as Democratic "losses" in the Senate. Both bills got strong majorities, but not enough to stop the filibusters. There are now some 85-100 bills being filibustered in the Senate to make the Dems look like they aren't doing anything. And 57 Senators voted to give Washington D.C. a congress person. Also, not a "loss" but a filthy trick on the part of loyal Bushies. All of them think we are idiots, none of them will listen. Is there a rooftop somewhere where we can all shout "We're mad as hell, and no more money for this war"?
KATHY wrote on September 20, 2007 12:15 AM:I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO STAND UP AND TALK TO FILABUSTER. iF YOU DON'T HAVE THE VOTES,THE GAMES OVER.tHIS HAPPENED WITH THE ALL NIGHT SESSION ALSO.
James Casey wrote on September 20, 2007 2:00 AM:Why do you persist in calling it a Democratic capitulation a "filibuster". I guess if the Dems actually forced the ReThugs to filibuster, they might inconvenience somebody. Heck, someone might even throw a tantrum or start crying in public.
The Realist wrote on September 20, 2007 6:59 AM:Great... Where are the cots? I don't see any cots! I wanna see cots!
FedUpProgressive wrote on September 20, 2007 10:11 AM:Can we any longer speak of a "Democratic" party or "Democratic leadership" in any legislature? They are very good at playing at politics (not: playing politics), but it's all playing. There is not one significant agenda item being pushed by the so-called Democratic leadership. Harry Reid needs to go; he's passive in the extreme and ends up standing for absolutely nothing.
Why are we dithering over the firing of a few federal prosecutors while Haliburton is secreting away billions upon billions of tax-free dollars without the messiness of competing. Why are our troops not being adequately housed, fed, allowed recreation?
Don't allow any business to go forward until this issue is settled. The Dems claim they were granted majorities because people were fed up with the war on -- make that, forced armed occupation -- of Iraq. Do they seriously think that they will be returned the same compliment by doing nothing?
The Repugnantcans are unworthy of governing; the Democrats are unable. We're sunk.
This makes me sick. where is the support for the troops??
Rotten bastards!!
