Reid: GOP Protecting Bush Not Troops

Senate Majority Leader Says He Tried To Move Forward, Wants Troops To Come Home

(CBS/AP)  Senate Republicans who blocked a vote on setting a timetable for a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq are more interested in protecting the president than protecting American troops, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, said Sunday on Face The Nation.

"Even Iraqis, by a 70 percent margin, think that Americans in Iraq are doing more harm than good," he said. "So getting the Americans out of Iraq ... I think, would lessen chaos rather than increase it."

The legislation stalled Wednesday after a 52-47 vote fell eight votes short of the 60 that Democrats needed to advance it. Reid kept the Senate all night Tuesday to try to force some movement on the issue.

Critics have charged the Democratic leader with failing to compromise after he ended debate early Wednesday morning, but Reid said he only wanted to force an up-or-down vote.

"I offered on many occasions – not one, two, three, four occasions – many occasions said, 'Let's vote on all the Iraq amendments, all of them, and have a simple majority for them.' The Republicans wouldn't let us," Reid said. "They would not let us vote on the Iraq amendment because they are more interested, minus Olympia Snowe and a few others, they're more interested in protecting the president than they are protecting the troops."

Reid said Democrats do not want to withdraw troops precipitously, but rather set a timetable where forces would be redeployed by May 1, 2008. The U.S. military would then focus on counterterrorism, protecting American assets in the Middle East and training Iraqi troops, Reid said.

Senator Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, who sits on the Select Committee on Intelligence, was one of four Republicans who broke with her party and voted Wednesday with the Democrats. She said Congress and the president need to reach a compromise and start to bring troops home in anticipation of an assessment to be given by Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. commander in Iraq.

"The president needs to understand that September 15 is going to be a serious deadline for change in our mission," she said on Face The Nation. "If you look where we are today, I mean, it's been eight months since the election, where the American people repudiated the stay-the-course in Iraq, rejected the open-ended, unconditional commitment by the president in Iraq."

Snowe said that Congress, which has a 14 percent approval rating, isn't reflecting the views of the American people.

"Here we are 8 months later, who would've believed that we would be now committing additional troops of more than 30,000 and the Iraqi government has yet to achieve one political benchmark to reconcile their country," she said. "And more outrageously that they plan to take the month of August off while our men and women dying in the field. So we're making the military sacrifice, our brave men and women yet they are unable to make a political sacrifice to achieve what only they can achieve in the end and that is to reconcile their country and to take charge of their own destiny."

But at the same time, Snowe said Reid should be more willing to compromise, even though Republicans blocked a straight-majority vote.

"Right now is the pivotal time with respect to our policy in Iraq," she said. "We should be sending an unconditional message that this is the final window of opportunity for the Iraqi government to initiate the political benchmarks that they view to be essential to national reconciliation."

[jetranger7]

WWW.INFOWARS.COM // As its been stated before, this President & Vice President couldn't run a "Lemonade-Stand" and get it right !! Its just pathetic and Disgusting what their doing and the games their playing with the Troops and the American People ! This President is Corrupt and Fraudulent, the Vice President thinks he's above any and all Federal Laws, and refuses to abide by any of them! Theres only 1 thing left to do,"IMPEACH" both of them for their Crimes and Misdeameanours ! Revoke their right to so called Executive Privilages, and hold them Accountable !

[drummer94]

70% of Iraqui's and 71% of Americans, believe we should leave that country. Now there's a benchmark.

[randalds]

The Senators proved just last week that they're much more loyal to their party then they are to the troops or America. many of them have said that we need a change in direction and even that the troops need to come out. They've also said however that they'll wait until september before voting for a change, even though they know the "surge" has been a complete flop and that they will vote for a change then. In basic English that means that they're more then happy to sacrifice another 200 or so troops life's who'll die in the meantime, just to prove their loyalty to Bush. That makes them as guilty of mass murder as Bush is. Here's hoping the bas***** in the White House gets charged with war crimes, is legally tried, convicted and hung by the neck.

[randalds]

"They would not let us vote on the Iraq amendment because they are more interested, minus Olympia Snowe and a few others, they're more interested in protecting the president than they are protecting the troops."


The only good thing is that now their treasonous as*ses names are on the record as supporting party over country.

[donbl1]

Reid is begining to sound like that whiner Schumer. I guess he has been neutered

I can not believe Reid is from the West. Turn in your boots.

[omega39-2009]

I guess losing six Republican senate seats wasn't a persuasive enough argument to convince them that they better fall in line with the MAJORITY of Americans, 2008 is going to be a bloodbath for the Republicans.

[feelfree1]

The Democrats are behaving very timidly, as they are deeply complicit in many of the most egregious crimes of the illegitimate Bush regime.

They have illegitimately ceded their Constitutional war powers to the illegitimate Bush regime, they are trying to blame the U.S. military failure and U.S. fomented chaos in Iraq on the Iraqi puppet officials, they are overwhelmingly in support of yet another illegal war of aggression against Iran, and they refuse to take legal action against the illegitimate and treasonous Bush cabal.

The national-level Democrats are nearly useless as an opposition Party, and those who are complicit in the crimes of the Bush cabal should apologize and step aside, to make way for non-Corporate/AIPAC-owned leaders.

www.ipetitions.com/petition/OutNow

[homespunlady]

Can we say THE PARTY'S OVER? The last of the power drunk NEOCONS will be facing their voters soon. PLEASE people if there's ONE THING we need to do it's to insure the security of the vote. GET RID of paperless ballots and MAKE SURE THERE'S IMPARTIAL OVERSIGHT of this next election! The evidence of vote rigging is huge and diverse. Denying our military in the field a chance to have their vote counted like in the last election because their home of residence was in a certain neighborhood is JUST WRONG!

[randalds]

The national-level Democrats are nearly useless as an opposition Party, and those who are complicit in the crimes of the Bush cabal should apologize and step aside, to make way for non-Corporate/AIPAC-owned leaders.

www.ipetitions.com/petition/
OutNow

Posted by FeelFree1 at 04:46 PM : Jul 22, 2007

They do not have enough votes to force an end to this war. While I agree with you on many points I do wish you'd stop this out and out lie that they have power that they are not using. They do not.

And supporting a 3rd party candidate is about as ridiculous and wasteful as beliveing that the CIA brought down the Twin Towers or bombed the Pentagon. They did not.

[homespunlady]

Isn't there a song titled "The party's over"? I'd LOVE to hear THAT being played in the background of some of these die hard "stay the course" politicians.

[homespunlady]

RandalDS Not sure which 3rd party candidate FeelFree1 supports but for the first time I might just register Republican just to vote in the primary for Congressman Dr. Ron Paul. Feels weird to do so but it's a lock for either Obama or Clinton on the Democrat side (a combination of the 2 would be unbeatable if they can do it).
The Republican candidates on the other hand seem to be nightmares EXCEPT for Ron Paul. The IRONY is he's got more cash and support than McCain and that party is STILL marginalizing him. Out of that bunch I like his ideas best and unlike Hillary HE VOTED AGAINST GOING INTO IRAQ FROM THE BEGINNING. Yes, he's conservative but I think it's the GOOD type of conservative and he'd DEFINITELY shake up the current power structure.

[nativewoman]

70% of Iraqui's and 71% of Americans, believe we should leave that country. Now there's a benchmark.
Posted by drummer94 at 04:12 PM : Jul 22, 2007

Not to mention our own military commanders:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/07/22/politics/main3086244.shtml
Iraq Commander Proposes Troop Reductions
General Wants To Begin Cutting Troop Levels, Change Mission in Ninevah

So what response does Bush have to his own commanders advocating troop reduction?

[feelfree1]

NativeWoman,

RE: "Not sure which 3rd party candidate FeelFree1 supports but for the first time I might just register Republican just to vote in the primary for Congressman Dr. Ron Paul."

I may join you.

###

RandalDS,

Have you watched this film yet?

www.zeitgeistmovie.com

Opinions?

###

Good day.

[sjc_1]

September 15th will come and go with yet another dog and pony show that just says things are going well and we just need more time to make it work. Everyone knows that will be the outcome, that is why you see Republican Senators breaking rank with the dictator.

[afmca]

The Republican Congress has totally ignored its Constitutional duty for 6+ years. They have basically abdicated their responsibility and America is now a defacto dictatorship. The Republicans are so hungry for power and money that they can no longer represent the interests of normal American citizens. As bad as one party rule has been, I see no choice but to give total power to the Democrats in 2008 and hope that their rhetoric against Bush's excesses over rules their baser instincts and we once again have a nation we can be proud of.

[randalds]

Yes, he's conservative but I think it's the GOOD type of conservative and he'd DEFINITELY shake up the current power structure.
Posted by homespunlady at 05:03 PM : Jul 22, 2007

Yes, all of what you say about him is true, but none of that changes the fact that he has less chance of even being nominated then my pet Shih-Tzu. I'm not saying that the system as it is now is right, but it's ll we have to work with and the only way to change is to try to work from within the mainstream of the two parties for the simple reason that the vast bulk of the American people will never go outside of that narrow part. I mean I wish it only rained when I wanted it to also and was always sunny when I wanted to go for a picnic, but that's not the real world. And neither is there any hope of a non-mainstream candidate getting the White House.

[omega39-2009]

HE VOTED AGAINST GOING INTO IRAQ FROM THE BEGINNING. Yes, he's conservative but I think it's the GOOD type of conservative and he'd DEFINITELY shake up the current power structure.
Posted by homespunlady

Homespunlady, Ron Paul is libertarian and the libertarian platform on Social services and the environment as well as trade wouldn't benefit much of America.

II.3 Public Services

The Issue: Federal, state and local governments have created inefficient service monopolies throughout the economy. From the US Postal Service to municipal garbage collection and water works, government is forcing citizens to use monopoly services. These are services that the private sector is already capable of providing in a manner that gives the public better service at a competitive price.

The Principle: A free and competitive market allocates resources in the most efficient manner.
Consumers of services should not have their choices arbitrarily limited by law.

Solutions: Libertarian policies will seek to divest government of all functions that can be provided by non-governmental organizations or private individuals.

[one_american]

Harry Reid is losing his war against America.

And Democrats are getter better at losing all the time...

[randalds]

The democrats can't lose the war in Iraq (or as numb-nuts calls it the war against America) because it's Bush's war and it was lost before the first shot was fired.

Also we (the democrats and the American people)won the last election and we'll smoke the republicans in the next one. At least against any who are ignorant enough to stick by their loser in chief in the White House until their bitter end.

[homespunlady]

RandalDS call me a dreamer but it sure would be fun to see him as the Republican candidate and since I'm only 1 vote as well as all the other people that believe they're only 1 vote my going Republican for the Primary doesn't seem so bad. If he doesn't make it past the Primary I can always vote for our shoe in Democrat winner in the General election.

omega39 Last time I looked Congressman Ron Paul's OFFICIALLY REPUBLICAN. He may have Libertarian leanings but it would be the same as calling Olympia Snowe from Maine a Democrat because she's agreeing with them on Iraq.

I don't agree with everything he espouses but neither do I agree fully with Hillary's stance on Iraq or some of Obama's comments which probably will be my fallback choices if Ron Paul doesn't make the Primary.
I sort of LIKE GETTING RID OF THE IRS but I suspect Congress would probably stop him from pushing that initiative through.
Hmm... Maybe it would be the END of One Party RUBBER STAMPING?

[randalds]

RandalDS call me a dreamer but it sure would be fun to see him as the Republican candidate and since I'm only 1 vote as well as all the other people that believe they're only 1 vote my going Republican for the Primary doesn't seem so bad. If he doesn't make it past the Primary I can always vote for our shoe in Democrat winner in the General election.

Posted by homespunlady at 05:36 PM : Jul 22, 2007

Ok, you're a dreamer. But it's said with a smile.

:-)

[nunesbras]

Sen. REID looks a little desperate with the possibility of the dems to lose a 3rd election in a row for the GOPS. With the fantastic results George Bush has achieved in the middle east such as:a moderate regime rising in Palestine with Mahmoud Abbas, a moderate democracy Syria-free in Lebanon, a moderate democracy in Afghanistan, a moderate democracy in Iraq. Now there is only 2 extremist regimes left:Iran and Syria. The dems cant take this.

[omega39-2009]

Hey Un-American, why don't you whip out your checkbook and send a big fat campaign contribution to John McCain. He, like you, supports Bush's failed "stay the course" policy and has promised to continue it. McCain may only get one check and one vote (yours) but maybe he will reward his lone supporter by giving you a cabinet position or perhaps an ambassadorship in his new administration.

[nunesbras]

............and looks like Sen.Reid and his fellows dems are protecting the terrorists because they are so desperate to get our troops out of Iraq......

[omega39-2009]

Last time I looked Congressman Ron Paul's OFFICIALLY REPUBLICAN.

Yes, he is listed as officially Republican and usually campaigns as more of a moderate. His past writings and voting record though suggest he is much closer to Libertarian.

[r9119111]

One_American: You are really such a nice guy. Please come back to reality for your own sake. :-)

[randalds]

Sen. REID looks a little desperate with the possibility of the dems to lose a 3rd election in a row for the GOPS. With the fantastic results George Bush has achieved in the middle east such as:a moderate regime rising in Palestine with Mahmoud Abbas, a moderate democracy Syria-free in Lebanon, a moderate democracy in Afghanistan, a moderate democracy in Iraq. Now there is only 2 extremist regimes left:Iran and Syria. The dems cant take this.
Posted by nunesbras at 05:49 PM : Jul 22, 2007

ROTFLMFAO!!!!!

You know this idiot doesn't know what he's talking about since the democrats (and the American people) WON the last election!!! LOLOLOL! And then to claim there has been any success in the Middle-East! LOLOLOLOL!!! What dimension is this moron living in anyway?

[randalds]

Sen. REID looks a little desperate with the possibility of the dems to lose a 3rd election in a row for the GOPS.

Posted by nunesbras at 05:49 PM : Jul 22, 2007

LOL!!!! That'll come as a big shock to all of the republicans that were thrown out of office last November!!! LOLOLOL!!!!

[lorinkundert]

Reid, the only thing need to be said is "Shut Up"

[randalds]

a moderate regime rising in Palestine with Mahmoud Abbas, a moderate democracy Syria-free in Lebanon, a moderate democracy in Afghanistan, a moderate democracy in Iraq.

Posted by nunesbras at 05:49 PM : Jul 22, 2007

"Moderate" democracy in Afghanistan is funny enough, but a "moderate democracy" in Iraq?!?!

ROTFLMFAO!!!!

OMG!!! "Democracy!!! LOLOLOLOL!! IN IRAQ!!! OMG!!!

Stop!!! Please stop!! You're killing me!!! I haven't laughed this hard in weeks!!!


LOLOLOL!!!

[nunesbras]

randaIDS, YOU ARE AND IDIOT. THE LAST ELECTION WASNT AN ELECTION FOR PRESIDENT, IT WAS FOR LEGISLATORS. IN 2008 I HAVE NO DOUBT, YOU WILL LOSE.

[randalds]

randaIDS, YOU ARE AND IDIOT. THE LAST ELECTION WASNT AN ELECTION FOR PRESIDENT, IT WAS FOR LEGISLATORS. IN 2008 I HAVE NO DOUBT, YOU WILL LOSE.
Posted by nunesbras at 06:09 PM : Jul 22, 2007

LOLOL!!!! You didn't say anything in your post about presidential elections numbnuts.

Oh and I just loved your whole post! I mean moderate democracy in Afghanistan when the war lords rule 90% of the country side!! LOLOLOL!!! And moderate democracy in Iraq, when they're terrified to leave the green zone...except to go to Europe on vacation that is!!! LOLOLOL!!!

man I have to go tell my wife those ones. They're almost as funny of jokes as the one I read in the paper today Q: How many 3rd party'ers does it take to screw in a light bulb? A: We'll never know! LOLOLOLOL!!

I'll bet you're a laugh riot on open mike night at the comedy club!! LOLOL!

Whew.....

[nunesbras]

............and looks like Sen.Reid and his fellows dems are protecting the terrorists because they are so desperate to get our troops out of Iraq......


randaIDS IDIOT YOUR SENATOR LOOKS A LITTLE DESPERATE.......

[randalds]

randaIDS IDIOT YOUR SENATOR LOOKS A LITTLE DESPERATE.......
Posted by nunesbras at 06:20 PM : Jul 22, 2007

Actually he's not my Senator. My senators are Boxer and Feinstein, both democrats from the great state of California. Besides I don't think Harry looks desperate. Only sad because republicans only pretend to support the troops, but don't actually give a sh*it how many of them die for Bush to try to kick this war off onto the next president.

[randalds]

Just like Bush and Cheney don't give a flying fu*ck how many have to die for their war for profit. To them the deaths and wounding of our troops is just part of the cost of doing business. One hundred years from now their great grand children will be spending the money that they stole that's still dripping with the blood of our troops.

That's esp true of the wounded ones who are being shoved out of the military by the tens of thousands with "personality disorders" as soon as the try to claim a disability, because those discharged with a "personality disorder" are not eligible by law to get disability payments. What the hell, just because they were wounded in vain doesn't mean Bush and Cheney owe them anything, right? Once they can't fight or die for them to make money then they become just a liability to be dumped as cheaply and as cost effectively as possibler. That's the republican way of doing war as a business! And it makes REAL Americans want to PUKE!

[gkc99]

MAKE BUSHIT SERVE THE REST OF HIS TOUR OF DUTY IN IRAQ! The coward never finished his term of enlistment in the Texas Air Guard. He failed to report for duty in Alabama, and in Massachusetts.

And let the Republican senators send their children to the fight to defend the image of the administration they love so much.

[omega39-2009]

One hundred years from now their great grand children will be spending the money that they stole that's still dripping with the blood of our troops.
Posted by RandalDS

Just like Dubya spent the blood money earned by granddaddy and his dealings with the Nazis. The entire Bush clan are a bunch of traitors to this country and ought to be treated as such.

[nunesbras]

............and looks like Sen.Reid and his fellows dems are protecting the terrorists because they are so desperate to get our troops out of Iraq......

gkc99, youre an idiot too. The US troops dont fight for Bush and Cheney. They fight to save your A-S-S from slamists who want to convert us all to their stup religion.

[nunesbras]

randaIDiotS, this war is indeed all about money. The EVANGELISTS want our money, the muslim want our money as well as the catholicists. Thats what led us to this war.

[nunesbras]

...........and dems are protecting terrorists because they are so desperate to get our troops out of IRAQ.

[iceman_1960]

Harry Reid: "[The Republicans] would not let us vote on the Iraq amendment because they are more interested, minus Olympia Snowe and a few others, they're more interested in protecting the president than they are protecting the troops."

Give 'em h*ell, Harry.

That's the truth, of course. The GOP is helping Bush avoid a public loss of face. That's their agenda.

"Support the troops" is nothing more than a GOP bumper sticker.

No American serviceman or woman should be asked to risk so much as a toothache to protect Bush's idiotic ego.

[rharrin1]

...........and dems are protecting terrorists because they are so desperate to get our troops out of IRAQ.

Posted by nunesbras at 06:56 PM : Jul 22, 2007

Hey nobras I think you should start wearing one.

[tbweb]

Give 'em h*ell, Harry.

Posted by Iceman_1960 at 06:58 PM : Jul 22, 2007,,,

And I think the reply was; I never gave anybody hell, I just told the truth and they thought it was hell!

Sen. Reid also said he calls things like he sees them and that Pres. Bush was the worst President in U.S. History and a liar, a President who says one thing and does something else. WOW, very strong language from the Senate Majority Leader.

I don't know that much about Senator Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, but I was very impressed with her today on Face the Nation. Where did she come from? Sen. Snowe is plugged into the American public, has her finger on the American pulse, deals in facts and puts America first. The State of Maine has a good Senator and she embarrasses a lot of other Republican Senators with her clear views and grasp of the facts, while other Republican Senators seem only interested in GOP Party Politics. Her best observation was that Republicans act like the recent Election rebuking Pres. Bush's Iraq policy never happened. Impressive.

[fascistusa]

It's worse then you think.

It's all about the American/Israeli Elite.

WAR is Big Money.

Do I REALLY have to post the lyrics to War Pigs by Black Sabbath??

ZEITGEISTmovie.com. The TRUTH is out There.

[red164]

I don%u2019t trust Reid his slimy hands were all over that Illegal Immigration Reform Bill Harry was working side by side with G.W. and since that bill failed ole Harry is back to playing politics.

Harry you isn%u2019t no Callahan

[tbweb]

I don%u2019t trust Reid his slimy hands were all over that Illegal Immigration Reform Bill Harry was working side by side with G.W. and since that bill failed ole Harry is back to playing politics.

Harry you isn%u2019t no Callahan

Posted by red164 at 07:32 PM : Jul 22, 2007,,,

It's starting to look like being an Independent is the way to go because I was against that Illegal Immigration Frankenstein too! One can no longer support Senators as a package taking the good with the bad, you have to pick and choose on the issues. Maybe there should not be any Political Parties at all, just Americans!

[drummer94]

70% of Iraqui's and 71% of Americans say let's get our butts moving out of the country and the brainless repubs stand in the way. And then whine that the democrats do not have a plan. Sheesh.

[xzavierbrown]

the democrats would not be so bad if they are a less pretentious..WELL MR REID..what do you care about?

well why dont we ask cindy sheehan if she is satisfied with the democrats she worked so hard to put in congress..watch out pelosi..a pit bull is out to chew your head clear off your neck.

TO TAKE THIS ISSUE TO ITS MOST BASIC ELEMENT..CONSERVE OIL....SO WE WOULD NOT BE SO DEPENDENT..there you go..and I am not even running for office..nor writting a book..nor making a movie about it..

pretentious power/money hungry hypocrites

[fascistusa]

It's worse then you think.

It's all about the American/Israeli Elite.

WAR is Big Money.

Do I REALLY have to post the lyrics to War Pigs by Black Sabbath??

ZEITGEISTmovie.com. The TRUTH is out There.

[j-whitman]

tbweb,,, You may not like him, I don't like his approach on many things either --- But he's absoultly right the GOP is protecting Bush & has been --
--- It's the 1 thing republicans value over country & pocket,,,, is blind loyalty to thier party leader.