Dems Fail Again To Pass Anti-War Bill

Senate Blocks Measure To Order U.S. Troops Home From Iraq In 9 Months

(CBS/AP)  Frustrated Senate Democrats failed again Thursday to pass a measure to force President Bush to withdraw American forces from Iraq, which is what they believe the voters want them to do, reports CBS News correspondent Bob Fuss.

The vote, 47-47, fell 13 votes short of the 60 needed to cut off debate.

"We're going to continue to lose lives and squander resources while they (the Iraqis) dawdle," said Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., who sponsored the bill.

Republicans blocked the measure, which would have ordered most U.S. troops home in nine months, contending it would have dire consequences for the region and usurp control of the war from seasoned war generals on the ground there.

Last week, Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq, recommended to Congress and President Bush that some 130,000 troops be kept there through next summer - a slight decrease from the more than 160,000 troops there now.

"It would be a very overt rejection of Gen. Petraeus' leadership," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. The military commanders "have earned the ability to carry on their mission," he said at another point.

Petraeus' Capitol Hill testimony is widely seen as a primary factor in shoring up support among Republicans, which had deteriorated steadily throughout summer. While still nervous about the ongoing violence in Iraq and unpopularity of the war, many GOP members say they now remain hopeful that another year of combat will stabilize Iraq and prevent U.S. troops from returning to the region a decade later.

"If we leave, we will be back - in Iraq and elsewhere - in many more desperate fights to protect our security and at an even greater cost in American lives and treasure," said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a presidential candidate and the top Republican on the Armed Services Committee.

Frustrated by the lack of Republicans willing to break ranks, Democrats this week abandoned attempts to reach a bipartisan compromise on Levin's legislation. Levin had said he would have been willing to turn the nine-month date into a goal for troop withdrawals, rather than a mandated deadline.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Republicans are speaking out against the war but then voting to continue it, reports Fuss.

"Back home they assert their independence, but in Washington they walk in lockstep with the president and continue to support his failed policies," said Reid, D-Nev.

Recent polls show that American views of the war largely have not changed since Petraeus appeared before congressional committees two days last week.

A poll released this week by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center found that 54 percent of Americans still favor bringing troops home as soon as possible. And despite slight improvements in the public's view of military progress, more said the U.S. will likely fail in Iraq than succeed - by 47 percent to 42 percent - about the same margin as in July.

Friday's vote finished a week of disappointments for Democrats.

On Wednesday, the Senate blocked legislation by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., that would have guaranteed troops more time at home; it fell by a 56-44 vote with 60 votes needed to advance. On Thursday, the Senate blocked legislation sponsored by Reid and Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., that would have cut off funding for combat in June 2008. That measure failed by a 70-28 vote, 32 votes short of 60.

On Thursday, Republicans successfully pushed through a resolution condemning an advertisement by the liberal activist group MoveOn.org. Displayed in The New York Times, the ad taunted Petraeus as "General Betray Us."

The resolution, sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, passed by a 72-25 vote.

House Republican leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said the House should consider a similar measure. But when asked if House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., would allow it, spokesman Nadeam Elshami said in an e-mail: "The House is going to devote its full attention to providing health care to children, promoting energy independence to improve America's security, reducing global warming, and responsibly redeploying U.S. forces now in Iraq.

"These are the priorities of the American people," he said.

[tucano2]

Hey Senators! Get on the ball! Where is our Souther border REAL fence? Fund and support ICE and the effort to rid our country of sleeper cells and other illegal alien activities - HERE is where the threat to the USA really is, not in Iraq. Iraq is just a Bush distraction, much like a magician''s right hand holding your attention while his left hand picks your pockets clean.

[pastdue1]

McCain''s celebration after the defeat of the bill, was, shall we say it "DISGUSTING" In all honesty, he was not even thinking of our servicemen who need and deserve down time, he was merely thinking about defeating the Democrats, not the Iraqi insurgency, but the Democrats. Now that is All-American, isn''t it - or should we say DISGUSTING.

[prinzowhales]

Thank God, the Democrats had their Life Alert! "He''p, we''ve fallen and we can''t get up!"

[sftodd]

What can I say? I give Hillary, Edwads, Sean Penn and that whole pathetic Hollywood crowd the treatment--to music! Someone had to do it!
www.conservativemusiconline.com

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Posted by conserva at 11:37 AM : Sep 22, 2007

And you do it so well, conserva! (I''ve never seen my dog in so much pain!) Maybe, some day, Bush will let you ride in his limousine as a reward for your loyalty! I doubt it. Or, maybe he''ll give you a $300 tax refund in the mail while his buddies pay no taxes at all, and every child is left behind without an education! Yeah, that''s the ticket! Vote Repuglican!

[conserva-2009]

Oh, you guys like alternate headlines?

1. Dems Vote on a Vote on to Consider a Vote on Their Strong Belief To End The War ( if they win the vote)

2. Hillary Trips on Move-On Puppet String

3. Edwards Proposes Universal Hair Cuts

4. Kennedy Suggests the Troops Simply Swim Away

[conserva-2009]

www.conservativemusiconline.com

What can I say? I give Hillary, Edwads, Sean Penn and that whole pathetic Hollywood crowd the treatment--to music! Someone had to do it!
www.conservativemusiconline.com

[forthepeopl1]

Comment by Senator Lindsey Graham, (R-South Carolina)
Commentary from U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) - Sep 20, 2007
"The Webb amendment intended to take care of the troops. I don''t question anyone''s intent, but if you really want to take care of the troops let them win.

"The amendment was one of the more ill-advised approaches to fighting the War on Terror. It was a historic constitutional infringement on the power of the Commander in Chief allowing Congress to micromanage troop rotations and deployments.

"The last thing in the world we should do to our troops -- particularly in the name of helping them -- is to put 535 Members of Congress in charge of troop rotations as we fight the War on Terror. With an approval rating below 20 percent, Congress has not risen to the level of being visionary leaders.

"I''m very pleased the Senate rejected this ill-advised amendment."

WHAT WILL WE WIN?????? LINDSEY PLEASE EXPLAIN YOURSELF

[adian1-2009]

The fact is that there is no Democrat leadership in the Senate. Reid does not have what it takes. He has shown his lack of leadership repeteadly. Levin is even less able. The guy even went with the Republicans in voting to condemn the ad posted by Mov On. And when trying to explain why he did so, he certainly showed an indredible level of stupidity. So, if we want to end this so called war, we will have to do our best to win some other states until we have not less than 60 senators and a true and able Democrat leader presiding the Senate. We must get RID of REID and do our best to bury two-faced Lieberman.

[starleo146]

"Dems Fail Again To Pass Anti-War Bill"

The headlines should read:

Neocons Fail Again to Allow Troops to Come Home.

Or: Conservatives Successful in Blocking Ending War, Against the Wishes of Entire Nation

Or: Senate Congratulates Itself in Continuing Loss of Iraqi and US Lives in Useless War

Or: Bush Wins Again, Using His Cronies to Back His Bogus War.

Posted by AaaBee

I like all those headlines AaaBee.

[starleo146]

A better headline" Republicans don''''t care about the troops. ''''Course they just took a month off". The Repugs "candidates are going to be at Mackinaw Island Michigan, case anyone wants to show.

Posted by drummer94

Don''t you love the way the media handles these votes in the Senate "The Dem''s fail again "never a truth about if the Republicans cared about the truth instead of there party leader our troops would be a lot better off. Have you noticed how many times John Mc Cain is on tv.

[seven-pesos]

dead-enders in the south refuse to see that they''''ve lost another war...

jefferson davis, lyndon johnson, george bush, jr.

the south has the distinction of losing all the wars they ever started.

ha,ha,ha.

belligerent dixie losers...bush lovers!

the south can''''t be depended upon to do the right thing for america.

ha,ha,ha.

war, hate, christian creeps, republican snakes...

nothing good comes out of the south.

[drummer94]

A better headline" Republicans don''t care about the troops. ''Course they just took a month off". The Repugs "candidates are going to be at Mackinaw Island Michigan, case anyone wants to show.

[vincan-2009]

The republicans in the senate and house are the ones who have brought the low poll numbers for Congress. Bush is at 29%, and his republicans have a strangle hold on the votes in the Senate to make a difference for the country and our troops. Republicans are the big losers. Everyone knows they are standing strong for their failed leader who has brought corruption to the highest level and is betraying our military.

[drummer94]

mommapajammas: Go back to sleep. The RNC kool-aid s still got ya stoned. Idiot. And donnie, why coffee_guy? And mud, well, you''re still mud.

[vincan-2009]

Democrats did not fail. Republicans blocked everything the Democrats have tried to do. That means that the Republicans have continued to be party loyalists who don''t have any integrity to do more than talk. When the actual vote takes place the rubberstampers do just what they are told. The spineless mamby bambys are insuring the U.S. will never get out of Iraq and the country will have to have a draft to feed the military machine.

[mommajommah]

hey, coffee guy.... try some decaf........ well i guess this latest turn and run bill is why nancy and harrys congress has an 11 percent approval rating. sorry democracks...... but your bushie has you tripled in popularity...

[coffee_guy1]

The only reason why we''re there ain''t because''a no spine. But because''a money. Rich ******* no good god damned sons''a byytches hijacked my constitutional ******* airplane..

[coffee_guy1]

Here''s what Iraq really is, fella: Some dumb ******* punks personal mistake. He never thought it''d be like this. He thought it''d be just like his father, but it wasn''t. He thought he''d come outa that place another 100,000 dead, a hero. Look''n schlicker than snot. And not because''a no wmd. Not because''a no terrorist threat. Because he''s just a stupid god damned punk, who don''t think about noth''n but hisself. And thats a fact, jack. Not spine..

[coffee_guy1]

Or is it just some rich punk cheerleaders elephant hunt?

WW2, that was spine. Germany would have taken over the whole world. Even Japan.. But Iraq?

You honestly believe Iraq is spine?

[coffee_guy1]

Whats spine? Picking a 3rd world country fer some 15+ years? And calling it heroism? Shocking and awing freedom on countries 1/10th your size? Huh? Is that spine?