February 17, 2007
MAKING A LANDMARK OUT OF AN ANTHILL:
House votes against troop buildup in Iraq: Democrats' landmark resolution against Bush's plans passes with the help of 17 Republicans. It is unclear whether the Senate will debate the issue. (Richard Simon, February 17, 2007, LA Times)
The nonbinding resolution expressing disapproval of the troop buildup passed 246 to 182, largely along party lines, with 17 Republicans joining 229 Democrats to back what amounts to a rare wartime rebuke of a commander in chief. Voting against it were 180 Republicans and two Democrats.The sharp partisan split was a disappointment to Democratic leaders, who had hoped for more GOP support, and it lessened the vote's political impact.
Still, the vote marked a milestone in the declining public support for the nearly 4-year-old war, and it signified the growing Democratic determination to press for a de-escalation of U.S. involvement in the conflict.
That the best they can muster is a non-binding motion with too few votes to survive a veto if it were anything meaningful seems more embarrassing to them than to the President. The Bolland Amendment was unconstitutional, but they did at least pass it into law, back when they were opposing a different liberation. Posted by Orrin Judd at February 17, 2007 7:37 AM
I met a buddy of mine last night while he was volunteering at a trial run for one of the fantastic Lenten fish fries here in Omaha (all-you-can-eat fish, friends all around, and lots of beer).
He pointed out in one sentence just how deliciously absurd this all is. He basically said this: Make that resolution binding and watch as the Democrats shut up.
Posted by: Matt Murphy at February 17, 2007 12:37 PMThe Dems have taken a *huge* risk here. I really do think the faux surge gambit is a tarbaby for them. Heck, even the WaPo suspects as much ... see their Murtha-bash today.
Posted by: ghostcat at February 17, 2007 1:44 PMSam Johnson (ex-POW) had the best speech, pretty much saying that his body bore the marks of the last betrayal by Congress, and he would not allow it to happen again.
And Heather Wilson brought Hoyer to the floor, spluttering and yammering. As J-Pod wrote yesterday, once a Democrat says "I support the troops", you know what is coming next.
Posted by: jim hamlen at February 17, 2007 2:29 PM