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In Switch, Senate Takes Up Iraq Withdrawal Bill
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ShareFebruary 26, 2008 3:52 PM
ABC's Z. Byron Wolf reports: Republicans abandoned their long-time tactic of thwarting Democratic attempts to hold up or down votes on withdrawing combat troops from Iraq today in the Senate.
Instead, Senate Republicans joined their Democratic counterparts this afternoon to consider a proposal by Democrat Russ Feingold and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that would immediately begin to withdraw combat troops from Iraq and begin to cut funding for the war.
Last year, Republicans had opposed procedural cloture petitions by Democrats to debate Iraq proposals. While there is little danger that the Feingold proposal will ultimately pass, the switch shows Republicans are more comfortable with their position on Iraq, where the security situation has improved.
"It is our view, after considerable discussion is that since there has been so much improvement in the situation," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell after meeting with Republican Senators this afternoon. "When even the New York Times is writing frong page stories about how things have improved in Iraq, I think we can agree that things have improved in Iraq," he said.
As an added bonus for Republicans, the move will keep Democrats for the time being from moving to a controversial proposal to allow bankruptcy judges to unilaterally change mortgage terms for some families at risk of foreclosure. Its a debate Democrats had hoped to move to as worries about the economy, particularly the housing crisis, persist.
But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told reporters that he will use the debate on the Feingold proposal to highlight the detrimental effect he said the war is having on the economy.
"We have been there for five years, soon to be getting on the sixth year. It has cost the treasury of this country, as I've already indicated, almost $1 trillion," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. "I don't know what would be a better time to bring this up than bring it up now, when we're in the throes of an economic crisis that this country has seen very rarely."
Later on the Senate floor, he accused Republicans of employing their "usual stalling tactic." But instead of stalling on Iraq, he said they were stalling on the housing legislation.
McConnell said Reid was complaining about having a debate on the very issue that Reid scheduled a vote on (presumably Reid had assumed Republicans would oppose the debate).
February 26, 2008 in Romney, Mitt | Permalink | User Comments (9)
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For that I am happy after losing a nephew in Iraq it will suit me fine now MAC will win because Iraq will not be an issue now will it? all the men have stoped the first women with in reach of the white house and once again we have been had go Hillary, Now what will we stand on OH yeah hope I forgot Oh and no help for money problems. No matter who you send k street is going nowhere fast. We sure have learned where women fit in.
Posted by: Bishop | Feb 26, 2008 4:41:13 PM
Carl,
...now MAC will win because Iraq will not be an issue....
Get back on your meds, slowly...
The future GOP "war-monger in chief" doesn't have a leg to stand on if the war ends.
I'm hoping you were being sarcastic, and not a moron.
Posted by: Sarg | Feb 26, 2008 4:54:57 PM
Well we will just see Hillary 08
Posted by: Bishop | Feb 26, 2008 5:17:18 PM
well if thier is unity in Washington I guess we don't need BO to reach across for us
Posted by: Bishop | Feb 26, 2008 5:23:26 PM
The hypocrisy of the Dems in Congress knows no bounds.
They whine about what horrible shape the economy is in...yet they continually waste our taxpayer dollars by taking up meaningless issues.
They know this effort won't pass.
Get to work! Earn some of that huge salary we're paying you!
Posted by: bigred | Feb 26, 2008 5:26:34 PM
I am just wondering if paying money and the lives of AMERICANS to Iraq for the war is the right thing to do!!!! Our Great United States of America have let us down, Katrina was a joke as it seems to me the government is taking a high stand on repairing it but we don't have the money,what happened to all the money that was sent to them to help fix it? The price of gas is a joke, If we were shopping for the best price of anything we bought we would go less expensive, but we cann't because of name calling, we need passports to get out of the country or is it to keep us in the country. The great American Dream is a nightmare, people cann't go outside without it costing them someting including thier lives. Which reminds me is this not the the year of primeries? Has anyone heard any of these problems addressed? Seems to me the tax system needs a BIG improvement. Why over tax the people that have to take on two or three jobs just to servive.
Posted by: Edward Moynahan | Feb 26, 2008 6:22:56 PM
Oiy! you are so right Edward.
Passports to keep us IN this country.
I hate politics.
Posted by: Deb Campbell | Feb 26, 2008 7:59:03 PM
memorialize Iraq show Americas strong arm leave a monument for them to remember us " put on it all our men who fought for there freedom a powerful message to remember who we once where governed by bad men"
Then get all of our men out!" A message of freedom"
What we are "
And then tear down that disgusting" wall you are building before my god does it for you!
Posted by: richard sievert | Feb 26, 2008 8:23:06 PM
I would think that folks that write responses on the Internet would, at least, ATTEMPT to use proper English and spell the words correctly! One should be mindful of who is reading these comments...THE WORLD!
Posted by: Debobair | Feb 26, 2008 11:02:18 PM
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