WP: McConnell Threatens to Block Bid to Repeal War Resolution

[DeepModem Mom]

McConnell Threatens to Block Bid to Repeal War Resolution
Republican Wants to Force Vote on Guaranteeing Funding for Troops
By Shailagh Murray
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, February 24, 2007; Page A04

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) warned yesterday that a new Democratic effort to repeal the 2002 Iraq war resolution would meet the same fate as two previous efforts to limit President Bush's authority: blocked by procedural obstacles, unless Democrats relent to GOP terms.

Speaking to reporters by conference call from his Louisville home, McConnell compared the latest Democratic move to "trying to unring a bell." He warned that Lt. Gen. David H. Petraeus, the U.S. military commander in Iraq, would "have to surround himself with lawyers" to comply with the new resolution that senior Democrats are drafting.

McConnell predicted he could muster Republican support to block the measure, unless Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) allows a vote on a nonbinding GOP measure to guarantee troop funding.

A showdown over both measures could come as early as next week. Reid has signaled that Iraq-related amendments may be offered to an upcoming homeland security bill. "It's a bit of a cat-and-mouse game," a senior Democratic Senate aide said.

Democratic leaders will present the repeal plan to their colleagues next week. The measure would replace the broad authority that Congress granted Bush in October 2002 with a narrower mandate establishing a March 31, 2008, goal for withdrawing combat troops. It also would restrict longer-term engagement in Iraq to a handful of high-priority realms, including counterterrorism, training for Iraqi troops and border security....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/23/AR2007022301772.html

[napi21]

1. Of course hewill, that'shisjob. Wiillhe succeed is another question.

It will be interesting to see how many Pubscrosshimon this one!

[Erika]

2. The will of the people is no longer with W's war against the Iraqis

He's lost the battle but hasn't yet realized that.

[Kagemusha]

3. That GOP amendment is for automatic funding of all war requests

I dunno how binding or constitutional it is, but it's scary in that it pledges the Senate to unblinking, unconditional funding of any war, any operation, any military expansion the President sees fit, in perpetuity...

[rodeodance]

6. umm.. Stay the course. Just like the last 4 or so years.

[Erika]

4. McConnell is a useful corporatist tool

His policies are out of touch and radical.

[rodeodance]

5. He will block JUST BECAUSE he can! no other reason. His ego is

been blown up with the last block.

[Demeter]

7. McConnell Threatens to Block Bid to Repeal War Resolution --WaPo

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/23/AR2007022301772.html?referrer=email

McConnell Threatens to Block Bid to Repeal War Resolution
Republican Wants to Force Vote on Guaranteeing Funding for Troops

By Shailagh Murray
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, February 24, 2007; A04



Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) warned yesterday that a new Democratic effort to repeal the 2002 Iraq war resolution would meet the same fate as two previous efforts to limit President Bush's authority: blocked by procedural obstacles, unless Democrats relent to GOP terms.

Speaking to reporters by conference call from his Louisville home, McConnell compared the latest Democratic move to "trying to unring a bell." He warned that Lt. Gen. David H. Petraeus, the U.S. military commander in Iraq, would "have to surround himself with lawyers" to comply with the new resolution that senior Democrats are drafting.

McConnell predicted he could muster Republican support to block the measure, unless Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) allows a vote on a nonbinding GOP measure to guarantee troop funding.

A showdown over both measures could come as early as next week. Reid has signaled that Iraq-related amendments may be offered to an upcoming homeland security bill. "It's a bit of a cat-and-mouse game," a senior Democratic Senate aide said.

[Turbineguy]

8. By limiting options

republicans will force impeachment.

[havocmom]

9. And they are certainly setting the stage for beating them next election

Obstructionist DEMS??? HA! And the whole nation is watching as the GOP thwarts DEM attempts to do what the majority of Americans want done!

The fascist hold over the reins of power must be pretty damned strong for them to let their puppets piss all over the voters at this point.

[Vincardog]

10. That way they can rid themselves of the evil NeoConvicts and we do all the work and

are held responsible for all their bad actions. The one thing the radical Reich wants most is for the Democratic congress to take ownership of

bush's Iraq war

.

[gratuitous]

11. You want endless war, Mr. McConnell? Then go fight it

Or tax your fatcat pals to pay for it. As it is, we the people are doing the fighting, the killing, they dying and paying the full freight while your buddies in the oil bidness pull in profits never before seen in the history of the world.

You know something, Mr. McConnell? Fuck you, that's what.

[Diane R]

16. Agreed. We need to send all those healthy, young Republican staffers enlistment papers.

[jaxx]

12. Nice how they threaten isn't it?

The do-nothing congress of last year is alive and well this year and will do all it can to stop anything against the war.

[rodeodance]

15. 'do-nothing' takes on another meaning for them now.

[Monkeyman]

13. I wish I had the link

But this puke had a letter to the editor in the Chicago Tribune blaming Democrats for everything. Bottom line there he got nailed

[grytpype]

14. The Repugs are playing right into our hands.

The Dems are forcing the Repugs to repeatedly defend Bush and the current course in Iraq. That's a winning situation for us.

[Countdown_3_2_1]

17. Pass all the restrictive laws you want. * will ignore them and do whatever he wants.

* thinks he is immune to impeachment. If he orders his generals to ignore the congressional restrictions, then they will be ignored.

[IndianaGreen]

18. And everytime the GOP blocks to end the war, it adds to electoral support in '08

Nothing like showing the folks back home that the only way to end the war is to give the Democrats a filibuster-proof 61-seat majority in the Senate (we need one vote over 60 to defeat Joe Lieberman's predictable support for GOP).