Sen Coleman: Senate should be 'ashamed' for failure to vote on Iraq

[wicket]

LINK

Sen. Norm Coleman said Thursday that the Senate should be "ashamed" of its failure to vote on Iraq this week, when Republicans blocked debate on a resolution critical of President Bush's plan to send more troops to the war effort.

"We should look in the mirror as an institution and be ashamed of our failure to have a vigorous, open discussion, and then an ability to vote as our hearts and minds dictate on this issue," Coleman, R-Minn., said in a conference call with reporters.

Coleman and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine were the only Republicans to vote with Democrats Monday. They fell 11 votes short of the 60 needed to break a GOP filibuster, preventing a vote on a nonbinding measure backed by Sen. John Warner, R-Va., expressing disagreement with Bush's plan to deploy an additional 21,500 troops to Iraq.

But Coleman made it clear that he thought both parties were to blame, saying Democrats should have allowed a vote on a resolution by Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., which said Congress should not strip or cut money for the war.

"I think that we should be embarrassed -- on both sides -- by the failure to move forward and have a vigorous debate on this issue. And to fall back under arcane rules," Coleman said. He said he didn't get any "arm-twisting" Monday by GOP leadership to vote against moving forward with the debate.

[marmar]

1. Gee, you'd think he was up for re-election next year.....

:think:

[Darkhawk32]

2. Oh that's crazy talk! Sen. Coleman is a fine, upstanding, young SS officer. n/t

[Beausoir]

10. Exactly. He may be an idiot, but he can read the writing on the wall.

[Strelnikov_]

15. Ditto for Suzy 'Slow Talk' Collins n/t

[WI_DEM]

3. Norman has always been known for his ability to put his finger in the air to see which way the

political winds are blowing.

[jean]

4. The weasel should have arm-twisted his own side. But wait - he used to be a Democrat

and flipped to the dark side during his MN gubernatorial stint. Is THAT why he feels entitled to speak to and for both parties?

Norm Coleman is an empty-suited, self-promoting opportunist.

[Mister Ed]

6. Switched to Republican party to run for Governor of MN, but lost...

...to a wacky former pro wrestler running as an independent (Jesse Ventura).

"Nawm" was a Democrat when he served as mayor of St. Paul. After losing his gubernatorial bid, he ran for the Senate as a Republican in 2002. He won the seat after his Democratic opponent, the much-beloved Paul Wellstone, was killed in a most unfortunate plane crash ten days before the election.

Here in Minnesota, those in the know regard him as a duplicitous womanizer, utterly lacking in ethics or character.

I personally feel that he has been utterly loyal to BuchCo during his Senate term, only voting against the GOP party line when given permission to do so.

[rodeodance]

5. He is right. The Senate Repugs (and JOE) should be ashamed.

[wicket]

9. I wish Joe would just switch parties already

n/t

[emulatorloo]

12. Well, he's damn wrong when he trumpets the Gregg resolution

<snip>

But Coleman made it clear that he thought both parties were to blame, saying Democrats should have allowed a vote on a resolution by Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., which said Congress should not strip or cut money for the war.

<snip>

[Beelzebud]

7. I can't wait to watch Al Franken run his ass out of the senate!

[Selatius]

8. Hmm, at first I wanted to see Coleman eliminated completely in 2008, but the fact that...

he is triangulating a little bit to the left leaves me pause.

He could be a "useful idiot" if the Dems claim more seats. However, if there is somebody who isn't a turncoat and isn't afraid to come out in favor of the working people of America running against him, then I may still want to see Coleman kicked from power. In such a case, it should be considered win-win.

[gilpo]

11. He's sleaze all the way to his core

His "triangulation" is strictly a political survival response, probably autonomic.

[wicket]

13. kick

:kick:

[enki23]

14. they ran that iraq withdrawl ad here during the superbowl

[Hippo_Tron]

16. Norm knows that he will be the most heavily targeted Republican in 2008

So this sudden change of heart isn't particularly surprising.