Welcome Instapundit readers. I also suggest today you check out the eminent domain scandals in Virginia and Michael’s post on the US subsidizing Europe’s health care system.
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“Republicans Block Senate Debate on Iraqâ€
So says the Associated press:
Republicans blocked a full-fledged Senate debate over Iraq on Monday, but Democrats vowed to find a way to force President Bush to change course in a war that has claimed the lives of more than 3,000 U.S. troops.
“We must heed the results of the November elections and the wishes of the American people,” said Majority Leader Harry Reid.
Reid, D-Nev., spoke moments before a vote that sidetracked a nonbinding measure expressing disagreement with Bush’s plan to deploy an additional 21,500 troops to Iraq.
The vote was 49-47, or 11 short of the 60 needed to go ahead with debate, and left the fate of the measure uncertain.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky described the test vote as merely a “bump in the road” and added that GOP lawmakers “welcome the debate and are happy to have it.”
Actually this is just spin. The Democrats actually want to end debate and vote on the resolution. What the Republicans are arguing for is keeping debate open and considering other resolutions. That of course might make passing the proposed resolution less likely, which is what they are trying to avoid.
Typical in politics, and unfortunately typical for the AP.
UPDATE: Captain Ed weighs in on the Democratic spin the AP is parroting:
Reid and the Democrats insisted on blocking any consideration of alternatives and demanded an end to debate — which makes Reid’s complaint that the GOP would not allow debate on the issue somewhat mystifying. Cloture is an end to debate on the floor, a limitation to allow a vote on the question before the Senate. The filibuster provides for unlimited debate, which the Republicans appear ready to provide. Dick Durbin accused Republicans of running from the debate, but in truth the Democrats tried to shove Warner-Levin down the GOP’s throat in order to demand that the US run from Iraq. It’s a strange accusation to make that a political party exercises cowardice in not allowing the other to demand retreat — a position that some Democrats clearly want to make.
UPDATEx2: QandO notices that The New York Times and Washington Post are spinning as well. From the Senate glossary I have the definition of cloture:
The only procedure by which the Senate can vote to place a time limit on consideration of a bill or other matter, and thereby overcome a filibuster. Under the cloture rule (Rule XXII), the Senate may limit consideration of a pending matter to 30 additional hours, but only by vote of three-fifths of the full Senate, normally 60 votes.
So, a vote for cloture is a vote to end debate and take a vote on a bill, often used to overcome a filibuster. The Republicans will attempt to keep debate open until the Democrats allow other resolutions to be considered. This isn’t hard, but three of the most influential news organizations in the world either do not understand or are purposely adopting the Democrats spin.
More: Mick Wright has more, including the flips and flops of Joe Klein and John Kerry on the subject of cloture. While your at it you might look at Klein’s flip flopping and revisionism about it on the war as well.
Technorati Tags: Iraq, Senate, Associated Press, Democrats, Republicans
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LOL… apparently Reid thinks the will of the people is to give Dems a free hand with their ‘majority’. However, as he needs 60 votes rather than 51, the will of the people is evident, to stalemate the Senate.
Mr. Reid, do nothing. Life for the electorate will be more as intended that way.
“We must heed the results of the November elections…”
Er… for instance, that inconvenient election where pro-Democracy Joe Lieberman soundly defeated so-called “anti-war” Ned Lamont in the bluest of the blue states? Heed that one, Harry.
“…three of the most influential news organizations in the world either do not understand or are purposely adopting the Democrats spin.”
This is not “spin”, this is outright deceit. Propaganda. Malfeasance. Uhmmm… A Lie. Just like their misrepresentation of the economy. It’s been SOP since the day Al Gore failed to carry his own home state in 2000 when, in retribution, the demonstrably leftist subset of the exempt media took up the cause of the anti-Bush Party (f.k.a. the Democrats) by relentlessly twisting reality until it has become “conventional wisdom”.
Rathergate. CNN’s complicity in Saddam’s reign of terror. Reuters’ fauxtography. Joe Wilson’s lies. The twisted Katrina coverage. Newsweek’s lies. Jordan’s lies. Twisted war coverage. National Security breaches. NYT’s “errors”. Editorials as “news”. The list is getting way too long, folks. It’s long past time this became a DOJ issue.
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