NYT: In Senate, Allies of Bush Work to Halt Iraq Vote

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/31/washington/31cong.html?hp&ex=1170219600&en=8c7ba877e3dd9c89&ei=5094&partner=homepage

The Bush administration’s allies in the Senate began a major effort on Tuesday to prevent a potentially embarrassing rejection of the president’s plan to push 20,000 more troops into Iraq.

With the Senate expected to reach votes on possible resolutions sometime next week, the signs of the new campaign seeped out after a weekly closed-door lunch in which Republican senators engaged in what participants described as a heated debate over how to approach the issue.

The new effort by President Bush’s allies, including Senators John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, is aimed at blocking two nonbinding resolutions directly critical of the White House that had appeared to be gaining broad support among Democrats and even some Republicans.

Republicans skeptical of the troop buildup said some of their colleagues had begun to suggest that opponents of the White House plan ran the risk of undermining Lt. Gen. David H. Petraeus, the new military commander in Iraq, as well as Mr. Bush.

“There is a lot of pressure on people who could be with us not to be with us,” said Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine, the co-author of one resolution along with Senators John W. Warner, Republican of Virginia, and Ben Nelson, Democrat of Nebraska.

[grytpype]

1. The White House doesn't want ANY Senate resolution to come to a floor vote.

There is NO support in the Senate for a "You are doin a heckofa job, keep up the good work" resolution.

The Lieberman-McCain "Save Bush's Ass" resolution calls for benchmarks. So even that is unacceptable to the White House.

Bush is getting more and more screwed. Unless a miracle saves him, I think he'll resign before Labor Day.

[msongs]

2. general pet rock does not care what congress thinks, only what bush says nt

[Warren Stupidity]

3. So can we stop with the bipartisan crap now?

Dear Democratic Party leadership: it is a strictly one way street with the other party. When they say 'bipartisan' they mean 'you make concessions to our demands'. When it comes to our legislation they are all about obstruction, evasion, delay, diversion, filibuster and veto.

Enough of playing nice.

[EFerrari]

4. Junior has allies in the Senate?

That's amazing.

[rodeodance]

5. McConnell, Sessons and that type-----oh, and JOE L>

[EFerrari]

6. Let's see how long they last. Five . . four . . .three

That he has anyone willing to be seen standing next to him is a testament to the profound corruption in our government. Not to be negative or anything. lol

[0007]

7. .....Oh and damn, don't forget John Cornyn!!