Senator Gordon Smith may join Hagel and Snowe in opposing Bush

[kentuck]

It appears that Bush is doing some serious arm twisting on the Republicans in the Senate? He has met with several Seantors for three days in a row...
========================================

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070118/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq

<snip>
So far, Sens. Chuck Hagel (news, bio, voting record) of Nebraska and Olympia Snowe (news, bio, voting record) of Maine are the only Republicans to announce their backing for the Senate measure. A third lawmaker, Sen. Gordon Smith (news, bio, voting record), R-Ore., signaled during the day he is giving serious consideration to joining them.

"Senator Smith is opposed to a troop surge," said his spokesman, R.C. Hammond. "He is very open to serious ways that Congress can influence the president's Iraq strategy."

Another Republican critic of Bush's policy, Sen. Norm Coleman (news, bio, voting record) of Minnesota, said: "I don't support the surge in Baghdad, but there are some things in the resolution I don't agree with, and so we're kind of looking at language."

Bush's meeting with lawmakers was his third session in as many days as he struggles to build support for an increase in troops for a war that is opposed by the public and played a role in the Republican setbacks in last fall's elections.

...more

[Daylin Byak]

1. Not to sound rude or anything

But I don't believe one word Smith says, in my mind he's just saying this cause he needs to go back to the center to get re-elected since he's in a not so friendly GOP state(Oregon).

It's nice that he's opposing the troop surge though but I think he's saying all this stuff just to get re-elected again.

[kentuck]

2. I agree...

It is noteworthy that he did not have this position until after the election in November and after he was in the minority with his re-election coming up next year...

[calimary]

4. Hey, whatever works. I think we can do some pretty interesting business

with some of these people, once they realize there's a long, sharp knife hanging directly over their heads. Perhaps that's what it takes to make them come around to reason, civility, humility, and acknowledgment that they're just hopelessly WRONG.

[Parche]

8. smith

Yes we have to do everything we can to get him defeated here.

Maybe Barbara Roberts would run for senate???

[MrRobotsHolyOrders]

3. HA

Senator Smith may join Rick Santorum and George Allen in being a unemployed little bitch in 2008. Squeal like a pig, Gordon, squeal like a pig.

[calimary]

6. Exactly. See how they run (for cover). Smarmy normie coleman is leaning

the same way, for the same reason. I say we USE that. Put that fear and dread of theirs to work for OUR purposes, and OUR agenda. Use WHATEVER means are handed to us, or fall into our laps.

He's reading the handwriting on the wall. He's proving that he's actually ABLE to read. And that is extremely USEFUL for us. Because the momentum's headed OUR way, not his. And I think he knows it.

[MrRobotsHolyOrders]

7. Seriously

Oregon couldn't be more against all this escalation bullshit if it tried. Gordon Smith is going to need a fucking miracle to get within thirty points of whatever half-bright geek the Dems in OR will send against him.

I don't know about Coleman. You sent Michelle Bachmann to congress, which means at least a large portion of your state is huffing paint thinner.

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. It's nice to hear coming from an (R) just the same.