POSTSCRIPT: Liberal House Dems Get Standing Ovation Behind Closed Doors

[babylonsister]

http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/mar/23/postscript_liberal_house_dems_get_standing_ovation_behind_closed_doors

Election Central
POSTSCRIPT: Liberal House Dems Get Standing Ovation Behind Closed Doors
By Greg Sargent | bio

Here's a really interesting postscript to the House Dems' successful passage of the Iraq withdrawal bill today:

This morning, when Dems met behind closed doors to get ready for the vote, members gave a standing ovation to the three key liberals who helped make this bill possible: Barbara Lee, Lynn Woolsey and Maxine Waters.

The kicker: All three were preparing to vote against the bill, and everyone there suspected as much -- but the three were applauded anyway.

The scene -- which was recounted in Congress Daily (sub. only) and confirmed to me by a Hill source -- was a reminder of the strange route House Dems took to passage of this milestone bill. As reported here yesterday, the three key liberal members decided at the last minute to back the bill. But because they wanted to oppose the bill themselves as a matter of conscience because it lacked the tough language enforcing withdrawal that they wanted, they went to other liberal members of the Out of Iraq caucus and let them know that they'd have no problem if they voted for it.

"These three went and got enough other votes to provide a margin of victory beyond their own three No votes," the source says. Thus the standing ovation for them.

Moral of the story: Though turning this bill into law still remains an uphill battle at best, today's events reveal that progressive Dems in Congress managed to hew to their principles and play the politics of the system shrewdly. "These Members of Congress played hardball from the beginning," David Sirota wrote, referring to the liberal House Dems. "And because of their efforts, progressive Democrats have not only brought the war closer to an end, but they have become one of the most powerful blocs in the U.S. Congress."

Meanwhile, the sense of relief is palpable among House Dem staffers today. As my Hill source put it: "We averted at least three permutations of potential disaster today."

[fooj]

1. See? Things aren't always as they seem.

[babylonsister]

3. This is a great story! Keep the faith, Dems!

:thumbsup:

[ClassWarrior]

14. Amen, sister...

Amen.

Never Give Up.

[ClassWarrior]

16. .

[rodeodance]

2. Grand story isn't it.

[Bucky]

4. God bless the liberals. I LOVE it when politicians cut deals. This is what they're *supposed* to do.

Madisonian democracry is so damned beautiful. By working together, our side will end this war faster. This will save lives that Bush is hell-bent on tossing into the meat grinder.

[tom_paine]

5. Slowly but surely, the Sleeping Giant awakes

Just as the Loyal Nazis learned in the 1940s their spiritual descendants, the Loyal Bushies will learn NOW.

You have awakened a Sleeping Giant.

[John Q. Citizen]

6. I'd imagine there are a few red faced DUers out there about now.......

Heck, I forgive them. I just hope they can forgive themselves.

Lefties rock!

[annabanana]

7. Oh yes, I expect so....

'nough said...

Back to work.

[JNelson6563]

15. What we saw is complete ignorance of how it works

You will see a lot of this in the coming primary season. Those who scream the loudest tend to know the least.

Some people aren't happy unless they are railing against something. Especially frustratingly impotent keyboard commandoes. ;-)

Julie

[ClassWarrior]

17. .

[Forkboy]

8. I guess they don't demand purity after all.

:think:

[John Q. Citizen]

11. what did Leonard Cohen write? "Even damnation is poisoned with rainbows,"

Leonard Cohen - The Old Revolution

I finally broke into the prison,
I found my place in the chain.
Even damnation is poisoned with rainbows,
all the brave young men
they're waiting now to see a signal
which some killer will be lighting for pay.
Into this furnace I ask you now to venture,
you whom I cannot betray.

I fought in the old revolution
on the side of the ghost and the King.
Of course I was very young
and I thought that we were winning;
I can't pretend I still feel very much like singing
as they carry the bodies away.

Into this furnace I ask you now to venture...

Lately you've started to stutter
as though you had nothing to say.
To all of my architects let me be traitor.
Now let me say I myself gave the order
to sleep and to search and to destroy.

Into this furnace I ask you now to venture...

Yes, you who are broken by power,
you who are absent all day,
you who are kings for the sake of your children's story,
the hand of your beggar is burdened down with money,
the hand of your lover is clay.

Into this furnace I ask you now to venture...

-Leonard Cohen, "The Old Revolution"

[dionysus]

9. take that you utter jerks who called them traitors!!!

:)

[bigtree]

10. This is a unified party again

good work, all!

[John Q. Citizen]

12. Whatever, it takes. It's a funny bill we got ourselves though. I'm not sure

if it's more binding, in a binding sense, than the non-binding sentiment-against-the-surge bill would have been if it had passed.

This did pass, in this form, through the house, I have to admit, it's sort of fun when the fix is in but it's your guys and gals who are fixing it. Whatever "it" is.

I wonder what we will actually end up with down the road out of this. I'm optimistic, yet not really sure what the goal is other than the 08 elections.And passing something. And making bush threaten a veto. It wouldn't actually surprise me if bush were to sign that puppy into law exactly as it is now. But I doubt bush will get it on his desk as it is now.

It will be interesting to see what happens.

[mmonk]

13. I knew they wouldn't kill it.

But they let air the reasons they didn't like it. I don't like it either. But it's time people put down the traitor card everytime someone from the progressive caucus has a grievance with legislation that the leadership crafts (which is crafted to get as many votes as possible in order to pass).

[cali]

18. Agreed, but it's also time that people put down the warmongers

card regarding Pelosi and other liberal dems. Sadly, I saw several comments to that effect.