WTF??? "Democrats Plan *Symbolic* Votes Against Iraq Plan"???

[jgraz]

A SYMBOLIC vote???? After that speech?

Democrats Plan Symbolic Votes Against Iraq Plan

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 — Democratic leaders said Tuesday that they intended to hold symbolic votes in the House and Senate on President Bush’s plan to send more troops to Baghdad, forcing Republicans to take a stand on the proposal and seeking to isolate the president politically over his handling of the war.

Senate Democrats decided to schedule a vote on the resolution after a closed-door meeting on a day when Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts introduced legislation to require Mr. Bush to gain Congressional approval before sending more troops to Iraq.

The Senate vote is expected as early as next week, after an initial round of committee hearings on the plan Mr. Bush will lay out for the nation Wednesday night in a televised address delivered from the White House library, a setting chosen because it will provide a fresh backdrop for a presidential message.

The office of Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House, followed with an announcement that the House would also take up a resolution in opposition to a troop increase. House Democrats were scheduled to meet Wednesday morning to consider whether to interrupt their carefully choreographed 100-hour, two-week-long rollout of their domestic agenda this month to address the Iraq war.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/10/washington/10capitol.html?_r=1&bl&ex=1168578000&en=d382314d80522afa&ei=5087%0A&oref=slogin

This is just sad. We need a real fucking opposition party and FAST.

[babylonsister]

1. That's an old meme. Let them absorb what happened, or NOT.

Just sad? Pleeze.

[LittleClarkie]

2. Did you ever think that a symbolic vote might be the best they can do at this point?

Since the money was already voted upon last year?

[nosmokes]

16. and they can vote to rescind the money as well. n/t

[Der Blaue Engel]

3. So you read an article from yesterday, from the Times, that is vague, but promising, despite spin

and you're outraged about what, exactly? That they're not rolling tanks into the White House?

[jgraz]

7. Actually, I've been listening to discussion of this all day on AAR

I just grabbed the article as support for the post.

But...CAN they roll tanks into the White House? Cuz that would rock.

[Der Blaue Engel]

8. Well, okay, yeah, that *would* rock

:thumbsup: :D

[Bolo Boffin]

15. What's Yeltsin doing? ;) n/t

[liberalpragmatist]

4. TEST votes

House and Senate Democrats said before they move to block funds for the troop increase, they will take test votes on nonbinding resolutions opposing the increase.

"Next week, the plan is to draft a very simple resolution asking the members of the Senate if they support or do not support this surge," Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, said at a Capitol news conference. "I believe there will be a strong majority against it, including some from the other party."

A final vote on the Senate resolution might not take place until after President Bush's January 23 State of the Union address, a Democratic leadership aide said.

House leaders have not announced a timetable for their resolution.

> http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/10/us.iraq/index.html

In other words, this does NOT preclude substantive actions to prevent the escalation.

Now, by all means, don't stop holding their feet to the fire, but don't panic and recognize that, at present, they are emphasizing this as a test vote.

[jgraz]

6. Sorry, after living with these dems for the past 26 years, I don't trust them to do anything

Anytime I hear something like "symbolic vote" the hair on the back of my neck stands up.

That having been said, I really hope you're right. Really really really.

[NightOwwl]

5. It's payback for this...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/18/AR2005111802896.html

It doesn't mean they aren't going to take further action. They just want the Pugs to put up or shut up. They want them on record going down with the sinking ship named B-U-S-H.

[NYC Liberal]

9. A) It's from yesterday, and B) See this post:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2682152&mesg_id=2682824

[jgraz]

10. I hope cricket's right

To me, this sounds too much like the tactics of a party that still thinks it's in the minority. I'll wait and see what action they take on Ted Kennedy's proposal.

[NYC Liberal]

11. I think the most important thing is to get the Repukes ON RECORD now,

so that in 2008 we have that to use against them, should any of them in Congress run.

We can also use it as a basis for defunding if there is enough support.

[jgraz]

12. The most important thing is to get the troops home

If this is a prelude to stopping this war, then I'm all for it. If it's another Repuke-lite political game using the troops as pawns, then fuck them.

It all depends on how they follow it up. The problem is that if just we wait and see, the Dems may take it as support for a more passive response.

[NYC Liberal]

13. Of course it is.

This is how we start. By isolating Bush and gathering up support, on record, against him and this war. I agree - it's about the followup.

[jgraz]

14. Hoping you're right

Though it can't hurt to call our congresscritters and demand stronger action.