Senate Joint Resolution 9 has 41 co-sponsors. The resolution would attempt to force a revision of our policy in Iraq and force the withdrawal of most American troops from Iraq by September 2008. It’s interesting to see which Democrats (and Independents) did not become co-sponsors.
Robert Byrd (D-WV), Kent Conrad (D-ND), Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Ben Nelson (D-NE), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Mark Pryor (D-AR), Jim Webb (D-VA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Joseph Lieberman (I-CT)
Tim Johnson is indisposed. I know Bill Nelson supports the resolution. Byrd, Dodd, and Sanders might not think the resolution goes far enough. Lieberman obviously opposes the resolution. As for the rest, they come from red states and may just be cowards.
Another interesting thing to look at is which Republicans refused to vote for cloture and allow S.J.Res.9 to be debated.
Wayne Allard (R-CO), Kit Bond (R-MO), Jim Bunning (R-KY), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Jim DeMint (R-SC), Michael Enzi (R-WY), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), James Inhofe (R-OK), Craig Thomas (R-WY)
The Wyoming group is probably loyal to Dick Cheney. The Oklahoma Senators are insane. Bunning and DeMint are unhinged. Allard is retiring and doesn’t care. Bond and Hatch? Just plain losers.
It’s also interesting to see Armando trying to whip the Progressive caucus to oppose this resolution while Chris Bowers and Matt Stoller attempt to whip the Blue Dogs to support it. What do you think?
Update [2007-3-14 18:16:38 by BooMan]: Look at Joe Biden’s spectacular performance on the Senate floor:
As good as Biden’s speech was on “no plan and no policy” and the AUMF, and the mission being over was, he raises the question that pretty much sums up the results of this bill:
“Then what? THEN WHAT?”
Well, that’s answered by this bill getting filibustered by the GOP and Lieberman. The GOP will use the exact same strategy they used on the non-binding resolution: stall the bill with ad infinitum amendments and then say the Democrats are refusing to allow debate on this bill, and that the GOP has to have a chance to “craft a rebuttal bill.”
As we approach ticking off another fruitless year in Iraq where the majority of Americans want to leave and the GOP is doing everything they can to prevent that from even being close to happening, nothing will change.
And now that the Dems have folded on Iran, the odds of the President’s mounting domestic scandals causing him to play the “Wag the Dog” card and attack Iran increase every day.
Whatever happened to them?
Give Em Hell, Joe Biden. He is probably right the only solution is letting Iraq divide. Yes there will be consequences. But its the lesser of evils. imho
thanks for the update on Sen Conrad not signing on. I’ll call W DC tomorrow and encourage a change of heart.