The pressure is on Dubya
A huge development in US Senate last night...
Senate Republicans failed to amend the Troop Funding bill with troops pullout deadline. Thanks to Chuck Hagel's (R - NE) vote, the amendment lost 48-50. This leads to a few thoughts.
1. This puts tremendous pressure on Bush. He won't be able to state, in one breath, that Democrats are the ones refusing the troops so much needed funding when he is vetoing the bills that provides exactly that. However, should he not veto it, he will not be able to wiggle out of the deadlines. Unless, of course, the political make-up of US Senate changes, which is unlikely.
2. Bush's veto will place the ball back in Democrats' court. But they are sure to write a similar bill, pass it through the House and force the Senate to vote again. With a possible forcing of Bush's pen again.
3. Why don't republicans filibuster? Everyone knows Democrats will not be able to rally 60 votes to their side to avoid filibuster. What this means is that Republicans in Senate are under terrible pressure. More than 20 of them are up of reelection in 2008. In the political climate such as this and given that 60% of the Public support a pull-out (be it immediate or eventual with a deadline), they can ill-afford to blindly stand by the President. Their vote last night suggests that they choose to still have their view heard but do not want to be labeled obstructionist to either the troops or to the Democrats trying to end the highly unpopular War.
4. For the above reason, I do not expect Senate Republicans to stop any other anti-Iraq-adventure bill passed in the House
Senate Republicans failed to amend the Troop Funding bill with troops pullout deadline. Thanks to Chuck Hagel's (R - NE) vote, the amendment lost 48-50. This leads to a few thoughts.
1. This puts tremendous pressure on Bush. He won't be able to state, in one breath, that Democrats are the ones refusing the troops so much needed funding when he is vetoing the bills that provides exactly that. However, should he not veto it, he will not be able to wiggle out of the deadlines. Unless, of course, the political make-up of US Senate changes, which is unlikely.
2. Bush's veto will place the ball back in Democrats' court. But they are sure to write a similar bill, pass it through the House and force the Senate to vote again. With a possible forcing of Bush's pen again.
3. Why don't republicans filibuster? Everyone knows Democrats will not be able to rally 60 votes to their side to avoid filibuster. What this means is that Republicans in Senate are under terrible pressure. More than 20 of them are up of reelection in 2008. In the political climate such as this and given that 60% of the Public support a pull-out (be it immediate or eventual with a deadline), they can ill-afford to blindly stand by the President. Their vote last night suggests that they choose to still have their view heard but do not want to be labeled obstructionist to either the troops or to the Democrats trying to end the highly unpopular War.
4. For the above reason, I do not expect Senate Republicans to stop any other anti-Iraq-adventure bill passed in the House