10:30 a.m.: John McCain suggests (paraphrase) 'tonight is a waste of time staged for the cameras, because everyone knew the outcome' Wow! Since when does debate have NO value? The congressional debates over the civil right bills went on for months, not just one night. How long did the great Lincoln-Douglass debates go on?
Sorry to keep you from the campaign trail and glad to vote against you, I think.
It's not only that we're sick-and-tired, although that is part of it. Why should we give more time and resources to a President in whom we no longer have any wartime confidence? General Petreaus cannot offer a "win" - it's not his alone to give. There is no military solution, so stop putting your full faith and credit in that and start thinking of broader-based solutions, perhaps.
10:35: Senator Schumer replies. Takes a New Yorker to start getting really feisty... 'No more sloganeering like cut-and-run, please', he says, "that's what got us into this mess in the first place."
10:37 Reed: Pres is fond of slogans, "Bring 'em On", "As they stand up, we'll stand down"
1. Decisive steps by Iraqi Political Leaders
2. Cannot sustain troops past next spring
3. President has lost the confidence of the American people - cannot continue a strategy under such circumstances.
10:40 Levin: Malki told us that the current crisis is political. Our troops are paying the price of failure of Iraqi government to meet its own goals. Transition out is the only way to force the Iraqis to act.
10:43 McConnell: (paraphrase) 'Our debate is like the Twilight Zone'. Sorry to put you out, Mr. Minority Leader, but the R-ubberstamp days for President Bush are over - canceled alongside the Contract On America last fall.
McConnell thinks the Bill is too vague. "What does 'targeted' mean?"
vote to close debate and move to a vote fails to reach 60: 52-47 (both Maine Senators with majority)
11:51 Senator Specter, R-ubberstamp, PA: the debate was a "colossal waste of time" and "an indignity". [Reid tells him to check with the people of Pennsylvania, on that ...]
12:32 Senator Specter, R-ubberstamp, PA: adds "meaningless", "regrettable", and "no purpose whatsoever".
I don't know Senator. 52 wanted to send the Levin-Reed amendment to the President. It could have happened without the wasteful filibuster of your party, right? Take it to the people of Pennsylvania, if you want ...
"We know the planning [of the Administration] has been insufficient."
Other "amendments" not considered: Habeas, rendition, ask the President to draw up a 'plan b'
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
A.M. Live Blogging
