If you're going to be a debating society, be a full-service debating society
The Senate has refused to invoke cloture on the resolution to disapprove of the trooop surge in Iraq. The effort to cut-off debate failed by a vote of 56-34. Sixty votes were required. Seven Republicans voted for cloture.
The Democrats want to confine voting to their favorite resolution, which now is a simple up-or-down vote on the surge coupled with an expression of "support" for the troops. The Republicans want a fuller discussion that would include a vote on a resolution sponsored by Senators DeMint and Gregg to guarantee that Congress will not withhold funding from our troops who are in harm’s way -- in other words a real expression of support for the troops.
Unlike many in the conservative blogosphere, I have no problem with non-binding Senate resolutions pertaining to Iraq. The Senate ought to be able to express its "sense" of our efforts in Iraq without having to shut down the war or otherwise strong arm the president. But I don't see any defense for the proposition that the Senate's expression of opinion on the war in Iraq should be confined to one question tailored to achieve the political objectives of one party.
UPDATE: The seven Republicans who voted with the Dems are Warner, Coleman, Collins, Snowe, Specter, Hagel, and Smith. The non-voting Republicans were McCain (who was campaigning), Bennett, Cochran, Murkowski, Bond, Ensign, Kyl, Corker, and Hatch. The vote of those like McCain who support the surge weren't needed to prevent cloture.
Democrat Tim Johnson also didn't vote because his medical condition. Democrat-Independent Joe Lieberman voted against cloture.
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