Will Senate Republicans Vote Against the Troops? UPDATE: Yes.

by: Brandon Friedman

Thu Jul 31, 2008 at 20:14:44 PM EDT


Senate Republicans said this week that they would block all legislation prior to the upcoming summer recess unless the Democrats allowed them to bring up a vote on drilling for oil.  But now those same Republicans are in trouble:

Democratic leadership, initially furious over the obstructionism, is now calling their bluff. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid last night introduced a Department of Defense Authorization bill that would, among other things, include a 3.9 percent across-the-board pay raise for military personnel; major funding increases for research into traumatic brain injury treatment and troop suicide prevention efforts; $26 billion for the Defense Health Program, and $500 million for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles.

So either the Senate Republicans will have to acquiesce and go back on their word to filibuster any legislation, or they'll have to block funding for the troops.  This all happens tomorrow tonight.  Ouch.

Either way, I expect that John McCain won't show up to vote.

UPDATE: The vote just happened.   Here's the statement from the Senate Majority Leader's office in its entirety:

REID: REPUBLICANS' REJECTION OF DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL SHOWS LACK OF SUPPORT FOR TROOPS  

Washington, DC-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made the following statement today after Senate Republicans blocked the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009:

"As has been their hallmark this Congress, Bush-McCain Republicans have once again run away from an important debate, failing to back up their words with action.  Despite their strong rhetoric on supporting our troops, they have refused to give them a well-deserved pay raise, denied our troops mine-resistant vehicles to keep them safe and said no to ensuring our servicemen and -women get the health care they need.  

"It is this kind of misplaced priorities that is making America less secure.  Our military readiness is down, Afghanistan is slipping further into violence, Pakistan remains in crisis, and Osama bin Laden and Ayman al Zawahiri are still on the loose nearly seven years after 9/11.  The Iraq war is not only costly, but President Bush and John McCain have provided no plan for responsibly ending the war and returning to the fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban.

"Republicans' rejection of this vital bill is indefensible.  It shows a lack of support for our troops and underscores how desperately America needs more Senators committed to change."
Brandon Friedman :: Will Senate Republicans Vote Against the Troops? UPDATE: Yes.
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Will Senate Republicans Vote Against the Troops? UPDATE: Yes. | 15 comments
Hoo-ay, Reid finally came out swinging... (0.00 / 0)
"Bush-McCain Republicans"! Give 'em Hell Harry.
Actions, not words (4.00 / 1)
I listened to a half dozen so-called conservative pundits today talking, and lordy, I can't believe anyone takes them seriously. There are about three conservatives who really understand the issues - the rest are parroting talking points. When did the GOP decide it was uncool to be smart?
[ Parent ]
Cool? Smart? (0.00 / 0)
Maybe it's all my years, and also being an Indie, but most of the GOP have never been either word, and frankly they've showed that in their 12yrs. of control, how do you think Clinton looked so smart sometimes, but especially the six years of total control, oh ya, just look how the whittle bushy talks and acts!!

'Hearts and Minds, "The ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live there." -- President Lyndon Johnson
[ Parent ]
Media (0.00 / 0)
Of course the media only covered John McSame's lame Britney Spears video all day today and there was barely a mention of this bill, or of Senator Reid's comments after the vote.

Figures!   >:-(

Links? (0.00 / 0)
I can't find this story in any news or even in Sen. Reid's web site. Would like to forward this but I'd like some links to the original material. We ought to blast the Repubs on this but we need background.
Here are some. (4.00 / 1)
[ Parent ]
There's a link about the situation (0.00 / 0)
in the post above, and the press release I've posted came straight from Reid's office.  So this is your link.
[ Parent ]
I wish I caould say I'm surprised by this (0.00 / 0)
But this is just par for the course for the republican party lately.

"No U.S. soldier ever dies in vain because they're carrying out the missions of their commander in chief. And we honor all the service that they've provided." - Barack Obama
HR 6599 (0.00 / 0)
White House Threatens To Veto $118.7B">

HR 6599

... would allocate $250 million of the VA budget to establish a community grant program to provide rehabilitation services to veterans with PTSD or TBI. ...


'Hearts and Minds, "The ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live there." -- President Lyndon Johnson
Usual Tactic (0.00 / 0)
H. Reid is known for doing this: when the Senate Repubs want to vote on an issue, Reid throws in something totally unrelated to the main vote -- something which hasn't been debated on the floor.  Then the vote stalls.  It's the outcome Reid wants, since in this case, the military issues will come up for vote after Congress' "vacation."  The final tally: no drilling for oil!

It's not rocket science, but it gives Friedman a reason to further spew his unrelenting crap.

And another thing.... (0.00 / 0)
Friedman:
Either way, I expect that John McCain won't show up to vote.

Either way, as far as I could see on the vote schedule, Obama didn't "show up to vote" either!  WTF?

[ Parent ]
The difference being that (0.00 / 0)
Obama isn't hanging his entire campaign on veteran status and support for the troops, but that is besides the point.  Based on McCain's past voting record, I think we can all guess what his vote would have been if he had been there.

"No U.S. soldier ever dies in vain because they're carrying out the missions of their commander in chief. And we honor all the service that they've provided." - Barack Obama
[ Parent ]
Right, the republicans want an up or down vote (0.00 / 0)
on oil drilling.  Never mind that Senator Coburn, another republican, is holding up more than 40 bills preventing an up or down vote on them.  The republicans have threatened to shut down congress and prevent any and ALL legislation until they get their oil driling vote.  So when bills for the troops, medicare, food safety, or anything else comes up, they block it.  Our troops pay the price until the republicans get their way.

It's not rocket science, but it gives Friedman a reason to further spew his unrelenting crap.

Why do you come here?  Friedman was an infantry platoon leader in both Afghanistan and Iraq.  He led 101st Airborne troops through Operation Anaconda and through the initial invasion of Baghdad.  Since his return home he has become a rather proficient writer.  If you don't like what he says, go somewhere else.  

"No U.S. soldier ever dies in vain because they're carrying out the missions of their commander in chief. And we honor all the service that they've provided." - Barack Obama

[ Parent ]
Yes indeedy .... (0.00 / 0)
Heck, I'm surprised there aren't more nasty lurkers.  Chris, you should be grateful, in a way.  :)

Off-topic, but ....

I'm living in hope that, this time around, those who serve and have served will wake up and smell the rancid coffee so to speak and stop voting against their own best interests.  I never did understand the blind acceptance of the Republican propaganda that the Democratic Party was somehow "weak" or anti-military anyway, and folks sticking with any given Republican candidate as a result.  I'm afraid my conclusion was that there are-were a huge number of low-information voters in the various services who never bother(ed) to check out the particulars and are-were willfully blind to the issues ... or too afraid to appear "unAmerican" (though frankly, there's no such fracking thing).  

Hopefully, the same will not hold (as) true this time around.  

[ Parent ]
yeah (0.00 / 0)
On Friday, the House considered a bill providing needed funding to veterans and military organizations. House conservatives tried to attach an offshore oil drilling amendment to the bill, threatening its passage. Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Chet Edwards (D-TX) denounced the tactic. When he read statements from veterans groups urging Congress not to meddle with the legislation, House conservatives booed.

[ Parent ]
Will Senate Republicans Vote Against the Troops? UPDATE: Yes. | 15 comments
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