Fourth GOP Senator To Back Dems' Anti-Escalation Resolution
Here's another Republican Senator who intends to break ranks and support Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid's new move to bring an anti-escalation resolution up for a vote tomorrow: Senator Gordon Smith.
Smith's press secretary, R.C. Hammond, tells Election Central that Smith will vote for cloture, despite Minority Leader Mitch McConell's call for Republicans to block a vote.
Smith had previously voted against cloture on the earlier Warner measure, joining with GOPers upset with Reid's refusal to bring up an additional resolution of support for funding of the troops. Smith subsequently signed on to a letter with six other GOP Senators about their determination to bring the Warner anti-surge resolution to the floor.
Dem Senate leader Harry Reid has called their bluff by calling for a vote tomorrow on whether to allow the simpler House anti-escalation resolution to go to the floor. And now Smith has indicated that he'll support it.
That brings our total of GOP Senators who are either likely or certain to support cloture tomorrow to four: Senators Smith, Warner, Snowe, and Collins. By our count, the Dems may need 11 GOP Senators to get to the magic number of 60. More soon.
Senate procedural question here:
Can the Senate Dems allow all 3 bills to come to the floor, including the bogus Judd Gregg (R-NH) funding bill, and then just amend the funding bill to say something uncontroversial about supporting the troops that all 100 Senators can support?
Then everyone will be on the record supporting the troops (rather than permanently funding the war) and either for or against the surge.
February 16, 2007 2:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Where has Chuck Hagel been on this lately? He's been quiet for a couple of weeks.
February 16, 2007 2:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I doubt the GOP will let that happen. The key for the Gregg bill is to definitely connect "supporting the troops" with "funding the war."
This is essential for the GOP, so they can accuse Democrats of not "supporting the troops" if defunding becomes necessary in the future.
February 16, 2007 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fuck Chuck. He made some noise, but then tucked his tail between his legs once again.
February 16, 2007 3:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nice rhyme there, lol.
February 16, 2007 3:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Of the four, three are up for reelection in 2008. I'm not suggesting that their vote is based entirely on cynical desire for reelection, but it is clearly a major factor (Warner, because of his age, probably doesn't feel the electoral pressure). This also explains why Hagel doesn't feel the pressure; his Senate seat, to my mind, is pretty safe. Smith and Collins, on the other hand, must be feeling the heat (remember, Chafee had a 60% approval rating and was still turned out of office).
February 16, 2007 3:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'll bet Norm Coleman will be bail, as well.
February 16, 2007 3:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Steve Clemons at The Washington Note seems to think Chuck "Samurai" Hagel is the best thing on earth.
February 16, 2007 3:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Will Tim Johnson be able to vote? Without him, that's an extra GOPer Dems need to get support from.
Where's Brownback on this? He came out against the surge.
February 16, 2007 3:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm an Oregonian and have watched Smith for years. He's an adroit politician who manages to vote very right wing and still portray himself as a moderate. Smith would ordinarily have little problem getting reelected because the Dems can’t seem to convince any of their strong candidates to leave safe offices and take him on. This is the second big public step he's taken away from Bush and the war (the other being his road to Damascus speech against the war in the Senate a while back). If Smith is back-pedaling this fast it’s evidence that the Republicans are very worried about 2008.
February 16, 2007 4:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Joe Lieberman today as he warns of a constitutional crises:
"Yes, we should vigorously debate and deliberate. That is not only our right, it is our responsibility."
What a dunce. He was not so eager to debate the "anti-escalation" resolution. Watch when he votes for cloture and when he doesn't. Debate is not what he wants.
February 16, 2007 4:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hagel reminds me of a Monty Python character from the Holy Grail:
February 16, 2007 4:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, this turncoat will probably bail. He cannot be trusted as he has no convictions.
I predict Minnesota in 08 is going to be the Ohio of 04 and Fl of 00.
The state has been targeted by the GOP as a purple state they want to turn red. It is the only state where a GOP governor won re-election and the GOP national convention is going to be held there.
I hope the state of Humphrey, Wellstone and Mondale does not succumb to the fraudulent vote tactics the GOP is planning. MN is one of the few states were voters can register and vote the same day.
February 16, 2007 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wonder where Sen. Voinovich from Ohio will end up. His re-election isn't until '10 I believe but he may be a sleeper none the less to support cloture.
February 16, 2007 5:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Somehow i doubt that, I mean Amy Klobuchar really hammered the Republican (Kennedy i think his name was) who was by all accounts a conservative Republican.
Coleman is interesting, now that he could be facing Al Franken (who is gonna have a lot of money) he either votes for cloture, which will help him with the electorate, or against it, which will help him with the fundraising. I'm interested in what he's gonna do in this situation. The same goes for Sununu.
I personally think that the cloture motion will fail, I mean is it a given that Lieberman will vote for it? That would mean 11 Republicans would have to jump ship. There are already four, who else? Maybe Specter, Voinovich, Gregg? It's a real shame, not getting anything done on this. Last seesion they hated it but the Republicans are really loving the filibuster this Congress
February 16, 2007 5:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Chuck, Vietnam vet, who said "look in the mirror", where are you?
Tom
February 16, 2007 6:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's all down to counting votes and making quiet back room deals.
Appears to be in the bag: 4
Susan Collins - R-ME
Gordon Smith R-OR
Olympia Snowe - R-ME
John Warner R-VA
Other Possibilities (re-election in 2008): 3
Norm Coleman R-MN
Chuck Hegel R-NE
John Sununu R-NH
Other Wildcards: 4
Sam Brownback R-KS
Lisa Murkowski R-AK
Arlen Specter R-PA
George Voinovich R-OH
February 16, 2007 6:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Brownback is very shaky, he'll be trying to ride under the "Hero of the Right" banner during the primary (discounting of course Tom Tancredo, who is to the right of Attila the Hun and therefore completely unelectable). Being one of only 11 defectors here would seriously hurt that image. So if the other ten and Lieberman vote for cloture then we're home.
February 16, 2007 6:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hagel. The other dude (Hegel) was a philosopher.
Tom
February 16, 2007 7:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the correction.
February 19, 2007 2:56 AM | Reply | Permalink