HOUSE PASSES ANOTHER BILL TO SOLVE THE IRAQ SITUATION DESTINED TO BE OBSTRUCTED TO DEATH BY MITCH McCONNELL, LIEBERMAN AND THE GOP

You remember the Webb Amendment that Lieberman and the Republican obstructionists were able to use their obstructionist tactics to kill a couple weeks ago? It was the one that promises our troops sufficient rest before sending them into battle. It passed in the House today, 229-194. The good news is that Speaker Pelosi was able to rally the whole Democratic caucus behind this. Aside from the two most die-hard, treacherous Cheney-supporters-- Jim Marshall (D-GA) and the odious Chris Carney (D-PA)-- both of whom always vote with the GOP on all substantive matters, the only Democrat who voted with the Republican minority was Brian Baird (D-WA).

The bad news is that the steady chipping away at Republican resolve to obstruct progress of ending the occupation of Iraq has gone backwards. The only Republican to join with the Democrats today was Walter Jones (R-NC). All the fake moderates and WINOs, the Republicans claiming to have "independent voices," stuck with the Cheney coalition. So if someone tells you their Republican is a moderate and an independent and really does want to solve the Iraq situation, let me give you a list of the ones who have whined about it but are still in rubber stamp mode in lockstep with the Bush Regime:

Juddith Biggert (IL)
Brian Bilbray (CA)
Mary Bono (CA)
Shelley Moore Capito (WV)
Mike Castle (DE)
Phil English (PA)
Mike Ferguson (NJ)
Vito Fossella (NY)
Jim Gerlach (PA)
Wayne Gilchrest (MD)
Randy Kuhl (NY)
Ray LaHood (IL)
Frank LoBiondo (NJ)
Ron Paul (TX)
Deborah Pryce (OH)
David Reichert (WA)
Chris Shays (CT)
Jim Walsh (NY)
Heather Wilson (NM)

No, they're no moderates; they're not "independent voices." They are radical right rubber stamp Republicans. If you want more Bush and more Cheney, these are definitely the men and women to vote for in '08-- along with Jim Marshall and Chris Carney of course. They just could not see their way clear to vote for a bill that mandates troop rest times equal to their deployment times that would require active duty forces to be guaranteed that their time at home match the length of their deployment. (Keep in mind that the bill would allow the President to waive these requirements to meet the national security needs of the country, and allow Service Chiefs of Staff to allow for the voluntary mobilization of members. In today's L.A. Times Matthew Yglesias explains why the DC elites think none of this is any of our beeswax; it should just be left to them.

Blue America congressmember Carol Shea-Porter explained what it means too support our troops and to support military families, something the Republicans talk about but never do. "As a former military spouse and a proud wife of a veteran, I know how important this is to military families. The President’s policies have failed on many levels, but they certainly have failed on the soldiers, the troops who are suffering this great strain right now. I find it ironic that the Iraqi parliament is on vacation for a month while we stand here and tell our troops that they cannot have a break…” Another Blue America incumbent, Joe Sestak kept the argument going: “We found out in World War II that on average a man in that combat did 182 days of combat. Horrific combat, but 182 days on average. In this war, in those 15 months, our men and women are overseas in Iraq, every day of those 15 months, those men and women go outside the wire into combat. This is a different war. I am taken first and foremost by the reports that more are coming home with post traumatic syndrome. I am second taken with our Constitutional responsibility to make rules for the government and regulation of our armed services. And then third, I am taken by the waiver, the national security waiver that is placed within this bill…”

The bill will face Republican obstruction in the Senate and, if it passes there, a veto by Bush.


UPDATE: HOW MANY RUBBER STAMP REPUBLICANS REALLY DID ABANDON BUSH TODAY?

According to the Washington Post's count, it was only Walter Jones. According to the House Clerk's count it was 6: Walter Jones, Ron Paul, Chris Shays, Wayne Gilcrest, Mike Castle and Jim Walsh. Play it safe: vote for no Republicans for any offices ever.


UPDATE; I RE-ITERATE, DON'T VOTE FOR ANY REPUBLICANS OR REACTIONARY DEMOCRATS EVER

There were actually 3 roll calls on this bill today, 794, 795 and 796. 794 at 11:53 AM was on agreeing to the resolution and that was the one where only Walter Jones joined the Democrats. 795 was a Republican obstructionist tactic to recommit (kill) the bill at 1:44 PM and all but 3 Republicans, Wayne Gilchrest, Walter Jones and Ron Paul, voted for that. (There were a dozen treacherous Dems for that too-- all the regular Cheney supporters: Altmire, Carney, Mahoney, Space, Lampson, Barrow, Marshall, Matheson...) Then at 1:53 PM they voted on 796 and there were 6 Republicans joining all but four Democrats to vote for it. The 4th Democrat was Louisiana reactionary Charlie Melancon.