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Washington Post: Senators Unite On Challenge to Bush’s Troop Plan

Revised Warner Language That Protects Funds Is Embraced for Bipartisan Appeal

Democratic and Republican opponents of President Bush’s troop-buildup plan joined forces last night behind the nonbinding resolution with the broadest bipartisan backing: a Republican measure from Sen. John W. Warner of Virginia.

Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) announced the shift, hoping to unite a large majority of the Senate and thwart efforts by the White House and GOP leaders to derail any congressional resolution of disapproval of Bush’s decision to increase U.S. troop levels in Iraq by 21,500.

Although the original Democratic language was popular within the party, it had little appeal among Republicans. Warner’s proposal drew support from both sides, and it was retooled last night to maximize both Democratic and Republican votes.

The revised resolution would express the Senate’s opposition to the troop increase but would vow to protect funding for the troops. The resolution does not include the Democratic language saying the Bush plan is against the national interest, but it also drops an earlier provision by Warner suggesting Senate support for some additional troops.

“It’s been a hard work in progress,” Warner said of the revised resolution, which will require the support of at least 60 senators to prevent a filibuster.

Senator Warner is a work alright.

This resolution should be FILIBUSTERED by the GOP.

So, the GOP Senators think this will provide them cover when they run for re-election? Perhaps it does. But, it sells out the Iraq War effort and emboldens our enemies.

The GOP Senators are trading their electoral prospects for the nation’s and our troop’s security.

Why not allow General Petraeus work the strategy?

Captain Ed says that the GOP Members of Congress are pissed at the Bush Administration for losing their majority and are looking for payback.

The answer may lie with the Bush administration’s handling of the issue in the midterm elections. The GOP lost control of both houses in what everyone now concedes was a referendum on the war. The next day, Bush dumped Donald Rumsfeld in favor of Robert Gates, and it came out that Bush had planned the move since the summer but wouldn’t pull the trigger until after the elections.

This infuriated Republicans in Congress, who believe that the decision cost them their majorities, especially in the Senate. The White House maneuvering forced GOP candidates to either defend Rumsfeld or attempt to shrug off questions about his management of the war. Had Bush replaced Rumsfeld in August or even September and made the changes that followed prior to the election, they could have saved one or two seats in the upper chamber, or so some analysts believe.

As a result, it’s easy to speculate that Republicans in both chambers (and those who did not return) might feel a bit betrayed and not inclined to support the administration with as much enthusiasm as before. Their decision to mind their own political fortunes and let the Bush administration twist in the wind would be understandable, but it would still be a mistake. That kind of short-term payback has long-term implications, and while this is speculation, those implications for defeat and an Iraqi collapse are absolutely real.

Hugh Hewitt says the GOP is Forfeiting The Legacy of Reagan

Since 1980 the Republican Party has been the party of national defense and seriousness in foreign policy. It has been the party that believed in freedom and in the defense of our allies and the refusal to accommodate evil because of convenience. The Soviet Union is no more because of these commitments, and no attack has reached American soil since 9/11 because of these beliefs backed by action and the sacrifices of the American military.

By this time next week that legacy may have been abandoned. It will not have been abandoned if the Democrats in either the Senate or the House simply use their numbers and the votes of a handful of foolish Republicans pass defeatist resolutions. It will be abandoned if the Hill GOP desert the idea of resolute prosecution of the war and ultimately victory.

My Townhall.com column, “A Political Gettysburg –Without A Joshua Chamberlain,” details the situation, as does Dean’s post below.

So, what next?

Contact the Senators to FILIBUSTER this amended Warmer-Levin resolution and contact the House GOP Leadership and express your displeasure with voting for any resolution should it pass the Senate.

Tell them all that YOU expect them to vote the nation’s interest over their own parochial political interests.

Tell them that you support the pledge.

The Contact List:

The GOP leadership n the House:

Congressman John Boehner: (202) 225-6205 Fax (202) 225-0704. E-mail here

Congressman Roy Blunt: (202)-225-6536 Fax (202)-225-5604 E-mail here.

Congressman Eric Cantor: (202)-225-2815 Fax (202)-225-0011. (No e-mail available.)

The leadership and key GOP members n the Senate:

Senator Mitch McConnell: 202-224-2541 Fax: 202-224-2499. E-mail here.

Senator Trent Lott: Phone: 202-224-6253 Fax: (202)-224-2262 E-mail here.

Senator Jon Kyl: Phone: (202) 224-4521 Fax: (202) 224-2207 E-mail here.

Senator John Ensign: (202)-224-6244 Fax: 202-228-2193. E-mail here.

Senator John McCain: Phone: (202)-224-2235 Fax (202)-228-2862. E-mail here.

Senator John Warner: Phone: (202) 224-2023 Fax: (202) 224-6295. E-mail here.

Senator John Cornyn: Phone:202-224-2934 Fax: 202-228-2856. E-mail here.

Senator Pat Roberts: Phone (202) 224-4774 E-mail here.

Senator Gordon Smith: Phone: 202-224-3753 Fax: 202-228-3997. E-mail here.

Senator Norm Coleman: Phone: 202-224-5641 Fax: 202-224-1152.E-mail here

The resolution will come up for debate next week.

Make your calls today!

Previous:

Iraq War Senate Resolution Watch: Take the Pledge Part VII

Iraq War Senate Resolution Watch: Take the Pledge Part VI

Iraq War Senate Resolution Watch: GOP Senators Debate 5 Different Iraq War Resolutions

Iraq War Senate Resolution Watch: Take the Pledge Part V

Iraq War Senate Resolution Watch: Take the Pledge Part IV

John McCain Watch: DNC Criticizes McCain Contradictions on Iraq War

Iraq War Senate Resolution Watch: Take the Pledge Part III

Iraq War Senate Resolution Watch: Take the Pledge Part II

Iraq War Senate Resolution Watch: Take the Pledge

The Michael Ramirez files

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Technorati Tags: MichaelRamirez, IraqWar, JohnWarner, MitchMcConnell

New West Notes: Not A Dream

THE EARLY CALIFORNIA PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY came another big step closer to reality yesterday when the state Senate Rules Committee, as expected, voted 4-0 to fast track the bill by Senator Ron Calderon. Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez expressed great confidence about the bill’s prospects in a conversation at the beginning of the week.

The move by the Rules Committee removes the requirement that a bill be in print for 30 days before being heard in committee. Senate leader Don Perata is for the bill, of course, as are Republican leaders in both houses.

The date in question is the first Tuesday in February 2008, February 5th. The first four contests in the Democratic presidential race are Iowa on January 14th, Nevada on January 19th, New Hampshire on January 22nd, and South Carolina on January 29th. The opening contests on the Republican side are New Hampshire and South Carolina, though there is discussion about moving Nevada up.

So California is poised to be the fifth contest for the Democrats and third for the Republicans.

Read it all…..

So, no wonder Mayor Rudy Giuliani has been in California the past two days and returns February 10 to speak to the California Republican Party Convention.

An anonymous source has told Flap that Mayor Giuliani will FORMALLY ANNOUNCE his candidacy for the Presidency at the February 10 event.

After the convention Hizzoner will be having a fundraising event in Fresno, California, February 12th.

Former New York City mayor and likely Republican presidential candidate Rudolph Giuliani will come to Fresno on Feb. 12 for an evening fundraiser. Giuliani’s visit comes two days after he is scheduled to deliver a lunchtime speech to the state Republican convention in Sacramento.

Heading the Fresno event — at a site still to be determined — is former state Sen. Chuck Poochigian, R-Fresno, and his wife, Debbie, a longtime party activist who played a key local role in both the 2000 and 2004 Bush presidential campaigns.

California may be a Democratic Party-leaning “blue state,” but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have plenty of deep-pocketed Republican Party donors.

The presidential race has a battle front stretching across the nation, and these wealthy Republicans know their money could help lift their chosen candidate to a primary election victory in Iowa or New Hampshire — and, possibly, on to the White House.

The Mayor has a fundraising event scheduled in Orange County, California on February 15.

Previous:

The Rudy Giuliani Files

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Technorati Tags: RudyGiuliani

Angus Reid Global Monitor: Giuliani Would Defeat Hillary in New Jersey

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani is the favourite Republican United States presidential contender for voters in the Garden State, according to a poll by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. 48 per cent of respondents in New Jersey would vote for Giuliani in a head-to-head contest against Democratic New York senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

In other match-ups, Rodham Clinton holds a one-point edge over Arizona senator John McCain, and a 24-point advantage over former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. McCain leads former North Carolina senator John Edwards by six points, and Illinois senator Barack Obama by three points.

In 2004, Democratic nominee John Kerry carried New Jersey’s 15 electoral votes, with 53 per cent of the vote. No Republican has won the Garden State since George H. Bush in 1988.

The Mayor continues his lead in head to head match-ups against Hillary Clinton. He fares better than any other GOP candidate against the presumed Democrat nominee.

Polling Data

If the 2008 election for President were being held today, and the candidates were (the Democrat) and (the Republican), for whom would you vote?

Rudy Giuliani (R) 48% – 41% Hillary Rodham Clinton (R)
John McCain (R) 43% – 44% Hillary Rodham Clinton (R)
Mitt Romney (R) 29% – 53% Hillary Rodham Clinton (R)
John McCain (R) 45% – 39% John Edwards (R)
John McCain (R) 42% – 39% Barack Obama (R)

Source: Quinnipiac University Polling Institute
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 1,310 registered Ohio voters, conducted from Jan. 16 to Jan. 22, 2006. Margin of error is 2.7 per cent.

In New Jersey, Team Giuliani has captured dozens of GOP mayors and lawmakers.

Some 270 of New Jersey’s best-known Republicans declared their allegiance yesterday to former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani in his presidential bid.

The list distributed by Giuliani’s exploratory committee includes 21 state lawmakers and 43 mayors. Also on board: former congressman Bob Franks, former party co-chairman and investment banker Candace Straight, and former New York Mets and Yankees southpaw Al Leiter.

State Sen. Tom Kean Jr. will serve as honorary state chairman. Kean said Giuliani had been “tremendously” helpful in his recent U.S. Senate race. Just as important, Kean said, “during uncertain times, Rudy Giuliani has proven to be a unifying force who leads with decisive action.”

Giuliani appears to be the GOP front-runner in New Jersey. A recent Quinnipiac Poll showed not only was he the early party favorite — 39 percent of Republicans voters named him as their top choice — but he was the favorite in a head-to-head race with the Democratic front-runner, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, 48 percent to 41 percent.

Stay tuned for a post on the national Gallup Poll that is Just out…….

Previous:

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy a STAR in California

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Giuliani LEADS in Latest Rasmussen GOP Poll

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Latest New Hampshire Survey USA Poll

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Los Angeles Times Hits Rudy’s “Prickly Style”

Giuliani Notes: Dollars for Rudy

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Who Has the Vision and Who Can Perform?

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Scouting New Hampshire at Littleton Chamber of Commerce

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Bush Iraq Plan Should Be Given A Chance

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Paul Cellucci, Former Massachusetts Governor Endorses Giuliani

Rudy Giuliani Watch:Giuliani 30% Leads McCain 22% and Romney 10%

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Latest Time Magazine Poll Has McCain Leading Giuliani by 4 Points

Rudy Giuliani Watch: What Does a Mayor Know About Iraq?

The Rudy Giuliani Files

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In Flap’s January President 2008 Presidential Poll, Mitt Romney has won with 47.97 % of the votes.

The poll ran from January 12, 2008 through January 31.

Totals were:

Candidate	Votes	Percentage of total
Mitt Romney	450	47.97
Rudy Giuliani	446	47.55
John McCain	42	4.48

Analysis:

Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani are closely vying for internet poll voters. John McCain supporters generally lag.

This supports Flap’s contention that going into primary season next January, Romney and Giuliani will be the two front runners. McCain is fading in the polls and internet presence – at least here – is poor.

Stay tuned for the next poll…….

Previous:

President 2008 Watch: GOP Bloggers and Flap’s Poll January 2007

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Technorati Tags: RudyGiuliani, JohnMcCain, MittRomney, President2008

Day By Day by Chris Muir

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Technorati Tags: DayByDay, ChrisMuir