Tuesday, July 06, 2010

"House Dems Stand Firm on Afghanistan Withdrawal Timetable"

Tom Hayden (The Nation):
One hundred sixty-two House members, including a large majority of Democrats, sent a significant antiwar message to President Obama last night July 1), forcing the White House to depend for Afghanistan war support on the Republicans who want to unseat the Democrats and Obama himself in upcoming elections.

Despite claims by punditry that the antiwar movement has disappeared, stalwart Representative Barbara Lee gained 100 votes for her amendment rejecting $33 billion for 30,000 new troops already being sent to Afghanistan. Seven of her votes were Republicans. The measure would have redirected the $33 billion to expenses incurred in redeploying the troops out of Afghanistan.

More significant numerically, there were 162 votes cast for Representative Jim McGovern’s amendment, co-authored by representatives David Obey and Walter Jones, which articulated a game plan for ending the war. MORE...
Howie P.S.: More in depth analysis from Sahil Kapur in The Washington Independent: "As Afghan War Drags On, Some Democrats Threaten Revolt." Atrios chimes in this morning:
Important people in the White House waste valuable time giving a shit what David Brooks thinks.
Here's this morning's final (I promise) Beltway blather, from the wise Greg Sargent:
"Why GOP obstruction will benefit Republicans."

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