Key Democratic Senator wants a, um, secret timetable for Iraq withdrawal; Update: GOP attempt to strip timetable from bill fails — thanks to Hagel
posted at 2:59 pm on March 27, 2007 by Allahpundit
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Remember what I said yesterday about Mark Pryor Day at Hot Air? Yeah, forget it.
The Arkansas Democrat is a key holdout on his party’s proposal to approve $122 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan while setting a goal of March 31, 2008, for winding up military operations in Iraq. Unlike the plan’s Republican opponents, Pryor wants a withdrawal deadline of some kind. He just doesn’t want anyone outside the White House, Congress and the Iraqi government to know what it is…
Pryor said a classified plan would be provided by the president, shepherded by Senate committees and ultimately shared with Congress and Iraqi leaders. He is confident that the plan would remain secret, because Congress is entrusted with secrets “all the time.”
What if the president’s withdrawal plan didn’t include a deadline? Or what if it leaked, through leaders in Iraq, to insurgents? [Or what if insurgents happen to notice there are significantly fewer U.S. troops on the streets? -- ed.]
All worth considering, Pryor said. But in the meantime, “at least you’d have a plan.”
“At least you’d have a plan.” This is the guy who’s going to decide if the bill passes or not.
A note about yesterday’s post. Captain Ed thinks a veto will, in fact, be quicker than a GOP filibuster, which is important given that time is of the essence right now in funding Iraq operations. A tipster e-mailed me this morning, though, to say that the preference for the veto probably has more to do with keeping responsibility for the funding with the Democrats. If the GOP filibusters, Reid and Pelosi will blame Republicans for having stalled the process by which money gets to the troops. If, on the other hand, the bill goes straight to Bush’s desk and is vetoed, the ball is back in the Dems’ court to come up with an alternative.
Ed points out that we’ve got a better than fair shot of killing the Senate bill on a straight up or down vote, which is the quickest and most humiliating (to the left), and therefore probably best, option.
Update: NZ Bear put the whole damned thing online. Note that while page 25 leaves the date of final withdrawal open (with a recommendation of March 31, 2008), it seems to require that withdrawal begin within 120 days of passage.
Update: CNN’s reporting that the GOP amendment that would have eliminated the withdrawal provisions from the Senate bill has failed by two votes. That means it’s likely to pass, although there’s still a chance Pryor is going to balk at the fact that the timetable is non-secret.
I’ll post the roll when it’s up, but I’m 99% sure it’s a straight party line vote.
Update: Surprise — it wasn’t Pryor who cast vote #50. It was Chuck “Fredo” Hagel.
Follow the link and see how ridiculously the AP is hyping a story about a bill that will be dead in days. They’ve even got a breaking news banner up for it.
Update: Here’s the roll. Pryor voted with the GOP; Hagel’s was the deciding vote.
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The GOP has a political strategy- Shocka!
Valiant on March 27, 2007 at 3:02 PM
I still think the plan is to stall the left as much as possible, which makes them give unconditional funds or we hammer away at them for not getting the military the funding they need.
Bad Candy on March 27, 2007 at 3:04 PM
ROTF……yeah…..keep THAT outta the NYT I dare ya.
Limerick on March 27, 2007 at 3:06 PM
Snicker…chortle…
Slublog on March 27, 2007 at 3:08 PM
They want it set retroactively to March 18, 2003.
JammieWearingFool on March 27, 2007 at 3:08 PM
Let’s see….200 in the White House, 600 Congressmen and Senators + at least three on each staff…that is, what…working on 2400…..add the Iraqi’s…another 1000….the Pentagon, CIA, FBI, Homeland Security, DIA, NSA, and key Allies…..lets make it about 75,000 people with the date in their heads…..
Wow…what a easy cap to keep on the bottle.
Limerick on March 27, 2007 at 3:10 PM
I always love when we are discussing “Secret Plans” in the media.
JayHaw Phrenzie on March 27, 2007 at 3:21 PM
Look, I wanna tell you something, but you can’t tell anyone, OK?
KennyB on March 27, 2007 at 3:21 PM
Psssst. “Just don’t tell the Islamofascists, cause it’s a secret” *winks*
JayHaw Phrenzie on March 27, 2007 at 3:22 PM
double secret withdrawal
thebrokenchair on March 27, 2007 at 3:28 PM
Well, that secret lasted all of 15 minutes. Sweet.
lorien1973 on March 27, 2007 at 3:32 PM
Greg MarmalardJohn Murtha: ButDelta’sIraq’s already on probation.Dean Vernon WormerMark Pryor: They are? Well, as of this moment, they’re on DOUBLE SECRET PROBATION!xardoz on March 27, 2007 at 3:32 PM
Yes, page 25 says that, AP, but skip to page 26 (top of page). You can intrepret those 3 “key elements” as anything you want them to be, can’t you? Mar 31st is hardly any sort of deadline after looking at page 26.
lorien1973 on March 27, 2007 at 3:34 PM
I triple dog dare them to try and get around our super double secret probation!
lorien1973 on March 27, 2007 at 3:35 PM
It is a good chance that “secret” is going to end up under a trailer, after being stuck in a sock.
Don’t vote for it unless there is a provision for all Democrats to wear shoes without socks…and they have to destroy all of their freezers.
right2bright on March 27, 2007 at 3:37 PM
I guess we’re all agreed then — the New York Times will have the withdrawl date on the front page, above the fold, before the President signs the bill.
georgej on March 27, 2007 at 3:41 PM
Nope - the NYT will wait until just after the President signs it. That way it can’t be changed or veto’ed - and the democrats aren’t likely to betray their allies (the terrorists) by changing it.
CrazyFool on March 27, 2007 at 3:51 PM
Another key thing is you get senators names on the vote. That can be used against them later
William Amos on March 27, 2007 at 3:55 PM
That strategy sure doesn’t work. If it did why does MA,PA,MI and just about every other northern state keep sending the same doddering old fools to congress. What? Do New Englanders think congress is just a fancy retirement home for washed up lawyers?
LakeRuins on March 27, 2007 at 4:09 PM
sssshhhhhh it’s a secret
- The Cat
MirCat on March 27, 2007 at 4:12 PM
Dunno about the others, but PA is the second oldest state in the union, so that’s part of it. Plus PA politics is the ultimate in clueless good ol boys clubs, feeding at the trough, and people just accept it, grumbling as they hand off more of their money to the gov’t.
Bad Candy on March 27, 2007 at 4:33 PM
Does that mean the NYT, WaPo, USA Today and WSJ all have to keep the secret too? Because they will all know about it as well.
Rick on March 27, 2007 at 4:49 PM
And I thought he was one of the saner Lefties.
To “entrust” Cogress or anyone…I always say “if you don’t want water-cooler discussions to take place, don’t create the opportunity for them”.
Limerick, your math shatters the ’secrecy’ myth in a few seconds.
Entelechy on March 27, 2007 at 4:49 PM
Hey, the whole government kept the Jewish/Bush 9-11 scheme details a secret… This Iraq deadline should be cake!
Let’s just hope no college students are able to access the internet and post grainy non-classified photos or the plan is doomed!!
Lehosh on March 27, 2007 at 4:57 PM
So he can leak it to the NY Times and they can clue the terrorists in.
foxforce91 on March 27, 2007 at 5:10 PM
You’re on. The deadline sounds like something Cut-and-Hagel would vote for.
steveegg on March 27, 2007 at 5:45 PM
Pay up :-) - Fox News says that Cut-and-Hagel voted with the ‘Rats (along with former holdout Ben Nelson), while Mark Pryor went with the Pubbies.
steveegg on March 27, 2007 at 5:48 PM
All I can say is the blackmailing dems must have something on Chucky Hagel. This guy has turned quicker than Scott Hamilton on skates. He should be considered a dem … all offical documentation should reflect his change of party.
darwin on March 27, 2007 at 5:58 PM
The vote is up. 46 of 48 professed Pubbies voted for the amendment (the aforementioned Cut-and-Hagel bolted, Enzi was MIA), along with Joementum. 49 of 50 ‘Rats voted for defeat (with the aforementioned Pryor bolting).
steveegg on March 27, 2007 at 6:04 PM
I just opened my browser which obviously pulls up my home page (Yahoo!) and there is this big weird blue box I’ve never seen (and I always skim the headlines for bias and lies) hyping the story right now.
Yahoo also seems to be openly aiding Obama, featuring his big mug and him asking America to answer his quesiton “”How can we engage more people in the democratic process?”" (It even says “answer a question from Barack Obama”). Is it me, or is this something that should be on his campaign page, not featured atop Yahoo!’s home page?
RightWinged on March 27, 2007 at 6:15 PM
Check last; Gordo Smith also voted for retreat-and-defeat (again).
steveegg on March 27, 2007 at 6:17 PM
If there was ever any doubt, UpChuck Hagel has beyond ANY doubt lost my vote in ‘08.
Even our “conservative” Democrat, Ben Nelson voted against this.
*VERY ANGRY*
Yakko77 on March 27, 2007 at 6:29 PM
Gordon Smith is a republican from Oregon, that’s a special type of republican my friend
btw how long until we can get Hagel, Spectacle and Lindsay Graham out of the damned senate?
Defector01 on March 27, 2007 at 6:30 PM
It depends on two things:
- Whether the state parties in Nebraska and South Carolina are any different than the ones in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, which both mirror the national GOP’s unqualified support of liberal RepubicRATs.
- If not, and you don’t feel like having a full-fledged ‘Rat take those seats, hope for a forced retirement.
steveegg on March 27, 2007 at 6:37 PM
Hagel. [ptui!]
Hagel is the new Chafee. What an honor for him.
aero on March 27, 2007 at 6:41 PM
I heard a reporter on MSNBC with Chris Matthews call Hagel, arguably one of the worst political opportunists in Congress, a “maverick.”
Bwahahahaha! Bwahahahahahaha! Bwahahahahahaha!
tommy1 on March 27, 2007 at 6:43 PM
So … why is Hagel still a Republican? Can’t the party just kick him out? Withdraw support, etc. And is his reaction typical of Nebraska Republicans?
crosspatch on March 27, 2007 at 6:43 PM
I’d like to see Bush fly to Iraq, spending bill in hand, and preform a “non-binding” line-item veto of the timetable reference right in front of the troops. What will Congress say when the troops cheer him on?
shuzilla on March 27, 2007 at 6:43 PM
They are killing our young men and women…the unkindest cut of all.
tomas on March 27, 2007 at 6:46 PM
Hey, let’s offer the Dems a swap: Hagel for Lieberman!
Yeah, I know they’re both liberals, but at least Lieberman has some honor.
aero on March 27, 2007 at 6:49 PM
/sigh…
These guys really just don’t get it….
Romeo13 on March 27, 2007 at 7:09 PM
Fredo? Well, he’s got a good heart but he’s weak, and he’s stupid. And this is life and death
TheBigOldDog on March 27, 2007 at 7:23 PM
Hagel needs to go ahead and switch parties. This weekend he was talking about impeaching Bush and now this.
And on a related note I ain’t all that confident Bush will veto.
Look if the military needs money that bad they can have my retirement pay back but why did they have to stab our troops in the back. This for me is a bridge too far.
Honest hard working Americans need to vote all of these AARP gold club members out of office at the first oppurtunity and let then find another rest home besides our congress.
LakeRuins on March 27, 2007 at 7:27 PM
Pelosi is trying to pull every trick out of the book…after all..CODEPINK is stalking her at her home and office. Hehe.
Highrise on March 27, 2007 at 7:27 PM
Hagel is the mosty disgusting moron in the free world. Why in the world the GOP continues to support and fund this idiot is a mystery.
rplat on March 27, 2007 at 7:43 PM
Hell in a hand basket folks. Hell in a hand basket.
Limerick on March 27, 2007 at 8:05 PM
Honestly, Hagel - get bent, you contemptible swine.
Enrique on March 27, 2007 at 8:07 PM
Defector, we can’t get rid of Specter for two reasons. First NY and NJ people are moving to PA, but because they’re left wing morons, can’t figure out that the reason that NY and NJ are expensive hellholes are because of their leftist policies, so they come here and vote for the same policies which’ll screw sh*t up here too. Plus PA politics is a big good ol boy club, and the local GOP are blueblood RINOs, they aren’t ideologically or results driven, they’re looking to chow at the trough of the public purse.
Bad Candy on March 27, 2007 at 8:15 PM
Agreed Enrique, get bent Hagel.
Bad Candy on March 27, 2007 at 8:16 PM
Oh yeah! Great idea!
CrimsonFisted on March 27, 2007 at 8:28 PM
Nicest thing about Hagel I can say, is that he had a great chance of winning the nomination for President… just not the Republican one.
E L Frederick (Sniper One) on March 27, 2007 at 8:51 PM
McCain/Hagel 2008!
Maverickmania!
Slublog on March 27, 2007 at 9:12 PM
Nebraska Republicans are more conservative than your average Republicans, just like the average Nebraskan is more conservative than your average American. But if they re-elect Hagel I’ve got to start questioning their sanity.
RW Wacko on March 27, 2007 at 10:06 PM
Looks like Pryor came to his senses and Hagel is himself.
Enrique, watch that glass, kid.
All other, don’t fall for Enriques entertainment, especially later in the afternoon, or early evening, cute as he is.
Entelechy on March 27, 2007 at 10:14 PM
Chuck Schmekel strikes again.
Misha I on March 27, 2007 at 10:37 PM
A secret, by Jews, is something you only tell one person at a time. A famous saying that the yidden over at NYT would do well to learn. Until that day, the idea of secrets that Congress knows is laughable.
smellthecoffee on March 27, 2007 at 11:09 PM
Pryor’s plan kinda sounds like Blazing Saddles. Build a fake town so the bad guys don’t shoot up and ruin the real town.
When the defeatocrats ramble on about redeploying, I didn’t know it meant replacing our troops there with cardboard cut-outs.
91Veteran on March 28, 2007 at 2:27 AM
Everyone please contact Senator Nelson and Senator Hagel and tell them what you think of their ridiculous vote.
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?State=NE
angryamerican on March 28, 2007 at 6:24 AM
Am I wrong or didn’t they both vote against a nearly identical bill two weeks ago? What the hell has changed so much in the last two weeks?
Dudley Smith on March 28, 2007 at 8:01 AM
This link needs to be sent to every member of congress regardless of how they voted on the cut and run bill. It is the voices of the constituents most affected by their action or inaction.
Troop reactions to cut and run vote.
LakeRuins on March 28, 2007 at 4:32 PM
Don’t just get mad. Hagel is up for re-election in 2008. Come 2008 primary time, get even: it will be time for Hagel to be replaced by a real Republican. And while most of us no doubt can’t vote in Nebraska’s Republican primary, we can contribute money to the challenger.
Phil Byler on March 28, 2007 at 6:43 PM
The amount of money that Dingy Harry and Nancypants have bribed other defeatocrats with.
None of these damn fools had better never complain about not enough body armor or other equipment for the military again after this travesty passes.
91Veteran on March 28, 2007 at 10:27 PM