As readers of this blog know well, I have been calling for a bipartisan coup against this administration since early December 2006 when it became clear that the administration would not heed the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group. What I have in mind is that the Senators most responsible for our foreign policy get together and explain to the administration that their time is up and that they cannot continue the war in Iraq. Either they begin a phased withdrawal or risk conviction in the Senate after articles of impeachment are voted out of the House. I know this seems like a long-shot to people more familiar with the harsh partisanship of recent years. But, it is something that logic dictates. And we are starting to see some movement along these lines.
When John Murtha came out against the war in Iraq it was described as an earthquake in Washington. Murtha had a strong reputation as a military hawk and his defection was seen as highly significant. How much more so is the defection of former chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Senator John Warner (R-VA)?
DANA BASH: Well, today, we are going to hear from a very influential, a senior Republican, making clear that he does not support the president on increasing the troop levels in Iraq. That Republican is the senior senator from Virginia, the former Armed Services Chairman in the Senate, John Warner.
We are told that he is going to introduce a resolution late this afternoon along with at least one other Republican and a conservative Democrat, making clear that he believes that sending more U.S. troops into what he has called increasing sectarian violence is a mistake.
And that is a message, certainly that is not going to sit well with the White House because John Warner, as I said, is a very influential voice when it comes to military matters, especially the Iraq war. Until this fall, he had been whole-heartedly behind the president and the war. He’s somebody who has a lot of sway with his colleagues, Republicans and Democrats here on the Hill.
This is not an earthquake. This is Krakatoa. No Senator has a veto over the president’s foreign policy, but Warner comes as close as you can get. With Warner’s defection there is cover for every Democrat to oppose Bush’s plan.
I watched Senator Jon Kyl speak in the Senate today. He made a fairly reasonable plea to his fellow Senators that they not undermine the escalation by voting for the non-binding resolution. He correctly noted that such a resolution would send a highly discouraging message to our troops and would embolden our enemies. It’s a testament to how completely discredited the administration is that the Senate would even consider undermining the president’s plan. But for John Warner to introduce the resolution is the final straw.
I hope that Warner is prepared to take the next absolutely necessary step, if and when Bush refuses to back down. They cannot remain in office.
Perhaps a version of the backroom deal you’ve speculated on/lobbied for will put Warner in the White House for 12 to 18 months. I’d hate to see him there, but even he has got to be better than what we’ve got now. That is, assuming he’s at least slightly smarter than my pet goat.
CNN was reporting that Warner’s resolution’s language was a lot less critical of Jr. Bush’s policy than Biden & Co. Maybe so, but I think that this is window dressing. How many teeth does it take for such a resolution to be defanged?
When you’ve got 11% of North Carolinians not supporting the escalation–and this from a region that coddled the likes of Jesse Helms–Bush is in BIG trouble.
With Warner’s defection there is cover for every Democrat to oppose Bush’s plan.
Do they need cover at this point? (Other than kiss-ass Joe.)
…and as I’ve said in the past, this Bush guy has isolated himself from the entire world, both at home and abroad.
I love the timing of this also, coming right before the SOTU. I am now rather looking forward to the SOTU to see if lots of dems and some rethugs might actually stay seated for much of bush’s speechifying especially when he talks about Iraq. Maybe bush will even get pissed off and lose his cool right on tv, wouldn’t that be fun.
I’m actually starting to have a tiny bit of hope that somehow bush just might be reined in a bit. My long dead Pollyanna is trying to come out and do a little dance.
Oh Please, Senator Kyl! Stop with the mindless Chickenhawk talking points. This non-binding resolution would have the opposite effect on our troops. It would be a bi-partisan signal that the Congress and The American people love them enough to to get them out of harm’s way and bring then home to their families as soon as possible. There will be cheering in the barracks. It’s time to stop this madness.
to voting between a Democrat who is pro-war or Hagel (who is not running), I will vote for Hagel. Robert Sheer wrote an article to that effect and I agree with him.
Warner may have defected on Iraq but so have 44 “Blue Dog” Democrats who are not willing to call an end to it. If it comes to supporting a BD Democrat or an anti-war Republican, I will support the anti-war candidate.
They are going to throw Cheney and the Shrub under it. The money power that actually rules this country has woken up to the fact that if they don’t do something quick, the name of the game is going to change. Both Bush and Cheney have to go. Warner would be ok to them. None of the present Rethug candidates are acceptable,except possibly Romney. I predict a Bloomberg draft.