Party Line Vote Kills Iraq War Resolution

Momentum from Friday's House vote against the President's 21,000 troop surge did not carry over to the Senate in a rare Saturday vote. With a vote of 56-34, the Democrats failed to get the 60 vote majority needed to go forward with a non-binding resolution opposing the plan.

The Democrats had hoped that the momentum of the House vote would have persuaded more moderate Republicans to swing their vote to their cause. Republicans who supported the measure were Sens. John Warner (Va.), Arlen Specter (Pa.), Susan Collins (Maine), Chuck Hagel (Neb.), Gordon Smith (Ore.), Olympia Snowe (Maine) and Norm Coleman (Minn.).

Presidential hopefuls Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama voted along party lines. Senator Joe Lieberman , an independent who caucuses with the Democrats voted against the cloture

Reaction to the measure and resolution are largely more of the same political finger pointing. The Republicans accused the Democrat majority of political grandstanding, partisanship, and violating minority rights in the Senate.

"The Senate is the greatest deliberative body in the world, but it's becoming clear that differing views and amendments will not be considered," said Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.). "The Democrats' hypocrisy is becoming a pattern that ignores their promises of bipartisanship." Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said the day marked a "low-point" in his career and that the Democrats were playing "stupid political games".

The Democrats denied these accusations. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the vote was about Senators standing up and declaring where they stand on Iraq. The Democrats countered that the Republicans were trying to block debate on the issue. Winning the cloture would have allowed for debate before the final resolution was voted on.

"Republicans in the Senate have not prevented any debate over the war in Iraq," said Sen. Jim Bunning (R.-Ky.), "What we have prevented is the majority leader dictating to the minority exactly which resolutions we will vote on."

Sen. Charles Schumer made clear the fight the Democrats have chosen saying that Democrats would "be relentless" in trying to politically end the war in Iraq.

"There will be resolution after resolution, amendment after amendment, all forcing this body to do what is has not done for three years: discuss and debate Iraq. Just like in the days of Vietnam, the pressure will mount [...] and the vast majority of our troops will have to be taken out of harm's way.", Mr. Schumer said.

My overall impression is that this is typical political maneuvering that we have come to expect from both the majority and minority, regardless of who welds the power.

Sources: CNN News and The Associated Press