Friday, November 18, 2005

A Vote.

Rep. Murtha's comments on sending the white flag up in Iraq has provoked an all out House vote on the issue.

Okay then time to resist cliches! There are countless one almost wants to spout as a matter of reaction, they come out before you can stop them.

Anyway
WASHINGTON (AP) - House Republicans, sensing an opportunity for political advantage, maneuvered for a quick vote and swift rejection Friday of a Democratic lawmaker's call for an immediate troop withdrawal from Iraq.

"We want to make sure that we support our troops that are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill. "We will not retreat."

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi had no immediate reaction to the planned vote.

The GOP leadership decided to act little more than 24 hours after Rep. Jack Murtha, a hawkish Democrat with close ties to the military, said the time had come to pull out the troops. By forcing the issue to a vote, Republicans placed many Democrats in a politically unappealing position - whether to side with Murtha and expose themselves to attacks from the White House and congressional Republicans, or whether to oppose him and risk angering the voters that polls show want an end to the conflict.

Murtha's resolution would force the president to withdrawal the nearly 160,000 troops in Iraq "at the earliest predictable date."

Most Republicans oppose Murtha's plan, and even some Democrats have been reluctant to back his position. Republicans were seeking to force Democrats to stand with the respected 30-year congressman or go on the record against his proposal.
Source: MyWay News - House GOP Seeks Quick Vote on Iraq Pullout
Very cute and clever. Time to commit and go on record.

BTW what is with this hawk adjective being applied to Rep. Murtha? He is no more hawkish than John F. Kerry.
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