Hagel joins anti-surge movement in Senate
From the Times (via The Left Coaster):
Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, an outspoken Republican critic of the administration’s Iraq policy, will join two leading Democrats in introducing a resolution opposing President Bush’s buildup of troops in Iraq, putting a bipartisan stamp on the looming Congressional showdown over the war.
This is big. Though a renegade who has already abandoned Bush and most of his party on Iraq, Hagel was careful to stress that the resolution is not meant to “bash the president,” but other Republican senators could follow Hagel’s lead — if not to support Democratic efforts, at least to seek “alternatives” to the surge, as John Kyl put it.
The spin has been predictable: “White House officials have dismissed Mr. Hagel as an established critic of the war who is now seeking to stake out antiwar ground in the nascent Republican primary fight for president.” But the White House, surprised by the extent of opposition to “the new way forward” (if still intent on pursuing the new strategy regardless of the lack of popular and political support), is clearly worried that “any substantial Republican support for the resolution would be a symbolic blow”.
And Hagel isn’t alone: “Members of both parties in the Senate have said as many as a dozen Republicans may ultimately support a resolution against the president’s policy.” Assuming that Joe Lieberman is the only Democrat who would side against the resolution, that would be a vote in opposition to Bush’s “new way forward” of 62 to 38. A decisive vote. The Democrats should go ahead with the resolution regardless of the extent of Republican support, but no matter how this turns out it is clear that there is widespread bipartisan opposition to Bush’s conduct of the war.
And that says something. Even if Bush goes ahead with the planned surge, a message has been sent.
9 Responses to “Hagel joins anti-surge movement in Senate”
Bush is going to do it anyway, the congress should be concentrating on an attempt to stop the next insane march to Armegeddon by the Bush/Cheney cabal, the attack on Iran.
Lieberman isn’t a democrat. Though he caucuses with them.
Chuck Hagel, terrorist.
It will have exactly zero bearing on The Deciders decision no matter what the vote.
I hope Hagel runs for President. He has the most sense when it comes to Iraq.
The great thing about Hagel is that he remembers what went wrong in Vietnam, and doesn’t give a dam* about the political fallout from breaking with Bush. He should run because he is the real thing, unlike McCain or Kerry.
[...] The joint statement also warned countries against interfering in Iraq. The Bush administration has accused Syria and Iran of fostering violence in Iraq and contributing to instability. The statement expressed a “collective desire to prevent Iraq from becoming a battleground for regional and international powers.â€? Patrick Healy / New York Times:  Senator Clinton Calls Bush Plan ‘a Losing Strategy’ Kevin Drum / Political Animal:  OPPOSING THE SURGE….It appears that at least some Democrats … Big Tent Democrat / TalkLeft:  Iraq Troop Caps: Good Policy? Politics? Law? Maha / The Mahablog:  After the Surge — Yesterday Baghdad suffered its worst … Von / Obsidian Wings:  Not Ready For Primetime Reliapundit / THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS:  TODAY’S CUT & RUN REDS WOULD’VE LOST WW2 Pamela Leavey / The Democratic Daily:  Iraq Debate Heats Up in the Senate Ron / Middle Earth Journal:  So You Want Bi-partisan The Gun Toting Liberal / Gun Toting Liberal â„¢:  Democrats select Senator James Webb to rebut President Bush’s State … memeorandum DownWithTyranny!:  SYMBOLISM TRIUMPHANT? — Polls are starting to show … Think Progress:  ThinkFast: January 17, 2007 — The Bush administration last night … Joe / AMERICAblog:  Bush worried about messages, not the war Steve Soto / The Left Coaster:  Hagel Comes Aboard The Democratic Resolution Opposing The Surge Booman Tribune:  What is Congress Up To? — Things are beginning to stir in Congress. Matt Ortega / SOTUblog:  Saudis May Move Forces into Iraq; Hagel to Join Democrats on Anti-Escalation Bill Michael Stickings / The Moderate Voice:  Hagel joins anti-surge movement in Senate Kathryn Jean Lopez / The Corner:  Hillary Today — Having just Greg Tinti / The Political Pit Bull:  Hillary’s Plan: “Phased Redeployment” and Benchmarks Needed in Iraq Bookmark to: Tags: Iraq, , Iran, , Syria, , Gulf, States, War, Democrats [...]
According to HuffPo, Republican Olympia Snowe has joined Hagel.
I think Bush’s support will continue to crumble. Those who are now coming out against the new way forward are also those who have made recent trips to the region. He’s in a lot of trouble with this.