EckerNet.Com

Hattip to Brian Maloney (guest blogging for Michelle Malkin) for point this one out. The House is voting for an immediate withdrawl of troops.

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.

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.

I’ve heard it said that to win big you have to bet big, but damn. This move took balls. It’s sink or swim time, I hope they know what they are doing. I would presume they have already ensure that this vote will come out rejecting an immediate withdrawl.

Can I repeat my reaction?? Damn..

Watching it all unfold on CSPAN right now. Democrats seems very hesitant and taken back by all this. As a result, they are pretty united in putting this off for as long as possible. Probably to give them time and count their cards.

Chaos pretty much sums up the activity in the House right now.

UPDATE: They are now voting on whether this resolution can be brought to a vote on the same day it is introduced.

UPDATE: Procedural vote allowing resolution to be voted on today has passed. Pretty much exclusively on party likes. Six RINOs did side with the Democrats. Debate is up next. Until then they get to whine and bitch about other stuff until the rules for debate are agreed upon.

UPDATE: Debate has resumed after a House recess.

UPDATE: It is rather amusing to listen to Rep McGovern claiming that Republicans don’t want to answer the tough question while they delay having to state their vote on what should be an easy question.

Also amusing is listening to Rep Obey demanding more debate on this issue, when it is clear he already has clear opinions on the matter and needs no debate to make up his mind.

Heh, Dennis Kucinich has something to say…

…

…LOL, wow, I love listening to him talk. I could almost see the spittle flying. LOL

UPDATE: Rep. Louie Gohmert just mentioned San Fran’s ban on recruiters and how it was supporting our troops. Democrats gave alot of boos on that.

They were even worse when Rep Gingrey made reference to Islamofacist terrorists. They got real defense on that. Wonder why? hehehe

UPDATE: Holy crap, Rep Kingston (Republican) has placards ready for his speech!!

UPDATE: Pelosi claims Republicans have called Murtha a coward and that he’s cooperating with th enemy. Um, I don’t think a single person Republican or otherwise has done that you lying bitch.

UPDATE: Ok each side it dragging up member after member to use up their 1 hour worth of debate time. I’ll save you the trouble and summarize each sides speeches

Democrats : Bush lied. He’s still lying to us. We’re pissed. The troops deserve more than this tiny debate. Stop questioning Murtha’s patriotism. You’re all bastards and evil. We’re failing in Iraq and our troops are paying the price…..because Bush lied ya know, I’m not sure I mentioned that. Murtha is a hero, stop Swift Boating him. Oh and I’m gonna vote against this because….well I won’t really explain a reason, I’m just gonna say Bush lied again and you’ll have to be happy with that.

Republicans : I’m voting no because calling for an immediate withdrawl is wrong. Our troops deserve our support. Murtha is a patriot but he’s wrong in this case. Nobody lied about this war, you all said the same thing we did. We are not failing in Iraq or Afghanistan. We are making progress. And our enemies are using the words of the Democrats against our troops and it is damaging their morale.

UPDATE: Ok the vote for general debate passed. Now they are debating….again.

Statements are the same.

Republicans : We can’t pull out until Iraq is ready. They aren’t ready yet. They are making progress though.

Democrats : This is a cheap poliical trick, we hate you. We need more time to debate.

UPDATE: Murtha been speaking for awhile now. It’s been almost entirely a repeat of his original press conference that started this all to begin with.

UPDATE: Basically there is a revolt in the house at this point. Rep Steve Buyer ended his speech by saying “…I respect Mr Murtha but this is the wrong time for your resolution Sir”. There was great uproar. Rep Lantos has a parlimentary point of order pointing out that it is Hunter’s resolution not Murtha’s resolution up for debate. The Speaker responded by stating “That’s a matter up for debate”. At that point the House erupted in chaos. Point goes to the Republicans there.

Wow…when did the Republicans grow spines???

UPDATE: Rep Davis is comparing the reactions of the Democrats to the the treatment Congress gave the troops during Vietnam. Many boos from the Democrats. Davis strikes back. Another point to the Republicans.

UPDATE: Voice vote passed. But then Republicans called for a written vote. For obvious reasons they want this all in writing. Number so far indicate it will definitely not pass.

UPDATE: Resolution was overwhelmingly voted down. Although 3 Democrats did vote in favor of immediate withdrawl of US troops from Iraq.