Cowardly Senators

Today the senate failed to pass a resolution that would limit Iraq funding:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Senate on Wednesday rejected legislation that would cut off money for combat operations in Iraq after March 31, 2008.

The vote was a loss for Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wisconsin, and other Democrats who want to end the war. But the effort picked up support from members, including presidential hopefuls previously reluctant to limit war funding -- an indication of the conflict's unpopularity among voters.

The proposal lost 29-67 on a procedural vote, falling 31 votes short of the necessary votes to advance. Of the 67 senators who opposed Feingold's proposal, there were 19 Democrats, 47 Republicans and Connecticut Independent Joseph Lieberman [Thank you voters of CT]. Of the 29 supporting, 28 were Democrats and Vermont Independent Bernard Sanders. ...

The second measure, drafted by Sen. John Warner, would have threatened billions of dollars in U.S. aid to Iraq if Baghdad failed to implement certain political and security reforms.

But in a last-minute change to the proposal to gain White House acceptance, Warner added a provision allowing the president to waive the restriction.

It "is really very tepid, very weak," said Reid, who supports cutting off funding for combat next year. "A cup of tea that's been sitting on the counter for a few weeks. ...You wouldn't want to drink that tea. You wouldn't want to vote for this amendment."

The 19 Democrats who voted against stopping the war:

• Baucus (D-MT)
• Bayh (D-IN)
• Bingaman (D-NM)
• Carper (D-DE)
• Casey (D-PA)
• Conrad (D-ND)
• Dorgan (D-ND)
• Landrieu (D-LA)
• Levin (D-MI)
• Lincoln (D-AR)
• McCaskill (D-MO)
• Nelson (D-FL)
• Nelson (D-NE)
• Pryor (D-AR)
• Reed (D-RI)
• Rockefeller (D-WV)
• Salazar (D-CO)
• Tester (D-MT)
• Webb (D-VA)