GOP Taunts Dems After Shooting Down Pullout Vote
Takes On New ‘Mad Max” Slogan To Laud Majority And Cool Down Cut-And-Run Charges
After voting down two Democratic proposals, on the withdrawal of U.S. Troops from Iraq, with an 86-13 margin on one, and 60-39 on the other, GOP Senators taunted their colleagues across the aisle, chanting “Two Parties Enter ... One Party Leads”, in loud unison as Democrats slowly filed out of the Senate Chamber.
The votes in the Senate today leave that there will be no timetable set for the withdrawing of troops from
Frist Says Chant Improvised, But Others See Rove Fingerprints
After the humiliation of their colleagues, the Republican Leadership denied that they were ordered off the “Cut-and-Run” slogan by its originator, Karl Rove
Unconfirmed reports have come into The Garlic that Rove ordered the change in slogans, following a backlash on the “Cut-and-Run” charged against the Democrats, and other critics of the Bush Administration’s Iraq War policy.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) said that the “Two Parties Enter ... One Party Leads” chant was “improvised”.
“It came in the spirit of exuberance,” said Frist. “I’m not sure who started it, but once it began, we just got into it, swelled with the pride of our vote to support the troops ... To support the President.”
“Frist can wave the flag and whistle “Yankee Doodle Dandy” all day long,” offered one observer, David Aaronson, editor of What Color Is My Coat Today?, the Capital Hill Newsletter that tracks politicians who turn on their own party
“This was Rove all the way ... Rove wasn’t going to sit on the sidelines, with a “shooting-fish-in-a-barrel” vote on the floor today”.
One proposal, offered by Senator John Kerry (D-MA) and Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI), set a mandatory redeployment, with a withdrawal of troops beginning immediately, and ending by July 2007. The measure lost in vote by the whopping 86-13 count.
A second proposal, offered by Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) and Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), a The nonbinding "sense of Congress" proposal urging President Bush to start pulling U.S. forces out of Iraq this year but with no set withdrawal date, garnered more support but losing by a 60-39 vote.
It was after the second vote, when emerging behind a smattering of a few “Cut-and-Run” and “Retreat-Means-Defeat” catcalls, that Frist, Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and, surprisingly, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), began the “Two Parties Enter ... One Party Leads” chant, which spread among the other GOP members until it was echoing throughout the Senate Chamber.
Graham, just the day before, distanced himself from the “Cut-and-Run” slogan, saying "I think the sound-bite war is not going to be an effective way to fight the war."
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) was dismissive of the GOP antics.
“In November, there’ll be a lot of people entering voting booths, and when it’s over, there’ll be a lot of Republicans leaving.”
Mad Max Video Or Is Rove Just Having His Fun?
Aaronson indicated that What Color Is My Coat Today? is picking up a buzz around the Capital that Rove may be altering his strategy, after receiving a rebuke over the “Cut-and-Run” slogan from Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE), who lambasted his conservative colleagues for using “catchy political slogans.
“American people want to see serious debate about serious issues from serious leaders. They deserve more than a political debate. This debate should transcend cynical attempts to turn public frustration with the war in
“It could be that Rove is hearing it from the Congressional leaders, and especially those who are in for tough fights in the Fall,” offered Aaronson.
“Or it could be, he rented “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” last evening and is just having some fun.”
“Rove has to be careful, that it doesn’t come back and bite him on the ass,” added Aaronson. “The majority could very well flip-flop after the Mid-Terms and then, for Rove and the rest of the Administration, it becomes a blizzard of subpoenas and hearings.”
“And let’s not forget Scooter Libby. It could be that “One Man Enters ... One Man Goes to Jail” in the not-too-distant future.”
Is Karl Rove tossing out “Cut-and-Run” in favor of “Two Parties Enter ... One Party Leads”?
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