# Leading Senate Dems and Pubs join forces on anti-surge resolution **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 1, 2007, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leading-senate-dems-and-pubs-join-forces-on-anti-surge-resolution/390415 "2007-02-01T15:08:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leading-senate-dems-and-pubs-join-forces-on-anti-surge-resolution/390415/81 "2007-02-08T14:52:13Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] You apparently didn’t read my post. I’m quite aware that they blocked cloture quite a few times, _in order to defeat the actual measure in question_. If the GOP wants to own up to the same thing here, then I apologize and will shut up. But as you indicate, that’s exactly the opposite of the truth: [/quote] The distinction that I’m drawing, in case it’s still missable, is blocking cloture (on a bill itself, or on a procedural motion to get the bill to the floor, or whatever) as a way of publicly _taking_ a stand, v. blocking cloture on a procedural motion to get a bill to the floor as a way of _avoiding_ having to take a public stand on a major issue. One is straightforward, the other is chickenshit. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leading-senate-dems-and-pubs-join-forces-on-anti-surge-resolution/390415/82 "2007-02-08T15:05:57Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] the other is chickenshit. [/QUOTE] Oddly enough, even [Robert Novak understands that:](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/07/AR2007020702137.html) > [@](#): > > Tuesday’s headlines indicated a public relations fiasco for Republicans: " GOP Stalls Debate on Troop Increase" (The Post), " In Senate, GOP Blocks a Debate Over Iraq Policy" (New York Times), " Vote on Iraq is blocked by GOP" (USA Today). Considering that outcome after a tactical victory, the Republicans might have been better off with a strategic defeat. It is unclear who won in the Senate this week. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leading-senate-dems-and-pubs-join-forces-on-anti-surge-resolution/390415/83 "2007-02-08T19:42:08Z")
[QUOTE=Squink] Speaking of cracks: [Seven Republican Senators Blast McConnell & Reid Over Iraq War Resolution Debate Fiasco](http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/coffeehouse/2007/feb/07/seven_republican_senators_blast_mcconnell_reid_over_iraq_war_resolution_debate_fiasco) [/QUOTE] Too little, too late. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leading-senate-dems-and-pubs-join-forces-on-anti-surge-resolution/390415/84 "2007-02-08T20:14:11Z")
[QUOTE=rjung] Too little, too late. [/QUOTE] Well sure, they’re all spineless flippyfloppers now, but the letter _does_ presage a quick return to the Iraq debate by a now splintering GOP. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leading-senate-dems-and-pubs-join-forces-on-anti-surge-resolution/390415/85 "2007-02-08T20:17:52Z")
[QUOTE=DanBlather] Must be briefs. 🙂 [/QUOTE] No, no, **boxers** are non-binding. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leading-senate-dems-and-pubs-join-forces-on-anti-surge-resolution/390415/86 "2007-02-08T23:50:48Z")
Boxer can be annoying, but she does have a vote. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leading-senate-dems-and-pubs-join-forces-on-anti-surge-resolution/390415.md?page=4)