a timetable with funding... is that the same?

Gillibrand states that "it was "never in question" that she would do otherwise" so what is the source that says otherwise? It seems strange that you just pull Gillibrand out of the hat.

Someone's got to figure out what's going on with Sestak.

At this point we really don't  know what is in or out of the legislation.   There were, reportedly, demands to remove all timelines to remove troops from Iraq.  Have they been?  According to the Institute For Policy Studies linked about, as many as 60,000 could remain in some capacity.     Until we know that, we don't know what a claim of support for the supplemental means.

Recieved from Bead

Dear Mr.

Thank you for contacting me about Iraq. I am honored to represent you, and I appreciate your active participation in our legislative process.  Your involvement makes democracy work better by helping me more effectively represent you and Illinois' Eighth District.

I share the concern of many Americans regarding the direction our involvement in this war is headed. I believe America went to war without a plan for securing the peace, and as a direct result, our military personnel is still combating a dangerous-and expensive-insurgency more than three and half years after the fall of Baghdad.

When I visited Iraq in 2005, I was hopeful that democratic elections would allow Iraq to become a more unified sovereign nation. Unfortunately, the situation on the ground has worsened, sectarian violence has increased, and as casualties continue to mount serious scrutiny of our strategy in Iraq is needed.

As you know, the president is currently increasing the number of U.S. military personnel in Iraq by 21,500. In January 2007, I met with top White House officials to discuss the plan. Regrettably, after learning the details of the plan I could not support the troop surge. In the past, we have tried multiple troop surges and after the most recent surge last summer conducted in Baghdad, the U.S. Military declared it a failure as insurgent attacks increased by 22 percent.

In February 2007, I registered my opposition by supporting H.Con.Res. 63-a non-binding resolution expressing disapproval for the troop surge-which passed by a margin of 246 to 182. The U.S. needs to encourage the Iraqi government to resolve the current internal strife politically. Instead of sending more troops, our military mission in Iraq must shift from attempting to secure Iraq to better equipping and training the Iraqi Security Forces so they can secure their own county.

To increase the accountability of the Iraqi Government, we must condition our continued involvement on the Iraqis achieving set benchmarks. To that end, I joined many of my colleagues in cosponsoring H.Res. 100, The Iraqi War Cost Accountability Resolution. This resolution would require increased accountability over future war spending and condition future American financial and military support upon measurable improvement in Iraqi progress towards principal responsibility for internal security.

Thank you again for contacting me about this important issue. I am proud to serve Illinois' Eighth District, and I am committed to working hard for you. Please do not hesitate to write, call, or email if I can ever help you in any way.

Sincerely,

Melissa L. Bean

This is a little OT, but what is the purpose of all these internal party organizations, such as the Blue Dogs and the DLC? What benefit does an elected official get from joining such an organization?

And what is the name of the liberal/progressive organization? It seems like while we know who the liberals are, they don't have their own little club within the party like the conservatives do.

...is probably nervous because there's an Air Force base just outside of Terre Haute in his district.  They train lots of fighter pilots there.

If you know of anyone that's in the Air Force that could send him a letter or fax, not an email, especially someone that trained or who now serves at the Terre Haute facility, that might get Brad's attention and provide him with cover for what might think is an unpalatable vote in his district.  

My two bits...

I sent a cummulative amount of $45 to 06 'anti-war' candidates now turn-coats:

Arcuri, Shuler, and Sestak.

Their silence on the matter is revealing. More than the vote itself.  I will remember in '08 and beyond...

Thanks!

We know Allen Boyd is the guy behind this whole thing, right?  So why isn't his name on the list?

I mean, you can't just leave off the name of the guy who's leading the whole damn charge, can you?

To Palamedes:
    I also contributed to the campaign of Donnelly ($100).  I thought it was odd that I never got a note of thank you. Did you get one?
    Donnelly's position on Iraq seemed to me to be a disgrace. Basically he avoided the topic. So this behavior now is not unexpected.  

                    -- ndman

I sent him money!  How can he do this??

Please stop being delusional. We went from a Republican government to a divided government, not to an absolutist Democratic government. Here in the real world, we know that Congress and the Administration will have to negotiate and compromise. It isn't pretty, and no one wants to do it, but there is no other option. Making law is not as simple as writing a blog screed.