Democrats to start all night debate
Posted in Politics by Lpspider on July 18th, 2007 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With cots, pillows and pleas for change, the Democratic-led U.S. Senate began a rare around-the-clock session on Tuesday to push President George W. Bush and fellow Republicans to end the Iraq war.
Yet Republicans seemed to have the votes to erect a procedural roadblock to stop a Democratic plan that is backed by a majority of the Senate to withdraw U.S. combat troops by the end of April 2008.
A showdown vote on the plan was expected shortly before noon EDT( 1600 GMT) on Wednesday by weary and sharply divided lawmakers.
“Republicans will need to choose whether they want to protect the president or protect our troops,” said Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.
Democrats repeatedly noted that more than 3,600 U.S. soldiers have died in the increasingly violent Iraq war, now in its fifth year, while Republicans warned a troop pullout would embolden terrorists and increase the risk of attack on the United States.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky fired back: “The Democrats, unfortunately, are trying to undermine the efforts of our troops and restrict the ability of our generals to carry out their mission.”
Republicans denounced the all-night debate as a stunt by Democrats who have drawn fire from voters for failing to deliver on a 2006 campaign vow to withdraw troops.
Outside the Capitol, a couple dozen protesters chanted, “Lead us out of Iraq now, Nancy,” to House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, after the California Democrat held a news conference on an unrelated topic.
In preparation for the all-night session, portable beds were set up in a room near the Senate. Pillows, snacks and toothbrushes were also brought in. Continued…
