EXCLUSIVE — Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell tells NRO that he is very pleased with tonight’s turn of events in the Senate, where Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) abandoned his plans for an omnibus spending bill.
“I’m proud of our team for holding together,” McConnell tells us. “I’m proud of the appropriations committee members as well, who decided that this is not the way to do it.”
“This is a victory for the country,” McConnell says. “We decided that we’re not going to pass a 2,000-page bill that nobody has seen since yesterday. That’s not the way to operate and that’s not the message from the November elections. We decided not to do it. Unified Republican opposition is what got it done.”
This probably means that the Republicans caved on the START treaty.
Just looking for the black lining in the silver cloud....
In honor of Derb.....
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseA defensive victory at the very least.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseBest news today.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"Unified Republican opposition is what got it done."
Now if we can only see continued unified Republican opposition for another three of four days, until Congress gets out of town.
There's still time for the GOP to screw things up with START, DADT, and the DREAM act.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHallelujah! There must have been some pressure exerted in the Republican Caucus on idiots like Voinovich and Collins and too many others to bring this about. This would have been a torpedo in the side of the about-to-be-launched new USS Republican Era. I'm glad that they've stood firm.
Now, get us out of this Dead Duck session (note to House: pass the *amn tax bill already!) and give us some rest. The next two years are going to be a seminal, all-out war in terms of American political history. Looking forward to that, but I know that I loathe Democrats more every day that this interminable session has dragged on.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis is actually bad news IMO. Another year of profligacy is bad, but the DREAM Act would mean that we'll be stuck with years and years of continued non-enforcement of immigration laws, since ANY illegal can apply, gets legal residency while his application is processed, and fraudulent applicants cannot then be deported after informing the government of their illegal presence here.
This would further commit us to years and years of huge influxes of Mexican illegal migration, erosion of sovereignty, declining living standards and the Third Worldization of America.
The omnibus spending bill was a year's worth of bad deals. The DREAM Act is unending agony for the country.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDon't be afraid to fight on principal.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWell, color me happily shocked. Let's hope this is more than a one time thing.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseUnified opposition and all the outraged calls to republican offices..
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseTo quote the occupant of the White House, "We won."
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe United States of America is alive.
This stands as an example of revolutionary battle without a drop of blood. At times and ages some seem to forget the exception we are in the history of the world. Even when there are passionate differences, this country demonstrates with these battles without blood, fought at every election, that we are a shining light on the hill. Even the opposition, gracefully (most of the time) concedes or marches on without taking up arms. Through our tough times and our shortcomings, we overcome them, we have good times, we succeed, and become- better.
The United States is alive.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe United States of America is alive.
This stands as an example of revolutionary battle without a drop of blood. At times and ages some seem to forget the exception we are in the history of the world. Even when there are passionate differences, this country demonstrates with these battles without blood, fought at every election, that we are a shining light on the hill. Even the opposition, gracefully (most of the time) concedes or marches on without take up arms. Through our tough times, our shortcomings, we overcome them, we have good times, we succeed, and become- better.
The United States is alive.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseBen -- I'm not convinced the DREAM act has any future, either. I don't think he's got the votes to pass it. START may get done, but I'd be shocked if the DREAM Act were passed.
Immigration, unfortunately, is a political football. We need reform to our immigration laws, but both sides would rather talk the talk and fire up the base than actually do what needs to be done. Not that the DREAM Act would be good -- far from it. But something does need to be done.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIf the House (D)s had done what they were supposed to do during this last year, that is, put together a budget, then we would be living under that budget. As it is, their political calculations were way off, and the new (R) House will propose the budget for the remainder of the fiscal year.
Maybe some folks are not as smart as they think they are!
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