Only 4 House Republicans joined the Surrender Caucus in an Iraq vote. John Boehner showed his effectiveness as a leader. Here is the story:House Republican leaders largely kept their party together on the issue of Iraq last night, with only four members breaking with their party to support a withdrawal of troops by April.
Reps. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.) and John Duncan, Jr. (R-Tenn.) were the only new defectors though Duncan voted against the 2002 war authorization measure. The other two GOP members to vote with Democrats were Reps. Walter
Jones (N.C.) and Wayne Gilchrest (Md.), who have consistently broken with their party on Iraq this year.
Ten Democrats, mostly conservatives, voted against the measure, which passed 223-201.
The lack of Republican defections meant the vote failed to live up to Democratic hopes to put additional pressure on President Bush on the war. That, for now, will be left to the Senate, where several Republicans have publicly broken with Bush in recent weeks and senators are to vote next week on a similar measure.
Republicans argued that Bush’s “surge” policy needed more time, at least until the top commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, reports in September. But Democrats argued Congress has given Bush too free a hand for too long.
“For those who would urge we wait until September, it’s been more than four years and more than half a trillion dollars,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). “We have a responsibility to create a new direction.”
Imagine this dumb b***h Pelosi during Iwo Jima. "It's been 3 years and billions, we need a new direction in the Pacific." Imagine if Pelosi was Speaker during the Mediterranean campaigns or the Atlantic invastion. It has been over 2 weeks, we have to pull out. This woman has not a clue. She is a disgrace to the House, to the American people, and to womanhood. However, she is typical of the human detritus that resides in San Francisco.
Who is the more effective leader? Boehner lost 4 votes...Pelosi lost 10.
