In the week just concluded, the Senate has debated a variety of measures related to the war in Iraq. The only measure which passed was one to denounce MoveOn for for its attack on General David Petraeus. By that measure, it was the most productive week the Senate has had on Iraq in months. But if Democrats failed to hamper the Iraq mission, it was not for lack of trying. They offered three amendments to change the conduct of the war–all of them amendments that had been offered and defeated before. How did they fare this time around? Senator Levin offered an amendment to require the administration to begin withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq. On July 18, the Senate voted against cloture by a vote of 52-47 (where 60 votes are required). On September 21, a similar amendment by Senator Levin also failed to win cloture (47-47)–a loss of five votes (even with Senator Tim Johnson having returned). Senator Feingold offered an amendment to cut off all funding for the Iraq war. On May 16, the Senate voted against cloture by a margin of 29-67. On September 20, a similar amendment failed by a margin of 28-70. Senator Webb offered an amendment to specify terms of troop deployments. On July 11, the Senate failed to invoke cloture by a margin of 56-41. On September 19, a similar amendment failed by a margin of 56-44. Senate Democrats lost ground on all 3 of their major proposals to ‘change course’ in Iraq. The Politico reports that Senator Reid’s ‘no compromise’ attitude (one apparently dictated by MoveOn) is responsible for this backsliding:
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