Decision ‘08

McConnell To Democrats: Try Me

Mitch McConnell, who has been simply superb in blocking Democratic anti-war measures in the Senate, tells Harry Reid he’s ready for round three:

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) warned yesterday that a new Democratic effort to repeal the 2002 Iraq war resolution would meet the same fate as two previous efforts to limit President Bush’s authority: blocked by procedural obstacles, unless Democrats relent to GOP terms.

Speaking to reporters by conference call from his Louisville home, McConnell compared the latest Democratic move to “trying to unring a bell.” He warned that Lt. Gen. David H. Petraeus, the U.S. military commander in Iraq, would “have to surround himself with lawyers” to comply with the new resolution that senior Democrats are drafting.

McConnell predicted he could muster Republican support to block the measure, unless Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) allows a vote on a nonbinding GOP measure to guarantee troop funding.

A showdown over both measures could come as early as next week. Reid has signaled that Iraq-related amendments may be offered to an upcoming homeland security bill. “It’s a bit of a cat-and-mouse game,” a senior Democratic Senate aide said.

A cat-and-mouse game? It’s been more like a slam-dunk contest so far, with Senate Democrats being the ball. McConnell has played Reid like a violin, and I can see no reason why that’s going to change anytime soon…

One Response to “McConnell To Democrats: Try Me”

1 jpe Says:
February 24th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
You know what we haven’t heard too much of? People shrieking at every turn that McConnel is “obstructionist.” It’s nice to have the Dems at the helm, if only for the fact that I don’t get so many headaches from the dumb.