[Overpaid Slacker]

OK, we'll talk about your savvy.... meaning in this instance your ability to be suckered by the AP for Democratic propaganda purposes.

So sayeth the most holy and revered AP:

"Republicans blocked a full-fledged Senate debate over Iraq on Monday, but Democrats vowed to find a way to force President Bush to change course in a war that has claimed the lives of more than 3,000 U.S. troops.

"We must heed the results of the November elections and the wishes of the American people," said Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Reid, D-Nev., spoke moments before a vote that sidetracked a nonbinding measure expressing disagreement with Bush's plan to deploy an additional 21,500 troops to Iraq.

The vote was 49-47, or 11 short of the 60 needed to go ahead with debate, and left the fate of the measure uncertain.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky described the test vote as merely a "bump in the road" and added that GOP lawmakers "welcome the debate and are happy to have it."

From the Left: "Naaaaaahhhhhhmmmmmennnnnnn." (or whatever Godless word not connoting religion they'd use).

Trouble with that AP rendition? Yeah. Aside from a gratuitous editorializing mention of the number of dead (but there's no AGENDA!!!) it's not so much square with fact. Like that slows down the AP or the mouth-breathers it panders to.

The Democrats actually want to end debate and vote on the resolution. What the Republicans are arguing for is keeping debate open and considering other resolutions. That of course might make passing the proposed resolution less likely, which is what the Democrats are trying to avoid.

An interesting (and informed) view from Captain Ed:

"Reid and the Democrats insisted on blocking any consideration of alternatives and demanded an end to debate — which makes Reid's complaint that the GOP would not allow debate on the issue somewhat mystifying. Cloture is an end to debate on the floor, a limitation to allow a vote on the question before the Senate. The filibuster provides for unlimited debate, which the Republicans appear ready to provide. Dick Durbin accused Republicans of running from the debate, but in truth the Democrats tried to shove Warner-Levin down the GOP's throat in order to demand that the US run from Iraq. It's a strange accusation to make that a political party exercises cowardice in not allowing the other to demand retreat — a position that some Democrats clearly want to make."

From the Senate glossary, herewith the definition of "cloture":

"The only procedure by which the Senate can vote to place a time limit on consideration of a bill or other matter, and thereby overcome a filibuster. Under the cloture rule (Rule XXII), the Senate may limit consideration of a pending matter to 30 additional hours, but only by vote of three-fifths of the full Senate, normally 60 votes."

Now read this next part slowly... a vote for cloture is a vote to end debate and take a vote on a bill, often used to overcome a filibuster. The Republicans will attempt to keep debate open until the Democrats allow other resolutions to be considered.

How does this, from the AP "The vote was 49-47, or 11 short of the 60 needed to go ahead with debate, and left the fate of the measure uncertain." square with the fact that a vote for cloture is a vote to close debate? That there weren't the 60 votes needed to "stifle" debate, to end it, to truncate discussion .... WHO wanted to do that? The Democrats. You're being deliberately deceived by the AP, on the Dem's behalf. Sucker.

This isn't hard to get, but three of the most influential news organizations in the world either do not understand or are purposely adopting the Democrats spin.

In short -- it is the Democrats that do not want new/competing ideas... they want to pass their tantrum bill without having to have it, or any alternatives discussed.

And they're misleading you about what they're doing, with the complicity of the AP, the NYT and WaPo.

And you're falling for it. Again.

"... a move like this by Republicans." Meaning, now, a move to keep debate open and propose alternative language and resolutions. Yeah, those damned closed-minded fascists.

Once again, you've been suckered. But, take solace in the fact that you're not alone. Most the rest of the cattle whose diet is principally AP/UPI (and the MSM that passes it on) has been duped as well.

But the rest of us will have to deal with the impenetrable smug and moral righteousness that comes from your not knowing or accepting you've been duped.

JP