House Democrats on Tuesday narrowly managed to avert a bruising debate on a proposal to impeach Dick Cheney after Republicans, in a surprise maneuver, voted in favor of taking up the measure.
Republicans, changing course midway through a vote, tried to force Democrats into a debate on the resolution sponsored by longshot presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich. The anti-war Ohio Democrat, in his resolution, accused Cheney of purposely leading the country into war against Iraq and manipulating intelligence about Iraq's ties with al-Qaida.
The GOP tactics reversed what had been expected to be an overwhelming vote to table, or kill, the resolution. Midway through the vote, with instructions from the GOP leadership, Republicans one by one changed their votes from yes — to kill the resolution — to no, trying to force the chamber into a debate and an up-or-down vote on the proposal.
At one point there were 290 votes to table. After the turnaround, the final vote was 251-162 against tabling, with 165 Republicans voting against it.
"We're going to help them out, to explain themselves," said Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas. "We're going to give them their day in court."
Democrats countered by offering a motion to refer the proposal to the House Judiciary Committee for further study, effectively preventing a debate on the House floor. That motion passed by a largely party-line vote of 218-194.
Excuse me while I try to compose myself...
From the Weekly Standard, here are the Dems that were all for impeachment until it looked like they would have to actually debate it. It's easy to stand up for something when you don't think anyone will see it but look who weaseled out when their feet were held to the fire... You can see the entire list of the 81 flip-floppers at the Weekly Standard. Here are some of the more familiar....
Neil Abercrombie
John Conyers
Pete DeFazio
Keith Ellison
Maurice Hinchey
Jesse Jackson
Sheila Jackson-Lee
Hank Johnson
Stephanie Tubbs Jones
Barbara Lee
John Lewis
Jim McDermott
Jim Moran
Charlie Rangel
Jan Schakowsky
Louise Slaughter
Pete Stark
Anthony Weiner
Bob Wexler
Lynn Woolsey
They can talk the talk but they can't walk the walk....
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