Why Supporting Jim Webb's Pro-Troop Amendment Matters

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This legislation gives reasonable deployment breaks to soldiers so the military doesn't break, and it has bipartisan support. Last time we got 56 votes for this, and with Tim Johnson it's 57. We only need three more to break with the Republicans to get this to pass. Senator Webb explains his amendment to the internets and why it's important to take action in the video to your right.

Here's the target list. Please call and ask these senators to support Jim Webb's pro-troop amendment:

Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)

DC: 202-224-6665

Anchorage: 907-271-3735

George Voinovich (R-Ohio)

DC: (202) 224-3353

Cleveland: (216) 522-7095

Elizabeth Dole (R-North Carolina)

DC: 202-224-6342

Raleigh: 866-420-6083

John Warner (R-Virginia)

DC: (202) 224-2023

Roanoke: (540) 857-2676

Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky)

DC: 202-224-2541

Louisville: 502-82-6304

Arlen Specter (R-Pennsylvania)

DC: 202-224-4254

Harrisburg: (717) 782-3951

Bonus - Ask Harry Reid to "don't let Republicans obstruct - make them stand and filibuster":

Harry Reid (D-Nevada)

DC: 202-224-3542

Las Vegas: 702-388-5020

UPDATE: Sure enough, Saint John Warner the Bipartisan Dreamboat is considering changing his vote because Bush promised him that a few thousand troops are coming home next year.

Matt Stoller is a political activist/blogger in DC, and was an editor at MyDD from November 2005 until June 2007. He also consults for the Sunlight Foundation, FreePress.net, and Working Assets as well as proactively networking other progressive bloggers/internet activists and progressive professionals.

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Problem with this amendment is that it's once again an example of the legislators thinking they are warriors, trying to tell their generals how to run the operation of a war. Its my understanding that the military brass doesn't feel this amendment is necessary. If you really want to give the troops a much-needed break, then tell your politicians to re-instate the draft so that the troop force can be increased to operational numbers.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Problem with this amendment is that it's once again an example of the legislators thinking they are warriors, trying to tell their generals how to run the operation of a war. Its my understanding that the military brass doesn't feel this amendment is necessary. If you really want to give the troops a much-needed break, then tell your politicians to re-instate the draft so that the troop force can be increased to operational numbers.

Good point, and good idea. I believe it was Congressman Rengal who tried to reintroduce the draft.