Republicans block Senate debate on Iraq

But it could have been "Harry Reid refuses to allow debate by not allowing any amendments to the resolution."

Republicans blocked a full-fledged Senate debate over Iraq on Monday, but Democrats vowed they would eventually 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 (news, bio, voting record).

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

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (news, bio, voting record) of Kentucky described the test vote as merely a "bump in the road" that could possibly be overcome within hours. GOP lawmakers "welcome the debate and are happy to have it," he said, adding they were insisting on equal treatment for an alternative measure expected to draw strong support.

If Reid really wanted debate, then maybe he would allow the Republicans to introduce their own resolutions and amendments.

And then there's this:

"The American people do not support escalation. Last November, voters made it clear they want a change of course, not more of the same," said Reid. "The president must hear from Congress, so he knows he stands in the wrong place, alone."

I think you guys have been pretty vocal in your opposition, I'm sure Bush knows exactly how you guys feel and a resolution would be redundant at this point.

And the election in November 2006 did not invalidate the election in November 2004. Bush is still president and it doesn't matter how Reid and the other Democrats interpret the recent election whether the American people said they didn't want a war or not (mixed bag really: Connecticut, yes but Virginia, no), Bush still gets to decide troop movements.