Oh, that's right.  He opposes this bill.

even though he's already clinched the Republican nomination, so he never votes anymore.  What a great choice for president, huh?

But where are Hillary Clinton and Barack Obamama?

Be careful of the standards that you establish for the opposition, Lowell, when our own candidates fall short as well.

At least I didn't say Osama.

;-}

but their names are on the legislation as co-sponsors -- that's what matters most.

Being a co-sponsor is accomplished by an email by your legislative assistant.  Showing up for the photo op is what matters most.  It shows a personal commitment of time and energy.

Don't get me wrong here.  As a retired Army officer of 25 years active duty, I am angry about McCain's and the Pentagon's opposition to this very much needed GI Bill.  Just don't count on either Clinton or Obama to be any more sensitive to veterans.  Neither of them are are a Jim Webb.  

is Jim Webb.  On veterans issues right now he may well be the strongest advocate on the Hill.

I also agree that neither presidential candidate deserves nearly as much credit for getting this measure as far as Jim Webb has.  This is Jim Webb's baby.

This was an issue that he was talking about going back almost two years now.  It is an issue where he has done a tremendous amount of the leg work.

Having said that photo-ops on the Capitol steps aren't what gets legislation passed.  

It the actual votes on the legislation that matters; it's candidates talking about the legislation on the campaign trail making voters aware of public policy that they might not know about otherwise (something both Clinton and Obama have done).  This is especially important in cases where a Capitol Hill photo-op is completely ignored on the evening news and newspapers.  

It's quite a statement about the current state of affairs in this country that the Rev. Wright controversy has gotten 3 days of non-stop coverage on cable news outlets; while this consequential piece of veterans legislation was completely ignored.  Maybe it makes some folks in the corporate media concerned that the bill will require that they pay a little bit extra in taxes.  Who knows.

about cranky, crazy pastors?  I'm pretty sure this news item got placed in the "Boring Grown Up Stuff" file at all the major media outlets along with little items like Bush's admission that he signed off on the torture plans of the White House coffee clatch.

and, as far as I can tell, they've been in the Senate when it matters.  McCain's AWOL.

Webb made this a priority on the campaign trail -- and it is yet another area where he has been as good as his word.  It might not pass this year, but I have a hard time seeing this bill not becoming law.

Bill Status

There are 57 current co-sponsors, so that means 58 senators including Sen. Webb have signed on. 11 Repubs have done so, meaning that three Dems are currently not co-sponsors. Those 3 Dems appear to be Sen. Feingold (WI; What's up, Russ?), Sen. Nelson (NE), and Sen. Conrad (ND). Assuming at least 2 out of those 3 guys votes for cloture, that means Mitch McConnell's evil zombie caucus can't prevent this bill from passage for once.

The 11 Republicans that still apparently have some internal self-preservation mechanism are: Sens Snowe and Collins* of Maine; Sen Coleman* of MN; Sen Smith* of 0R; Sen Inhofe(!)* of 0K; Sen Bond** of M0; Sen Murkowski** of AK; Sen Lugar of IN;   and retiring Sens Hagel of NE, Warner of VA, and Domenici of NM. * = Sens up for re-election this year; ** = Sens up for re-election in 2010. Apparently Jim Inhofe is smarter than I gave him credit for. Execrable cretins John Cornyn, Mitch McConnell, Saxby Chambliss, and Elizabeth Dole have lost all touch with reality (I expect at least half of that group to not be re-elected, it's going to be that kind of year even in the 'red' states).

Between S-CHIP, Webb-Hagel, and now this bill, Republicans are sure acting like stupid creatures these days. Hoisted on their own petard this fall, I'm telling you.

The women and men that stepped up to serve after 9/11 in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere are deserving of this and so much more. I sincerely hope it passes this year so they receive the smallest down payment of what we owe them. Thank you Senator Webb.

Any news on how GWB will vote on the bill?  Sounds like enough to overcome a filibuster, but not enough to override a veto yet.

Also agreed that this one is a ready made gift for the Dem challengers gunning for McConnell, Cornyn, Chambliss, and Dole's seats.

I think I know how this C Yale student got into this allegedy most competetive program in higher education, but I cannot understand how he actually "earned" the degree.  Can anyone at Harvard enlighten me?

Having said that, GWB will veto the bill because once again the Congress is trying to inject the government into an area best handled by the private sector's student loan industry.  

As one of GWB's intellectual superiors has said, "You Can't Fix Stupid!"

from what I hear, the hardest part is just getting in.

I seem to recall that the Harvard MBA program graduation rate was in the mid to high 90 percent range.  I've searched around for some hard numbers, but haven't been able to find anything definitive.  

Perhaps, like with S-CHIP, he will veto. I find it hard to believe, though, that we won't get 67 votes in the Senate if it makes cloture. But I'm constantly surprised by these Republicans, so who knows.

Even leaving aside the merits of it, why, say, would McCain oppose this bill, particularly since it will obviously pass?

I'm less curious about Cornyn, Chambliss and Dole -- all three are certifiable idiots.

the 'reasoning' behind the opposition is that it would 'encourage' too many soldiers, marines, sailors, and airmen to leave after fulfilling their initial 5 year service commitment instead of making careers out of the army/marines/navy/air force. Anyway, that is the excuse being bandied about by Bush's mouthpieces in the Pentagon.

As for why McCain would oppose ... well, the man has obviously completely sold out to the Republican true believers in order to consolidate his base and win the nomination. I guess it's unpatriotic to ... umm ... ACTUALLY support our veterans?

I'm with you, I don't get it at all. The sham of a bill that he, Graham, and Burr concocted was purely out of embarassment and pales in comparison to Webb's bill.  

Well, we're down to 57 Senate sponsors. James Inhofe, R-0K, has quietly removed himself from the list of co-sponsors. I guess McCain put the screws to him. I'd watch out for Sens Bond and Murkowski, they are usually just Republican zombies that do whatever Mitch McConnell et al tell them to do.

Still, if all the current Republican co-sponsors vote for cloture and every Democrat also does, then this bill should pass.