Liberal “enforcers” gone wobbly. Politico: “When Nancy Pelosi delivered Barack Obama big victories in the House during his first term — from the passage of a sweeping health care law to a controversial cap-and-trade bill, she relied on a band of her top lieutenants to ensure the caucus held together on the tough votes. But now, as she tries to rally House Democrats to authorize Obama to strike Syria, her closest allies aren’t squarely in her corner — never mind out shoring up votes. Liberal enforcers like Reps. Rosa DeLauro, George Miller, Zoe Lofgren and Anna Eshoo aren’t on board, at least not yet. And it won’t be easy to convince them, since all four are doves who voted against the Iraq War authorization in 2002.”
But Pelosi likes the language of the revised Senate resolution, Roll Call reports. She said in a “Dear Colleague” letter: “The Senate resolution addresses some of the concerns expressed by many of our House members. Specifically, the resolution prevents boots on the ground, ties the authorization more closely to the use of chemical and other weapons of mass destruction, and has a limited timetable.”
The Arizona Republic: “Sen. John McCain felt the heat of opposition to U.S. military intervention in Syria on Thursday during a town-hall meeting in Phoenix that exposed the emotions and ethic and religious tensions connected to crisis in the Middle East.”
Despite their overwhelming support for President Obama, members of the Congressional Black Caucus are among the most opposed to Syria intervention.
USA Today also picks up on that: “Syria vote poses dilemma for black members of Congress.”
USA Today: “Members of the U.S. Congress won't have to worry about hearing from the Russians over Syria. The Russian government has announced it will not be sending a parliamentary delegation to Washington, D.C., to lobby against a military strike on Syria because of chemical weapons. One reason: A bipartisan pair of congressional leaders -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio -- said they wouldn't meet with the Russians on Syria.”
What’s Gandalf got to do with Syria, Rep. Justin Amash (R)?
The New York Times: “Representative Michele Bachmann’s presidential hopes ended 20 months ago, but her brief and chaotic campaign continues to be the focus of ethics investigations. The latest is a federal inquiry into whether an outside “super PAC” improperly coordinated strategy with Mrs. Bachmann’s campaign staff, including her husband, in violation of election laws. The Department of Justice demanded records from the super PAC last week of its finances and its communications with Mrs. Bachmann; Marcus Bachmann, her husband; and former staff members, according to a grand jury subpoena reviewed by The New York Times.”