Both of them obviously wanted to be President themselves someday-- both later ran, one won. Same calculus for then-Sen. Hillary Clinton.
In 2003 (like every year) MANY Senators/Members saw themselves as future Presidents, and felt a vote against war would be a political deathblow.
In 2003 (like every year) MANY Senators/Members saw themselves as future Presidents, and felt a vote against war would be a political deathblow.
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Biden, Kerry, and GOP Sens Lugar and Hagel were working hard to slow the push towards war.
Gephardt blindsided his colleagues by rushing to endorse invasion.
♦️In 2002/2003, many in Congress (both Dem & GOP, albeit too few) took their jobs seriously.
♦️Bush Admin officials were cynical and untruthful, but weren't clowns.
♦️They had a plan-- regime change & nation-building. It was a bad plan, but wasn't just "drop a GBU-57 and see what happens."
Cleland, Carnahan found out that “no room between me and the President,” was a losing strategy.
They were outmatched. Kinda like now.