The Gutless Nine

The U.S. Senate voted on a nonbinding measure to repudiate President Bush's deployment of 21,500 additional combat troops. The resolution was identical to what the House passed Friday. The 56-34 vote fell four short of the 60 needed. Every Democrat in the Senate, and all but 2 in the House and 7 Republicans voted for this. A majority of both Houses effectively voted for the measure.

Nine Republicans skipped today's vote:
Bennett (R-UT)
Bond (R-MO)
Cochran (R-MS)
Corker (R-TN)
Ensign (R-NV)
Hatch (R-UT)
Kyl (R-AZ)
McCain (R-AZ)
Murkowski (R-AK)

One Democrat missed the vote, but he has a good excuse. Sen. Johnson from South Dakota is still recovering from his stroke, and has not yet returned to the Senate.

Note that John McCain is among the Gutless Nine. As is Kit Bond, whose son is serving in Iraq. Joe Lieberman also voted no.

Update:
In the Senate, seven Republicans voted to advance the measure:
Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Hagel (R-NE)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Warner (R-VA)

All but Snowe and Specter could face the voters in 2008.