Dana Milbank
Sunday, February 18, 2007

Senators entered the chamber to vote on the Iraq war yesterday as if emerging from a Lands' End catalogue.

There was Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) in a gray tweed blazer with elbow patches, a purple sweater, lavender shirt and violet tie. Nearby was David Vitter (R-La.), wearing tan slacks and a black knit shirt. No fewer than 17 senators wore navy blazers: Richard Burr (R-N.C.) combined his with green corduroys, Pat Leahy (D-Vt.) with a blue sweater, Tom Carper (D-Del.) with a red sweater, Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) with a windowpane-pattern shirt, and John Sununu (R-N.H.) with wrinkled khakis.

Other weekend legislators had trouble with the casual Saturday concept. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) wore a pink hooded sweater known as a "hoodie," black clogs and white socks. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) opted for a bolo tie and a western jacket with suede patches on the shoulders. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) went with blue jeans and a turtleneck. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.), who does not drive on Saturday because of the Jewish Sabbath, wore hiking boots.

It was, as Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) put it, "a very special occasion." The rare Saturday session, in addition to making the Senate floor look like an Andover reunion, gave the lawmakers one more chance to talk about -- and then vote against -- having a full debate about the direction of the Iraq war. Both sides knew in advance that Republicans still had enough votes to block the debate again (Democrats came up four votes short), but Democrats were determined to cause the GOP maximum discomfort by forcing a vote on the weekend.

"We all know it's rare for the Senate to hold a Saturday vote, but the issue before us is too important to wait," said Harry Reid (D-Nev.), the majority leader.

Lindsey Graham (R-Blue Blazer-Gray Flannel Slacks) referred to see it as "a very, very sad Saturday" for all. "This is being billed as an unusual Saturday session where the Senate is working," said Graham, sporting South Carolina's palmetto-tree emblem on his tie. "I would argue we're not working, we're having a political theatrical debate."

West Virginia's Robert Byrd (D-Beige Suit), who knows something about theatrics, volunteered: "If it will help to bring our soldiers home, I will work every Saturday for the rest of this Congress. I will stand here -- right here! right here! -- on this floor, on this floor of this Senate every day, every day, every day, 24 hours every day if it would mean one less family without a son or a daughter. Hear me!"

Alaska's Ted Stevens (R-Blue Blazer-Gray Trousers), was sour about delaying his Presidents' Day recess. "It is an important subject to be debated, but why Saturday?" he complained.

With a few exceptions (Barack Obama sauntered in 20 minutes after the vote began), the Democratic senators attempted a note of solemnity. They sat quietly at their desks for the vote, standing to call out "aye." But Republicans, nine of whom skipped the vote entirely, declined to play. McConnell, the minority leader, ignored the clerk when his name was called. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) made a show of breezing through -- he put on his overcoat immediately after voting and left with his briefcase -- and fellow Kansan Pat Roberts (R-Blue Blazer-Chinos) wore a blue scarf and playfully swatted colleagues with his driving cap.

Wearied by two weeks of fighting over whether to have an Iraq debate, the senators by yesterday had resorted to calling each other chickens.

"Apparently some in the Senate are afraid of such a debate," said Byrd, who punctuated his taunts by sneezing into his microphone.

"I am not running from a vote," announced Jim Bunning (R-Ky.). "I don't know one of my Republican colleagues that is afraid to cast a vote."

"I applaud the courage of a few hearty Republicans who will vote cloture and allow this vote to occur," Reid bullied.

"I'm not afraid of your ideas," Graham maintained.

McConnell advised the Democrats that their position "takes no courage."

Among the few senators who did demonstrate courage yesterday was John Warner (R-Va.), who was all business in a dark blue suit and a dress shirt with French cuffs. He wore an angry expression as he heard Graham accusing Democrats of following the "politics of the moment" and "trying to jockey for political positioning." As Graham raged on, Warner made a circling motion with his finger and pretended to bang a gavel in an attempt to get the presiding officer to cut Graham off.

"I've been privileged to be a member of the United States Senate now in my 29th year," Warner said when Graham finally was silenced. "Never have I stood on this floor and in any way impugned the integrity of any senator." Siding with the Democrats, Warner declared that "we must move forward" with a debate, adding: "I think I'm doing right for the integrity of this institution."

Graham, who left his desk after his tantrum, must not have heard Warner's reproach. Even after his side prevailed in blocking the debate, Graham was still swinging. "I'm not afraid of any other idea," he boasted at a news conference. "There's nothing on the table I'm afraid of."

Not that anybody doubted Graham. It takes a strong man to wear a palmetto tie.