Earlier today, Norm Coleman’s office distributed an AP news story to curious bloggers that read as follows:

Coleman votes against resolution disapproving Bush's Iraq plan

Fred Frommer

Associated Press

January 24, 2007

WASHINGTON - Sen. Norm Coleman, who has argued against a troop buildup in Baghdad, voted Wednesday against a non-binding resolution expressing disapproval of President Bush's plan to send more troops to Iraq.

Coleman, a Minnesota Republican whose vote has been in play in recent weeks, was one of nine senators to vote against the resolution in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which approved the resolution 12-9.

That came after the panel rejected, on a 17-4 vote, Coleman's amendment which would have made a distinction between areas rocked by sectarian violence like Baghdad, and places like Anbar province where U.S. forces are fighting terrorist insurgents. The amendment signaled disapproval of sending more troops to the former but not the latter.

"The Iraqis don't have a blank check on American blood and treasure," Coleman said prior to a vote on his amendment. "Our patience is wearing thin, certainly with the public and the Congress. But I'm not prepared to have a resolution which says we will disregard the advice of our commanders on the ground, when they say they need something which may even mean an increase in a given area."

Hope you paid close attention to the penultimate paragraph. Here’s how Fox News reported the goings on regarding the Coleman amendment:

That resolution, co-sponsored by Coleman and Sens. John Warner, R-Va., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Ben Nelson, D-Neb., is seen as a softer criticism of the president. It states "the Senate disagrees with the plan to augment our forces by 21,500, and urges the president instead to consider all options and alternatives for achieving the strategic goals set forth below with reduced force levels than proposed."

What’s all of this say about Coleman? I link, you decide. (Anyone with any ideas of how to bring Coleman back from the Dark Side, feel free to offer them in the comments.)

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