GOP Filibuster Succeeds In Blocking Senate From Voting On Withdrawal From Iraq

[Richard Tafoya]

TPM:
http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/jul/18/gop_succeeds_in_blocking_vote_on_withdrawal_from_iraq

The Senate GOP has succeeded in blocking the Senate from holding a vote on the Reed-Levin amendment mandating withdrawal from Iraq by April 2008.

The vote just concluded, and while Dems did get a majority, they fell short of the 60 votes needed to get passed the Republican filibuster designed to prevent a straight up-or-down vote on whether to pull out of Iraq.


The vote was 52-47. Only four Republicans voted for it: Senators Olympia Snowe, Gordon Smith, Chuck Hagel, and Susan Collins. While the first three were expected, Collins' support for the bill represents a new defection.


What this means in a nutshell is this: While a majority of the U.S. Senate favors withdrawal from Iraq, the Senate can't vote on a measure that would accomplish this -- because the GOP Senate leadership won't allow it.


The vote came after a marathon all-night showdown between Senate Dems and Republicans, in which Dems sought to shine a bright light on the continuing efforts of the GOP to prevent the Senate from voting on the most pressing question before the country right now: Whether to continue the war or whether to end it.

[Annoyedlistner]

The republican party is working against the majority of this country's wishes.

[Richard Tafoya]

Wouldn't that be the opposite of a representative democracy?

[pinky]

It would be more like an oligarchy.

[Regis Philbin]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8QEPNO80&show_article=1

Slumber Party in the Senate?

Jul 18 12:48 AM US/Eastern
By LAURIE KELLMAN
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - In the dead of night, the Senate apparently turns into something other than the oft-cited greatest deliberative body in the world.

It becomes a "circus, a "mockery," "Kabuki theater," a "carnival" and a "charade," Democrats have said. Not only that, but "a colossal waste of time." And given the increasingly geriatric nature of the chamber as a whole, the Senate in all-night session amounts to "elder abuse."

Those were Democrats talking about the last all-night Senate session four years ago. Then, they were in the minority and forced by Republicans to make good on their threat to filibuster judicial nominations.

"We are having this all-night session in order to call to the attention of the public the fact that this unprecedented obstructionism is going on," declared then-Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, in a 2003 interview on Fox News Network. "Most people think that in the world's oldest democracy if you can get a majority you are entitled to move ahead."

Nowadays, Democrats agree. And they run the chamber—all night, as it turns out.

To be sure, the issue this time is literally about life and death for thousands of Americans and Iraqis. But such lofty debate isn't likely to give Democrats the 60 votes needed to advance troop withdrawal legislation blocked by Republicans.

"Tonight is not a stunt, it's a statement," said Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La.

[Regis Philbin]

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/today.parcoltop11.69437.ImageFile.jpg

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/today.parcoltop11.69437.ImageFile.jpg

[LesterX]

Oh look, somebody at rushlimbaugh.com has been practicing with Photoshop. How very clever. Thanks for showing us yet again that Rush Limbaugh's shtick is aimed at those with the mentality of 10 year-olds.

[pinky]

To be sure, the issue this time is literally about life and death for thousands of Americans and Iraqis.If that's not worth staying up all night, I don't know what is.

[Annoyedlistner]

a move that i think will only hurt the republican party even more.

Why wont the Republicans let the full Senate vote Regis?