ROBIN ROBERTS (co-host): It’s going to be a long day on Capitol Hill.
SAWYER: It certainly is. Senators facing an all-nighter now as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid vows to filibuster, talking all night to close out all topics besides a vote on Iraqi troop withdrawals.
ROBERTS: And of course, as they continue to talk there in Washington, our brave troops con — they forge on. And this morning, we have a brand new, inside look at their daily lives and what really happens there on the front lines.
You flunk at least one quiz in Polisci 101 with this kind of stupidity. Filibusters are held by people who do not want to vote on the bill. Over time that has meant that even the threat of filibuster means a bill dies, but those wanting to vote up or down on the bill do not have to just walk away. In fact, the 1964 Civil Rights Act was passed because the Senate stayed in session waiting out Byrd’s filibuster and it was the first time cloture had been used successfully in a civil rights bill and the second time since 1927 that it had been invoked.
Before the passage of a cloture rule in 1917, there was no way to force a vote on a bill. The Senate has long held that it’s members can debate a bill for as long as they like. Given the 1917 filibuster of enabling legislation for WWI created such a problem for the nation, the Senate limited that right of members.
The only thing Reid is doing is forcing the Republicans to do more than just threaten a filibuster and carry it out–and carry on about how bad redeployment would be for hours while the country supports the idea.
One cannot understand the role of the U.S. Senate in the history of the United States if one does not understand the filibuster and at least some of the central bills it was used for to attempt to stop bills.
[…] Word from Anne Leary’s backyard is that Ms. Leary agrees with Ms. Sawyer’s patently wrong statement. She tries to quip that Sen. Reid is attempting to hold himself hostage. I cannot fathom how someone could be that blinded by partisanship, but sure enough Ms. Leary is. Like Ms. Sawyer, Ms. Leary is just silly when it comes to actually figuring out facts. […]
Larry,
According to the latest Gallop Poll (July 6-8), the majority of Americans (55%) believe that “Congress should not develop a new policy on Iraq until September when General Petraeus reports on the progress of the U.S. troop surge in Iraq.”
My calendar says July 18. Seems to me that, what “the country supports” is exactly what the Senate Republicans are doing: preventing Congress from taking action before Petraeus has a chance to report.
A majority wants the bill above passed and to wait until September. This isn’t that unusual because of the framing effects of questions, but to argue we should wait is inconsistent with what people are saying Newsweek has the public at 64 percent calling the surge a failure. But some of them also want to wait for September.
The most telling number comes in a recent Newsweek Poll:
“If U.S. troop levels in Iraq are cut back from the current 160,000 to about 60,000, for how long would you support keeping such a U.S. military presence in Iraq: one year or less, up to two years, up to five years, or 10 years or more?”
7/11-12/07
One Year or Less
53
Up to Two Years
19
From Rasmussin
Fifty-one percent (51%) of American voters say that the United States should wait for the September progress report before making major policy changes in Iraq. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 38% disagree.
At the same time, however, just 32% of voters believe that it is possible for the United States to win the war in Iraq. Fifty-four percent (54%) say it is not possible while 13% are not sure.
Also, 53% would like the Senate to join the House of Representatives and pass legislation requiring a troop withdrawal to begin in 120 days. Thirty-seven percent (37%) are opposed.
Iraq remains the top issue before the nation–92% of voters say they are following the issue closely. Fifty-five percent (55%) know a friend or family member who is currently in Iraq.
A separate survey found that just 19% of voters consider the troop surge a success.
All questions on the war reflect huge gender and partisan gaps.
By a 73% to 21% margin, Republicans say that the U.S. should wait for the September progress report before making major policy changes in Iraq. Democrats, by a 50% to 36% margin, disagree. Those not affiliated with either major party are more evenly divided—49% want to wait and 42% don’t. Fifty-seven percent (57%) of men want to wait along with 47% of women.
Fifty-five percent (55%) of Republicans believe it is possible to win the war. Thirty percent (30%) of unaffiliateds share that view along with just 16% of Democrats. Forty-one percent (41%) of men believe it is possible for the U.S. to win. Just 25% of women share that optimism.
In terms of the legislation to begin withdrawing troops, women support it by a 2-to-1 margin while men are evenly divided. Democrats support it by a 72% to 16% margin. Republicans are opposed 63% to 27%. Those not affiliated with either major party favor the troop withdrawal legislation by a 55% to 36% margin