[quote]Seven months into the current two-year term, the Senate has held 42 “cloture” votes aimed at shutting off extended debate — filibusters, or sometimes only the threat of one — and moving to up-or-down votes on contested legislation. Under Senate rules that protect a minority’s right to debate, these votes require a 60-vote supermajority in the 100-member Senate.
Democrats have trouble mustering 60 votes; they’ve fallen short 22 times so far this year. That’s largely why they haven’t been able to deliver on their campaign promises.
By sinking a cloture vote this week, Republicans successfully blocked a Democratic bid to withdraw combat troops from Iraq by April, even though a 52-49 Senate majority voted to end debate.
This year Republicans also have blocked votes on immigration legislation, a no-confidence resolution for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and major legislation dealing with energy, labor rights and prescription drugs.
Nearly 1 in 6 roll-call votes in the Senate this year have been cloture votes. If this pace of blocking legislation continues, this 110th Congress will be on track to roughly triple the previous record number of cloture votes — 58 each in the two Congresses from 1999-2002, according to the Senate Historical Office.[/quote]
mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/18218.html
Actually, I thought the Republicans would go along with popular issues like stem cells and the minimum wage, but apparently they’ve decided smacking themselves on the head with the Iraq hammer isn’t painful enough- though they did cave on student loans t’other day.
Basically, there’s not much the Democrats can do, given the 50/50 split, (with Holy Joe voting with the Republicans on most issues)- except of course, blame the obstructionist GOP in 2008.
And the reason Congress is at record lows is a lot of people are pissed off at the Democratic leadership for not being aggressive enough on ending the war- looks like Harry Reid at least has got the message.
[quote]The results of the latest NY Times/CBS News poll (July 9-17) continue to bode well for Democrats in 2008.
If the 2008 election for President were being held today, would you probably vote for the Republican candidate or would you probably vote for the Democratic candidate?
Democratic: 47%
Republican: 32%
In general, is your opinion of the Republican party favorable or not favorable?
Favorable: 38%
Unfavorable: 56%
In general, is your opinion of the Democratic party favorable or not favorable?
Favorable: 52%
Unfavorable: 41%
The poll also asked primary voters of each party whether they’re satisfied with their candidates and, while it’s conventional wisdom, I was struck by the enormous disparity in enthusiasm between the two parties:
Are you generally satisfied with the candidates now running for the Democratic nomination for President, or do you wish there were more choices?
Satisfied: 61%
More Choices: 37%
Are you generally satisfied with the candidates now running for the Republican nomination for President, or do you wish there were more choices?
Satisfied: 36%
More Choices: 60%[/quote]
mydd.com/
Currently, the winning choice for Republican candidate is Nota- as in “None of the above”- why don’t they just dig up Reagan’s body and get it over with?