Two amendments to the defense spending bill were offered. One, the McGovern amendment which "would've called on the administration to begin wrapping up the war and negotiating a settlement that would allow for a pullout" but did not give a explicit date. This surprisingly very nearly passed; it failed by only a 204-215 vote. 178 of 186 House Democrats voted for the amendment which failed only due to overwhelming Republican opposition (26 for, 207 against).
To me what is more interesting is the vote on the Chaffetz Amendment which would have required a full withdrawal of all American forces from Afghanistan within 60 days. Predictably, only 16 Republicans out of 233 voted for the amendment (though it's sponsor was a Utah Republican) and it failed 123-294. But significantly a clear majority of House Democrats voted for it: 107 ayes, 77 nays.
So a solid majority of Democrats in the House support a rapid withdrawal from the war in Afghanistan. An overwhelming majority of House Republicans not only oppose this; they also oppose even largely symbolic calls for a pullout in an unspecified future.
Interesting.
EDIT: OOPS, forgot the link: http://news.antiwar.com/2011/05/26/house-call-to-end-afghan-war-suffers-narrow-defeat/
You can get the exact breakdown of the votes by clicking on the vote totals in the article.
Originally posted by no1marauderNot really a big suprise.
Two amendments to the defense spending bill were offered. One, the McGovern amendment which "would've called on the administration to begin wrapping up the war and negotiating a settlement that would allow for a pullout" but did not give a explicit date. This surprisingly very nearly passed; it failed by only a 204-215 vote. 178 of 186 House Democrats vo ...[text shortened]... You can get the exact breakdown of the votes by clicking on the vote totals in the article.
Originally posted by no1marauderSure, now that they have lost power in the House they can now propose legislation they know won't pass and blame it on the GOP. Nice.
Two amendments to the defense spending bill were offered. One, the McGovern amendment which "would've called on the administration to begin wrapping up the war and negotiating a settlement that would allow for a pullout" but did not give a explicit date. This surprisingly very nearly passed; it failed by only a 204-215 vote. 178 of 186 House Democrats vo ...[text shortened]... You can get the exact breakdown of the votes by clicking on the vote totals in the article.
Originally posted by whodeyThat's just the Democrats being "gutsy"
Sure, now that they have lost power in the House they can now propose legislation they know won't pass and blame it on the GOP. Nice.
They know Obama's not going anywhere, but want to be able to tell their serfs that they voted to get out of there.
Originally posted by whodeyIt's not like either party doesn't do that when they are in the majority.
Sure, now that they have lost power in the House they can now propose legislation they know won't pass and blame it on the GOP. Nice.
In the Senate, Democrats screwed the Republicans by forcing them to vote for the Ryan budget plan, and screwed them again by forcing them to filibuster a vote to end tax breaks for the biggest oil companies. It looks just as bad, either way.
Originally posted by whodeyIf the GOP had voted for it, it would have passed, wouldn't it?
Sure, now that they have lost power in the House they can now propose legislation they know won't pass and blame it on the GOP. Nice.
BTW, in case you can't read, the amendment to end operations in 60 days was proposed by a Utah Republican.
Originally posted by The BloopAnd what can the Republicans tell their "serfs"? That they continue to support an indefinite continuation of the war in Afghanistan?
That's just the Democrats being "gutsy"
They know Obama's not going anywhere, but want to be able to tell their serfs that they voted to get out of there.