GOP Kills Iraq Withdrawal Amendment (At Least For Now)

The vote was, in many ways, anti-climatic. Although the tally wasn't predictable, the end result was.

Republicans in the US Senate stood by their man (President Bush) today, as Democratic leadership fell far short (52-47) of the 60 votes needed to bring the Levin-Reed amendment, calling for withdrawal of troops from Iraq, to a vote.

In response, Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has "temporarily laid aside the Defense Authorization bill... we will come back to this bill as soon as it is clear we can make real progress."

So far, this Congress -- in six months -- has seen 49 motions for cloture (Rule 22, to end debate). If one measures divisiveness by filibuster, this Congress is on track to be the most divisive in modern history. The last Congress had only 68 motions in two years.

Republicans and Independents Voting To Bring The Amendment To A Vote
Collins (R-ME), Hagel (R-NE), Sanders (I-VT), Smith (R-OR), Snowe (R-ME) .

Democrats and Independents Opposed To Bringing The Amendment To A Vote
Lieberman (I-CT), Reid (D-NV) [Note, Reid's vote was procedural.]

Also, see Senate Action on Cloture Motions, Senate Raises Stakes With Iraq Deadline Vote, Iraq War Results & Statistics as of July 11, 2007.