WaPo Whip Count: The “no’s” keep piling up on Syria resolution in the House

[cali]

<snip>

Over the last two days, scores of members — most of them Republicans, but many of them Democrats — have expressed their opposition to the use of force in Syria.

According to The Fix’s handy-dandy whip count, the ranks of the opposition more than doubled from 34 on Tuesday morning to 86 by Thursday morning.

Over that same span, the number of House members supporting the use of force increased by a whopping two, from 17 to 19.

You heard that right: There are now more than four times as many opponents of military action in the House as supporters.

And that doesn’t even factor in the dozens of members who have expressed skepticism about Syria. According to The Fix’s latest numbers, 92 representatives have expressed hesitation but not complete opposition.

<snip>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/09/05/prospects-for-syria-resolution-dimming-in-house/

I think there's a reluctance on the part of democrats to do anything that they think would weaken President Obama and voting this down would certainly do that. On the other hand, for a whole slew of reasons, many reps are just as reluctant to vote yes. Attacking Syria remains deeply unpopular and bite them in their asses in next years elections is certainly a motivating factor.

[Freddie Stubbs]

1. Congressmen who are going to make an unpopular vote often say that they are undecided.

And will continue to make that claim right up until it is time to cast their vote.

[PoliticAverse]

6. Exactly. n/t

[gordianot]

2. I hope when the time comes Obama will run and just not walk away. n/t

[Nuclear Unicorn]

3. "there's a reluctance on the part of democrats to do anything that they think would weaken President

Concur but I would say to those Democrats -- Launching an unpopular War for Ego would also weaken the President. Failing to do the right thing will weaken YOU. One way or another the President is already weakened. Cut your losses.

[markpkessinger]

10. Agreed . . .

AND it will weaken the party as a whole for the 2014 midterms.

[Gman]

4. Who hoo! A majority of 20% of the House

Oppose intervention.

Not newsworthy.

[KittyWampus]

5. Their obstructionism is finally of value to humanity.

[LittleBlue]

7. Would be hilarious if this failed

I couldn't care less if Obama is embarrassed, he's not running again. He's putting the Democrats who are running again in jeopardy for his pointless war.

[onyourleft]

8. Good.

I hope this holds.

[sabrina 1]

9. They are hearing from the public. They have to make a choice, do the wrong thing to save face,

and lose your job. Or do the right thing, and gain the respect of the majority of the people on this planet and show the world that we really ARE a democracy after all and that the MIC doesn't control Congress, the people do.