An attempt to break the conservative minority filibuster of a proposal to effectively end the Iraq occupation fell short today. A majority of 53 senators, including four Republicans and one independent, supported an up-or-down vote (52 of which support the actual bill), but that’s 7 votes short of the super-majority needed to end the filibuster.
In turn, Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid — instead of turning the floor over to proposals that would maintain the Iraq occupation — turned the Senate’s attention to a different bill.
So, did the all-night debate accomplish anything? Absolutely.
