In September, the House and Senate are planning to vote on bills demanding that the US back out of the P5+1 nuclear deal with Iran. The votes are expected to split almost entirely along party lines, and which Republicans initially expressed confidence at getting enough Democrats to override a presidential veto, that seems a remote possibility at best.
31 senators have already endorsed the deal, and only 34 are needed to enforce a presidential veto. The 13 remaining undecided Democrats, however, could give them a shot at filibustering against even having a vote, with 60 votes needed to block a filibuster and force a vote, and by extension a veto.
Either way, the P5+1 deal seems safe, but Republicans are now seeing forcing a veto as at least a partial victory, and are threatening huge political consequences if the Democrats manage the filibuster, saying that the Democrats would be “denying the people a vote” on the matter.
The White House is said to be keen to avoid having to veto a resolution against the deal, and would prefer it not to come up. Even if a filibuster precludes the Senate vote and the need for a veto, Republicans are suggesting the House might vote anyhow, though such a vote would be meaningless.
With tensions of millions of dollars of AIPAC lobbying going into trying to kill the deal, a lot of Congressmen are hoping to prove their loyalty to the lobbyists by voting against the pact, and they seem horrified that they might lose that opportunity if there is no vote.
Let's get the vote going so the American people can see exactly who's who.
A filibuster past the 60 day deadline will save the consciences of the few GOP-ers who know that a no vote in the first round will be a huge world-wide embarrassment for our nation.
The great embarrassment for the Libertarians is that their Senator Rand will not vote no as he should.
The remainder of the GOP in Congress is immune to embarrassment.
The great embarrassment for the Democrats are Schumer et al.
To prevent our President to carry out a multi-national agreement approved overwhelmingly by the UN is the summit of blind obstructionism.
"The great embarrassment for the Libertarians is that their Senator Rand will not vote no as he should."
I call a strawman.
Since when is Rand Paul a Libertarian?
This apple called Rand did indeed fall far from the libertarian tree – his dad.
Rand is like most Christians, he claims to be one but doesn't practice his beliefs.
"With tensions of millions of dollars of AIPAC lobbying going into trying to kill the deal…"
Perhaps they should try a little meditation to relieve those pesky "tensions" before they cause a heart attack. Nothing worse than a tense million dollars from AIPAC.
Would not be denying "the American people a vote". But would be denying AIPAC, the rest of the Israel neocon Lobby, and the Israeli apartheid regime a veto.
I have libertarian sympathies. I hate Rand Paul. He is awful and you are correct. He should support the deal. Other than some decent views on the NSA he has been a bust as a senator