Back in the days before Democrats regained control of the Senate, "up or down vote" was a favorite GOP talking point. Now twice in a single day, Senate Republicans resorted to the filibuster to the thwart the will of the American people.
This morning, Arlen Specter, Chris Dodd and Pat Leahy failed to get the needed 60 votes to end debate on the Restore Habeas Corpus Act, a measure designed to undo the worst excesses of President Bush's draconian 2006 Military Commissions Act. Now comes word that the Republicans once again blocked by 44-56 the Webb Amendment calling for U.S. troops in Iraq to receive time back home at least equal in duration to their tours of duty.
For more on how these latest filibusters are just the latest acts in the Republicans' ongoing strategy of obstructionism, see "Up or Down Vote: Death of a GOP Talking Point."