In other words, this thing has a snowball’s chance in hell of passing the House.
Via ThinkProgress:
As members of Congress consider President Obama’s request to authorize military force in Syria, following evidence that President Bashar Assad’s use of chemical weapons killed over 1,400 people, a ThinkProgress analysis of the public statements of 416 Representatives found that 238 lawmakers have either decisively ruled out supporting the measure or say they are unlikely to back it. Just 42 of the 416 members of the House of Representatives said they will definitely or likely vote in favor or the resolution.
A vote in the House is not expected until next week at the earliest. 136 members have publicly said they are undecided and the positions of 17 members are unknown. All told, 317 members either have not decided, or indicated they are willing to consider changing their position.
Republicans were far more likely to oppose military action in Syria, while Democrats were more likely to support it. The numbers are a contrast to 2002, when Democrats in the House provided “the bulk of the opposition” to President George W. Bush’s Iraq war resolution — though a majority of Democrats (61 percent) still backed war. Only six House Republicans voted against the Iraq war in 2002.
Update: Just a tad delusional.
Via Washington Examiner:
Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes on Monday predicted that the White House would win enough congressional votes to strike Syria.
In an interview on CNN, Rhodes downplayed polls showing a majority of Americans oppose a military attack and weak support in Congress.
“We think at the end of the day the votes will be there in the Senate and the House,” said Rhodes told “New Day” host Chris Cuomo.
Rhodes conceded that it would be a difficult vote for many members of Congress.
“We understand it’s a tough vote for members of Congress but we frankly think it’s important for everybody to come forward and to be counted through that vote because these are tough decisions that we have to make as a country,” he said. “We’re not going to win every vote but we believe that at the end of the day we have the strongest case to make that frankly inaction sends a message.”