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"A comprehensive, collaborative elections resource."
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. . . And Mischief
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| Contributor | FreedomDemocrat |
| Last Edited | FreedomDemocrat Nov 29, 2003 04:53pm |
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| Category | Commentary |
| Media | Newspaper - Washington Post |
| News Date | Saturday, November 29, 2003 06:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | One of the most disgraceful moments in American sports came in the 1972 Olympics, when officials gave the Soviet Union's basketball team three chances to shoot the ball after the clock had apparently run out -- allowing it to defeat the U.S. team.
American politics now has its own version of that infamous game. Early last Sunday, starting at about 3 a.m., the House of Representatives began its roll call on the Medicare prescription drug plan -- the most significant vote of the year. The House votes by electronic device, with each vote normally taking 15 minutes. After the allotted time, the bill, supported by the president and the Republican leadership, was losing. The vote stayed open. Before long it became clear that an absolute majority of the House -- 218 of the 435 members -- had voted no, with only 216 in favor. But the vote stayed open until Republicans were able to bludgeon two of their members to switch sides. It took two hours and 51 minutes, the longest roll call in modern House history. |
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