“Republican senators on Friday were again able to block a Democratic amendment that would set “definite timelines” for bringing home American combat forces from Iraq.The amendment, offered by Sens. Carl Levin, D-Michigan, and Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, called for the withdrawal of combat troops from Iraq in nine months. It failed on a vote of 47 to 47.

Falling short of the 60 votes needed to advance under Senate rules. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Thursday said the Levin-Reed proposal is “basically the same as it was” back in July, when it drew the support of 52 senators, including four Republicans.”

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Obviously General Petraeus has helped the vacillating Republicans rally back to the cause of supporting the war, but for how long shall this continue? I’m sure Vice President Cheney helped calm some fears as well, but how much longer can the Republicans support a war that is overwhelmingly opposed by Americans? Even after the General’s remarks, statistics show that American’s opinion of the war didn’t generally change –

Question on 9/14-16/07: “Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling the situation with Iraq?” 25% approve, 70% disapproved, and 5% are unsure. This is after the General’s speech. (CBS)

Its also interesting that the latest bill actually lost, rather than gained support. Obviously some of the Republicans have been drafted back to their base with the General’s speech. Still, the reason that Democrats NEED 60 votes isn’t because thats how much they need to win the vote (the majority), but because thats how much they need to break the Republican filibuster. Yet another way the Republicans are shooting themselves in the foot and losing support…

My question is how are the Republicans think they’re going to win the presidential election and congressional elections if they continue you support a war opposed by most Americans. Even if the President SOMEHOW succeeds in this war, a majority of the country doesn’t think we should have ever started this war (53% CBS). So they will still be against the odds, not to mention the other faults of the Republican Congress and Administration…

I’m guessing that the Republican primary winner will strongly support the war to win the Republican primary, and then after he wins, will start to lose their support in order to win the general election. Although I doubt a Republican can win, this is the only way I can see how a Republican could even come close. After all, the Iraq war is generally the most important issue to voters…