Because almost nobody gives a damn, that's why. A few of us dweebs are really upset, and that's about it. I lost sleep over this, but I don't personally know anyone else who did. Sure, a strong majority of Americans are finally opposed to this war, but that doesn't mean they actually care in any meaningful way. Not enough to actually take any sort of action. In that sense, Clinton and Obama are mirroring the voting populace. They aren't going to stick their necks out just to get a collective yawn. They could filibuster and it would hardly make the evening news.

Another point I would like to make about this vote, is that I think we need to face the fact that too many Democrats in the House and Senate see this war in very similar terms as the President. It's very painful to consider, but it explains a lot. It's not that they are chicken, it's that they agree with the man, in some cases.

Yeah, that worked really fucking great in 2000. I'm so glad I voted for that turd Nader.

Below is a post from Glenn Greenwald last October, a few weeks before the election. He was refuting the claim that certain Respublican senators are "independent mavericks" or ever challenge the President in a meaningful. But it can also be read as a clear example in black and white of just how poor the Democratic party discipline can be when it counts the most.

UPDATE: Just to get a sense for how thoroughly in lockstep Republican Senators march, as contrasted with the frequently divided Democratic Senate caucus, observe the following votes on some of the most significant matters the Senate has decided over the last several years:

Vote to confirm John Roberts to the Supreme Court: Republicans (56-0) -- Democrats (22 -22)

Cloture vote on Sam Alito's nomination to the Supreme Court: Republicans (54-0) -- Democrats (19-25)

Vote on Authorization to use military force in Iraq: Republicans (48-1) -- Democrats - (29-21)

Cloture vote on Bankrupty Bill: Republicans (55-0) -- Democrats (14-30)

Cloture vote on nomination of Priscilla Owens to appeals court: Republicans (55-0) -- Democrats (25-18)

Toture/detention bill: Republicans (53-1) -- Democrats (33-12)

Genuine Republican independence in the Congress is a myth. It doesn't exist. They have spent the last five years as a pitifully obsequious appedange to the Bush agenda.

Is for the right wing to split and form their own third party. Let the Republicans take the hit.

Whether or not Nader "lost it" for Gore isn't the point. MY point, was that Nader drew an insignificant percentage of the vote to make a statement. Take Perot in 1992. That was closer to a real statement, but over 30% I think would really open some eyes. But 2% is just a group of wasted votes, and nothing more.

Real "progressive" change will come from election reform (I'm not hodling my breath) and real liberals getting involved in the Democratic Party and changing it from within, instead of typing complaints on a computer.

He just earned another $25 donation from me.

In voting against this bill, he's pissed of the left and the right. Some say that means he's doing the right thing--I just think it means he's got a thankless job sometimes.

Because people don't care enough, that's why. We, as a nation, are thoroughly detached from this war on an emotional level.

Elephantman will never let you down in that respect. You can always count on him for the infantile angle.

That's funny. I always say that when Bush warns us that the Islamo-fascists want to take away our freedoms, what people take that to mean is that we won't have as many things to choose from on the shelves at Wal-Mart. It think this about as deep as this gets for most people.

He merely realized how bad it looks when you make fun of retards. Very bad form!

I was standing in a shoe store near the University of Texas and overheard a military recruiter telling a young man that if he joined, he didn't need to worry about going to Iraq because troops would begin coming home by the end of the year and not to believe any of the "endless war bs." What a snake.

The one that drives me crazy is when Administratin officials declare that a certain subject can't be discussed or commented on, because "the matter is still under investigation" or litigation. Then, once the matter has been resolved in court, or the investigation completed--i.e. the Plame case--then it's not worth discussing or commenting on because it's "old news" and we should be focusing our attention on more serious, current matters.