Poll: With the Parties So Divided, Will Congress Be Able to Pass an AUMF to Combat ISIS This Year?

"Nobody wins if Congress can't agree on AUMF—not that it has stopped them in the past!"

An explosion rocks Syrian city of Kobani during a reported suicide car bomb attack by the militants of Islamic State (ISIS) group on a People's Protection Unit (YPG) position in the city center of Kobani, as seen from the outskirts of Suruc, on the Turkey-Syria border. (National Journal)

February 27, 2015

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Q: With the parties so divided, will Congress be able to pass an AUMF to combat ISIS this year?

DEMOCRATS (83 VOTES)

An explosion rocks the Syrian city of Kobani during a reported suicide car bomb attack by ISIS militants on a People's Protection Unit. (Gokhan Sahin / Getty Images)Yes: 78%No: 22%

Yes

"Will be a tough slog, with opposition from the Left and the Right, but in the end, there will be some type of [Authorization for the Use of Military Force]."

"Unfortunately, public opposition to the use of combat troops against ISIS is softening, which will give Congress the space to support the AUMF."

"Nobody wins if Congress can't agree on AUMF—not that it has stopped them in the past!"

"Public pressure may yield congressional action. An amazing concept, but it is possible."

"Eventually, they have to. Just because we want to rid ourselves of the Middle East legacy battles doesn't mean we can shirk the ones that emerge."

"An enemy like ISIS brings squabbling parties together. As much as the Republicans hate to see President Obama getting credit for the improving economy and other positive signs, one has to figure they hate ISIS more."

"Who wants ads featuring beheadings and burnings run against them?"

"Doubtful. There are few statesmen left to bring the fractured Congress together, even on national security matters."

"Unless there is a major attack on U.S. soil."

Q: With the parties so divided, will Congress be able to pass an AUMF to combat ISIS this year?

DEMOCRATS (83 VOTES)

An explosion rocks the Syrian city of Kobani during a reported suicide car bomb attack by ISIS militants on a People's Protection Unit. (Gokhan Sahin / Getty Images)Yes: 78%No: 22%

Yes

"Will be a tough slog, with opposition from the Left and the Right, but in the end, there will be some type of [Authorization for the Use of Military Force]."

"Unfortunately, public opposition to the use of combat troops against ISIS is softening, which will give Congress the space to support the AUMF."

"Nobody wins if Congress can't agree on AUMF—not that it has stopped them in the past!"

"Public pressure may yield congressional action. An amazing concept, but it is possible."

"Eventually, they have to. Just because we want to rid ourselves of the Middle East legacy battles doesn't mean we can shirk the ones that emerge."

"Who wants ads featuring beheadings and burnings run against them?"

"Doubtful. There are few statesmen left to bring the fractured Congress together, even on national security matters."

"Unless there is a major attack on U.S. soil."

Q: With the parties so divided, will Congress be able to pass an AUMF to combat ISIS this year?

REPUBLICANS (90 VOTES)

Yes: 78%No: 22%

Yes

"Not sure the Republicans trust Obama, but they do not want to appear obstructionist."

"Republicans can make real points by offering the president the options he refuses to consider or use."

"Easy choice. No one wants to be soft on these barbarians. Republicans will be for it, and so will several Democrats."

"This is one of those things on which they can agree—and use it as a building block for other opportunities for agreement."

"This is an opportunity for Republicans to lead, form a consensus, and pass something with centrist Democrats rather than criticize."

"The Republicans think the AUMF is too restrictive, the Democrats think it's too broad, and the White House really couldn't care less."

"Tough to see how the president gets there without more clearly articulating his strategy."

"Too difficult to find common ground when parties are fighting on everything else."

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Democratic Political Insiders Jill Alper, John Anzalone, Brad Bannon, Dave Beattie, Andy Bechhoefer, Cornell Belcher, Matt Bennett, Mitchell W. Berger, Mike Berman, Stephanie Bosh, Paul Brathwaite, Donna Brazile, Mark Brewer, Ed Bruley, George Bruno, Bonnie Campbell, Bill Carrick, Guy Cecil, Martin J. Chavez, Tony Coelho, Larry Cohen, Jerry Crawford, Jeff Danielson, Peter Daou, Howard Dean, Scott DeFife, Jim Demers, Tad Devine, David Di Martino, Monica Dixon, Patrick Dorton, Pat Dujakovich, Anita Dunn, Jeff Eller, Steve Elmendorf, Carter Eskew, Vic Fazio, Peter Fenn, Scott Ferson, Jim Fleischmann, Tina Flournoy, Don Foley, Jeffrey Forbes, Vincent Frillici, Gina Glantz, Niles Godes, John Michael Gonzalez, Joe Grandmaison, Anna Greenberg, Stan Greenberg, Pat Griffin, Larry Grisolano, Michael Gronstal, Lisa Grove, Marcia Hale, Jill Hanauer, Dick Harpootlian, Paul Harstad, Laura Hartigan, Doug Hattaway, Mike Henry, Karen Hicks, Leo Hindery Jr., Harold Ickes, Marcus Jadotte, John Jameson, Steve Jarding, Jonathon Jones, Jim Jordan, Gale Kaufman, Lisa Kountoupes, Celinda Lake, David Lang, Penny Lee, Chris Lehane, Jeff Link, Bob Maloney, Jim Manley, Steve Marchand, Jim Margolis, Paul Maslin, Keith Mason, Susan McCue, Gerald McEntee, Steve McMahon, Tom McMahon, Phil McNamara, David Medina, Michael Meehan, Mark Mellman, John Merrigan, Michael Monroe, Steve Murphy, Janet Napolitano, David Nassar, Marcia Nichols, John Norris, Tom Ochs, Tom O'Donnell, Jeffrey Peck, Debora Pignatelli, Tony Podesta, Jefrey Pollock, Jack Quinn, Larry Rasky, Ed Rendell, Steve Ricchetti, Will Robinson, Steve Rosenthal, David Rudd, Ryan Rudominer, John Ryan, Michael Sargeant, Stephanie Schriock, Terry Shumaker, Sean Sinclair, Phil Singer, Erik Smith, Doug Sosnik, Greg Speed, Darry Sragow, Ken Strasma, Doug Thornell, Jeffrey Trammell, Ed Turlington, Rick Wiener, James Williams, JoDee Winterhof, Brian Wolff, Jon Youngdahl, and Jim Zogby.

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