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be opposed to it. That's not mythology. If you say, “Abzug is for this -- it's an Abzug amendment,” it may carry, but there'll be an automatic response by some people who, even if it's a good amendment, will be opposed to it simply because it's hers. On the other hand, she has carried amendments -- there's no question about it.

Can you quantify this? How large is this bloc of Congressmen?

Oh, I would say -- it's just sheer speculation -- aside from the ideologues (on any issue, Republicans who just will never vote for any issue that a Democrat brings up, and there are that kind of ideologues because the Democrats are normally bringing up issues that are more socially minded), I would say there are at least 30, 40 people who have an intense dislike for her not in that ideologue category, who will not vote for something that Bella is for.

In other words, we're talking about 30 to 40 Congresspersons who would seriously consider voting for the amendment but automatically will not vote for it irrespective of their feelings on the amendment.

I would say so. I mean if they had an opportunity to get involved in a discussion of the amendment, they might change their position, but that's not the way votes take place there.