The Senate has plenary power to make its own rules, granted in Article I.
go against the will of the vast majority of U.S. Citizens
The way we ascertain the "will of the majority" (never mind the "vast majority") in a representative Republic is by the results of elections. All 435 Members of Congress were elected in 2008. Sixty-seven of the 100 Senators have been elected since 2006.
Polls don't, and shouldn't, govern the country.
There's no evidence - none whatsoever - based on elections that this Congress isn't doing EXACTLY what the People want them to do.
I hope the People are happy with their stupidity.
Jim, it ain't exactly stupidity. It's far worse. It's apathetic stupidity. The votes that would have assured Obama's defeat, and that of his cohorts, never showed at the polls. In fact, they NEVER do.
With a 50-55%% turnout or less, in key states, Obama was elected by about 26% of the potential vote. Now the folks who didn't vote, want to change the outcome; that is they wish to escape the consequences of their stupidity.
Good luck to us all.