[plain talk]

What it IS, is the first salvo to drum up public interest.

Yes but there is another reason as well. They need stuff like this to distract the masses from the failed economy and high unemployment rate. Sure they want it to pass. And to your point they are aware it may take a while to get it done. And even it doesn't pass now they can take advantage of this "crisis" to make it appear they are actually doing something and distract from their record.

[Sooth2222]

"Yes but there is another reason as well. They need stuff like this to distract the masses from the failed economy and high unemployment rate. Sure they want it to pass. And to your point they are aware it may take a while to get it done. And even it doesn't pass now they can take advantage of this "crisis" to make it appear they are actually doing something and distract from their record."

That was among my thoughts -- they crafted something that is impossible to pass in this congress -- allowing them to dance on the coffins of those 20 kids and blame the Republicans. This is about the 2014 election already. And the end of America.