Posted on 12/03/2010 5:27:47 PM PST by SeekAndFind
That makes 60 votes for cloture, assuming Reid can keep the entire Democratic caucus in line. I’m not aware of any defectors yet but Tester, McCaskill, Ben Nelson and a few other red-state Dems who are up in 2012 will be thinking awfully hard about this vote, needless to say.
Two big qualifiers, though. Collins, at least, is sticking by the GOP’s plan to vote no on everything until a deal is reached on the Bush tax cuts. Brown’s statement doesn’t address the subject, but since he also signed the Republican pledge to make the tax cuts top priority, presumably he’s on the same page. Until something happens on taxes, then, this is all meaningless. Which brings us to the second qualifier: Will there be any time left in the lame duck to address DADT even after a deal on taxes is reached? Durbin announced just within the past hour or so that he expects they’ll bring the DREAM Act to the floor next week. (Gird your loins.) GOP opposition to the START treaty has been softening too, so no doubt Reid’s going to try to take advantage by adding that to the calendar. Between tax cuts, DREAM, and START, will there be any time to take up DADT? If not, and given the fact that DREAM has much less of a chance of passing than the DADT repeal does, doesn’t that mean that Democrats will have completely sold out their last, best chance at achieving a key goal of their gay base for nothing more than a token gesture to Latinos? Rush should talk that up next week. Operation Chaos II!
In the interest of equal time after last night’s post, here’s vid of Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos politely disagreeing with Gates and Mullen about repealing DADT right now. Emphasis on “right now”: He accepts repeal as a fait accompli, he just wants it on hold until the services aren’t under the strain of combat. (See Levin’s response to that.) The heads of the Army and Air Force agree with him, in fact; the only service branch head who favors immediate repeal of DADT is, er, the Navy’s. Exit question: Isn’t the real debate here whether DADT will be lifted by Congress or the courts, not whether it’ll be lifted at all? The Pentagon sure seems to think so.
Not that it makes a conservative feel good.
The trial lawyers are already salivating and sharpening their carving knives. The Pentagon’s budget is about to become their Christmas goose.
Remember folks, he’s a Republican who won a seat in a leftist state. Not a good indication of a conservative.
Bear this in mind before you jump on the Mitt bandwagon.
He’s Mitt lite
How do I go about getting a refund of the hunnert bucks I sent him?
They got 60??
Is this counting the two Dem Senators from Arkansas who voted last time in September against cloture, and the new Dem Senator Joe Manchin who sure looks like a vote against DADT repeal?
He’s drunk too much Potomac Koolaid. The US is BROKE and he’s worried about this nonsense.
When push comes to shove, Manchin will toe the party line.
We will see. Manchin is up for reelection in 2012. Voting yes to overturn DADT won’t go over good in WV.
Do you really think this is any different from what he was when running for office?!
The US is BROKE and he’s worried about this nonsense.
Let's see...the Dems agreed to consider holding off on the tax increase and blocking other cuts in exchange for DADT (and START II). So he's not the one holding up things. (Not that I'm agreeing with his position...I'm just pointing out that his position is not at odds with getting the economy in order.)
“He accepts repeal as a fait accompli, he just wants it on hold until the services aren’t under the strain of combat.”
I guess that means no time this decade then?
Heh.
It’s a crap sammich as usual. The lower tax extension will solve nothing. The US needs massive tax relief and massive spending cuts. It’s all facade in DC. The amusement is done. Our gov’t is going too fall.
We are toast without the best in the service of our country.
“”Collins, at least, is sticking by the GOP’s plan to vote no on everything until a deal is reached on the Bush tax cuts.””
Doesn’t the above taken from the article contradict the headline? They have her YES vote but she’s sticking by the plan?
I can’t wait to hear another so-called conservative remind me to ignore social issues, because fiscal matters are the only ones that matter. It’s not like the leftists are going to declare a truce on social issues. They’re attacking on every front, and it’s all interrelated.
I don’t think people understand how serious the repeal of DADT really is. If conservatives lose this one, we lose the entire Gay War. The DoD will capitulate on on-base housing and benefits for homosexual couples, DoD chaplains and Christian military members will receive gag orders for anti-homosexual speech (creates hostile and intimidating work environment), and courts will overturn state restrictions on homosexual “marriage” because “people who are willing to die for their country deserve to marry the spouse of their choice.”
It is so blatantly obvious that homosexuality is a deviant act that goes against the natural order of things. It is one thing to tolerate it. Gates and Mullet-head Mullin want to normalize and endorse promiscuous anal sodomy as fully compatible with a healthy, morally upright military career. Leadership is out to destroy smoking and increase fitness standards, but having a butt buddy is A-OK?
Heaven help us!
If the Democrats need his vote, they got it. If they can flip a few more Republicans, which should be as difficult as breaking an eggshell, they may let him slide. But, in the end, always look for a Democrat to behave as a Democrat. Unfortunately for us, the same holds for Republicans also.
And I remember so many Freepers getting all bent out of shape before the election when a few of us suggested that he might not be that conservative and worth spending any money on...
Even if the Dims get cloture, the Repubs can slow this down voting for amendment after amendment to lard it down. The bill goes to the joint house meeting where the two houses again have to agree to pass the same bill. Time is not on the rats side. Tick toc tick toc.... Dems - oh damn - time’s up, it is January.
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