Posted on 12/09/2010 1:20:54 AM PST by Red Steel
Senior Senate Democratic aides are in a panic this morning about the prospects for repeal of don't ask don't tell, because talks with Senator Susan Collins over her procedural demands have hit a wall, with the Democratic leadership dismissing her requests as unreasonable and counterproductive, a senior Dem aide close to the talks tells me.
The talks are continuing as we speak, so all is not lost yet. Indeed, the logjam in the discussions comes as Dem leaders have stepped up their efforts to get moderate Republicans to agree to vote for cloture on repeal, with President Obama personally calling Senators on both sides, the aide says.
Collins has said she supports repeal, but won't agree to vote for cloture on the Defense Authorization Bill containing repeal if Harry Reid doesn't allow ample time for open debate and amendments on the bill.
In private discussions between Collins and Reid this morning, and between their staffs over the weekend, Collins has demanded that Reid allow what's known as "unlimited debate" on the bill in order for her to vote for repeal, the aide close to the talks says.
Reid has rejected this demand, the aide continues. The problem is that this could allow any Senator to hijack the proceedings by introducing a "non-germane amendment," thus holding the floor.
Reid does not think Collins herself intends to do this, the aide continues. Rather, he worries that another GOP Senator who strongly opposes repeal, such as Tom Coburn or Jim DeMint, could take advantage of unlimited debate in this fashion to run out the clock.
(Excerpt) Read more at voices.washingtonpost.com ...
>> he worries that ... Jim DeMint
A rock.
Here’s the deal Harry. We get 3 weeks of debate and 30 amendments...about should do it.
Where are all these Blue Dog Democrats in the Senate? What about the two Democrats in Virginia, or the other Southern Democrats that are up for election in 2012? Are they willing to slit their own throat after seeing the results of last month's elections?
If the Dems were so hot to repeal DADT they've had two years to do it.
Liberal gays are unhappy because the Dems and Obama in particular are all talk on their issues and exit polls showed 1/3 of self-identifying gays voted Republican last month. That's more than any time since Clinton was in office and maybe earlier.
Any Republican who cooperates with the Democrats at this point is as much an enemy of freedom as the Democrats themselves. Why? Because Democrats have CLEARLY lost whatever mandate they had after the 2008 elections. It’s also pretty clear the Democrats are ramming through as much as possible, because they KNOW they’re governing in opposition to We the People.
I say, Shut it down! It’s time to kill this lame duck!
Is there another kind?
This article smells like disinformation. I bet Collins has already caved and this is a cover story to make it seem like Hussein pulls off a last second win.
And Cajun, Collins, IIRC, *did* pull a Mini-Landrieu a few months back w/the stimulus...I know on some issue she held out for Maine goodies in exchange for her vote for some damnable legislation.
Senator Collins, demand that this Admin CLOSE THE BORDER! This Admin can’t be bothered to enforce the laws that would keep us safer. CLOSE THE BORDER!! At this point, nothing is more important.
Moral Democrats-is there such a thing?
Patriots who support this “change”-is there such a thing?
No bias here.
These smelly, stinkin’ DIMs are doing everything they can to piss off the average American. Mental illness in full bloom is sad, but interesting, to observe. Is Reid first going to get rid of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell in the Senate?
What happened to the urgency to get the current tax rates extended? Oh, wait.... that will have to take a back seat to sodomy.
When it comes time to name seditious organizations, the WP will be at the top of my list.
I don’t understand why the kenyan doesn’t just do the deed with an MO. It is not a law that is being discussed, I think, but a regulation. Perhaps he knows that simply reversing a regulation would be open, itself, to Congressional repeal much more easily than if it is passed as a Law.
That goes equally for Republicans who co-operate with Democrats on the tax bill compromise.
in the real world when one is fired you go that day to not ruin the company , in Govt you are fired but stay on to ruin the country.
Doesn’t make sense along with even talking about don’t ask.
Has many left this planet or something, we’re talking about say two men poking each other up the arse just to get off sexually.
You got that right (that Republicans shouldn’t cooperate with the Democrats on the tax bill). Americans rejected the Democrats in droves in the recent election. There’s absolutely ZERO reason to compromise on ANYTHING at this point. Filibuster everything until We the People have the representation we elected! The lame duck Congress has no mandate to pass anything at this point.
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