Posted on 12/18/2010 7:35:51 AM PST by Red Steel
The Senate will act on two important pieces of President Obama's progressive legislative agenda today: the DREAM Act and the repeal of the military's ban on openly gay servicemembers. By the end of the day, the path to final passage is expected to be set for DADT repeal, while DREAM is expected to languish for another Congress to pass.
Starting at around 10:30 this morning, the Senate will take up a cloture vote on DREAM. Cloture -- voted in by a 60-senator super majority -- is required to cut off debate and move a bill to final passage in the Senate. DREAM, which would provide legal status for illegal immigrants who serve in the military or earn college degrees, is not expected to hit that mark, effectively scrapping the bill for the time being.
That will set the stage for a cloture vote on a standalone DADT repeal bill, which proponents say is destined for passage. That will be the first step toward ending the nearly two-decade practice of allowing gays and lesbians to serve in the military, but not if anyone who works with them knows they're gay. Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), who has been the driving force behind lining up the votes for DADT repeal, says he has the 60 he needs and most observers expect there to be little drama today.
Lieberman and his allies in the Democratic caucus are expected to get help repealing DADT from at least four Republicans -- Sens. Scott Brown (MA), Susan Collins (ME), Lisa Murkowski (AK) and Olympia Snowe (ME). Most of the rest of the GOP caucus is expected to vote against it, though Lieberman said yesterday that the bill may pick up support from the GOP as it heads toward final passage.
On the Democratic side, Sen. Joe Manchin (WV) has not said whether he'll support the standalone bill -- and he voted against repeal the last time it came up, as part of a defense spending bill last week. Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND), who voted for cloture on the spending bill, has also not said how he'll vote. Proponents of repeal say they don't need either vote to win today.
Supposing cloture is reached (which, again, is all but a foregone conclusion according to supporters of repeal), a final vote on the bill to end DADT could come as early as today. More likely than not, however, 30 hours of final debate on the measure will be kicked off by the cloture vote. That puts a final repeal vote sometime late Sunday.
The House already passed its version of the standalone DADT repeal (as well as DREAM, for what it's worth) which means that if the Senate passes the repeal this weekend it will go straight to the president's desk for likely signature.
Stay tuned throughout the day for live updates on the happenings here on Capitol Hill.
If these two things pass this country deserves the destruction that follows. I will no longer pray for its safety. Lucifer has won. It is only the individuals soul that matters now.
Today,amnesty for illegal alien invaders and privileged victim status for those who indulge in empirically proven counter-biological behavior will make this Lame Duck congress the most nefarious enact-er of unpopular legislation since the Nuremberg Laws of the 1930s. Such a wicked way to secure voters—such an evil way to grab power—such a sinister way to bring down my beloved America.
McCain - Do not do harm the battle effectiveness what is essential to survival.
Turbin Durbin is yacking now and speaking much BS.
Once they gain a foothold in the military, and as they rise in the ranks, gays will surround themselves with other gays. I’ve seen this occur in the public sector many times. Needless to say, our adversaries abroad know this and are taking measure of us right now.
DREAM is the real threat!
START is somewhat disturbing, too
“Be as fabulous as you can be”
...in those soon to be newly styled flamboyant uniforms. Our military is going to look like, if not be like, the Village People!
McCain says most gays just want to high five each other in the liberal bastions around the country than to join or do they even know anyone in the military. In other words, they just want to screw with the country.
Durbin we need more dentists in America...support the Dream Act. Lame. Oh, Turbin Durbin is now showing his alien portraits again, like last night.
A defenseless collection of young and healthy heterosexuals is the homosexual's ultimate fantasy. Just so we know it isn't just about politics.
“Watching live on numbersusa.tv
Pray for America.”
If Nightmare is stopped this morning, I’ll donate $100 to Numbers USA today.
Reid spewing his nonsense.
Gives a whole new meaning to the Good Ole Boy network. You’ll have to be gay to play.
“Reid spewing his nonsense.”
I hope the people of Nevada realize what they’ve done to the rest of their countrymen by re-electing this vile and dangerous old fool.
>> As America sits in peril today, remember the roles of Tokyo Rove, Sig Rogich, and the other backstabbers. <<
I don’t get your point. Even if Sharron Angle had been elected, Harry Reid would still be majority leader of the Senate until December 31. So he and his merry band could — and most probably would — still be doing exactly as they are doing today.
Now to be sure, if Christine O’Donnell had been elected, the ‘Pubs would have one more vote in the Senate today. But that single vote wouldn’t be enough to sustain a filibuster against DADT repeal, since the Maine twins and Frank Murkowski’s daughter (Lisa Martell) have gone over to the dark side on this issue, probably to be joined by Scotty Brown.
My hatred of dems has reached an all-time high. They are lower than cockroaches.
keep calling and stop this madness call the RINO’s in the north east not just your local rep please
call CALL , CALL against repeal DADT
if any idiot thinks DADT is not too important then they need to wake the hell up.
Once they get that they will then move to overturn DOMA saying they can die for their country but cannot marry in their state
If some think that repeal is not big deal then stop being so ignorant and wake the hell up, to many vets this issue comes top and it is those supporters and queers who will ruin our great military.
The Army will become a disgusting perverted joke.
If the Repubs can flip Snowe back to oppose DADT, and the Dems Conrad and Manchin vote no on DADT, it falls short by one.
Possibly Blanche Lincoln is a ? on her DADT vote.
DREAM cloture vote is coming up now...
Where wil these Democrats be when this country is ruined and defeated like the want it, with queers and women fighting our wars and over run with illegals in total disregard of the American majority.I want absolutely no damned mercy in the next congress. I want repeal after repeal tied to government appropriations bills. No act shall be free standing!! If you want to get food for the parasite you must repeal one of these abomination. No more Mr. tearful nice guy— we need a leader in the house and senate that will break things.I want this government spending slashed 20%. Get after it. -Remember this assault on our great nation.
Discipline is the key to the military. Anybody know any fags who are disciplined? We’re going to have a military full of radical, sexual deviant activists that swish when they walk. Not good.
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