Breaking: House just passed DADT stand alone bill and Snowe becomes 61st Senator to support repeal

[FreeState]

http://www.gaypolitics.com/2010/12/15/breaking-house-passes-dont-ask-dont-tell-repeal-bill/

The House of Representatives, in a bipartisan vote, has passed a bill that provides a path for repeal of the military’s ban on openly gay and lesbian troops. The legislation now heads to the Senate, where it’s still unclear whether there will be time to pass it before the 111th Congress ends on January 4th.

http://www.pressherald.com/Snowe-pledges-support-for-dont-ask-repeal.html

Snowe pledges support for 'don't ask' repeal
By Rebekah Metzler [e-mail]
MaineToday Media State House Writer

U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe said Wednesday she would support the repeal of the military policy that prevents gays from serving openly.

The announcement came as the U.S. House of Representatives voted on repealing the policy, known as 'don't ask, don't tell.'

“After careful analysis of the comprehensive report compiled by the Department of Defense and thorough consideration of the testimony provided by the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the service chiefs, I support repeal of the 'don’t ask, don’t tell' law,” Snowe said in a statement.

U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., revived repeal efforts by sponsoring a stand-alone bill minutes after a Senate vote on a larger bill that contained the provision failed last week.

edit for formatting and spelling (Snowe!)

[redirish28]

1. Some Good news coming out of the Senate today.

[roguevalley]

16. Should help Dan Choi get well, bless his magnificent heart.

[me b zola]

58. +100000

...and for every other person who is suffering because of discrimination.

[midnight]

72. Thank you for thinking of this brave man.

[Starry Messenger]

2. Holy crap, for reals??

Is this happening??

[FreeState]

6. I know... keeping my fingers crossed n/t

[Starry Messenger]

9. Fingers crossed here too! n/t

[Zenlitened]

3. Fingers crossed. - n/t

[elleng]

4. EXCELLENT! Hope Dan Choi hears about this.

[RKP5637]

5. Recommend!!! n/t

[defendandprotect]

7. Will Dems really help GOP lose such a huge wedge issue? Hope so--!!

[AlinPA]

21. What about Nelson (NE), Pryor (AR)? They shoul be Nos.

[Tx4obama]

74. Pryor is a yes.

Pryor Announces Support For Repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell: 'I Accept The Pentagon's Recommendations'

From his statement:

On many previous occasions, I have said that I would oppose repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell until I had heard from our servicemen and women regarding this policy. I have now carefully reviewed all of the findings, reports, and testimony from our armed forces on this matter and I accept the Pentagon's recommendations to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. I also accept the Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs' commitment that this policy can be implemented in a manner that does not harm our military's readiness, recruitment, or retention. We have the strongest military in the world and we will continue to do so by ensuring our troops have the resources necessary to carry out their missions. Therefore, I support the 2011 Defense Authorization Act that passed the Senate Armed Services Committee and will support procedural measures to bring it to a vote this year.

http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2010/12/08/pryor-dadt-2

[Renew Deal]

8. They only got 57 votes last time. How is she 61?

Is it presumed that Brown will support it? What about Murkowski and Kirk?

[FreeState]

11. Im looking for a list - the link to that article listed 61 (from Twitter)

waiting to hear back from the activist who posted the number as to where a list is... Ill post it when I get it.

[FreeState]

12. The 61 includes Brown and Murko

both who have said they will support as long as procedure is correct (what ever the hell that means!).

[Recursion]

42. They mean don't put it in an unamendable Defense authorization

And honestly we would be screaming bloody murder if the GOP put something that contentious in an unamendable defense authorization, too.

[kenfrequed]

60. There was a reason.

They put it there becaue almost every other piece of progressive legislation that congress tried to pass was crushed bu unending gentlemans fillibusters and anonymous holds and every other bit of trickery that could be imagined.

[Recursion]

69. I agree; Brown's election cracked that levee

For all the harm it did, his desire to get re-elected in MA in 2012 (ha!) means we can have this as a debatable motion.

[Tx4obama]

73. Snowe is #60.

The others that will probably vote 'yes', but have NOT been counted in the total yet are:
Susan Collins - Maine
Scott Brown - Massachusetts
George Voinovich - Ohio
John Ensign - Nevada
Lisa Murkowski - Alaska
Mark Kirk - Illinois


p.s. Barney Frank said this morning that the Senate has at least 62 now. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x21428

[polmaven]

22. Scott Brown and Murkowski

have both said they will vote for it. The voted no for the cloture last week because they were being good little solders and stopping everything but the tax bill. Now that that has been done, they may be able to take it up.

Don't know about Kirk.

[CLANG]

66. The 'baggers gotta love Scott Brown! LOL!!

[Recursion]

70. Those were imported 'baggers

He wants to get re-elected in 2012 (ha! good luck...) so he has to listen to actual Massholes at this point. Also, what local Teabaggers there were are mostly of the New Hampshire mold and just want less taxes and spending, not the government worrying about who's sleeping with whom.

[rucky]

30. It's a standalone bill now.

The one that didn't pass was part of the Defense Authorization Bill.

[Tx4obama]

76. Kirk is a maybe.

Mark Kirk (R-Illinois) ---> http://www.metroweekly.com/poliglot/2010/11/kirk-takes-office-dadt-repeal.html

p.s. Brown and Murkowski will 'probably' vote yes unless they flip flop again.

[TexasObserver]

10. recommend

[Pab Sungenis]

13. They support it

but don't support actually letting it come up for a vote. Just watch.

[AlinPA]

20. Of course, you nailed it.

[WolverineDG]

47. Well, I certainly hope DADT will be resting in its place in the dustbin of history

but I don't trust Republicans, so I'll hold off celebrating until after they vote on it.

dg

[TriMera]

14. k&r. n/t

[EFerrari]

15. Thank you, FreeState.

[catgirl]

17. Yeah!!!

[AlinPA]

18. "Lucy" Snowe? At the last minute...whoops, yanks away the football. nt

[Solly Mack]

19. K&R

[Sparkly]

23. Quick! Somebody tell the president to throw in the towel and compromise before progress breaks out!!

[Johonny]

25. perhaps he already did

It's always possible some other legislation was part of the tax deal compromise, but due to politics involved it could not be announced as such. If so I imagine we will eventually find out cause someone will eventually peep.

[Jamastiene]

28. +1

[CLANG]

67. He'll compromise to ASK if you must, TELL go to hell.

[OneGrassRoot]

24. K&R! :) n/t

[onenote]

26. House vote included 15 Democrats opposed and 15 repubs voting aye

250-175 was final vote, I think.

[Monk06]

27. And Freeperville is going appropriately ape shit over this. Love to see those dorks squirm and cry

[CLANG]

68. Those people truly are insane

I just waded though a topic called:

Looks like the Democrats have enough Republicans to homosexualize the military - perhaps by tonight

The responses can not be from adults. They have to be 13 year olds. Either that or they should be monitored closely by the FBI.

[MineralMan]

29. This is very good news. I'm surprised to see so many

poo-pooing it. Have we gone so far that we can no longer celebrate good news? Very puzzling.

[HERVEPA]

38. Because of being disappointed on so many things so many times

[spanone]

31. k&r great news!!!!

[Scurrilous]

32. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Major Hogwash]

33. K&R

We really need to get rid of the "unrecommend" option.

[pintobean]

54. Why? Currently at +108 and climbing.

[SidDithers]

34. K&R...

why is this great news down near the bottom of page? Shouldn't people be happy enough about this to keep it near the top?

Sid

[Occam Bandage]

35. K&R. Unexpectedly good news.

[NuclearDem]

36. Didn't they say they'd support repeal with the Defense Authorization bill?

I'm holding my hopes until it actually happens. I don't trust the Republicans and the traitor Dems at all.

[Recursion]

43. No, it being part of the authorization was the problem

Because the whole thing was unamendable. I don't look for the full DA to pass this session, personally.

[tblue37]

37. hope hope hope hope hope hope hope ......................nt

[Myrina]

39. Watch this be the one bill POTUS vetos.

"In the name of compromise" or "Not wanting to rush" or "By Executive Decision" or some other tripe ...


:puke:

[Recursion]

44. Huh? He's been pushing Congress to do this for 2 years

Why on earth would he veto it?

[Robb]

45. LOL

[MadBadger]

49. You do realize this is exactly what he tried to do from the beginning?

[racaulk]

50. Not a chance. nt

[kenfrequed]

53. Highly unlikely

At this point there is absolutely nothing for Obama to gain by vetoing so I am going to assume you are joking.

However I do think that there is a decent chance that an attempt at fillibuster may be made. Let us see if Liberman and the Repubs are willing to vote for cloture.

[MadBadger]

55. Lieberman has been leading the charge against DADT in the Senate.

[kenfrequed]

59. Sure...

But with Lieberman I will believe it when I see it.

[MadBadger]

62. You must be blind then.

[kenfrequed]

65. Of course...

I trust Joe implicitly, I mean everything he has done has been for the democrats hasn't it.

Calling someone who has suspicions of someone who has stabbed his party in the back repeatedly blind is well... I will spare you any absurd ad hominems for the moment.

[Dappleganger]

77. I've been holding his feet to the wire for awhile...

but I don't think that he will veto this bill.

If he does, all HELL will break loose that's for damn sure!

[La Lioness Priyanka]

90. i doubt it. he's not dumb.

[madmax]

40. About damn time - Better be k&r nt

[bushisanidiot]

41. Excellent!

Thank you, President Obama and Speaker Pelosi!!

[AllyCat]

46. Ticks me off that we now need 61 votes to do anything, but so glad this looks to pass

[no limit]

48. I have my fingers crossed they actually pass this in the senate. But little hope at this point

[racaulk]

51. Once again, I'm crossing my fingers and being cautiously optimistic.

I hope the Senate gets this done this time.

:hi:

[kenfrequed]

52. Ah but...

Will they vote for cloture when the time for the right wing fillibuster-fest starts up?

[wryter2000]

56. K& freaking R

Here's to a little sanity, finally. :bounce:

[myrna minx]

57. K&R - I really hope we get this.

:bounce:

[TheKentuckian]

61. K&R

[amyrose2712]

63. +++

[GOPBasher]

64. It's not good news YET. I hope they take it up in the Senate before the new Congress. n/t

[TransitJohn]

71. I predict if it passes, Obama will veto it.

Prove me wrong, POTUS!

[Rosco T.]

75. Oh for Frack's sake.....

that has to rank as the dumbest thing I've heard today.

[Tx4obama]

78. You are totatlly wrong.

President Obama has ALWAYS said he wants 'Congress' to repeal DADT.
Perhaps some Googling would help you get the facts straight.

[Whisp]

82. lol!

hahha. first laugh of the day for me, thanks

[Ikonoklast]

91. No proof necessary.

You're not only wrong, you're being ludicrous.

[Arkana]

92. What the fuck?

Tell me you're kidding, because otherwise I want some of that crack you're smoking.

[SemperEadem]

79. well, that didn't hurt, did it?

It's about time they did something that made some damn sense.

[PhillySane]

80. Great News!

maybe one big accomplishment before this congress ends!

[Jefferson23]

81. Oh please, let this happen! n/t

[old mark]

83. Harry Reid seems determined to get this to pass while it still has a chance...

The GOP will never pass it after January 4th.


mark

[Drale]

84. Something good is getting done in Congress!!??!!??!!

MY FREAKIN MIND IS BLOWN!!

[Politicub]

85. Please let this happen!

It's huge for equality.

[ashling]

86. Is that Snowe comment couched in the general GOP disclaimer

of " ... and I may even vote that way if we get an opportunity to debate 100 or more amendments and the Dems meet any other demands that I may think of later."

[Bluerthanblue]

87. this is great news- K&R

the Senate needs to MAKE time for this.

:hi:

[1776Forever]

88. Lt. Daniel Choi, this one's for you! Salute! n/t

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLeNzA1OIcM

[mdmc]

89. r