Sen. Snowe Pledges Support For 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Repeal Putting Senate One Vote Shy Of 60

[t0dd]

Source: TPM

Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) pledged her support for the standalone bill to repeal the military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy this afternoon. Cloture to pass a repeal as part of the defense authorization failed by a mere 3 votes last week.

Snowe was among several theoretical supporters of repeal who said she voted against cloture because of procedural issues: Sens. Scott Brown (R-MA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) objected to the time allotted to debate the underlying bill; and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) said that the timing for repeal was, in his view, not quite right.

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) said, on the other hand, that she'd missed the vote because of a dental appointment. So, with Snowe's support, repeal supporters are within 1 vote of cloture -- and a repeal of DADT.

Read more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/snowe-pledges-support-for-standalone-dadt-bill.php?ref=fpa

[bushisanidiot]

1. Good!

and who will filibuster?

ASSHOLE JOHN MCCAIN!

[EarlG]

7. If they get 60 he can't filibuster

And if they get to 60, the bill will pass and DADT will be dead and gone.

[aquart]

2. Well, there's a reliable vote for decency.

Not.

[Creative]

3. Interesting--I thought Reid had bungled this thing last week.

[BenzoDia]

5. That was the DREAM act which DADT repeal was just a part of.

This is a standalone measure.

[Creative]

11. Good...still, I will never understand the way the Senate works.

[BenzoDia]

16. Whoops I bungled that, TX4Obama is correct.

[Tx4obama]

12. Last week the DADT repeal was attached to The Defense Appropriations bill. n/t

[karynnj]

14. No - it was the defense appropriations bill that included it

The Dream Act was separate and it was tabled.

[BenzoDia]

17. I screwed that up. The 2 above this post are correct.

[Tx4obama]

18. No biggie. We all screw up from time to time :) n/t

[fascisthunter]

4. She' Says a lot, But Hardly Ever Keeps her Word

[Jamastiene]

6. Quick!

Somebody measure her nose between before she said that and after she said that. If it's longer, she's lying again. She's liable to go either way even though she said that. Won't hold my breath.

[Kali]

8. a fucking dental appointment?

I hope that is bullshit to fuck with repukes heads and she shows up. Lotta lives and serious civil rights hanging on some muckety muck's dental appt - can't that be postponed? jeebus!

[t0dd]

9. She was 3 mins late; she intended to make the vote

and asked to be on record as supporting it.

[GOPNotForMe]

23. Plus she's a co-sponsor of the standalone repeal bill.

And Reid basically surprised everyone by having the vote when he did last time.

[Tx4obama]

13. Reid didn't tell her ahead of time that there'd be a vote. Not her fault. n/t

[Teaser]

20. root canal

they last how long they last.

[w4rma]

10. When is the time right, Sen. Manchin? Ten years from now? (nt)

[Tx4obama]

15. The Senate Republicans that I believe will vote 'yes' are....

Olympia Snowe - Maine
Susan Collins - Maine
Scott Brown - Massachusetts
George Voinovich - Ohio
John Ensign - Nevada
Lisa Murkowski - Alaska

Because they have all stated publicly within the past month that they support the repeal of DADT.
And now that it is a standalone bill not attached to the Defense Appropriations bill,
they are more likely to 'quickly' vote 'yes'.

[SoapBox]

19. So at THE very last second, who will change and vote No.

...how much money are the Haters going to funnel to some loser senator,
to get them to vote no.

[IsrealBissel]

21. Please God, let this pass!

[GOPNotForMe]

22. ABC is reporting Murkowski WILL vote for standalone DADT repeal

http://tinyurl.com/28jqa9h (see update at bottom). This is encouraging because it's not a vague statement of support for the concept of repeal, but a pledge to VOTE for repeal. This should, theoretically, seal the deal....