Republicans May Be Pressuring Reid To Drop DADT Repeal In Return For Vote On START And Bush Tax Cuts

[Joanne98]

This morning, during an appearance on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) — the sponsor of repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in the Senate — said he has been “talking” to his friend Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) but was “not making progress in my effort” to sway him to vote for cloture on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) — the underlining bill that includes the repeal amendment. Lieberman reiterated that he believes he has 60 votes for cloture on the bill and urged Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to bring up the measure under an open amendment process:

LIEBERMAN: I don’t know if I can say I’ve been lobbying my friend John McCain, I’ve been talking to him. I can say that I’m not making progress in my efforts with Senator McCain. But I believe we have more than 60 Senators, including a good solid handful of Republicans, who are prepared to vote to take up the Armed Services bill, which already has within it the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

And the real challenge here is the clock. Will we take the time to have the debate, not just on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell but on the underlining Defense Authorization bill. And I can tell you that some of the Republicans who want to be for this, also want to make sure that Senator Reid offers them a fair amendment process.

Watch it
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/12/01/lieberman-start-dadt/

[Democrats_win]

1. Let the courts dump DADT.

Why hold it hostage to the Republican nonsense? Who cares of our corporate bought-and-paid for "representatives" do it or the illegitimate courts. Makes no difference--just end it for the good or our troops.

[Me.]

5. Exactly

If the courts do it it will immediate. The pentagon on the other hand wants time to implement which is probably another way of stalling. So get Start and the tax cuts and let the courts handle.

[DJ13]

2. F That

START will be enacted eventually (the GOP wants it too), and if theres no vote on the tax cuts they expire.

Our party leadership needs to understand its THEY who hold all the cards here and stop caving in to the blackmail by the GOP.

[cleanhippie]

3. Make them vote on ALL of it.

On DADT: It is the will of the People, the will of the members of the military, the will of the Joint Chiefs and the will of the Sec of Defense. That needs to be trumpeted loud and often. Force the vote as "the will of the people" and make repubs choke on it.

On START: It is right for the country and right for the world and needs to be stated as so. Make the repubs defend making the world and the country less safe!

On Tax cuts: Hold the line, extend Tax Cuts for all but those above $250k. Make repubs defend their rich donors at the expense of everyone else. make that point loud an clear. Make the repubs defend that position.


There is no other way.

[Cali_Democrat]

4. Here's what will happen:

Reid and the Dems will compromise and drop DADT repeal. The DADT policy will remain

Republicans will allow a vote on START. The treaty will be rejected.

Republicans and Dems will then compromise on the Bush tax cuts and extend them for the wealthy.

All this in the name of compromise, working together and reaching across the aisle.