Key vote on DADT repeal fails

[Thanas]

Also, the vote was 57-40. It would have been 58-40 had Reid waited three more minutes allowing Senator Lincoln to show up in time. She didn't vote because she showed up three minutes too late due to being stuck at the dentist having a root canal done. Seriously, couldn't have Reid at least made sure the entire caucus was here first? His ineptitude is showing and is frankly quite frustrating.

58-40 is still not enough.

[Pint0 Xtreme]

Also, the vote was 57-40. It would have been 58-40 had Reid waited three more minutes allowing Senator Lincoln to show up in time. She didn't vote because she showed up three minutes too late due to being stuck at the dentist having a root canal done. Seriously, couldn't have Reid at least made sure the entire caucus was here first? His ineptitude is showing and is frankly quite frustrating.

58-40 is still not enough.

I didn't say it was. I was just commenting on Reid's performance. On a vote this tight, you'd think you'd wait until everyone you were counting on to show up before starting.

[Bakustra]

Also, the vote was 57-40. It would have been 58-40 had Reid waited three more minutes allowing Senator Lincoln to show up in time. She didn't vote because she showed up three minutes too late due to being stuck at the dentist having a root canal done. Seriously, couldn't have Reid at least made sure the entire caucus was here first? His ineptitude is showing and is frankly quite frustrating.

58-40 is still not enough.

I didn't say it was. I was just commenting on Reid's performance. On a vote this tight, you'd think you'd wait until everyone you were counting on to show up before starting.

Why? Brown and Murkowski indicated that they were unsatisfied with the vote, and Manchin could have been predicted to stay out as well. If Collins hadn't crossed the aisle, then even with Lincoln it would still be 57-40, or rather 57-41. He figured that he might as well let it die and reintroduce it in a form more likely to get necessary support.

[Ritterin Sophia]

Well this certainly isn't turning out good, and a hearty "fuck-you" to WV.

This isn't a real surprise to me. Byrd and Jay Rockefeller are anomalies in West Virginian politics, being actual progressives. The lack of any real progressivism in the WV Democratic Party is the direct cause of the West Virginia Mountain Party.

[Qwerty 42]

Well, it's cleared the House, at least.

Amid two hours of often angry, misinformed, and bigoted speeches from the Republican caucus, the U.S. House of Representatives this afternoon passed yet again a bill to repeal the now unconstitutional law, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

The House on May 27 of this year passed a similar bill by a vote of 234-194. Today’s vote of 250-175 — 16 votes higher in the affirmative — including 15 Republican “yes” votes amid 15 Democratic “no” votes, signals even stronger support for repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law.

The Democrats spoke eloquently and passionately about equality, readiness, and the ability of the military to support diversity.

In an obvious rebuke to yesterday’s insubordinate outburst by Marine Commandant General James Amos, Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) said of our service members, “I do not believe that they are so fragile that having a gay person serve next to them will kill them.” She then added, “It is not the gay soldier who puts our security at risk, but this government.”

Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) invoked General Amos’ false claim by saying that repeal will cost lives. Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA), the incoming Chair of the House Armed Services Committee stated he thought the bill needed more time and should be discussed next year, an obvious attempt to scuttle it under his watch.

Also speaking eloquently, Rep. Al Green (D-TX), who said, “I will not ask people who are willing to die for my country to live a lie for my country.”

As the House voted, outgoing Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi talked about the new poll that shows that eight in ten Americans believe “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” should be repealed.

Pressure is now even greater on the Senate to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

More later – stay tuned!

Still needs to clear the Senate, but it can only be a good thing.