13 Senate Democrats Express Confidence on (60) Votes to Repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

[kpete]

Source: New York Times

November 18, 2010, 2:34 pm
13 Senate Democrats Express Confidence on Votes to Repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN

In a show of resolve, a baker’s dozen of Democratic senators, led by Joseph I. Lieberman, the Connecticut independent who is a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, held a news conference to proclaim that they had secured the votes to authorize repeal of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding gay soldiers.

But the senators said that the crucial support of Republicans would hinge on whether Senate leaders allow a relatively free-flowing debate on the military policy bill that includes the language authorizing repeal of the ban on gay men and lesbians serving openly in the military – and they urged the majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, to do so.

Mr. Reid said on Wednesday that he would bring the bill to the floor, including the repeal provisions, in a direct challenge to Senator John McCain of Arizona, the senior Republican on the Armed Services Committee, who has indicated that he will try to block the measure. Mr. McCain similarly led colleagues in stopping the bill in September.

................

“I am confident that we have more than 60 votes prepared to take up the defense authorization bill with the repeal of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’ if only there will be a guarantee of a fair and open amendment process,” Mr. Lieberman said.

Read more: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/18/13-senate-democrats-express-confidence-on-votes-to-repeal-dont-ask-dont-tell/?partner=rss&emc=rss

[bluestateguy]

1. What about Blanche Lincoln and Joe Manchin?

If all 59 Democrats plus Collins and Snowe, that leaves us with one vote to spare.

I don't know.

[last_texas_dem]

5. Maybe Blanche will give us a break since she's on the way out anyway

IIRC, even old DINO extraordinaire John Breaux cast a couple of more-liberal-than-usual votes in his last couple of months in the Senate.

[TheWraith]

6. Lincoln is previously a no.

I'd tend to doubt that she'd turn around and vote in favor of it after getting kicked out of office, but I suppose it's possible.

[Tx4obama]

23. Sen Lisa Murkowski is a 'yes' - see link below

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4620801

[Tx4obama]

29. Rachel Maddow just said unconfirmed reports say Sen. Ensign will be a 'yes' vote. n/t

[progressoid]

2. I think we better just keep our powder dry for a few more years.

:eyes:

[Skinner]

3. Good news.

:thumbsup:

[DesertFlower]

4. great. nt

[last_texas_dem]

7. Good to see Joementum's not selling us out for once.

After some of his unexplained moves to the right during the health care debate, I don't really trust him on much of anything.

[Tx4obama]

8. Lieberman on DADT: We Have 60

Source: The Advocate

Sen. Joe Lieberman said Thursday that repealing “don’t ask, don’t tell” as part of the National Defense Authorization Act is no longer a question of votes, it’s a question of process.

“I am confident that we have more than 60 votes prepared to take up the defense authorization with the repeal of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ if only there will be a guarantee of a fair and open amendment process, in other words, whether we’ll take enough time to do it,” Lieberman told reporters at a press conference, naming GOP senators Susan Collins and Richard Lugar as yes votes. “Time is an inexcusable reason not to get this done.”

Lieberman, an independent, was flanked by 12 of his Democratic colleagues — a core group that seemed intent on urging the Democratic leadership to allow enough room in the Senate schedule for a debate that would be amenable to Republicans. The senators talked about working over the weekends, and Sen. Mark Udall offered to go straight through until Christmas Eve.

Lieberman noted that two items could be negotiated by Senate majority leader Harry Reid and minority leader Mitch McConnell — the number of amendments to be considered and the amount of time for debate on those amendments.

Read more: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/11/18/Lieberman_on_DADT_We_Have_60_Votes/

[HillbillyBob]

9. I will believe it is repealed when it becomes law

until then I am not holding my breath.

[TwilightGardener]

10. Yay?

(confused, because it's...you know who...)

[Poll_Blind]

11. What are we waiting for?!?! Everybody, ....

PB

[Radical Activist]

12. Traitor Joe wants to let Republicans load it up with unrelated amendments.

POS

[Tx4obama]

13. It's choice between letting them have debate time & amendments or not having the 60 votes.

The amendments won't have anything to do with the repeal of DADT, so we still get the 'win' on the repeal ;)

[Radical Activist]

28. You really think that isn't a tactic?

They'll attach a poison pill amendment to kill the whole thing and play other games. "I voted against it because we didn't have more debate" is a cowardly bigots way of voting no. If they believe in repealing DADT then they should vote that way instead of looking for excuses.

[Tx4obama]

31. I'm in too good of a mood right now to argue the issue, I'll just send ya a big hug instead :) n/t

* BIG HUG *

[Radical Activist]

32. OK

I think Lieberman is playing games, but I also think repeal will happen with or without his help.

[AlinPA]

14. Susan Collins will do a Lucy and back out at the last minute. I don't trust her or Lieberman. nt

[dbonds]

15. I'm confused...

First a republican wants to investigate Bush for war crimes, now this from Lieberman? Is this bizzaro world?

[Tx4obama]

19. Just because Lieberman was the person that announced it doesn't mean anything

A lot of senators have been working on this, so don't be so quick to give Lieberman the credit.
They probably only picked him to step up to the microphone because he's currently an independent.

[earcandle]

16. Just don't trade off the tax cuts for the rich to get this passed in this congress. Our next

congress will have more liberals to do this next year, but the
tax cuts for the rich have to go.
We need the money.  The wars need to end, and ending the tax
cuts will end the wars. 

[FiveGoodMen]

18. "ending the tax cuts will end the wars"

I don't understand your line of reasoning there.

[earcandle]

24. Use your imagination.

[FiveGoodMen]

26. Thank you for volunteering for the ignore list.

I asked a simple question.

I won't waste my time with you again.

[earcandle]

34. ok.

I think the tax cuts fund the wars.  the mercenary wars. 

[Tx4obama]

17. Nice to see that many female senators were included in the press conference

From the article:

Lieberman was joined at the press conference by senators Barbara Boxer, Roland Burris, Ben Cardin, Chris Coons, Diane Feinstein, Al Franken, Kirsten Gillibrand, Amy Klobuchar, Patrick Leahy, Jeanne Shaheen, Mark Udall, and Ron Wyden.

-----

Females: Five
Males: Seven

We still need many more democratic female senators elected to the senate, but we have made more progress so far then the republicans ;)

[veganlush]

20. K&R n/t.

[Tx4obama]

21. Be sure to read whole article on below link - sounds like Sen. Jim Webb might turn out to be a 'yes'

after he looks at the study.

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/11/18/Lieberman_on_DADT_We_Have_60_Votes

[bullwinkle428]

25. Yeah, Biden told Rachel the same thing prior to the October vote.

[myrna minx]

22. Do we dare hope?

:hug:

[Tx4obama]

27. DOD Spokesperson: Pentagon Is ‘Pushing For’ Repeal Of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell In Lame Duck Session

Excerpt:

This afternoon, Defense Department spokesperson Geoff Morrell gave the Pentagon’s strongest endorsement yet of passing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal during the lame duck session of the Senate. Speaking to reporters at a news conference, Morrell said that the Pentagon, as part of the Obama administration, is “pushing for and we certainly see the merit in using that as a legislative vehicle to get repeal”:

MORRELL: Historically, this Department has not been one to tell the Senate how to do its business. That said, we are a member of this administration and this President had made a call, as I understand it, to Sen. Levin this week and Sen Reid I believe as well, making it clear he wants to see the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell attached to the National Defense Authorization Act and that’s what we as an administration are pushing for, and we certainly see the merit in using that as the legislative vehicle to ultimately get to repeal.

Morrell, who reiterated that the study would not be released before December the 1, also argued that the Pentagon was responding to the concerns of those pressing for repeal and operating under an expedited timeline. “I would just remind you that the original plan here was for us to work towards December the 1 as the date by which the report would be due and then the internal work would begin,” he said. “We have compressed that timeline such that we are now operating on parallel tracks. Not only is the draft report still being finalized, but we are also doing the internal work that would have taken place after December 1st simultaneously so that we can, on December the 1, not just release the report but the Secretary can state where he wants to take us with regards to this measure.”

Rest of article and video here: http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2010/11/18/morrell-dadt-pushing/

[Solly Mack]

30. I hope so

K&R

[Tx4obama]

33. Here's a CNN video link to compilation of the press conference

http://cnn.com/video/?/video/politics/2010/11/18/bts.sen.dadt.presser.cnn