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Subscribe to RSSNBC's Ken Strickland reports that a vote on the Defense Authorization Bill, which contains the "Don't ask, Don't Tell" repeal, failed 56-43. Democrats needed 60 votes to overcome a filibuster. This was a "motion to proceed" vote that would have moved the bill forward to be debated.
Republican moderates Susan Collins (ME), Olympia Snowe (ME), and Scott Brown (MA) all voted "no" with rest of GOP.
Other vote notes:
Democrats voting no: Blanche Lincoln (AR), Mark Pryor (AR), and Harry Reid. (Reid changed his vote to "no" for procedural reasons to be able to call for another vote later.)
Senators not voting: Lisa Murkowski (AK), who is focused on a write-in bid for reelection in Alaska.
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So the Senate voted no to DADT. Mark Pryor, Blanche Lincoln, and Susan Collins seemed to have forgotten some important details.
Gay soldiers have been in the military since the Revolutionary War.
Gay soldiers have fought in ALL of America’s wars.
Gay soldiers have died in foxholes along side straight soldiers.
Yet politicians flaunt the Constitution by denying gay soldiers the same rights as everyone else. It was more important for Collins to be able to add Republican amendments than to speak out for justice.
Apparently it was more important for Sen. Lincoln and Pryor to turn a blind eye to the military service of gays as well.
If we're going to place blame, let's place it on everyone who deserves it.
If you are suggesting all Republican Senators, I agree!
I'm suggesting everyone.
The workings of the senate are still a mystery that only time can unravel. This is a get out the voters issue and not sure which side benefits the most from the out come. Nothing is going to happen until the military is ready or this goes to the Supreme Court. I still think the basic principle of DADT is sound, even though I do not agree with discharging someone because of his or her preference.
By now, there should be no one on this board who does not know that I support repealing DADT-although I laud Bill Clinton for enacting it in the first place. Until he did, being gay in the military was a Court Marshall offense; at the time, fully 70% of people believed that gays should not serve at all. Today, thanks to the national dialogue that Clinton forced people to have, those polls are reversed: 70% support allowing gays to serve openly. Therefore, DADT's time has passed.
That said, the headline of this article, while better than the earlier headline, is misleading. There was another extraneous amendment to that military authorization bill: the Dream Act. There is no way to know who, in voting to continue debate, was actually objecting to THAT amendment, rather than to DADT.
Here's a great idea: let's have clean bills, with up or down votes. Less messy, less murky, less likely to be pork laden fiascos.
No Jo
DADT protects people. These guys would be the guest at a banlket party and that would not be fun.
Salt Grass-I have no idea what a 'blanket party', (I'm assuming a typo in your post), might be, but I have to ask, why in the world you believe that DADT protects ANYBODY.
I know it gets old, but try to remember the objections to integrating military units. Harry Truman integrated the Army, and a lot of the same arguments were made. What is never mentioned, though, is that those arguments were rendered moot by the other branches of the service. The Navy was never segregated-and there were no disciplinary problems there. I assume that the Army had segregated units simply because it was the conscription brand of the service-the others were always voluntary.
For 17 years, the fact that there are gays in the military has been the worst kept secret in the military. I haven't heard of any terrible discipline problems associated with it-but I have heard that we have lost valuable personnel who were 'ratted out' for one reason or another.
DADT has done its job; the experiment is over, and there were no ill effects. It's time to repeal it.
Epic fail. Christ almighty.
At the risk of you making a joke to deflect the question, would you share close quarters (beds, foxholes, showers) with men who have a history of disgusting sexual practices? Why should our military men have to worry about whether or not Private Parts has a crush on him or not? Don't they already have enough to worry about?
Mm. Your homophobia notwithstanding, your opinion is your opinion. I don't care who or what someone's into so long as they can carry their weight in the field and be a soldier.
You, on the other hand, I'd be loathe to have in my unit.
"Bi ?" So-called "Bi's" are one of the main problems. Make up your damn mind. Being born attracted to the same sex as yourself is one thing. But "bi" is just a cop out and a scam. You basically like one sex or the other but you are very kinky and want to have it both ways. Don't be so selfish.
Farley.
Count your lucky stars there's a digital divide between us.
I'm counting my luck stars that if there was not a digital divide, I'm wearing a good, secure pair of pants with no holes in them. LOL!!!!
I'm sorry you're a closet-case, Farley. What precipitated it? Daddy touch your no-no parts a bit too often in grade school? Or are you one of those recovering Catholic choir boys?
Don't pull that old, moldy BS tactic of claiming that every man who is disgusted by men giving other men the high hard one are themselves gay. If that's what it takes for you to feel better about yourself, go right ahead. But hey, I got nothing against gay people in everyday life. I know many. But for God's sake, leave the military alone.
I see - so trolling, when you do it, is a perfectly legitimate tactic. Cute, but you're not holding water with that one.
Was the part of your brain that comprehends hypocrisy damaged while you were in the military, or what?
Chuckles,
I'm not quite sure which is more pathetic...
Your homophobia or its manifestation in the form of your pre-pubescent humor.
CU Farley
Why do care what other people do in the privacy of THEIR own bedrooms? Why should it matter if two men or two women love each other to you? Your not involved in the relationship so why do care. This travesty affects the military and those who serve. The other issue was the Dream Act which would allow undocumented people and avenue to become citizens by joining the services. Not all would be allowed due to age and prior history of course, but would bolster the ranks.
Remember Farley, the military against having Blacks, Jews, Hispanics Asians, and women join, all whom have served bravely and justly. Having Gays and Lesbians, who like all military have a code they must follow, I don't see the issue.
Exodite Dragon and CU Farley, you're each suspended for a day for violating #1 of the Code of Honor.
Don't post like Internet Tough Guys; don't smear other Viners' sexuality.
My experience with gay people is that they respect others' sexual orientation. If they express an interest, and you tell them you are straight, it is highly unlikely that they will pursue unwanted contact. It is much more likely for a straight soldier to force unwanted advances on a female soldier.
For those who express worries about being in a foxhole or a combat situation with a gay person, how much trouble do you have focusing on the mission at hand if you are in a foxhole or combat situation with an attractive female soldier? Gays have much more experience with self control than most heterosexual people.
America wanted this to pass. Only the bigots didn't want to see it go forward.
Don't blame this on the Democrats. If this had a chance to pass, Lincoln would have voted yes. The Republican Party are a party of discriminators. It's really that simple. They are playing politics with our military who have waited patiently for this to stop. Meanwhile, all you hear are voices of the teabaggers crying that President Obama is a Muslim, that he doesn't like white people, etc.
Whether you want to believe it or not, this is Jim Crowe politics. You don't fool around with our military, under any circumstances. They fight, they go on tour after tour after tour year after year after year, they get shot at, they pay their taxes, they vote and they die. While everybody in the GOP go to rallies crying about socialism. And this is how the GOP treats them. Discrimination. With our military.
There is no end to what the GOP will do to Americans to see that they suffer, that they hurt, that they are discriminated against.
No end to it.
Mark this day on your calendar folks... for the FIRST time in 40 years the 'war mongers' have voted against the Defense Bill!
Never saw that one coming now did ya? *insert snark*
Can someone explain to me how gays in the military affect your or my safety & security?
The same way they affect yours and mine marriages.
They DON'T!
It don't STOP them from believing Drive-By! lol
Hey I saw the new Archie comic book cover this morning on our local news and thought of you...
Archie is sharing a 'malt' @ the shop with President Obama & the Wing Dingbat from Wasilla! ;0))))
Someone we KNOW is not going to be too HAPPY about that...
This is an outrage! How could the senate follow the lead of a racist, fascist, washed up, old fake war hero like John McCain when they could follow the lead of a fine, upstanding, normal, everyday American like Lady GaGa?
Thank God the greatest military in the world will live to fight another day. Sure, there have been gays in the army for many years. That's exactly the point: they've been there but did not make their bizarre lifestyle known to others. KEEP IT THAT WAY.
I understand that gays cannot help the way they are (in most cases). If they don't like this law, then they can get in line to vote (just don't stand behind me) and vote for politicians that will repeal it. Oh wait...
Hey, Farley. Please explain to us how keeping their lifestyle a secret changes the equation. Don't you think the other men and women already know?
Maybe in some cases. But most cases no. The army is based on comradery and cohesion of the unit. It's GOT to be uncomfortable, to say the least, to know for a fact that there are men among you who do things with other men that you find absolutely disgusting.
Thank God your opinion's confined to you.
Why is it that is ALWAYS the insecure male homophobes who are CRYING the loudest?
They're typically the ones who are on the 'down low'...
You notice there are NO woman complaining about this?
My opinion is definitely NOT confined to me. Again, how many of you women would spend 3 years taking showers/bedding/sleeping overnight with a group of men?
Not good enough. Maybe you cannot tell who is and who isn't, but it is usually obvious in a short period of time. Uncomfortable? So what, there are lots of things that make us uncomfortable in life. Just because a person is gay does not mean there is no mutual respect for each other, that is party of the comradery as you call it and cohesion of the unit.
Not everyone's possessed of the same insecurities as you. Most people actually have a rein on themselves.
If someone can tell that another is, fine. The point is, it should not be out in the open. Before too long, they'll be demanding a special parade, separate units etc...
exodite,
Cu's opinion is not confined to him.....I agree completely......as most other people.
Being gay is an abomination.......and it isn't homophobic to say it. I'm not scared of homo's....they disgust me.
CU Farley
Did John McCain ever see a plane he could crash? McCain has been a disaster ever since he came to Washington. He should have been expelled during the whole Saving and Loans scandal back in the 80's.
Classic example of Christian caring & compassion... lol
@proud republican-1888838: Come say that to me in meat-space and we'll see how you feel - and fare - immediately thereafter. I don't think you or CU or anyone else who sits safely behind your keyboards and monitors spouting this nonsense has the stones to actually say it to someone's face for fear of the repercussions at breaking social decorum.
On the other hand, you'd find me a great deal more forthright with my statements in a real-life encounter.
Whats a meat-space
Real life, lol.
Proud Republican. If you don't like what someone else does, you don't have to do it.
This little Tactic of the Democrats attaching this amendment to the "the Dream act" and then also attaching DADT to this bill and then claiming that the reason the Republicans voted agasint this bill because of DADT will not work. Although the Democrats wish to believe that the American Electorate is not Educated enough to see thru this Ploy.. We are.. If Reid had not Attached the dream Act to this Bill also. the Budget would have passed and DADT would have been Repealed. Shame on Harry Ried for attaching the Dream act to this legislation.
If Harry Reid would have brought this bill in as a stand alone he might have gotten it through. He didn't and it went down to defeat.
That is Harry Reids fault. DADT should be and will be repealed at some point, but trying to play political games with it this close to an election killed it.
I doubt it, republicans still would have voted NO. It is what they do best these days. As GOP Senator Voinovich said--the Senate GOP Blockade.
Jody, Iowa
But Voinovich voted against it too. Just like Lugar, Brown and Snow. The Repubs have no intention of giving Harry reid a victory when he's up for election in a tight race w/ that nutcase Angle. But apparently, they believe that Angle would be a solid fit for them like McDonnell in Delaware.
Well said, Ron.
Cowards, the entire lot of NO voters are cowards. Republicans keep saying democrats are not listening to the people--who is it that really fails to hear what nearly 80% of the American public believe, DADT is wrong and hurts our military by discharging qualified, trained people WE NEED.
...okay, uh, are we ignoring the 'no' votes of the two Democrats that voted with the Republican bloc? Are we overlooking them or pretending they don't exist or didn't cast a ballot or what? Hello? We're at least given a reason why Reid voted as he did - what about Pryor and Lincoln?
Tell me if this sounds familiar: Nearly 80% of Americans disagree with this...but who cares? They're just too stupid to know what's good for them and are voting against their own self-interests. So to hell with those low-info people.
You get dropped on your head a lot as a kid, Farley?
Exodite Dragon. I stated all the NO voters. My comment about republicans is that they are the ones who are not listening--they all voted no. I'm not excusing the two dems who also said no.
No. I'm just a conservative. You know us. We're all stupid and inbred and don't know what's good for us. We can't help it.
Oh, Farley. Painting yourself as a conservative does them a disservice. I don't know what you are - but it sure as hell isn't that.
Well, the last two years have been a learning experince - check that - a teachable moment hasn't it?
Democrats, for all the majorities that they hold almost NEVER vote as a block. It seems that they all tend to think for themselves or have their own opinions. Republicans almost ALWAYS vote as a block. The 2-3 republican senators that sometimes defect can be counted on being replaced in 2012.
So, who has the better strategy? Certainly we hear and feel more about the failure of legislation then we do about the passage. Yes, Healthcare and Financial Reform passed but we don't seem to care that much, do we?
Buckle your seatbelts because I'm sure now that we're in for an even more INEFFECTIVE government after Novemeber 4th.
Jody,
Have you ever thought that maybe the Republicans ARE listening to their constituents?
I know, I know; all Republicans are stupid, ignorant, dumb azz, bigots, and homophobes and Democrats walk on water.
ITM. Senator Grassley does not listen to the democrats and independents in Iowa--only the republicans and there are a lot fewer of them. I know because I have written him many letters and I receive his standard GOP talking points in return straight out of the republican playbook, not one original justification for his vote in the lot.
By the way, ITM, you're the one who made that last statement. I have never said that. Possibly what you say is true, you said it didn't you and republicans know?
Hey IntheMiddle, if it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, etc.
Speaking of homophobes...
Jody,
What I said is maybe he is listening to his constituents. Are you that naive as to believe your one of his constituents? If I were a Republican Congressman from Iowa; why would I care what you have to say when all you do is criticize and further more you DID NOT vote for me anyway.
Collins said she voted no because the Republicans weren't allowed to add amendments. If this was a legitimate reason, than what were those amendments? What were Republicans trying to add that was so important they would send a message to gay people in the military that they are second class citizens? It's mind boggling. It's time we held the Party of No accountable for their actions. Our media MUST begin to challenge Republicans. And I mean follow up question after follow up question. Get them to say exactly what amendments they were mad they couldnt tack on to the bill.
And if Harry Reid were really interested in getting it passed he would have done exactly what she asked for. Collins isn't a conservative, but a moderate. If she voted no it was she didn't want to plat Reids political games.
Collins is lying. The proper procedure if that is what she wanted would have been to vote against ending debate until the amendments she wanted got a vote. Voting against beginning debate was just a party-line political decision.
So I guess the military shuts down now. If I was Harry Reid, I'd wait until the Republicans begged him for another vote. Otherwise, I guess we're out of the war business.
"Collins is lying."
Repeat. Collins is lying. Correct.
The Republican Party did not want this to pass right before an election. So they voted no.
Discrimination because it's an election year. Where is our democracy. Discrimination I cannot abide by. Especially in the military. You vote "aye" no matter what. You just do if you have any decency at all.
John McCain. An old bigot. Didn't he fight for democracy? Did he fight or not? If so, what for? So we could be like Russia? We're a democracy. A democracy. Doesn't he get it?
Come on Pat -
This whole thing was politics from the beginning and Harry Reid ended up on the losing side.
If he had really wanted a vote he could have brought the bill up as a stand alone. That would have forced both parties to vote the way they actually felt instead of playing election year politics. He didn't, they lost.
And as much as I can't stand McCain, yes he did fight and paid a heavy price for it. You don't have to like him to give him credit for his service.
Damn,
Chill out. This is called POLITICS.......They are all politicians on both sides.
If you didn't vote for a Republican; then you shouldn't expect for him/her to adhere to your opinion.
I don't expect a Democrat representative to adhere to my way of thinking. This is why I don't vote for them and I don't get pissed off when they vote with Democrats.
Chill out? Seriously? A cry for civility for the guy who once tried to declare I wasn't a 'real' Texan but an import because my views don't perfectly align with his particular brand of inbred, hill country, mouth-breathing, brain-puke?
Give me a @!$%#ing break. You're only calm because your 'side' claimed a victory.
ED-you are much too intelligent and well spoken for this. I can certainly understand getting upset-but, please, breathe.
We disagree about a lot of stuff politically, but I enjoy your posts. Please don't get yourself banned for a couple of days because you are getting your chain yanked by some posters who seem to have that as an agenda.
Well... What do you know... I'm in TOTAL agreement with ya NJNB - we've all been around long enough to be able to spot a 'master baiter' when we see one!
Thanks! ;0)
Fine, fine.
Yeah ED be the little B^&%$ that you are. Go ahead and get liberal soft.
I knew you were lame and weak with your fake azz intellectual comodities your selling. In other words "Wolf tickets".
You're not ready for this!!!!! That is what I thought.
Don't forget that DADT was not the only reason the bill failed. The Democrats added a lot of pet projects attached. The DREAM act, Abortions in Military Hospitals, the F-35 engine. One of the top agendas for Dirty Harry was to get reelected in his home state. He also did not allow the republicans to add any amendments of their own. Reid killed this bill and hopefully his political career with it.
Dirty rats like Reid should be booted out of the country for trying their ridiculous social experiments on our revered military.
Always always blame the Democrats for what was the decent thing to do. Pass DADT. Get a clue: You're a party of bigots who will use any excuse as to why they voted against this.
As if republicans never did that, right?
Thank you, John. I want DADT repealed; I also want clean bills that are easily understood. If Harry Reid wants a vote on the Dream Act, he should bring it up. If senators want to vote on abortions in Military Hospitals, they should bring it up. Ditto the F-35 engine.
How do you think all that pork gets into these bills in the first place? Some senator or congressional representative adds it to a bill sure to pass-most often, military appropriations. It is dishonest, to say the least.
Let's call for them to bring up clean bills so that we know what they are voting for or against.
Why is it we only "revere" straight military personnel who volunteer to protect us? It seems to me they should all be revered.
You mean that the vote for the DEFENSE BILL had other items in it RELATED to DEFENSE such as :
The Dream Act
DODT
Abortions in Military Hospitals ( ???)
A engine for a jet fighter ( F-35)
How dare he put all these defense-related items into the same bucket!!
If you begin to spilt everything up and vote on them separately, wouldn't you agree that this would be a make-work campaign? If we actually did follow that process, I suspect that Congress would give themselves a raise because of the increased workload.
Bills have ALWAYS had stuff stuck in them and always will. These are all SENATORS - most of them experienced and know their way around. They voted YES and NO for a reason and not based on a procedural issue. These aren't first year college students.
We should revere ALL of them and not ask what their sex preferences are. Don't ask...and don't tell.
If DADT was brought up as a stand alone bill, it would pass. Reid is filling his own agenda, not the military's or the American people. If the democrats hold on to the senate, they need to elect a leader who is working for the American people and willing to work with the republicans. The people want a governement that works, not the one that is stalemated because of both sides.
The Dream Act is a military bill? As I understand it, it allows illegal immigrants to become citizens if they have been here five years, came before they were 16, and go to college or serve in the military. It's a Dream Act, okay-the Harry Reid get re-elected Dream Act. I guess he hopes that there will be enough college/military enrollments so that he can get all those new voters signed up to vote for him.
It's cynical and it failed. Again, I believe that the Dream Act had more to do with this military appropriation failing than DADT.
And I blame Reid.
The DREAM act was a bipartisan bill introduced in 2007-2008. It provides for conditional permanent residency, not citizenship.
Here's a question for you ED, if DADT is appealed then what? Heck anyone answer that question. What happens in you opinion when DADT goes away from a military point of view?
Should be "your" opinion.........
Put down the Corona and step away from the keyboard.... lol
It will ONLY get WORSE as the night wears on...
haha....................cutting down on the Coronas for a bit, really what will happen if it's appealed?
I'm confused. I thought keeping the government OUT of peoples personal lives was a GOOD thing.
WTF? Who wants to jump up on the ol' "taking away our freedoms" soap box this afternoon?
That's only allowed for "Real Americans", I guess. Otherwise, the GOP feels it is the government's job to keep your behavior in line.
And make sure that if a women gets pregnant, no matter what the circumstances, carry that baby to term. Wouldn't matter if her life was in jeopardy, or in cases of incest or rape. got to carry that baby to term and then, forget about it, not their concern
John, Tucson, AZ,
Would that be John as in McCain aka Mc Nasty?
The Republicans have continued their mantra of no, no, no and did I say NO?!!! Plain and simple.
Of course, when the Republicans were the majority their leader NEVER tried filling their own agendas did they? If you believe they didn't I know a bridge that I'll gladly sell you. It crosses the Hudson River and is a great old bridge.
Maybe Reid knew that the Republicans would merely delay, waste time and offer nothing worthwhile and didn't want to put with their BS again. They have a history that is not unnoticed.
And now the democrats will have a history of "delay, waste time and offer nothing worthwhile and didn't want to put [up] with their BS"
The GOP are a bunch of scumbags, period! They will do whatever it takes to make the Obama administration look foolish. Instead of working together to solve the problems that we have, they just want to make things miserable for everyone. I only hope the american people see this for what it is, the GOP want this administration to fail at all costs. It just goes to show everyone how hateful they really are. They lost the last election and they will never get over it.
November the 3rd is the day when voters can take their country back from the instigators of unequaled illegal immigration. Here is a list of Senators who are pro-amnesty or have unfortunately not contemplated the far reaching effects. Not only would the approval of the Dream Act have given millions of children of illegal aliens get a free pass to our education system, but it wouldn't there would have no restrictions like the House version does. If the Dream Act had only been for the selected few, instead of millions who just qualify by getting a high school diploma up to the age of 35. Senator Reid advanced his political agenda, by placing the Dream Act in the Defense spending bill and was co sponsored by Richard Durbin (D-IL), Dick Lugar (D-IN).
Involved in this matter and endeavored to pass the Dream Act was mostly Democrats that include incumbents that can be relieved of their Senate seat in the midterm election. Blanche Lincoln (D-R) Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Micheal Bennet (D-CO), Chris Dodd (D-CT), Ted Kaufman (D-DE), Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Roland Burris(D-IL), Evan Bayh (D-IN), Harry Reid(D-NV), Arlen Spector (D-PA), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Russ Feingold D-WI). We can send a threatening message that all these incumbents will see the streets in November and other pro-amnesty panderers will join them shortly. We need all Tea Partiers, moderate conservatives and dissatisfied Democrats to join in this revolution for change. We must cement our votes for--ALL--new candidates against each of these incumbents.If the controversial DREAM ACT had not been introduced, but "DADT had been admitted, the defense bill may have united both sides--including gays in the military.
If you are a patriotic American and see your jobs disappearing, and unable to get a modification loan to save your home while banks hoard billions of dollars offered by President Obama. However from 1997 Head of HUD, a Democrat called Andrew Cuomo, was the personage who became the architect of the housing collapse. But the most major ramification is that all those students who eventually receive citizenship can sponsor 3 to 4 million immediate members of the family, stretching to Uncle and aunts. Finally the most dangerous act that could be accepted is the sanctioned US/Mexican totalization Social Security agreement, which at our peril would cripple yours and mine Pensions. Do you know that hundreds of thousands of illegal alien guest workers, who were legally processed in 1986, were able to get public benefits that many didn't pay into, while American citizens paid all of their lives into the Social Security system?
We--as a country can no longer be the PPO medical welfare, the education system for everybody who chooses to illegally enter this country. Now is the time to reprimand any politician who supported the Dream Act, or any form of Amnesty by joining the Tea Party movement or NumbersUSA. Both are fighting to stop our taxes being spent on illegal aliens, who arrive here by plane or simply crossed our sovereign border. You can harass your Senator or Congressman at the Washington switchboard at 202-224-3121 We must wipe the slate clean and remove the corrupted political debris from every state, of--ALL--elected officials which includes Governors and Mayors.
This November we must be on our guard, vigilant against illegal aliens violating our voting federal laws, specifically in California and Nevada, but also every other state. Absentee ballot voting is specifically vulnerable in an "honor System" that doesn't work anymore.
Casca. Dick Lugar is a Republican, not a Democrat.
GOP:
The party that hates gays (even if they secretly are)
The party that hates immigrants (even if there parents were)
The party that hates Muslims (even though they are children of Amraham and revere Jesus)
The party that hates Blacks (even though their President is one)
The party that puts party before country
The party that is OWNED by the tea party
You are a racist!!!!!
Better to remain silent and and be thought a fool than speak out and remove all DOUBT.
If they are in a combat zone and are openly gay, they just invite a fragging incident. This harms morale all around.
Edward-1075991
Your a tool.
It's ironic that you call this amendment a "Tactic of the Democrats," when, in fact, the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy became law when it was presented to Congress as an amendment attached to the Defense Authorization Bill 17 years ago.
Once again we have the party of NO in the Senate blocking any meaningful legislation (DADT) and the homophobic far right extremists win this battle against the will of the people, with polls showing over 70% of the people favoring the repeal. It’s the same old game as when the NO party blocked single payer or the pubic option debate.
At that time the majority of us were disappointed that the President didn’t force single payer or the pubic option and more disappointed that the Democrats along with the President let the Republicans push them around. The single payer or the pubic option is actually what the people of our country want and need. At that time over 70% of the people were in favor, but instead we got the watered down version that people don’t like and here we are again with additional good legislation such as pay raises for the military stalling.
It’s amazing how the Senate can stall anything that doesn’t have 60 votes, unless reconciliation is used. Oh sure on this legislation, you will hear the right say that the Democrats were trying to sneak other amendments through. True, but Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the chamber's top Republican, proposed an agreement for the chamber to consider 20 amendments.
So, good legislation fails for now and if the far right extremists think that if they win the House and Senate in November, things are going to be different, well they have a big surprise coming.
Remember it will take 2 thirds majority of the Congress to over ride the Presidents veto on any repeals or new bills. This means 67 out of 100 members of the Senate and 290 of the 435 House members. And that over ride is not going to happen. So, to the far right extremists, I say you have won this battle, but you are not going to win the war.
If you remember old Bill Clinton, who lost the House to Newt Gingrich and the GOP in 1994 and who was predicted by big mouths such as Rush Limbaugh and others on the far right to be a one term President. Well, we all know what happened there where Newt and his boys tried to push the President around by shutting down the government and it backfired and the President won reelection.
So, don't let yourself get bullied into silence. Just do the one thing to keep our country moving in the right direction. The plan is simple, Just Vote. Believe me, there are many more of us, like the people who elected our President and want to move forward instead of backward.
Remember, just vote No to the party of NO. It’s a NO brainer.