No wonder we can't get the change we want!
"The defense policy bill has traditionally enjoyed bipartisan support, passing 48 years in a row with both parties eager to back the military"
"GOP blocks repeal of ‘don’t ask’; Filibuster stalls vote on military’s gay rule" by Matt Viser, Globe Staff | September 22, 2010
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans dealt a stinging setback yesterday to efforts to repeal the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell’’ policy for gay soldiers, defeating attempts by Democratic leaders to take up a major military bill that includes the issue.
Democrats fell four votes shy of the 60 votes needed to break a GOP filibuster....
The defeat is expected to push any efforts to repeal “don’t ask’’ past mid-term elections. For gay-rights advocates and Democratic leaders, this means that a lame-duck session could represent a last stand for a repeal, because election gains expected for Republicans could extinguish any chances in a new Congress....
The defense policy bill has traditionally enjoyed bipartisan support, passing 48 years in a row with both parties eager to back the military....
An estimated 13,000 people have been discharged under the policy since it was implemented in 1993. Gay rights groups have been eager to see the law repealed, and supporters began mobilizing in recent days.
Yeah, let's not talk about ending the damn things.
Singer Lady Gaga made an appeal to two Maine Republicans — Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe — by traveling to Portland this week.
Who is Lady Gaga and why should I care?
Ultimately, the issue failed by a 56-to-43 vote. Republicans were unanimous against the measure and were joined by two Democratic senators from Arkansas, Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor. Reid also changed his vote to no, as a procedural tactic that will allow him to bring the issue up again.
Democrats yesterday had also hoped to take up an amendment to the bill that would provide illegal immigrants with a quicker pathway to citizenship through college or military service.
Yeah, GO DIE in WARS BASED on LIES and we will let you in!
Yeah, but the AGENDA-PUSHING WAR PAPER cares soooo much about the poor illegals, blah, blah, blah.
Dubbed the Dream Act, it would create a path to legal residency for youths who arrived before they turned 16; have lived in the United States for five consecutive years; and have no criminal record. Because Republicans blocked the defense bill from coming up, however, there was no vote on the amendment.
Why is this crap being attached anyway? I thought Democraps were transparent.
A group of somber-faced students demonstrating outside of Brown’s office in Boston vowed to push for the Dream Act yesterday. “It is a disappointment, but it’s not the end,’’ said Deivid Ribeiro, spokesman for the Student Immigrant Movement, a group advocating for undocumented immigrant children.
You want to go die for lies, empire, and Israel, fine. I'm done trying to talk you out of it, kids. Bye.
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Related: Gay adoption ban unconstitutional
Foes of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ score another win as judge orders lesbian reinstated
Yeah, fine, bye.
Related:
"House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been trying to pressure some of those Democrats to switch their votes.... California Democratic Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey says the White House has also threatened to pull support from freshman anti-war Democrats who vote no on the bill.... In the crosshairs of the big guns at the White House and on Capitol Hill are anti-war freshmen legislators and the movement to hold those responsible for torture accountable.
In funding the wars, the White House has been able to rely on strong GOP support to marginalize the anti-war Democrats who have pledged to vote against continued funding (as 51 Democrats did in May when the supplemental was first voted on). But the White House is running into trouble now because of Republican opposition to some of the provisions added to the bill (and one removed), meaning the pro-war Democrats actually need a fair number of anti-war Democrats to switch sides. In short, the current battle will clearly reveal exactly how many Democrats actually oppose these wars. And, according to reports, the White House and Democratic Leadership have the gloves off in the fight:
Rep. Lynn Woolsey of California, a leader of the antiwar Democrats, said the White House is threatening to withdraw support from freshmen who oppose the bill, saying “you’ll never hear from us again.” She said the House leadership also is targeting the freshmen. “It’s really hard for the freshmen,” she said. “Nancy’s pretty powerful.”
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We will be bidding her a goodbye, too.
Also see: Pelosi Protested at Shea-Porter Promo
Some of the most disappointing political revelations of my lifetime.
But don't change back to those icky Repuglicans no matter what you do!
Also see:
"A child nutrition bill that was a centerpiece of Michelle Obama’s healthful eating campaign stalled in the House this week after antihunger groups and more than 100 Democrats protested the use of food stamp dollars to pay for it....
What, looting banks and war-profiteers couldn't spare some chump change?
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