Watch: Collins and Reid Air Their Grievances Before 'DADT' Vote
Here's a clip (via The Wonk Room) of the exchange between Senators Harry Reid (D-NV) and Susan Collins (R-ME) prior to moving to the failed vote on the Defense bill, in which they air their inability to come to terms on an agreement to vote on the measure.
Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...
Greg Sargent at the Plum Line on why Reid decided to have the vote:
Reid concluded that even if Collins was sincere in her promise to vote for repeal if given the four days of debate, there was no way to prevent the proceedings from taking longer, the aide says. Reid decided that the cloture vote, the 30 hours of required post-cloture debate, and procedural tricks mounted by conservative Senators who adamantly oppose repeal would have dragged the process on far longer.
"It would have been much more than four days," the aide says. "Her suggestions were flat out unworkable given how the Senate really operates. You can talk about four days until the cows come home. That has very little meaning for Coburn and DeMint and others who have become very skilled at grinding this place to a halt."
After spending several hours thinking it over today and consulting with other members of the Dem caucus, Reid decided to push forward with the vote today, the aide says.
***
Indeed, moderate GOPers like Scott Brown and Lisa Murkowsk, who had said they supported repeal, voted No. Also, Reid couldn't be certain conservative Senators wouldn't use the proceedings to foul up the Senate, with time running out on other major priorities.




Is this a postscript to the wingless flies breeding in bat shit? Because that was much more edifying.
There is only one reason these clowns never have enough time to do any particular thing: they were too busy not doing anything else, unless they were on one of their month-long breaks, or one of their week-long breaks, or their usual three and a half day weekends.
Abolish the Senate.
Posted by: melvin | Dec 9, 2010 6:00:09 PM
Fact is, you wait until you don't have any time left, and -- SURPRISE, you don't have any time left. Don't contribute to candidates. Don't vote unless they are progressive. Primary Obama!
Posted by: candideinnc | Dec 9, 2010 6:43:44 PM
Susan Collins is always hiding behind "procedure" and "process," which gives cover to her anti-gay bigot Republican colleagues to vote against equality at every turn. No matter how pro-gay she is in her own mind or heart, she's a sellout to the GOP leadership time and time again, which nullifies any warm and fuzzy feelings she may have for some kind of abstract pro-gay sentiment. No results. No action. Nada.
When she and Snowe come up for re-election, their teabagging challengers should be supported to knock them out, then some decent Democrats can take their seats.
Money has to be raised here in nyc, and in other places, to send to their primary challengers and general election challengers. Not just these two fair-weather Republicans, but all of them that pretend to be for equality, civil rights, and freedom for all, then turn around and say I'm not voting for any of the above because the correct number of amendments to the bill aren't permitted or the amount of time for debate I feel is necessary isn't alloted. These circus clowns have to go.
Posted by: sean | Dec 9, 2010 6:49:49 PM
Since the defense appropriations bill represents more than 20% of government spending, I guess it was sensible to think no one might try to amend it. Sheesh.
The dems had a piss poor strategy. It failed. Next.
Posted by: JusticeontheRocks | Dec 9, 2010 6:57:29 PM
@JUSTICEONTHEROCKS
Every Democrat but one voted to repeal DADT. Every Republican but one voted against repealing DADT. And you knock the Dems? Your judgement is what's on the rocks.
Posted by: JimSur212 | Dec 9, 2010 7:58:02 PM
@SEAN
Thank you for directing our anger where it belongs... at the Republicans!
Posted by: JimSur212 | Dec 9, 2010 8:00:39 PM
Nancy Pelosi speaks:
@SpeakerPelosi If new Lieberman & Collins #DADT bill passes Senate, an army of allies stands ready to pass standalone repeal in House http://go.usa.gov/...
pelosi like always gets things done, the question is will the senate
Posted by: mstrozfckslv@yahoo.com | Dec 9, 2010 9:21:08 PM
@Sean
You're wrong. Collins is introducing a stand-alone version of DADT.
Posted by: TonsofT | Dec 9, 2010 9:42:57 PM
Oh, yes. Direct your anger at the Republicans. Meanwhile, our "Fierce Advocate" President Obama, who had sky-high approval ratings and filibuster-proof majorities in both branches of Congress should be celebrated.
Obama could easily have made this happen a long time ago. Instead, political idiots want to hurt moderate Republicans who have solid records of support on our issues.
No wonder the political inept professional gay lobby at HRC prospers in the midst of such political stupidity.
By the way, Sean, you will never beat Snowe or Collins in Maine, even in the Republican primary. You clearly are as clueless about the dynamics of Maine politics as you are about the American political theater.
Posted by: LincolnLounger | Dec 9, 2010 9:55:24 PM
America is still harming gays, even the very ones who are protecting this country. How messed up is that?!
If they don't want gays in there, do they want them all to quit? Really, why not, if they can't get work benefits, be themselves, get married - if they pay more taxes than straights, if the Marines are still afraid of them. Seriously, America has to get over itself.
Posted by: X | Dec 9, 2010 10:05:22 PM
Elect Lady Gaga as Senator for Maine!
Posted by: Richie | Dec 9, 2010 11:43:04 PM
And when did gays in the military become such an important issue to us? We should be fighting for peace. Instead of fighting to get IN to the military, we should be fighting twice as hard to get the military OUT of Iraq and Afghanistan. And to gays in the military, when you see votes like today, at what point does wanting to be in the military become akin to a gay person wanting to be in the Catholic Church? Who needs them? Serve your country? A country that spit on you today?
Posted by: JimSur212 | Dec 10, 2010 12:26:53 AM
Jimsur212, your peacenik idealism is not practical nor realistic. In the real world, a military is necessary to defend our security and deflect aggression. Pacifists get mowed down and enslaved. Since a military is necessary to preserve our freedom and repel hostile attacks, bisexual and gay Americans should have the rest to serve in on an equal footing.
Posted by: Javier | Dec 10, 2010 12:35:03 AM
Right on Sean! The democrats need to just adopt the "just say no" strategy of the republicans. Have things fricken' grind to a halt. The only way we're ever going to stop these senseless tactics is to fight fire with fire. If the democrats just continue to roll over and give the republicans everything they want, the republicans will just continue their sociopathic behavior.
Posted by: Mike | Dec 10, 2010 12:42:26 AM
Barack "Fierce Advocate" Obama waited until after he had been in the White House a full 12 months before announcing yet another unnecessary study that would not be released until Dec. 1, 2010, a full 11 months after he announced it.
I seem to remember that during the campaign he said he would order the Defense Department to prepare for repeal of DADT as soon as he took office. Then the Republican holdover spokesman in the Defense Department said they didn't know anything about any plans to do away with DADT.
So our Fierce Advocate deliberately scheduled the study to be released after the November elections knowing full well that there wouldn't be enough time to get repeal through the Senate before they left for their Christmas vacation on Dec. 17th. Remember that he didn't promise to repeal DADT this year during his January State of the Union Speech, he promised to "work with Congress and the Defense Department" to do away with it this year.
Okay, he "worked" with them, therefore he kept his promise. One has to understand Chicago politician double talk.
Did he do away with DADT like he promised during his campaign? Did he repeal DOMA like he promised to do? Did he even take up ENDA? No, he didn't. He did order his Justice Department to defend DADT and DOMA in the courts. He did refuse to stop the discharges of gay servicemembers.
What a complete failure and disappointment Barack Obama has been but he's now pissed at us for not cheering while he pisses on our legs and tells us it's raining.
Posted by: Ninong | Dec 10, 2010 1:02:25 AM
I guess the immediate capitulation strategy didn't work out to well.
Posted by: sandman | Dec 10, 2010 2:29:08 AM
Collins sounds like she's batshit scared.
What the hell goes on in the Republican party that forces people to vote the party line against the interests of the American People?
Posted by: Chris | Dec 10, 2010 3:42:20 AM
This totally sucks. All Harry had to say was that he agreed to Collin's proposal of 15 relevant amendments with 10 being offered by Republicans and the rest from him. But he wouldn't say it on the floor. He's a Mormon snake.
Plus, he called for the vote with Blanche Lincoln at the dentist, knowing full well he needed her in her seat to get to the magic 58 Yes votes (since the punk from W. Va--Joe Manchin voted with the Republicans). Getting to 58 would have then triggered Brown and Murkowski's Yes votes and voila, you get the 60 votes for cloture. You then put the Senate into 24 hour operations until you finish. Not too tough to do--IF you're serious about repeal of DADT. Harry Reid is a puke and our Fierce Advocate is missing in action yet again.
Dear Mr. President: Drop the appeal, NOW!
Posted by: TruthSeeker_Too | Dec 10, 2010 3:48:38 AM
How does getting to 58 trigger Brown and Murkowski to become YES votes?
Posted by: Derrick | Dec 10, 2010 4:26:46 AM
The Republican Party is the party of "hate the gays and get re-elected." It works for them.
The Democratic Party is the party of "court the gays and get re-elected. It works for them.
The GOproud/LCR contingent pretend to themselves that if they play nice, donate tons of cash and look like Connecticut Yankees at a Yale Reunion, someday, maybe, their party will quit hating them.
The HRC contingent pretend to themselves that if they play nice, donate tons of cash and look like Connecticut Yankees at a Yale Reunion, someday, maybe, their party will lift a finger to help them towards true equality.
All of them are deluded.
Posted by: JoyZeeBoy | Dec 10, 2010 10:29:17 AM