Thursday December 9, 2010, 5:28 pm
After negotiations between Senate Democrats and Republicans apparently broke down today, the Senate GOP just blocked a cloture vote on the defense spending bill that includes a repeal of the military's ban on openly gay servicemembers. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), the focus of the negotiations, voted in favor of cloture while Republican Sens. Scott Brown (MA) and Lisa Murkowski (AK) voted no. Freshly-elected Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) also voted no.

Three Senators missed the vote: Sam Brownback (R-KS), John Cornyn (R-TX) and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR). Brownback and Lincoln are both leaving the Senate after the lame duck -- Brownback was elected governor of Kansas, and Lincoln went down in defeat to Sen.-elect John Boozman (R).

The final vote was 57 for cloture, 40 against it, just shy of the 60 Democrats needed.

The bill could theoretically be brought up again before the end of the lame duck session, but a Democratic leadership aide tells TPM that negotiations are basically at an impasse. Collins had said she wanted time to debate and amendments, and apparently she got what she wanted. But Republicans like Brown and Murkowski who also wanted time to debate the bill apparently were not satsified.

"I don't know what more we can do," the aide told TPM.

With the failure to find cloture, those hoping for an end to the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy before Congressional numbers shift in favor of the Republicans next year are likely not going to get their wish. President Obama and many Democrats had committed to repealing the ban this year, but it looks like a truncated legislative schedule in the lame duck and Republican promises to block everything until tax cuts were passed put the future of a repeal this year on extremely thin ice -- and that ice just cracked.

During the vote, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid sent out a statement condemning the no votes from Republicans like Murkowski and Collins. He said that the choice today was simple: if you favor extending the right to serve openly to gay and lesbian Americans, vote yes.

Reid voted for cloture.

"There is simply no evidence and no justification - legal, military or otherwise - for keeping this policy in place," Reid said. "There is no reason to keep American citizens from fighting for the country they love because of whom they love."

After the vote, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), who was among the Democratic majority voting in favor of cloture, called the Republican-led blockage a "procedural slap in the face."


Evan Mcmorris-Santoro for Talking Points Memo

Thursday December 9, 2010, 5:33 pm
Noted, thanks Kit. Love the "cartoon".

Thursday December 9, 2010, 5:33 pm
I for one am thoroughly disgusted. How dare this nation enjoin men and women to fight and die for a land that will not recognize the civil rights of citizens. To hell with McCain, the old bigoted fool. To hell with the republicans who claim to love this country, they love the right to wealth, not the true ideals of a free nation. Why must we have a struggle to do what is right, what other countries have done long ago.

Thursday December 9, 2010, 6:14 pm
These are the people that the president is making back door deals with! Astounding hypocrisy!

Thursday December 9, 2010, 6:25 pm
I really don't understand those in Congress who voted 'no'. Since it's very obvious all they're doing is delaying the inevitable. The military will before too much longer be fully and openly integrated when it comes to gay soldiers no matter what happens in this session. And I'm sure most of the naysayers know that full well - and just want to be able to play Pontius Pilate and be able to wash their hands of the responsibility.

All this discussion and soul-searching is doing is creating a more hostile atmosphere.

Thursday December 9, 2010, 6:27 pm
This is going to have to be decided by the Supreme Court. I just hope they read the Constitution before they deliver their verdict.

Thursday December 9, 2010, 6:27 pm
Well, Kit said it wonderful ..All I can add to that is..it's almost 2011 and people are still allowed to vote on one groups rights...that is just insane for starters. There should be no such votes necessary..Equality Period...G/L,, women,race etc. The U.S. is so far behind in freedom it isn't funny ...much less equality for all. Total sham image of what our country should stand for..freedoms, and equalitythat are being voting on again and again...or just taken away as so many were during the Dubya years especially.

......sigh.

Thursday December 9, 2010, 7:58 pm
The repugs suck -- plain and simple

Thursday December 9, 2010, 8:15 pm
Stupid is as stupid does.
I'm disgusted that these fine men and woman who proudly serve this Country in these illegal wars that these so called leaders create; then they get this type of treatment on top of it. Shame on them all.

Thursday December 9, 2010, 8:18 pm
This is rediculous, they keep saying the Democrats have the majority vote. Baloney. If the Republicans can continue to say no and they are in the minority and they stop any vote then the Dems do not have the majority vote.
How Republicans can go to sleep at night and sleep is beyond me. They are the coldest, unsympathetic, unholy, having no morals group of people I have ever seen. No matter how many have died for this country.

Thursday December 9, 2010, 8:20 pm
It's a shame we don't have more Libertarians in Congress. Since the Libertarian Party's official platform includes the position that government should not in any way discriminate based on sexual orientation.

Thursday December 9, 2010, 8:58 pm
The party of no is doing exactly what they said they would do - vote no on everything. I think they should have their salary and benefits cut until they start working the way they are supposed to - for the people who elected them to office.

Thursday December 9, 2010, 9:17 pm
Delay, stall, filibuster, obstruct. That is the mantra of Republicans in Washington. If you saw Olympia Snowe and Scott Brown in the congressional hearings, they said there is no reason not to repeal DADT.. yet they voted no. This is the most disgusting set of politicians - the entire GOP- I have ever seen in my life. They have no morals, no conscience, pass nothing until tax cuts for the wealthiest 2% are passed regardless of the plight of those who would fight and die for this unworthy country. I am sickened and ashamed to call these people countrymen and women.

Thursday December 9, 2010, 9:18 pm
PS, I can't send green stars to anyone... and I too love the caption accompaning the article.

Thursday December 9, 2010, 10:04 pm
Unacceptable, repugnant, repulsive and stupid beyond words... to ask our soldiers to be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country but to deny them their basic civil rights shows us to be at the mercy of an uncivilized and cruel bunch of greedy, short-sighted and pathetically self-centered politicians. They have no interest but their own in mind when voting....and they do not care who suffers because of their own personal agendas. I am too angry to even type....................................................

Thursday December 9, 2010, 11:42 pm
I agree with the comments even though I am not in USofA. Why can't all the GLBs not sign up into the army...boycott it. I'm sure their number would drop substantially. Let those who support oppression go over and die supporting freedom.

I can't send 'green stars' either...I think you need to have friends...lol

Thursday December 9, 2010, 11:58 pm
Bisexual Veteran right here

Friday December 10, 2010, 12:20 am
Zero Star...sorry I can't send you a green star...but here's one anyhow...I see you got some from others though...best of luck and thanks for your comment...your photo says it all...lol

Friday December 10, 2010, 4:25 am
For your edification:
"Immediately following the vote, Senators Joe Lieberman, I-CT, and Susan Collins, R-MN, announced they would introduce standalone legislation to repeal DADT by year's end. A repeal would put an end to the controversial policy banning openly gay individuals from serving in the military.

Lieberman said via Twitter that he spoke with Sen. Harry Reid, D-NV, who indicated he would use "Rule 14" to bring the new legislation directly to the Senate floor, bypassing the approval of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Collins was the sole Republican who crossed party lines and voted "yes" to bring the defense authorization bill to debate on the Senate floor.

"There is no reason why we could not have moved to consider that bill," Collins said in a joint news conference with Sen. Joe Lieberman immediately after the authorization bill was blocked. "I am extremely disappointed with senators who walked away from negotiations in which we were engaged and which were going well."


Zero Star, my nephew is a gay Veteran.

Friday December 10, 2010, 4:35 am
"There is no reason why we could not have moved to consider that bill," Collins said in a joint news conference with Sen. Joe Lieberman immediately after the authorization bill was blocked. "I am extremely disappointed with senators who walked away from negotiations in which we were engaged and which were going well."

I'm unimpressed by Susan Collins - if she really felt so strongly then she could have voted in favor of repealing this on any one of the many times it has been before the Senate. She wants a bill that will do this her way, making her and a few other republicans look good.

This is just using another person's life for political gain - she is just as disgusting at the rest of her kind.

Good for you Zero Star, always nice to see a veteran here.

Friday December 10, 2010, 10:52 am
They told Obama they were not going to pass anything until the Tax issue was resolved. That is what they are doing.

Friday December 10, 2010, 11:26 am
Anal-retentive, disgusting, revolting Repugs who blackmail their way to whatever serves their purpose. And is LIeberman determined to be the new Joe McCarthy or what? I don't know how anybody can defend this sorry bunch....

Friday December 10, 2010, 11:45 am
My son who is serving in Afghanistan says he's losing sleep because of walking women to and from their barracks and duty stations...This is the 'fighting warrior' that needs protection from gays ??? I'm so ashamed of soldiers for doing this dishonor the fellow soldiers...he also says the service is covering it up...

Friday December 10, 2010, 12:28 pm
We are losing some of the best and the brightest of our armed forces because of ignorance and bigotry. We're telling men and women who are well trained, intelligent, loyal and passionately devoted to service that they are unwelcome to serve in our military. We're limiting our talent pool because some ignorant, homophobic politicians think homosexuality is "icky". Sorry, but equality, justice, and the retention of the best and the brightest (regardless of sexual orientation) is more important than the sensibilities of some senile senator with a copy of the old testament shoved up his ass.

Friday December 10, 2010, 1:46 pm
Very discouraging. Thanks Kit.

Friday December 10, 2010, 1:50 pm
Geynell...perhaps they are all terrified by their own 'secret' orientations...why else would it scare them....denial, denial, denial...their worst foe...

Friday December 10, 2010, 5:51 pm
Thanx for post