Wouldn't It Be Pretty to Think So?

Don't forget Arkansas (0.00 / 0)

Both Democratic senators from Arkansas voted with the Republicans to filibuster the defense appropriation bill which not only would have begun the end of DADT, but also would fund the military and the wars in FY2011.

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by: mevansnh @ Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 17:41:22 PM CDT

2 of 59 versus 41 of 41 n/t (0.00 / 0)

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by: elwood @ Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 17:43:05 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Standards (0.00 / 0)

I expect more from Maine than from one of the most socially right-wing states in the country.

So should Maine voters.

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by: Dartmouth Dem @ Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 17:52:21 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Paul Hodes' statement: (0.00 / 0)

   Once again, the Republicans have coalesced around a strategy of "just say no," voting against funding the troops in the interest of blocking change.

   The failed cloture vote on the National Defense Authorization Act represents a sad and desperate election season attempt by the GOP to block Democratic initiatives of progress. Undeterred that nearly 80% of Americans support repeal of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, the GOP voted as a bloc as--they have for two years--to stop change.

   The Republicans, led by Senator McCain, have taken their eye off the ball and have lost sight of what's truly important as they bicker about procedural minutia. As I said back in May when I cast my own House vote to allow repeal of this policy:

       The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy is not only unfair, it has been detrimental to our defense because it has taken talented, well-trained American soldiers away from their sworn duty to protect our freedoms; and it needs to end.

   Outgoing Senator Gregg failed New Hampshire by declining to stand up for the equal treatment of our service men and women.

   We cannot look to my opponent, Kelly Ayotte, to expect any better. She will surely fall lockstep into the GOP obstructionism that has defined these past two years. Asked by the Concord Monitor where she differs from the party she said: "Nothing comes to mind that's on the table now." We cannot depend on her to depart from the party line, most especially on issues of LGBT equality, where she has proven herself an adamant opponent.

   I will continue to fight. Servicemembers like Lt. Colonel Fahrenbach, an experienced, decorated, combat fighter pilot with nearly 20 years' experience in the Air Force, deserve our thanks--and full Veterans' benefits--not an unceremonious discharge. Don't Ask, Don't Tell must end.

birch, finch, beech

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by: Dean Barker @ Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 19:07:58 PM CDT

Well Said (0.00 / 0)

Adding (Dean): Why is someone who got out of Vietnam due to acne and bad knees keeping patriotic Americans from serving their country? Disgraceful.

In Gregg's defense, he REALLY got out of Vietnam because his Daddy was an ex-Governor and a political kingmaker. But that didn't stop Judd from supporting the war (just for, you know, other people).  

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by: Dartmouth Dem @ Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 19:21:49 PM CDT

One of the benefits of not making your own choices is that (0.00 / 0)

there's always some other power (mom, dad, fate, God, country, honor) to blame for failure.  Democrats have picked up the habit.  They now blame Republicants and make their obstruction a rationale for Democrats' re-election.

It's too late now to evaluate whether particular Democrats tried hard enough.  That has to be determined through the primary process.

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by: hannah @ Wed Sep 22, 2010 at 04:19:10 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

for those who want a look at the nasty underbelly (0.00 / 0)

of DADT and the GOP, today someone from Senator Saxby Chambliss's Atlanta headquarters left a post at Joe.My.God today, stating, "All faggots must die." Chambliss's office says they're doing an internal investigation.

There's also a video of an interview after the vote with John McCain losing his shit with a female reporter. He's sitting with Lindsay Graham, who obviously served before DADT, and clearly has no shame.  

member of the professional left  

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by: susanthe @ Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 19:31:32 PM CDT

We need 99 more Als. (4.00 / 1)

birch, finch, beech

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by: Dean Barker @ Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 19:44:45 PM CDT

Great point n/t (0.00 / 0)

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by: JimC @ Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 21:36:11 PM CDT