DADT repeal before Senate today (or not: updated)

by: susanthe

Wed Dec 08, 2010 at 14:11:01 PM EST

Collins reminded Reid that Republicans don't want to debate anything  until the tax issue is resolved. "I have urged the majority leader to postpone the vote...so that we could get the tax bill considered first -- which I believe could be on the floor tomorrow -- and completed by Saturday, and then move immediately to the DOD bill, but under a fair agreement."

From TPM

Harry Reid may attempt to push a repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell onto the Senate floor today, a move that few expect to result in an end to the ban on openly gay servicemembers in the military.

This morning, Reid announced on the Senate floor that a push for cloture on the defense spending bill that includes a repeal of DADT could happen as early as this afternoon.

No one expects this to go anywhere. Why is Reid so eager for a defeat?  

You Can Add The Senate Majority Leader...

by: Dean Barker

Mon Aug 16, 2010 at 20:49:07 PM EDT

I'm agnostic, but Reid's stance reminds me of something in the Good Book:

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Reid Serves McConnell a Plate Full of Gregg

by: Dean Barker

Fri Mar 12, 2010 at 18:48:34 PM EST

There is nothing unusual or extraordinary about the use of reconciliation. As one of the most senior Senators in your caucus, Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, said in explaining the use of this very same option, "Is there something wrong with majority rules? I don't think so."

Resign, Senate President Reid!

by: Dean Barker

Mon Jan 11, 2010 at 18:33:50 PM EST

If only because we already have a Senate President Biden, and a Senate President Pro Tempore Byrd.  One more might be bad form.

It's Official: Senate Bill to Have Public Option with "Opt Out"

by: Jennifer Daler

Mon Oct 26, 2009 at 15:44:36 PM EDT

Daily Kos live-blogged it.

Update 1: Consensus reached in caucus, and with White House. The public option not a silver bullet, but key to providing competition. Best way to move forward is public option with opt-out. States can determine if it works for them. Will include in bill that will be submitted. Sending it to CBO.

Update 2: Strong public polling on public option makes it a good idea. The people want it.

President Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) will most likely not be on board, as the so-called "trigger option" is not going to the CBO. It seems there will not be any Republican votes for this bill. Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AHIP) is also questionable. Hopefully she can be convinced by the strong support the public option has, rather than by the insurance lobby's lust for the status quo.

So, things are moving in DC. We'll see what happens with this and the bill that emerges from the House of Representatives.

More (Dean): The White House responds (via email):

STATEMENT FROM PRESS SECRETARY ROBERT GIBBS ON HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM

"The President congratulates Senator Reid and Chairmen Baucus and Dodd for their hard work on health insurance reform. Thanks to their efforts, we're closer than we've ever been to solving this decades-old problem. And while much work remains, the President is pleased that at the progress that Congress has made. He's also pleased that the Senate has decided to include a public option for health coverage, in this case with an allowance for states to opt out. As he said to Congress and the nation in September, he supports the public option because it has the potential to play an essential role in holding insurance companies accountable through choice and competition."

Slow on the Uptake, but Getting There

by: Dean Barker

Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 09:41:06 AM EDT

Democratic leaders in the Senate and House have concluded that a government-run insurance plan is the cheapest way to expand health coverage, and they sought Friday to rally support for the idea, prospects for which have gone in a few short weeks from bleak to bright.

..."He's knows what he's doing is a gamble," Reid spokesman Jim Manley said. "But more and more, he's convinced it's the right thing to do."

Reid's calculation is that it could be more difficult to add a public option through amendments on the Senate floor than to include it in the bill and force opponents to try to find the votes to strip it out. Manley said Reid would spend the weekend canvassing Democrats on the opt-out idea and would probably decide Monday whether to include it in the Senate bill.

But more to the point. We Democrats will likely read this news and go - "Hoo-ray, Reid finally figured out that a public plan is cheaper and more popular and better than not having one."

I suspect, rather, that it finally sunk into his head that it's also a political winner.  That, plus real pressure from the contrast of Nancy Pelosi's leadership in the House.

Slow on the uptake, but getting there. And no, we still deserve a better senate leader than Harry Reid in the next session despite this fourth quarter conversion.

Harry Reid, Hollow Man

by: Dean Barker

Wed Oct 14, 2009 at 20:00:45 PM EDT

We are the hollow men
We are the stuffed men
Leaning together
Headpiece filled with straw. Alas!
Our dried voices, when
We whisper together
Are quiet and meaningless

* Candidate Barack Obama puts forth health care platform that features a public option.
* Candidate Barack Obama beats all other Democratic candidates.
* Nominee Obama wins biggest election voter margin for Dems since LB flippin' J.
* President Obama puts forward health care reform goals, including persistent and solid support for a public option.
* Poll after poll after poll shows Americans solidly supporting the public option.
* Four out of five Congressional committees have some form of the public option in their bills.

But none of that matters for Harry Reid unless he can make Olympia Snowe happy in front of the cameras. It doesn't matter to him that he might hand Americans a piece of junk health "reform".  It doesn't matter to him that this piece of junk will hand us a beating at the ballot box two Novembers hence.

(To be clear, this isn't the first, or second, or third, or tenth time Reid has failed to show leadership and party discipline.  But it might be the most egregious example.)

I sure wish some Democrat would step up to the plate in Nevada.  Because Reid's re-elex numbers are abysmal, and I'd rather not give money to the Republican candidate.  But either way, from the distance of snowy New Hampshire, I'll be rooting for Harry's defeat.

Tell Congress To Act On Hate Crimes And "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

by: Rep. Jim Splaine

Wed Jul 15, 2009 at 11:04:50 AM EDT

Eliminating the Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA) is the third measure, which in addition to eventual Congressional attention is being challenged in the Courts by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  It would be great if New Hampshire joined that action.  

The far-right is gearing up to oppose all those efforts, and they're already flooding Congressional offices with E-Mails, letters, calls, and petitions.  If you're in favor of equality, writing a note or calling the Senate and House Democratic and Republican Leaders' Offices will get your words to where they are needed.  

Democratic Congressional leaders are at the front of the efforts on both issues, with Republicans in their usual head-in-the-mud stance.  These issues tend to become largely partisan apparently for no other reason than that Republicans think that they can politically benefit from their continued opposition to equality for yet another minority.  Plus, both issues tend to generate a degree of academic debate that complicates the efforts of the Democrats.  

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada is strong on both issues.  He pointed out this past week that sign-ups in the military are down, and "...we shouldn't turn down anybody that's willing to fight for our country, certainly based on sexual orientation."  He supports at the least an 18-month moratorium on enforcing the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.  

The thought is that while that moratorium is in place, the policy will change.  President Barack Obama recently advocated eliminating the ban, and recognizes the need for creating a consensus to do so since in most of this country there is still considerable legal discrimination against gays and lesbians.  

Congress is also considering an expansion of the federal definition of "hate crimes" to include those committed against victims on the "basis of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disabilities."  That is also a long-overdue cause often defeated by Washington Republicans in past years.  

"varying degrees of bluntness."

by: JonnyBBad

Sun Jun 15, 2008 at 12:28:14 PM EDT

This reminds me of the Dartmouth Graduation I attended in 2002, with Mr. Rogers the main speaker. He said to the graduation class, "It's all about you." I guess they grew up with him, so they got it. Here's a diversion..a clip of Fred Rogers learning to breakdance.(skip it and come back). It won't save the world, or the Primary for that matter, but the kid is cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
4:56

http://www.boston.com/news/loc...
Reid says primary calendar is flawed, seeks changes
By Ken Thomas
Associated Press Writer / June 12, 2008

I saw this first in the UL and googled the story.
There are a few differing perspectives of course.

http://www.unionleader.com/art...
snip-
Granite State Democratic leaders reacted with varying degrees of bluntness.

Rep. Paul Hodes, D-N.H., sent us a prepared statement calling Reid a "great leader in the Senate," but added, "This is one area where I think he's just plain wrong."

State Democratic Chair Ray Buckley said he took Reid's comments "with a grain of salt."

Buckley said Reid was a leader in the four-state (Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina) effort last year to have presidential candidates pledge not to campaign or participate in renegade states -- such as Michigan -- that jumped up in the primary calendar without Democratic National Committee authorization.

"Actions speak louder than words," said Buckley. "He's trying to elect as many Democrats as possible. He found himself in a state with a senator up for reelection (Levin) who bungled this. I'm willing to give him a pass. What else could he do when he was in a room full of people who wanted to hear him say, 'You guys are right.'?"

Former party chair Kathy Sullivan said, "What I find interesting is that Senator Reid says the system is flawed -- except for Nevada's role. I would put this in the "It's all about me" category!"

Chris Doddism for President, Part II: Return of the Filibuster

by: Dean Barker

Wed Jan 23, 2008 at 19:59:57 PM EST

"Few things are more detrimental to this country than the erosion of and attack on the civil liberties we enjoy. This isn't a Democratic issue or a Republican issue; this is an American issue. If after debate, the Senate appears ready to pass legislation granting telecom providers retroactive immunity I will use any and all legislative tools at my disposal, including a filibuster, to prevent this deeply flawed bill from becoming law.  More and more, Americans are rejecting the false choice that has come to define this administration: security or liberty, but never, ever both. For all those who have stood with me throughout this fight, I pledge, once more, to stand up for you."

Current Senators Clinton, Obama: a word or two from you can create a media firestorm that would stop this cold in its tracks.  How about helping out a bona fide defender of the constitution?

More: WTF is wrong with Harry Reid?  He forces fellow Democrats to perform real filibusters, while the GoOPers need only threaten him into submission:

[I]f people think they are going to talk this to death, we are going to be in here all night. This is not something we are going to have a silent filibuster on. If someone wants to filibuster this bill, they are going to do it in the openness of the Senate.

More still: Jay Buckey and Jeanne Shaheen: it would be useful in evaluating your candidacies to know whether you support retroactive immunity for the telecoms, or not.

Uodate: Jay Buckey's position, via Gavin:

"We shouldn't consider immunity without knowing what the crimes are."

Update 2: Shaheen's position, via Judy Reardon:

Jeanne Shaheen opposes granting retroactive immunity when we don't know which companies broke the law, how they broke the law or why they broke the law.

Sens. Biden, Clinton, Obama: I Hear DC is Lovely During the Holidays

by: Dean Barker

Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 19:15:48 PM EST

Despite the revelation of this program, and the public outcry against it, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid wants to pass a bill on Monday that would make it impossible to hold the telecoms accountable for their criminal collusion with the President. Phony champions of civil liberties like John E. Sununu will be all to eager to assist him in that bill's passage.

Senator (and Presidential candidate) Chris Dodd, who has a quaint affection for the rule of law, has declared publicly that he will filibuster this bill.  When the other presidential candidates who happen to be active Senators were asked about this, they responded thus [back in October]:
Joe Biden

San Francisco: "Will you join Sen. Chris Dodd's hold and proposed filibuster on any FISA bill that includes retroactive immunity for telecoms?"
Sen. Joe Biden: "Yes."

"To be clear: Barack will support a filibuster of any bill that includes retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies."

"I am troubled by the concerns that have been raised by the recent legislation reported out of the Intelligence Committee...As matters stand now, I could not support it and I would support a filibuster absent additional information coming forward that would convince me differently."

Finally, here's a handy whip-count chart from Team Dodd.  And if you click on it, it gives you the ability to contact Sens. Biden, Clinton, and Obama free of charge to urge them to join Dodd in this filibuster:

The Skunk in the Equation

by: Mike Caulfield

Wed Jul 18, 2007 at 12:22:34 PM EDT

There's only so much Lieberman and Collins you can listen to.

But I woke up today feeling good, for the first time in a while, about my Democratic Senate.

It reminded me of the first time I saw Mike Gravel. He used an old expression: "Power is what power does." And he referenced the shame of giving up the Gore election as an example of how not to play politics:

"Now we should know, as Democrats, that this is the guy [Baker] that Bush sent to Florida, to turn around and make fools of the Democrats down there.

And Al Gore didn't fight the problem. He could have claimed the Presidency. He chose not to. And if you saw the reporting of it, members of the House were going up and saying they disagreed, all they needed was one Senator, and it would have thrown it into Congress. And the Congress was controlled by the Democrats.

That Noblesse Oblige: I don't buy it, not at all. Power is what Power does. And we got eight years of George Bush as a result of that."

And he is a guy that more than anybody else knows: if you don't mind being the skunk at the party, you can get stuff done.You can stop the draft through filibuster. You can read classified documents into the public record.

The question before us is Iraq, but it's also whether we are the same Democrats who ceded the presidency to keep things amicable. It's about whether we are willing to cede our popularity in order to do what is right.

The all-night session may be a sign we are finally getting there. We need to go further. No matter what some people tell you, we don't need 60 votes or 67 votes to get out of this war. We need conviction from our Senators. We need to take advantage of every procedural rule. We need to bring back the REAL filibuster, and make good old Judd Gregg stand on his feet for a bit. We need to deny Sununu his beauty sleep.

We need to get petty to get big.

It's not enough to push hard, or make empty calls to other recalitrant Senators. That's a start, sure, but only a start. To effectively use power you have to be willing to lose it. You have to be willing for people to really actively dislike you.

In other words, we're here to end this war, and we can do it, if we don't mind being the skunk in the equation.

History has looked favorably on the actions of Senator Gravel during Vietnam.

How will it judge our current Senators?

The mission 'been transitioned, but Harry Reid does not support the troops

by: mbair

Mon Apr 23, 2007 at 14:07:22 PM EDT

cross-posted at dailykos

Well according to McClatchy Newpapers : The mission has been transitioned for months now.

But according to the MSM: Nothing to see here except a Democrat making a huge mistake because he won't "support the troops."

Reid argued that the war is lost and we need to start having a real dialog in this country about where we're going as a nation in Iraq.

Question of the Day

by: hannah

Wed Dec 20, 2006 at 10:18:09 AM EST

It's generally accepted knowledge that the U.S. has 150,000 troops in Iraq, not counting the air assets available on destroyers and other vessels in the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean.  It is also generally accepted that 50,000, or one third, are combat forces--i.e. troops that interact with insurgents and other Iraqis.  (Actually, there have been reports that only ten percent of the troops based in Iraq ever go out to interact with the locals, but that strikes me as really scant.  However, if true, it would explain why the addition of 35,000 or 40,000 combat troops would make a big difference).