Box Turtle Bulletin
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobby“Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife…”
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyThe opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of other authors at Box Turtle Bulletin.
December 1st, 2010
That’s according to a letter signed by all 42 Senate Republicans to Sen. Majority Leader Harry Read:
…Republicans informed their Democratic counterparts they would not go forward with “any legislative item until the Senate has acted to fund the government and we have prevented the tax increase that is currently awaiting all American taxpayers.”
The letter goes on: “With little time left in this Congressional session, legislative scheduling should be focused on these critical priorities. While there are other items that might ultimately be worthy of the Senate’s attention, we cannot agree to prioritize any matters above the critical issues of funding the government and preventing a job-killing tax hike.”
Given the high political stakes behind the extension of the Bush’s budget busting tax cuts, it’s unlikely that the GOP-induced logjam will be broken anytime soon before time runs out. All of those GOP Senators who claimed they would vote to repeal DADT? As far as I can see, it was nothing but vacuous political posturing. So what else is new?
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Ryan
December 1st, 2010
B-B-But, what about the study?! I thought they were waiting for the “study” before deciding! Oh yeah, they’re all gay hating liars. How silly of me!
Ryan
December 1st, 2010
I’m wondering how the apologists will find a way to blame Reid again.
John
December 1st, 2010
Yet isn’t DADT repeal attached to the NDAA which funds DoD? Call their bluff.
David F.
December 1st, 2010
As much as I would love to see DADT repealed, I have to agree that funding the government and a few other things are more pressing. I may be selfish, but was told that I only have 1 more week of unemployment benefits left unless Congress gets off the stick and funds it. Not just me but a lot of others are in the same boat.
Ryan
December 1st, 2010
David F, read it again. You won’t be getting your unemployment checks unless the millionaires and billionaires get their tax cuts extended. “DADT or unemployment extensions” are a false choice the republicans just now invented to run out the clock on repeal. There’s no reason why the Senate couldn’t do both, but now the GOP will make damn sure they won’t do either.
Kevin
December 1st, 2010
Tie DADT-repeal to the tax cuts. I know Reid blinked when the Repugs threatened to filibuster a Defense Authorization Bill. Let ’em try. Why is it that the Dems always blink? Attach it to the tax cuts. If the GOP filibusters, I strongly believe the people will excoriate them, not Reid.
Loki
December 1st, 2010
This is yet another stalling tactic. They’re just trying to run out the clock to make sure nothing happens in the Lame Duck session.
In fact, the two things that they want are mutually contradictory. To fund the government, they must repeal the tax cuts for the wealthy, to keep the tax cuts for the wealthy, they must bankrupt the government.
Lindoro Almaviva
December 1st, 2010
So there you have it,for the republicans it is more important to save the pockets of those who fund them than to ensure all citizens are treated equally.
Pender
December 1st, 2010
If only Obama could have predicted that saving DADT repeal for the lame duck session might end badly.
EZam
December 1st, 2010
I don’t know about you guys, but I think it’s more important to have LGBT people serving without problems than giving the government that discriminates against us more money.
Mark F.
December 1st, 2010
There is no good reason the Democrats shouldn’t agree to a temporary extension of all of the Bush tax cuts. I agree with the GOP. Extend the tax cuts, then vote on the other issues.
John in the Bay Area
December 1st, 2010
Funny that the Democrats haven’t voted 10 times this year to extend the Bush tax cuts for those making less than $250,000. They would have been able to say in campaign commercials that these Republican senators voted 10 times to raise taxes on middle class Americans.
The Republicans appear to know how to play hard ball, the Democrats not so much.
Also, no Democratic senator is going to filibuster the Defense Authorization Bill if Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal isn’t in the bill.
Ryan
December 1st, 2010
@Mark F,
The GOP thinks you’re a bum who has no incentive to get a job if your unemployment checks continue. They’re not trying to help you out, here. Do you not really get that? And if you’re gay, well…it’s pretty apparent what Republicans think of gays.
Matt
December 2nd, 2010
“Why is it that the Dems always blink?”
Because that’s what democrats in the federal government always DO. It’s part of the job description.
Paul J. Stein
December 2nd, 2010
Well it is very simple. The republicans have a job, benefits, and have no interest in helping anyone who didn’t contribute to campaigns. They did the unemployment compensation in the T.A.R.P. bill for their party members. Bankers, insurance co. executives, wall street hedge fund managers. Screw the rest of the usa that pays their salary.
customartist
December 2nd, 2010
This is Extortion. Republicans vote against the will of the American People.
Let the Republicans shut down the Government! We will vote out all 42 Senators at the next election. Tell them so:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
The best predictor of Future Bahavior is Past Behavior. Jobs have not been created by the current tax cuts, and more tax cuts for the rich will not start creating jobs all of a sudden,…
Neither will thge Republicans start to work with Obama all of a sudden. Obama has nothing to gain by caving on this issue.
Don’t give Rich People disproportionately advantageous tax cuts!
darkmoonman
December 2nd, 2010
Thank you, Log Cabin Rethuglicans. Now, please take your knife out of my back.
Jim Burroway
December 2nd, 2010
If anything, LCR is being pretty effective in their efforts to get DADT off the law books through their so far successful lawsuit against the U.S. government. It’s the Obama administration that continues to appeal the decision to the 9th circuit court.
Ryan
December 2nd, 2010
He’s obviously appealing it in the 9th because Gates is afraid a blanket finding that DADT is unconstitutional will disrupt the military in a way that a Congressional repeal of DADT won’t. And I’m sure he’s right. As long as there’s a chance of Congressional repeal, Obama should continue to appeal the ruling. But now that we know for certain that there’s no chance of Congressional repeal and Collins et al were lying through their teeth when they said they were considering repeal, and we know with 100% certainty that Servicemembers United were dead wrong when they claimed they had the votes in October (I don’t believe they were lying, just being lied to), Obama should stop all appeals. There’s literally no other way for this to get done. The GOP-led House would sooner commit mass suicide than vote pro-repeal (and indeed, it would be political suicide for them to do so).
And you’re right, Jim, the LCR have been effective in fighting this in the courts. Thank goodness Obama was elected. It’s hard to imagine they would’ve brought the case forward against a Republican president or DOJ.
I’m curious as to why Timothy Kincaid has yet to chime in on this.
Mark F.
December 7th, 2010
Yes, I get it. GOP evil, Democrats good. Rolls eyes.
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