Obama Has Lowest Judicial Confirmation Rate In 30 Years

When the 111th Congress ended with a bang by approving DADT repeal, the START treaty and the Obama-Republican tax-cut deal, the Senate's shameful inaction on confirming federal judges may have been overlooked by some, but not by yours truly.

Think Progress notes that roughly one-ninth of all Article III judgeships are now vacant. In fact, Obama has the lowest rate of judicial confirmation (60 judges) of any of the last 6 presidential administrations after the conclusion of their first Congress.

It should especially be noted that Republican obstructionism is disproportionately preventing judicial nominees who happen to not be white or male from joining the federal judiciary. I'm sure that's just a coincidence. NOT!

Republicans Kill Liu Nomination; Approve 19 Others

Goodwin Liu

What's that smell? I think it's the stench of "pragmatism" and horse trading. Apparently a deal has been reached between Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to kill the nominations of four "controversial" federal judicial candidates in return for getting several other of President Obama's judicial nominations approved. The four judges that were anathema to Republicans just happen to be Goodwin Liu, Edward Chen, Louis B. Butler, Jr. and John J. McConnell, Jr.

MadProfessah has been following the odyssey of Liu's nomination because I met him once at joint State Assembly and Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Proposition 8, where the Dean of UC Berkeley's Boalt School of Law. Liu is an unapologetic API LGBT ally and progressive jurist who some consider a likely candidate for a Supreme Court nomination in Obama's second term.

Officials familiar with the deal said Democrats agreed not to seek votes on the nominations of Goodwin Liu, associate dean at UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall School of Law, and three others, while Republicans agreed to confirm at least 19 of President Barack Obama's noncontroversial nominees.

If confirmed, Liu, 40, of Berkeley, would be only the second Asian-American serving on a federal appeals court and the only active Asian-American on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and is seen by some as a potential future U.S. Supreme Court pick. However, his nomination in February was almost immediately met by Republican opposition.

"Professor Liu is an outstanding nominee and it is most unfortunate that my Republican colleagues are blocking an up-or-down vote on his nomination," U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., said Tuesday. "I will keep fighting until he is confirmed."

The approval of judges means that Democratic-nominated judges are now a majority on the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals and increased their margin on the 4th Circuit to 9-5. There are 11 federal circuit courts of appeals.

Picture Of President Obama Lobbying On DADT Repeal

The White House distributed this picture of President Barack Obama lobbying for the DADT repeal bill, which the United States Senate successfully passed on Saturday by a vote of 65-31.

U.S. Senate Passes DADT Repeal Bill 65-31!

Although passage was a foregone conclusion after the 63-33 cloture vote earlier today, the United States Senate completed its legislative work on a standalone DADT repeal bill, passing the measure 65-31, with 8 Republicans joining 55 Democrats and 2 Independents. No Democrats voted against repeal, although Joe Manchin of West Virginia (who was just elected in a special election and is up again in 2012 for a full term) did not vote and issued a statement saying he did not favor DADT repeal at this time.

ANALYSIS
Interestingly, recently outed Mark Kirk (R-IL) who had voted against repeal in the House, and voted against invoking cloture last Friday, voted for cloture and the bill this time. Other Republican surprises were recently re-elected Richard Burr of North Carolina voting in favor as well as retiring George Voinovich of Ohio. Moderate Republic Richard Lugar of Indiana surprised many observers by voting against repeal. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas was the only woman in the United States Senate to vote against DADT repeal.

100% of Democrats voting (55 of 55) voted in favor of LGBT equality. 21% of Republicans voting (6 of 37) voted against LGBT equality. 94% (16 of 17) female Senators voted in favor of LGBT equality.

Here's the roll call vote on DADT Repeal:

YEAs ---65
Akaka (D-HI) Baucus (D-MT) Bayh (D-IN) Begich (D-AK) Bennet (D-CO) Bingaman (D-NM) Boxer (D-CA) Brown (D-OH) Brown (R-MA) Burr (R-NC) Cantwell (D-WA) Cardin (D-MD) Carper (D-DE) Casey (D-PA) Collins (R-ME) Conrad (D-ND) Coons (D-DE) Dodd (D-CT) Dorgan (D-ND) Durbin (D-IL) Ensign (R-NV) Feingold (D-WI)	Feinstein (D-CA) Franken (D-MN) Gillibrand (D-NY) Hagan (D-NC) Harkin (D-IA) Inouye (D-HI) Johnson (D-SD) Kerry (D-MA) Kirk (R-IL) Klobuchar (D-MN) Kohl (D-WI) Landrieu (D-LA) Lautenberg (D-NJ) Leahy (D-VT) Levin (D-MI) Lieberman (ID-CT) Lincoln (D-AR) McCaskill (D-MO) Menendez (D-NJ) Merkley (D-OR) Mikulski (D-MD) Murkowski (R-AK)	Murray (D-WA) Nelson (D-FL) Nelson (D-NE) Pryor (D-AR) Reed (D-RI) Reid (D-NV) Rockefeller (D-WV) Sanders (I-VT) Schumer (D-NY) Shaheen (D-NH) Snowe (R-ME) Specter (D-PA) Stabenow (D-MI) Tester (D-MT) Udall (D-CO) Udall (D-NM) Voinovich (R-OH) Warner (D-VA) Webb (D-VA) Whitehouse (D-RI) Wyden (D-OR)

NAYs ---31
Alexander (R-TN) Barrasso (R-WY) Bennett (R-UT) Bond (R-MO) Brownback (R-KS) Chambliss (R-GA) Coburn (R-OK) Cochran (R-MS) Corker (R-TN) Cornyn (R-TX) Crapo (R-ID)	DeMint (R-SC) Enzi (R-WY) Graham (R-SC) Grassley (R-IA) Hutchison (R-TX) Inhofe (R-OK) Isakson (R-GA) Johanns (R-NE) Kyl (R-AZ) LeMieux (R-FL) Lugar (R-IN)	McCain (R-AZ) McConnell (R-KY) Risch (R-ID) Roberts (R-KS) Sessions (R-AL) Shelby (R-AL) Thune (R-SD) Vitter (R-LA) Wicker (R-MS)

Not Voting - 4
Bunning (R-KY) Gregg (R-NH)	Hatch (R-UT) Manchin (D-WV)

Roll Call Votes on DREAM Act and DADT Repeal

Note there was only one Republican who both voted for DADT and the DREAM Act: Lisa Murkowski!
There were 52 Democrats (and Independents) who voted for both.

But the Hall of Shame is for the 5 Democratic Dream Killers who voted against the DREAM Act (Baucus, Hagan, Nelson, Pryor, Tester). Three of these Senators are up for re-election in 2012 (likely to be a harsh year for Senate Democrats) and I pledge to donate to their primary challengers.

Here's the roll call vote on the 55-41 cloture vote on the DREAM Act which FAILED.

YEAs ---55
Akaka (D-HI) Bayh (D-IN) Begich (D-AK) Bennet (D-CO) Bennett (R-UT) Bingaman (D-NM) Boxer (D-CA) Brown (D-OH) Cantwell (D-WA) Cardin (D-MD) Carper (D-DE) Casey (D-PA) Conrad (D-ND) Coons (D-DE) Dodd (D-CT) Dorgan (D-ND) Durbin (D-IL) Feingold (D-WI) Feinstein (D-CA)	Franken (D-MN) Gillibrand (D-NY) Harkin (D-IA) Inouye (D-HI) Johnson (D-SD) Kerry (D-MA) Klobuchar (D-MN) Kohl (D-WI) Landrieu (D-LA) Lautenberg (D-NJ) Leahy (D-VT) Levin (D-MI) Lieberman (ID-CT) Lincoln (D-AR) Lugar (R-IN) McCaskill (D-MO) Menendez (D-NJ) Merkley (D-OR) Mikulski (D-MD)	Murkowski (R-AK) Murray (D-WA) Nelson (D-FL) Reed (D-RI) Reid (D-NV) Rockefeller (D-WV) Sanders (I-VT) Schumer (D-NY) Shaheen (D-NH) Specter (D-PA) Stabenow (D-MI) Udall (D-CO) Udall (D-NM) Warner (D-VA) Webb (D-VA) Whitehouse (D-RI) Wyden (D-OR)

NAYs ---41
Alexander (R-TN) Barrasso (R-WY) Baucus (D-MT) Bond (R-MO) Brown (R-MA) Brownback (R-KS) Burr (R-NC) Chambliss (R-GA) Coburn (R-OK) Cochran (R-MS) Collins (R-ME) Corker (R-TN) Cornyn (R-TX) Crapo (R-ID)	DeMint (R-SC) Ensign (R-NV) Enzi (R-WY) Graham (R-SC) Grassley (R-IA) Hagan (D-NC) Hutchison (R-TX) Inhofe (R-OK) Isakson (R-GA) Johanns (R-NE) Kirk (R-IL) Kyl (R-AZ) LeMieux (R-FL) McCain (R-AZ)	McConnell (R-KY) Nelson (D-NE) Pryor (D-AR) Risch (R-ID) Roberts (R-KS) Sessions (R-AL) Shelby (R-AL) Snowe (R-ME) Tester (D-MT) Thune (R-SD) Vitter (R-LA) Voinovich (R-OH) Wicker (R-MS)

Not Voting - 4
Bunning (R-KY) Gregg (R-NH)	Hatch (R-UT) Manchin (D-WV)

Here's the roll call vote on the 63-33 cloture vote on the DADT Repeal Bill which PASSED.

YEAs ---63
Akaka (D-HI) Baucus (D-MT) Bayh (D-IN) Begich (D-AK) Bennet (D-CO) Bingaman (D-NM) Boxer (D-CA) Brown (D-OH) Brown (R-MA) Cantwell (D-WA) Cardin (D-MD) Carper (D-DE) Casey (D-PA) Collins (R-ME) Conrad (D-ND) Coons (D-DE) Dodd (D-CT) Dorgan (D-ND) Durbin (D-IL) Feingold (D-WI) Feinstein (D-CA)	Franken (D-MN) Gillibrand (D-NY) Hagan (D-NC) Harkin (D-IA) Inouye (D-HI) Johnson (D-SD) Kerry (D-MA) Kirk (R-IL) Klobuchar (D-MN) Kohl (D-WI) Landrieu (D-LA) Lautenberg (D-NJ) Leahy (D-VT) Levin (D-MI) Lieberman (ID-CT) Lincoln (D-AR) McCaskill (D-MO) Menendez (D-NJ) Merkley (D-OR) Mikulski (D-MD) Murkowski (R-AK)	Murray (D-WA) Nelson (D-FL) Nelson (D-NE) Pryor (D-AR) Reed (D-RI) Reid (D-NV) Rockefeller (D-WV) Sanders (I-VT) Schumer (D-NY) Shaheen (D-NH) Snowe (R-ME) Specter (D-PA) Stabenow (D-MI) Tester (D-MT) Udall (D-CO) Udall (D-NM) Voinovich (R-OH) Warner (D-VA) Webb (D-VA) Whitehouse (D-RI) Wyden (D-OR)

NAYs ---33
Alexander (R-TN) Barrasso (R-WY) Bennett (R-UT) Bond (R-MO) Brownback (R-KS) Burr (R-NC) Chambliss (R-GA) Coburn (R-OK) Cochran (R-MS) Corker (R-TN) Cornyn (R-TX)	Crapo (R-ID) DeMint (R-SC) Ensign (R-NV) Enzi (R-WY) Graham (R-SC) Grassley (R-IA) Hutchison (R-TX) Inhofe (R-OK) Isakson (R-GA) Johanns (R-NE) Kyl (R-AZ)	LeMieux (R-FL) Lugar (R-IN) McCain (R-AZ) McConnell (R-KY) Risch (R-ID) Roberts (R-KS) Sessions (R-AL) Shelby (R-AL) Thune (R-SD) Vitter (R-LA) Wicker (R-MS)

Not Voting - 4
Bunning (R-KY) Gregg (R-NH)	Hatch (R-UT) Manchin (D-WV)

DADT Passes 63-33, DREAM Act Fails 55-41!

It feels like election day 2008 again. Happiness that finally some action has occurred on the LGBT legislative agenda but I'm devastated that the DREAM Act will not become law anytime soon.

So this time LGBT people won, but people of color lost. In 2008, people of color won (with the election of President Obama) but LGBT people lost (with the passage of Proposition 8).

Hmmm, that is now TWO achievements Barack Obama has been able (in two years) to do that "Big Dog" Bill Clinton could not get done in (8 years): health care reform AND the repeal of the disgraceful military ban on open military service by lesbians and gay men.

BREAKING: DADT and DREAM Act Cloture Votes SATURDAY!

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid filed for cloture on both the DREAM Act and the stand-alone DADT Repeal bill for Saturday morning, The Advocate.reporter Kerry Eleveld  tweets. (Cloture is a procedural motion which kills a filibuster of it gets 60 votes).

It has been reported that DADT Repeal has at least 61 votes in favor in the U.S. Senate. The DREAM Act received 59 votes last Friday (DADT repeal got 57 votes) and, presumably Reid would not be bringing it up if he hadn't heard from at least one more Senator to support the measure which provides a path to citizenship for immigrants under the age of 30 who are undocumented because they were brought to this country when they were a minor and have been physically present in the United States for at least 5 years.

The U.S. House has already passed both the Dream Act (216-198) and the DADT repeal bill (250-175).

Let's hope the Senate can finally get its act together and pass something progressive for a change, enact legislation which helps the less powerful instead of giving aid and comfort to the affluent.

DADT Update: 61 Senators Support Repeal; Vote Date Uncertain

The latest news on DADT repeal is that there are now officially 61 Senators who have either voted for repeal or announced that they will do so if it comes up again this year. When the measure failed last Friday there were 57 votes in favor (and 40 against).

Since then, Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Scott Brown (R-MA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) have all announced that they will support S. 4023, a stand-alone bill to repeal the military's anti-gay policy before the 111th Congress ends.

An identical bill to S. 4023 which would repeal DDT passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday 250-175.

It is expected there will be a final vote to send S. 4023 to the President's desk before the end of the Congress, but it has not been scheduled by Senator Harry Reid yet.

DADT Repeal Bill Introduced in U.S. Senate

A standalone bill to repeal the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy was introduced on Friday December 10th and currently has 27 co-sponsors, including Republican Susan Collins and Independent Joe Lieberman, who sponsored the legislation, called S. 4023.

After a bid to keep DADT repeal in the National Defense Authorization Act failed by a  vote of 57-40 on Thursday (since it takes 60 votes to break a filibuster) this last-minute federal legislation is the only vehicle left by which DADT can be repealed before the end of the 111th Congress.

There are currently 28 explicit supporters of the bill (including Lieberman):

Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] - 12/10/2010 
Sen Bennet, Michael F. [CO] - 12/10/2010 
Sen Bingaman, Jeff [NM] - 12/10/2010 
Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA] - 12/10/2010 
Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] - 12/10/2010 
Sen Cardin, Benjamin L. [MD] - 12/10/2010 
Sen Collins, Susan M. [ME] - 12/10/2010 
Sen Coons, Christopher A. [DE] - 12/10/2010 
Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] - 12/10/2010 
Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] - 12/10/2010 
Sen Feinstein, Dianne [CA] - 12/10/2010 
Sen Franken, Al [MN] - 12/10/2010 
Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] - 12/10/2010 
Sen Harkin, Tom [IA] - 12/10/2010 
Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] - 12/10/2010 
Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ] - 12/10/2010 
Sen Leahy, Patrick J. [VT] - 12/10/2010 
Sen Levin, Carl [MI] - 12/10/2010 
Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. [AR] - 12/10/2010 
Sen Menendez, Robert [NJ] - 12/10/2010 
Sen Merkley, Jeff [OR] - 12/10/2010 
Sen Murray, Patty [WA] - 12/10/2010 
Sen Reid, Harry [NV] - 12/10/2010 
Sen Udall, Mark [CO] - 12/10/2010 
Sen Udall, Tom [NM] - 12/10/2010 
Sen Whitehouse, Sheldon [RI] - 12/10/2010 
Sen Wyden, Ron [OR] - 12/10/2010

Both Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi have agreed to move on the legislation before the end of the year.

Lieberman and Collins claim there are more than 60 votes to repeal DADT (Lisa Murkowki, Scott Brown, and Richard Lugar are all Republicans who have claimed to support the end of DADT). Even Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia who voted in favor of the filibuster has said that he would probably not vote that way again.

2012 Senate Outlook Grim For Democrats

If you thought the political landscape in 2010 was bad for Democrats, wait till you see the terrain on which the 2012 Senate elections will be fought:

According to the Cook Political Report, there are currently 23 Democrats up for re-election compared to 10 Republicans.

Solid: These races are not considered competitive and are not likely to become closely contested.
Likely: These seats are not considered competitive at this point but have the potential to become engaged.
Lean: These are considered competitive races but one party has an advantage.
Toss Up: These are the most competitive races; either party has a good chance of winning.

DEMOCRATS | 23 HELD SEATS
SOLID D (9) Feinstein* (CA) Carper* (DE) Akaka* (HI) Cardin (MD) Klobuchar (MN) Menendez (NJ) Bingaman* (NM) Whitehouse (RI) Sanders (VT) Kohl* (WI)	LIKELY D (5) Stabenow (MI) Tester (MT) Conrad* (ND) Casey (PA) Cantwell (WA)	LEAN D (3) Lieberman* (CT) Nelson* (FL) McCaskill (MO) Brown (OH)	TOSS UP (3) Nelson* (NE) Webb* (VA) Manchin (WV)	LEAN R (0)	LIKELY R (0)	SOLID R (0)

REPUBLICANS | 10 HELD SEATS
SOLID D (0)	LIKELY D (0)	LEAN D (0)	TOSS UP (2) Brown (MA) Ensign* (NV)	LEAN R (0)	LIKELY R (1) Snowe* (ME)	SOLID R (7) Kyl* (AZ) Lugar (IN) Wicker (MS) Corker (TN) Hutchison* (TX) Hatch* (UT) Barrasso (WY)

* = potential retirement

Interestingly, the 2012 outlook in the U.S. House of Representatives is better, where of the Top 100 most competitive seats 43 favor Democrats and 57 favor Republicans. This analysis is still preliminary because all House seats will be redrawn in the 2011 redistricting.

hat/tip to Political Wire

DREAM Act Up For Vote Today

The DREAM Act is going to be voted on today in the Senate. It needs 60 votes to survive a filibuster from Republicans. Call your Senators to tell them to vote YES on S. 3992 (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2010)

Senator DeMint (R-SC) Calls For Employment Discrimination Based On Sex

United States Senator Jim DeMint, Republican of South Carolina, has started taking a more prominent role as the standard bearer for ultra-conservatism in America. Recently, DeMint has called for openly gay or lesbian people and sexually active unmarried women to be barred from working as public teachers.

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) says that even though "no one" came to his defense in 2004 after he said that gay people and unwed mothers should be banned from teaching, "everyone" quietly told him that he shouldn't back down from his position.

He also implied that not banning gay people and women who have sex before marriage from teaching would be an attack on Christians, and defended his position on banning gay teachers because he holds the same position on women who have sex outside of marriage.

"[When I said those things,] no one came to my defense," he said, the Spartanberg Herald-Journal reported. "But everyone would come to me and whisper that I shouldn't back down. They don't want government purging their rights and their freedom to religion."

So, basically Senator DeMint is calling for public employment discrimination on the basis of sex and sexual orientatiom.

Needless to say, he has been roundly criticized for these bigoted beliefs.

"Sexist bigots like Sen. Jim DeMint don't belong in the United States Congress," said National Organization for Women President Terry O'Neill. "He thinks gay women and men and sexually active single women should be banned from teaching, but he said nothing about sexually active, single straight men."

"It is salt in the wound in our community," said Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "It's irresponsible for Sen. DeMint to reassert this position in this day and age. I would ask him to apologize."

"What matters in the workplace is your ability to do your job, yet you can be fired for your sexual orientation in 29 states and for your gender identity in 38. I can't imagine what people think is 'moral' about job discrimination," said the Human Rights Campaign in a statement.

Beliefs like DeMint (and his people who support him) are exactly why the Employment Non-Discrimination Act needs to become federal law.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill With LGBT Provisions Introduced

For Immediate  Release                                                                                  Contact:  Steve Ralls
September 30, 2010                                                (202) 347-7007 / sralls@immigrationequality.org

Immigration Equality Action Fund Hails Introduction of LGBT-Inclusive Comprehensive Immigration Reform BillLegislation from Senator Robert Menendez Includes Uniting American Families Act

Washington, DC – The Immigration Equality Action Fund today hailed the introduction of a comprehensive immigration reform bill in the Senate, by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), which includes the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), a measure to end discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender immigrant families. 

“The Immigration Equality Action Fund welcomes Senator Menendez’s inclusive legislation, and calls on Congress to pass comprehensive reform, and fix our broken immigration system, immediately,” said Rachel B. Tiven, the group’s executive director.  “This new bill includes numerous, positive developments for LGBT immigrants, including UAFA, the DREAM Act and a pathway to citizenship.  All three components are important to ensuring that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender immigrants are able to contribute fully to our country while keeping their families together. The LGBT community must press for the passage of Senator Menendez’s bill, and call on our allies in Congress to support the legislation.  This legislation will finally end the obstacles so many families – both gay and straight – struggle with every day.”

Under current immigration law, lesbian and gay Americans are unable to sponsor their foreign-born partners for residency in the United States.  As a result, LGBT binational couples are forced apart, or into exile, by discriminatory immigration laws.  UAFA – sponsored in the Senate by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and in the House by Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) – would eliminate that double standard, and apply immigration laws equally to LGBT Americans, and their partners. UAFA is currently co-sponsored by 161 lawmakers in both chambers of Congress.

“It is simply unconscionable that our immigration laws tear families apart,” Tiven concluded.  “Senator Menendez’s legislation, which is a truly comprehensive bill, would provide LGBT families with important opportunities to keep their families together.  The bill’s introduction is welcome news not just for lesbian and gay Americans, but also their extended families, their communities and our country.  The Immigration Equality Action Fund is committed to working for its passage.”

# # #

Immigration Equality Action Fund advocates on Capitol Hill for equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and HIV-positive immigrants and their families. To end discrimination in U.S. immigration law, Immigration Equality Action Fund works to pass the Uniting American Families Act and LGBT-inclusive Comprehensive Immigration Reform. The Action Fund lobbies legislators and other policy makers, builds coalitions, and empowers LGBT immigrant families around the country to fight for change.

CA-SEN: Boxer Maintains Measurable Edge

United States Senator Barbara Boxer is maintaining a distinct lead in her re-election race against former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina.


The Saramento Bee explains why Boxer is currently favored to win her fourth Senate term:

The poll found that impressions of Boxer are sharply divided and highly partisan, with 93 percent of all likely voters having an opinion of her. It found that Boxer still has a high unfavorable rating of 48 percent. But it has declined from a high of 52 percent two months ago.

"She's hanging in," said Mark DiCamillo, the poll's director. "It looks like she's had a pretty good month or two."

DiCamillo attributed the results to Boxer's television advertising, which began last week, while Fiorina unveiled her first television ad on Thursday. DiCamillo noted that Fiorina's unfavorable rating has jumped from 29 percent to 38 percent since July.

"Fiorina has definitely taken a hit," he said.

[...]

The poll found that most respondents are basing their choices on how they feel about Boxer. Among Boxer supporters, 67 percent said their vote is more a vote for Boxer than it is a vote against Fiorina. And 65 percent of those who supported Fiorina said their preference is more a vote against Boxer than it is a vote for Fiorina.

MadProfessah has endorsed Barbara Boxer.

DADT Showdown In Senate Tuesday

On Tuesday at 2:15pm EDT the United States Senate will have a cloture vote on the National Defense Authorization Act, S. 3454, which currently includes a provision which would lead to the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The legislation needs 60 votes to break a Republican-led filibuster, and prior to today, it was believed that those votes could come from numerous "moderate" Republican senators like Collins (R-ME), Snow (R-ME), Voinovich (R-OH), Brown (R-MA) and LeMieux (R-FL).

Today, Sen. Snowe announced she is supporting the filibuster:

“First and foremost, the Senate should have the ability to debate more than the three amendments the Majority Leader is allowing, especially as this bill is the largest discretionary authorization measure that Congress considers, that the bill describes the policies and programs that provide resources and direction to the nearly 2.4 million men and women of the military – active, reserve and civilians, including the courageous Americans serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that two of the three amendments don’t even relate to the military. It is therefore imperative that Senate deliberations on the defense bill be conducted without limitations and in a manner that allows for the consideration of all related amendments that Senators may wish to offer.


“Moreover, as I have previously stated, given that the law implementing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy has been in place for nearly 17 years, I agree that it is overdue for a thorough review. The question is, whether we should be voting on this issue before we have the benefit of the comprehensive review that President Obama’s Secretary of Defense ordered in March, to secure the input of our men and women in uniform during this time of war – as the Joint Chiefs of Staff from all of the services have requested prior to any vote. We should all have the opportunity to review that report which is to be completed on December 1, as we reevaluate this policy and the implementation of any new changes.”

The White House also released a statement:

“The National Defense Authorization Act is a good bill that is important for the overall health and well being of our forces, especially given the ongoing campaigns in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world,” White House spokesperson Shin Inouye said in a statement. “This legislation received bipartisan support in the House and in the Senate Armed Services Committee and the President hopes it receives similar bipartisan support in the Senate."

UPDATE 08:53AM 09/21/2010:
SLDN has published the following list of uncommitted Senators which should be contacted in the next four hours:

--George Lemieux (R-FL);
--Susan Collins (R-ME);
--Olympia Snowe (R-ME);
--Mark Pryor (D-Ark.);
--Richard Lugar (R-IN);
--Judd Gregg (R-NH);
--Jim Webb (D-VA);
--George Voinovich (R-OH);
--Kit Bond (R-MO);