This afternoon, a discriminatory policy that deprives our military of qualified troops, endangers our national security, and violates the simple American principles of integrity, fairness, and equality was allowed to remain law.
Several of them had previously claimed to support repeal, but voted “no” today.
It’s a frustrating setback, but here’s the good news: We are just three votes away from moving forward on repeal.
And Senate Majority LeaderHarry Reid and our allies in the Senate are promising another vote on repeal before Congress heads home for the year. There is still a chance for this to pass.
Allies in the Senate are not done fighting. The President is not done fighting. And I know you’re not, either.
Write the Republicans standing in the way in the Senate — and tell them to get on the right side of history.
There’s no question that today’s vote was disappointing.
But we also have a lot of reasons to be proud today.
The letters to the editor you wrote and the phone calls you made — and the 582,000 petitions you signed — have been crucial in building support for repeal.
This morning, OFA volunteers delivered those petitions to Senator Collins’ office. And this afternoon, she voted to move this bill forward.
Now your work can help make sure we secure the votes necessary to finally put an end to this unfair policy.
One final push might be all it takes.
I know we still have a lot of fight left in us. Write Republicans now — and tell them to stop standing in the way:
I know you must have been disappointed when you saw my earlier email tonight saying that the U.S. Senate stopped action on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal, the discriminatory law that bans gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military. This news certainly draws attention to the actions the President can take to end the discharges, and it’s important that we continue to urge him to do so. Aside from that, I also wanted to share some late breaking news that keeps congressional repeal as a possibility THIS YEAR.
After the failed vote to bring up the Defense Authorization bill today, two champions for repeal – SenatorsJoe Lieberman and Susan Collins – announced that they would introduce repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” as a stand-alone piece of legislation. While passing this new bill will be an uphill battle, it is another chance for a durable legislative solution.
Over the past few days we’ve seen a number of senators speak out for repeal and it’s clear that under the right circumstances, we can get above the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster. What got in the way today was procedure.
Thankfully a bipartisan group of senators has committed to finding an alternative method of achieving repeal. We encourage all senators to take up this bill and pass it quickly so that the military has the power to implement a repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
I’ll be in touch in the coming days to give you ways to get involved and help pass this stand-alone bill to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” The fight for open service has had many twists and turns but until “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is left in the dustbin of history we will never give up the fight.
It takes two minutes. It’s their job to take your call – and you could help make history.
Unless we speak out right now, the Senate could put their holiday vacations before fairness and national security.
A group of pro-equality senators is calling on the Senate to stay in session until “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is repealed. But too many others want to go home before the holidays instead of staying to finish the job.
So now, it’s up to us. We’ve got to pressure wavering senators and give those supporting repeal the public backing they need to keep the Senate in business.
We can’t let the Senate close up shop without repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” But we’re running out of time – please call your senators now.
It only takes two minutes to call your senator‘s office and every senator has staff on hand to answer the phones and speak to constituents. Call your senators now:
If you don’t get through right away, try again – the phones may be overwhelmed by hateful calls from right-wing activists, but it’s crucial that your voice is heard.
Call one senator’s office, and tell the staff person who answers where you live so they know you’re a real constituent.
Tell them you want the senator to support staying in session for as long as it takes to pass the defense bill, which includes repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” this year – and that you’ll remember how they vote when they’re next up for election.
If your senator is opposed to repeal, remind them that the Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff believe that if the Senate fails to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” it would leave the military at the mercy of the courts – and potentially in a state of great confusion from the law being suddenly struck down.
Thank them, hang up, and make your second call to the other senator.
You’re not done: Save the Congressional Switchboard number – (202) 224-3121 – in your cell phone right now. Then hand it to a friend, then a co-worker, and ask them to make two calls. While you’re at it, tell your family and your Facebook friends to call as well.
We need as many calls as possible in order to make repeal happen in 2010.
The time for debate is over. Let’s end the discrimination and prejudice once and for all.
There are just a few weeks left in this Congress, and we have a lot left to do.
Democrats are rolling up their sleeves, getting to work on all fronts to finish important work that we all set out to accomplish together.
That means pressing, right now, to ratify the New START treaty, furthering our goal of nuclear arms reduction — and securing a safer future for our nation.
That means working to extend much-needed tax cuts to the middle class and unemployment benefits to those who are out of work — making sure Americans get the relief they deserve.
That means fighting to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” a discriminatory law that prevents qualified men and women from serving their country.
And that means pushing to pass the DREAM Act, paving a path to citizenship for undocumented youth willing to work toward a college degree or serve in our military.
We’re working, right now, to draw attention to these crucial measures, and help get them passed — making them impossible for the media to ignore and for Republicans in Congress to obstruct.
But amplifying this message requires resources — and we can’t do it without your help.
If the obstructionist Republicans in Congress have their way, the current “lame duck” session will have lived up to its name. They’ve been blocking the road on every single one of the issues we’ve been fighting so hard for.
They’re willing to hold up an arms treaty that’s critical to our national security. They’re willing to stand in the way of commonsense immigration reform that folks on both sides of the aisle have long embraced. And they’re willing to keep in place an unfair policy that top military leaders across the board have recommended repealing.
It’s not enough for us to just lament how “broken” Washington is. It’s not enough to shake our heads and say that we wished Republicans would stop playing political games, or that the pundits would focus on issues that unite us instead of the petty partisan battles that divide us.
We need to stand up.
We need to raise our voices about where we’d like to see this country go — and the work we know this Congress still needs to accomplish. That means ratifying the New START Treaty, extending tax cuts to middle-class Americans, repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and passing the DREAM Act. And it means extending unemployment benefits so Americans looking for work can keep paying their bills.
Democrats in Congress are going to work for the measures that matter to us — and together, we can send the message that we refuse to stand by and watch while Republicans stand in the way.
Please donate $3 or more today to help send the message loud and clear that Democrats across the country are committed to accomplishing these key initiatives before the year is out:
Sunday Buzzzzz … A good day to reach for the sky while breathing deeply through your nose then slowly exhale through your mouth while slowly lowering your arms, head, shoulders, chest and waist bend knees -repeat when needed …
Tired of “the media” BS yet? and can i just say the only grown-ups on the floor of Congress on Saturday were from the Democratic party but hey that is just my opinion. In his latest commentary, Bloomberg states the President needs better advisors even though President Obama has kept more than half of his campaign promises made to the 53% that voted for him in 2008. I wonder if that information has been readily available in your State.I would like to thank our President for doing such a great job despite the 24/7 News cycle bashing him and the obstructionist called the Republican Tea Party. I would ask our President to keep his campaign promises and heed this alert: the Low Information Voters are not tuning in or paying attention so get out there because according to reports they made up 10% of those that decided to lean right. I say folks have to remember that President Obama does not make, create or pass legislation into laws, our Congress does so all complaints about bills not getting on the floor of Congress should be directed at Republican Tea Partiers who have held most if not all of them up or blocked, stalled and just said no to.
FYI President Obama signs major trade pact agreement with S.Korea -which is a big deal though “The Media” has chosen to ignore it as well as signing the bill to avert a government shut-down.
Today I got up early to see the Bush tax giveaways also called procedural votes on the Senate floor and was quite sad but of course, the media predicted the defeat before hand and unfortunately, they were correct. The point was to get it on the record while showing Americans just what and who they voted for in the Mid-term elections. It is a sad day to realize that a Political Party would put their ideology above the needs of their fellow Americans but the Republican Tea Party did without flinching, thinking of their constituents I guess and all for the love of money. The Bush Tax Cuts of 2001&2003 were given, scheduled to expire 12/31/10 and unpaid for a long with the two wars waged which cost Americans trillions of our money. The fact is the tax cuts, 2Wars, Wall Street bets, AIG insurance selling banking products as well as too much deregulation sent our economy over the cliff -sigh
In great news, The President secured a trade agreement with S.Korea that all Americans should be proud of though if you listen to the News that trade agreement is not as important at least not to “the media” as the defeat or votes against the Obama Administration coming from the cables. Is it just me or does anyone else feel like it is un-American to see so many in the news waiting to report a defeat or any other negative item regarding President Obama. In a time when things are so tough and a large number of voters leaned left we all see the Republican Tea Party gain strength tell the public lies and now the joke is on all of us. They say their focus is on Jobs, economy and doing the work of the People yet RTP continue to vote against UI stating people on UI do not look for jobs. I have to say every time one of them makes a statement that is obviously negative I wonder where the outrage is. I wonder what will be enough BS in order for people to March on DC the reports are that there are five people applying for one job and while members of RTP Congress have jobs it is clear they are all out of touch, engage in elitist behavior and decided a long time ago that not only would they refuse to cooperate with the First Black President they will do whatever is necessary to bring him down even if it means taking us all down and today provided an insight to the horrible people that obviously fooled Americans into voting for them on Nov.2 and that is quite sad.
So, it’s Friday and very cold but we def are not snowbound like the east coast …a lot has happened and it’s only 10am here in the 206. I am hoping the President’s trip goes well and is def a safe one. The debating and or voting going on in Congress today will continue into the weekend and it has my blood boiling. Hopefully, our Democratic Party will hold firm and show Americans the truth of how the Republican Tea Party just is not who the claim to be as shown to us all with the letter stating they will not cooperate unless they get their Bush tax giveaways. If nothing else this should be the evidence Americans need to show they had no intention of focusing on jobs our economy or doing the peoples business. The last two years the focus has been on obstruction, ruining the governing party and President Obama. The jobs numbers tell me that Corporate America has a long and complicit relationship with the Republican Tea Party that is long, deep, probably cannot be broken and or completely be reformed unless and until ALL Americans see the trouble the Republican Tea Party will be and put the Democratic Party back in control…in both Chambers of Congress.
This week the lame duck session restarted on a positive note with a vote of 73-25 passing the Food Safety Bill that will when put into implementation keep most Americans Safe. Unfortunately, due to a Senate error this Bill was put on hold and is probably going to be held hostage along with other legislation that would not only protect Americans it could have been a bill that passed with bipartisanship but that was clearly too much to ask for. While that was taking place, we all waited for the DADT report and most if not all reports were that the response had been better than anticipated. Reports were that 70% were okay with repealing DADT but folks in the Marines were not as responsive. The comments made by Gen.Gates about dadt were definitely positive. It would seem like an easy task to just take the vote and pass dadt but the Republican Tea Party who supported the repeal of DADT now have flip flopped by deciding the reports from Generals were not good enough. Again, my question is where is the outrage from people who support the repeal and or gays who know the impact the repeal would have on so many because contrary to folks out there it is Congress who has the responsibility to make it a law not the President who is getting the blame.
I am quite sure the START treaty is not only a National Security issue but is and has always been a bipartisan issue but is being used by the Republican Tea Party along with other legislation as pawns to again-get those Bush giveaways or else. This kind of behavior is childish and
In other News, our President had his first of many meetings to come with Republicans and the first documented outcome of that meeting by President Obama is below:
Though our President held a positive press conference concerning the meeting with Republicans, it is unfortunate that the Republican Tea Party thumbed their noses at our President and continue to be the Party of No by blocking unemployment today to several million. The Republican Tea Party continues want those Bush tax give always before they will cooperate on the floor of Congress, which Americans or most Americans feel we cannot afford to give them right now. At what point during the course of the lame duck Session in Congress will Republican constituents finally see the carpetbaggers for what they are?
The President has asked the Middle lower class to sacrifice again by freezing federal salaries for two years now he must make the rich sacrifice as well because they have not.
Other News
**If you order online on or before Dec.17th most will offer free shipping -called free shipping day
**A grocery workers have ratified their contract in king, kitsap, snohomish counties and covers indpdt grocery workers as well 95% voted yes
**SKnight was arrested on parole violation
**Did you know the RNC is in debt -15million w/about 2million banked the DNC is in debt -15million but has about 10million banked
**President Obama secures major trade pact with S.Korea
**The President signs bill that will avert government shut down
**President Obama is met with newly elected Gov. -told them to call w/any and all probs they don’t want to hear it on tv first -sigh-
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**Health Care Premiums have gone up 41%
**Alan Simpson debt comm vote to bring there legislation to the floor of Congress needs 14 votes they have 7 at this time. The final vote was 11-7 and failed to get to the flr of Congress
**Temp Fed spending FY 2011 239-178 -with 8Democrats voting No and 2Republicans voting yes
**Rangel censure vote will happen on Thursday with a full Censure
**Food Safety bill may be held up by the House GOP due to Senate errors
**Mid-Class tax cut vote may take place today-Steny Hoyer might allow them
**The START treaty is being debated in the Senate but who knows when the vote will be
**Kathleen Kennedy Townsend has put together a group to battle against the big money used in the Mid-terms
President Obama Remarks on New Free-Trade Agreement 
Be a Seed for Change 
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