Defense Of Marriage Act

Even After 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' Gay Soldiers Remain Unequal In The Military

Brian Beutler | November 3, 2011, 6:00AM

Paul Kennedy / Shutterstock

Two weeks ago, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) neatly demonstrated the power of retail politics -- and at the same time brought to light a legal conflict that has made the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell a bumpy affair.

Shaheen had intervened on behalf of a constituent named Charlie Morgan -- an openly gay Chief Warrant Officer in the New Hampshire National Guard -- who had just returned from a deployment in Kuwait, only to be forbidden by the military from bringing her spouse Karen to an event aimed at helping families deal with the transition back to life at home.

It's unthinkable that a straight, married service member would have faced this kind of obstacle. But though Don't Ask, Don't Tell had been stricken from the books, and Morgan was allowed to serve openly, the Defense of Marriage Act still allowed the New Hampshire National Guard to deny her spouse authorization to attend the so-called Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program.

Shaheen took Morgan's case straight to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and the policy was quickly reversed -- the Morgans were allowed to attend Yellow Ribbon event earlier this month.

But the problem isn't limited to reintegration events or the New Hampshire National Guard. It's happening nationwide -- the ripples of an inherent tension between the end of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and the continued existence of the Defense of Marriage Act. So advocates, politicians, and service members are handing megaphones to service members and their spouses who have suffered as a result of the conflict, to see the Defense of Marriage Act overturned by the courts or repealed by Congress.

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War On Terror

Obama Would Veto Defense Bill Over Detainee Provisions

Susan Crabtree | May 24, 2011, 6:35PM

President Barack Obama

The White House is threatening to veto the annual must-pass House Defense Authorization bill over language limiting his ability to transfer detainees overseas or try them in civilian court, among other issues.

In addition, the White House is taking strong exception to language dramatically expanding the president's power to wage the war on terror indefinitely, among other provisions.

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Debt Ceiling

Tea Party Leader: We'll Take The Debt Ceiling Hike If You Put Gay Troops Back In The Closet

Evan McMorris-Santoro | May 9, 2011, 1:05PM

William Temple, Chairman of the Tea Party Founding Fathers

The two sides of the debate over whether the tea party is at heart a socially conservative movement or a fiscally conservative one smashed together Monday morning at a press conference in Washington, where a tea party leader told reporters he'd be willing to accept a bump in the debt ceiling if Republicans promise to put an end to "military effeminization."

Speakers from the Cato Institute's Dan Mitchell to a man dressed as George Washington to Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) -- who sent a written statement that was read aloud -- told a small crowd of reporters that House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and his GOP leadership team were ignoring their tea party mandate by supporting an increase in the federal debt limit. They called on Republicans in the House to attach strict spending riders onto any deal they make with an Obama administration desperate to avoid government default.

For Bachmann, no less than the "complete defunding of Obamacare" would do. For others, a total spending freeze and a small, short-term limit increase was acceptable, provided it came with guarantees of deep spending cuts. For Tea Party Founding Fathers chairman William Temple, a reinstatement of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and keeping women out of combat roles would also be acceptable.

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Haley Barbour

Barbour: I'd Reinstate DADT To Avoid Distracting 'Amorous Mindset' (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | March 25, 2011, 4:24PM

Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS)

Haley Barbour said today that he'd support reinstating Don't Ask Don't Tell because "when you're under fire, and people are living and dying on split-second decisions, you don't need any kind of amorous mindset that can affect saving people's lives and killing bad guys."

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Mike Huckabee

Huckabee Wants To Reverse Repeal Of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

Melissa Jeltsen | March 23, 2011, 3:06PM

Mike Huckabee

In an interview with One News Now, former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR) said that he supports reinstating "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" -- legislation repealed by Congress in December, which prohibited gay men and women from serving openly in the military.

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Gay Marriage

For The First Time, Majority Of Americans Support Gay Marriage

Jon Terbush | March 18, 2011, 9:53AM

In another sign of Americans' rapidly changing attitudes toward gay rights, a new ABC News/Washington Post survey released today finds that, for the first time in a decade of polling, a majority of Americans now support same sex marriage.

That finding comes just weeks after the Obama administration announced that it would no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act -- the law that prohibits the federal government from recognizing same sex marriages performed in states where they are legal -- in court. And it adds weight to the reinvigorated efforts of pro-gay-rights Democrats who, for the first time, see the issue as a political winner.

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Jeff Flake

GOPer Flake Takes The High Road On Possible Giffords Senate Run

Susan Crabtree | February 16, 2011, 3:30PM

Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ)

Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) who announced his Senate bid this week, is taking the high road when it comes to the possibility of a general election match-up against the rapidly and remarkably recovering Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ).

"The most wonderful thing in the world would be to have her make a Senate run," Flake told TPM in an interview Tuesday.

While Flake declined to discuss whether he could beat her in a head-to-head Senate race, he said a Giffords' Senate run in 2012 would be an incredible and welcome development.

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CPAC

Bachmann, McConnell, King Kick Off Day One Of CPAC

Jillian Rayfield | February 10, 2011, 9:06AM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Here are the main speakers scheduled for the Conservative Political Action Conference, day one.

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Bryan Fischer

Pawlenty To Bryan Fischer: I'd Support Reinstating DADT

Jillian Rayfield | January 13, 2011, 12:36PM

Bryan Fischer and former Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

In an interview with anti-gay, anti-bear activist Bryan Fischer, potential 2012 Republican presidential candidate and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty said "I would support reinstating" Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

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Don't Ask, Don't Tell

NC GOPer Rips Sen. Burr For 'Endorsing Immorality' With DADT Vote

Eric Lach | December 31, 2010, 10:36AM

Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC)

North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr's vote to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' isn't sitting well with some fellow Republicans back in his home state, even as one prominent local Democrat plans to thank him in writing.

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Congress

On The Floor: Ten Great Moments From Congress In 2010 (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | December 27, 2010, 8:33AM

As the year comes to a close, and we look ahead to all the wild and wacky things that are sure to happen in the new Republican-controlled House and only narrowly Democratic-controlled Senate, let's take a look back at the past year. A whole lot of amazing and memorable moments happened not only on the campaign trail, but on the two Congressional floors in the Capitol itself.

We've gathered together 10 unforgettable moments from the House and Senate in 2010. Some of them are great -- while others are just so bad that they're good.

But all of them give some perspective on the people who have been running our government, or who are about to have even more power next year. So sit back, relax, and laugh -- because it's better than crying.

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Lame duck sesion

Top 5 Lame Duck Losers For 2010

Brian Beutler | December 24, 2010, 8:27AM

Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ)

Until the next Congress starts, the media will have little to prattle on about besides the Democrats lame duck accomplishments. Already lost in the coverage are two key facts: 1.) The Dems' victories came at the expense of Republicans, many of whom really blew it these past few weeks; and 2.) The Democrats didn't win everything.

Here's our list of the lame duck's top five losers.

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Barack Obama

Top 5 Lame Duck Winners For 2010

Brian Beutler | December 24, 2010, 8:25AM

President Barack Obama

Republicans attacked it as a perversion of democracy, and used it as an excuse to continue to vote against Dem priorities. Democrats recognized it as their last chance to accomplish much of anything for the next two years. People in the media mistook it for a Barack Obama renaissance.

Certainly Democrats accomplished more than most people expected they would these last several weeks. But between the victories and the compromises and the defeats, it's hard to keep track of who came out on top.

Here's a list of the lame duck's big winners to help you sort it all out.

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Lisa Murkowski

Murkowski On Voting With Dems: No Biggie!

Brian Beutler | December 23, 2010, 8:45AM

One of the lame duck's biggest surprises was how reliably Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted with Democrats. Her "yes" votes on DREAM and DADT repeal arguably put her to the left of Democrats Jon Tester and Joe Manchin -- during the lame duck, at least.

As she darted out of the Senate chamber Wednesday afternoon TPM asked her if those votes would've been harder to cast if she'd never been primaried and was still a member of GOP leadership.

"Nah," she said, as the elevator doors closed.

So I guess that answers that.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Blame The Lame Duck: Republicans Find A New Reason For 'No' Votes

Jillian Rayfield | December 23, 2010, 8:37AM

This year's lame duck Congress has been described as the most productive since World War II, with the passage of a tax cuts deal, a repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, ratification of the new START treaty, and the passage of a bill to provide health care to 9/11 first responders.

But despite the Democrats' legislative victories, and even some bipartisan support, many top Republicans this week have been offering up the lame duck session itself as the latest sacrifice on the "Party of No" altar...

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Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Obama Speaks At Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Signing (VIDEO)

Rachel Slajda | December 22, 2010, 2:54PM

This morning, President Obama spoke emotionally about the gay men and women who serve in the military before signing a law that will repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

"There will never be a full accounting of the heroism demonstrated by gay Americans in service to this country," Obama said. "As the first generation to serve openly in our armed services, you will stand for all those who came before you, and you will serve as role models for all those who will come after you."

Watch the full speech:

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Barack Obama

Obama: DADT Repeal Is Matter Of Months, Not Years

Rachel Slajda | December 22, 2010, 11:58AM

President Obama signs a bill repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

When President Obama signed a bill repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell today, he wasn't actually repealing the 17-year-old policy. The law directs the Pentagon to drop the policy -- but only after Obama, the defense secretary and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff all certify that the military is ready for it.

And the question has been how long that may take. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has been purposely tight-lipped about a time line, refusing to publicly make even vague estimates.

Obama, though, gave a ballpark to The Advocate's Kerry Eleveld.

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Gay Rights

Obama: DOMA Should Be Repealed, Lawyers Looking At 'Range Of Options'

Rachel Slajda | December 22, 2010, 11:10AM

President Obama signs a bill repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

President Obama, although he still supports civil unions over same-sex marriage, said yesterday that he believes the Defense of Marriage Act should be repealed.

"Repealing DOMA, getting ENDA [a bill to protect LGBT people from discrimination] done, those are things that should be done," Obama told The Advocate the night before signing Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal into law. "I think those are natural next steps legislatively. I'll be frank with you, I think that's not going to get done in two years. We're on a three- or four-year time frame unless there's a real transformation of attitudes within the Republican caucus."

The federal Defense of Marriage Act, which was passed in 1996, defines marriage as strictly heterosexual. It's currently facing multiple legal challenges, including two cases from Massachusetts in which a federal judge already ruled that part of the law is unconstitutional. Obama's Justice Department is defending DOMA.

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Barack Obama

Obama Signs DADT Repeal Into Law

Rachel Slajda | December 22, 2010, 9:34AM

President Obama this morning signed into law the bill repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

"I am just overwhelmed," Obama said as he took the stage among chants of "Yes we can!" and whoops from the audience. "This is a very good day."

"No longer will our country be denied the service of thousands of patriotic Americans who were forced to leave the military, regardless of their skills, no matter their bravery or their zeal, no matter their years of exemplary performance, because they happen to be gay," he said. "No longer will tens of thousands of Americans in uniform be asked to live a lie."

Obama was joined on stage by Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen, Sens. Joe Lieberman, Susan Collins and Harry Reid and Reps. Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer and Patrick Murphy, an Iraq War veteran who had pushed for DADT repeal.

"In the coming days, we will begin the process laid out by this law," Obama said, adding that repeal will not go into effect immediately. "It is very important that servicemembers remember that."

He spoke directly to gay soldiers, and said he hoped those discharged under DADT will re-enlist once it is fully repealed.

"There will never be a full accounting of the heroism demonstrated by gay Americans in service to this country," he said. "As the first generation to serve openly in our armed services, you will stand for all those who came before you, and you will serve as role models for all those who will come after you."

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Don't Ask, Don't Tell

President Obama To Sign Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal This Morning

Rachel Slajda | December 22, 2010, 8:30AM

Marines aboard the USS Blue Ridge

President Obama is scheduled to sign a bill repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell, at 9:15 a.m. ET today.

The bill, which was passed by the House last Wednesday and the Senate on Saturday, was certified by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi yesterday in a ceremony that was attended by hundreds of supporters, including gay servicemembers.

The new law will, eventually, end the military's ban on openly gay and lesbian servicemembers. The policy will be repealed 60 days after Obama, Defense Secretary Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen all certify that the military is ready for repeal. That won't happen until the military completes its implementation plan, which includes extensive training and education for all branches of the armed forces.

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Joe Manchin

Manchin Apologizes For Missing DADT Vote To Attend Family Christmas Party

Eric Kleefeld | December 21, 2010, 5:31PM

Joe Manchin

Freshman Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), who has been subjected to much public criticism after he was absent for this past weekend's votes on the DREAM Act and the successful repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in order to attend a family Christmas party -- which his office described as "a family obligation that he just could not break -- is now apologizing for the fumble.

West Virginia MetroNews Network reports:

"Let me apologize to anybody and everybody within our listening and reading areas. I'm very sorry for missing the two votes," Manchin said during a conference call with reporters Tuesday.

Manchin says his oldest daughter is divorced and has one child from that first marriage. She and her ex-husband take turns when it comes to custody on the Christmas holiday.

...

"Saturday was our Christmas and Saturday evening was our Christmas dinner. I got up Sunday and came back to Washington to make the votes I had to make," he said.

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Lindsey Graham

Graham Berates GOP For 'Capitulation' Of 'Dramatic Proportions' In Lame Duck

Jillian Rayfield | December 21, 2010, 4:23PM

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is not happy about the recent productivity of the lame duck Congress, and blamed the GOP for allowing it to happen. "When it's all going to be said and done," he said on Fox News Radio today, "Harry Reid has eaten our lunch. This has been a capitulation in two weeks of dramatic proportions of policies that wouldn't have passed in the new Congress."

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START treaty

Senate Republicans Threaten START After Dems Repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Brian Beutler | December 20, 2010, 1:54PM

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

The Senate will ratify new START this week, say the White House and top Senate Democrats. But Republican leaders -- and many of their influential members -- are doing all they can to create the opposite impression.

Somebody's clearly wrong. But we may not know whom until the last moment, when the arms reduction treaty gets a final vote on the Senate floor, and either does -- or does not -- win the two-thirds majority required for ratification.

That, in turn, will depend on whether Republicans are prepared to sink a big-deal treaty over a series of complaints about process. In the last several days, a number of Republicans -- even those who profess to support new START on the merits -- have risen to claim that the treaty will have to wait because they're angry about the success of Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal and other Democratic priorities.

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John McCain

McCain Rants Against DADT Repeal: 'Today's A Very Sad Day' (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | December 20, 2010, 11:32AM

Before the Senate passed a repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell on Saturday, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) made an angry -- and somewhat rambling -- speech on the floor against the repeal. He warned of "distractions" for servicemembers, adding: "I don't want to permit that opportunity to happen and I'll tell you why. You go up to Bethesda [Naval Hospital], Marines are up there with no legs, none. You've got Marines at Walter Reed with no limbs."

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Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Joe Manchin Skipped DREAM And DADT Votes For A Christmas Party

Jillian Rayfield | December 18, 2010, 5:42PM

Joe Manchin

After the Senate broke a GOP filibuster on Don't Ask, Don't Tell earlier today, Sen. Joe Manchin released a statement saying he had concerns about the "timing" and "implementation" of a repeal.

But it seems he took even more issue with the timing of the vote itself, seeing as he skipped the vote altogether to attend a Christmas party.

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Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Lieberman And Collins On DADT Repeal: This Is A Civil Rights Bill

Evan McMorris-Santoro | December 18, 2010, 5:28PM

Joe Lieberman and Susan Collins

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), who helped shepherd through today's Senate repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, told reporters after the final vote this afternoon that ending the military's ban on openly gay servicemembers is a big step for LGBT rights.

"To me, it is a step forward to a larger societal acceptance [of gay rights,]" Lieberman said. "This is a civil rights piece of legislation in my opinion."

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Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Senate Repeals Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Evan McMorris-Santoro | December 18, 2010, 3:30PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

With just a signature from President Obama, a ban on openly gay servicemembers will no longer be the law of the land.

By a vote of 65 to 31 this afternoon, the Senate voted to repeal the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. Republican Senators Scott Brown, Richard Burr, Susan Collins, John Ensign, Mark Kirk, Lisa Murkowski, Olympia Snowe and George Voinovich joined Democrats in the final vote to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Burr and Ensign did not vote with the Democrats earlier in the day when the GOP filibuster was broken, but signed on for the final vote.

As with almost everything in the Senate these days, the vote for something is a lot less newsworthy than the vote to consider voting for something. Thus, the real fight was over whether repeal proponents could gather the required 60 votes to break a GOP filibuster, end debate and hold a final vote. They did that -- led by Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) -- and repeal moved ahead earlier today.

[TPM SLIDESHOW: It's Over: Senate Repeals Don't Ask, Don't Tell]

What followed was some inside baseball procedural stuff that meant the normal 30 hours of debate provided to a bill was cut off in favor of today's fast-moving action. It's all quite anticlimactic to the drama fans, but for the proponents of DADT repeal, this afternoon's vote is the one that really matters.

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Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Reid: Suspend DADT Discharges Now

Evan McMorris-Santoro | December 18, 2010, 1:26PM

With a legislative repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell all but assured in the Senate today, Majority Leader Harry Reid is calling on the Pentagon to immediately end the policy of discharging openly gay servicemembers.

At a press conference following the successful cloture vote on DADT repeal that will lead to a final vote on repeal this afternoon, Reid offered a simple "yes" when a reporter asked if he thinks the Pentagon should end all DADT-related investigations and discharges right away.

Earlier in the press conference, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis -- who leads a group of lawyers who defend soldiers caught up by DADT -- explained the necessity of ending the activities surrounding DADT before the policy itself comes to a formal end. That process will likely take weeks if not months -- even after President Obama signs the bill passed by the Senate today (and passed by the House Tuesday.)

[TPM SLIDESHOW: It's Over: Senate Repeals Don't Ask, Don't Tell]

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Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Brown Downplays 'Yes' Vote On DADT

Evan McMorris-Santoro | December 18, 2010, 12:19PM

Senator Scott Brown (R-MA)

TPM caught up with Sen Scott Brown (R-MA), one of six Republicans to vote for DADT repeal today. He seemed to seek to downplay his role in helping the ban end.

Asked if he was involved in pushing more GOPers to vote aye on repeal, Brown said "no."

"It's just another vote," Brown said as a staffer hustled him downstairs.

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Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Advances In Senate -- Final Vote Likely This Weekend

Evan McMorris-Santoro | December 18, 2010, 11:52AM

The Senate took a big step toward ending the military's ban on openly gay servicemembers today. By a vote of 63 to 33, the Senate voted to end debate on a bill repealing the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, opening the door for a final Senate vote on the standalone repeal bill passed by the House Tuesday. That means a simple majority of 51 Senators can now bring the legislative fight on repealing DADT to an end. That vote is expected to come -- and expected to succeed -- by the end of the weekend.

(UPDATE: The final vote is now scheduled for 3 p.m. today).

Voting with the majority of Democrats were Republicans Scott Brown (MA), Mark Kirk (IL) George Voinovich (OH), Lisa Murkowski (AK), Susan Collins (ME), and Olympia Snowe (ME). Jim Bunning (R-KY), Judd Gregg (R-NH), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), and Joe Manchin (D-WV) were absent.

[TPM SLIDESHOW: It's Over: Senate Repeals Don't Ask, Don't Tell]

The vote will likely be seen as a major political victory for President Obama, who pushed repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell on the campaign trail and set a year-long timetable for a legislative repeal of the policy in his State Of The Union back in January. It appears he's about to get his wish.

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Don't Ask, Don't Tell

DADT Repeal & DREAM Act Get Their Day In The Senate Today

Evan McMorris-Santoro | December 18, 2010, 8:44AM

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT)

The Senate will act on two important pieces of President Obama's progressive legislative agenda today: the DREAM Act and the repeal of the military's ban on openly gay servicemembers. By the end of the day, the path to final passage is expected to be set for DADT repeal, while DREAM is expected to languish for another Congress to pass.

Starting at around 10:30 this morning, the Senate will take up a cloture vote on DREAM. Cloture -- voted in by a 60-senator super majority -- is required to cut off debate and move a bill to final passage in the Senate. DREAM, which would provide legal status for illegal immigrants who serve in the military or earn college degrees, is not expected to hit that mark, effectively scrapping the bill for the time being.

That will set the stage for a cloture vote on a standalone DADT repeal bill, which proponents say is destined for passage. That will be the first step toward ending the nearly two-decade practice of allowing gays and lesbians to serve in the military, but not if anyone who works with them knows they're gay. Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), who has been the driving force behind lining up the votes for DADT repeal, says he has the 60 he needs and most observers expect there to be little drama today.

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Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Report: Olympia Snowe Ready To Vote For Cloture On DADT Repeal

Evan McMorris-Santoro | December 17, 2010, 3:16PM

If this report is true, you can count on the military's ban on openly gay servicemembers to be repealed by the end of this year, barring no major complications. CNN is reporting Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) will vote for cloture on Saturday, bringing the total number of pro-repeal votes over the magic 60 mark -- even without the waffling Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND), who voted to move repeal to a full vote last week but is so far unwilling to say he'd do it again.

In addition to Snowe, Republican Sens. Susan Collins (ME), Scott Brown (MA) and Lisa Murkowski (AK) have committed to voting for cloture on the standalone DADT repeal bill passed by the House this week. With their votes added to the vast majority of Democratic caucus (minus Joe Manchin [D-WV] and maybe Conrad), the total vote for repeal is now above the 60 vote mark needed to deny opponents of repeal the chance to filibuster.

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Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Lieberman: We're In The Homestretch On DADT Repeal

Evan McMorris-Santoro | December 17, 2010, 2:05PM

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT)

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), who has emerged as the Senate's pointman on ending the military's ban on openly gay servicemembers, told reporters today that he's "very optimistic" repeal will be voted into law as soon as this weekend.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has scheduled a cloture vote on Don't Ask Don't Tell repeal for tomorrow morning. Lieberman said today he's "confident" he has the 60 votes (and then some) necessary to get cloture on the DADT repeal bill and move it to a final vote.

But Lieberman -- who would only confirm Republican yes votes from Sens. Lisa Murkowski (AK) and Susan Collins (ME) -- is not popping the champagne corks yet.

"We know that it ain't over till it's over," Lieberman said, "and until all the votes are counted."

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Don't Ask, Don't Tell

New DADT Wrinkle: Is Kent Conrad Onboard With Standalone Repeal Bill?

Evan McMorris-Santoro | December 17, 2010, 12:15PM

Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND)

This afternoon, a group from the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, an organization that helps gay and lesbian servicemembers deal with the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, will come to Capitol Hill to help push more Senators to back the standalone DADT repeal bill. On their list of targets, surprisingly, is Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND).

I asked the SLDN why. They told me it was because Conrad has never made a "positive statement" backing the standalone bill. So I asked Conrad's office for a positive statement. And they declined to say anything about Conrad's position on the standalone bill, positive or negative.

This could be a big deal -- if Conrad turns out to be a no, his vote would throw off the math on the standalone bill and endanger repeal at the last second.

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Spending

A Primer On The Fallout Of OmnibusFAIL

Brian Beutler | December 17, 2010, 11:30AM

President Barack Obama meets with Democratic and Republican leaders

Late last night, Harry Reid's plan to get the federal government funded through the end of the fiscal year went up in flames, burning months and months of work by Senate appropriators and their staffs. To avert a government shutdown, Reid agreed to work out a federal funding plan with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell -- Congress will agree to continue funding the government at its current levels through some yet-to-be-determined point next year. The "continuing resolution" will likely pass the Senate in a blink, the lights will stay on, and then they can move on to other priorities: The DREAM Act, Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal, and START.

Here's how last night's melodrama impacts policy and the politics on Capitol Hill:

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