GOP PREPARED TO FILIBUSTER TROOP FUNDING OVER DADT....

[ProSense]

GOP PREPARED TO FILIBUSTER TROOP FUNDING OVER DADT....

With Democrats likely to add a provision to the Pentagon appropriations bill to end the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, Republicans are moving forward with Plan B: blocking the vote on troop funding.

Senate Armed Services ranking member John McCain said Thursday that he would "without a doubt" support a filibuster if the bill goes to the floor with language that Sen. Joe Lieberman (ID-Conn.) plans to offer as an amendment during today's markup.

"I'll do everything in my power," the Arizona Republican said, citing letters from the four service chiefs urging Congress not to act before a Pentagon review of the policy is complete. "I'm going to do everything I can to support the men and women of the military and to fight what is clearly a political agenda."

Another Armed Services Republican, Sen. Roger Wicker, also said he would support a filibuster if the repeal language makes it into the version of the bill that goes to the floor, possibly during the post-Memorial Day work period.

Just so we're clear, consider exactly what Senate Republicans are saying here. The GOP is prepared to refuse an up-or-down vote in the Senate on a bill that funds the troops during two wars because Americans will eventually be able to serve in the Armed Forces, regardless of their sexual orientation. That the policy has been endorsed by the Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs -- both Republican appointees -- is irrelevant.

What's more, as Dante Atkins added, "The funny part about this whole ordeal? The compromise that the Republicans are threatening to filibuster allows the Pentagon to have the final say in the issue, which is precisely why it is not receiving the broadest support in activist circles. And yet, despite the fact that the Pentagon and the Joint Chiefs get to be the ultimate arbiters of whether the policy is repealed, that's not good enough for today's homophobic Republican Party. Today's Republicans don't want gay people to be able to serve in the military -- even if the Pentagon says it's okay."

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[RKP5637]

1. F'en predictable A-holes. You can always count on the republicans to be ignorant

fools.

[rocktivity]

2. They said they'd vote down the entire defense budget

Goody, then we can bring all our troops home--starting with the contractors!

:headbang:
rocktivity

[RKP5637]

4. +1000 +++

:yourock: :yourock: :yourock:

[HughMoran]

7. there ya go

In a surprise move, Republicans defunded the wars bringing the troops home after 8 years in the field.

[unhappycamper]

8. 1,000,000,000+

Do it. Be men. Step up to the plate and stand for what you think.

None of this wishy-washy shit. I'll support that filibuster.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

13. Actually, no. It's not that simple.

It's not exactly cost-free by any stretch of the imagination to bring the troops home. They'd instead be stranded there.

[rocktivity]

18. That's why I said "START with the contractors"

They're earning ten times what the real soldiers are--they can afford their own plane tickets home!

:evilgrin:
rocktivity

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

22. Okay, but in the meantime, the soldiers are stranded.

I applaud the spirit, but it's not really a good, viable option. A better option would be to put a rider on the bill to say that funds can only be used for extracting troops, but that would have to pass, of course.

[Arugula Latte]

17. Slash the military budget to the bone.

They can "defend" America if another country is about to invade.

[Downtown Hound]

23. Who knew that bigotry would be the thing that brings us peace, 'eh?

Go ahead Republicans. Make my day.

[Renew Deal]

3. If the Pentagon can say it's OK, can they also take it away later?

:shrug:

I wonder where Hatch stands. He is said to be a supporter of repealing DADT.

[HughMoran]

5. Republicans - racist homophobic bigots since the Southern Strategy

Enjoy your white male party while it lasts :eyes:

[TwilightGardener]

6. Guess they want to snatch rifles and canteens out of soldiers' hands

out of sheer hatred of teh gay. Why do they want to punish the troops?

[jberryhill]

9. The key line...

"The compromise that the Republicans are threatening to filibuster allows the Pentagon to have the final say in the issue, which is precisely why it is not receiving the broadest support in activist circles."

...because I believe the GOP knows what the outcome of the Pentagon review is going to be.

[bushisanidiot]

10. They'd rather cut the baby in half than to ever let the other side "win".

IDIOTS!!!!!!

[treestar]

11. I thought they thought our way of life is in danger?

And yet they are prepared to let the Muslims take over - over this? :wtf:

In other words, they were never sincere in their "fears."

[TwilightGardener]

16. They can't decide if they fear them mooslims or them homosesshuls more.

It's a real dilemma.

[JoeyT]

24. Perhaps they see it as a way to keep their way of life.

The Taliban are the only people on the planet as bigoted as the Republican base.

[LynneSin]

12. Well the GOP just won't be happy alienating the Hispanics, might as will push out the Gays too

:eyes:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

14. ...and this is why the study needed to be done first.

To provide cover for centrists that we need to overcome the filibuster.

[rocktivity]

15. Mililtary gays have a "politicial agenda"?

:boring:
That's the same manure that was shoveled about military blacks in the 60's and military women inthe 70's--both of which the military survived.

If "equality" must be considered a "political agenda," then I say so be it!

:patriot:
rocktivity

[Deep13]

19. I double dog dare them to filibusted the defense funding bill. nt

[T Wolf]

20. ANY tactic, no matter what it is or WHO does it, that helps end these obscene wars,

is a good thing.

If results are all that matters, as many here have argued to support Obama failing (to achieve the public option or universal care) with the health insurance corporation bailout and now with financial "reform" - then no one who is against the war should object to this tact by the pukes.

Peace, if anything, is worth getting into the sewer with the pukes.

[crikkett]

21. IF IT BRINGS OUR TROOPS HOME, THEN GOOD.

Yes I said it. Good because our soldiers- gay and straight- should've come home YESTERDAY.

Good too because it will cause the Republicans to do the right thing while making them look stupid for being unable to stave off the inevitable repeal of DADT.

[The Magistrate]

25. They Should Be Made To Vote For Leaving Our Soldiers To Die In Foreign lands, Ma'am

The Republican party is the party of treason and corruption, after all.