Will Democrats allow FMA to pass in Senate Wednesday???

[tedzbear]

I read that the Democratic Senators will allow the FMA to pass on Wednesday without a fight. They are turning their backs and letting us gays twist in the wind.

[7th_Sephiroth]

1. i dont know if they havw a choice

thier in the minority and have been muscled around since * took office

[Freya]

12. Of course they have a choice

this is an amendment. It needs a 2/3rd vote to pass.

We have more than enough votes to put this down.

[7th_Sephiroth]

15. i know but the repubs

right now have alota muscle, i seriouslt believe they would resort to kidnapping on this

[Freya]

18. Trust me

I saw Frist on friday speaking to a dem senator who was telling him the senate dems would not obstruct procedurally, and they were ready to rock and roll. Frist appeared to be nervous.

This is going to be an embarrassment to the republicans. I actually think they want not to consider it now, but they've gotten themselves in too deep. The republicans don't even have a simple majority, let alone 2/3rds.

[NewJerseyDem]

2. They are allowing a vote

Democrats were considering filibustering the amendment and not allowing a final vote on the amendment. But, now they have chosen to allow a vote, where the amendment will fail overwhelmingly and not get even a majority. This way the amendment will clearly die and democrats can't be accused of obstructionism.

[tewl]

3. that sounds like a good tactic

I hope it works.

[NewJerseyDem]

5. Well, the amendment certainly won't pass

It appears that Zell Miller will be the only Democrat to actually vote for the amendment. And there are already several republicans that have said they will vote no and that number could grow to as many as a dozen, by my estimation.

[voice of reason]

4. yup . . .

they don't need to filabuster this one, and should be careful not to overuse that tactic lest it be used against them when (D) is the majority again.

[AntiCoup2K4]

6. Considering the pattern of cowardice over the last three years....

...I would have to say yes they will. The DLC types will even vote FOR it. Except Kerry, who will conveniently skip the vote altogether - as he's done several times.

And their rationalization to gays? "What are you gonna do? Vote for Bush??"

[slinkerwink]

7. actually, Kerry is going to vote against it

[Blue_Roses]

8. and so is Edwards

n/t

[faithnotgreed]

9. they have already said they will get back to dc & vote NO on this one

and it doesnt have a chance of passing as people here have already mentioned

who ARE these 45% that would vote for this person. though i do have to say i am slightly encouraged in a low-expectation kind of way from what i have heard regarding news media of the past week or so.
people here have even pointed out fox sometimes approaching fair and balanced
so i would like to think the tide is turning ever so slowly just in time to counteract their spokespeople of the past 4 yrs

[buycitgo]

10. this is a constitutional amendment vote, right?

they need TWO THIRDS for passage

why would they filibuster?

[NewJerseyDem]

11. That's right

There is no need for a filibuster because more votes are needed to pass the constitutional amdendment than are needed to filibuster.

[serryjw]

14. How the HELL is FMA Constitutional?

Where is the definition of marriage in our constitution .This is a state issue..like it or not.

[Freya]

19. Errr

This is a constitutional amendment. It would be added to the constitution should it pass (which it will not) and thus would be constitutional.

[serryjw]

20. AGREED.......

but it still makes me angry.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

13. it requires a 2/3 vote and even the repug congress admit they can't

even get enough of their members on board.... so chill it will NEVER happen....it is being used to distract us/to control the issues...ignore it...SHOUT OSP "PENTAGON'S OFFICE OF SPECIAL PLANS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IRAQ WAR INTEL FAILURE...CHENEY, WOLFIWITZ, PERLE"

"OSP!""OSP!""OSP!""OSP!""OSP!""OSP!""OSP!""OSP!"OSP!""OSP!"OSP!"OSP!""OSP!""OSP!""OSP!""OSP!""OSP!""OSP!""OSP!""OSP!""OSP!""OSP!""OSP!""OSP!""OSP!""OSP!""OSP!""OSP!""OSP!""OSP!""OSP!""OSP!""OSP!""OSP!""OSP!"

[sandnsea]

16. Read where? Link please.

Me thinks you're full of somethin' a wee stinky.

[Radical Activist]

17. Report says CIA had it wrong about Iraq: Bush still hates gay people

The timing makes it obvious that FMA is being used to distract us from other issues. Bush wants to make sure protestants still believe he is God's chosen candidate even if he lies and sends troops to die and kill others.

I hope there will be a vote. I want a record of who the bigots are so we can hold them accountable for it.

To paraphrase Howard Zinn, every bigot cares about something more than his prejudice. The trick is to figure out what that is.
I think what people care about more than their bigotry against gays is the jobs we've lost to NAFTA/WTO and the lies Bush told to start the Iraq war. Sadly, it looks as though Kerry isn't going to spend much time raising our best issues. If Kerry refuses to talk about things that are more important to people than their anti-gay bigotry, then Bush will win.

[hang a left]

21. Isn't Wednesday the 14th? Isn't that the day the rumoured initial

Plame indictments are supposed to be released? Interesting timing.

[Peregrine]

22. My guess

Kerry and Edwards won't vote. the Democrats will form a bloc of senators that are "safe" or still have 4 years left in their term to block the FMA. But none of the senators up for re-election this year will vote against it.

[spanone]

23. Contact your Representatives....Let them know what you think!!

www.Congress.org

[belle]

24. They need 67 votes for it; isn't going to happen.

I don't THINK.

[terrya]

25. I think it will fail, but it will be close.

There will be some Democrats voting for it...Zell Miller, of course. Robert Byrd. Hollings of South Carolina.

I don't think it will fail badly enough to kill FMA permanently. This amemdment is coming back, I fear.

[AngryLizard]

26. It's not going to pass

It's not going to happen. It's too extreme, and it'll never get ratified.