Click here to see how prominent bloggers responded to these questions.
Q: Do you favor lifting the ban on gays serving openly in the military?
Democrats (33 votes)
Yes 94% No 3%
Volunteered: Open to phaseout, if normal Hill procedures followed, 3 percent.
Yes
"How can we tell our soldiers that they can risk their lives for this country, but they have to hide who they really are while doing it?"
"Barry Goldwater was fond of saying, 'You don't have to be straight to shoot straight.' He's right on."
"This misguided policy does not make our military stronger, nor does it make our nation safer. The sooner we repeal it, the better."
"[Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender] soldiers sacrifice the same as anyone else in the military, despite a policy that violates their dignity. Lifting the ban is a long-overdue step that will overturn a rule that has done nothing but harm."
"It is time for us to lift the archaic rule that denies Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they love."
"Our war-fighting allies lifted the ban long ago. And [that's] had no impact on their ability to fight alongside our military. It's time we do it."
"Favor total repeal of ban."
"Lift the ban."
"Why shouldn't gays be allowed to openly die for their country, too?"
"In a year when the Democratic base is already depressed due to inaction on issues like health care reform, Wall Street regulation, and climate change, failure to tackle an issue that enjoys broad public support (repeal of DADT) will turn even more of the base away on Election Day."
"We allow gay Americans to serve but force them to hide who they are. If an American wants to stand up and fight on our behalf, we should applaud them, not cast judgment on their private lives and court-martial them."
No
"Favor, but not now. It makes good fiscal sense and good civil-rights sense, but we need to finish digesting the fiscal and civil-rights servings already on our plate."
Other responses
"I am open to phasing out the ban over time, but I believe that the best way to proceed is through regular order. The relevant committees in both the House and Senate should hold hearings."
Q: Do you favor lifting the ban on gays serving openly in the military?
Republicans (27 votes)
Yes 22% No 74%
Volunteered: Undecided, 4 percent.
Yes
"We should follow the lead of our current commanders, who all seem to think it's time."
"Homosexuals ought to be free to openly risk their lives as a member of the United States military in support of our country and our freedom. They will have to control their behavior, but there are many behaviors that are considered unacceptable in a military setting and are regularly and tightly controlled."
"Pending the commission report."
No
"In a time of two wars, it is irresponsible to risk damaging troop morale to please an elitist political base."
"We are fighting two wars, have no plan for where to detain Gitmo prisoners or where to try them, yet Mr. Obama wants to add this onto his overfilled plate?"
"The military has its hands full fighting terror. Doesn't need the distraction of social engineering."
"The American people want jobs, not another divisive debate on this controversial topic."
"Existing policies work."
"The Democrats are talking to their base and ignoring independents, while helping GOPers excite our base."
"Let's work on things that make a difference!"
Other responses
"I want to go through the legislative process and talk off the record to veterans and career military personnel in my district before I decide. Popular opinion in my area is definitely opposed, but the real issue is unit cohesion and what is best for a military at war."
Q: How many Senate seats will Democrats gain or lose this November?
Democrats (32 votes)
Average = Lose 4 seats
Gain or no change 0 percent Lose 1 or 2 19 percent Lose 3 or 4 41 percent Lose 5 or 6 25 percent Lose 7 or 8 13 percent Lose 9 or more 3 percent
Lose 1 or 2
2. "November is a long way away."
Lose 3 or 4
4. "Perhaps less, if we can do something positive about unemployment, or if the GOP keeps up its do-nothing, obstructionist approach."
4. "Democrats are defending many more seats than Republicans, but the Massachusetts race is causing premature celebration for Republicans: They think Americans like them, but in reality [voters] hate the partisanship that makes it impossible to get things done. And the economy will get better, the number of Americans who think the country is headed in the right direction will improve, and the 'wave' will end up being a smaller splash."
Lose 5 or 6
5. "Everyone knows it's going to be a tough fall for Democratic incumbents. The one silver lining of the debacle that was the Massachusetts special election last month is that Democratic Senate incumbents know they're in for a tough fight and are preparing accordingly, which should help save some, but not all, of these Senate seats."
6. "The Democrats will still have enough of a majority to continue the same paltry level of work they have accomplished with a supermajority."
Q: How many Senate seats will Democrats gain or lose this November?
Republicans (27 votes)
Average = Lose 7 seats
Gain or no change 0 percent Lose 1 or 2 0 percent Lose 3 or 4 11 percent Lose 5 or 6 22 percent Lose 7 or 8 56 percent Lose 9 or more 11 percent
Lose 3 or 4
4. "That number is more likely to go up than down as we move toward the election."
Lose 7 or 8
7. "After two cycles in a row that were miserable for Republicans running for the Senate, this will be an amazing year -- even in Delaware and Illinois."
7. "This is shaping up to be a wave election. And [competitive] races are popping up all over."
7. "Americans appreciate balance -- something the administration and even previously described centrists in Congress have yet to realize."
7. "Welcome to Washington, Nevada Sen. Tarkanian, Lowden, Angle, or Krolicki."
8. "I dare [Barbara] Boxer and [Kirsten] Gillibrand to insist on cap-and-trade and government takeover of health care--then a clean sweep!"
Lose 9 or more
12. "Voters are motivated for change."
National Journal Insiders
Democratic Congressional Insiders Sens. Sherrod Brown, Ben Cardin, Thomas Carper, Christopher Dodd, Frank Lautenberg, Barbara Mikulski, Mark Pryor, Jon Tester, Tom Udall, Mark Warner; Reps. Jason Altmire, Robert Andrews, Michael Arcuri, Tammy Baldwin, Melissa Bean, Xavier Becerra, Howard Berman, Marion Berry, Rick Boucher, Lois Capps, Michael Capuano, Dennis Cardoza, Chris Carney, James Clyburn, Gerry Connolly , Jim Cooper, Joseph Crowley, Elijah Cummings, Artur Davis, Diana DeGette, Rosa DeLauro, Eliot Engel, Anna Eshoo, Sam Farr, Chaka Fattah, Bob Filner, Phil Hare, Alcee Hastings, Rush Holt, Mike Honda, Steve Israel, Frank Kratovil, Jim Langevin, John Lewis, Zoe Lofgren, Nita Lowey, Carolyn Maloney, Ed Markey, Jim McDermott, Jim McGovern, Mike McMahon, Kendrick Meek, Jim Moran, David Price, Silvestre Reyes, Linda Sanchez, Jan Schakowsky, Mark Schauer, Jose Serrano, Adam Smith, John Spratt, Pete Stark, Bart Stupak, John Tanner, Ellen Tauscher, Bennie Thompson, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Henry Waxman, and Peter Welch.
GOP Congressional Insiders Sens. Lamar Alexander, Jim Bunning, John Cornyn, Jim DeMint, John Ensign, Lindsey Graham, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Johnny Isakson, George LeMieux, Richard Lugar, Lisa Murkowski, Jeff Sessions, Olympia Snowe, John Thune, David Vitter; Reps. Michele Bachmann, Brian Bilbray, Marsha Blackburn, Roy Blunt, John Boehner, Charles Boustany, Kevin Brady, John Campbell, Eric Cantor, John Carter, Michael Castle, Tom Cole, Mike Conaway, David Dreier, Jeff Flake, Scott Garrett, Bob Goodlatte, Kay Granger, Doc Hastings, Pete Hoekstra, Bob Inglis, Darrell Issa, Peter King, Jack Kingston, Mark Kirk, John Kline, Christopher Lee, Dan Lungren, Kenny Marchant, Kevin McCarthy, Patrick McHenry, John Mica, Candice Miller, Sue Myrick, Devin Nunes, Mike Pence, Tom Price, Adam Putnam, Dave Reichert, Mike Rogers of Michigan, Peter Roskam, Paul Ryan, Pete Sessions, John Shadegg, Adrian Smith, Mark Souder, Pat Tiberi, Fred Upton, and Joe Wilson.
This article appeared in the Saturday, February 13, 2010 edition of National Journal.
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