The House passage of the standalone bill that would effect a legislative repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell leads to the worst words in the English language: “The bill now moves to the Senate.” But there’s some reason for optimism. It sure looks like the votes are there to get this done. But that doesn’t always mean everything in the Senate.

If the DISCLOSE Act passes in the lame duck session, I’m a spotted egret.

Following the orders of their Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, both Susan Collins (R-ME) and George Voinovich (R-OH) announced they will join the GOP filibuster led by John McCain (R-AZ) of the Defense Authorization bill, making today’s initial steps to repeal of Don’t-Ask-Don’t-Tell very precarious.

Gaga accomplished something that Barack Obama never did during the health care debate or the stimulus: she put pressure on Maine’s Senators by appearing in their backyard. In fact, just that event alone represents more lobbying than the President has done on this entire bill in the Senate. And she doesn’t have Air Force One; she drove up I-95 in her tour bus 11 hours from Raleigh, North Carolina to make it to Portland.

America’s newest community organizer, Lady Gaga, will hold a rally in Portland, Maine today, specifically targeting two Senators who may be the difference between breaking a filibuster on the defense authorization bill and letting it slip away, along with the legislative repeal of the military’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy.

Senator George LeMieux (R-FL) is starting to feel the heat of pro-migrant voters, specifically Latino voters. Saturday, Univision aired a debate in which current Florida governor and U.S. Senate nominee Charlie Crist came out in support of the DREAM Act. Thursday, Representative Kendrick Meek (D-FL), and also a nominee for U.S. Senate, hand delivered a letter to LeMieux.

If you haven’t been on facebook, twitter, or following the news, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced yesterday that he would be introducing the DREAM Act as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. Univision anchor Jorge Ramos tweeted last week that Reid wanted to move the DREAM Act before November. Now we know how Reid wants to move it. The DREAM Act could come up for a vote as early as Tuesday of next week.

Say what you will about the Tea Parties, the conservative grassroots, the Republican base, the right wing anti-establishment or whatever you would call them; they have done a very good job of trying to take control of their party from the Republican establishment and reshaping the GOP in their own image.

Even when this vote passes, the House would have to concur, and they’re not supposed to be in session until September. There was talk yesterday of calling the House back to pass this.

The bill will now save hundreds of thousands of jobs, provide health care to the poor, keep cops on the streets and teachers in the classroom, and cut the deficit. Oh, and close loopholes that allow corporations to ship jobs overseas, something Democrats have been muttering about since at least 2004.