had simply run out. >> this has been taking months to do this. months. and the time is gone, as senator levin has said, to stop playing around with this. >> now, whatever you think of ending don't ask, don't tell, and we don't take sides on policy issues on this program, today was a clear cut case of politics trumping policy. it's a sign of what washington is like today, that a majority of lawmakers could not pass a bill, a majority of americans said they want. it's a sign of what washington is like, that a number of senators voted against what they say they're for. dana bash has been following the political posturing on capitol hill. what happened today? how -- is that -- do you believe that's accurate? is that essentially what happened? politics trumping personal opinions here? >> politics in process. look. i mean, there's no other way around it. i'll tell you, first thing this morning i was getting word on my blackberry that harry reid was going to hold a vote despite progress in those talks we talked about last night. when the vote actually happened,