it was a surprise. blanche lincoln, it's not her fault she was at the dentist because she didn't know it was coming. as one aide in reid's office put it to me tonight, republicans from their perspective would have come up with excuse after excuse to stall. i'll tell you, though, the problem, anderson, for reid is that gay rights activists aren't so sure. they believe that there are 60 votes, as you mentioned. for repealing the policy of don't ask, don't tell. some are telling me they feel betrayed by reid for not just giving those republicans a vote on the tax cut issue first as they demanded. >> so lieberman, independent senator lieberman and collins are saying that there could be a separate don't ask, don't tell repeal legislation introduced this session. what does that really mean and how likely is it? >> as this ill fated vote was going on right on the floor of the senate, lieberman, senator lieberman extracted a promise