Originally Posted By plpeters70 While I'm not surprised by this, I still find it very disappointing. The Pentagon completes the study that the Republicans said they wanted to wait on, and now that it's done, the Republicans still want more time to debate it. Enough already - the military has said that repealing DADT won't harm our troops, and that most troops could care less if gays are allowed to serve openly. <a href="http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/11/mckeon-wilson-call-for-comprehensive-oversight-of-dadt-report.php" target="_blank">http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo...port.php</a> From the link: <<"We appreciate the efforts of Mr. Johnson and General Ham to collect input from America's military personnel and their families. The seriousness and professionalism by which they completed their task should now be replicated in the United States Congress," stated Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (R-Calif.), the Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee. "Today's briefing and the release of the Pentagon's report are the first steps in what should be a comprehensive process to study whether implementing these recommendations would undermine military readiness or negatively impact the war efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq." Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), the Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel, stated: "Using the last days of a lame duck Congress to hastily repeal 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' would be highly irresponsible. Today's Pentagon report must be thoroughly examined by the committees of jurisdiction to determine potential impacts on military recruitment, readiness, and morale. Lawmakers and military leaders need to have as much information as possible before any action is taken on such a significant military policy.">>
Originally Posted By hopemax They don't want to give Obama and the Democrats ANY political victories. Heck, they're picking on the START treaty now!
Originally Posted By ecdc Dan Savage, one of the main people behind the "It Gets Better" movement to help bullied gay teens, was on Stephen Colbert last night. He pointed out that Pixar, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Justin Bieber, had all made an "It Gets Better" video. David Cameron, British Prime Minister and member of the conservative party in Britain, made one. Democratic Senators and Congressmen have made them. But, he said, not a single, solitary Republican leader or pundit had made one. If their rhetoric is to be believed, if they abhor violence and bullying even if they don't believe in gay marriage, where are they? Why are they too cowardly to stand up and put their money where their mouth is? Savage made it clear they were welcome and had been invited.
Originally Posted By plpeters70 <<But, he said, not a single, solitary Republican leader or pundit had made one.>> I can't decide if they truly don't like homosexuals for personal, religious reasons, or if they're so afraid of alienating their voter base that they do everything possible to squash any legislation that might mean equality for gays. It really could be either, but I have a funny feeling it's the later. Everything the current Republican party does is completely geared towards winning elections for themselves - nothing else matters. A nuclear arms reduction treaty with Russia - no dice if it gives Obama a win. A vote to extend jobless benefits for hurting Americans - forget it. Gays in the military even when the Pentagon says its not a problem - we need to think more. It's getting to be pretty obvious what these people are up to - I'm just wondering how long voters will tolerate this type of behavior.
Originally Posted By Longhorn12 >I can't decide if they truly don't like homosexuals for personal, religious reasons, or if they're so afraid of alienating their voter base that they do everything possible to squash any legislation that might mean equality for gays.< I have high confidence that it is a combination of both. >It's getting to be pretty obvious what these people are up to - I'm just wondering how long voters will tolerate this type of behavior.< I'm hoping it is before the next presidential election, but I doubt it. As long as they can scare people by saying "Look it's a minority figure who is probably, but we don't have any proof, secret socialist muslim come to destroy america!" they will win.
Originally Posted By Mr X I hope that nobody is the least bit surprised by this. Stonewalling has been their agenda from day one, even with issues they DID favor. They dislike gays anyway, by and large, so why would they do anything but fight this? And in a matter of weeks now, they are well aware that there will *never* be enough votes to overturn...not for a very, very long time anyway. The Democrats blew it bigtime with their game of kick-the-can, and I'm not convinced they, too, didn't do it on purpose. There are plenty of anti-gay voters out there, on both sides. Everyone knows that, and not too many politicians REALLY care much about gay rights anyway. Oh, they'll pay lip service to it at election time (the Democrats, anyway), but how many of them have really bothered to take much action? They could've fixed this problem very early on in the administration if they were willing...at the very least they should've gotten on it with a vengeance right after the President promised in the state of the union to abolish it within a year.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>They could've fixed this problem very early on in the administration if they were willing<< Very true. It was one of those changes I could believe in that I voted for. And it could have been done with the stroke of a pen.
Originally Posted By Mr X Well, I do agree with the President that it has to go through Congressional channels. But when they had 60 votes, it should've been able to be dealt with swiftly and with a minimum of fuss. As with so many other issues, the Pelosi House got the job done and then somehow Reid blew it. I'm frankly disappointed he won re-election (and I don't feel that way about too many Democrats, but he was just SO ineffectual!).
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>I'm frankly disappointed he won re-election<< He was running against an insane person that would have been a nightmare in office.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***He was running against an insane person that would have been a nightmare in office*** What's one more? We got Rand Paul and Marco Rubio. At least if Reid lost, there would be a shot at a decent majority leader or at least a slightly more effective one.
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones Delay with the intent to obstruct. It happens all the time with transportation projects.
Originally Posted By plpeters70 Now we have McCain calling the study into question: <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101202/ap_on_go_co/us_gays_in_military" target="_blank">http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/201...military</a> What is this guys problem? Here we have all the top brass in the military basically calling for its repeal, and even then, he still wants to force gays to stay in the closet. These people drive me nuts!!
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>What is this guys problem?<< The only possible explanation is that the pod people are here. John McCain went to sleep one night in, say, 2006 and the next morning, this McCain Pod being emerged and began an attempt to take over the planet, starting with the presidency. Because what he says now sure as hell doesn't line up with things said by McCain through the years. He's gone from "maverick" to "political chameleon" in no time. He'll attempt to blend in with the wallpaper if he stands there too long. I really believe that if re-election required eating his own foot on television, he'd be buying shoes one at a time.
Originally Posted By plpeters70 <<I really believe that if re-election required eating his own foot on television, he'd be buying shoes one at a time.>> Seriously. I think when it becomes this obvious that someone will do almost anything to stay in power - even changing their most deeply held beliefs - it's time for them to go!
Originally Posted By markymouse For the most part, I agree. Republicans will often vote or talk much farther to the right than they actually are, because "I don't give a hoot about gays or the 2nd amendment one way or the other, but let's cut those taxes and fire up those oil wells" doesn't get enough votes. But ... In this specific case, something else is going on. McCain just won re-election. Six years is a long time from now. And he'll be like 150 by then. He can't have aspirations for higher office because he's had his chance. I think he must believe this. Back to the Republicans in general, I'm appalled with how obstructionist they've been. If it isn't a tax cut on rich people, they won't let it happen. And that is a shame. The Republicans aren't saying "We know this needs to be addressed. Let's work to do it right, whether it takes 2 weeks or 2 years. But let's fix this." No, that's not how it works. They just want to prevent everything from working. And that is - and this is exactly the word I mean to use - shameful. Treating poor sick people, or the environment, or soldiers who happen to be gay like they're nothing more than pawns to use for the next fundraiser and the next election. Shameful.
Originally Posted By melekalikimaka Gross visual there, 2oony. LOL It's always like this. Conservatives say they have no problems with civil unions or gays having equal rights as long as they don't redefine marriage. Yet every single time a law is created to protect those very things (unions/equality), they're there in droves to put an end to it. They're full of crap.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 "I think he must believe this." I agree watching his testimony, as he simply refused to believe the very clear results of the study, it was obvious that the man really is homophobic, in the most literal sense of the term. He couldn't believe soldiers today wouldn't have a problem serving with gay people, because HE would have. He's very clearly projecting his fears on to a younger generation of soldiers that does not share them.
