We almost certainly have 50 votes to end DADT but may not have 60 votes to do so

[dsc]

which is why so many of us wish to see the repeal of DADT in the defense authorization bill when it gets voted out of committee (this is how DADT passed in the first place). People I trust on this issue (Barney Frank and Karl Levin to name two) have directly stated that Obama doesn't wish this to happen. Given what the vote is that is tantamount to not having it pass at all. Add in the virtually certain loss of Senate seats and this is a recipe for no DADT repeal at all during Obama's administration. It is hard to be clearer about this than that.

[fishwax]

1. k/r

:kick:

[ruggerson]

2. Gates' letter (which was interestingly given a Friday night newsdump)

is a no holds barred rebuke to the House and Senate leaders who wish to see this done before the midterms.

The administration is now firmly on record as opposing repeal until after this "study" is done. Since the "study" curiously and conveniently is not complete until December, one has to wonder about the strength and the veracity of the commitment.

Putting aside, of course, how profoundly ugly, offensive and bigoted this "study" is in the first place.

[karynnj]

7. The problem may be that

both Nelson, Bayh, and Webb have all said they won't have a final opinion until they see the study. Now, I know you think the study useless. I actually wonder what they exactly study here. However, it doesn't matter whether we think the study important, it matters that these 4 Senators do. I found this information from an advocacy group working to target these Senators, Byrd and Scott Brown to support it now. They are all on the Senate Armed Services Committee. This was BEFORE the Gates letter - so it looked like they did not have the votes in committee on this.

[freddie mertz]

9. The so-called study is an insult and betrayal of every one of us.

And I am thinking that it should be responded to in kind.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[katandmoon]

4. K&R. Nope couldn't be clearer. DADT repeal is under the bus as far as

this administration is concerned.

[pinto]

5. Agree - the Def Authorization bill is the right vehicle.

It worked before, in establishing the policy.

[dsc]

6. kick

[VMI Dem]

8. Unrec'd?

Kick.

[racaulk]

10. There are a number of trolls here that unrec any gay-related threads.

There have been a number of instances where I have recommended new threads in the GLBT forum, only to see the "net" recommendations remain at zero because some anonymous ass unrecommended it, presumably without even taking a chance to read it. Given that and the increasingly anti-gay tone this forum has taken over the years, an unrec on this thread doesn't surprise me for a second.

K&R to the original OP, BTW.

:kick:

[QC]

12. Someone was banned a while back for unreccing all the LGBT threads.

She was a jazz enthusiast by the name of Sue, if you remember that one.

[racaulk]

13. I read that someone was TSed for that, but I didn't know who.

Good on the mods and admins for taking that action. :thumbsup:

And I'm sorry, but your description of that member's username does not ring a bell for me -- I'm not here nearly as often as I used to be. Could you PM me the username? I'm curious...

:hi:

[jenmito]

11. I REALLY wish they'd repeal DADT in the defense authorization bill. There doesn't

have to be any study. Doesn't the majority of those IN the military have no problem with a repeal? Israel, our "best buddy" ally, allows gay people to serve openly. So do many other countries. That should show anyone needing a "study."

[Prism]

14. What can any of us say anymore? The President has betrayed us.

Every day, another comment from the administration confirms it. He will not stick his neck out for the LGBT community. The only way he will push for a DADT repeal is in the dead of night, where no political capital could ever be expended. Hence pinning his hopes on a lame duck session.

Which I believe is disingenuous as well. A lame duck session will not pass "controversial" legislation. (Oh, sure, 75% of Americans support repeal, but it's still so crazy controversial, you know).

And when it doesn't happen in December, we may very well have a more Republican Congress for the next two years. Then it'll be campaign time! Then, well golly gee, the votes just aren't there!

I have never been sorrier for apologizing for this man to the LGBT community. Most of my LGBT brethren told me so.

Hell yeah, you did.