DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

S. Krause, VT — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:37:55 GMT

Sure, DADT is the #1 issue in the country. This while Bloomberg is reporting another half million jobs lost last month.

Just what exactly is Obama's trillion dollar stimulus plan stimulating?

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

Gale Kubick, Iowa City — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:39:13 GMT

But can gays get married while they are together in a foxhole on the battlefield?

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

Clara Kansas City, MO — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:41:43 GMT

Now that's what I am talking about! A president who is actually LISTENING!

My 20+ emails must have helped! HA
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Peter Percival, I will never apologize to you again, you actually got some wind at your back earlier - so I know you are now on board with the 'multi-task' posting, thanks for adapting!
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earlier,...

Pete Roleum, Detroit, MI USA (Sent Wednesday, July 01, 2009 10:21 AM)
AHHH, finally some honesty. No, I don’t feel better. This is my country, too and it doesn’t make me feel better that we are in the ditch as a result of mismanagement. I further don’t feel better because I feel certain you voted for him twice. The first four years was a tax cutting, spending fiesta; but you voted for him again, right? And here is the RUB for all of us. We don’t JUST vote for the candidate, we vote for the person that MOST represents our ideals. And being True Americans, our ideals are all over the map. No ONE human being can represent ALL of our desires for governance. If they say they can, they are obviously lying. So, we compromise.

I think your vitriol is prematurely displaced. The TARP money was BUSH’s boondoggle. He and Henry Paulson passed it with NO Accountability for it. We will NEVER know where it was spent, suffice it to say – it is gone. I think I read recently that there is still about $35Billion unspent. Although I also heard recently that 10 or so banks have paid back about $65Billion. Did that go to the general treasury? I’m not sure. President Obama’s stimulus is scheduled to payout over the future 18 months (well into 2010), currently 52.9Billion of the 787Billion authorized has been paid out (www.recovery.gov). And you are right, we are in the deepest recession since BEFORE the early 80’s, AND it started in 2007. It was completely mismanaged for a solid year, further setting back the recovery. Bush hasn’t been gone six months – Inauguration Day to today is 161 days. As I said, I think he is entitled to a ‘solid’ year. You don’t have to agree with that. I sense your frustration. And trust me, if this doesn’t turn around by mid-terms or at the very max 2012, the voters will have their day. Surely you can’t begrudge Americans a ‘fed up’ vote against Republicans for the last eight years? Isn’t this how it is supposed to work? Do you think “W” would have been re-elected if we DIDN’T have term limits? So we are getting the government we ‘deserve’ because that is who we were able to convince to show up on November 4th. I didn’t feel I deserved the government “W” provided and I worked my @ss off for change. You now have that same opportunity. But, please don’t pretend you were ever going to give President Obama a chance. We both know that would be untrue and disingenuous. When “W” took office my adopted daughter was placed in my arms in March, I pretty much had my head down until September 11th. That’s the honest truth. I didn’t like “W’s” folksy style and I felt he was definitely a ‘legacy’ appointment; but I sincerely didn’t begrudge him the way I see on this blog every day. Post 9/11 – all bets were off for me. Bill Maher losing his job, the Patriot Act and all of the BS that went into “not wasting a good crisis” is what drove me to my utter spite for “W” and his merry henchmen. At every political turn the Alert was raised to Orange (usually around elections – or public announcements). Let’s not forget Valerie Plame, Terry Schiavo, Hurricane Katrina and so many other domestic failings. So while I was never a fan, I had to learn to be a protagonist. You, like many I see here, seem all to willing to cloak yourself in the Protagonist role (early and often) without any honest reflection of exactly where the country was on January 19th and 20th. I find that despicable. If President Obama fails – we all fail; but quit pretending the failure didn’t exist at the fore.
^^^^^^^^^^
Cicero (Sent Wednesday, July 01, 2009 10:29 AM)

I’m not inflamed; but your strategery to let each state develop its own Educational standards is hysterical. I guess if you keep your masses stupid, you might win elections? But how do you compete for commerce? Oh, I see – the masses are so dumb, now you can enslave them. Perfect strategy. And I thought you guys didn’t have any ideas.
^^^^^^^
Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Wednesday, July 01, 2009 11:23 AM)

Yes; but I think they are waiting for viable candidates (Kennedy) or Dem governor (Byrd)

^^^^^^^^^
“If you like unemployment, poor people, and someone else to run your life for you, then sure, it's a beautiful thing.” Talispan (Sent Wednesday, July 01, 2009 11:23 AM)

We don’t, that’s why we voted for CHANGE. Or are you implying that on November 3rd 2008 the aforementioned were non existent?

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

Steeler Fan Pittsburgh, PA — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:42:12 GMT

I really don't understand the DADT issue--wish someone would explain to me whether it is a law, regulation, policy, program, etc. Is it part of the Uniform Code of Military Justice? I do know that I don't agree with it but it would be nice to understand the process required to change it. Seems like a lot of misinformation in this area.

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

Pinkie Townstead, Illinois — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:42:40 GMT

How much longer before the Obama military turns into a Meals on Wheels program - and they paint all their vehicles pink?

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

Lube Up — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:44:14 GMT

Will KY become a standard part of the military survival pack?

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

Gail, TN — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:46:04 GMT

How many Dan Chois has the armed services lost over the issue of sexuality? We can ill afford to continue Don't Ask, Don't Tell. We are losing some of the brightest and best who want to serve as soldiers to sexual discrimination.

Wrong-headed, antiquated, fear-based thinking.

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

Julie, Palm Desert, CA — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:46:22 GMT

So put a moratorium on enforcement like the justice department is doing on medical marijuana and janet napolitano's moratorium on deporting spouses of citizens that died within two years. One of these guys scheduled to be thrown out has served honorably for 18 years for god's sake and unlike hetrosexual service men, has never sexual harrasses or raped any other service member.

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

MSierra, SF — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:00:12 GMT

About Time !!

I wonder if they can or will re-instate the last few service people that have been thrown out of the military ?

You need all the talent you can get

When I was in the draftee Army, not many wanted to be ther

First, Obama ended TORTURE by the Military (and CIA)
Now, hopefully he'll end DADT !!

CHANGE HAS COME !!

Go Obama

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:01:09 GMT

The secretary mused about whether the military should "take action on somebody" if the information about their sexuality comes "from somebody who may have vengeance in mind or blackmail or somebody who has been jilted."

This is very interesting...perhaps this is a contributor to the recent upticks in the dismissal of several servicemen.

"I don't know the answer to that, and I don't want to pretend to," Gates quickly added, calling that "a question of legal interpretation."

Secretary Gates, has there been supporters from the previous administration that have applied the law unlawfully? Sounds like to me....

Spokesperson Bryan Whitman denied that Gates requested this review because he believes that the law has been enforced unfairly or improperly.

So do I Mr. Secretary. I asked this question weeks ago. There seems to have been quite a number of discharges handed down recently and I am questioning this myself. Get to the bottom of this..

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

Robert Underdunk Terwilliger, Springfield, USA — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:08:09 GMT

OK but don't ask and don't tell where Barney Frank buys his lingerie!

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

New Independent — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:10:04 GMT

Don't ask, don't tell needs to be abolished!! ALL men are created equal, remember? As far as those people who are so intolerant they won't feel COMFORTABLE fighting beside a gay person, balogna! If we were at war in this country, I think they would be very happy to have that person next to them and couldn't care less what their sexual preference is!

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

Cicero — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:10:18 GMT

This is sure to knock down BO's numbers a bit.

I don't think Clinton should have put this policy in in the first place. From my perspective I would have no problem fighting alongside a gay dude, as long as he had my back.

I'm confident many gays served during WWII/Korea/Vietnam yet their fellow soldiers had no idea that they were gay. They simply did their job admirably.

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

What's best vs Political expediency — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:11:17 GMT

There's a reason why men and women in the military have separate living/sleeping quarters. It's better that way and avoids problems. The same can be said for gay men bunking with hetrosexual men....it's awkward. That doesn't mean they can't be good soldiers....but it IS a problem. And in the military, good morale matters a lot. What's most bothersome is that it appears Pres Obama, because he's already promised the moon to the gay lobby, is going to ram this through out of political indebtedness rather than because it's best for the US military. He's already broken several other promises (lobbyists, earmarks, public viewing of bills...etc), here's another break of promise that would be very welcomed...don't repeal this law which Bill Clinton signed.

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

JC from IA — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:16:13 GMT

Oh, it's an incredible mess of a policy, all right, from conception to execution. And, I'm sure the cadre of bible thumpers in the military establishment wish they could just issue summary dishonorable discharges for any homosexual they catch by whatever means, like in the good old days. It would be ever so much simpler.

But, I get the sense that Obama desires to fix problems permanently, and it unfortunately often takes time to unravel such a tangle.

Perhaps he could stipulate that any service personnel discharged under the policy on his watch will be reinstated with back pay and time served, if the law is ultimately changed, but I expect that is about the best that can be hoped for.

In my state, since the ISC struck down same-sex marriage discrimination, it is notable that the very same pols who are trying to make an issue of the decision are also against health care reform, economic reforms, etc. This must surely weigh on the President's mind regarding the timing of DADT reform, too. I'm sure the Rush-Newt-Cheney wing of the GzeroP would LOVE to have Obama address all their favorite fund-raising issues like abortion and gays in the military right about now.

I find it fascinating that this issue historically only seems to come up during Democrat presidencies. I wonder why that is?

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

Tim, ATL — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:20:07 GMT

DADT should not be overturned!

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

Fortunate Son — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:37:43 GMT

Obama has reviewed everything from ACORN to railroading the public. And he doesn't see anything wrong with either.

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

Fortunate Son — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:40:29 GMT

Obama hsa brought racism back into the pic with Sotomayor. Now he wants to bring the gay issue up front for everyone to fight about once again.

This is a very disruptive president.

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

Jonathan Flint, MI — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:45:00 GMT

If could quote Barry Goldwater.

"I don't care if you're straight, as long as you shoot straight."

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

Anne, Pittsburgh — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:51:32 GMT

It's very misleading to call this law "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" when a third party can "Tell" and another upstanding soldier is dismissed. If we absolutely have to keep this ridiculous law, fine, but it should be forbidden that someone be dismissed based on third-party "Tell"ing. That's at least ONE step in the right direction.

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

jawillie Philadelphia, PA — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:51:36 GMT

I say this is one we hold the President's feet to the fire on. And I don't mean through some "teabagging" protest that was all over the place (and should I really use the term "teabagging" given the subject matter). If we want this insipid, bass-ackwards policy that Bill Clinton signed while getting his apple polished to be overturned once and for all, we've got to make sure Obama keeps his promise. That means doing our part and making our voices heard. Unlike the "teabaggers", we don't have the benefit of FOX news to promote for us, so we have to do this ourselves. Go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ and tell President Obama to put a moritorium on DADT until it can be overturned permanently.

This is one area where patience should not be an option.

http://jawillie.blog.com

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

Darin, Chesapeake VA — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:09:19 GMT

We can ill afford to continue Don't Ask, Don't Tell. We are losing some of the brightest and best who want to serve as soldiers to sexual discrimination.

Then they need to keep their mouth shut as to their orientation. I'm retired Navy, and served with plenty of folks that I'm sure were gay. Few of us were bothered by it. If someone wants to serve, there's not a single impediment to them doing so, other than keeping their sexuality to themselves.

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

Anne, Pittsburgh — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:13:18 GMT

There's a reason why men and women in the military have separate living/sleeping quarters. It's better that way and avoids problems. The same can be said for gay men bunking with hetrosexual men....it's awkward. That doesn't mean they can't be good soldiers....but it IS a problem. And in the military, good morale matters a lot.
What's best vs Political expediency (Sent Wednesday, July 01, 2009 1:11 PM)
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Sounds like the same arguments used against racially integrating the military.

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

Anne, Pittsburgh — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:16:44 GMT

Then they need to keep their mouth shut as to their orientation. I'm retired Navy, and served with plenty of folks that I'm sure were gay. Few of us were bothered by it. If someone wants to serve, there's not a single impediment to them doing so, other than keeping their sexuality to themselves.
Darin, Chesapeake VA (Sent Wednesday, July 01, 2009 2:09 PM)
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I wish that were true. Many soldiers have been dismissed based on third parties outside of the military ratting these soldiers out in terms of their sexual orientation. Can we at least agree that third party "Tell"ing should not be cause for dismissal?

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

Gail, TN — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:23:43 GMT

Darin, Chesapeake VA: I disagree; I think it's wrong to force a person to deny who they are as a human being in order to keep their job. How would you like it if you had been kicked out of the military for outing yourself by asking a female for a date?

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:25:22 GMT

I'm of the opinion that the all volunteer military shouldn't be doing this. Let those that wish to serve do just that. We are letting those go that have skills we need now just because they are homosexual? This strikes me as really foolish. I don't care what people do if they serve in the military as long as they do their job and don't endanger the country (selling secrets, killing fellow service members etc).

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

Peter Percival Patterson — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:30:09 GMT

Clara in KC

What the hell are you talking about?

Personally, I think First Read caters to you and others and gives many of you WAY too much time and space on this blog.

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

jawillie Philadelphia, PA — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:33:54 GMT

I'm retired Navy, and served with plenty of folks that I'm sure were gay. Few of us were bothered by it. If someone wants to serve, there's not a single impediment to them doing so, other than keeping their sexuality to themselves.
Darin, Chesapeake VA (Sent Wednesday, July 01, 2009 2:09 PM)
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Maybe you should keep YOUR sexuality to yourself, not to mention your race, religion, skin color, politics, upbringing, etc. After all, wouldn't you be more comfortable if everyone was just like you.

http://jawillie.blog.com

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

What blatant hypocrisy — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:35:54 GMT

DADT should not be overturned!
Tim, ATL (Sent Wednesday, July 01, 2009 1:20 PM)
_________

Amen, we need more of those upstanding heterosexual males like the ones involved in the Tailhook scandal, right?

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

The only fair way! — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:38:09 GMT

Then they need to keep their mouth shut as to their orientation. I'm retired Navy, and served with plenty of folks that I'm sure were gay. Few of us were bothered by it. If someone wants to serve, there's not a single impediment to them doing so, other than keeping their sexuality to themselves.
Darin, Chesapeake VA (Sent Wednesday, July 01, 2009 2:09 PM)

_________

Fine, then all heterosexual servicemen and women need to never bring up one word of their sexuality or their sexual exploits either. After all, if sexuality shouldnt be discussed in the military, then it shouldn't be discussed across the board. The same rules for all is the fairest way to go.

Anyone who brings up their heterosexuality in any way should face the same punishment then. DADT should be applied to 100% of people in the military!

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

Try again! — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:41:35 GMT

Obama has reviewed everything from ACORN to railroading the public. And he doesn't see anything wrong with either.
Fortunate Son (Sent Wednesday, July 01, 2009 1:37 PM)
________

As long as you want to bring up Acorn and voter fraud, care to discuss the Young Political Group, and their conservative voter fraud? Of course not, because you aren't interested in voter fraud as an issue, you just want a talking point. Well, you picked a pretty lame one, since there investigations into voter fraud on both sides of the aisle.

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

Shirley - atlanta, ga — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:44:12 GMT

For those in cable media(Keith and Rachel), who are constantly pushing the causes of military personnel admitting that they are gay, I say that their admittances are breaking the law, and they knew that going in. Until that law is changed, and I feel that it will be, (it's only been 163 days since the President took office) you should all keep your mouths shut. I don't feel that you are helping the cause as much as you think you are. Just one other thing, are any of you out there as talk radioed and cabled newsed out as I am? That may sound silly, but I can't believe that I am the only one feeling this way, but I just couldn't take it anymore. I am now watching anything else on TV and listening to only music on the radio, and I feel so much better.

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

Allen - Omaha, NE — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:47:00 GMT

Sure, DADT is the #1 issue in the country. This while Bloomberg is reporting another half million jobs lost last month.

Just what exactly is Obama's trillion dollar stimulus plan stimulating? - S. Krause, VT
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Maybe it's just me, but I always wish there was a little more context put to the numbers that disiminated down to the public.

The numbers associated with jobs lost are from the private sector. So I always get tripped up with the argument of the Administration haters/mockers....

You don't want the government meddling in private sector business, yet you'll take every tax break known to the planet with only a 'gentleman's handshake' that such an investment will directly results in an increase in jobs.

What is this, or any Administration supposed to do if business seeks 'breaks' in any form it can get them, w/o any guarantee that those 'breaks' translates into jobs?

Prove to me the Republican mantra of "...if we give small businesses x tax incentives...they will keep more of their own money...and create jobs...and stimulate the economy..."

Show me business A that because they were allowed to not pay money B in taxes, they turned money B into payroll for more jobs.

The scale is off-balance: real money weighed against a hope that (private) business will create jobs with the savings.

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

Jill F., Tulsa, OK — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:59:14 GMT

Look, you can have your opinion on this policy, but don't demonize heterosexual men in an effort to bolster your argument. It's just stupid.

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

TEC-Spring-TX — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:01:19 GMT

The don’t ask don’t tell policy is a good policy. There is no need to be open about sexuality in the military. The policy protects the individual’s rights regarding privacy and offers some protection from undue criticism and scrutiny. The uniform code of military justice can and has punished unmarried couples for consensual sex while in the service. That law applies for on and off duty personnel. The law does not differentiate between people of the same sex or people of the opposite sex. If one is openly gay in the military, that can become a distraction to a units mission and the safety of the units personnel. When I served there, were always the suspicion and a rumor about certain individuals, but no one was open about it. Think about this people, do you openly discuss your sex life at work? If so, I feel sorry for your co-workers and your partner.

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

eagle1776 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:10:12 GMT

When I was in the military we had one guy in our unit that must have been gay. If not I would have been shocked. He left us alone and we left him alone with respect to sex. What he did off hours I don't know and don't care. He kept his hands off me and I kept mine off him, why I would want put hands on him other than to cold cock him for somethig he did is beyond me. Anyway I think the whole issue of gays in the military is over blown.

DoD reviewing Don’t Ask, Don't Tell

Fortunate Son — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:10:27 GMT

Try again

NO, I don't want to discuss any group but the group that helped get this socialist in office illegally.