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News & ArtsTuesday, September 21, 2010
Homo GOP Blocks DADT Repeal
Posted by Dominic Holden on Tue, Sep 21, 2010 at 3:41 PM
In a graphic example of election-year politics at work, a defense bill that would repeal the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy got blocked Tuesday in the U.S. Senate by a Republican-led filibuster.The bill stalled on a 56-43 vote, four short of the 60 votes needed to overcome the Republican opposition. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, changed his vote to "no" as a tactical move, allowing him to bring the measure up later.
2
They do realize that the filibuster and cloture rules are only that - rules - don't they?
Each new Congress the Senate creates them by majority (50 vote) rule.
Well?
Each new Congress the Senate creates them by majority (50 vote) rule.
Well?
4
I really don't understand why anyone is surprised by this. We live in the United States afterall; and we LOVE being socially backward.
PRAISE JESUS!!
PRAISE JESUS!!
5
it was fun to hear john mccain loudly complaining on the senate floor that the dems calling for this vote was "pure politics," without the slightest hint of irony. i think he's had his sense of self-awareness surgically removed.
6
The bill wouldn't have actually repealed DADT, it would've given the psychopaths, compulsive liars and kleptomaniacs at the Pentagon the option to repeal it given the outcome of that humiliating "survey"--you know they're now surveying military spouses just to check and see how they feel about their huzbunds bunking with shirtless, lusty, flaming faggots?*
*Actual survey question. Said faggots may or may not be on fire.
And obviously the "survey" is going to prove conclusively that the troops will feel so utterly victimized and humiliated by the very idea of serving with gay soldiers that the only solution will be the final one.
No, this whole circus has been one big Bammerz head-fake from beginning to end.
*Actual survey question. Said faggots may or may not be on fire.
And obviously the "survey" is going to prove conclusively that the troops will feel so utterly victimized and humiliated by the very idea of serving with gay soldiers that the only solution will be the final one.
No, this whole circus has been one big Bammerz head-fake from beginning to end.
7
And the tasteful comment on JoeMyGod's site:
http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2010/09/all…
coming from a Senate IP address. Bring me my smelling salts, I feel faint.
http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2010/09/all…
coming from a Senate IP address. Bring me my smelling salts, I feel faint.
8
@1, I have access to a veterinary syringe that holds a 500-ml bottle, has a squeeze trigger like a caulking gun, and easily mounts 14-ga. needles (standard Luer-lock). Also a cattle prod. Decisions, decisions.
9
So the Republicans filibustered even a watered-down repeal bill, and it's still Obama's fault for not pushing an even less popular version?
11
The Republicans certainly deserve the majority of the blame for this. They claim that they only voted against it because Reid wouldn't let them debate other areas of the bill, OR they claim that they voted against it because it's the "wrong time" to go messing around with troop readiness (less troops=more readiness?). They blast the Democrats for including this in a defense bill (both sides have done this frequently).
On the Democratic side? The White House wasn't pushing for this. If it happened, it would happen, if it didn't, oh well. Not to mention those two weaselly Democratic senators that sided with the Republicans! Even the repugnant, selfish, worm Liberman supported this bill, which he was sponsoring.
Not to mention the fact that this was a cloture vote. Meaning that we still have a majority on the issue, they'd just have to sit through a filibuster. No one wants to sit through one, so oh well, let's give up now and maybe we'll hit it again in the lame-duck session and see if anything sticks to the wall.
Let it be filibustered, break out the cots. Broadcast the Republican filibuster on the news like it's the O.J. Simpson Trial. Make America see how the Republicans are obstructing actual work. Whining about Republican obstructionism isn't something Americans have really witnessed because the Democrats are so ready and willing to give in.
This 60 vote, super-majority "requirement" has been so deeply ingrained in everyone's expectations of the Senate that the media even covers cloture votes as THE vote.
On the Democratic side? The White House wasn't pushing for this. If it happened, it would happen, if it didn't, oh well. Not to mention those two weaselly Democratic senators that sided with the Republicans! Even the repugnant, selfish, worm Liberman supported this bill, which he was sponsoring.
Not to mention the fact that this was a cloture vote. Meaning that we still have a majority on the issue, they'd just have to sit through a filibuster. No one wants to sit through one, so oh well, let's give up now and maybe we'll hit it again in the lame-duck session and see if anything sticks to the wall.
Let it be filibustered, break out the cots. Broadcast the Republican filibuster on the news like it's the O.J. Simpson Trial. Make America see how the Republicans are obstructing actual work. Whining about Republican obstructionism isn't something Americans have really witnessed because the Democrats are so ready and willing to give in.
This 60 vote, super-majority "requirement" has been so deeply ingrained in everyone's expectations of the Senate that the media even covers cloture votes as THE vote.
13
Au contraire, @5, this was pure politics - on both sides of the aisle. Nobody gets to lay a claim on the white hat on this one. It's definitely an election year.
14
@6, What is this spousal survey you are talking about? My wife has received no such survey and I've never heard of it. The actual 'Army "Don't Ask Don't Tell" Online Inbox' survey requires you log on with a CAC Card so only service members (and DA contractors possibly) can respond to it as dependents' ID cards are just the tan laminated ones.
As to the policy get rid of it. I can't speak for other services, but the Army at least is having a pathetically low response rate on it's DADT survey. First it was emails from the Army saying please respond, then they started pressuring our chain of command to pressure us into taking the survey, now they're extending the deadline and putting a big freaking 'Army "Don't Ask Don't Tell" Online Inbox' button at the top of our Internal Army Homepage menu.
Considering 'unit cohesion' and 'moral' are the most commonly used arguments against the repeal, the fact that the overwhelming majority of soldiers don't care enough one way or the other about the issue to take a little online survey means that those arguments don't hold much water.
As to the policy get rid of it. I can't speak for other services, but the Army at least is having a pathetically low response rate on it's DADT survey. First it was emails from the Army saying please respond, then they started pressuring our chain of command to pressure us into taking the survey, now they're extending the deadline and putting a big freaking 'Army "Don't Ask Don't Tell" Online Inbox' button at the top of our Internal Army Homepage menu.
Considering 'unit cohesion' and 'moral' are the most commonly used arguments against the repeal, the fact that the overwhelming majority of soldiers don't care enough one way or the other about the issue to take a little online survey means that those arguments don't hold much water.
15
@13: This is not election-year politics at all. The Republicans have never supported repeal. Ever. Ever. No Republican has. Ever. In any year. At any time. This is Republican politics. Which is to say, loathesome and disgraceful in every respect.
16
The Dems knew this would never pass, they just brought it up to remind us liberals TO BE AFRAID OF THE REPUBLICANS. They got to encourage liberals to vote for them ("See guys, we tried! We honestly tried to repeal DADT! Really!"), while at the same time not having to do a god damned motherfucking thing. It's the Democrat playbook page 1.
17
@13 never said otherwise, sir. i just get a kick out of hearing politicians openly accuse their opponents of playing politics, with the tacit implication that their own motivations are pure and just. it's glaringly obvious to anyone paying attention that this is all theatrics and nothing more, but mccain digging in his heels on DADT is particularly galling given his ever-shifting stance on this issue (and so very many others).
18
Curious - how many times do Snowe/Collins have to obstruct any and all progress in the country before we can stop pretending they are the reasonable, moderate, Republicans.
19
@14 Indeed.
I'm at Ft. Lewis now, and I asked some of the boys in my unit what they thought. Most didn't really care. Every time I log onto AKO I see the big button for the survey, but I still haven't bothered to respond yet. To be honest, I don't really care - they'll do it or they wont, regardless of what we say.
Something I think a lot of civilians don't understand is how conservative the military is. The entire foundation is tradition, and change comes hard.
I think it'll get repealed eventually. That's not the problem IMO. The problem is getting servicemen - especially guys in Alpha Male type jobs (Combat Arms in the Army, most jobs in the Marines, few other places in the other branches) to *accept* openly gay squadmates. That, I think, is far more difficult then trying to get the law repealed.
I've also heard that if they do repeal DADT, there will be seperate shower and possibly even barracks facilities for gay servicemen/women.
I asked a Marine friend of mine if he had any openly gay guys in his unit. He looked at me like I was crazy. He said that any openly gay guy in his unit would get - quoting here - "The fag beat out of him."
I'm at Ft. Lewis now, and I asked some of the boys in my unit what they thought. Most didn't really care. Every time I log onto AKO I see the big button for the survey, but I still haven't bothered to respond yet. To be honest, I don't really care - they'll do it or they wont, regardless of what we say.
Something I think a lot of civilians don't understand is how conservative the military is. The entire foundation is tradition, and change comes hard.
I think it'll get repealed eventually. That's not the problem IMO. The problem is getting servicemen - especially guys in Alpha Male type jobs (Combat Arms in the Army, most jobs in the Marines, few other places in the other branches) to *accept* openly gay squadmates. That, I think, is far more difficult then trying to get the law repealed.
I've also heard that if they do repeal DADT, there will be seperate shower and possibly even barracks facilities for gay servicemen/women.
I asked a Marine friend of mine if he had any openly gay guys in his unit. He looked at me like I was crazy. He said that any openly gay guy in his unit would get - quoting here - "The fag beat out of him."
20
@19: If servicemen can't obey the law of the land, then they have no business being armed and in the uniform of our country. How easy do you think it was in 1953 for Johnny Reb to take orders from an African American drill sergeant? Amazingly enough, the military has a pretty good way of blasting some thoughts out of a young person's head (run!) and inculcating others (shoot!).
22
@19 I miss the hell out of Lewis. Who are you with? I was 3/2 SBCT.
Anyway, I agree that many in the Combat Arms are conservative, but that doesn't translate into there being problems with people from different races from getting along. Yeah anyone who is openly gay is going to get ragged on, but I got ragged on for being redneck/KKK (from Alabama) and being a 'College Boy', my buddy got ragged for being mixed... hell I got the shit smoked out of me (in a good natured way) b/c my PL made me take a Pineapple to our 1SG on his birthday (he was Samoan). EVERYONE gets ragged on. It's just the nature of the beast.
I also agree that some people might have problems at first, but in my experience that will go away as soon as the first bullet flies and the gay guy in question doesn't freeze or curl up in a ball, but instead starts providing you cover fire. He'll still be a faggot, but he'll be YOUR faggot at that point. As in you'll still make all the gay jokes you want, but no outside the unit better even think about it.
Just my opinion. *shrug*
Anyway, I agree that many in the Combat Arms are conservative, but that doesn't translate into there being problems with people from different races from getting along. Yeah anyone who is openly gay is going to get ragged on, but I got ragged on for being redneck/KKK (from Alabama) and being a 'College Boy', my buddy got ragged for being mixed... hell I got the shit smoked out of me (in a good natured way) b/c my PL made me take a Pineapple to our 1SG on his birthday (he was Samoan). EVERYONE gets ragged on. It's just the nature of the beast.
I also agree that some people might have problems at first, but in my experience that will go away as soon as the first bullet flies and the gay guy in question doesn't freeze or curl up in a ball, but instead starts providing you cover fire. He'll still be a faggot, but he'll be YOUR faggot at that point. As in you'll still make all the gay jokes you want, but no outside the unit better even think about it.
Just my opinion. *shrug*
23
I'm with 4/2. Still in the barracks as a punishment for being single. Shit, they repeal DADT, I'll marry another man just to get out of here :p
You make a good point. I get shat on for having a college degree and not trying to go to OCS.
Personally, I wouldn't have a problem with an openly gay guy in my unit. But I'm fairly open minded; I know others who aren't.
I find it strange, though - it feels like this issue is far more debated and discussed outside the military then within. Like I said, most guys I know couldn't give two shits either way. And I wonder why it's such a huge deal this year, when DADT has been around since, what, 93?
I wonder how this stacks up with all the other military integration controversies (Blacks in the 50's, Women in the 80's, etc). You can't hide either one of those things.
You make a good point. I get shat on for having a college degree and not trying to go to OCS.
Personally, I wouldn't have a problem with an openly gay guy in my unit. But I'm fairly open minded; I know others who aren't.
I find it strange, though - it feels like this issue is far more debated and discussed outside the military then within. Like I said, most guys I know couldn't give two shits either way. And I wonder why it's such a huge deal this year, when DADT has been around since, what, 93?
I wonder how this stacks up with all the other military integration controversies (Blacks in the 50's, Women in the 80's, etc). You can't hide either one of those things.
25
@22: That's why, in my mind, it's the perfect time to repeal DADT. Gay and straight soldiers fighting in Afghanistan or Iraq (I don't believe the no combat troops BS) can get used to fighting together. It'd be harder to do later.
26
please clarify:
are Dominic's Limp Dicks
a) the pussy Democraps in the Senate or
b) the pussy Democrap base who keep taking it up the ass from the Democraps in the Senate but run back for more or
c) his latest BF?...
are Dominic's Limp Dicks
a) the pussy Democraps in the Senate or
b) the pussy Democrap base who keep taking it up the ass from the Democraps in the Senate but run back for more or
c) his latest BF?...
28
This vote should make it absolutely clear. 57 senators, all Democrats, tried to get rid of this ridiculous ban, only to be blocked by 43 votes, every single Republican except one who wasn't there. A minority of backwards conservative pricks blocked something that's we've been working for, voting, donating, and volunteering for years on.
But based on your previous posts, Dan, somehow this all the fault of Obama and the Democrats, and we should withhold money and votes and support because the Democrats couldn't get even 1 asshole Republican to support this.
Your logic is childish. If this were a different country and there were more than 2 parties to chose from, it would make a hell of a lot more sense. If the Democrats go down, and we lose a bunch of those votes because of pissy petulant arguments like you've been making, how many years before this kind of vote comes up again? How many more decades before everything else that we've been fighting for even comes up for a vote?
Fucking ridiculous spoiled brat Americans.
But based on your previous posts, Dan, somehow this all the fault of Obama and the Democrats, and we should withhold money and votes and support because the Democrats couldn't get even 1 asshole Republican to support this.
Your logic is childish. If this were a different country and there were more than 2 parties to chose from, it would make a hell of a lot more sense. If the Democrats go down, and we lose a bunch of those votes because of pissy petulant arguments like you've been making, how many years before this kind of vote comes up again? How many more decades before everything else that we've been fighting for even comes up for a vote?
Fucking ridiculous spoiled brat Americans.
29
Well, we may not have won this now, but we will. Everyday, more and more people are siding with us. Gay people are not going to disappear, and we won't stop pushing until we get equal rights.
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