Comment

Comment by Sentient Biped on December 9, 2010 at 10:01pm

Dale, thanks.  I agree on the DADT disappointment.  Im very pessimistic about any change there.

As one who has been in the chorus of dissapointment in the president, I have to say good things when there is good. AP:  Obama to Senate: Revisit the gay ban this year... "The president expressed disappointment with the vote. But he said in a statement that, in his words, "It must not be the end of our efforts." 

In Huff Post:   White House spokesman Reid Cherlin, meanwhile, said in a statement, "The President is committed to working with Congress to achieve a repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' this year. The White House is willing to explore all legislative options to reach this goal during the lame duck session." Of course, President Barack Obama could simply issue an executive order rolling back the ban on openly gay servicemembers, but the White House has chosen to press its luck with what administration officials argue is a more permanent solution.

 

On the other hand, who/how did the military desegregate on the issue of race?  Are there lessons to be learned from history? (leading question there).  Wikipedia In the midst of the Battle of the Bulge in late 1944, General Dwight D. Eisenhower was severely short of replacement troops for existing military units—all of which were totally white in composition... he made the decision to allow Afro-American soldiers to pick up a gun and join the white military units to fight in combat for the first time. This was the first step toward a desegregated United States military. Eisenhower's decision in this case was strongly opposed by his own army chief of staff, .... Indeed, it was stated that Bedell Smith was outraged by the decision and had said that the American public take offense at the integration of the military units. In 1948, President Harry S Truman's Executive Order 9981 ordered the integration of the armed forces shortly after World War II, a major advance in civil rights. Using the Executive Order (E.O.) meant that Truman could bypass Congress.   Representatives of the Solid South, all white Democrats, would likely have stonewalled related legislation.

 

Of course, this time around most of the nation and the military are in support of desegregation of LGBT soldiers, so...  what?  I don't know.

Comment by Dale Downs on December 9, 2010 at 6:51pm

@ Sentient Biped, great video. Nice to see some sanity in legislators. Have been a little pissed about today DADT outcome. 

Comment by Dale Downs on December 9, 2010 at 6:49pm

@ Lewis: That's why she's the best! I could not have done it.

Comment by Dale Downs on December 9, 2010 at 6:48pm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101208151611.htm

Viable Female and Male Mice from Two Fathers Produced Using Stem Cell Technology

Great news! My only concern is that it would further the right wing fight against stem cell research.

Comment by Sentient Biped on December 9, 2010 at 5:48pm

just wanted something different.   The pug will go when I find something I think works well.  The Sam Hendon video in comments is a good contender, actually.

Comment by Dominic Florio on December 9, 2010 at 4:13pm

By the way, the pug screen saver has been on my computer for over six years. I have four pugs and I am a volunteer for pug rescue. Everytime someone sees this screen saver they send it to me, not knowing that I have had it for so long. Anyway, it makes me smile everytime I see it.

Comment by Sentient Biped on December 9, 2010 at 3:33pm

We have a few friends, including this born again Baptist in the Illinois legislature.

I loved "I know what you do at night"

Comment by Geraldo Cienmarcos on December 9, 2010 at 2:16pm

10 Hateful Anti-Gay Myths Debunked

Exploring 10 key myths propagated by the anti-gay movement, along with the truth behind the propaganda.

http://www.alternet.org/rights/149060/

Comment by Louis on December 9, 2010 at 1:00am

To be honest I'm surprised by the amount of patience Maddow had for a man who essentially thinks it's okay for her to be murdered by the state.

Comment by Sentient Biped on December 8, 2010 at 9:42pm

Gary thanks for the update. Looks like he's still in the US and might have an interview with Rachel Maddow.

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