While generals, admirals, sailors and privates — and the American people — have honestly and openly expressed their opinions on the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” (DADT) and their reasoning behind them, it became painfully and embarrassingly obvious that one powerful Republican, for whatever reason, would only listen to one unchangeable, immoveable and prejudicial opinion: … [Read more...] about DADT Repeal—Not “a Sad Day”
Quote of the Day: Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Repeal Makes You Imagine a McCain Administration
Our political Quote of the Day comes from Andrew Sullivan who suggests that today's repeat of Don't Ask Don't Tell by the Senate says a lot about Barack Obama's style and John McCain: Like 2009's removal of the HIV ban, which was as painstakingly slow but thereby much more entrenched, this process took time. Without the Pentagon study, it wouldn't have passed. Without … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Repeal Makes You Imagine a McCain Administration
The Shameful Treatment of Bradley Manning
David Coombs, the attorney representing Army PFC Bradley Manning, has a detailed description on his blog of what a typical day is like for Bradley Manning (emphasis is added; the italicized text is my commentary): … [Read more...] about The Shameful Treatment of Bradley Manning
Justice, Citizenship and Patriotism: The Long View
On this day, December 18, 145 years ago, Secretary of State William Seward proclaimed the Thirteenth Amendment banning "slavery and involuntary servitude" from American life a part of the Constitution. The Amendment both ratified a fait accompli from the recent Civil War, and delivered its emancipating reality to the final holdout states of Delaware and Kentucky, which had yet … [Read more...] about Justice, Citizenship and Patriotism: The Long View
DADT Senate Vote
The Senate voted 65-31 to repeal the military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy today, a Clinton-era response to the Reagan Administration discharge of 17,000 troops for being gay. Here's the vote, 63 to 33, to proceed with debate on the bill. Once there is a report of the final vote (the two Republicans who, it seems, changed their vote), I will update this. Final … [Read more...] about DADT Senate Vote
DADT Repealed !
Offering a Christmas present to the brave men and women who have been forced to lie in order serve our country the Senate has voted by a margin of 65-31 to repeal the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy. This is of course not the end of the process, the bill still has to be signed by the President and it will then take some time for the military to change their own rules to … [Read more...] about DADT Repealed !
House Republicans Scuttle Bill to Help Prevent Child Marriage Globally
The bill does not have anything to do with abortion and does not appropriate any new funding, but House Republicans used both of those boogeymen to ensure its failure to pass in the House (h/t Echidne): … [Read more...] about House Republicans Scuttle Bill to Help Prevent Child Marriage Globally
Greatest Generation Icon Gone
With the death of Bob Feller at 92, another reminder of America's glory days fades away. Not only was he one of the best pitchers in baseball history, Feller might just as well have been from another species compared to today's multi-million-dollar, steroid-taking superstars who bounce from one team to another in search of ever more money and fame. Feller spent his entire … [Read more...] about Greatest Generation Icon Gone
Cloture Vote on DADT Repeal Passes 63-33
HRC sings its praises. The 63-33 vote invokes cloture and moves the bill forward to debate and a final vote. TPM: Just so we're clear. This is not the passage of the actual DADT repeal bill. This is the vote that allows a straight majority vote, which will likely come tomorrow. And since there are many more than 51 votes for repeal, that means that the actual bill will pass … [Read more...] about Cloture Vote on DADT Repeal Passes 63-33
Is There A Future For Moderation in the Democratic Party?
Charles Blow wonders, is the Democratic Party experiencing the beginnings of a purging of moderates akin to that seen on the right? His starting point is a Gallup Poll out Thursday: [T]he percentage of Democrats who identify as liberal rose by nearly a third from 2000 to 2007, for the first time matching the percentage who describe themselves as moderate. Over the same period, … [Read more...] about Is There A Future For Moderation in the Democratic Party?
DADT: U.S. Senate Votes 65-31 to Repeal DADT, Beginning Process To Lift 17 Year Ban on Gays Serving Honorably/ Openly
Hello there: Dr. E here. Dorian De Wind has consistently covered DADT for several years here at TMV, going to front line on the issues with all manner of commentators including some who claimed they were in military and hated women and gays. Dorian stood his ground with incredible grace under fire, continually putting forth his informed point of view instead of stooping to … [Read more...] about DADT: U.S. Senate Votes 65-31 to Repeal DADT, Beginning Process To Lift 17 Year Ban on Gays Serving Honorably/ Openly
Bob Corker’s Definition of “Activist Groups in the Democratic Party”
Sen. Bob Corker threatened to kill START if Senate Democrats went forward with the DADT repeal legislation (emphasis is mine): … [Read more...] about Bob Corker’s Definition of “Activist Groups in the Democratic Party”
A Gay Soldiers Letter
Hat tip to the Huffington Post for this one Here is a man who already lost a brother in service, remembering as a teenager seeing his flag draped coffin. Despite that loss and the disrespect of DADT he still chooses to serve. The letter is profoundly moving … [Read more...] about A Gay Soldiers Letter
Happy Saturnalia
This is the first day of Saturnalia. While the fear mongering snake oil salesman on FOX and talk Radio may talk about the War on Christmas this is a good time to remember that the Christian Christmas was actually a war on the assorted pagan winter solstice celebrations. You won't find any reference to Christmas in the Bible, it was a manufactured "holy day" designed to … [Read more...] about Happy Saturnalia
YES VIRGINIA
Worth reading every year. We take pleasure in answering at once and thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun: "Dear Editor: I am 8 years old. "Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. "Papa says 'If you see it in The Sun it's … [Read more...] about YES VIRGINIA
comScore Ranks Huffington Post As Nation’s Number Two Newspaper
Uh oh, get ready to hear and read more assertions about that mean, old liberal mainstream media now that one of the Internet's mega-hit liberal sites (which runs a variety of opinion in its blog posts) is now ranked the nation's number two "newspaper." The Huffington Post has registered 26 million unique monthly visitors in the United States, a record for the site, … [Read more...] about comScore Ranks Huffington Post As Nation’s Number Two Newspaper
Quote of the Day: Palin Needs to Face Reality
Our political Quote of the Day comes from Commentary blogger Jonathan Tobin who notes how Sarah Palin (WHAT ELSE?) went on the attack when Fox News' (OF COURSE) Bill O'Reilly asked her about columnist Charles Krauthammer’s criticism that her reality TV show may not be burnishing her presidential image: Her response was vintage Palin, combining a sort of schoolyard banter with … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Palin Needs to Face Reality
Down The Road To Decline
Congress Sends $801 Billion Tax Cut Bill to Obama and he signs it. Well what does the man who sold us Supply Side Economics over 30 years ago think of it? Not Much! You will notice that while he blames the politicians he blames the FED and Wall Street even more. The FED has engineered a serial bubble that has created the illusion of wealth by encouraging the Wall … [Read more...] about Down The Road To Decline
Don’t Make 9/11 First Responders ‘Dead’ Ducks
If the Senate passes the 9/11 first responders bill in this lame duck session of congress, it proves several things. One, Republicans can be shamed into doing the right thing, and two, Jon Stewart deserves Emmy, Peabody and Pulitzer awards. First, read this account of a successful Republican attempt to block the necessary legislation last week. Now read and view Stewart's … [Read more...] about Don’t Make 9/11 First Responders ‘Dead’ Ducks