With all respect to the Democratic Party

[mitchtv]

I have been a Dem for more than 40 years now. I have been a Gay for more than 60 yrs. You need us, we need you. I am a second class citizen and I am Not happy with my treatment by society. It is my job now to rock the boat (It is all equality loving Gays' job now) Sorry you strait members might not like it or disagree with our tactics, TOUGH. It is our movement we will Lead, help us or get out of the way. This boat is going to be rocked.

[monmouth]

1. I'm thinking (speculating) that DADT will be accomplished closer

to election time. I honestly think this is going to be a political "give" to the LGBT community right before elections. Smack me if I'm being too cynical here, but politics is politics.. At least I hope this is what will happen. I mean, get Gates on the damned phone and tell him this is what you want (I'm speaking of POTUS now). Rahm has told him to wait it out, betcha...

[mitchtv]

2. let.s just say "It had better be"

or the Latinos won't be the only ones staying home. If a Democratic controlled gov't can't get it for us, no one is about to scare me with the usual "President Palin "meme,

[Warpy]

3. I'm thinking it might wait until just after the 2012 election

when the Iraq war is pretty much over, Afghanistan is winding down, and Obama is either a lame duck or assured of another four years in office.

While it's destructive in human terms to wait, it makes a great deal of political sense to do so.

However, Obama has surprised us before and might do it again. I think he's slowly building consensus for the abolition of such a destructive policy among the top brass in the military, not an easy thing to do. Much of what Obama does is behind the scenes, though, and I think this might be one of the cases.

Cramming the abolition of DADT down the throats of a still leery top brass would not do anyone much good in the long run since the next GOP would just ban all gays by fiat, whether they told or not, and have the full support of brass to do it. There has to be broad based consensus in the military in order for its abolition to work.

Were it up to me, DADT would have ended the day Obama took office, but it's not up to me. It might not even be fully up to Obama.

[mitchtv]

5. that will be too late

to save a democratic congress No one is about to wait. They try that and they are toast, He is doing nothing, WE are building the consensus. DADT cannot be crammed it must be a law. Obama has given us enough directives that will be wiped out by the next GOP admin. We need to demand that he stop interfering with congressional action and include it in the military appropriations bill

[Warpy]

13. Then you need to talk to Congress

If they include it in that bill, and that bill is their job, not Obama's job, then I feel quite sure Obama will quietly sign it.

[Smashcut]

22. Congress is doing its job.

They could do an even better job if the WH weren't working against repeal this year.

[mitchtv]

8. but you're ok with waiting?

strait allies?

[Warpy]

12. Did you bother reading the whole post?

[mitchtv]

14. of course

Political sense? highly debateable
my understanding is the whitehouse is dragging it's feet and trying to get others to do the same. Of course it must be a law as Dadt is one, and the CIC cannot force it until it is legal. Now is the time. They are going to lose seats in both houses, so it makes no sense to wait. Good politics? not if you're Gay

[Smashcut]

21. Obama is powerless / Obama is a chessmaster

It's a combo move!

:rofl:

[Unvanguard]

4. Right after is more likely--i.e. December or so.

The behavior of the Democratic leadership indicates that they are far more worried about a homophobic backlash against vulnerable Congressional Democrats than a loss of gay support.

[mitchtv]

6. right after? Try

whaaa we don't have the votes

[Unvanguard]

10. Oh, that is certainly possible. I meant, assuming they actually do it within the next year or so.

They may not. The signs were very positive earlier this year, but have become much worse since. Assuming they do not budge on their current implicit opposition to putting it in the defense authorization bill (and they probably won't), probably the best that can be hoped for is that they wait until after the midterms and after the release of the (hopefully) favorable military review. That's all I was saying.

[mitchtv]

11. that is why Gays must lead

why the boat must be rocked and we must punish Dems who lack the balls, even if they lose, Cause, if you don't help us, we don't need you.Civil rights come first

[elias7]

7. How about they allow hospital visitation by partners by threatening to withhold medicare reimburse?

Oh wait, the dems just did that

[mitchtv]

9. a directive that will be overturned by the next GOP Admin

See Virginia. try again

[elias7]

16. So it's kind of a thanks for nothing

You don't generate a lot of sympathy that way, but I guess when it comes to civil rights, you shouldn't have to. I understand your impatience; the situation is sickening, there's lots of ignorant assholes out there with loud voices, lots of people with big ears and even bigger fears, and I don't think equality is going to be the reality any time soon. It will be incremental, like everything else, hopefully in our lifetime...keep up the good fight...

[mitchtv]

17. no, its thanks for the crumbs

that's all we get, like the "federal benefits"sans health he decreed

[mitchtv]

18. no, its thanks for the crumbs

that's all we get, like the "federal benefits"sans health he decreed

[tbyg52]

15. +7 nt

[Jamastiene]

19. We need to get better at being "the squeaky wheel."

That's the one that gets greased, not the others.

You are right. Speak now or forever hold your peace. That is the only way they are ever going to take the cotton out of their ears and hear us.

[Doc Martin]

20. Democratic Party has lost its soul...

According to PA Gov Ed Rendell who adds that Dems are cowering in fear, not speaking up and acting based what we stand for. I couldn't agree more.

[kenny blankenship]

23. Declare yourselves an investment bank or hedge fund. Maybe go into insurance underwriting...

That's my best advice on how to get some love from this party.