Pentagon Asks Senate Panel to Wait on ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ - POTUS to address at SOTU

[jefferson_dem]

Pentagon Asks Senate Panel to Wait on ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG

The Obama administration has asked the Senate Armed Services Committee to delay hearings on the fate of the military’s controversial “con’t ask, don’t tell” policy, because the president expects to discuss it in Wednesday’s address to Congress, the committee chairman said today.

Senator Carl Levin, the Michigan Democrat and chairman of the committee, told reporters that senior Pentagon officials asked him to postpone the hearings, because they do not want to be put in the position of discussing or defending a policy that the White House might abandon.

<SNIP>

“Somebody representing the Pentagon said that the White House, that the president was expected, they thought, to state that policy at the State of the Union; and they thought it made more sense for him to state the policy than for us to have a hearing right before,’’ Mr. Levin said, according to a transcript of the conversation provided by his office.

Mr. Levin, who said he did not favor the policy even when it was enacted, said he intends to hold hearings next month. He said he does not know what Mr. Obama might say in Wednesday’s address.

The White House declined comment.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/25/pentagon-asks-senate-panel-to-wait-on-dont-ask-dont-tell/?src=twt&twt=thecaucus

[zoneseeker]

1. when does

it take effect

[ShortnFiery]

2. This is going to be interesting. eom

[Clio the Leo]

3. Oh for CRYING OUT LOUD!!!!

Only TWO REPLIES!!!!??

good grief.

[last1standing]

5. I would love to comment.

But I really don't know what it means.

Is Obama going to announce that he's finally going to do what he should have done on day one and end this heinous usurpation of his role as CIC?

Is he going to push the house and senate to end DADT by act of congress? If so why is he asking them to delay their hearings?

Is he going to side with certain generals who are still afraid of another man staring at their penises?

Will he announce his support for separate showers?

I really have no clue at this point.

[Clio the Leo]

6. I just think it's ironic....

.... for the knock down drag outs we had over the matter that the mere fact that the President is going to say ANYTHING on the matter in the STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH is ignored is, well, WEIRD.

We're a fickle bunch.

[last1standing]

8. There's not much that can be said. That's my point.

It doesn't mention, or even give a hint, as to what he is going to say or how it will affect the GLBT community. We could all just start beating up on each other again, as you seem to want for some reason, but none of us will be a jot closer to knowing what the Hell he's going to say.

[Clio the Leo]

9. lol, when did that ever stop us? NT

[last1standing]

10. That's the problem, at one time it would have.

There's no purpose in this bullshit arguing when there's nothing there to even form sides with. And to be honest, I'm Damned sick of posting facts only to get "You're an asshole, hater!!!" posted back. This board used to stand for something, now it's just a cesspool because about a dozen ideologues post nonstop and have made it their sacred duty to shut down any discussion that hurts their feelings. There's no discussion of ideas or debates over facts because they flood every thread with their anger and ignorance.

And I'm not talking about one side or the other. I think its a fucking shame that there are sides. I think its repulsive to find subforums dedicated to rallying the troops for another attack on a thread they don't agree with. I think its asinine that half the OPs in GD and GD: P start with a variation of "When did you stop beating your mother?"

I'm posting more and more elsewhere because the admin and moderators have decided to remove all the rules of common decency and civility.

Maybe I'm seriously thinking there's a better way to live my life than try to discuss issues with people who only care about scoring points.

Edited to note: I'm not trying to call you one of the dozen, Clio. I'm just very tired and as I said in my PM to you, I'm sorry for taking it out on you when others deserved it.

[Ildem09]

4. Bleh DADT maybe the worst policy from Clinton

Got my BF thrown out of the USAF... apparently liking the boys caused massive harm to missile command. waiting on this to change. fuck waiting on a lot of things to change

[Cha]

7. Here's my comment..my thought..

The Obama Admin likes to surprise..we'll see Wednesday night, won't we?

[David Zephyr]

11. Which means what?

.

[jenmito]

12. K&R HOPING this means he'll say something favoring the REPEAL of DADT.

I can't imagine him saying something AGAINST repealing it.

[secondwind]

13. I'm waiting with bated breath for Wednesday night. Should be a humdinger!

I wonder if it will be a long speech, like Clinton's in 1995....89 minutes long. But, just in case:


:popcorn: