Don't Ask Don't Tell Hearing Expected in November

By GottaLaff

Ana Marie Cox tweeted:

SenGillibrand tweets she's getting a DADT briefing from Defense officials. SenateArmedServices hearing on DADT expect in Nov.

And here is Sen. Gillibrand's own very tweet:

There is no reason whatsoever to discriminate against and eliminate talented people who could benefit our military. None.

I'm tired of saying that.

'Don't ask, don't tell' to get Senate committee review, senator says

By GottaLaff

Do tell!

A key U.S. Senate committee will hold a hearing on the military's controversial "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays and lesbians, according to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a New York Democrat.

The Senate Armed Services committee will hold the hearing in the fall, she said in a written announcement.

A committee spokeswoman confirmed that there will hearings, but that no specific legislation is under consideration.

Enough with the hearings, pass something already.

"'Don't ask, don't tell' is an unfair, outdated measure that violates the civil rights of some of our bravest, most heroic men and women," Gillibrand said in her statement. "By repealing this policy, we will increase America's strength — both militarily and morally."

Nearly 13,000 service members have been discharged for their sexual orientation since 1993, she said.

Stop asking, and start telling Teh Gay and America that equality extends to the military. Okay? Okay.

Since Obama took office, 265 service members have been discharged for being gay, according to Gillibrand.

That's very telling. Time for change.

L.A. Times Letter: We the people are culpable

By GottaLaff

A letter in today's L.A. Times:

We the people are culpable

Re “Lawless and soon long gone,” editorial, Dec. 24

Do you have any idea how ridiculous it sounds for you to offer up as a "reckoning" a "scathing report by the Senate Armed Services Committee"? Do you really think that Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld care about that?

I have an idea. The next time a criminal breaks into your house, instead of arresting and prosecuting him, let's just get the Senate to issue a scathing report condemning him and let him get away with that as his punishment. That'll teach 'em!

An impeachment inquiry would be such a nice option (albeit improbable at this point), and it would serve so many purposes: An investigation would bring new information to light (executive privilege doesn't extend to an impeachment inquiry), and also prevent Bush from pardoning anyone else.

Scathing reports may give us some details and soothe a few people, but they don't do much in the way of remedies.

Oh, and then there's that little matter of sending a strong message to future administrations that no president or vice president is above the law.