Gates: No change soon on `don't ask, don't tell'

[G_j]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/G/GAYS_MILITARY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2009-03-29-09-49-35


Mar 29, 9:59 AM EDT

Gates: No change soon on `don't ask, don't tell'

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Don't expect any change soon to the "don't ask, don't tell" policy about gays in the military.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates says both he and President Barack Obama have "a lot on our plates right now." As Gates puts it, "let's push that one down the road a little bit."

The White House has said Obama has begun consulting with Gates and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on how to lift the ban. Gates says that dialogue has not really progressed very far at this point in the administration.

The Pentagon policy was put in place after President Bill Clinton tried to lift the ban on gay service members in 1993.

<snip>

[LWolf]

1. I guess it all depends on the definition of "a little bit."

I agree about having "a lot on their plates." Any administration coming in to an economic crisis of this magnitude would.

If "a little bit" means "until later this year," I can understand that.

If it means "not on the agenda, but we'll string people along for the duration," then I'm not okay with that.

If Obama has really "begun discussing how to lift the ban," as the article reports, that's a step in the right direction, and there may be hope that it might happen at some point in his administration.

I'm glad to hear that, since the number of things he is NOT discussing, that I don't think WILL happen during the next 4-8 years, is distressing.

[G_j]

3. I suppose I can understand "until later this year," also

but I'm hoping that they are sincere about this.

[LWolf]

6. I am hoping, too.

I have no hope about education or peace.

I have a little hope that groundswell support for single-payer might affect whatever happens with health care.

Something positive to hope for is welcome.

[G_j]

7. I remind myself

(although it may not be saying a whole lot, considering how much damage Bush did)
that Obama has done more good in this short time, than Bush did in eight years.

[LWolf]

8. Yes.

Meanwhile, I have to say that I, and my colleagues, feel just as threatened under Obama/Duncan as we did under Bush/Paige/Spellings.

It's our profession, and our living. For many of us, one of the reasons to get rid of Bush was to get rid of the anti-public education agenda.

The appointment of Duncan was a slap in the face to those hopes.

I take it a little personally, which is one reason I'm having a hard time seeing the good.

[G_j]

9. I hear ya

I am trying hard to deal with the audacity of diminished expectations.
even though I did not have high expectations to begin with.
I will try to learn more about Duncan.
I do call and write the WH fairly consistently.

:hi:

[lunatica]

4. I beg to differ

The only reason I can see to wait is the rationalization that there's something or other to debate about this issue, or that there needs to be some dishonest 'bipartisan' support or some such crap. I don't see what's to debate about civil rights that hasn't already been settled decades ago.

Take your godamned pen and with one stroke eliminate all reference to anything that smacks of 'stay in the closet' or 'separate but equal' politics and let the fur fly wherever it flies. Let the assholes take it all the way to the Supreme Court as many times as it takes. Jesus! What a disappointment this is!

[LWolf]

5. You certainly speak

from my heart, if not my brain.

I'm constantly told that I'm an "obamahater," that my criticisms are off the mark, etc..

I'm trying to allow the voice of reason to acknowledge when it might be okay to wait for a few more months, since the left has been characterized as "wanting it all, and wanting it right NOW!!!!!"

To be honest, I was surprised to hear that Obama was considering lifting the ban. I never expected him to, so that's a positive right there. On the other hand, if "don't ask, don't tell," is going to be a major issue to move him on, then where does that leave the marriage issue?

Unfortunately, he isn't considering, or talking about, some of the other things I want to see happen; as a matter of fact, he's going in the opposite direction.

I certainly want him to resolve "don't ask, don't tell" asap.

[msongs]

2. bush presidency 3.0 nt