Senators to introduce repeal of 'Don't ask, don't tell' tomorrow

[babylonsister]

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/84573-senators-to-introduce-repeal-of-dont-ask-dont-tell


Senators to introduce repeal of 'Don't ask, don't tell'
By Eric Zimmermann - 03/02/10 05:56 PM ET


A group of Democratic senators will introduce legislation tomorrow repealing "Don't ask, don't tell."

The legislation is sponsored by Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Carl Levin (D-Mich.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.), and Roland Burris (D-Ill.).

Lieberman and Gillibrand have taken a central role in pushing for legislation to change the policy. Levin is chairman of the Senate Armed Service Committee, which would have to approve the repeal.

Defense officials, including Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, have endorsed a repeal but have asked for time to study how to go about changing the policy.

The senators will be joined at a press conference Wednesday by Brigadier General John Adams (Ret.), Rear Admiral Jamie Barnett (Ret.), and Major Mike Almy.

Almy was discharged under "Don't ask, don't tell."

[tosh]

1. It's high time.

[Smashcut]

2. K/R

[Arkana]

3. Why is Lieberman in on this?

My only guess is that he's waiting to sandbag it later.

[jenmito]

7. He is liberal on this issue. It's not new for him. n/t

[DRoseDARs]

8. Given Lieberman's behavior the past few years, one can forgive being suspect of everything he does.

[jenmito]

10. True. But I guess his position on issues like this is why he's not (yet) a Repub. n/t

[AlinPA]

13. I heard he was "leading" on it; that has be be suspect. He campaigned for Palin and

was a major speaker at the RNC Convention. Don't look for him to help, rather look for him to sabotage it to satisfy Palin's base.

[mopinko]

4. and burris has nothing to lose.

still looking for things to put on that mausoleum.


you go roland.

[Lyric]

5. Are they just repealing it, or are the repealing it and instituting a policy of

allowing gays to serve? Simply repealing it would take us back to what it was before DADT, which was that gays couldn't serve at all.

[ieoeja]

12. Actually, it would take back from law to policy.

And the Executive branch sets the policy.

1. Both houses of Congress pass a bill to repeal the law.

2. President signs the bill.

3. President asks Secretary of Defense to draft a policy (which is why I thought this would wait until Gates leaves after the Iraqi withdrawal).

4. Secretary of Defense asks the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs to draft a policy (having the military actually write the policy makes it difficult for your political opponents to say you forced this upon the military).

5. Chairman of the JCS delegates this to some up-and-coming quis..., er, star in the military heirarchy.

6 & 7. The policy gets passed back up the ladder.

8. President signs the policy.

9, 10. A big fat hen.


What will the policy be? The President will say he wants a policy that "eventually" permits Gays to serve openly. Military brass will write a policy that calling for this to be done by 2020 hoping a Republican president cancels the initiative before the deadline.

[jenmito]

6. K&R. Get ready for more hypocrisy from McCain, speaking out against it.

:eyes:

[burning rain]

9. I'll be pleasantly surpised if they accomplish it.

More likely they'll end up whimpering that they tried really, really hard, but couldn't get 60 votes, as with so many other things.

:cry:

[Vidar]

11. K&R.