It has been passed by the Senate. The house had earlier passed but today several Republicans including our two Maine Senators voted to repeal DADT and follow the Pentagon's suggestion that the policy be repealed.
So over the next year or so we will see this policy disappear. I think that while we as parents do not wish our children to be gay that we want them to have a good life if they are. Part of a good life is feeling whole and valued. This tells those people that they are welcome as Americans.
Was there ever a case to be made that it was not so.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Obama vs the Democrats
The President is in trouble. Believing that he has to get something done to gain back the independents that left him in droves in the midyears he has compromised with the Mitch McConnell and the evil empire.
The Democratic base is livid. Some of this is surely posturing but as I have wrote about recently Obama's willingness to fight for something, anything is in doubt.
I do not want to bang the drum over and over but this seems like it was a fight that he could have won. Maybe it is because we know Clinton did win a similar fight. Obama has said that next year the new Congress will give the Republicans more control but the truth is Obama has all the cards. He has the power of veto.
Put the pressure on Republicans. Pass the bill over and over without the tax cuts for the rich and the 5 million exemption on the estate tax and let the defend their position. It is untenable for them but he acts as he does not know it.
Perhaps the most unrecognized and most dangerous part of this compromise is the deal to lower the social security tax rate withheld by two percent. While the purpose is to stimulate the economy the Republicans will admit that when this cut expires in a year they will portray this as a tax hike. How can we talk about the deficit, the trouble coming for Social Security and reduce its funding for a year by 30 percent. Surely this is the Republicans setting Obama up again.
Incompetence. Obama may or may not have values but they cannot communicate them and does not fight for them.
At his press conference yesterday he commented in answer to a question that he did have things he would draw a line in the sand on, however the answer sounded hollow when measured against his campaign promises in regards to the Bush tax cuts. It becomes apparent that lines in the sand can be covered by the wind that blows. Perhaps we should give Obama some permanent markers.
The Democratic base is livid. Some of this is surely posturing but as I have wrote about recently Obama's willingness to fight for something, anything is in doubt.
I do not want to bang the drum over and over but this seems like it was a fight that he could have won. Maybe it is because we know Clinton did win a similar fight. Obama has said that next year the new Congress will give the Republicans more control but the truth is Obama has all the cards. He has the power of veto.
Put the pressure on Republicans. Pass the bill over and over without the tax cuts for the rich and the 5 million exemption on the estate tax and let the defend their position. It is untenable for them but he acts as he does not know it.
Perhaps the most unrecognized and most dangerous part of this compromise is the deal to lower the social security tax rate withheld by two percent. While the purpose is to stimulate the economy the Republicans will admit that when this cut expires in a year they will portray this as a tax hike. How can we talk about the deficit, the trouble coming for Social Security and reduce its funding for a year by 30 percent. Surely this is the Republicans setting Obama up again.
Incompetence. Obama may or may not have values but they cannot communicate them and does not fight for them.
At his press conference yesterday he commented in answer to a question that he did have things he would draw a line in the sand on, however the answer sounded hollow when measured against his campaign promises in regards to the Bush tax cuts. It becomes apparent that lines in the sand can be covered by the wind that blows. Perhaps we should give Obama some permanent markers.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Shopping With the Family
With kids 15, 13, and 11 it is rare that we do anything as a family. Between the kids events, friends, schedules and their sometime reluctance to go with us in public it is rare we are all together.
The night before Thanksgiving we went to Olive Garden for a family meal. This has become a bit of a family tradition. I am not an Olive Garden fan but the kids like it and an evening like this is about the kids. That evening we actually took the goodwill further and spent a little time in the mall.
My oldest son is usually not with us the most as his schedule is the busiest but a funny thing is when he does he enjoys it the most. He can, when the mood strikes, be very silly.
Today with a snow day we went out for a couple of errands and we all went. Again at Walmart, the place where no one wants to be, we had a family trip and it was again quite fun. I was having trouble getting around as my hips and legs are terrible right now, but my cane is helpful. T was silly, Drew was funny and Morgan was Morgan, cute, and it was a nice trip.
Of course when the register came up at $90.00 I learned why the kids are rarely with us when we go shopping. We would be broke.
The night before Thanksgiving we went to Olive Garden for a family meal. This has become a bit of a family tradition. I am not an Olive Garden fan but the kids like it and an evening like this is about the kids. That evening we actually took the goodwill further and spent a little time in the mall.
My oldest son is usually not with us the most as his schedule is the busiest but a funny thing is when he does he enjoys it the most. He can, when the mood strikes, be very silly.
Today with a snow day we went out for a couple of errands and we all went. Again at Walmart, the place where no one wants to be, we had a family trip and it was again quite fun. I was having trouble getting around as my hips and legs are terrible right now, but my cane is helpful. T was silly, Drew was funny and Morgan was Morgan, cute, and it was a nice trip.
Of course when the register came up at $90.00 I learned why the kids are rarely with us when we go shopping. We would be broke.
Don't Ask Don't Tell
If a person wants to join the military and defend and support his country should he or she be allowed to if they are gay. It seems to be an argument that does not go away.
Bill Clinton kicked this can down the road in 1993 when DADT was put into place. It seemed better than the policy in place at the time, and it was.
Now we are in a position where the Pentagon has said it is time to get rid of DADT. Interestingly a majority of the American people are in agreement, as are a majority of those serving in the military today.
Increasin gly the sexuality of a person in the armed forces seems not to matter. Do we really think that gay men would be checking out straight men and forcing them to have sex. It does not happen in other professions. It is a silly idea.
John McCain has become the leading voice against repealing DADT. This is interesting as when he ran for President in 2008 he stated that he would support the repeal when the Pentagon and Joint Chiefs favored it. They now do but McCain now in his grumpy old man stage has changed his mind and faulted the studies that have led to this conclusion.
I consider myself a moderate. I will go back to my previous comments, if we feel that being gay is not a choice but how we are wired how can we tell them they cannot be as patriotic as you or I.
Bill Clinton kicked this can down the road in 1993 when DADT was put into place. It seemed better than the policy in place at the time, and it was.
Now we are in a position where the Pentagon has said it is time to get rid of DADT. Interestingly a majority of the American people are in agreement, as are a majority of those serving in the military today.
Increasin gly the sexuality of a person in the armed forces seems not to matter. Do we really think that gay men would be checking out straight men and forcing them to have sex. It does not happen in other professions. It is a silly idea.
John McCain has become the leading voice against repealing DADT. This is interesting as when he ran for President in 2008 he stated that he would support the repeal when the Pentagon and Joint Chiefs favored it. They now do but McCain now in his grumpy old man stage has changed his mind and faulted the studies that have led to this conclusion.
I consider myself a moderate. I will go back to my previous comments, if we feel that being gay is not a choice but how we are wired how can we tell them they cannot be as patriotic as you or I.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Christmas Trees
We went to a Christmas tree farm today to cut down a tree. It was a pretty well run operation. They give you a saw and a tarp and off you go. When you come up they bale it and help you get in on or in your vehicle.
It would have been nice to have some snow. Still the experience was a good one. The spot itself is pretty, the barn that serves as the office is nice and warm, apple cider awaits all that would like it.
My oldest son cut down the tree, my middle son helped and my daughter well she was cute and chirpy on the way out and fell in a puddle on the way out with the tree leading to consoling hugs from Dad.
Still it was a good experience, one we will attempt to make a tradition. I enjoyed it, our family is getting older and these times are going to be less likely to happen.
I love that part of Christmas. The whole shopping and thinking of gifts is a stretch for me. This tradition filled experience, this is what Christmas is about.
It would have been nice to have some snow. Still the experience was a good one. The spot itself is pretty, the barn that serves as the office is nice and warm, apple cider awaits all that would like it.
My oldest son cut down the tree, my middle son helped and my daughter well she was cute and chirpy on the way out and fell in a puddle on the way out with the tree leading to consoling hugs from Dad.
Still it was a good experience, one we will attempt to make a tradition. I enjoyed it, our family is getting older and these times are going to be less likely to happen.
I love that part of Christmas. The whole shopping and thinking of gifts is a stretch for me. This tradition filled experience, this is what Christmas is about.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Tax cuts Part II
News out of Washington is that President Obama is about to cave on the Bush tax cuts. Perhaps he will get unemployment benefits extended, and some tax cuts extended for the middle class but this is to me and inexplicable mistake.
You do not get many chances where you can clearly illustrate the difference in your party and the opposition as clearly as this. Democrats want to extend unemployment benefits as unemployment continues near ten percent, and to cut the Bush tax cuts for those making more than 250 K a year.
Somehow Republicans with a minority in both chambers of the house and a case that cannot win over the American people have Obama running scared.
Each day we see stunned analysts say they cannot believe that Obama cannot or will not go to the public and paint this picture. To illustrate that the Republicans want to complain about the deficit and add 700 billion to it to extend these tax cuts.
Each day he does not and now it appears he is about to cave.
I am not a liberal. I am a moderate. Obama has disappointed his base but one should not ignore he has lost me too. I think he might well be worse than a Republican, at least they would get blamed for their mistakes. Obama is the worst President in my lifetime.
Perhaps my frustration will abate. There is nothing so frustrating however as having a majority and an agenda and frittering and compromising it all away.
Disgusted. Call me disgusted.
You do not get many chances where you can clearly illustrate the difference in your party and the opposition as clearly as this. Democrats want to extend unemployment benefits as unemployment continues near ten percent, and to cut the Bush tax cuts for those making more than 250 K a year.
Somehow Republicans with a minority in both chambers of the house and a case that cannot win over the American people have Obama running scared.
Each day we see stunned analysts say they cannot believe that Obama cannot or will not go to the public and paint this picture. To illustrate that the Republicans want to complain about the deficit and add 700 billion to it to extend these tax cuts.
Each day he does not and now it appears he is about to cave.
I am not a liberal. I am a moderate. Obama has disappointed his base but one should not ignore he has lost me too. I think he might well be worse than a Republican, at least they would get blamed for their mistakes. Obama is the worst President in my lifetime.
Perhaps my frustration will abate. There is nothing so frustrating however as having a majority and an agenda and frittering and compromising it all away.
Disgusted. Call me disgusted.
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