Casual Observation

9 Comments

1. 

   Real History Lisa on May 8, 2009 at 1:57 pm

   It’s about freakin’ time.

2. 

   on May 8, 2009 at 2:55 pm

   In the letter, Obama wrote that he is “committed to changing our current policy” but that “it will take some time to complete (partly because it needs Congressional action).”

   Obama is lying. He could change the policy immediately, if he wanted to.

   A new study, about to be published by a group of experts in military law, shows that President Obama does, in fact, have stroke-of-the-pen authority to suspend gay discharges. The “don’t ask, don’t tell” law requires the military to fire anyone found to be gay or lesbian. But there is nothing requiring the military to make such a finding. The president can simply order the military to stop investigating service members’ sexuality.

   An executive order would not get rid of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law, but would take the critical step of suspending its implementation, hence rendering it effectively dead. Once people see gays and lesbians serving openly, legally and without problems, it will be much easier to get rid of the law at a later time.

   Obama To Fire His First Gay Arabic Linguist

   • 

     Dongi 2 on May 8, 2009 at 4:50 pm

     Like we don’t need Arab linguists!  Is this country nuts and why does Obama have to be so damned devious all the time.  I agree completely with your position Senor Alexander.

     • 

       robertdsc on May 8, 2009 at 7:18 pm

       DADT is like the stem cell research in the fact that while he can use an executive order, those can be overturned by the next President. He’s looking to go through the legislative process instead to completely remove it from the books.

       Nothing wrong with that.

       • 

         on May 8, 2009 at 7:30 pm

         Apparently some zealots are so eager to defend every last sell-out by Obama that they can’t be bothered to read a short post through to the end.

         To quote my post:

         Once people see gays and lesbians serving openly, legally and without problems [as a result of suspending DODT by an executive order], it will be much easier to get rid of the law at a later time.

         Issuing an executive order and changing the law are not mutually exclusive: in fact, doing the first would make doing the second easier.

         Either Obama has little strategic sense, or he is not serious about getting rid of DODT.

         • 

           BooMan on May 8, 2009 at 8:08 pm

           I assume you followed my link.  Seems serious to me.

         • 

           on May 8, 2009 at 11:32 pm

           Yes, I followed your link: I quoted from it in my first post.

           If Obama is serious, I don’t see why he doesn’t issue an executive order suspending DADT, so that more careers are not destroyed while Congress works on legislation finishing it up for good.

           I assume you didn’t follow my link, because if you did, I don’t see why you would be so sure that he is serious.

         • 

           BooMan on May 8, 2009 at 11:44 pm

           My point is that he is committed to ending it.  I don’t understand why he would let a single new career get ruined in the meantime, but he will end the policy this year.  

         • 

           on May 9, 2009 at 11:05 am

           You’re probably right about his commitment.

           As for why he is not taking more immediate action, I guess he just has a reluctance to be too close to the forefront of any cause of decency, out of fear of being called “out of the mainstream” by the right.