This will go down as one of the most important pieces of legislation to come out of the Obama Administration.

Agreed Pat!

What makes the victory ever so much sweeter is that the hate merchants said it was dead in the water!

Thank you Senator McGeezer for proving once again you're a shell of the man you used to be!

What a great day to be a progressive! :0)

What has America been waiting for? We've obviously not been regarding our own constitution for a long time: women serve, minorities serve, those with disabilities serve. These gay folks go to fight and die for people who would rather have them lie and serve stripped of integrity or not at all. It's not even like the military is a church or anything like or close to that.

I will go further and state that anyone not donning the uniform that lets another die protecting him/her while denying their right to serve with honesty should be flogged in my own private opinion.

How many times John McCain is going to find himself on the wrong side of the issues, just as he did with the Civil Rights Act, and then come back years later to apologize for his vote?

The Obama koolaid drinkers are here in full force again patting each other on the back for very unspectacular remarks. You liberals don't have a clue.

You are hearlding an issue of sexuality. I'll bet none of you have served in the military a single day in your lives except for Retired Navy Vet. You want the military to change policies that have been set in place for many years. Personally I don't care if gays serve or not. Sexuality is ONLY an issue by gays, supported by liberals that have a false sense of compassion and emotionalism. I don't need to openly flaunt my heterosexuality to anyone. I don't answer questions concerning my sexual choice and that's the way it should be for anyone. The current rule is the way it should be... don't ask, don't tell. The issue of a persons choice of partner shouldn't be discussed because it is a private individual choice. In otherwords, don't put your business on the street.

There are definitive reasons homosexuals were not allowed to serve. Most of those reasons escape the illogical minds of liberals. The liberal focus on equal rights and equal rights alone don't think that morale, discipline and following orders expected of servicemen will not be effected. Long term, big picture thinking escapes the liberal mindset. How many liberal ideas have failed because they never take into consideration collateral effects. Save the darter snail but forget about the overpopulation that will ensue that stops other creatures from living in the same waterways... natural events are constantly being disrupted by law suit after law suit from liberals with great intentions but no thought to other effects caused by their intention.

For the sake of argument, lets say this passes. So-oo what? What great victory is there in it? The way you liberals make it sound, it's a huge victory... for whom? Gays? Big deal! They can serve now without fear as long as they keep their private matters private. That's equality with me because I keep my private matters private. I don't openly discuss mating rituals, sexual proclivity or any number of private matters. The only reason this is an issue, is, because gays actually want more rights than I have. In reality, when you think about the logic, they are trying to win more rights than heterosexuals. All in the name of being politically correct and diversity - which, for the most part is a crock of socialist crap.

J.Richter,

Combat troops should be the issue. Women do not serve in the combat units. It is about unit cohesion, not sex, not expressing your sexual equality. It is about getting a very important job done with as little chance as possible of someone in the unit getting hurt.

The disabled do not serve in the combat units.

The constitution does apply the same way in combat.

Another thing - (from the article)

The reality is, however, that under the more stringent guidelines for enforcement of the law implemented in October, there have been no servicemembers discharged from the military.

What is the problem? Again, Why the lame duck rush?

Dear Bob,

So your argument should be for DADT to end. That way we know who's who and can decide if to stop sending gays to combat if we determine through scientific study that they are not to be in combat.

Read your complaint again and see how ending DADT helps it, that's if you sincerely intended your logic to add up.

There be a whole lot of fragging going on.

J.Richter,

Do you help develop Netflix adds?

(If the square root of 81 is 9 - what color is Thursday?)

Gays already serve

Gays are already in combat

This law does not change any of this

We only know who in combat is.

Bob - Do you help develop Netflix adds? (If the square root of 81 is 9 - what color is Thursday?)

ROFL!!!! I almost peed my pants! What a fitting response to an innane comment.

Great wit! I love it.

This will go down as one of the most important pieces of legislation to come out of the Obama Administration.

Pat;

How could you possibly make a remark like that? I can almost agree with you as Obama and congress have wasted enough time on this social issue. There are far more pressing issues that relate to the entire U.S. population than this piece of legislation impacting a tiny minority of the citizenry. Perhaps Obama can now get on with his real job of running a country and providing legislation important to the majority of the citizens he is charged to protect and defend.

Before you scream foul, call me a homophobe, biggot, nazi, conservative nut or another name you reserve for anyone who doesnt agree with you, I also do not agree with his tax plan that gives breaks to a wealthy minority or the lazy people on unemployment. Yes I said lazy people on unemployment as this plan only extends benefits for those whos benefit have already expired. If you dont have a job that pays more than unemployment after 99 weeks, you dont want a job. I personally know of 5 people that this affects, 1 of them being my father in law, and all of them had multiple job offers over the life of thier unemployment but didnt take them because they didnt meet thier stringent criteria. All of them payed more than unemployment but required learning a new skill or taking a job which payed somewhat less than thier last job but more than unemployment. This country as a whole has an unemployment rate of around 10% but thier are plenty of places hiring. These lazy people need to take the job they can get until a job they want comes along.

I served for 10 years in the military and DADT worked just fine. I dont define my life and service based on my sexual or religiouse beliefs nor did I expect anyone else. Yes we all knew, for the most part, who was and was not gay in our units, it only ever mattered when I was a part of the 41st Field Artillery BN in Germany. The support units I worked in pretty much didnt care. Now the military who has an exhorbative budget as it stands will require more funds to modify. As usual thier will be millions upon millions of dollars spent trying to come up with a solution that impacts everyone based on the needs of a few.

I pray this isnt the most important piece of legislation that this inept President is able to get past Congress and the Senate, IT would be a true travisty if your right.

Gays already serve; Gays are already in combat; This law does not change any of this

Yea, DADT seems to be working fine. 85% of gays do not their units to know they are gay anyway. No one is being discharged for being gay. It's working. What is the problem?

Read Brianb - he says it perfectly.

PAT------- You bet, the other piece of legislation will be the reinstatement of the draft.

I can'y wait for that, want to pull up my lawn chair and watch the libs and homosexuals rioting in the streets.

@bob

Please take a walk in foreign village full of minefields without a translator because that soldier is 'gay'.

Try to hold your blood in from your bleeding torso because the 'gay' surgeon has just been discharged.

@Gray

Its hypocritical to say that you don't care if someone is gay or not, but then deny a soldier the ability to have their spouse notified if they're injured, dead, or alive.

It really isn't your business, so stop making who's gay or straight an issue. DADT makes it an issue and that is why it needs to pulled.

Gray - I pray this isnt the most important piece of legislation that this inept President is able to get past Congress and the Senate, IT would be a true travisty if your right.

You said that in most excellent terms. It would be a travesty if this was the defining legislation in the term of a president. I know I wouldn't want it attached to me. Even as bad as Obama is, I wouldn't wish this on even him.

Gray, I'm not going to call you any names. I am happy for those who will be personally affected by this law. Those are the only ones I care about.

America has come around to seeing that DADT is unfair. The government has no business asking anyone if they are gay or straight. But especially those who fight our wars.

How effective would you be if holding on to your fellow soldiers guts as he's screaming because his enrails are falling out of him

@Brianb

Pretty damn effective. How many years were you in med school? Negative what? Think about that next time you get shot up.

Sexuality isn't an issue here. Both the medic and nurse (gay or straight) know you are already brain dead.

bob-1805084;

If those "67% of Marines and 50% of Soldiers in combat arms" are so dead set against doing their Patriotic Duty and serving with whomever is actually QUALIFIED for combat -- then I say let 'em mutiny. Let 'em end up spending at least 20 years in Leavenworth for being mutinous traitors, too.

What's next on the Right-wing Neo-Conservative Agenda, going back to banning anyone from serving openly in the U.S. Military if their skin isn't the right shade of whatever color?

Brianb- your assesment of DADT making sexuality a non-issue shows just how little you really understand about DADT. DADT doesn't just cause homosexuals to have to remain quiet about whether they like hoo hoos or haa hass- it forces service men and women to hide their entire private lives. I work on an army base, and EVERY soldier knows EVERY other soldier. If a straight soldier wants to marry his or her significant other, or just shack up with him or her, it is definitely known about (and with FRG most likely gossiped about). For a homosexual, this option is not available. Moving in with your significant other when you're a homosexual is tantamount to "telling" under DADT rules. In addition to this, homosexual soldiers are not allowed to march in gay pride parades (even though latinos are allowed to march in uniform in latino pride parades) or participate in any of the public activities which gay pride/rights support activists participate in. Under DADT, a homosexual soldier is forced to live in secret, to live life as a straight man. And if you think straight soldiers don't "flaunt" their heterosexuality, you obviously never went through basic.

I've brought this point up before, but it bears repeating; I feel that the repeal of DADT is very similar to the desegregation of troops during the 50's and 60's. Will there be upheaval? Of course there will! But the question is, will this create a more cohesive fighting force when the seas calm?

You may disagree with me, but I believe the military can only benefit from the repeal of DADT.

S-480203 - Sexuality isn't an issue here. Both the medic and nurse (gay or straight) know you are already brain dead.

Doth I offend? Maketh no sense to youeth? I guess the point went straight (or gay) over your head. Either way, you are wrong.

Sexuality IS the issue. It is the paramount issue. It is the ONLY issue. People are people no matter whether straight or not, correct? The defining point of all this is a person's sexuality. Gays want to defend their choice in mating with, co-habitating with, joining with, having sex with, feeding with, showering with, living with, being with, loving on... a person of the same sex. How is sexuality NOT an issue here? It is exactly the issue.

You can throw in all sorts of parameters such as gay marriage, tax laws, or acceptance by society. None of which compares to the sexuality issue. Pay your taxes, get married and assorted other things you want to do.. you can't legislate acceptance! Either you are accepted or you aren't. Happens all the time... some people are, some people aren't. Stop trying to force acceptance through legislation. I have the right to like anyone I want.. or dislike anyone I want... the exact same as you do. In that, we are completely equal.

Hey Pickles,

After stating that you kinda even freaked Feisty out with the Stoli, cut up pickles and Bachman blow-up doll stuff and pointing out that she accepted you because you were a liberal even though you lack the intellectual capacity to accomplish anything more than the ability to fog a mirror - Your comeback was that you were old enough to drink and man enough to know what to do with a blow-up doll ....

I worried in a "Special Olympics" kind of way that I had not realized the severity of your deficits and just wished you a Merry Christmas. I guess - My Bad.

Dude - Admitting you know what to do with a blow-up doll!!!

This is not DJDT- (Don't Joke about a guy with his pickles and Michele Bachman blow-up doll, Don't Tell me about your pickles and Michele Bachman blow-up doll.)

Ah, I better stop.

Anyway, you may want to double check the spelling of relavent (unless your talking about re-doing la vent in the doll)

And if you read the article, or my comments - gays are not being discharged as of October.

Sorry if I said anything offensive. Hope you and Michele have a Merry Christmas.

Chickenmann... so what you are saying is that homosexuals deserve additional rights, correct? They say that the current system that has been established for eons.. is wrong... correct? Irregardless of why the system was put into effect, without studying it, seeing the long term benefits or the drawbacks, it should be changed without just cause. Just because homosexuals feel they are being discriminated against... correct?

How many homosexuals are there when compared to heterosexuals? Do they consider themselves a different racial group? There are only 3 of those... White, black and yellow. From what I understand, those racial groups are all equal today.

Without going into a long list of diversity issues, what this boils down to is, gays want to be as equal as everyone else and the last vestage of distinguishment lies with the military rules... after that battle is won, where will you go next as a very small minority of citizens? It appears as society don't want you married to each other.. everytime it's brought up in an open vote, it gets defeated. I know it's been challenged in court.. and liberal judges, bought and paid for by the Gay Coallition rule in their favor against the voting block... after all the battles are over.. and the last paper is signed... do you still think you will be accepted by heterosexual people that are offended?

Try winning that battle first... and then the others will all be a cake walk.

The comment by Bob 1.3 should not have been collapsed. He did not violate any of the rules of the cite nor did he do anything but state an opposing opinion. Please restore it. It was getting traction with like minded people--like me.

I want to express my most sincere congratulations to the gay community for overcoming another hurdle on their way to full citizenship, and also express my utmost gratitude for your military service to this country.

Your contributions in every other field has also made of America what it is today: An innovative and creative superpower no one in the world can match.

Thank you so, so much and I wish you the best of luck in your fight for full marriage rights. Take care.

. In fact, 67% of Marines and 50% of Soldiers in combat arms are against it and say it will have a negative effective More twisted propaganda that misses the fact that close to 80% of the military say its time for this.

Let them serve in the Army; they take all the leftovers anyway.

Nothing more than desperate politicians buying the gay vote... time to move on.

Brianb, thank you for responding without resorting to unseemly and viscious attacks as a substitute for getting your point across. I can't help but think of a time when there was an issue of a group who was in the minority's (less than 14% at the time) rights that divided the country so badly that it caused us to go to war with ourselves and split the opinions of the half of the country that still remained. You ask how many homosexuals there are- fair enough. Most statistical data puts them at 5%-10% of the population. So how much of the military is gay? 1 in 10? 1 in 20? Certainly not a "majority" but i'm willing to bet there are smaller minorities who are allowed to be open about themselves.

This subject is not about gay marriage. It's not about them getting "extra" rights. It's about gays being able to live their lives the way a straight person would without fear of reprisals, or dismissal from the armed forces of the country they are willing to bleed and die to protect.

If it was so important why did it take the Dem's two years to get it passed? They had the numbers and could have done it anytime, but I believe they lacked the moral courage to take it on during the election season. Just as the 2011 Obama tax deal and their attempt at the Dream Act. And that's why most will be looking for a new job in two weeks.

Having served in the Army I know that they will adapt to the new policy but what's next? Same sex spousal benefits, billeting issues, "special victims" promotion quotas?

At long last.....congratulations to all who put so much on the line to bring this to fruition.

hooray for the elimination of DADT!!

Now let's get the same rights for Incest, people who love to love farm animals and whatever kink gets you going! After all, what you do in your private life is no one elses business, right? Let's go all the way with this!!!

Well Said Pat.

Merry Christmas, Mr President! Enjoy your vacation with your loved ones and may the New Year bring you Peace and many Blessings.

Well done Bob....excellent arguments.

@Chickenman

I assume your refferring to the civil war in your post above. I would like to point out to you that the civil war did NOT start because the North wanted to free the slaves. The Emancipation Proclamation was a bi-product of the North losing the war and needing more soldiers. You have heard of the phrase the "enemy of my enemy is my friend" That how the Emancipation Proclamation came about. Who better to fight wealthy white land owners than the black slaves they oppressed for so many years?

Do NOT skew history to fit your opinion.

DADT was working fine.

Yes, their maybe underlying issues of some policies that could have been reformed to provide a more accepted feeling for these people but how do you think our country is going to look to the rest of the world when we have groups of male soldiers in US military uniforms holding hands and kissing in public? Do any of you have any Idea what this does to our reputation in the world community?

Soldiers are supposed to be tough Gay men are usually considered feminine. If your a gay soldier what are you? Tough or feminine because you cant have it both ways. Act tough and man up keep your private life private or be feminine and find a different job because the military doesn't need weak minded soldiers.

I really could care less what anyone does in the privacy of their own homes as long as its not seriously wrong and I dont have to hear about it if it offends me.

So what if you cant go to a Gay pride rally in Uniform wear a pink shirt. I really dont think Latinos should be wearing US military uniform to Latino pride rallies. Are you proud to be a latino or an American?

This legislation is an unconstitutional waste of time. To support my position and save you some time replying to my comment. It is unconstitutional because the constitution delegates certain powers to the federal Government wich are outlined in the document itself. All other powers Not specifically Delegated to the Federal Government belong to the State. The powere to tell someone wether they can or cant be in the military because they are gay is not directly delegated to Federal government via the Constitution. So, it is a power reserved for the individual states!!!

Congress Stop wasting our Fking time and money on this petty B.S. and fix the fking economy!! End the Federal Reserve. Help create private sector jobs. End free trade! This country was designed to make money by Taxing imports from other countries not is citizens!!! This Country needs a Serious history lesson!!

This is the first step for equal rights for ALL Americans. For those of you worried about the logistics of this repeal, think about this....Gay and straight men and women are currently serving with, sleeping in the same tent/barracks, showering with each other. It has always been that way. The only people who will have trouble with this will be the homophobes. Once everyone comes out and the newness wears off, it should be back to work as usual. Gay Americans deserve the exact same rights as other Americans. If they fight for your rights and freedoms, then you should support their right for the same thing.

Stupidity is never dead in the water it goes on and on.

True Pat... which just proves how weak and insignificant the obama admin really is.

>

Great move lame duck Congress! Instead of signing the budget to keep the military funded we moved ahead with the liberal agenda.

What this means for commanders: another card to play when substandard people are being held accountable and look for protection because surely they are substandard in performance it must be because they are hispanic, black, jewish, muslim, female, old, and now GAY!

What this means for Equal Opportunity: white military members can get into the EO field that has been exclusively manned by blacks and hispanics because they are the only military members who know anything about equal opportunity. Whites can now make EO a career representing the GAYS in the EO career field!

Way to go US Congress and Mr. President! You made the easy decision, now lets change the Uniform Code of Military Justice to reflect the policy. Quite a few things will need revision to allow the physical GAY sexual acts legal. Sodomy, anal sex, and the list goes on. This will take a long time to fix; but no one is trying to shore up the real revisions that need to be updated to protect our country. Where are the outcries for revising the TREASON and ESPIONAGE language to ensure the WIKILEAKS fiasco does not happen again and the hanging is an enforced for such breaches of the public trust and security of this country.

Once again, the Administration and the LAME DUCK Congress is pushing their hopes turning the US into the totally disfunctional European Model of social liberalism. Their failed experiment should never be allowed to use the US military in social experimentation.

This is outragious. Think about how straight spouses will feel about thier husbands and wives showering in public with other strange women and men of the opposite sex. shower with same sex gays is no different. this is repulsive and it only benifits gays. i for one may have made a different choice when thinking about serving b/c of 911. because of this. im sure there are many straights who think the same way.

Bob, do you just enjoy making up numbers as you seem to do at every thread I've seen you at? It works for the Fox crowd, but the other 70 percent of the country actually likes to base reasoning on facts.

For Bob, USAFvet and others stuck in the 50s -- Of the solders and solders' spouses polled for the DOD report, 92 percent of those who said they know or suspect somebody in their unit is gay also said they don't care. Good news, though. The bigots who make up the other 8 percent just like you can now gather together for a self-help group as the rest of us move on with our lives.

Brianb-999431- What you don't seem to understand is how many people have ended up being kicked out of the military even though they wanted to stay in. There are many who have been reported by other people when the soldier has tried to keep his or her sexuality a secret from their professional life. There are those who hate gay people and do all they can to get them kicked, those who do it for revenge. Others are found out through other means and then they are kicked out. People that have served 18, 19 years lose everything because of who they are and who they may love.

Then you have the code of conduct, which I believe stresses honesty. Yet this policy requires a gay person to be a liar in order to stay in the military. How is that beneficial to the armed forces? The facts are that a large majority of Americans and a majority of military members think DADT should be repealed. There is no good reason to continue that policy any longer. Some really valuable members of the military have been discharged because of who they are- not because they have done anything wrong. This is America. We are supposed to be better than that. With repeal of DADT, we will be.

Pat Boston MA

A victory for equal rights. For civil rights.

This will go down as one of the most important pieces of legislation to come out of the Obama Administration.

Yes, Pat it is a victory and will be another piece of ligislation that will take the country forward away from all the hate, homophobia, and pretense

Just got in from visiting with my niece who is here for the Holidays. We were at her girlfriends in Winnetka,IL. We were shopping and time slipped up on me. I had forgotten about the vote. I am so over joyed for all the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals.

For civil rights, it was the right thing to do for the LBGT community. Now, they can be who they are and feel proud and honest about it.

Morals cannot be legislated, but behavior can be regulated. The law cannot make an employer love me, but it can keep him from refusing to hire me because of the color of my skin.
Martin Luther King,Jr.

Likewise, as I see it with our sisters, brothers, aunties, uncles, and neighbors who were treated unfairly in the service. These people have the right to participate and die with honesty and dignity. The repeal DADT is the last word. We shouldn't argue anymore.

In fact, I'm slipping over to the Dew Drop Inn to hoist a cold, feisty, one in celebration.

Thank you Mr President for bringing justice and equality to our courageous LBGT

Armed Forces and our country.

Thank you Mr President for bringing justice and equality to our courageous LBGT Armed Forces and our country.

.

Really, booby? That's all you got? You can't even come up with anything original. SOSDD. I must be getting under your skin because nothing you said bothers me a bit. You are just a child trying to play in an adult world. You make up numbers and act like you know everything when you know nothing. And obviously you are not old enough to serve.

jacaf,

Bob, do you just enjoy making up numbers as you seem to do at every thread I've seen you at?

The proud "progressives" are no fans of bob - they would be screeching and jumping all over me if I made up numbers. But they know their stuff, they just have to ignore the facts they don't like, don't fit the thinkformeprogress narrative. BTW- Those numbers from a FR piece a week ago, or so.

70 percent of the country actually likes to base reasoning on facts.

Not really. Most people like to see numbers that support their feelings, beliefs and bias. That was the purpose of the slanted survey and specious summary. "70% of those surveyed stated that repeal of DADT would have a positive effect, mixed effect or no effect.." What a load of crap. Mixed effect? If someone says it's effect is 90% negative and 10% positive, isn't that a mixed effect? So in other words the survey could be saying that 70% of the respondents think repeal's effect is 90% negative/10% positive and the other 30% of respondents think it's effect is 100% negative.

After rereading your post, it occurs to me that explanation probably just went over your head, so how about we leave it with - believe what you want to believe (that's pretty much all liberals are capable of anyway.)

Montanna,

Bradley Manning, the guy that leaked hundreds of thousands of diplomatic cables, was gay. He had been teased throughout school for being gay. He wore custom dog tags that said "Humanist", sat at his desk with a toy fairy wand and sang Lady Gaga songs. Ya think no one in the Army had a clue, yet he was still in. Like the article stated - no one has been discharged since October, why not leave it at that.

Actually it is kinda funny, 634 were discharged last year (less than 1% of all discharges not related to retirement or completion of service. Less than 1%. Most were jr. personnel with short terms of service. 98% were honorable discharges with full benefits including college. Most were uncontested.

The funny part is how many just decided that military life wasn't for them and just wanted out. How many met someone, fell in love and decided they wanted out. How many decided they didn't want to go overseas for a tour? All you gotta do is say I'm gay. For that matter, how many were hetros that didn't want to Afghanistan/Iraq? Who knows?

Pat Boston MA

I am happy for those who will be personally affected by this law. Those are the only ones I care about.

So you don't care about the 67% of Marines and 50% of Soldiers against repeal, the ones who do the actual fighting and dying.

America has come around to seeing that DADT is unfair. The government has no business asking anyone if they are gay or straight. But especially those who fight our wars.

Duh. Hence the DON'T ASK part of DADT. Last sentence - SEE ABOVE.

I think it was Churchill who said something to the effect...

If you're 20 and conservative, you have no heart.

If you're 40 and liberal, you have no brain.

Well bless your heart - Pat, Feisty, Beverly......

I read the Progressive comments below and and overwhelmed at the complete lack of knowledge. I would be willing to be the house that none have served and if they did, they did not serve in Infantry, Airborne type units. Rear eschelon folks to be sure. The thing is, if you have no knowledge about something how can you consider yourself qualified to talk about it, let alone profess expertise about the end result and second/third order effects? You know no more about the military than you know about nuclear fusion. Do you feel qualified to write regulations on nuclear power plants? Of course not. And for the record, I did not, in the past, have any problems with gay people except for their serving openly in the military. Now I do. This has the possibility of ruining our military. A military that has always been bigger than the individual, a commitment to something so much larger than one's self interest. Not anymore. Having spent 21 years as an Infantryman, First Sergeant, and paratrooper I weep for the future.

"That was the purpose of the slanted survey and specious summary."

You know bob, you have said this over and over on threads about DADT, and you've never given any specifics about why you believe it to be slanted, biased, or poorly conducted. When questioned, you simply reiterate or don't respond. Really, I'd like to see specifics of the bias or how it was slanted. Or is it simply that you don't agree with results that DON'T support YOUR feelings, beliefs and bias?

"70% of those surveyed stated that repeal of DADT would have a positive effect, mixed effect or no effect.." What a load of crap. Mixed effect? If someone says it's effect is 90% negative and 10% positive, isn't that a mixed effect? So in other words the survey could be saying that 70% of the respondents think repeal's effect is 90% negative/10% positive and the other 30% of respondents think it's effect is 100% negative."

I bolded the parts where you note that you really don't know how the answers were compiled, (and yet the answers are available for you to find out if you choose to do so) and have guessed at what might have occurred. You are objecting to something based on the way it MIGHT HAVE been done. Since you don't know, aren't you criticizing something about which you have very little knowledge?

Why do you disrespect the opinion and wishes of the troops that have devoted themselves to serving the country - the ones that actually do the fighting and dying, Pat.

Are you suggesting that only straight troops fight and die for our country? Or should we only listen to straight people?

Maybe those service members who are so opposed to gays serving, should consider leaving the service. They are supposed to be serving 'our country' which consist of gays and straight alike. If they can't serve 'with' gays, then they should reconsider 'serving' them.

Seems that the only people who have a problem with the repeal of DADT are the closet gays. They feel that since they have lied and are lying all their lives, they don't see any reason for our service members to be honest.

Making it possible for these people to talk about their family, or the people who are significant in their lives, without the risk of being kicked out of the armed forces is a good thing. I am sure if they check real close on the ones that turn in these soldiers, they are closet homosexuals, who can't stand to see anyone doing what they can't do.

It is really a moot point as to who disagree, but most people who are homophobes and protest the loudest are really homosexuals, who for whatever reason, cannot come out of the closet.

Q: What did one gay WWII soldier say to the other gay WWII soldier?

A: "This is not what I expected when they said we'd be in the "Battle of the 'Bulge'."

Dr,

and you've never given any specifics about why you believe it to be slanted, biased, or poorly conducted. When questioned, you simply reiterate or don't respond. Really, I'd like to see specifics of the bias or how it was slanted.

Table 7. Military Readiness

Summary says 67% of Service member said that repeal would have a positive or no effect on personal readiness.

That is true and what was promoted. Sounds good, right?

Sounds a lot better than saying - Only 7.1% of Service members said that repeal would have a positive effect on personal readiness.

Or how about.... (from same table)

Almost 5 Times as many respondents said that repeal would have either a negative or very negative effect on their unit's ability to train well together as said those that said repeal would have a positive effect.

That doesn't sound so good, does it? (And that isn't even the combat guys!)

Same table - just slanted a different way.

Beverly,

I am so over joyed for all the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals.

These people have the right to participate and die with honesty and dignity. The repeal DADT is the last word. We shouldn't argue anymore.

Thank you Mr President for bringing justice and equality to our courageous LBGT

Courageous LBGT dying for their country.

Lesbians are not in in combat. Bisexuals are not addressed/acknowleged by DADT. Transgender individuals are not allowed in the military.

Thanks for revealing the liberal 's lack of even a basic understanding of the issue.

bob-1805084

Lesbians are not in in combat. Bisexuals are not addressed/acknowleged by DADT. Transgender individuals are not allowed in the military.

Thank you booby for the flawed information.

Wonder what the Westboro Baptist nutjobs are gonna say?

So I assume that everyone that is celebrating the repeal of DADT is all for the removal of woman's bathrooms and barracks correct? After all, if it's okay for a gay man to shower with a heterosexual man, it should be okay for a heterosexual man to shower with a woman right?

Matter of fact, let's remove the distinctions outside of the military too, you woman don't mind if I use a urinal in your woman's room do you? Does that bother you at all? You guys with daughters, does that make you at all uneasy if a guy is in the bathroom with your daughter? Or how about sleeping in the same barracks?

nadeem--Now we have encouraged a limp-writed military we might as well follow it up with START--Unilateral disarmament is always called surrender! Does anyone realize we will be giving up our newer and bestweapons and that the Russians will not give up anything.

Did you see the smirk--the "cat ate the canary" look on Putin's face after he made a fool of Obama n negotiations on this.

STOP START. Call your Rep and Senator today. We just weakened our military--now we must keep what we have left in our arsenal.

-Unilateral disarmament is always called surrender! Was going to wait until a righty said something stupid before I logged off. Did not have to wait long did I

Liberals don't make me usually wait long either.

Get Real...

Nothing more than desperate politicians buying the gay vote... time to move on.

You don't think the Koch Brothers were desperate to get the Tea baggers vote with their fake grassroots organization "FreeDumb" Works? Or the way Karl Rove wanted to change the American political landscape with God? Karl Rove reached out to self-identified white, evangelical Protestants, Pentecostals and fundamentalists.

The Constitution gives oversight of the military to a civilian authority in the form of the President as Commander In Chief. Get over it.

Should we also have left them alone to decide if blacks could serve? Or women? It's our military. The military is subject to civilian command. The country owns and runs the military not vice-versa. That is our constitution. The military is subject to our constitution!!!

The country owns and runs the military not vice-versa.

There's a word for the alternative..."JUNTA".

This legislation needed to pass. It is only right that it be overturned because it does deny a particular group the freedoms of speech and expression. It is not a tremendous victory as the supporters would like you to believe. It will open benefit issues that will need to be addressed just as they are in the civilian world, but until Gays realize that it doesn't matter whether your gay or straight, but how professional and more importantly comfortable you can be with yourself and your surroundings. The issues are more among the gay community itself then it is to the rest of the nation. The same can be said for minorities, once the people prove that the only difference is skin pigment, rights issues disappear.

DA NOID-------- We have no itention of getting over it, we will put in a new CINC, in Nove.

You libs said that too, when Obama was elected, just keep running your mouth, there may not be a dem left in government after Nov of 2012.

I'm a currently serving military officer who's put in enough years for retirement. I say "Good job!" to the politicians who did their part to defend the freedoms of American citizens. The military will adapt and overcome any issues, as they have done so with when black americans and women were allowed to join.

The number of gay haters surprises me. I don't care for their lifestyle choice nor does my husband. However he defended their right to live as they prefer and served along side some of them when he was serving in the 80s and 90s. He didn't squeal or try to convert or act crazy in their presence. Neither did any soldier in his unit. Staying out of a gay or lesbien persons' business is a conservative idea after all. A conservative doesn't create laws against anyone's pursuit of happiness right? That is in our constitution after all. Or does the pursuit of happiness only apply to a group of people of a certain Christian white male heterosexual persuasion? It's a good day to be an American! Now START and then our leaders can have a happy holiday.

Hey, John1000006, what color is your skin? What religion do you happen to be a member of? Are you married, and how many times? Are you an immigrant?

I ask because it seems that you are saying that only the "right kind" of person should ever be allowed to be in the U.S. Military.

LOL another one who does not even know whats in the constitution. The military is an arm of the government not the other way around.

I don't care for their lifestyle choice nor does my husband. However he defended their right to live as they prefer and served along side some of them when he was serving in the 80s and 90s. He didn't squeal or try to convert or act crazy in their presence. Neither did any soldier in his unit. Staying out of a gay or lesbien persons' business is a conservative idea after all. A conservative doesn't create laws against anyone's pursuit of happiness right?

Staying out of a gay or lesbian persons business is not only a conservative idea it is a good and moral Idea. However, it is not possible to stay out of their business if they make it your business and flaunt it in your face. That is Why DADT worked because those people who had to flaunt their sexuality and throw it in everyones face were the ones whom were discharged. Everyone is so worried about the Gay persons feelings how about when a straight soldier is offended, disgusted, or put off by the behavior of his fellow Soldier to the point its distracting him from his job and possibly getting him killed? Thats the point of DADT when someones sexuality is causing someone else harm is when your freedom of expression ends hence you get discharged. Many supporters have made the point there is and always has been gays in the military.... Your right and keeping their sexuality low key worked just fine for them, obviously, if they hadn't ever been discharged or had any other problems.

No, you are the one who needs to wake up! This has long been on the table and should have been repealed already! It is government sponsored discrimination that has done nothing but hurt the military, There have been 13,500 good soldiers dismissed from the military just because they are gay. Not because they did anything wrong- simply because of who they are. Some of these folks were important parts of our current wars- those fluent in Arabic and other languages spoken in current war zones or part of a team that discover and disarm/dispose of IED's and many other arenas utilized during our current conflicts. And we don't know how many people have not joined the military because of this policy that will now be free to join and not have to lie. Above all else, the fact that we won't make people lie anymore is a major part of this repeal. I applaud those who today voted in the Senate to end this hateful policy.

However, it is not possible to stay out of their business if they make it your business and flaunt it in your face. That is Why DADT worked because those people who had to flaunt their sexuality and throw it in everyones face were the ones whom were discharged

So gays should not flaunt their business in your face, but if you are straight you can flaunt all you want? Shouldn't every straight person who flaunt their sexuality be thrown out as well?

We should reinstate DADT for everyone and anyone who flaunts, gay or straight, should be discharged.

Military code of conduct already exists and is written in a way that does not allow anyone to be flaunting their sexual persuasion. Take note however! Heterosexual males flaunt their weekend sexual adventures first thing Monday morning at the office in every military unit, and with lots of pride. So if you don't want to hear what the homosexual or lesbian spent the weekend doing you best keep your mouth shut about your own affairs that weekend. Otherwise you have a double standard. Something us women have been putting up with for many many years and are sick of. We prefer not to hear what or who you did over the weekend anyway. We've just been putting up with it all these years when we work in a mostly male dominated business. Keep that in mind next time you want to discuss your weekend sexual adventure at the coffee machine. Gentlemen (and ladies) don't tell!

Like many I believe that the United States Military is not a place for any Social Experiments. This was a very bad choice for Congress to make. I sure hope that this works out but if it doesn't Congress and Congress alone will be held accountable for their actions.

Smokie they've been there for YEARS serving and DYING for this country. All this legislation will do is allow these BRAVE men and women to live something akin to HONESTLY. Do you think because they no longer have to be "in the closet" they will flounce around in pink tutus waving M-4s and M-249s? Please, PLEASE allow them to live their private lives and CONTINUE serving as good as they always have.

Semper Fi.

Treated equally? They are asked to hide their background and lie. They are stripped of integrity and respect. They are fired if anyone snitches on them, or die first in combat to defend this country and some of those asking them to serve stripped of personal integrity.

There are already gays serving. A friend of mine, retired from the US military, told me that there were many gay men and women serving during his twenty years of service; everyone knew who they were, and couldn't have cared less. They just weren't allowed to serve "openly".

“They are asked to hide their background and lie.”No actually they lied and hid their background first in order to enlist into the military. The military did not take the gay person off the street and tell them if you lie about what you are we will let you enlist.

“They are stripped of integrity and respect.” No, again they stripped themselves by lying to get into the military first. How much integrity does a person who is so willing to lie really have? How much respect does a liar deserve?

“…, or die first in combat to defend this country” What do you mean by this. I have been in countless battles, numerous zippo missions, and hand to hand combat with nothing more than my K-bar and not once did anyone ever ask me if I would be willing to be the first one to die in combat. Do you think or believe there is a pecking order which determines who dies first and in what order the combat soldiers dies? I can tell you from years of experience in war that is is the enemies choice as to who dies first in combat, after all, they are the ones killing us.

Why do people create problems that don't exist just to continue to enshrine their prejudices? Would you rather sleep in the barracks with a gay person not knowing? I don't get this gay approaches unsolicited bit (as a straight guy I imagine that probably wouldn't lead to a good outcome for the unsolicited approacher, although we'd fight together just as well after we got that straightened out). I think I'd be more worried though about matters such an IED that could stop me from seeing my wife and kids in future.

Also there would still be the same sexual harrassment standards similar to that which protects women. What stops gay soldier's approaching straight ones right now under DADT? The only deterrent is they get fired!!! So what stops them after DADT? The same deterrent: they get fired!!! As does anyone who approaches anyone unsolicited.

My experience with gay people is that if they approach you and you tell them you are straight, they usually apologize and back off. They have no interest in forcing their attentions on anyone who is not interested. In fact you might notice that there are many more instances of rape and sexual harassment between straight male soldiers and female soldiers than there have ever been between gays and straights.

I was approached by a gay once, I have often wondered if he ever got back to normal.

And that is why your opinion from the 50s doesn't matter. Your image of 'gay' is also from that era.

What else doesn't matter? Views of science and technology from 150 b.c.

Now put down the keys grandpa and give it back to your grandson before you run over and kill another 18 kids at the farmer's market. You're a danger behind the wheel.

"I do not object to a person being gay." "To have had gays in the military, living and sleeping in the same barracks, would not have been acceptable to me. I cannot envision the military of today feeling any differently."

These two statements are completely at odds with the other. How can someone be against gays, yet also have no objections to them being gay? Totally illogical, totally hypocritical. And, yes, I did alter the order of the sentences -- to show just how illogical and hypocritical the statements are.

And John1000006 -- I have been forced to listen to the boastings of more than 1,000 over-compensating "straights". I wonder if they ever got over their perversions.

S-480203

Your "your fifties opinion doesn't matter" Comment shows your hypocracy and your stupidity. You are an childish and ignorant POS !

Agreed Oreraider, Not only that but his service in the fifties is the only thing insuring your freedom to make P.O.S. ignorant remarks like that. By the way science from 150 B.C. is just as relevant today as it was then. Without the practice of science in 150 B.C. there never would have been progress enough for you to type your dumbass comment on a computer today. Why dont you just make sure you get those Bic Mac orders correct tommorow and leave the real work and thinking to the Adults, Son.

There are already gays serving. A friend of mine, retired from the US military, told me that there were many gay men and women serving during his twenty years of service; everyone knew who they were, and couldn't have cared less. They just weren't allowed to serve "openly".

I was approached by a gay once, I have often wondered if he ever got back to normal.

Gays can always tell when another person is gay. I guess this is one more notch on your belt to brag about.

Please remember to kick out these liberals who voted to repeal this

How about the 6 Republicans and 1 Tea Bagger? Are they fair game as well?

Not to mention the rest of your rant & your inuendo is highly disturbing!

Why single out liberals, there were conservatives who voted to repeal.

If i was approached by a gay I would have to wonder if i would react to the situation any differently than if I was placed in danger by the person on the other side of the enemy line.

So you think all gays are out to kill you? My advice would be to seek professional counseling.

You need help, my friend.

I hope your joking. Your fear is irrational. To think that gay people are your enemy you must have been seriously disturbed by some event in your life. Of course your entitled to your opinion, but thank god most people don't think like you do, or this nation would be a dark place indeed.

You would know if they were 'a gay' when they approached you? Have you got gay-dar or just try to have sex with everything that moves?

Surprise Jim! Your CO, aunt, uncle, doc (that shouldn't have patched you up) are gay. But you already know that -how? I shudder to think ....

It is a given, the conservatives will be removed in the primaries in 2012.

We can wat on the liberals until we remve all of the RINOS and dem lites.

Soon we will see groups collecting money to give to the opponents of SNOWE, COLLINS, BROWN and Lugar. Give freely, lets get rid of the "conservatives" that like to play footsies, with the libs.

Becca-------- This nation is already a dark place, we now have about half of it's citizens, that think the country owes them a living.

I'm not sure this country deserves to survive.

Jim 94...

What if your grandchild turns out to be gay?

You have obviously never been in combat -- if you had been, you wouldn't give a rat's fart whether the guy next to you was gay, straight, red, white, Jewish, Zoarastrian or Martian. All you would care about was whether the guy next to you was shooting at the enemy -- instead of at you.

I would wager that more straight men are much more persistent and unwilling to hear no than any gay or lesbian who might approach a person for personal reasons. I have never seen a situation even in a gay bar where someone was obnoxious in their pursuit of a fellow human. As a heterosexual couple, we used to go to one bar with our friend who DJ-ed there. We both were approached at different times but when we smiled and said "no thanks", no problem. Never any pressure. On the other hand, I have had men that not only wouldn't stop, but put their hands on me, tried to force themselves on me and reacted angrily to any rejection of their passes and attention . I have never felt fear from a lesbian, but I have been afraid of some men.

"Next there will be @!$%#s and spics in the same foxholes with whites. It'll be the end of the U.S. Military!"

Yes, that was said about ending Officially Sanctioned Racial Segregation in the U.S. Military. As for your requirement that nobody be allowed to be in Congress unless they first serve at least two years in the Military, that stupidity was done away with back in 1776.

OMG! What if straight men and women worked in the private secor together?? The unholy group sex would be rampant! They'd screw like rabbits! How would anything ever get accomplished! God save us!

OMG! What if straight men and women worked in the private secor together?? The unholy group sex would be rampant! They'd screw like rabbits!

Where is this and are they hiring?

Craig, I live in Alaska, and there are MANY different private sector jobs which require employees to live, shower, sleep in close quarters for extended periods of time. Mining, Long Line fishing, Crab fishing (ever watch "Deadliest Catch"?) oil drilling and dozens of other jobs in this state require the exact same level of commitment. I know friends who work in the bush, and some of them ARE openly gay.

The biggest problem here that the repeal bashers fail to see is that what gays are asking for is something fundamental: they want to SERVE their country with HONOR. Under DADT, gays are forced to give up one of those two desires. Either they cannot serve, since they are homosexual, or they cannot have honor, for they must lie and keep secret an essential part of who they are. Honor cannot be kept among a band of brothers (or sisters) if members are forced to be dishonest or hide a basic part of who they are.

We have a volunteer military...no draft...the folks who are there want to be there and swear an oath to do their duty. Every soldier I've ever met who volunteered to serve did so because they felt it was their calling and they served with honor and with pride in having done so.

If a soldier wants out because he doesn't want to serve with someone who is gay then they should have never made the commitment in the first place. If an LGBT is enough to scare you out of the service I'd have hated to see how you would have done in combat.

Proamerica, the Bill does not make people serve with homosexuals. They already do! The Bill is not changing the facts. It only makes sure everyone is honest and knows their colleagues.

Da Noid

Those volunteers, volunteered to a military that did not have gays openly serving. They may have felt that they were protected from all the uncomfortable situations that are bound to take place in the near future. Eventually this will go away, but for the present it is a problem that we need to contend with.

DA NOID--------- Stop your BS, the governmnet made a basic change in the premises of the all volunteer military military, if it is fair tioallow gays to serve popenly, it is fair to allow those who want to leave to leave, unless, of course, you only want to be fair to homosexuals.

My very nice looking son has had his fill of being agressively approached by gays in college and on the job. Imagine if he had to share a baracks or tent with these agressive men. Heaven forbid.

As for grandchildren being gay. We are trying to make sure they are kept from the public schools which teach them to question their plumbing as young as second grade (Suzy has two Mommies). People are trained and groomed to be gay. There are only two sexes--male and female (even screws and nuts demonstrate the physics and the physiology). Question your sexuality? Check your plumbing! If that doesn't convince you check your DNA! This is science. The "I was born that way" stuff has no scientific backing at all.

If you don't want to be anywhere near gays in the Military -- don't sign up to begin with. It really is that freakin' simple. Oh, and you "screws and nuts" and "genetics" analogies are more than just faulty, they are pure b.s. -- man-made objects have ZERO sexuality of their own and not everyone happens to like the "opposite sex". Hell, homosexuality is found everywhere in Nature, so that argument is a dead-end, too.

Hey, juno, do you happen to like the taste of aborted chicken fetus? If you don't, then you have no excuse for not liking it -- since "science" says that "everyone" likes aborted chicken fetus because it's "genetically hard-wired into them" to like it. Yes, it just has to be true, since at least 80% of the entire population of the world happens to like the taste of aborted chicken fetus! (it's eggs, Einstein)

By the way, juno -- there are millions of women who are sick of being aggressively approached by men, and millions of men who are sick of being aggressively approached by women -- and being forced to listen to the tales of their "conquests" every freakin' day. Just think of the pain and suffering caused by men and women having to work side-by-side with those aggressive straight perverts................... I think it's that your son just doesn't know how to say "no" so it is clearly understood as "NO".

juno: first I seriously doubt that you kid was hit on by gays. That is a convenient position for the ignorant. Second: your grandchildren have more to worry about being influenced by someone as bigoted as you. I would be setting serious limits for you if you were grandparent to MY children. But love the way you promote the myths about the public school system. I'm sure they are grateful that your family is not taking part too.

What are you really believing this, i served with gays and lesbians in Iraq, we all wanted to get out. Of that patheitic country. I seriously like to know if you really served and protected the constitition of the people of the U.S. or set around listening to others who have Served to Protect your Inalienable Rights?

I would like to see how you would do in combat DA Noid.

juno-932501,

You're a silly prejudiced ignorant person.

HEY FLOYD/JOHN/JUNO..

I think I heard the dryer buzz...your white sheets are ready

"People are trained and groomed to be gay."

No, but people are often groomed to be bigots. You do understand that gay kids are born to straight parents, right? That little fact might refute your "training" theory.

"There are only two sexes--male and female (even screws and nuts demonstrate the physics and the physiology). Question your sexuality? Check your plumbing! If that doesn't convince you check your DNA! This is science. The "I was born that way" stuff has no scientific backing at all."

First, sexual orientation has nothing to do with gender. You obviously have the two concepts confused. The whole screws and nuts thing - did you get your sex ed in the hardware store? And if it is all about training and grooming, who trained you to be heterosexual, and what were you before the training started? Just wondering.....

You do understand that gay kids are born to straight parents, right? That little fact might refute your "training" theory.

A person's sexual proclivities and fetishes are usually developed through one or a series of childhood/adolescent experiences which involve mentally stimulating and impressionable positive and negative sexual situations.

If the situation(s) cause an intense feeling of sexual excitement, physical release, or emotional elation or degradation, the long-term effects can be particularly strong.

"A person's sexual proclivities and fetishes are usually developed through one or a series of childhood/adolescent experiences which involve mentally stimulating and impressionable positive and negative sexual situations.

If the situation(s) cause an intense feeling of sexual excitement, physical release, or emotional elation or degradation, the long-term effects can be particularly strong."

Gee, thanks, Dr. Freud. So you're saying that a gay person is just someone who had a positive same-sex sexual experience that turned them gay? I think that would not fly with the majority of gays and lesbians who note that they knew they were different somehow from as early as age 4 or 5, without any sexual experience occurring.

And now the right wing nutjobs and religious whackos come out of the woodwork

LOL John!

Kinda like cockroaches when someone hits the lights!

Hey redhead, the lights should not be turned out on cockroaches. Cockroaches are living creatures, too. Oh, I suppose that there are many gay cockroaches that want the lights on! Maybe Pelosi/Reid/ Obama could enact some legislation for gay cockroaches!

That makes so much sense RDG. And also full of humor.

The joke is on you Fiesty, cockroaches are most likely to out survive humans on this planet. They have had little reason to evolve of millions of years and will probably continue this way for millions of years to come. A lot like conservatives that are careful with how they approach the world.

Exactely! And the Lawyers will LOVE this... A whole new area for over-the-top earnings and lawsuits , gender bending and all that stuff. The Military will pay through the nose.... that means YOU AND I as taxpayers will foot he bills for this crap-to-come.

Now all the self defined "Queers" come out like cockroaches when someone hits the lights. Gays are a tiny percentage our population, but they certainly make their strident demands known.

Why do you feel the compunction to Tell everyone? I've long felt "coming out" was a cry for attention and recognition. You already have all the rights everyne else does in this country. Go ahead and "TELL" the 67% of Marines who are against this change in poliy. Marines have been known to be pretty tought hombres. My guess is you will wish you could put that information genie back in the bottle!

Also, if 33% of our troops really do start to quit over this, we will have a crisis that will forct the draft on everyone to soothe the "feelings" of about 1% of our population.

Fotunately repeals can themselves be repealed and since this repeal came with a majority D Congress, I wouldn't be surprised if the newly elected and much more conservative Congress stops this in its tracks before it is impemented in two years.!

Her, juno -- you ain;t never been combat. I can tell, 'cause you wouldn't care whether the person next to you in the foxhole was gay or not, you would care only that they don't soot you "by mistake".

Gays enjoy all the same rights as everyone else? HAH! Gays need a court order to be allowed to see their life-partner in the hospital, they are not allowed to inherit the property of their life-partner without being specifically named the sole beneficiary in a will or insurance contract, they are not allowed to marry their life-partner like you are. In most places they aren't even allowed to adopt children unless they first PROVE that they already have enough money that they don't have to work for at least ten years.

No, juno, gays DO NOT enjoy the same rights as you at all.

Then those are the policies that the gays should be changing and they dont need to flaunt their sexuality for everyone in order to do that.

No, juno, gays DO NOT enjoy the same rights as you at all.

They could if they wanted to. They just enjoy dick more!

You know Juno- DADT won't be repealed. There is no way. The courts already found the policy to be discriminatory in a case filed by gay Republicans and the majority of the military said it didn't matter to them if gays and lesbians were allowed to serve openly. The majority of the American public wanted DADT repealed. So any Congress that tried to undo repeal would not only fail but they may well pay the price at election time. This isn't about sexuality but it is about civil rights and the rights of adult individuals to love who they choose. And while you display your ignorance in science, you may one day discover that despite all your efforts, one of your grandchildren may well turn out to be gay. Problem is, they probably can't be honest with you.

And now we're just moments away - literally moments away.

Nothing better than witnessing history in the making is there?

I decided my to do list for today can wait! lol

How about some popcorn?

My to do list as well is being put on hold. I want to see this.

As a matter of fact, the other night when they were doing the tax cut/unemployment benefit extension vote, I wanted to go to bed. I had been out at a Christmas Party and came home a little, how should I say it - in a good Holiday mood with a little help? But I so wanted to see the vote, which was taking place around midnite. So I stayed up, and wrote something here, attempting to be very very careful that my faculties were in order so it wouldn't show that I had been out enjoying some Christmas Cheer. I think I wrote about the movie Casablanca. lol

TOO FUNNY Pat!

I can't of think of anyone else I would rather spend the day with than you watching history being made!

It's a shame we couldn't find a couple of cozy chairs next to a roaring fireplace & watch this together while raising a few!

Guess we'll have to rely on the old tube machine!

Well, it certainly is that time of year for raising a few, that's for sure. lol. And today, a definite raising of the glass to our President & Senator Lieberman. And to all those in our military who will never again have to lie about who they are.

Speaker Pelosi as well deserves recognition for bringing this legislation to the floor. This is her victory as well.

Pat

They were never asked to lie, they were asked to keep the personal information to themselves. There is a huge difference. No one said that they had to act macho, or work harder than anyone else, they were only asked to be discreet. Contrary to popular belief, the same rules apply for straight members of the military. If it bothers someone, and they complain, the person that they are complaining about gets censored just the same.

archangel: Military personnel just said on tv that witch hunts have been going on for years in the military. We have had suicides over this issue. We have had discharges from the military over this issue.

This was an important piece of legislation that needed to be repealed.

We are who we are - whether it be Catholic, Jewish, gay, straight, black, white. Embrace it.

I think back all those years ago to a time when actors and writers and producers changed their "Jewish" names to hide the fact they are were Jewish.

Enough.

archangel, they were asked to lie. Get seen in public with your same-sex date -- it's the same as telling everyone that you are gay. Straights are allowed to be in public with their dates/wives/girlfriends, they are allowed to talk about their sex lives -- but gays are not.

Gays are being to forced to lie about being gay.

Will someone please pass the salt?

Take that to mean for the popcorn or Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty.

(hey feisty red head...love your posts)

What if they found that it was a genetic trait...that people were born predestined to be gay?

Yes, I'm sure people are gay by choice because, let's face it, who out there DOESN'T want to be called "faggot"?

That's odd. There are many species out there that display homosexual behavior. It's difficult to be against the laws of nature when it is present within it.

I serve now, and I am glad you are retired and are not part of our armed forces anymore. I have been in for 6 years in the USN, and it makes my heart glad to see your type of attitude leaving with the old guard. Stay retired and stop worrying about us, we will be fine.

RON--------- Don't worry about it, the tea party is already working on it, all of the repubs that voted for this will be out in the primries in 2012.

There are three groups already collecting money, to help the opponents.

The same argument is being made against interracial dating/marriages...that it's against the laws of nature. That's obviously a bogus argument, as is your argument about these so-called "deviants". Thanks for your service; not so much for your personal beliefs.

- From a currently serving serviceman

John Diego- great points. Thank you for your service. Everyone who has serve knows the stress and strain that war causes. No one likes being away from family and loved ones. Being able to know that your family or loved one is safe at home and doing well makes your job much easier. It's great that those who are gay can have open contact with their loved ones at home too. Time to be proud. Whether gay or straight, these men and women serve with pride and go through things that we as civilians can never imagine. It's always good to know that the minority of close- minded individuals is slowly becoming extinct.

The majority of Marines in Combat, nearly 70%, are not nearl extinct. They are admant that they don't want to serve with openly gay memebers--enought that in all services 33% say they seriously consider quitting as soon as their tours are up.

Look up the Bonobo chimpanzee. That's only one of the thousands of examples of how the laws of Nature have already proven you wrong.

People are gay by choice DA Noid or are you saying maybe some way they can be cured?

Funny you should say it's unnatural. There is a multitude of studies that show homosexuality exists in many species, even the higher primates. Some creatures are even omnisexual (they screw themselves). Maybe you're one of those.

Get over it, Ron Brooks, this is the twenty first century.

Corey,

Assuming that you are male. If you are saying being gay is a choice, you are also saying that you choose to be with a woman? You could have been with a man and instead you choose to be with a woman. The poor woman must feel rather special, knowing you could choose to leave her for a man whenever you like. Damn.

Yes, many thought the same when blacks were allowed to serve. Folks who couldnt eat on the same restaurant serving? Bound to be chaos. At that time, the poll was even against it (unlike now) and there were no blacks already serving with disguised identity (unlike now).

Yeah if there is chaos, then our military was never the fines force we thought it was that follows civilian control, and obeys our laws and constitution as interpreted by our courts and our congress. And that would be a bigger problem.

Homosexuals love that comparison and it isn't even close.

All ahomo has to do is keep his moputh shut.

A black person does not have that option, so why don't you stop that nonsense, dippo?

And all a straight has to do is keep his freakin' mouth shut -- NOT tell the entire battalion about his latest "conquest"!

As for blacks, well, it was gonna wreck the entire Moral Fabric of the Universe if they were allowed to serve alongside whites.............

CHAOS!!!! I can only imagine the "chaos" that will bring down this country now!!!!! Re: John 10000-whatever is that you need to either make an intelligent sentence in your replies or use spell check. "All ahomo has to do is keep his moputh shut"? All you need to do is go back to 3rd grade and form a sentence in English.

I hope a movement starts in the country for active service members to enmass do this in protest of this repeal and that a movement begins to boycott further enlistment and re-enlistment of straight military personnel.

That's patriotism for ya!

We are pushing a bill with all legislators, to allow any one who elisted in the all volunteer military and then had the basic premises change, to leave the military,, with out prejudice, it will come to a vote, but we will have to boot the inept lying quasi socialist in the white house out, first.

Probably with in the next two years we will get to watch the libs and homosexuals, rioting in the streets when the draft is restarted.

The only protest or "rioting in the streets" I am doing is asking you to go back to 3rd grade to form a grammatically correct sentence. As a proud American, I deplore your bastardization of the English language!!! Once you have completed my request, then you may comment on all the evil "libs and homosexuals" :)

yes and since you believe in the end of the world in 2012, you should just kill yourself now!

UCMJ is impartial in theory but not necessarily in reality. Trust me on this one. I foresee that homosexuals will get preferential treatment even if they are at fault so that Congress and the President will look good.

Google Kara Hultgreen and the cover up over her premature qualification as one of the first female fighter pilots. Senator Patricia Schroeder wanted to look good, too. She can wear that young woman's death.

Should the all white army of decades ago have voted if to let blacks in too? (maybe this idea might not sound as abhorrent to you as it does to most Americans though)

Should the all male army have voted when and whether to let in women?

Should our military usurp our constitution and begin to run themselves? No longer be subject to civilian control and the laws of our land and our constitution?

Did Truman give them the option to vote on desegregation? No. A soldier follows order, or he is dealt with accordingly. Though I believe it is fair to offer them a less than honorable discharge, that comes with a forfeit of all benefits. If they are pigheaded enough to take it, we can do without them.

RICHTER---------- Stop your bs, you homos love to do that and there is no comparison.

All a homo has to do is keep his mouth shut, a black person does not have that option.

Yep, military making decisions by voting. What a WONDERFUL idea that would be. Were you also going to let them vote on going to war? Bill, your racism is showing. Do have the sense that God gave a goose and be embarrassed about it.

JOHN10000000000-whatever....

All an idiot like you has to do is keep his mouth shut, an idiot like you should never speak for the black community. Actually keep speaking, its as fun as hearing Sarah Palin defend her illegitimate grand child. :)

its as fun as hearing Sarah Palin defend her illegitimate grand child

What should she do instead? Isn't the child an innocent being? Should she publicly disown the child?

What should she do?

WOW - I can't wait for the day that I have a separate shower in my gym from straight men who make me uncomfortable when I shower. :) And how does getting married get me more money in a "payout"? lame argument.

Feisty Redhead yes the 6 republicans and teabagger should be voted out IF they are not following what their constituents wanted as should any representative

Which is precisely what they did whether you like it or not!

Sorry bub! Majority still rules in the country and OVER 70% of this country wanted DADT repealed.

How's it feel to be a minority? lol

this is supposed to be our country not just the 535 people elected.

Did you wrap yourself in a flag for some comfort before you wrote the sh!t? lmao!

FrankH this country is supposed to be ruled by the majority and the people have voted on this issue and it was defeated Prop 8 lost in California

Don't know which Constitution you're talking about. Mine clearly states that the majority will not deprive the minority of their equal rights.

The majority can not vote to decide a constitutional issue.

Fiesty Redhead,

Where did you get 70%? Not hardly...Remember Prop 8 in California. If you cant get a majority in the most Liberal infested Stae in the US how are you going to get a supermajority throughout the US?

Dont pass off your opinion as fact....Please, it does nothing but undermine you and the Liberals like you who might actually have some grounds to base your social war on...

Where did you get 70%

I do actual research rather than parroting the beckerhead talking points...

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=4&ved=0CC4QFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gallup.com%2Fpoll%2F145130%2Fsupport-repealing-dont-ask-dont-tell.aspx&ei=YB4NTZj_HaKsnAektvCbDg&usg=AFQjCNFDgkwE79NMB9XEY7tuOqaPCuSg0g

You might try it sometime rather than coming here and passing off your right wing nonsense as FACT!

Feisty Redhead,

I thought perhaps you knew of a poll which I did not. I, as are most members here, am well aware of this poll. I however have taken Marketing classes and know how valid these polls are. Which is to say invalid particularly over such a small sampling group. There are over 200,000,000 people in the US. This poll took into account 1000 of the 200,000,000 people in the US. Do you think this a fair or good representation? I hope you took the time to read the entire survey as the entry below was taken from that very survey. By the way this survey represents .0005% of the population of the United States.

I apolagize for taking so long to respond however I had to take my teenager to work. Enjoy!

Survey Methods

Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Dec. 3-6, 2010, on the Gallup Daily tracking survey, with a random sample of 1,003 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, selected using random-digit-dial sampling.

Ah, feisty redhead you are a minority.

Ah, feisty redhead you are a minority.

Really? Cause I could of sworn DATD passed the Senate today and is heading for the President's desk for signature! Must really SUCK to be you! ;0)))

Problem for you is... you tea bagger freaks REALLY are the minority and other than being a bunch of blowhards are totally irrelevant!!!

Last time I checked LOUD & ANGRY doesn't make you right.... lmao!

But thank for playing anyway... we have some lovely parting gifts for ya! loll

PS to Grey... BIOYA will ya!

Spelling is the hobgoblin of tiny, tiny minds ... and a very common ploy of psuedo-intellectual dip $hit liberals.

Forget about spelling and grammar.

They made the right decision. Im sure there alot of these good people that are waiting for their chance to serve and make their contribution

Haaaaaaaa! Spelling and grammar is an evil liberal ploy!!!!! My pseudo-intellectualness makes me form complete sentences and spell words correctly - damn me for my tiny, tiny mind!

Richard, I thought the same as you as a 21 year serving in Nam in 1970. There were a lot of guys that I was glad was on my side and was really proud to serve with them. I found out later that one of the guys was gay. Guess who was the best of the bunch?

Careful with your comments Richard. It is against DOD policy to speak in an official capacity regarding policy of the DOD. You can speak opinion, but you are speaking in regards to using your position to actively discriminate against a group of people. This is very clearly addressed by recent memo's circulated to DOD employees including military. Please review your e-mail and requirements. Meanwhile I will be reporting your account to my Public Affairs Office and let them gauge the level of your breach. You are not a spokesman for the USG.

Finally, someone who has balls to speak up and take some action against guys like him....and the person with balls is a woman....good for you Becca.

Thanks Becca R, I am afraid this is going to happen more often than not in the beginning. It may also cost some of these straight people their careers because of their discriminatory ways! It may also cause the individual concerned a LOT of money too!

While I am not comfortable with this decision I have had first hand experience with discrimination and racism and hate them both more than the thought of gays being allowed to serve openly. They (gays) have been serving in the military for heaven knows how long, I know they were serving while I was in the Navy and it wasn't a problem.

If nobody in Personnel violates a gay person's privact rights then the subject of his/her sexuality should never come up except as absolutely required, such as in direct combat when it might come up because of woundes, etc. Most gays I have seen don't run around "flaunting" the fact. San Francisco is the exception, and yes I know other cities have gay communities too.

BTW - I'm white, straight, old, and poor. "You figure out where my attitudes come from, I'm too busy living"