Comments on: The White House IS Showing Leadership on DADT Repeal

By: Taruna Oils

Taruna Oils — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 05:22:52 +0000

Fuzzy if you’re going to bring my name up all the time, and I can’t imagine why you feel the need to do this, please don’t misrepresent my position. Read my blog and get back to me. And I care what Keith Olbermann says about as much as I care what Cher says.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 02:20:07 +0000

I don’t think I’ve written anything untrue. There simply aren’t enough hours left in December to allow for limitless amendments and debates •and• also a vote on repeal. That’s why Reid can’t schedule it, which is what he said in the snippet you copy pasted and bolded earlier. I just don’t see how that translates to read taking the blame. To me, that’s far more tiresome.

By: Timothy Kincaid

Timothy Kincaid — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 01:48:30 +0000

Ryan,

Are you aware of how tiresome your “All Republicans are All evil, All the time” mantra has become?

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 01:41:20 +0000

You’re right, John. This Administration has done nothing but cave to the right over and over again for the last two years. DADT is just one example. Even now, they’re letting Brown and Collins get away with pretending to be for repeal, even as they must know (as Brown and Collins must too) that allowing extended debate and limitless amendments to the Defense Authorization bill will extend the vote into January and thus effectively kill all chance of repeal. Collins and Brown get to impress their moderate voters by giving lip-service to supporting repeal while simultaneously ensuring it’s failure through delay. And the Dems will take the blame once again.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 00:00:23 +0000

DADT may be code blue as far as Congress is concerned, but NPR had a good piece on Fresh Air today that offers some reason for optimism:

http://www.npr.org/2010/12/07/131857684/how-gay-soldiers-serve-openly-around-the-world

By: John in the Bay Area

John in the Bay Area — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 18:08:11 +0000

Mark,

My point is that the Obama Administration and the Senate with the largest Democratic majority in recent memory don’t fight for anything. They don’t use the tools at their disposal. There is a pattern here that extends well beyond Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.

Ultimately, the Senate democrats’ strongest commitment seems be (1) Doing as little as possible (2) Projecting weakness at every opportunity (3) Finding ways to enact Republican priorities.

By: Paul J. Stein

Paul J. Stein — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 16:38:21 +0000

Let the courts decide DADT and PROP8. Then no one is responsible to anyone on this matter. They can run for office again with a clear conscience, or as clear as any politician/lawyers can be.

By: Mark F.

Mark F. — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 11:30:00 +0000

John,

I think this is a gay rights bulletin board, not a tax policy board.

By: Rob San Diego

Rob San Diego — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 08:40:31 +0000

I mean really, who didn’t see this coming. Well, I guess it is all up to the courts now. Our entire elected system of congressional and executive leaders are a bunch of spineless PATAK! (Klingon word)

By: John in the Bay Area

John in the Bay Area — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 06:56:20 +0000

It has been used twice in one Congress(multiple times):
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1982, Pub.L. 97-253 (1982)
Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 (TEFRA), Pub.L. 97-248 (1982)
Balanced Budget Act of 1997, Pub.L. 105-33 (1997)
Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, Pub.L. 105-34 (1997)
Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, Pub.L. 109-171 (2006)
Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 (TIPRA), Pub.L. 109-222 (2006)

It has also been used to increase the deficit (the original Bush Tax Cuts in 2001). However, if the provision will increase the deficit, it must sunset in 10 years (the Byrd rule). That is why the George Bush tax cuts expire in 2011.