Obama passes the buck to Reid. Reid passes it right back to Obama.

[ruggerson]

Who the hell do these people think they're fooling?

This is the leadership we voted for?

Sen. Reid: No Sponsors for DADT

By Kerry Eleveld

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid speaking at a press conference Monday said he has no plans to introduce a bill to repeal "don't ask, don't tell" in the Senate.

"I haven't identified any sponsors," he said. "My hope is that it can be done administratively."

A Democratic aide later clarified that Reid was speaking about the possibility of using an executive order to suspend discharges or perhaps halting enforcement of the policy by changing departmental regulations within the Department of Defense.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs has continually said in recent months that President Barack Obama believes the only "durable solution" to repealing the military's gay ban would be to do so through legislative action.

[donco6]

1. That's Our Party!

Sounds like a sitcom.

Acts like one, too.

So, how do the cheerleaders respond to this? I mean, they've been yelling at us to go to Congress, not Obama. And Congress tells us to fuck off, go to Obama.

[Thrill]

4. Its easy. Its signed law. Only Congress can repeal it.

Thats a fact.

It was passed in Congress and signed into law by a sitting President

[donco6]

5. So you're saying we're pretty much fucked then?

Thanks.

[Thrill]

7. No. As Reid said. He hasn't seen any sponsors to a bill.

Obama is for it. Now where are your 'progressive' Senators to introduce the legislation??

[donco6]

11. WTF? "My" progressive senators?

So this is just all "my" issue? So if that spineless waste-of-air Reid cannot find a Senate sponsor, for an issue that should be part of the Democratic banner, then we just have to sit down and shut up?

Fuck that shit.

[ruggerson]

6. You can say the same for healthcare. Or a milion other things Obama has spoken out about.

They're both at fault - neither Reid (or Pelosi or anyone in Congress for that matter) nor Obama is providing leadership on this.

But they still want our money! Every cycle.

[Thrill]

10. Obama has said he is for it. Mullen has said Obama has told him he is for it.

All Congress has to do is get it to his desk. But hey I understand that Obama is the easy target. He's stated his position on it. We haven't heard the Leaders in Congress. Everyone loves to give them a pass. Just like when they were the biggest Bush Enablers.

[ruggerson]

14. They're both to blame

Obama has only said this through his mouthpiece, when his mouthpiece was asked repeatedly about it. Oh, and a letter he wrote to someone about to lose their livelihood.

That's not the same thing as providing leadership to get things done. He has provided terrific leadership on a whole HOST of other issues that Congress needs to take up. Why not this?

And Reid is being very disingenuous as well. IF he wanted to line up support, he could do some good old fashioned politickin' LBJ style, and move this along.

Neither of them are doing anything proactively to solve this.

[donco6]

15. I just love the old dodge.

Keep them uppity gays off their feet by pointing them in this direction, then that direction. Promise them all sort of shit in the campaign to get them gay dollars, then explain why someone else has to be the one to deliver. You know, just get that Senate sponsor - oh, but you should know, the Senate leader has said he won't do it - Obama needs to.

It's like getting a refund on a cheap coffee pot. You get shuffled from one desk to another, and all the while you have no coffee.

[Thrill]

17. Obama needs to sign thats all.

Is it Obama's fault. Democrats can't even get one Senator to introduce legislation? Again all it takes is one.

[donco6]

20. So you're telling me Obama, unlike every other President in history -

has absolutely no sway over his own party? That he is so emasculated that he has absolutely no influence over what bills get introduced or what initiatives get promoted (or not)?

C'mon . . .

[Neecy]

21. remember the saying.....?

The President proposes, the Congress disposes?

Our fierce advocate has proposed nothing.

[QC]

22. If he communicates with the Congress, he will violate the separation of powers doctrine.

No, not really, but I'm surprised someone hasn't tried that one yet.

[donco6]

23. For a minute there -

You almost had me.

[CTLawGuy]

18. a sitting president who was ironically a super

gay rights hero!

[whistler162]

9. So why isn't Feinstein taking the lead?

Two ways too knock down a law after the President signs it.

Through the Legislature or through the Judiciary.

[donco6]

16. I have no idea.

Because she doesn't care?

Because no one who holds any sway over her has called her office to "highly recommend" sponsoring a bill?

Because she secretly hates gays and has all along and knows it doesn't matter because there are very few of them and lots more of her?

You tell me.

[Neecy]

19. I expect nothing from Feinstein

Boxer, on the other hand - I'm surprised she isn't sponsoring this. Although she's up again in 2010, and we've recently discovered that Californians think we shouldn't have rights.

[asphalt.jungle]

2. wasn't it enacted legislatively?

so it should be repealed the same way.

[w4rma]

3. It has to be done through Congress for it to last. (nt)

[ruggerson]

8. Fine with me. I just want the leadership I voted for.

I don't care who provides it.

[QC]

12. How hopeful and changealicious! n/t

[donco6]

13. LOL! "changealicious"

Love it. I want a t-shirt.

[QC]

24. You could sell them as a fundraiser! n/t

[donco6]

28. But how to get that perfect tinge of irony?

Trying to think of an image that would work . . .

[chicago legal pro]

25. There is a provision in the law for the President to suspend DADT

If Obama would suspend it, it would never be re-instituted. I hope he takes the lead.

[masuki bance]

26. "The fierce urgency of now" tm

[Starry Messenger]

27. I'm not familiar with chess...

is there a name for this move? I'm not seeing a plan here. Speaking as someone who once worked at a very dysfunctional non-profit organization I'm not liking what I'm seeing here in the handling of the details. Many red flags are raised.



(I snagged this from the article about this at Pam's House Blend.)

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/11477/harry-reid-no-sponsors-no-plan-for-dadt-repeal-says-obama-should-do-exec-order

[Kitsune]

29. Fucking cowards, both of them.

Supermajorities favor repealing DADT and they still haven't got the intestinal fortitude to do the right goddamn thing.

"Haven't identified any sponsors," SPONSOR IT YOURSELF YOU WORTHLESS GIT.

[struggle4progress]

30. Why hasn't your Senator introduced a bill, ruggerson? Any of the 100 Senators can.

Reid isn't the Senate's mommy

[Thrill]

31. Well Obama is having Presser tomorrow. Email or use twitter

to get one of the WH correspondents to ask him about DADT