Heads up: Don't Ask, Don't Tell Hearing: C-SPAN3 12pm ET

[Robb]

http://www.c-span.org/

http://www.c-span.org/Watch/C-SPAN3.aspx

[Solly Mack]

1. Here's the senate link as well

http://armed-services.senate.gov/Webcasts.htm

I'm watching on the Pentagon channel

[Solly Mack]

2. It has started

[Solly Mack]

3. Levin's opening statement in support of ending DADT

[Solly Mack]

4. McCain speaking now against ending DADT

Snort

Just too much of a hardship to end it now..yada yada yada blah blah blah unit cohesion bullshit

[Solly Mack]

6. McCain you can serve, just shut up and serve, it has worked wonderful that way

[Solly Mack]

7. McCain bigots are well meaning

Well, OK...he said there are well meaning arguments on both sides...but bigotry/discrimination is never - ever- well meaning

[Solly Mack]

9. Gates speaking

Gates says he fully supports Obama's decision to end DADT

Quickly moving on to how to best prepare for ending it

Says ultimate decision belongs to Congress

Mentions the strain of 2 wars (meaning, the military is just too taxed right now to end discrimination)...hence the "study" of a "working group"....ready at the end of this calendar year

Working Group to ask the troops

I bet they don't ask me or my military family

[Solly Mack]

10. Jay Johnson/Carter Hamm..co-chairs for this effort

preliminary review last year


final detailed assessment to take place now (so, that's 2 years and waiting)

[Solly Mack]

11. Mullen speaking...so far saying nothing different from Gates

Talking up the review

praising Johnson and Hamm

Mullen thinks ending DADT is the right thing to do and feels the troops can and would accommodate the change

[Solly Mack]

12. 1st round questions

Damn phone was ringing....don't people know I'm a hearing groupie?!?!?!?!

[Solly Mack]

13. Moratorium on discharges during the up to year long assessment

Gates can't answer that now...pending the 45 day pre-looksee? or the year-long looksee?

Gates says current law won't permit it

[Solly Mack]

14. If McCain's ancient ass were to suddenly fall off his chair and expire

I'd probably cheer

Not wishing him dead, just figuring the odds

[Solly Mack]

15. If legislation is passed to end DADT, military would need a year to implement it?

Was that the answer?

[Solly Mack]

16. Sessions is speaking. "Undue command influence" defense...

The twit is saying Gates and Mullen will present undue command influence upon those of lesser rank

Even though Mullen said his support for ending DADT was his own personal belief

Just told them both to not use their power to force the issue with the ranks

[Solly Mack]

17. Someone say, "Happy Birthday, Solly"

Hey.....give me a bright spot while listening to some idiots.

[Solly Mack]

18. The hour is almost up..they allotted an hour on the schedule

there's another hearing on the 11th, yes?

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.:
To receive testimony relating to the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.*


* Notice is amended to show a change in the start time and to show an additional subject matter to
be discussed between 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

[Solly Mack]

20. Chambliss is speaking now. I know how thrilling that is for everyone.

He's opposed...shocker. Snort

[Solly Mack]

21. Burrs speaking...so basic in human rights ( ending DADT)

[Solly Mack]

22. Collins speaking...Why does she always sound so scared?

[Solly Mack]

23. Allies, openly gay who serve...NO impact of effectiveness of military

[Solly Mack]

25. Lieberman is up. He opposes DADT and supports repealing it ASAP

Gives Lieberman 2 cool points. (He's still working a deficit)

[Solly Mack]

26. Lieberman wants regular reports to Congress on progress of year long study

Gates said Yes

Lieberman claims they need 60 votes to repeal DADT

[Solly Mack]

27. McCaskill speaking

Do Gays/Lesbians serve?

Answer...yes


Any problems?

Answer...not broadly


Then what's the problem in ending DADT? (the gist)

She did good

[Solly Mack]

28. Reed remarking on how our allies with openly serving gays/lesbians

and there seems to be no problems


and does that add weight to the current discussion of ending DADT

Gates...they'll be talking with other countries but culture/society of each country must be taken into account (snort)

[Solly Mack]

31. Discussing impact, if any, on unit cohesion

Speaking as someone who has lived on army posts for a lot of years, the soldiers already know who is and isn't gay/lesbian and the units (multiple and widespread) I've been around have had no problems with it.


Now bigots, they impact unit cohesion.

[Solly Mack]

32. It's over....

Thank you for starting the thread!!!

[joeybee12]

29. Happy Birthday Solly!

:toast:

[Solly Mack]

30. Awwwwww...How did you know? :o)

Thank you!!!

[joeybee12]

33. It just came to me...like in a dream...

...I must be psychic! Happy Day!

[Solly Mack]

34. I'm impressed! :)

Thanks again!!

lol

[Mari333]

5. One year of 'discussing the issue'

for petes sake. rolling my eyes here.

[riderinthestorm]

19. I got verbally spanked last week for rolling my eyes at someone who felt this hearing could produce

instant results eliminating DADT in the "hour plus or minus" that they were allocating to "discussing" it today.

The delay is ridiculous. And not implementing a moratorium on releasing military personnel during the "study period" is worse than ridiculous.

Thanks to Solly Mack and everyone else who is keeping us (me!) posted on what's going on with the hearing (no CSpan for me so I love the updates).

[dmr]

8. McCain is disgraceful. "I have signatures!" Disgraceful. n/t

[farmout rightarm]

24. Thanks for the link, I wish Dish network would carry CS3

:-)