The Demise of Politics

So the repealing of "don't ask, don't tell" failed miserably. Regardless of opinions of the matter, it showed a complete failure in the political process as it it practiced by today's Senate.

Instead of just proposing the bill as a straight vote on what would seem to be a straightforward issue regarding policy, it was attached to the defense spending bill. As the constitution states, the Senate can only affect the military by (officially) declaring war and ratifying treaties. However, the Senate can also control spending, of which the military requires to survive.

This means the bill is no longer about the issue of whether or not gays should be allowed to serve in the military. No, the bill is now the military budget, and includes something about repealing the policy.

This means that voting against taking away "don't ask, don't tell" is now "voting against the military."

Naturally, the Senate republicans want to pass the military budget, so in order to attempt a compromise, they ask for 20 amendments. What they are, I do not know, but Senate majority leader only included one of them in the final bill.

So now the bill needs 60 votes to pass, because the Republicans are threatening a filibuster if it goes to the floor. The bill looks like it will only get 59 votes, so it just gets dropped.

So misaimed politicking and exclusion doomed the actual passing of this, which by the way an overwhelming majority of Americans would support.

Maybe the moderate Republicans in the house would've voted to get rid of this, but because they were shut out of the discussion on an even larger matter, they refused to cooperate yet again. Of course, it's a given that cooperation is not guaranteed, but I can guarantee that John McCain filibustering a straight vote on an issue like that would not go over well for the entire party. A single action like that could have easily evaporated moderate and independent support in a very hyped election season -- really making the vote something more of an inevitability, a postponement.

Now with the rise of the tea partiers, and their subsequent foray into social conservatism (which, you know, really has a lot to do with their original libertarian stance on limiting government), this could remain an issue for longer.

Frankly I don't understand how "don't ask, don't tell" could even be supported in any context other than maybe the original context -- which was much more limited in scope (basically just don't go to a gay pride parade wearing your uniform) -- not if they are found to have a same sex spouse, or are found in the midst of a homosexual act, or have their emails and other private life items invaded to force one out of the closet and ending their career.

How can we turn away able bodied soldiers, or at the very least force them to live a lie (and hope they don't get caught) in order to serve and protect their country?

-- Knuttel