John McCains lasting anger: Repeal of DADT brought high-fives all over liberal bastions of America from elite schools that bar m

And That Is Finally Over
Good to have this finally behind us: The Military’s longstanding ban on service by gays and Lesbians came to a historic and symbolic end on Wednesday, as President Obama signed Legislation repealing “don’t ask, don’t tell,” the contentious 17-year old Clinton-era law that sought to allow gays to serve under the terms of an uneasy Compromise that required them to keep their Sexuality a secret. “No longer will tens of thousands of Americans in uniform be asked...

David Kaufman: Can DADT's Repeal Help Obama Reclaim the LGBT Love?
When President Obama signed Legislation repealing Don't Ask/Don't Tell (DADT), he fulfilled one of his key campaign promises to both the LGBT community and the entire nation. Yet while high-profile gay and Lesbian pundits such as Rachel Maddow and Andrew Sullivan are roundly declaring the Repeal "Obama's victory," there remains a segment of the LGBT community for whom this president can do little or no good. Indeed, despite the president's monthslong maneuvering to end DADT's 17-year reign of ...

New START Treaty Officially Ratified By Senate
For all of the talk about the arms limitation Treaty known as New START that would offer more work to limit the number of Nuclear Weapons between the United States and Russia, it passed relatively easily. In spite of efforts by Republicans like John McCain (pictured), Jon Kyl and others to add language that would force both countries back to the negotiating table, the bill passed with the support of 11 GOP senators. It mandates a reduction in arms by about one-third, but that still is more than 1,500 Nuc

Good negotiating and not-so-good negotiating
It was just two weeks ago that President Obama held his testy press conference in which he defended the tax deal he cut with Republicans. He reminded his supporters that he was playing a “long game.” A lot has happened in those two weeks. As soon as it became clear that the tax deal would go through Congress, Harry Reid indicated that he would try to push a number of bills through the Senate. These included a hitherto-unknown $1.1 Trillion omnibus spending bill. the DREAM Act, DADT...

Will The Right File Suit To Stop DADT Repeal?
It's been a long, hard fight. And as sobering as the outcome may be, we can all be proud that we stood our ground and did what was right for our Soldiers and our country. Now it's time to leave the outcome, however ominous it may be, in the hands of the Lord. But that apparent Resignation did not last long, as the very next day FRC announced that they would be working with Sen. John McCain and other Republicans on ways to limit and ultimately Repeal it: As for FRC, who will take great pleasure i...

John McCain's Lasting Anger
Railing against "Don't Ask Don't Tell," shooting down an Immigration Bill he sponsored, pushing his own changes to START—the tougher John McCain who emerged in the primaries may be here to stay....

Obama signs DADT repeal before big, emotional crowd
President Obama signed the landmark Repeal of the Military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy Wednesday morning, handing a major victory to advocates of Gay Rights and fulfilling a campaign promise to do away with a practice that he has called discriminatory. This Story Obama signs DADT Repeal before big, emotional crowd Federal Eye: Tweet your thoughts : Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Obama signs Repeal of historic bill West Wing Briefing: Bill Clinton content to cheer Obama on The history o...

Robert Reich: Why Obama Wins on Foreign Policy and Gays But Loses on Economics and Taxes
Two important victories for President Obama this week -- the New Start anti-ballistic missile treaty with Russia to reduce weapons and restart inspections, and the end of Don't Ask, Don't Tell after a 17-year ban on Gays in the Military. Why have Senate Republicans been willing to break ranks on these two, while not a single Republican went along with Obama's plan to extend the Bush Tax Cuts only on the first $250,000 of income? A hint of an answer can be found in another Senate defeat for Oba...

Meet the New McCains: Centrist Republicans Ease Senate Gridlock
With the maverick missing from the center, Scott Brown, Lisa Murkowski, Olympia Snowe, and Susan Collins are filling in to get Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repealed and the START Treaty passed. John Avlon on why their emergence bodes well for the next two years....

In letter to Senate, Obama promises that New START treaty won't limit missile defense
President Obama issued a letter to the Senate on Sunday pledging to fully develop a U.S. Missile Defense system in Europe, as part of a final offensive to relieve concerns about the nuclear arms pact with Russia as it moves toward a final vote. The letter reiterated administration policy but was an especially extensive and detailed statement on Missile Defense by the president. Parts of it were read aloud by Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) shortly before a vote on an amendment that could have ki...

Late Night: Open Your Heart, in Christmas Charity, To the Bigots
Upon the Repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t  Tell, there has been much rejoicing. And fair enough. It is a landmark Civil Rights victory, and so forth, of the sort you don’t see every day. But then, perhaps it is wrong, or even worse, Bad Manners, to see the end of DADT as a Victory Over Bigotry. I mean, most very sincerely, that at the very least one should never call the opponents of repealing DADT bigots. That would be rude. We must be charitable as to their motives. Think! If yo...

Obama signs 'don't ask' repeal
President Barack Obama on Wednesday signed Legislation ending the 17-year ban on Gays in the Military, declaring that Sexual Orientation can no longer determine who is allowed to serve in uniform. "For we are not a nation that says, 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' " Obama told 500 guests at a packed signing ceremony at the Interior Department. “We are a nation that says, ‘Out of many, we are one.’ ” Continue Reading Text Size - + reset Politico 44 As they applauded...

Obama signs 'don't ask, don't tell' repeal (AP)
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama signed a new law Wednesday that will allow gays for the first time in history to serve openly in America's Military. And he urged those kicked out under the old law to re-enlist. Framing the issue as a matter of Civil Rights long denied, Obama said that "we are a nation that welcomes the service of every patriot ... a nation that believes that all men and women are created equal." Repealing the 17-year-old policy known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in a c...

Obama to Welcome China's Hu Jintao
Hu will be the guest of honor for President Barack Obama's third State Dinner on the night of January 19, as the US leader reciprocates following his own state visit to China last year. The visit will come at a time of aggravated tensions between Washington and Beijing, despite efforts by both sides to find common ground on issues like North Korea and Iranian nuclear sanctions. But the White House, in fixing the date of a visit that had previously been announced, preferred to stress the positive...

111th Congress adjourns after lame duck session
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Lame Duck Congress is history. The Senate followed the House out of session just after 8 p.m. Wednesday, bringing to a close one of the most productive congresses in history. Health Care and financial regulatory reform, the Repeal of the Military’s ban on gays serving openly and the Senate’s ratification of a nuclear arms treaty with Russia all won approval. The White House and Senate Republicans also struck a deal to extend Bush-era Tax Cuts for Americans...

Obama hails achievements of 'most productive' Congress
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama wrapped up an unexpectedly productive and politically successful lame-duck session of Congress on Wednesday with a sweeping assessment of his achievements. He pronounced a new Nuclear Weapons pact with Russia "the most significant Arms Control agreement in nearly two decades" and said Economists "across the political spectrum" agreed the deal he struck with Republicans to extend Bush-era Tax Cuts would speed Economic Growth. All in all, Obama concluded, this...

Obama vs. The 'Tear Down Congress' (Huffington Post)
WASHINGTON — As Congress and the president prepare to leave town for Christmas, comparisons to LBJ and FDR are in the air — or at least in the Press Releases of the Democratic Party. But Democrats are not playing FDR's stirring "Happy Days are Here Again" anthem, or even Lyndon Johnson's "The Eyes of Texas." Why? Because Democrats here know the dismal truth. They can read new polls, which are a grim follow-up to last month's "shellacking." ...

Senate approved arms control treaty with Russia
The Senates approval of the Nuclear Arms Pact with Russia will have an impact on every American. It will affect everyone from Sacramento to Washington D.C and all point in between. This was a great win for President Obama but will it be a win in the long run. There are many Military generals that are against the treaty. They feel it will weaken the U.S.'s ability to defend itself. Russia still has to approve the treaty. Vice President Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are for the trea...

Congress OK’s $4.2b to aid 9/11 responders
WASHINGTON — After a last-minute Compromise, Congress passed Legislation yesterday to provide up to $4.2 billion in new aid to survivors of the September 2001 Terrorism attack on the World Trade Center and responders who became ill working in its ruins. The House passed the bill on a 206 to 60 vote yesterday about two hours after the Senate cleared it on a voice vote as lawmakers raced to wrap up their work before Christmas. President Obama has said he is eager to sign the measure, though...

Saving 'Don't Ask' Repeal Took Wily Band Of Lawmakers
What is this? As President Barack Obama signed the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act, Rep. Steny Hoyer, Sen. Susan Collins and Sen. Joe Lieberman (obscured behind Collins) stand at the edge of the stage. As President Barack Obama signed the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act, Rep. Steny Hoyer, Sen. Susan Collins and Sen. Joe Lieberman (obscured behind Collins) stand at the edge of the stage. At the signing of the Legislation repealing the "don't ask, don't tell" law, the 17-year-old ban on gays ope...

Joe Manchin Apologizes for Missing Key Senate Votes, Cites Family Gathering
West Virginia freshman Sen. Joe Manchin, sworn in only five weeks ago, had to apologize for missing key votes last weekend on Immigration Reform and Repeal of the ban on gays serving openly in the Military. It seems the holidays got in the way. Manchin, the former Governor of the Mountain State, took office on Nov. 15, replacing interim Sen. Carte Godwin, the lawmaker he had appointed to fill a vacancy left by the death of Robert Byrd. "Let me apologize to anybody and everybody within our listen...

Obama signs 'don't ask' repeal
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama, calling it an honor, Wednesday signed into law the Repeal of the ban on gays and Lesbians from openly serving in the U.S. Military. "This is done," Obama said, smacking his hand on the document after using pen after pen after pen to ink his name. "We are not a nation that says 'don't ask don't tell,' we are a nation that says 'out of many, one,'" Obama said. "We are a nation that believes all men and women are created equal." President Obama's...

Obama: Repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell' will strengthen national security
Declaring that members of the Military will no longer be asked to lie, President Barack Obama fulfilled a campaign promise Wednesday and signed a landmark law repealing the ban on gay men and women serving openly in the armed services. "This is a good day," a beaming Obama said. "This is a very good day." The service chiefs must complete implementation plans before lifting the old policy — and they must certify to lawmakers that it won't damage combat readiness, as critics charge. But the ...

Obama signs 'don't ask, don't tell' repeal
WASHINGTON — Declaring that members of the Military will no longer be asked to lie, President Barack Obama fulfilled a campaign promise Wednesday and signed a landmark law repealing the ban on gay men and women serving openly in the armed services. "This is a good day," a beaming Obama said. "This is a very good day." The service chiefs must complete implementation plans before lifting the old policy — and they must certify to lawmakers that it won’t damage combat readiness, a...

Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repealed, Now What?
General James F. Amos, the Marine Corps commandant who has been lambasted for his Anti-gay concerns for young Marines, has said that his branch would lead the way in following the new policy that Repeals "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and allows gays to serve openly. But the young Marines and the rest of the service still has more than two months to get ready, as many people have noted, according to NPR. Defense Secretary Robert Gates (pictured) and President Barack Obama both have to certify that the DOD can f