Are you a progressive?

[alex951]

I personally believe (and I think the facts bear this out) that the president has little effect on the economy (whether the president is Bush or Obama)

i think the president does effect the economy in one way or another. for example the great depression the dam fool did nothing to stop it.

[alex951]

i made this for you mpjh

[mpjh]

Although his decision on Afghanistan may develop into a spine -- we will see.

[Nobunaga]

:lol:

Although his decision on Afghanistan may develop into a spine -- we will see.

... Sure, the House vote on Healthcare is done.

...

[HapSmo19]

He has not ended don't ask don't tell

Hey, somebody name a positive that can come from this(ending it).

Go.

[spurgistan]

He has not ended don't ask don't tell

Hey, somebody name a positive that can come from this(ending it).

Go.

Obama will do something most people in the military and civilian arena want him to do? As well as improve the ability of our military to defend us? You want to give us some reason why this awful policy makes sense?

[mpjh]

A positive:

Qualified, dedicated soldiers will be able to continue their service to the country without having to lie about who they are.

[HapSmo19]

Obama will do something most people in the military and civilian arena want him to do?

Do you have a source for this here info?

As well as improve the ability of our military to defend us?

Please elaborate on this one.

You want to give us some reason why this awful policy makes sense?

Sure. Undoing it opens the door for frivilous descrimination lawsuits that would undermine unit cohesion. I can also see the possibility of orders not being obeyed because someone thinks they're being picked on.

[mod edit]

Don't tell me it won't happen.

[Frigidus]

"f*ck you Tharge! You're only telling me to cuth I'm gay and you want me to get thmoked!"

Oh HapSmo, you unrepentant bigot. <laughtrack>

[HapSmo19]

A positive:

Qualified, dedicated soldiers will be able to continue their service to the country without having to lie about who they are.

Got anything other than a purely-selfish reason?

[mpjh]

Another positive;

All the gays that have earned Medals of Honor could now come out of the closet.

[HapSmo19]

Another positive;

All the gays that have earned Medals of Honor could now come out of the closet.

Like they couldn't do that now? You actually think their Medal of Honor would be stripped if they did?
I wouldn't even think that was cool.

You've got nothin'.

[spurgistan]

Another positive;

All the gays that have earned Medals of Honor could now come out of the closet.

Like they couldn't do that now? You actually think their Medal of Honor would be stripped if they did?
I wouldn't even think that was cool.

You've got nothin'.

Compared to your brilliant debating strategy of imitating an American soldier who happens to prefer men... by using a lisp. Feel free to try that around any of the 27,000 (iirc) soldiers who have been discharged due to DADT. You might not get beat up, too badly.

[mpjh]

Positive:

Married soldiers from Mass. could be deployed with full marital rights.

[Woodruff]

He has not ended don't ask don't tell

Hey, somebody name a positive that can come from this(ending it).
Go.

In the short term, there will certainly be bumps and hurdles and unfortunately people will probably be injured and jailed. But anything LONG TERM will be ONLY positive.

[Woodruff]

As well as improve the ability of our military to defend us?

Please elaborate on this one.

I can. By allowing them in without question, we're broadening our "recruit pool". The absolute worst-case scenario to come from that is that we don't improve out ability to defend the nation any, and that presumes that nobody else joins. It's unavoidable that we would improve our abilities by changing this policy. Wide range of recruits means greater talent that is accepted.

You want to give us some reason why this awful policy makes sense?

Sure. Undoing it opens the door for frivilous descrimination lawsuits that would undermine unit cohesion.

Frivolous discrimination lawsuits? We're talking about the military here...you can't sue the military while you're still in the military. However, presuming someone wants to do so after they leave the military...we're already seeing those anyway.

I can also see the possibility of orders not being obeyed because someone thinks they're being picked on.

Thoroughly irrelevant. Disobeying a lawful order will have you either dead or jailed (depending on the particular circumstances involved in the disobedience). If the order is not lawful, then it should of course be disobeyed (but you damn well better not be wrong).

See what I'm saying? Don't tell me it won't happen.

My 23 years in the military tells me this last one won't happen.

[HapSmo19]

It's unavoidable that we would improve our abilities by changing this policy. Wide range of recruits means greater talent that is accepted.

Well I'll be damned, I had no idea that being a physically and mentally fit human somehow translated into specialized battlefield skills.

[Skittles!]

Hap, you're a tool. Do you actually believe the shit that's spewing from your mouth, really?

[jay_a2j]

Jay is batshit crazy, he's a religious fanatic with whacko extreme views.

Well, thanks for the compliment! If believing the Word of God makes me an "extremist", I'll be extremist all day long!

[BigBallinStalin]

Jay is batshit crazy, he's a religious fanatic with whacko extreme views.

Well, thanks for the compliment! If believing the Word of God makes me an "extremist", I'll be extremist all day long!

Don't forget "batshit crazy."

[Frigidus]

It's unavoidable that we would improve our abilities by changing this policy. Wide range of recruits means greater talent that is accepted.

Well I'll be damned, I had no idea that being a physically and mentally fit human somehow translated into specialized battlefield skills.

So was what HapSmo said "embarrassing those around him" bad or "horrifying those around him" bad?

[Woodruff]

It's unavoidable that we would improve our abilities by changing this policy. Wide range of recruits means greater talent that is accepted.

Well I'll be damned, I had no idea that being a physically and mentally fit human somehow translated into specialized battlefield skills.

I honestly don't understand your response. I get the impression that you're being sarcastic in some way, but I'm not picking up on it. Could you explain it to me in a bit different way, please? Sorry for being thick here. (This is a genuine request, not my own sarcasm.)

[MeDeFe]

It's unavoidable that we would improve our abilities by changing this policy. Wide range of recruits means greater talent that is accepted.

Well I'll be damned, I had no idea that being a physically and mentally fit human somehow translated into specialized battlefield skills.

I honestly don't understand your response. I get the impression that you're being sarcastic in some way, but I'm not picking up on it. Could you explain it to me in a bit different way, please? Sorry for being thick here. (This is a genuine request, not my own sarcasm.)

The green part is my edit.

[Woodruff]

It's unavoidable that we would improve our abilities by changing this policy. Wide range of recruits means greater talent that is accepted.

Well I'll be damned, I had no idea that being a physically and mentally fit human somehow translated into specialized battlefield skills.

I honestly don't understand your response. I get the impression that you're being sarcastic in some way, but I'm not picking up on it. Could you explain it to me in a bit different way, please? Sorry for being thick here. (This is a genuine request, not my own sarcasm.)

The green part is my edit.

Oh. That would explain my confusion then. <grin> Thanks.

[PLAYER57832]

Jay is batshit crazy, he's a religious fanatic with whacko extreme views.

Well, thanks for the compliment! If believing the Word of God makes me an "extremist", I'll be extremist all day long!

What makes you an extremist is that you seem to believe only someone who thinks exactly like you is believing the word of God.