I haven’t had my normal coffee intake this morning, so if this turns out to be a bumpy ride for you, dear reader, sorry–you’re welcome to buy me a latte.

Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Don’t Work No Mo

Federal Judge Virginia Phillips of California ruled yesterday the US Military needs to stop enforcing “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” stating it “infringes the fundamental rights of United States service-members and prospective service-members” and violates due process and free speech rights. This ruling is a great step in the right direction, however, it’s possible the federal government could appeal within the next sixty days. As NPR points out, this may be exactly what’s needed. President Obama is holding out for Congress to repeal the law, a tactic that’s failing because DADT is constantly getting bogged down with politics. By accepting the ruling and staying mum instead of appealing, this may be a faster way to end the whole outdated notion that DADT does any good.

Former Marine Tony Perkins is quoted as saying, “once again, an activist federal judge is using the military to advance a liberal social agenda.” The judge may be liberal, I don’t know. However, in this case, the Plaintiff (that’s the person or group who feels wronged in a lawsuit, btw) is the Log Cabin Republicans. Dying to know what liberal social agenda they’re trying to push, I checked out their website. Turns out, they’re pretty run of the mill GOP’ers, stating “We are loyal Republicans.  We believe in limited government, strong national defense, free markets, low taxes, personal responsibility, and individual liberty.” Oh yeah, and gay rights.

I’m thrilled a Republican organization may turn out to be the antagonists who bring down DADT. Thrilled! We’re all aware labeling can be detrimental. We start with an issue or idea that has definite substance and meaning, but calling it red or blue really makes it black and white when we all really know it’s a purply-gray (or in this case, rainbow print). Got that? :)  Boiling it down, the Log Cabinners (so named in honor of Abraham Lincoln and his Emancipation Proclamation) are in the perfect position to bridge the gap between the party divides. A repeal of DADT is approved by over 70% of Americans–which makes it obvious this is beyond politics. Equal rights and individual freedoms to all Americans are core values in our society and the attempts by people like Tony Perkins to turn this into one more example of a political party tug-of-war are pathetically ignorant at best and downright malevolent at worst. The law is wrong people. That’s a fact no matter what you believe regarding Capitalism or welfare or tax law.

We are currently sending young men and women to foreign countries to fight and sometimes die for freedoms they cannot even exercise–freedoms as cutting edge as holding hands with their significant other in public or telling the truth about whom they’re missing back home while stuck in a 100-degree hellhole in the middle of the desert.

We’re also currently living in Hampton Roads, where there’s a giant military population, and so with it, a giant closeted population. Some links for those struggling to maintain lifestyle and career (or for those interested in supporting the issue in general):

-Servicemembers United: A non-partisan group formed by Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to work towards repeal of DADT and assist LGBT service-people in their current struggle for equality.

-”Service in Secret“: Pilot article on local, homosexual service-members and their struggles living in  secret in the military.

Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Okay in Certain Situations

In other pressing and very important news, a Chesapeake woman does her housework in the buff and gets to be featured on Oprah as a result. Harpo Productions asked on a recent broadcast if its viewers “are normal.” Cherie Spisak is now telling the world she is, and how nude housekeeping keeps her that way.

Don’t Go!

Virginia Democratic Party Chairman C. Richard Cranwell is stepping down. He led Democrats in our fair Commonwealth through the elections of Tim Kaine, Mark Warner, Jim Webb and Barack Obama. You may have heard of them.

Go!

As Addy reported yesterday, there’s going to be a caravan on October 30 to Washington DC to attend the Rally to Restore Sanity. After reading the papers, I often wish sanity restoration was more heavily covered. It’s our most important issue, really, yet it gets very little coverage. This is most likely due to the fact that Ponds can’t sell face cream without a red-faced talking head spouting a skewed viewpoint on teen murder rates and the sex lives of Congressmen. I hope to see a good many of you there.

Traffic Jam, Indeed

A rock band called Imperial Stars pulled their van sideways across four lanes of California highway and began to play. It was recorded. They were arrested and towed. Now they’re saying it was all for charity, but that seems sketchy and the press is now reporting it may have been a scam. What money? How does one make money doing something like this? Perhaps we should allow buskers weaving along the HRBT during peak hours, providing entertainment to all the surly commuters stuck there every single day. At least there would be tips involved in that enterprise.

Traffic Juice

Gloucester just opened Virginia’s second alternative fuel filling station to offer three alternatives: propane, bio-diesel, and E-85. Turns out, there are a number of drivers in our region with flex-fuel vehicles, but there’s nowhere for them to refill on alternative fuels, which makes them still 100% dependent on gasoline. Let’s hope this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Freedom!

The group of Chilean miners trapped underground for 69 days have finally been rescued. This is a great, happy time for all. It made me think, though. If I was trapped with 33 of my co-workers in a mine shaft for six weeks, I’d be very, very bored by the end. So, I searched “bored” on Google, and came up with some nifty links including this one, which compiles interesting, weird articles and is appropriate for cubicle-life. So, if you need me today, that’s where I’ll be.

Kthanksbye.