Tick tock, Mr. President.
Syracuse, NY -- Lt. Dan Choi vowed tonight to fight to stay in the military after an Army board in Syracuse recommended he be the first gay person discharged from the New York National Guard for violating the don't ask don't tell policy.
[...]
The recommendation that federal recognition of Choi as an officer is the first step in what could result in Choi's discharge from the service for violating the military's don't ask-don't tell policy against homosexual conduct.
Obama acknowledged on Sunday that time is of the essence, but glossed over the fact that he can personally put an end to the madness by suspending implementation under emergency conditions (like, say, we've stretched out our entire military in two foreign wars and we need every man, particularly every Arabic linguist, we've got).
So. Yes, it'll take some months to push the DADT repeal through Congress. But the President has the authority to end the idiocy now. Choi being the camera-friendly activist he is (he came out on the Rachel Maddow Show), hopefully the calls will continue to grow louder.
(Three paragraphs? Yes. Submit!! :-) )
UPDATE: Two think tank studies, at least, support the notion that Obama can act unilaterally on this:
I hadn't heard of the Palm Center, but certainly C.A.P. is no fringe group. If anyone can speak to the merits of this, please do comment!
UPDATE 2: Evidently Olbermann got all PG-13 today in his denouncement, calling Obama “Goddamned wrong.” Looking forward to getting the video of that to post it :-D
UPDATE 3: Olbermann's coverage (h/t Lava20, tnichlsn):
UPDATE 4: Obligatory “ZOMG RECLSIT!!!!!!!!!!” update. Thanks all :-)
UPDATE 5: Notwithstanding the need for action on Obama's part, there is legislation worming its way through congress right now: H.R. 1283, the excellently-framed Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2009. So on the legislative side, the current pressure point is the house subcommittee on military personnel. (h/t pico)
UPDATE 6: Speaking of the House legislation, let's all take a moment to remember the role of the HRC (= Hindering Real Change) in slowing down progress (as confirmed here). *grrrr* …
UPDATE 7: Ugh. Just ugh. Gates: Pentagon seeking ‘more humane’ use of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ (h/t pico)