Joe the Coward

Today the Senate voted 65-31 to repeal the odious "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Obama is expected to sign it into law next week. Our nation has spent decades wasting time and valuable resources kicking out qualified soldiers. More than 13,000 of them were removed because Clinton-era politicians went into vapor lock at the idea of gay men sharing space with straight ones.

I'd started to wonder if the Democrats could pull it off or if the Republicans would manage to run out the clock and filibuster it the way they've done every other proposal from the left side of the aisle. As much as I've complained about Obama's record (while always acknowledging he's light years better than The Crypt Keeper and Mooseburger Barbie would've been), it looks like he managed to win one for the good guys.

No thanks to Joe Manchin, of course. The former governor was the only Democrat to vote against an earlier DADT repeal effort because of "timing." For today's vote, he didn't even bother to show up. I guess he didn't want to risk being booed again for being a coward on a major piece of civil rights legislation. The only positive thing you can say about it is how it makes John Raese look like an even bigger fool for his "Rubber Stamp Joe" nonsense.

Thanks for nothing, Joe. How about running as a Republican next time so we're not as disappointed by your actions?