When Obama met the Progressives...

President Obama met with 5 progressive bloggers yesterday. They were Barbara Morrill, Joe Sudbay, Duncan Black, Jon Amato and Oliver Willis.

And they came with the questions, y'all. They came with the questions. So I have a link to the entire transcript of that meeting, here.

Check it out.

LGBT Leaders meet about DADT at the White House today

I think right now there's a meeting at the White House about DADT and how how to move forward in a possible lame duck session. 
Metro Weekly has the scoop:

[T]he White House is meeting with several interested parties to discuss the legislative repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. The meeting will concern the work that remains to be done to ensure Congressional action on this issue this year."
The meeting is to take place at 4:30 p.m. today, is to have bi-partisan participation and is, per Bond's email, "off the record."


R. Clarke Cooper, the executive director of Log Cabin Republicans, is reportedly one of the expected attendees for the meeting, as is Servicemembers United executive director Alex Nicholson. Nicholson is the individually named representative of the plaintiffs in the Log Cabin Republicans v. United States lawsuit. Assuming their attendance, the government would have an obligation not to discuss the case with the two men directly without their lawyers present.

There were rumors about if certain things were brought up during the meet and greet, the meeting was over. But here's the real reason:

Asked for comment, however, an administration official stressed that there are very precise legal lines that can't be crossed. One of them is talking about ongoing litigation with litigants in the room.

"Some of the participants in the meeting are involved in active litigation against the government on the issue of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, so it wouldn't be appropriate to discuss that litigation," said the administration official "This is standard procedure for any meeting where that would be the case."

"You could add further that our lawyers can't have contact with represented parties without their counsel being present."

So I hope this clears up some stuff. As usual, some people got to screw up the facts for their own gain. But I try to keep y'all in the know.

Is a DADT Repeal coming Soon? Like real Soon?

New movement in the DADT repeal!

Advocate reports:

LGBT groups met with officials at the White House while legislative affairs representatives from the White House and the Department of Defense met with the House and Senate leadership offices on Capitol Hill along with those of Rep. Patrick Murphy and Sens. Carl Levin and Joseph Lieberman.

A White House aide who spoke on the condition of anonymity confirmed the White House meeting. "Our understanding is that Congress is determined to act this week and we are learning more about their proposal now," said the aide.

A Democratic leadership aide called the development "promising" but said discussions were ongoing. The House Democratic leadership is expected to meet about the proposal later this afternoon. According to one person familiar with the White House meeting, the proposal that is being considered would legislatively repeal the statute this year, but the current policy would remain in place and implementation of repeal would not occur until after the Pentagon’s working group study is finished in December.

Further, completion of repeal would require certification from President Barack Obama, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and Joint Chiefs Chair Admiral Mike Mullen that the new law will not have a negative impact on readiness, recruitment, retention and other key factors that affect the military. The language would not include a nondiscrimination policy but rather will return authority for open service by gays and lesbians back to the Pentagon.

More info is coming today and this week, but I want to know who they met with today?

Obama's DOJ is planning to meet with Major Gay Rights Groups Next Week

The Obama Justice Department has scheduled a meeting with major gay rights folks next week!

They hope to work through DOMA legal biz and other cases besetting it.

Maybe this act can smooth over some the issues lingering from the DOMA brief and other gay rights matters. Hopefully, they can come up with a plan of action that sets a better tone with us.

I knew that at first, the DOJ refused the meeting, but now with a plan in the works they can finally get the ball rolling. I would like to believe that this meeting will be a productive event and with our best interests at heart.

Please make this work!

Source

I met the Famous David Dust

I had the pleasure of meeting the one and only, David Dust during my vacation in NYC.

I have been a fan of his blog (especially the pics) for a while, so I was floored when he wanted to meet me.

Our lunch convo was so chill and David was a gracious host. He has an old soul that you can see his blue eyes. I enjoyed his stories and wished I could have been there for the Drunken Dust Bunny Weekend. He's real and I love being around real folks. I wished that I had more time to hang with David, I can't express how cool he is.

David, I just want to say "Thank you" and I will always be a fan and friend.

Please check out his blog, here.

What They Talkin 'Bout, Willis?

Obama met with his former adversary, Hill-Hill to see if she would be interested in a role in his administration. The rumor is she could be the next Sec. of State.

Her experience and popularity in other countries could serve her well if chosen. And I'm sure she is well aware of her powers.

But, I wonder if there's something else she may like to do (besides President). She would be great handling healthcare or equal rights. However, her best role could be in the Supreme Court. I think she would be a great asset as a judge.

I'm anxious to see the outcome of this meeting. Who knows, it could be all about nothing.