News: Missy, Stonewalling Hagel, Da Vinci, Twenty Thirteen

Ask the Blue Coat internet security company to eliminate a filtering function that they themselves admit unnecessarily censors LGBT sites.

A We The People petition argues that a White House-backed reality show about VP Joe Biden would help bipartisanship. "Such a program would educate the American public about the duties and responsibilities of their Vice President, while providing a glimpse of the lighthearted side of politics even in the midst of contentious and divisive national debates," the organizers say. As of this writing, 1,352 people have signed that petition.

Republican Senators are already warning that Defense Secretary nominee to-be Chuck Hagel will face a tough confirmation hearing. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Hagel's past comments and votes on Iran and Israel will be a "matter of much discussion," even though the Kentucky Republican once said Hagel is a "a clear voice on foreign policy and national security." Sen. Lindsey Graham meanwhile described the nomination as an "in your face" move by a president "high on re-election."

Sen. Graham also said of Hagel, "If confirmed to be secretary of defense, [he] would be the most antagonistic secretary of defense towards the state of Israel in our nation's history."

Thomas Lopez-Pierre, a candidate for New York City Council, wrote an exceptionally offensive email to a black real estate developer blasting him for backing Lopez-Pierre's rival, a Jewish man named Mark Levine. This is how that email ends: "Black people in Harlem can smell the Bitch in you. They know that you are a weak, little short man who sucks White/Jewish cock."

If Leonardo Da Vinci lived today, he would most likely be called "gay," yet he artist's sexuality appears to decidedly straight in the new Starz original series Da Vinci's Demons, the trailer of which was just released.

"I know I am not the best looking man in the world but surely no woman could fail to be dazzled by this shirt? The gold shirt has been one of my dreams." So says 32-year old money lender Datta Phuge of his internationally renowned $22,000 splurge.

Hey Britney, Missy would like to work with you.

"25 Of Jared Padalecki’s Sexiest Photos." Nuff said.

Texas Chainsaw 3D was number one at the box office this weekend.

Actor and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says guns in movies are "just entertainment."

The Vatican's semi-official newspaper continues to support the idea that LGBT equality is like socialism and will destroy civilization as we know it. Yawn.

Though "hashtag" was the American Dialect Society's word of the year for 2012, "marriage equality" was voted most likely to succeed: "The argument was that while the word hashtag has been around since 2007, this was the year of the hashtag. This was the year that hashtag was everywhere in the Twittersphere and beyond. It was creating social trends, reflecting social trends, making memes go viral," said ADS voting member and University of Michigan Professor Anne Curzan.

Gay hero Northstar covers next month's Astonishing X-Men #59, and he looks fierce.

Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee hopes that passing marriage equality will help improve the state's image, attracting new business, new visitors and maybe some "creative" new residents. "We want to be very inclusive, welcoming everybody," he said. "And in particular (to the) creative, energetic people that so often are associated with the gay community."

Hendrik Hertzberg on the awkward pronunciation of 2013: "A question... [when] you got to the mention of '2013,' did your inner reading voice say 'two thousand thirteen'? Or did it say, as I hope and expect, 'twenty thirteen'?..."

Gay bowler Scott Norton on the impact his and his husband's on-air kiss has had: "I didn't even know anything was going to come of it. It happened on Sunday and then nothing came of it... And then it exploded and all of the credit goes to Jaime Perez and the International Art of Bowling for all they've done. They've really turned this into something special."

Gay men in Australia are asking the government there to follow in the footsteps of its Commonwealth cousin the UK and expunge old anti-gay convictions from people's records: "For an unknown number of older gay men, historical convictions for consensual sex continue to cast a shadow over their lives. Despite Victoria decriminalizing gay sex in 1981, these men are still prevented from applying for some jobs, such as teaching, or taking on volunteering roles."

British Prime Minister told The Telegraph that he would like to stay in office until 2020 and concedes that his proposals for marriage equality in England were not delivered as concisely as possible, particularly with regard to religious institutions. He made clear, "[The proposal] is about what the state does, this is the civil part of marriage. We're not changing what happens in church or synagogue or mosque."

Last Night, Mitch McConnell Tried a Last-Ditch Amendment to Defense Bill to Block 'DADT' Repeal

He was blocked by Joe Lieberman, Politico reports:

A last-ditch effort by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to complicate the repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy was blocked Tuesday night after Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) objected, Senate aides said.

McConnell attempted to add an amendment to the so-called stripped-down defense authorization bill that would have required the consent of the military service chiefs to proceed with "don't ask" repeal. Under legislation passed by the Senate last week, certifications are required from the president, the secretary of defense and the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. All the incumbents in those positions support repeal.

"It was a McConnell proposal," a GOP aide confirmed. "There was an attempted to get unanimous consent for it to be included in the defense bill and someone objected."

McConnell's amendment, which Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and other GOP senators have been urging for months, called for certifications from the four service chiefs. All of the incumbents in those positions have expressed at least some reservations about repeal at this time.

Repeal advocates have long viewed such an amendment as a poison pill. Presumably, this is what prompted Lieberman's objection.

The Caucus has more on the stinky last-ditch move.

The 'DADT' repeal act signing is scheduled to take place at 9:15 am at the Department of Interior. Please join us LIVE a few minutes before that time.

 

Watch: 'Countdown' on Republican Efforts to Stop Vote on 'DADT'

Countdown's Sam Seder spoken with Alex Nicholson of Servicemembers United about GOP Senator Mitch McConnell's and John McCain's efforts to delay or avoid a vote on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal in the lame duck.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Watch: Sen. McConnell Doubts DADT Repeal This Year

Sen. Mitch McConnell told Meet The Press host David Gregory this morning that the odds of a Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal before the end of the year seem slim.

Citing the Defense Authorization Bill's sheer scope and size, as well as other controversial components, like whether army hospitals should allow abortions, McConnell explained, "I don't see how we can possibly finish the Defense Authorization bill, a two-week bill... aside from these controversial items that are in it... before the end of the year."

Asked whether he thinks there's support in Congress, the Kentucky Republican tells Gregory he agrees with John McCain: the nation needs Congressional debates to finally decide and that probably won't happen before the end of the year.

Watch McConnell's remarks, AFTER THE JUMP...

McConnell, GOP Senators Hold DADT Repeal, Dem Initiatives Hostage in Letter to Harry Reid

All 42 GOP Senators have signed a letter from Mitch McConnellto House Majority Leader Harry Reid threatening to block all initiatives, including the Defense Authorization Act with DADT attached, until Republicans get their way on Bush tax cuts.

Excerpt from letter from GOP Senators to Harry Reid, via The Plum Line:

Dear Leader Reid,

The nation's unemployment level, stuck near 10 percent, is unacceptable to Americans. Senate Republicans have been urging Congress to make private-sector job creation a priority all year. President Obama in his first speech after the November election said "we owe" it to the American people to "focus on those issues that affect their jobs." He went on to say that Americans "want jobs to come back faster." Our constituents have repeatedly asked us to focus on creating an environment for private-sector job growth; it is time that our constituents' priorities become the Senate's priorities.

For that reason, we write to inform you that we will not agree to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to any legislative item until the Senate has acted to fund the government and we have prevented the tax increase that is currently awaiting all American taxpayers. With little time left in this Congressional session, legislative scheduling should be focused on these critical priorities. While there are other items that might ultimately be worthy of the Senate's attention, we cannot agree to prioritize any matters above the critical issues of funding the government and preventing a job-killing tax hike.

****

We look forward to continuing to work with you in a constructive manner to keep the government operating and provide the nation's small businesses with economic certainty that the job-killing tax hike will be prevented.

However, Greg Sargent says that there's a good possibility that certain GOP Senators would abandon McConnell on this:

"Senator Susan Collins confirms to me that she could still vote for cloture for the Defense Authorization Bill containing repeal of DADT if ample time is alloted for floor debate and amendments...This wouldn't be the first time a tactic like this from McConnell has failed to maintain GOP unity, despite his threats to the contrary. On Wall Street reform, Dems were able to break the GOP filibuster despite McConnell's bluff...Someone should ask senators Richard Lugar, Olympia Snowe, and John Ensign whether they are willing to rule out a vote for DADT repeal if the Bush tax cut standoff isn't yet resolved. My bet is their answers might be surprising."

All Eyes on DADT Repeal as Senate Prepares to Debate, Vote

Politico's Josh Gerstein and Meredith Shiner discuss the hurdles "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" faces in the Senate:

"Republicans are threatening to filibuster the defense authorization bill that contains the “don’t ask, don’t tell” repeal. The bill could be waylaid by amendments, a conference committee, the congressional calendar or the midterm elections. Then there’s the veto threat from President Barack Obama, who supports repealing the ban on gays in the military but opposes weapons programs in some versions of the defense bill. 'People can definitely not bank on it yet. There really are significant risks that it might not pass,' said Jon Davidson of Lambda Legal, a gay legal advocacy group. Arizona Sen. John McCain, the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, said Republicans will 'fight every way we can' to keep the 'don’t ask, don’t tell' provisions out of the authorization bill. And Reid didn’t exude confidence that he has the 60 votes needed to overcome a Republican filibuster. 'We’ll sure find out. I don’t know,' Reid said."

However, Politico's Morning Defense thinks the votes are there:

"DADT PREDICTION – The bill may come up on the Senate floor Monday, and there are 60 votes to break any filibuster on defense authorization, advocates of repeal tell Morning Defense."

Kerry Eleveld on Harry Reid and a possibly filibuster:

"Senate majority leader Harry Reid announced Tuesday that if Republicans filibuster the National Defense Authorization Act — which houses “don’t ask, don’t tell” repeal — he would file for a cloture motion that requires 60 votes in order to move to a debate on the legislation. Although the bill primarily funds the Department of Defense, Reid said the bill was 'especially important' this year because it would address two issues that were 'long overdue' — repeal of 'don’t ask, don’t tell' and the DREAM Act, a bipartisan measure that would create a way for undocumented students who came to America as children to gain permanent residency through higher education or military service."

Americablog reports that Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called the DADT and DREAM measures "needlessly controversial" in a press conference yesterday.

Watch McConnell speak, AFTER THE JUMP...

In related news, the Palm Center today released a "scorecard and briefing paper highlighting the key standards it will use to measure whether the repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy results in genuinely equal and open service for gay and lesbian troops."

"The Palm Center paper states that 'based on the evidence and data provided by service members, veterans, experts and foreign militaries, the standard of equal and open service in any implementation plan must include three factors: a.) an affirmative non-discrimination policy; b.) one standard of conduct and facilities; and c.) leadership at all levels.'"

The document can be downloaded HERE.