Did I ever say I like Leonard Cohen? I probably did.

Public attitudes about gays in the military have shifted dramatically since President Bill Clinton unveiled what became his administration's "don't ask, don't tell" policy 15 years ago today.

Seventy-five percent of Americans in a new Washington Post-ABC News poll said gay people who are open about their sexual orientation should be allowed to serve in the U.S. military, up from 62 percent in early 2001 and 44 percent in 1993.

Majorities of Democrats, Republicans and independents alike now believe it is acceptable for openly gay people to serve in the U.S. armed forces. Shortly after he took office in 1993, Clinton faced strong resistance to his campaign pledge to lift the military's ban on allowing gay people to enlist. At that time, 67 percent of Republicans and 75 percent of conservatives opposed the idea. A majority of independents, 56 percent, and 45 percent of Democrats also opposed changing the policy.

The most impressive result:

Fifty-seven percent of white evangelical Protestants now support allowing openly gay service members in the military, compared with 82 percent of white Catholics and 80 percent of those with no declared religious affiliation. Three-quarters of both married and single people support the idea, both significantly higher than in 1993.

Magic Space Daddy will not be pleased.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

anyone have any ideas?

"Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do." Jim Hightower

CBSNews.com | Iraqi PM Supports Obama's Withdrawal Plan

(CBS/AP) In an interview with the German magazine Der Spiegel, Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said he supported a plan proposed by Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq within 16 months.

When asked when he thinks U.S. troops should leave Iraq, al-Maliki told the magazine, "As soon as possible, as far as we are concerned."

He added, "U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama is right when he talks about 16 months."

Al-Maliki deferred, however, from offering outright support for Obama's candidacy. "Of course, this is by no means an election endorsement," he said. "Who they choose as their president is the Americans' business."

The prime minister, who has spoken of setting a timetable for U.S. withdrawal - an option that has been anathema to the White House - discounted the Bush adminstration's concerns.

So, now that he has officially thrown Bush and McCain under the bus, how long before someone offs Nuri?

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

I am waiting to hear from the University of Jena about my acceptance for a PhD program that I applied to in February.  My Doktervater calls the Dean's Office the black hole.  They lost my paperwork but that I shouldn't feel bad because they lost the paperwork of a new professor as well.  I am still waiting for the news on that.

That's great, but what is a plan B?  What if I do not get accepted?  My undergraduate degree, from the University of Michigan is in Russian and East European Studies/Creative Writing, my MA is from University of Virginia in Germanic Languages and Literatures.  I am a Germanist.

So what can I do as a job?  What happens if I don't get into Jena?  Does anyone have any advice of what I should look at in the job market for a possible vocation?

Also, as a 60 pc disabled veteran, do I face discrimination or an advantage trying to enter the job market, whatever it may be.

I am just wondering what may be open for me and what to look into if anyone has any ideas.

"Schiller sprach zu Goethe, Steck in dem Arsch die Flöte! Goethe sagte zu Schiller, Mein Arsch ist kein Triller!"

There is a link back to the original, if anyone wants to go back to the source.

Without Ethics the Economy Runs into the Wall

Policies not Politics
---- Daily Landscape

{wanders off to read a book}

keep to the Fen Causeway

We're fucked.

Boom.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.