Only the most bigoted of bigots need apply, thanks.

From the right-wing Washington Times...

Religious conservatives urge Congress to keep 'don't ask'

More than 30 conservative pastors and other religious leaders joined several Republican congressmen Thursday in criticizing the proposed repeal of the ban on gays serving openly in the military.

"People in the country are angry," said Pastor Luke Robinson, of Quinn Chapel in Frederick, Md. "They are concerned that this administration's radical, socialistic approach to everything from the economy to the military is gong to destroy this nation."

Other religious leaders -- including several retired military men -- voiced concerns over the impact of open homosexuality on the morale, recruitment and functionality of the armed forces.

On Thursday, the House was expected to pass the repeal of the Clinton-era "don't ask, don't tell" policy, a move supported by President Obama. In the Senate, the armed services committee was expected to pass it and send it along for a full vote when Congress returns from its week long Memorial Day vacation. In both cases the initiative to end the ban was attached to a $760 billion defense spending bill.

Rep. Jack Kingston, Georgia Republican, was sharply critical of the impending congressional votes.

"This is a major national policy being changed two floors above us in a 10-minute debate. That's an insult to the American people from a Congress that already has a reputation for not listening to the American people."

Rep. Kingston was joined by several other Republican lawmaker, including Tennessee Rep. Marsha Blackburn, Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert, Iowa Rep. Steve King, Iowa and Missouri Rep. Todd Akin.

As the debate began in the House, Rep. Jared Polis, an openly gay Democrat from Colorado, said most Americans "recognize that on the battlefield, it doesn't matter if a soldier is lesbian, gay or straight. What matters is they get the job done for our country."

"We need to get this done, and we need to get it done now," said Rep. Patrick Murphy, a Pennsylvania Democrat who served in the Iraq war and who is the chief sponsor of the amendment.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said he supports repeal but would prefer that Congress wait to vote until he can talk to the troops and chart a path forward. A study he ordered is due Dec. 1.

The gay rights amendment is the product of a compromise with Pentagon leaders: It will not go into effect until the Pentagon completes a study, expected in December, on the ramifications of the policy change and until the president, the defense secretary and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff certify that it won't hurt the military's ability to fight.

Also on hand was Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council Action, which organized the conference.

"The irony of the moment should not escape us," he said Thursday, "that as we are entering the Memorial Day weekend, that instead of honoring our servicemen and women, this administration is using the military to advance their radical social agenda."

A HUGE shift for Rep. Blackburn

I happened across this quote from Congressman Blackburn:

Certainly government does good things. I commend them for their reaction to this months flooding in Tennessee. But they waste a lot of your money as well. When they do, the debt that accumulates puts all of the worthwhile programs, from national defense to flood relief, in danger.

Whoa. Whoa. I don't need to remind you of the countless times the Congressman has stated that the government produces nothing but problems and should be slashed at every level (except the military). Admission, or hypocrisy?

Not the slickest, but neither is Bachmann

The Fed govt and the flood

Now that recovery is in full swing, let's look at the response from our elected officials...

from the Nashville Scene...

It was "a 1,000-year rainfall event," so we deserve even more federal aid than the law provides for ordinary disasters. That's the message from our congressional delegation in a new letter to President Obama.

"Tennesseans are helping themselves and their neighbors, but Tennessee will require federal assistance beyond what current emergency programs' funding can support," today's letter states.

That's fine. We're not proud. We'll take all the money the feds will give us, right? Still, once again, we can't help but point out the brazen hypocrisy of two members of Congress who signed this letter. Zach Wamp and Marsha Blackburn are champions of states' rights, constantly harping about getting the federal guvmint off our backs. Now here they are in line with everyone else with their hands out, demanding more and more aid.

[Congressman Wamp] was asked to explain how he can demand states' rights while begging for federal aid at the same time.

"They're not mutually exclusive. There's a legitimate role for the federal government, and frankly it involves things like natural disasters that the states cannot deal with."

So Washington should do whatever Wamp wants Washington to do. Get it?