Tuesday Morning Open Thread

Good morning.

No campaign events on the President's schedule today. Although, he is hosting a ceremony to mark the "Obama Administration’s Executive Order on the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics."

Obama is also meeting with Defense Secretary Robert Gates this afternoon. I'm sure they'll spend most of their time talking about the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and the ongoing conflict in Iraq. But, I have to think Gates is also going to instruct Obama on how to proceed on Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Because, we all know, Gates is calling the shots. Yesterday, Judge Phillips refused to grant the government's stay of her worldwide injunction on DADT enforcement -- for the time being, anyway. So, DADT is not the law right now. But, Gates wants the law back in effect. And, that's what matters.

I just find it very odd that a constitutional scholar, like our President, won't say if DADT and DOMA are unconstitutional. We've been trying to get that question answered for months to no avail. The White House won't answer it.

Biden is on the campaign trail today. He's going to be at an event for Patty Murray in Vancouver, Washington. Then, he'll be in San Francisco campaigning for Barbara Boxer. He's ending his day in Reno.

Two more weeks....