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I would love to know why Anderson Cooper and his producers at CNN thought anyone in their audience would benefit from hearing what wingnut former Rep. Allen West had to say about the recent announcement that the Pentagon is removing military's ban on women serving in combat, given his background.

I don't know about anyone else, but someone who bragged about torturing Iraqi policemen is not the person I want to hear from when it comes to any matters involving our military, but here he was, on CNN, being treated like he's someone who's sane and credible, which he's not.

Allen West Slams Women In Combat ‘Social Experiment,’ Suggests They Should Also Join NHL And NBA:

Former Republican Congressman and Army veteran Allen West made his views about the recent decision to allow women to serve in combat roles known this morning on Twitter and Facebook. And tonight, he brought those views to CNN.

Appearing on Anderson Cooper 360 along with retired General Rick Hillier of the Canadian Forces, West laid out his opposition to the new rule, saying that with all of the budget issues the military is having right now, the focus shouldn’t be on “this foray into an inequality trip.”

West then went off into an extended sports metaphor that seemed to have both Anderson Cooper and General Hillier baffled:

“I have to tell you, if this is the case, then why do we have separate hockey leagues? Women should be out there playing ice hockey with the guys in the NHL. We should not have a WNBA. I can’t shoot a three-pointer, but there are ladies who could certainly take me to the hoop. Maybe they should be competing with Kobe Bryant.”

Cooper quickly steered the conversation back to the more practical concerns surrounding women in combat, asking Hillier if he had seen any advantages in his career working with women in combat. Read on...

I'm guessing there are a whole lot of people out there that would rather have a woman serving next to them in combat than a loose cannon like West. He's no longer in the Congress but it seems our corporate media isn't done allowing him to pollute our airways.

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Looks like there'll soon be a seventh state where equality under the law is recognized.

via KING5 and the Associated Press:

OLYMPIA, Wash.-- The Senate has voted to pass a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in Washington state Wednesday.

The Senate passed the bill on vote of 28-21. Four Republicans crossed party lines and voted with majority Democrats for the measure. Three Democrats voted against it.

The measure now moves to the House, which also has enough votes to pass the bill. Governor Chris Gregoire has said she will sign the bill if it gets to her desk.

"People have been working on this for over a decade in Washington state," said Zach Silk of Washington United for Marriage. "It's extremely exciting that we're on the cusp of history." The coalition dropped off nearly 26,000 postcards from registered voters who support gay marriage, to each legislators' district.

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A reminder that an astonishing 13,686 service members were discharged due to the stupid and asinine "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Hopefully scenes such as this one will become commonplace.

via WVEC.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) -- A Navy tradition caught up with the repeal of the U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" rule on Wednesday when two women sailors became the first to share the coveted "first kiss" on the dock after one of them returned from 80 days at sea.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta of Placerville, Calif., descended from the USS Oak Hill amphibious landing ship and shared a quick kiss with her partner, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell of Los Angeles. The crowd screamed and waved flags around them.

Both women, ages 22 and 23 respectively, are fire controlmen in the Navy. They met at training school and have been dating for two years.

Navy officials said it was the first time on record that a same-sex couple was chosen to kiss first upon a ship's return. Sailors and their loved ones bought $1 raffle tickets for the opportunity.

(NECN/WMUR: Concord, N.H.) - It is a new year, and New Hampshire is recognizing same-sex marriage.

Early this morning, couples gathered at the foot of the statehouse steps in Concord to take advantage of the new law, as soon as they possibly could.

Lisa and Cheli Duclos have waited for the day they could exchange a ring and a kiss and make it official: they are now married.

"I haven't been happier than I am right now," said Cheli Duclos .

One-by-one, couples came forward to say their "I do's". Linda Murphy and Donna Swartwout have been together 19 years. They held their own wedding ceremony 11 years ago, and have waited a long time for the state to hear, and acknowledge, their vows.

While the rights granted to same-sex couples under the new marriage law are no different than the civil unions approved in 2008, activists say the change is about more than just wording.

"You know second class citizenship, it's a big difference -- everybody knows what a marriage is," said Mo Baxley of N.H. Freedom to Marry.

Couples, including 2nd and 3rd from left respectively, Cheli Duclos and Lisa Duclos both of Manchester, N.H. wait with other couples, families and friends, to be wed on steps of New Hampshire's State Capitol New Year's Eve as the historic Marriage Equality law takes effect at midnight in Concord, N.H. , January 1, 2010. New Hampshire same sex couples can now officially marry or convert their vows from a civil union to a state-recognized marriage.