-and the can gets another kick down the road, but all felt really good about each other

As if one needs more proof that being a sap knows no party, everyone at NetRoots, the annual lefty blogger congress in Las Vegas this weekend, was deeply, deeply moved when Army Lt. Dan Choi, and Arabic translator discharged this past week (17 months after coming out) gave Reid his West Point ring for promising to repeal DADT (via Joe.My.God, who was present):

Sen. Harry Reid's opening remark at his keynote address at Netroots Nation recognized Lt. Dan Choi, who was sitting next to me in the front row. The entire room gave Choi a standing ovation. Later during the question and answer session, the moderator presented Reid with Choi's West Point ring. Reid promised to return the ring to Choi upon the official repeal of DADT, prompting Choi to leap to the stage and salute Sen. Reid (and also sending a couple of Secret Service men scrambling to protect Reid.)  

The two then hugged on stage in a moment that will surely live on in LGBT activism history. It was a great moment. (Most of the queer contingent at Netroots had rushed to the tables at the front of the room immediately upon the opening of the doors, as we'd heard rumors that Choi might "do something.")

Considering Reid is at best an even bet to retain his seat- and thus his position as Senate Majority Leader- Choi and the enraptured NetRootsers better not hold their breath on this one.