Beings there are different lengths of time a particular item can be MEL'd, I believe the date the MEL expires goes on the sticker.

Cat "A" "B" "C" determinds how long the deferred item can legally be operated until you file for an extention. What ever your GMM or GOM says what you put on the deferred placard is what you do. Plain & simple, not how someone interpets it. Not a dumb question either.

The expiration time of the MEL'd item should be on sticker. The idea is to make it easy for any other pilot who follows you to be able to easily understand the situation. So if it's a three day MEL that you wrote up at noon today 8/30, you would write 9/2/23 on the sticker (31 days in month). Now the aircraft can be flown with the countdown starting on midnight at the end of the day the item was written up. So in effect in this case, you get 3.5 days.

I think you're spot on and it makes perfect sense. My GoM says otherwise, and I think the resistance I'm getting from others is because this way makes more sense. Ah well. Thanks for the info!

MEL means “ Make em Leave” where I work.

There are no stupid questions, just stupid people.

If your a pilot you are not allowed to do a MEL, that is a maintenanc/mechanic function and they would placard. Pilot can only do a continued operations entry per the MEL. I would consult your MEL, GOM and Ops Specs. It will have info on placarding Mel'd equipment and what info needs to be written on placard. 

a pilot can MEL as long as no MX required.

Correct. As a pilot I did many mel entries for 135 operator.  Confirm with ops center. do the mel process and move on. 

Pilots can only do a continued operations per the MEL if it allows. He then notifies maintenance and then the mechanic either makes the repair or defers the maintenance for a pre-determined time that is outlined in the MEL. Pilots cannot Defer maintenance.

I'm guessing you don't work in the Gulf of Mexico because pilots have been allowed for some time to defer maintenance if there is not a mechanic close by and it adheres to the guidlines set forth by the MEL and ops specs. 

No I don't. But as you say, as long as you follow your companies approved MEL, Ops Spec, GOM your golden. Have at it.

As long as the MEL does not require a maintenance action as stipulated in the column (M) to complete the process, the pilot can make the required logbook entry and attach the completed sticker in a place visible to the pilot. 

a) (M) Procedures. The (M) symbol indicates a requirement for a specific maintenance procedure that must be accomplished prior to operation with the listed item inoperative. The (M) procedures are normally accomplished by appropriately qualified maintenance personnel. Depending on the complexity of the procedures, an operator may authorize other qualified personnel (e.g., a flightcrew member) to perform (M) procedures. The MEL must clearly identify by whom an (M) procedure may be accomplished when authorizing other qualified personnel. Only appropriately qualified maintenance personnel may conduct procedures requiring specialized knowledge or skills or requiring the use of tools or equipment. The operator is responsible for ensuring all (M) procedures are accomplished with accuracy in accordance with the MEL regardless of who performs them.

These are lame attempts at starting conversations 

You are in a dreamworld if you think operators stock every part that fails is on their shelf. And, that is if the manufacturers and venders have them available as well.