Political Punch

As a Vietnam Veteran and Republican I am dismayed by the no show vote by John McCain on this GI Bill which had the support of nearly 20 Republican Senators. McCain talks like he supports the troops but like Bush it is all talk. Reluctantly, I am switching my support from McCain to either former Congressman Bob Barr who is running as a Libertarian candidate or to Ron Paul if he chooses to make a third party bid.

I find it so interesting that debate pro and con Mr. McCain center so much around his military status (decades ago). How short sighted of you all. As many have pointed out - it's not about the fact he spent time at Hanoi Hilton as many others did, it's about that he opted out of engaging as a Senator almost 60 % of the time; it's about his total removal from real issues with real people ; it's about his holding on to a pathetic premise that only those in uniform fighting wars far away are serving their country ; it's about not having any backbone to stand up to an administration which is treasonous at best. This is not a leader, this is a pandering, political lemming which bodes for years more of same insanity

I find it hard to believe that people are upset with Sen. Obama because he had the nerve to question Sen. McCain position on the G.I. bill. Having served and retired from the U.S. Army I take offense in someone (regardless of their military service) who would keep our brave Soldiers, Marines, Airmen and Sailors in harms way for 100 years but not have the decency to vote to approve a bill that will help them further their education upon leaving the service. The costs of tuition and books are not getting any cheaper. Not everyone who VOLUNTEERS to serve wants to retire from the Armed Services. If a service member serves honorably for three years and then wants leave the service then so be it. At least they served. To deny them a quality education because they didn't serve longer is reprehensible.

Bob Scofield writes, "Instead of launching an attack, why not answer the question?"

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Because he doesn't have to actually ANSWER questions. The vast majority of his supporters won't spend a second trying to figure out why he worries so much about "estate" taxes or why he doesn't feel Managed Care providers should be monitored by the federal government. Heck...these are the same people who honestly believe the majority of people on welfare are minorities and NOT White. They are so out of touch with reality it's disturbing.

Russ writes, "a question for you. who is going to defend this country when hussein is president and gets us in a war?
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Our military will CONTINUE to be staffed by individuals who CHOOSE to be soldiers. As far as Barack Obama? (You should at a minimum TRY to use his correct name as to not be painted as an illiterate, racist, buffoon.) Remember..he will INHERIT two wars when he takes office so I think it's a little premature and foolish to talk about any "wars" he could potentially create. Right?

Russ writes, "You'r going to see a mass migration out of the service because who wants to serve when their commander in chief refuses to say the pledge, refuses to wear a lapel flag pin and plays with himself during the nation athem.
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Surely you jest. For YEARS we've seen a DECREASE in enlisted men and women in our arm forces. I think it's pretty clear when we use the brain the good Lord gave us. The numbers are down because those who would CONSIDER volunteering for the military don't WANT to fight fabricated war. I'd bet dollars to donuts that when Obama ENDS this fiasco, you will see a INCREASE in enlistments amongst ALL branches of service.

Russ writes, "Being a son of a naval academy graduate means nothing. I respect the graduate, not you."
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You clearly have me mistaken for somebody who actually gives a hoot about some nameless, faceless, person in cyberspace. What you fail to realize is that I do not SEEK or REQUIRE your respect. You see, I already have the respect of the individual YOU RESPECT. Figure it out.

Russ writes, "I am a 20yr. combat vet and a proud MARINE a branch that you couldn't even get into. Don't believe the racist minister was one also."

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Clearly you're living in a fantasy world Russ. All you need to JOIN the Marines is a GED or High School Diploma. While I respect each and every branch of the service, I won't let my emotions rule common sense. Kudos to you for serving 20 years. While I am well aware of the requirements maybe you would like to tell OTHERS what the prerequisites are considering you feel I could have never "met" them.

Dems: you choose not to serve your country - fine. a question for you. who is going to defend this country when hussein is president and gets us in a war?
You'r going to see a mass migration out of the service because who wants to serve when their commander in chief refuses to say the pledge, refuses to wear a lapel flag pin and plays with himself during the nation athem. Being a son of a naval academy graduate means nothing. I respect the graduate, not you. I am a 20yr. combat vet and a proud MARINE a branch that you couldn't even get into. Don't believe the racist minister was one also.

Senator Obama has never done anything in his life that was for the benfit of other people. He is the most self-centered egoistical jerk to run for office in the last 100 years. His claims are baseless, he is a con man. When will people understand that he can not think on his feet, all his ideas are someone else's and that he just wants the power, as if he deserve it because of his name. Senator McCain has more intergity and judgment in his little finger than Obama has in his whole body. Obama is an pathatic, little man. He will never win over McCain.

steve,
we may not have lived through what mccain went through back then.
and i really do not want to have ANY of those records from when he was tortured
if he was saying things against the us.

do you REALLY want to know what they were doing to him to get him to say those things?

he broke his arms in the crash, they didn't treat them, and when they healed on their own over time.
they broke them again.

Yeah having your broken arms left untreated sure sounds like special treatment. Better go back to the age schtick.

Wow, you must be one of the intellectual elite. Too bad you make no sense. Abe was agnostic. He wasn't influenced by a narrow-minded religious bigot. Abe was an autodidact. He wasn't gifted with an education through Affirmative Action and other government programs.

Instead of launching an attack, why not answer the question? Obama questions McCain's motives for supporting Bush and opposing funding college for the troops, and what does McCain do? Explain his motives? No. He says, "You weren't in the armed forces so you can't question my motives." I wasn't in the army either. Can I question his motives? I am a citizen and he wants to be my President, so I think I can. Because I would like to know what his motives are. Is it a practical argument, along the lines of "Soldiers will be too old to go to college once they get out of my army, because I intend on keeping them in Iraq for 100 years?" Or is it the idea that if we make good on any of the promises we made to our troops to entice them to go off and risk death in Iraq, that the shock and surprise might give them a heart attack? The way that the Bush administration has lied to and mistreated our troops is an absolute disgrace. What is even more disgraceful is that a veteran like McCain would stand by Bush at every turn. McCain is a complete joke.

McCain should have showed up to vote on the bill instead of fundraising.

Mack writes, "Anytime you try to equate Obama with Lincoln you just look like a fool. A great leader and an empty suit. Give me a break."

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It seems you don't know your history. When Lincoln became President he wasn't exactly heralded. If you KNEW your history you would have known that. The only question I have for individuals like yourself is WHICH is more foolish? Comparing Obama to Lincoln or simply making assumptions based on NOTHING? Intelligent individuals know the answer.

Anytime you try to equate Obama with Lincoln you just look like a fool. A great leader and an empty suit. Give me a break.

By the time the Obama team has destroyed itself and its candidate with the trash talk, and the McCain team does the same trying to respond, the only viable candidate left will be Hillary Clinton. Come August, the Democratic convention will look like Bourbon Street the day after Mardi Gras.

There is a rough justice in that.

After Rev Wright was all over the news, how come there is virtually nothing about McCain's withdrawn acceptance "endorsement" of that nutcase preacher who has openly encouraged WWIII?

Daniel, don't feel bad for me. I am happy to cast my vote for Barack Obama, as is my entire family. It's been a long time since I have been so pleased with a candidate. I am proud that Obama has the courage to stand up for our veterans and knows that true patriotism is not just about wearing a lapel pin. Republicans talk big about patriotism, then don't take proper care of our soldiers when they return home. Shameful hypocrites.

Mr. Obama will lose debates relating to military service. The GI Bill was a good deal for those leaving the service ater VN. It did nothing for those who wanted to make a career of it. That's why it went away when the army became "all volunteer". There are many programs available for veterans to attend college already in place. Mr. McCain knows what he's talking about.

McCain's remarks are intemperate, at best, and overreach profoundly.

He protected Bush in his non-existent service and then clubbed Obama over his head for it.

Obama is systematically taking Republican issues apart. He doing it with panache. If Republicans are going to demonize Democrats in the same way in this campaign as they have done for the last 30 years, they are going to lose.

The charge has already been leveled from Keith Olbermann from the Simpsons character, old man yells at cloud. McCain is going to make that caricture stick by blowing up every time he hears something he doesn't like.

McCain was not like this in the 2000 election. What is going on with him?