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?

HooserSue writes, "Veterans like McCain have proven by their service how much they love America and the veterans who served her."
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You would have to be extremely naive to believe serving in the military actually EQUATES to loving America. It's beyond FOOLISH to make an assumption like that but it really shouldn't come as a surprise.

It's ludicrous to try to defend McCain's assertions when and I quote, "The White House has expressed opposition to the bill because of concern that the benefits will lure soldiers and sailors into the civilian world and hurt military retention. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has expressed similar fears."

This where HONEST men (and women) take a look at what ACTUALLY HAPPENED instead of spending hours trying to force a square into a circle. He REJECTED the bill because he was FAR MORE concerned about military retention. Simply put, if he had a choice between REWARDING those who he claims to understand and praise for their service and military rentention he would choose the latter.

Personally I think he was wrong but at least I, unlike you pretenders, can understand his LOGIC.

What I have is a problem is his BOLD assumption that he can't be challenged by folks who haven't served. Guess what...If you don't want to be challenged by those who HAVE NOT served you shouldn't BE in a PUBLIC OFFICE because the last time I checked the MAJORITY of Americans have NOT worn a uniform. Oh yes...He WILL ANSWER.

Pat, thank you for posting the truth about the alternate bill McCain backed. Veterans like McCain have proven by their service how much they love America and the veterans who served her. Thus, he can vote for a sensible plan that honors veterans while also calculating the consequences and respecting the taxpayers. That kind of thoughtful, sound reasoning is the hallmark of a great POTUS.

Matt writes' ""who did not feel it was his responsibility to serve our country in uniform"?"

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Actually Matt I do NOT feel it's my responsibility to serve our country. Serving in the military is a CHOICE just like any other and FRANKLY I find it disingenuous for men like yourself to suggest or imply that the REASON men/women are serving today is because they LOVE their country more than those who CHOOSE to not serve.

UNLIKE you and many of those you praise I worked HARD to have OTHER opportunities; OTHER career opportunties Matt.

It's clear you weren't paying attention to the REASON the White House rejected the bill because IF YOU DID you would have noted that there is absolutely NO GOOD REASON to not approve it.

Speaking as the son of a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, I know for a fact that UNLIKE you, he wouldn't put a LIMIT on what the men and women who serve should get when it comes to EDUCATION. After all, they do deserve it RIGHT?

Next time...don't let your politics render you mentally sterile.

Bush & McCain should put their Money where their mouth is, that would do much more to help the needs of the GIs than polite platitudes, which do nothing to ease the pain and suffering they, the G.I.'s have endured in the name of a fake war.

Here's an early example of impugning the motives of the opponent, from 2002, instead of debating an honest policy difference:

"What I am opposed to is the attempt by political hacks like Karl Rove to distract us from a rise in the uninsured, a rise in the poverty rate, a drop in the median income - to distract us from corporate scandals and a stock market that has just gone through the worst month since the Great Depression. That's what I'm opposed to. A dumb war. A rash war. A war based not on reason but on passion, not on principle but on politics."

Overthrowing Saddam = distraction from a drop in the median income

Overthrowing Saddam = distraction from a rise in the uninsured

Overthrowing Saddam = distraction from corporate scandals

According to Barack "New Politics" Obama.

McCain: "...my admiration, respect and deep gratitude for America's veterans is something more than a convenient campaign pledge"

...therefore I cannot support the GI bill!???

God and the soldier, all men adore
In time of trouble, and no more.
For when the battle's over
And all things righted,
God is forgotten, the soldier slighted.

How can McCain be against this bill, then lash out at Obama for not serving in the military? (I guess McCain will fault Hillary for not serving, either). Why not start with Cheney the draft-dodger and Bush the duty-dodger? And BTW, it was Bush who sent the troops to Iraq w/o the proper gear. As a Vietnam vet, I'll never forgive him for that.

Well I think I have debated this issue enough.

One last thought before I go. I remember the DRAFT, I remember feeling patriotic, I remember the fear in my friends eyes and "mine" and their involuntary shaking waiting to be the next one to die.

I remember fighting to save my life first, then to save the guys next to me. I do not remember ever telling anyone any of this for my own personal gain. I remember wishing my friends and I were anywhere other than where we were.

I am an old man now and all those things are just a morbid memory.

I remember watching John McCain hug one of the VC who killed my friends and tried to kill me when that VC came to the US as an "HONORED GUEST". Not once did that VC appoligize for my friends. But McCain embrassed him as though he was his hero.

I had to finally stop and ask myself what the definition of honor is.

I do not want or need GI benefits.. but the vets that are fortunate to return deserve whatever we are generous enough to give them.

Vote for whom you like. Vote for whatever reason you care to. But dont disgrace my friends by lieing to support your unworthy candidate whoever they may be and reference it to the veterans that are true heros.

I was not a hero. I was a terrified young man and wish I had never had that experience.

Just wanted to let Matt know that it was the GI Bill that was voted on. So McCain doesn't want you to have that education and perks. There is no valid reason to not vote on this Bill. If McCain really cared about you he would have voted for the Bill. Reguardless of what else was on the Bill. But he would rather put himself before you..... Just something for you to think about.

cheap shot by a phony hypocrite who has no substance for political gain and hiding his own weakness.

Matt

i thank you for your service and those that you lead.

I will go one better than you ask.

I will vote only for candidates that will either bring you home or send you to afganistan to fight the TRUE ENEMY.

Since your a career soldier i can appreciate your lack of concern for benefits of those who do not choose to serve for a lifetime.

I do appreciate you admitting that the present admistration is not managing the funds available to you and your troops in the war effort your waging.. Maybe just maybe you can steal some of the good equipment from BLACKWATER.

again i sincerly thank you for your service and your courage!

as with all our troops you and your command will remain in my prayers.

In a day of bridges to nowhere the small amount of money for GI Benefits will be well spent.

Appreciate your comment, MATT, makes a lot of sense. The only problem I have with McCain's comment is that the new litmus test for President now becomes prior military service. While honorable to serve, I think those who have not served in the military are also capable of being President.

I am a veteran of the Iraq war and I am still a soldier... 20 years and counting. I can tell you that those benefits are the last thing that I am thinking of... We already get educational benefits, it is called the GI Bill. I went to school using it. They also have other educational benefits out there for soldiers too. If want to help us tell you congressman to spend the money on better equipment to keep my soldiers and I alive during battle. Tell your congressman to earmark more money for better personal equipment, living quarters, healthcare, mental health, armored vehicles,and training that will keep us alive. Those benefits would be nice but we don't need it. We also don't need those high flying jet fighters and fancy submarines that cost billions ... they're so useless to us who are doing the fighting. My men are tired of combat. Are any of you ready to volunteer and fill their boots or are you like Senator Obama, "who did not feel it was his responsibility to serve our country in uniform"?

louielouie, feel bad for ya bud. McCain has no backbone to stand on. And what, he is a hero cause he got caught and prolly gave up alot of american secrets to survive. I'll let that go. But what I won't let go is the fact that he would accept Bush's endorsment after what Bush said in 2000. Just shows he is a tool like Bush. People always try to hit Obama with his experience. How hard is it to make the right choice? Seems to be pretty hard for McCain.

A lot of you missed the point. Put your hatred of Sen. Obama aside. McCain did not vote to pass the bill. Why? Who has a relative serving in the military? Can he or she afford a college education at the current amount offered? Bush can spend billions to fight a war that should have never happened but he can't help our men and women serving in the military get a good education. See, by putting on this Sen. Obama he takes it off himself. I see the game.

bigtex

did you bother to read what the topic was about?

This is about Veterans benefits.

guess you feel like it was a good place to show your support for your candidate anyways on a subject that has nothing to do with the topic

cant debate a point just change the topic LOL

The double standard of the democrats is unreal. They put big oil on notice for making a 10 percent profit yet vote for a farm bill that will reduce the output of ethanol crops in America and tax ethanol products being imported into America. Which will drive up prices so they can blame the oil companies.
Obama was for it, Mcain was not.
Quit voting with your heart use your brain check the facts become an informed voter.

LOL. It's all I can say to the people that still support McCain after this. Are you blind? Or just that dumb? Sen. Webb introduced this bill. Thats right. The father of a fallen soldier. From what I understand not many didn't vote for this......... Maybe that says alot about the few who didn't. Can't wait for November. Only way for the tyrants to win is to cheat...... Bush did it, I wouldn't put it by McCain.

McShame's problem is not the press. It is the Republican George W. Bush facts that were used in the 2000 election.

Fact- McCain lived a life style as a silver spoon ADMIRAL's son.

Fact- His conduct at the Naval Acadamy was so poor that any other cadet would have been thrown out but McShames daddy had the stroke to keep him there.

Fact- All the other prisoners that were held in the same compound as McSHAME were not tortured and have also stated that McSHAME was not tortured.

Fact- McShame received none of the normal promotions that other prisoners received while being held captive and would have been court martialed for collaborating with the enemy except for the fact McShame's daddy was a big ADMIRAL.

John McSHAME on the war hero scale is about a 2 out on a scale of 10.

A far cry better than his draft dodging Republican buddies that he is in bed with.

Google and find the facts about MC SHAME our GREAT JESUS CHRIST WAR HERO!!

Vote for who you want I could care less!

But to say our Veterans want a hand out is pathetic.

God forbid we give those veterans anything extra to show our appreciation for their sacrifice. The were stupid enough to serve our country and therefore they dont deserve anything but a bullet in the head or a minimum wage job when they come home.

MccAin won this battle. No amount of Obama supporters calling him old man is going to take away for him. Obama's rebuttal was pathetic. If this was a debate class Obama would get a D.

Let's give credit were credit is due. McCain whooped his a$$ and then some. For Obama to think he can get away with these subtle attacks like he did on Hillary is ludicrous. As a Hillary supporter who has resigned herself to Hillary not been the nominee, I am rooting for McCain. As an American I'm rooting for McCain. As a pro-choice woman I'm rooting for McCain. As a black person I'm rooting for McCain.

I wish you luck Mr. McCain. Your problem is not Obama, it's the media. The headline of this blogs says it all. McCain did not slam Obama for not serving in the military, he slams him for a jacka$$. Like anybody who have children who receive child rearing advice for chidless people, McCain wanted to probably tell him to shut the F up.

Oh and by the way

ABOUT THE BLACKWATER SIGN

We can give Haliburton and Kellogg Brown and Root a $10 million dollar cost plus no bid contract to get the sign done.

This should create at least a 100 jobs at minimum wage for "working class Americans"

The fact that this is even an issue to debate is enough to make a normal person PUKE!

compared to mccain, obama is like a gnat

I think we're forgetting that the GOP has lost the voter's trust on every issue. The war, economy, national security--you name it. Obama is going to destroy McCain in the Presidential debates in the fall, he's going to make McCain look like an infant. McCain's out of control temper and failure to even support the veterans are many of his flaws.

To hell with our Brave soldiers who fight and get disabled and die for us!

We can not afford to give them anymore benefits.

We need that money in the GI bill to increase BLACKWATER pay benefits and PROFITS.

BLACKWATER is the American fighting force that we really appreciate!

LETS TEAR DOWN THAT WALL
(Vietnam memorial)
AND PUT UP A SIGN IN IT ITS PLACE

WE LOVE YOU BLACKWATER

Man of 100 year war denies veterans GI Bill headline should read. John McCain is perfectly happy to send our children to war but damned if he'll pay for their education. Oh but he's a "war hero" himself, so above reproach. Kind of let's you know what his attitude is towards veterans doesn't it. Stop gap loss-- stay in the military for 100 years, we can't offer benefits because you'll want out. Education would give you other options. Suckers!

Barack Obama strives to deflect every legitimate criticism by pronouncing it irrelevant or off-limits. In this instance he manages to trivialize military service by his use of the term "schoolyard taunts". The plain fact is that "he ain't never been nowhere nor done nothin'! He has no wartime experience whatever, civilian or military. There are blue collar voters out there who are better qualified to serve as Commander in Chief than is Obama.

LMAO. McCain owned Obama in this debate and exposed Obama as a fraud.

While it is patriotic to serving one’s country in any capacity, including the military. Too much focus on military only leads to more and more unnecessary wars. In McCain era, every one got drafted. Bush, Chaney and Clinton did not serve and so is Hillary. We need a leader who can focus on noble things than constant killing of people. Military should not be the dominant force in a democracy. Some how McCain crashing a plane in Vietnam will make him more patriotic or more qualified to be President is ridiculous. There is nothing in the Constitution that says the President should come from the military. In any event McCain is too old in his ideas and age to be President. The election should be about the future.

Brad:

Those people who fought and those who died for this country, to preserve our liberty would be APPALLED at the entitlement mentality (free, free, free, for me, me, me) so apparent in our society today.

Our forebears survived ON THEIR OWN MERITS through worse time than we are in now. And still our country rose, through hard work and sacrifice.

The only thing they asked this country to do for them was to allow them to do for themselves. THAT is the true nature of the American spirit.

I want and expect no less in my life.

"Perhaps, if Senator Obama would take the time and trouble to understand this issue he would learn to debate an honest disagreement respectfully," McCain said. "But, as he always does, he prefers impugning the motives of his opponent, and exploiting a thoughtful difference of opinion to advance his own ambitions.

Very eloquently put Senator. Please continue to point out the Jr. Senator's lack of experience and subtle negative campaign tactics.

Worldcitizen, are you saying that its a PRIVILEGE putting your life on the line so other's thousands of miles away can be free? I don't think so.

McCain will be sorry if he tries to attack Obama's not being in the military. It will just be another reminder of how old McCain is.

Back in the WW2 era, most men served in the military (in part because they were drafted if they didn't enlist), so not being in the army back then was unusual. In 2008, only a very small percentage of the population ever serves in the military. Most young people never even think about it.

To most people under age 50, the idea that it's somehow a sign of weakness not to have been in the military is a laughable. And they find the concept of a draft downright scary. McCain will just look like a naive old man if he tries to play that card. Also, it may not be in his best interest to remind people that he's a hawk right now...

USED...We used to be the greatest country....Now we are struggling to keep our heads above water...Other countries would rather take the currency from that of Brazil, than the US....I do agree with you that no one country is perfect, but surely you remember a time when we are the forefront...When we were powerful, when our economy surged....now we are living in yet another recession, which will far worse than that of the past....No I dont think throwing money around solves all the problems, I simply think the money wasted on a pointless war, would have done better good here at home.......

Grumpy Old Man.

Brad there are alot of issues in the US. We are definately not perfect. But we do live in the greatest country in the world. We have the freedom to say and do what we want, and live our lives to the fullest extent. I don't agree with everything going on....I am one of the independent voters that goes with the person I feel is right. I voted for Clinton once, I voted for Bush once. I feel in my gut that Obama is wrong...powerful communitst/terrorists countries will see through his inexperience and take advantage (iran, argentina are two examples). I do know that cutting down our country, our troops, our spirit, does no good. We are suppose to be a family, no matter color/race/creed. Obama is a decent person....just does not have the experience.

And throwing money at domestic problems does no good. Our government has many flaws...so do you think EXPANDING it as the democrat agenda calls for is the right answer? I say LESS government is the right answer.

Pat..........What about the war in our own country?? the millions of people who cant afford healthcare....violence in our streets...A failing educational system...I am all for helping others, but dont you think the billions and billions of dollars spent to "help another country" should have been better put to use in our very own country first????? We are there for other reasons that our government doesnt want you knowing.....Theyve brainwashed us with talks of "terrorists" "9/11"....come on people...All LIES............Our government is corrupt.....

So because I am not afraid to speak the truths of this country doesnt make me an American???? Haha, again, ignorance.....I dont feel safe....nor do I have faith in this economy....so, um...yeah....I will go and so just that......See, Europe isnt as bad as our country makes them out to be....its just your ignorance, mixed with your absolute gullible state that has you thinking that way........I know my citizenship.......Thanks for helping though......

Hey Ben, have you talked with any of the return vets from Irag? I live in NJ, outside an army base. These fabulous soldiers returning talk about the people in Irag. These people THANK our soldiers for being there. Do you truly think that no one would be killed if we were'nt there? Wow. Sadam used nerve gas on his own people and killed thousands. For the first time in years, these people can try to live their own lives. They are begging our soldiers NOT to leave.

Well Pat,
You associating IRAQ with what happened to us on 9/11 tells how little you understand and how gullible you are.

You think attacking a nation unprovoked, destroying peoples lives and then telling them what to do makes you safe?

Why don't you put yourself in someones shoes who's house was destroyed or a family member shot in collateral damage. - I don't mean to offend you but didn't know how to best convey my point - If I walk into your house - start breaking things around and then start telling you what to do and not do just because I think I am right and you are wrong - will you be my best friend or will you have animosity towards me?

regards,

Thinking, you just don't think!!!!!

I love the people who serve the nation but not those who ask for money because they serve. They should be honored and paid enough but not outrageously. We should pay homage to them. Just throwing money is downright disrespectful.

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Sounds like double speak to me. You love them as long as they willing serve you.

are you willing to serve them in return? Sounds like no.

Typical Republican all take and no give.

just Thinking.

As a Catholic I would like to know what took mc-more-war so long to denounce hagee's endorsement. I do not see mc-more-war being anything but a bush-3. This country can NOT afford another bush term. Obama 2004!!!

MK, I think the article raises no issue. It asks a question rather. The question is, should we just say yes to a bill which asks for $52 billion because it will benefit a few people? Or should we say that people should take serving in the military as an honor and service to their nation rather than asking for monetary benefits. Then it would be no service. it makes them ***mercenaries***.

Ok, I think we should say yes to the bill to provide for our vets. The way we treat our veterans speaks to the content of our character and to our nation's competence. If we are ok with spending trillions on unnecessary wars and provide welfare for corporations and tax cuts for the wealthy-- then I'm ok about doing the same for our vets.

Well Pat, it's an interesting equation to make since we've had 5 republican presidents and only 2 democratic ones in the last 39 years.

Our current democratic majority of congress has only been for a couple of years. During Clinton's term, he had a republican controlled congress.

And what is your opinion on educational benefits for veterans? Do you endorse an endless war?

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No MK I do not endorse an endless war. However, what tune will you sing when the terrorists bomb us again? This time the empire state building? How about the Sears tower? Have you noticed that nothing has happened since 9/11 in our country? We are doing something right. The terrorist heart was in Irag and Afghanistan.

Veterans are priceless...I think they deserve our gratitude along with a a decent living and lifetime support if they are permanently injured during duty. We also need to incent people to stay in the military so that we ALWAYS have the right to live our lives as we see fit, including this blog site. All these people who think "all we need to do is say we don't want war anymore" are crazy. You have the right to say that and live your simple lives because of our military.

Barack Obama is so inspiring! I have voted for a Democrat in every race since Mondale, but Obama's arrogance and hypocrisy is so powerful that it has inspired me to support John McCain in this race. Democrats and Republicans--unite against Obama! This country deserves better.

..Osama Bin Laden??? have you met the man???? how do you know he even exists??? Ohh, because our government tells you, or because you watched 60 Minutes and saw one of his so-called videos??? To hell with someone, who in my opinion is NOT at all the reason we are in Iraq.....and with all do respect, to sit there and write that war is what keeps me safe, and able to post blogs on the internet shows just how ignorant America really is....War is the very reason our world is falling....soon man will cease to exist, all over petty differences...oil...money....power.....these are the REAL reasons we go to war, and no other reason......I am born and raised RED WHITE AND BLUE, and its sad I want to pack my family up and live abroad......When our leaders stop trying to get rich off the lives its people....then..........then we will be a great nation again.....But please....save me the B.S about a man or a figmant of Bushs' imagination...

Thinking, you just don't think!!!!!

I love the people who serve the nation but not those who ask for money because they serve. They should be honored and paid enough but not outrageously. We should pay homage to them. Just throwing money is downright disrespectful.

Well Pat, it's an interesting equation to make since we've had 5 republican presidents and only 2 democratic ones in the last 39 years.

Our current democratic majority of congress has only been for a couple of years. During Clinton's term, he had a republican controlled congress.

And what is your opinion on educational benefits for veterans? Do you endorse an endless war?

Brad, why don't you tell this to osama bin laden. If he agrees to what you say, I don't think Bush would be at war. I hate wars but come to think of it, it keeps you alive and free to post on this very blog.

Then it would be no service. it makes them missionaries.
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America has had a time honored tradition off supporting the men and women who have served in the military. My self included. Who the hell are you to call me a Mercenary?

Get off the coach and serve if you think it is such an honor.

Sad to see all your education comes from watching hollywood movies. So many times in our lifetime have we seen old men send their young to die all under the banner of Patriotism.

Patriotism is a sense of national responsibility.. not short, frenzied outbursts of emotions.

If you feel that the same Bush policies will help us get out of this mess we have created then by all means please vote for Mccain. But just wait and see as the true colors of the so called straight talker are shown.

To julescator---It is so wonderful that you know exactly what Senator McCain did or did not do in Viet Nam. Did you become a songbird? Were you tortured? How long did you spend as a POW. People like you make me sick. You have no idea what you are talking about. You are simply another stupid Obama supporter.
My husband was in Viet Nam too recusing down flyers. It was hell. Where were you?

...I try to wrap my mind around the blogs that are being posted minute after minute....I read one that states the war in Iraq will not go wasted!! Hmm....Have this country gone mad?? How can anyone sit there and justify this war. I advise ALL OF YOU to look up the movie "Zeigeist" and watch all of it, and then come back and say the war in Iraq, or any other war this world has fought has been just. War is childish and the only ones who pay are the innocent...I am anti-war, and cant believe there are people out there that are even considering voting for a man who is clearly ready to keep said war going...And as far as this Bill goes, how can we just sign a piece of paper, giving money to people that WE DONT EVEN HAVE!!! Lets not forget our country is in debt for over 9trillion dollars...Again, I stay debted for the men and woman who fought hard for my future, and are doing the sam