If you'd by any chance join the US army

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With what purpose would you join it?

For the adventure?

For fun?

To cover your educational expenses?

To serve and die for your country?

None of the above.

All of the above.

Other? 

Well, the question is simple.

the answer? 

< My Top Ten Reasons to Become a Member | McCain's campaign staff hypocracy exposed >
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to avoid the draft and choose my branch, as Kerry did.

"If you're not worried, you're not paying attention." --Cenk Uygur

by hazmat on 05/16/2008 03:17:56 PM EST


The Marines are far exceeding recruitment goals. The other branches are doing well also.

They conducted a poll and found that far and away the most popular response given by recruits, when asked why they enlisted was:

"Ask not what your country can do for you in terms of free health care, entitlement checks, and lavish government benefits. Ask what you can do for your country."

by KenTX on 05/16/2008 04:05:54 PM EST


The armed forces met their goals for two reasons, neither of which reflect well on the current administration.

1) Recession- when the economy turns to shit, enlistment goes up.  There are gonna be a bunch of former private sector folks all the sudden wanting to be teachers too.

2) Lowered expectations- taking a page from the life of George Bush, the military appears to have just reduced the number of people they say is the goal.  Last year the Army was hoping for 8,000+ a month and getting a little over 5,000.  They couldn't meet those goals so now the goal is a little over 5,000.  So let me get this straight, they were running 3k deficits all last year, casualty rates in Iraq are spiking, war with Iran looks possible and the tours of duty are about to be cut singificantly shorter and the army is telling us they need LESS people????

Its disgusting that all the Bush adminstration and the soulless flunkies he has staffed our government, courts and military with care about is making a nice headline. 

by ProfRich on 05/16/2008 04:20:48 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Ken, you were never in the current military were you?

Its not a numbers game--its our national defense, genius.

The stronger warning came from General Richard A. Cody, the Army's vice chief of staff, who characterized the Army's current stress level as "a significant risk" to the future of the all-volunteer military. From his prepared statement:

Today's Army is out of balance. The current demand on our forces in Iraq and Afghanistan exceeds the sustainable supply and limits our ability to provide ready forces for other contingencies... Current operational requirements for forces and insufficient time between deployments require a focus on counterinsurgency training and equipping to the detriment of preparedness for the full range of military missions.
Equipment used repeatedly in harsh environments is wearing out more rapidly than programmed. Army support systems, designed for the pre-9/11 peacetime Army, are straining under the accumulation of stress from six years at war. Overall, our readiness is being consumed as fast as we build it. If unaddressed, this lack of balance poses a significant risk to the All-Volunteer Force and degrades the Army's ability to make a timely response to other contingencies

The Pentagon changed their retention goals to lower standards for recruits and threw larger bonuses at current troops.

AND the Army is losing captains (a crucial rank in the Army at an alarming rate).

Which DoD officials have already mentioned is a detrimental to the overall readiness of the military.

http://www.armytimes.com/ne ws/2008/04/gns_waivers_0407 08/

From the Army Times

According to the data provided to the Committee, the Army and Marine Corps significantly increased the number of waivers they granted for enlistees with felony convictions from 2006 to 2007. Army waivers increased from 249 waivers in 2006 to 511 waivers in 2007, while Marine Corps waivers increased from 208 waivers in 2006 to 350 waivers in 2007. Both branches increased the number of waivers they granted for almost every type of felony offense.
In addition, the new data provided to the Committee shows for the first time some of the offenses for which the Army and Marine Corps have granted waivers. In 2007, the Army and Marine Corps granted 87 waivers to enlistees who had been convicted of “[a]ggravated assault, assault with a dangerous weapon, [or] maiming,” 248 waivers to enlistees who had been convicted of “[b]urglary,” and 130 waivers to enlistees who had been convicted of “[n]arcotics or habit-forming drugs; wrongful possession or use (marijuana not included).” The Army and Marine Corps also granted small numbers of waivers for the crimes of “[r]ape, sexual abuse, sexual assault, criminal sexual abuse, incest, or other sex crimes,” “[i]ndecent acts or liberties with a child, molestation,” and “[t]errorist threats including bomb threats.”
I understand that there can be valid reasons for personnel waivers and recognize the importance of providing opportunities to individuals who have served their sentences and rehabilitated themselves. At the same time, concerns have been raised that the significant increase in the recruitment of persons with criminal records is a result of the strain put on the military by the Iraq war and may be undermining military readiness.

by calturner on 05/17/2008 08:55:53 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Let's bring all of the troops home from the Middle East immediately. The fight against al Qaeda is simply not worth it. We need to have the million man military stationed within the U.S.

by KenTX on 05/17/2008 09:04:32 AM EST

[ Parent ]
The smart thing to do is to begin a phased drawdown and immediately repair and resupply the units coming back to make sure the Army can replenish itself and draw in more recruits with a new GI Bill and be better prepared to engage in Afghanistan.

While NATO/the UN finally get it together and get their feet wet in Iraq as we withdraw.

And then Iraq pays us back that money we wasted there.

by calturner on 05/17/2008 01:35:51 PM EST

[ Parent ]

One upon a time, there were two college dropouts, each married to their young wife, each with a young son. Their names were Joe and Jack, both smart, enjoyable guys. They both joined the army.

Joe enlisted to be able to pay for a big pool in his back-yard. Jack signed up to give freedom, democracy, peace and security to the people of Afganistan.

One day, out on patrol, they stumbled upon an IED. Both died instantly.

Joe's family lost their father. Joe's pool was built. 

Jack's family lost their father.

The end. 

by Cogitor on 05/16/2008 04:24:18 PM EST


Because you believe in its ACTUAL mission of national defense.

Because you find it to be a noble calling.

by jarett on 05/16/2008 04:42:29 PM EST


I can think of another. One day Jarett will be running for Congress against another guy his age. Jarett fought al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Iraq when his country was under attack. The other guy was a chickenshit pussy. Jarett wins. Later, he runs for the Senate against another chickenshit pussy. Jarett wins.

by KenTX on 05/16/2008 05:20:45 PM EST

[ Parent ]

The other guy was a chickenshit pussy.

  • GW Bush - decided that a six-year Nat'l Guard commitment really means four years. Still says that he's "been to war."
  • VP Cheney - several deferments (1, 2), the last by marriage (in his own words, "had other priorities than military service") (1)
  • Former Att'y Gen. John Ashcroft - did not serve (1, 2); received seven deferment to teach business ed at SW Missouri State
  • Karl Rove - avoided the draft, did not serve (1), too busy being a Republican
  • Jeb Bush, Florida Governor - did not serve. (1)<!-- <br>And They Call Him General -->

  • Former Speaker Newt Gingrich - avoided the draft, did not serve (1, 2)
  • Former President Ronald Reagan - due to poor eyesight, served in a noncombat role making movies for the Army in southern California during WWII. He later seems to have confused his role as an actor playing a tail gunner with the real thing.
  • Representative Patrick McHenry, R-NC - did not serve. Saw fit to endanger American troops' lives after a visit to Iraq by violating operational security and helping militias target their mortar attacks on the Green Zone.
  • Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY - did not serve (1)
  • Senate Assistant Minority Leader Trent Lott, R-MI - avoided the draft, did not serve.
  • Senate Republican Conference Chairman Jon Kyl, R-AZ - did not serve.
  • Senate Republican Conference Vice Chair John Cornyn, R-TX - did not serve.
  • National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair John Ensign, R-NV - did not serve.

  • House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-OH - did not serve.
  • House Minority Whip Roy Blunt, R-MO - did not serve.
  • House Republican Conerence Chair Adam Putnam, R-FL - did not serve.
  • House Republican Policy Committee Thaddeus McCotter, R-MI - did not serve.
  • National Republican Congressional Committee Chair Tom Cole, R-OK - did not serve.

  • Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani - did not serve.
  • Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney - did not serve in the military but did serve the Mormon Church on a 30-month mission to France.
  • Former Senator Fred Thompson - did not serve.

  • Former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert - avoided the draft, did not serve.
  • Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey - avoided the draft, did not serve.
  • Former House Majority Leader Tom Delay - avoided the draft, did not serve (1). "So many minority youths had volunteered ... that there was literally no room for patriotic folks like himself."
  • Former House Majority Whip Roy Blunt - did not serve
  • Former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist - did not serve. (An impressive medical resume, but not such a friend to cats in Boston.)
  • Rick Santorum, R-PA, formerly third ranking Republican in the Senate - did not serve. (1)
  • George Felix Allen, former Republican Senator from Virginia - a supporter of Nixon and the Vietnam war, did not serve. (1)

  • "B-1" Bob Dornan - avoided Korean War combat duty by enrolling in college acting classes (Orange County Weekly article). Enlisted only after the fighting was over in Korea.
  • Phil Gramm - avoided the draft, did not serve, four (?) student deferments

 

by MRFred on 05/16/2008 08:55:27 PM EST

[ Parent ]
  • Senator Richard Shelby, did not serve (1)
  • Senator Jon Kyl, R-AZ - did not serve (1, 2)
  • Senator John Cornyn, R-TX - did not serve. (1)
  • Senator Tim Hutchison, R-AR - did not serve (1, 2)
  • Rep. Christopher Cox, R-CA, (formerly) fifth-ranking Republican in the House - did not serve. (1)
  • Rep. John T. Doolittle, R-CA, sixth-ranking Republican in the House - did not serve.
  • Rep. Mark Kirk, R-IL -- his website claimed he served in Operation Iraqi Freedom; in reality, he had to correct the record.
  • Representative Saxby Chambliss, Georgia - did not serve (1, 2), had a "bad knee" (yet somehow feels he has a right to attack Max Cleland's patriotism)
  • Rep. Randy Kuhl, R-NY - Did not serve. (1)
  • Former Representative JC Watts - did not serve (1, 2)
  • Jack Kemp, did not serve (1, 2) (was unfit because of a knee injury, though he heroically continued as a National Football League quarterback for another eight years - source)
  • Former Vice President Dan Quayle, avoided Vietnam service, got a slot in the journalism unit of the Indiana National Guard when the unit was at 150% capacity (at least he showed up for his duty, unlike GW) (1, 2)
  • Eliot Abrams, did not serve (1, 2) (however, played a key role in subverting democracy in South America)
  • Paul Wolfowitz, did not serve (1, 2)
  • Former Representative Vin Weber, did not serve (1, 2)
  • Richard Perle, did not serve (1, 2) (is the current bloodshed in the Middle East a direct result of his treasonous meddling in Clinton Administrstion foreign policy?)
  • Douglas Feith, Undersecretary of Defense for Policy - did not serve. (1)
  • Michael Bloomberg, did not serve (1, 2)
  • George Pataki, did not serve (1, 2)
  • Spencer Abraham, did not serve
  • John Engler, did not serve (1, 2)
  • Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) - website used to claim service as a "Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm veteran." A current biographical website makes no such claim. In reality, was a National Guard lawyer who never left South Carolina during the Gulf War.
  • Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-CA, did not serve (1)
  • Rep. Darrell Issa, R-CA/49th, there were some problems with his service.
  • Rep. John M. McHugh, R-NY - avoided the draft, did not serve (1)
  • Rep. Todd Platts, R-PA - did not serve (1)
  • Arnold Schwarzenegger, CA Republican Governor - went AWOL from his Austrian army base to enter a bodybuilding competition
  • Senator Joe Lieberman - did not serve.

by MRFred on 05/16/2008 09:03:57 PM EST

[ Parent ]
  • George Will, did not serve
  • Chris Matthews, Mediawhore, did not serve. (However, apparently served in the Peace Corps.)
  • Bill O'Reilly, did not serve
  • Paul Gigot, did not serve.
  • Bill Bennett, Did not serve
  • Pat Buchanan, did not serve
  • Rush Limbaugh, did not serve (4-F with a 'pilonidal cyst' [see "The Rush Limbaugh Story" by Paul D. Colford, St. Martin's Press, 1993, Chapter 2: Beating the Draft.])
  • Michael Savage (aka Michael Alan Weiner) - did not serve, too busy chasing herbs and botany degrees in Hawaii and Fiji
  • John Wayne, did not serve
  • Pat Robertson - claimed during 1986 campaign to be a "combat veteran." In reality, was a "Liquor Officer."
  • Bill Kristol, did not serve
  • Sean Hannity, did not serve.
  • Kenneth Starr, did not serve
  • Antonin Scalia, did not serve
  • Clarence Thomas, did not serve
  • Ralph Reed, did not serve
  • Michael Medved, did not serve
  • Charlie Daniels, did not serve
  • Ted Nugent, did not serve
  • Country Singer Toby Keith, did not serve. (1)
  • Radio Host Phil Hendrie, did not serve.

by MRFred on 05/16/2008 09:05:27 PM EST

[ Parent ]

This GOP Icon is the only man I have ever heard of who dodged the draft for World War II !!!!  Fans (usually conservative war hawks) like to point out he did a lot of his own stunts in the 30s and 40s.

He became an icon, of course, playing heroic WWII soldiers because he was about the only healthy looking young actor in the US to land the parts durig WWII.

Kind of a microcosm of conservatism for ya. 

by ProfRich on 05/16/2008 10:32:49 PM EST

[ Parent ]

is up there somewhere

 

by MRFred on 05/16/2008 10:35:23 PM EST

[ Parent ]
That, I, as a Canadian, know most of those people!

Blog: http://perspectivos.blogspo t.com/

by Nick86 on 05/17/2008 01:18:21 AM EST

[ Parent ]

I will now list all of the Canadian politicians I can name off the top of my head.

1) Didn't y'all have a guy named after the guy who draws Doonesbury?  Can't think of his actual name.

The End. 

by ProfRich on 05/17/2008 01:24:34 AM EST

[ Parent ]

I think you should be nominated for some kind of award for these posts. My first thought upon reading Ken's reply to Jarrett was that as a fan of the republican party, Ken must know what a pussy looks like. Thanks to you, Fred, the pussies have names.

"If you're not worried, you're not paying attention." --Cenk Uygur

by hazmat on 05/17/2008 04:54:56 AM EST

[ Parent ]
"Thanks to you, Fred, the pussies have names."

John McCain: American Hero

Barack Obama: Hamas-loving chickenshit pussy



by KenTX on 05/17/2008 08:43:22 AM EST

[ Parent ]

Portray McCain as a war hero and all people will see is a crazy, trigger happy, senile ex POW. Oh yea that will work.

Even your own party knows they are going to need a new plan this time around. The demonize the other guy won't work because the Republicans have all the demons. 

by z1p101 on 05/17/2008 09:19:44 AM EST

[ Parent ]

you guys walked into the trap

 

Now that I have stoped laughing at your reply I think that you forgot the " come back here and I'll bite you legs off! part......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by MRFred on 05/17/2008 09:27:42 AM EST

[ Parent ]
and no more needs be said.

A picture is worth a thousand words is true this time around anyway.


All Conservatives Are Liars- Mike Malloy

by Chinese Democracy on 05/17/2008 08:22:01 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Funny how the most arrogant pricks in the right-wing world have so studiously avoided the military.  The more vocal they are about advocating the use of force the less likely it is they've actually been there.   Imagine that.

by bfaul on 05/17/2008 09:26:06 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Which is why George Bush, Sr., George McGovern, Bob Dole, John Kerry, Max Cleland, George McLellan etc. never ever ever lost an election.

by ProfRich on 05/16/2008 09:06:52 PM EST

[ Parent ]
that will be really impressive. Especially if America where really under attack.

Does that list of chicken shit pussies make you proud ?


All Conservatives Are Liars- Mike Malloy

by Chinese Democracy on 05/17/2008 01:15:38 AM EST

[ Parent ]
You better not be harrassing me from the state of Missouri, or you could be in big trouble.

It is now unlawful for you to hurt my feelings.

by KenTX on 05/17/2008 08:39:26 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Mr Fred made you look like such an ignorant fool that you should be off hiding somewhere instead of calling people tiny and posting asinine links.

Although I have to admit. You are damn good at looking like a total asshole all on your own.


All Conservatives Are Liars- Mike Malloy

by Chinese Democracy on 05/17/2008 12:52:39 PM EST

[ Parent ]

   It has come to a point where joining the army is more profitable for the goverment than for the individual that joins it(as it has been always, but does the army cut on off some of the privilages given to people in the army?).

by azmhyr on 05/16/2008 06:20:28 PM EST


 It's time to draw a line in the sand. There are forty-seven members of the Blue Dog Democrats, and we need to know which ones support the U.S. troops who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan and which ones agree with Rep. John Tanner that they are nothing more than deficit-enhancing debris. This is what Mr. Tanner had to say when announcing the plan by a segment of the Blue Dogs to block a vote on the GI Bill of Rights:   Some of us oppose creating a new entitlement program in an emergency spending bill, whether it’s butchers, bakers or candlestick-makers.   A group that has voted time after time to support George Bush's war, at a cost of over $500 billion dollars, now dismisses the men and women who risked their lives as candlestick-makers who don't deserve money to go to college? The Blue Dog's reason? Because their budgetary rule of pay-as-you-go has "been ignored one too many times." Yes, these champions of fiscal responsibility are fine with George Bush's twice-a-year $100 billion "supplementals," they are fine with billions going to Halliburton and Blackwater, but when it comes to providing a benefit to the people who fought in the war that the Blue Dogs supported, well, to hell with the troops. This week House Democratic leaders will once again to try bring the Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 up for a vote and we need to know which Blue Dogs plan to join John "candlestick-maker&quo t; Tanner in blocking educational benefits for the men and women who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.  

Bear in mind, the only reason to block this vote is because they are too cowardly to stand up and publicly oppose this bill.  If they don't want to support the troops, they should have the guts to come out and say so instead of trying to hide behind a procedural maneuver.  
So please, take a few minutes to call a Blue Dog and ask if they intend to block H.R. 5740 or if they will support educational assistance for veterans.  And tell them that supporting the troops isn't just a slogan...at least it shouldn't be.              Mike Arcuri: (202) 225-3665 
Joe Baca: (202) 225-6161 
John Barrow: (202) 225-2823 
Melissa Bean: (202) 225-3711 
Marion Berry: (202) 225-4076 
Sanford Bishop: (202) 225-3631 
Dan Boren: (202) 225-2701 
Leonard Boswell: (202) 225-3806 
Allen Boyd: (202) 225-5235 
Dennis Cardoza: (202) 225-6131 
Christopher Carney: (202) 225-3731 
Ben Chandler: (202) 225-4706 
Jim Cooper: (202) 225-4311 
Jim Costa: (202) 225-3341 
Bud Cramer: (202) 225-4801 
Lincoln Davis: (202) 225-6831 
Joe Donnelly: (202) 225-3915 
Brad Ellsworth: (202) 225-4636 
Gabrille Giffords: (202) 225-2542 
Kirsten Gillibrand: (202) 225-5614 
Bart Gordon: (202) 225-4231 
Jane Harman: (202) 225 8220 
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin: (202) 225-2801 
Baron Hill: (202) 225-5315 
Tim Holden: (202) 225-5546 
Steve Israel: (202)  225 3335 
Nick Lampson: (202) 225-5951 
Tim Mahoney: (202) 225-5792 
Jim Marshall: (202) 225-6531 
Jim Matheson: (202) 225-3011 
Mike McIntyre: (202) 225-2731 
Charlie Melancon: (202) 225-4031 
Michael Michaud: (202) 225-6306 
Dennis Moore: (202) 225-2865 
Patrick Murphy: (202) 225-4276 
Collin Peterson: (202) 225-2165 
Earl Pomeroy: (202) 225-2611 
Mike Ross: 1-800-223-2220 
John Salazar: (202) 225-4761 
Loretta Sanchez: (202) 225-2965 
Adam Schiff: (202) 225-4176 
David Scott: (202) 225-2939 
Heath Shuler: (202) 225-6401 
Zack Space: (202) 225-6265 
John Tanner: (202) 225-4714 
Gene Taylor: (202) 225-5772 
Mike Thompson: (202) 225-3311 
Charlie Wilson: (202) 225-5705

 

by satanisreal on 05/16/2008 07:35:43 PM EST


Its a shame what the US military has become, it used to be a mechanism for social advancement. Back in WWII the military gave millions their first access to dentistry, optometrists, and even literacy! Today, the government is not only taking away from the GI's their hard-fought rights, they are outsoucring much of their work to private firms. The value of human life has been degraded to whether or not they are can be  made into profitable assets for the government and the well-connected. I am amazed that Americans still enrol considering how much disrespect they receive from their so called "representatives", come November with the elections in the executive and legislature hopefully American soldiers can regain their dignity. Also, hopefully they will STOP voting republican and realize where their true interests lie.

Blog: http://perspectivos.blogspo t.com/

by Nick86 on 05/17/2008 12:11:00 AM EST


This guy wants to turn the military into a meals-on-wheels program for the economically underpriviledged in Darfur, Rwanda, Bosnia.

by KenTX on 05/17/2008 08:34:00 AM EST

[ Parent ]

that the Democrats will change that?

what kind of a difference could they make, that will make significance?

by azmhyr on 05/17/2008 01:55:30 AM EST


The fact that Dems wanted to extent to the vets a GI Bill that would help them out in terms of education and other benefits, and were voted down by Republicans and Blue-Dog Democrats shows that if we get a critical mass of Democrats in the house and senate then at least legislation more favourable to the standards of living of the troops is taken into account. The reason the bill was defeated was supposedly about cost, well one way they can save lots of money and pay for the bill is to stop privatizing the military which will always cost more than doing it "in-house".

Blog: http://perspectivos.blogspo t.com/

by Nick86 on 05/17/2008 11:43:47 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Why bother giving them the chance to go to college they where promised.

Walter Reed and Bush against more money for health care for vets  proves they dont care at all about the guys.


All Conservatives Are Liars- Mike Malloy

by Chinese Democracy on 05/17/2008 08:25:15 PM EST

[ Parent ]

I see the how the Party of family values and of Lincoln has affected your judgment. Attacking the two things your party claims to value above all else.

I didn't think you were a racist Ken....sad.  Tsk Tsk Tsk

No matter, I didn't recall Obama claiming to be a fierce warrior , unlike your cowardly pals on the right.

by MRFred on 05/17/2008 10:39:08 AM EST


I immediately sent an apology to Dave after posting. I tried to link "Obama Warrior", which is the Conan The Barbarian spoof that I've employed before. Look at the properties on the picture and you can see how the mistake was made. I think we can count on Dave to take it down.

by KenTX on 05/17/2008 12:49:55 PM EST

[ Parent ]
He already deleted several of your posts . Im sure he has come to expect your idiocy.

What kind of fucking websites do you go to that have pictures like that? If that how stupid you people really are?


All Conservatives Are Liars- Mike Malloy

by Chinese Democracy on 05/17/2008 01:02:13 PM EST

[ Parent ]
There's nothing to delete! By the way, the new Missouri law makes it a hate crime for you to change nics and be rude to people. Mind your manners.

by KenTX on 05/17/2008 03:07:43 PM EST

[ Parent ]
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