LOL the only reason anyone i knew in the military supported bush was because of the raises we got while i was in
McCain vs. Obama
- Thread starter Chris
- Start date
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noodles
Contributor
For all of Hillary's stump speeches, Bill was the candidate of the private sector middle class vote. He arguably elevated more people from poverty into the middle class, and from the middle class into the upper class, than any other president. His support came overwhelmingly from their, and the college students and grads who were voting for the first or second time.
I've heard a lot of military and former military grumble about him, and often with good reason. I just find it ironic when I run into the ones who praise Bush, who also ran away from the draft and has hurt the career soldier (albeit in different ways). McCain's siding with Bush on issues like torture, Veteran's Affairs and the GI Bill is just sad, as one would expect a Vietnam War POW to fucking know better.
Not that I'm condoning it, but the Clinton cuts in the military that your are describing were still within the scope of Regan's raises. That man did more for the enlisted man than any other president, and I can see why so many voted for him and the first Bush.
noodles
Contributor
Man, do I ever feel sorry for Carter. Put ANYONE in office for those four years, and he would have been trounced in 1980. There really was nothing anyone could have done. Luckily for Obama or McCain, the dropout happened during Bush's term, so everyone knows exactly who is responsible for it.
Or, under bush, we can have our troops serve 15 month tours of duty and get threatened to have their GI bill revoked if they dont serve extra time.
Drew
Forum MVP
Please vote, be it for Obama, McCain, or some third candidate nutjob. I look at it like this - if you don't vote in an election, then you have no right to bitch about the guy who wins since you did absolutely nothing to put him there or to stop him. Democracy depends on voters, and sometimes that means voting against a candidate more than it depends on voting for one.
All this talk about party politics aside, I feel better about the results of any election when I see record turnout %'s. At least that way I feel like the results are more in line with what the majority of ALL Americans want, even if I personally disagree.
Drew
Forum MVP
...or being ordered to pay back signing recruitment bonuses if seriously wounded in war, rendering them unable to continue to serve.
"I realize that you lost a leg in Iraq and I'm very sorry, but really, you only served one third of your tour of duty, so please return 2/3's of your bonus."
noodles
Contributor
...or being ordered to pay back signing recruitment bonuses if seriously wounded in war, rendering them unable to continue to serve.
"I realize that you lost a leg in Iraq and I'm very sorry, but really, you only served one third of your tour of duty, so please return 2/3's of your bonus."
Another I remember hearing was about varying the disability benefits by "how disabled you are."
"Well, you only lost one limb instead of four, so you're only qualified for 1/4 benefits. Sorry."
noodles
Contributor
It is really the only thing McCain CAN do. The guy barely has any money, and is going to get outspent wildly this year. Town Hall debates are a cheap way to square off against your opponent, and if set in more rural areas, are sure to be stacked with conservative voters.
Drew
Forum MVP
Actually, if you are a Republican, I encourage you to stay home in November.
Nah, I'd rather have high turnout across the board. Democracy in action... Besides, I'm not too worried about McCain winning.
he's also been talking about how they should share a plane... he's really in bad shape.
noodles
Contributor
noodles
Contributor
Yeah, I saw that. He's even joking about it. You gotta give the man credit, he's got some brass tacks.
Drew
Forum MVP
It's a pity he pretty much sold out on policy. Actually, I guess it's not as otherwise this would be a close race. But he's the sort of guy at the end of the day it's hard not to like, so it's tough to hear him speak and know you want him to lose.
noodles
Contributor
McCain 2000 would have soundly tromped everyone in the GOP primaries, and would present a very formidable opponent to Obama. Clinton wouldn't have had a chance.
ChrisPcritter
Contributor
Yes a record turnout would be good.
I think its awful that the media is allowed to post any results before the last poll closes in Hawaii. I think if a person thinks the election is heading twoard one candidate, that they won't go out and vote feeling it's a waste of time. Add in the farse of an election that happened with Florida in the Bush/Gore time, it reinforces that. I think a lot of folks out west both democrat and republican didn't bother voting since they knew the election was over, before it actually was...
I think its awful that the media is allowed to post any results before the last poll closes in Hawaii. I think if a person thinks the election is heading twoard one candidate, that they won't go out and vote feeling it's a waste of time. Add in the farse of an election that happened with Florida in the Bush/Gore time, it reinforces that. I think a lot of folks out west both democrat and republican didn't bother voting since they knew the election was over, before it actually was...
ChrisPcritter
Contributor
That sucks.. I didn't see anything on that in the media. It wasn't the lack of raises under clinton that bothered me but the screwing at the end when benefits were cut for retiries.
I do know folks that did their 20 years and applied for retirement and were told, "you can get out at the end of the enlistment but you can't retire at this time. Your job is needed too badly so if you want to retire you have to serve at least two more years".
Also I went in in 1988 and enlisted for 6 years which gave me two paygrade jumps from E-1 to E-3. My pay with housing allowance was uner $1000 including food and shelter allowances. My rent at my first duty station was $550 which left about $100 a week for gas, food, insurance, car payment etc.. So I don't know much about Reagan increasing pay much. You were eligible for food stamps on what I made at the time.
wow, my E1 pay in 2000 in boot camp was higher than that
E4 pay was fairly liveable, especially if you lived in the barracks... i never got E5 pay, even though i passed the E5 test, i didn't advance.
Bound requires an additional poll option:
American: Fleeing to Denmark.
I can't believe the Obama support. He's a sly businessman and a beurocrat. He's going to 'change' this country about as much as Deval Patrick is reforming Mass right about now. I love how a catchy slogan, some rhetoric, and a well polished veneer has everyone swooning over this guy. Just you watch, and you people mark my words... if he gets elected president, you havn't even seen disasterous. You can commit this country to the void.
American: Fleeing to Denmark.
I can't believe the Obama support. He's a sly businessman and a beurocrat. He's going to 'change' this country about as much as Deval Patrick is reforming Mass right about now. I love how a catchy slogan, some rhetoric, and a well polished veneer has everyone swooning over this guy. Just you watch, and you people mark my words... if he gets elected president, you havn't even seen disasterous. You can commit this country to the void.
you seriously believe he'd do worse than bush? and what business has he run that makes him a businessman? thats a new one by me.
have fun in denmark.
