[red flanker]

From Wiki:

McSally graduated from St. Mary Academy - Bay View and then the United States Air Force Academy in 1988. She earned a Master's degree from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

She earned her wings at Laughlin AFB, Texas and was initially assigned as a First Assignment Instructor Pilot (FAIP) in the T-37. She was selected for Lead-in Fighter Training (LIFT) in 1993, completed the Replacement Training Unit for the A-10 Thunderbolt II, was assigned to an operational A-10 squadron and was deployed to Kuwait in January 1995. During that deployment, she flew combat patrol over Iraq under Operation Southern Watch, enforcing the no-fly zone. In 2000, she reported to Joint Task Force Southwest Asia (JTF-SWA) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for a temporary assignment in support of Operation Southern Watch.

In July 2004, she took command of the A-10 equipped 354th Fighter Squadron, and was subsequently deployed to Afghanistan under Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, where she employed weapons in combat for the first time. In 2005, McSally and her squadron were awarded the David C. Shilling Award, given by the Air Force Association for the best aerospace contribution to national defense.

[bigdirty]

Great, we need more women on the front lines of combat. Let’s be like the muslims and put our women in harm’s way.

[Jonty30]

With all do respect, being a combat pilot is different than being a marine or army grunt.

It’s a different situation when you have bombs dropping around you, then dropping bombs.

[GeronL]

Wrong party?

[Pox]

Whether she chooses to like it or not, his statement is a fact, IMO.

Not politically correct, but oh well.

My question to her would be simple. Since she is a woman, how in the hell would she know what a man thinks or feels in such a situation?

[Tailgunner Joe]

Guilty.

[Admin Moderator]

Do you have a source link? Thanks.

[John Leland 1789]

This can't be true, because I have it in writing from my elective representatives that BY LAW there are NO females in combat roles in the Armed Forces.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

The "Jimmy"??

Huh? Doesn't she have the balls to say "balls"?

I always admired a college pal's nickname for his equipment..."Lopey the Spoiler." Sure beats "Jimmy."

[smokingfrog]

I guess McSilly is entitled to her opinion. Doesn’t make it right.

[Cicero]

I don’t know anything about this woman—except that she’s a Demonrat.

I do know that the Air Force used affirmative action to promote a number of female pilots above their capabilities, and that that caused problems.

I’m not saying that no woman could be a combat pilot. But I don’t think all this affirmative action stuff has made our military better. People are promoted simply because they are women, or Muslims, or whatever the latest affirmative action gimmick might be.

[Lancey Howard]

Great. A coddled, affirmative action combat pilot weighs in...

[ArchAngel1983]

" What happens when a female pilot gets captured?"

They've been known to get Jimmied to death. But what the hell do I know what with only being combat deployed 3 times in two different wars.

[Mustang Driver]

The press misses the irony of irony of make a violent threat while seeking to succeed Gabby who resigned because she was the victim of violence.

[Mr Rogers]

FWIW: She is WAY behind in the Republican primary for the special election to fill the seat Gabby is finally leaving. The two guys with a big lead on her are also both combat vets (on the ground - one USMC, the other Army Special Forces). The SF guy was given a Bronze Star for Valor...which means he went way beyond anything McSally has experienced.

Also - McSally had a horrible reputation with her peers. I met a number of A-10 guys who knew her, and none said anything nice.

Her career path was political:

“In 1999, Martha was one of only seven active-duty Air Force officers selected for the prestigious Legislative Fellowship Program, working on Capitol Hill and serving as a national security advisor to Senator Jon Kyl on issues including terrorism, cyber security and missile defense.”

“...earned her Masters Degree, in Public Policy, from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.” - while on active duty.

“She earned an Honorary Doctorate in Civil Law from Rhode Island College and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Center on Women in Policing. The Freedom Forum named Martha as one of three national winners of the 2002 Al Neuharth Free Spirit Award.

Before resigning to run for office, Martha was Professor of National Security Studies at the George C. Marshall Center in Germany where she taught and mentored senior government officials from all over the world in international and national security issues.”

All quotes from her campaign website (http://mcsallyforcongress.com/about-martha/bio/).

Having spent much of my career deployed, I have always despised folks like Gifford’s husband & McSally who spent as little time in ops as needed to punch their career tickets.

[Ajnin]

We keep seeing this chivalry angle about women in combat. I think it’s a losing argument because it’s mostly hypothetical. I think it’s much better to bring up what is already occuring and that is troops are humping like rabbits. Anytime a women is introduced into an all male unit the dynamic of unit cohesion is changed. Now the men in the unit have to be concerned about everthing they say lest they be charged with sexual harassment and have their careers ended. When the chick has sex with one member of the unit, it creates hostility and jealousy among the other troops. One woman, even at the very bottom of military heirarchy can destroy moral and cohesion of an entire unit.

[Gene Eric]

Yet another anecdote.

Rick can’t find his way out of a paper bag on these issues, and we’re going to put him on the front line? I know, it’s not his fault.

God bless Rick, but the magic talking points can only take him so far.

[Stymee]

She should kick Anthony in the wiener who married a Muslim assistant to Hillary Clinton.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

A retired female fighter pilot running for former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' open seat in Congress

Thank you for your service ma'am. You wouldn't happen to be a pro-abortion union-RAT would you?

[Bobbisox]

I agree with her completely. I am of the wrong generation, brought up to believe it didn’t matter what I was skilled at, not to waste my time with an education. I was just going to be a wife and mother. I have been married 41 years, and have raised a set of twins, boy and girl (who was in the Navy), now 37. I accomplished what my parents wanted for me. And I would not change a thing that would have not allowed me to raise these amazing children of mine.

However, I believe women are capable of a variety of skills much better than men. My own daughter was 5’4”, and could take down of man of 200+ pounds with her boot at his throat in a matter of seconds. Women are much more capable that they are given credit for. Women are farm more organized, in reality and in the mind. Our skills are just as precise, and our thinking can be molded for the reality we are placed in. Santorum has seven children, not much time for his wife to think about anything but being a mother. And just when she thinks the time is right for her to achieve her own accomplishments, she was pregnant with one more child. I am sure Mrs. Santorum is probably a very fine woman, and loves her children dearly, and I admire her a great deal.

The future holds a variety of opportunities for women these days, and I wish I could do it all over again. I would choose the military and now feel, as those in Israel do, that every man and woman should have a moral obligation to complete at least one tour of duty in the military, at whatever they are good at for their country. If there is one thing you can say about those in Israel, they have a love for their country as no other. The military can find the best in each of them, no matter what their limitations might be. It does not take a masculine body to accomplish many of the tasks that are required. I know many men who would have loved to be in the military, but were medically disqualified.

[Christie at the beach]

Great service. Kick butt, Go USA!

( Ricky is just not presidential -has not even been vetted)