Military could be swing vote in '04

The Atlanta Journal Constitution ^ | November 30, 2003 | SCOTT SHEPARD

[jocon307]

"What makes me mad the most is, past presidents have gone to funerals and he hasn't gone to any," - Lori Hartman

My understanding it that this it not true. With a couple of exceptions (persons known personally by the president) and group memorial services, past Presidents have NOT attended servicemembers funerals.

It is easy to understand why. First of all, which do you go to? You certainly couldn't go to all, in any large scale conflict you'd be spending all your time going to funerals.

If this article in any way reflects Dem party thinking that the military, or veterans, will help them win the White House in '04, they are worse off than I thought.

And I do not like the implication, which was also made in the first Gulf War, that the military is just some glorified welfare program with uniforms and dangerous toys. The military does not exist to provide housing, education, medical benefits, etc. for its members. Obviously these things must be provided, but they are not it's reason for existing. It exists to defend our country from people, like the Islamofacists, who want to kill us. If we don't want to have a military anymore we'd have to completely close the borders, allow no air traffic, and return to the way we lived life circa 1900. That would be fine with me, but it would be the only way. It would also require the dismantling of the UN, or it's relocation without us as member elsewhere, a noteworthy benefit.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Excellent points.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

From the roof tops!

[SandRat]

Military could be the swing vote in 04 --- Yeah, if the DIMS let the military absentee ballots be counted!

Those lieing, backstabbing, conniving, two-timing, bottom-deal..................................

Sorry I wandered too far afield describing DIMS.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

The (literally) communist left (Veterans for Peace, Military Families Speaking Out, etc.) is preying heavily upon military families, especially after losses are published in the local paper. This is a phenomenon which should be reported more, so that unsuspecting families know to keep their guard up

Is this the group that's taking family members of dead soldiers to Iraq to "investigate?"

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Bump!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Bump!

[templar]

One item was left out. Mr. Bush – like his predecessors – has fought against repeal of the Disabled Veterans Tax.

This is more than offset by all the terrific things Bush and the Republicans have done for retired, disabled, and just plain normal, veterans

[geedee]

DISQUALIFIED ballots? Lots wrong with that statement. I believe this article is wishful thinking.

I agree. The Atlanta Journal Constitution has become a New Yawk Times wannabe. It's often hard to tell the difference between it and Pravda.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Ah, yes. Thanks for the LINK!

[SandRat]

ROTFLOL at the Chipmonk. What the heck did she just bite into? It must have been the truth to taste that bad in her mouth.

[pfflier]

The military is not the swing vote. As a voting block it is way too small.

It is the military and its supporters that form the significant block. These are relatives of the troops, veterans, people who are predisposed to identify with the military, service organizations allied with the military etc. They have one thing in common: awareness.

The vocal anti-war types typically have virtually zero experience with the military and don't want to start now. Their criticisms of the President and the military stem from socio-political ideology. They crave any appearance of military failure to reinforce their political agenda.

In contrast, the military network position is based on familiarity of military tradition, LIKE A COMMANDER BEING WITH HIS TROOPS ON A HOLIDAY, and operational aspects of the military. They are aware of successes and failures where the layman with no insight just sees failure. To juxtapose D-Day into the present for example, the anti-military types would be screaming and screeching over the casualties while completely ignoring the attainment of a foothold on the European continent. BTW More American lives were lost in D+30 minutes than 10 Iraqs.

The support, by the military, of the President, shows that the people, with their boots on the ground, strongly approve (for you pollsters) of this president's actions.

[PokeyJoe]

That's sounds like something I need to read about.

Do you have any reported stories for reference? We need to seek an injunction against these groups to stop such actions.

[R. Scott]

The political show push for elimination of the tax has come from the Democrats this year. I believe they first made sure it had no chance of passage.