Monday, May 26, 2008

McCain Wrong on G.I. Bill of Rights

This Memorial Day we especially remember and honor our fallen troops.

But, what about our veterans who have served honorably, and at great sacrifice, who are returning to resume their lives. How are we honoring them?

The Decider thinks we have honored them enough, threatening to veto the new G. I. Bill of Rights passed in both the House and Senate that would pay full tuition and other expenses at a four-year public university for veterans who served in the military for at least three years since 9/11.

Ungenerous George.... "so lavish with other people's sacrifices, so reckless in pouring the national treasure into the sandy pit of Iraq, Mr. Bush remains as cheap as ever when it comes to helping people at home." (NY Times)

Bush, and to his great discredit, Sen. John McCain, argue against the bill because they don't want to give our troops anything that might lure them out of service.... better to keep the existing mediocre college benefits so that people in uniform are more likely to stay put, they insist.

Strawman reasoning since the C.B.O. predicts that the bill would offset the re-enlistment decline by increasing new recruits... by 16 percent.

McCain attacked Sen. Barack Obama for criticizing his opposition to the bill, and in his over-the-top diatribe sneered that since Obama hadn't served he couldn't possibly know as much about how to handle the military as McSame.

John, John, John.... you're woefully out-of-touch. You need to find your maverick "Straight Talking" self who fought against the "agents of intolerance" and put conscience over politics. Following in the lame and misguided footsteps of The Decider isn't the way to the high road.

In the meantime, in the spirit of Memorial Day, stand aside so this new and improved G. I. Bill can be enacted as partial repayment for the sacrifice of our soldiers. They deserve no less.

2 comments:

elgringocolombiano said...

Sup TH,

who do you like for the Obama VP pick, from stand point of who helps Obama win the campaign v McSame?

I like Wes Clark
1 Can be offered as a "peace offering" to the HillaRove supporters, since Clark endorsed HillaRove

2 Clark's experience as NATO general in 90s Balkans war can be sold by Obama as the "blueprint" for ending the Iraq War, as both Yugoslavia & Iraq are "fake" countries with borders defined by colonizers, who have many diff ethnic groups that hate each other.

3. #2 can also be used to trump McSame's military bragging rights over Obama. On military experience, General Clark >> McSame. & Clark achieved without McSame's nepotism of having Dad & Grandpa Admirals

4. #2 counts as Executive type experience, which Obama doesn't have having never been Governor/CEO/NATO General/etc

5 Clark's lack of DC insider experience gels with Obama's "change" "brand"

6 Clark, a military "regular joe" white guy, might could pull his state AR, as well as maybe help in these "whiteys that hate/fear Obama" states like WV.

7 Clark is an intelligent dude, very smart on military & foreign policy matters. Clark ain't gonna make McSame-type gaffs like confusing Sunni Al Qaeda with Shia Iran.

8 Obama can compare himself to Lincoln, a guy that hired the BEST qualified person for his cabinet, even if they weren't his political supporters, since Clark supported HillaRove. Obama can contrast himself with WOAT Bush, who filled his cabinet with his own weed carriers (eg Condi Rice) & his Dad's retreads (eg Cheney & Dumsfeld)

Nancy Tyrrel said...

Elgringocolombiano.... You make a good case for Clark. Stumbling blocks might be that he was savaged by the military brass and Bush administration when he ran for president (which could also be selling points), and he's not very exciting on the stump. I agree that he is whip smart. He would be one of my top favorites.

Others I would consider are Richardson, Webb and Biden.... can even see some merit in Hagel (if he clears himself on the voting machine issue).

Hillary is out of the question, her Kennedy remark reveals a black soul. If she ever had one, she's certainly lost her moral compass.