Politics – McCain's silence on the GI Bill may surprise some. But organizations that have followed the McCain's voting record have noted that McCain's actions are rarely in line with the interests of veterans' organizations. In 2006, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave Senator McCain a grade of "D" based on his voting record.
The simple fact is that McCain, when you come right down to it and all his "I support the troops" rhetoric to the contrary, pays at best lip service toward our men and women in uniform!
The bottom line is that McCain, like GW Bush, could really care less about them, and sees them as simply another disposable tool to use to further his political ambitions!
It's like most Republicans. Their support for the troops stops at the ribbon magnet on the back of their car.
http://abcnews.go.com/images/Politics/CBO Letter S 22.pdf
"Educational benefits have been shown to raise the number of military recruits. CBO calculates that raising the educational benefits as proposed in S.22 would result in a 16% increase in recruits.
To maintain the same force levels and thus the same number of recruits, enlistment bonuses and other recruiting costs could be reduced. The marginal cost of enlistment bonuses and other expenditures necessary to attract an additional enlistment is about $35,000. CBO estimates that reduced spending for those purposes would result ina savings of almost $5.6 billion between 2009-2013.
CBO estimates that selective reenlistment bonuses of $25,000 for each first-term servicemember who reenlists would offset the expected effects on retention of increased educational benefits, resulting in a cost of $6.7 billion between 2009-2013."
Yet, McCain has no qualms overpaying a major campaign contributor by 200%.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2...
"Sen. John McCain secured millions in federal funds for a land acquisition program that provided a windfall for an Arizona developer whose executives were major campaign donors.
McCain, who has made fighting special-interest projects a centerpiece of his presidential campaign, inserted $14.3 million in a 2003 defense bill to buy land around Luke AFB in a provision sought by SunCor Development.
The Air Force later paid SunCor $3 million for 122 acres near the base. It was the highest single land transaction of the private lots purchased by the government - three times the county's assessed value and twice the military's estimated value.
McCain's campaigns have received $224,000 since 1998 from donors connected to Pinnacle West, including $104,100 for his current presidential run."
The GI bill paid of many times over what we invested in it. The RepugniCon problem with it is it doesn't transfer money directly from middle income taxpayers to the ultra wealthy elites they shill for. They believe in trickle down, not trickle up.
A rising tide really does lift all boats. A constant rainstorm from above sinks them.
Why educate your slaves ? So they can someday revolt ?
The repugs in charge will always wave a flag , be it national or corporate, it matters not which corporation or nation the flag belongs to as long as it is one that allows the rich to keep getting richer and the poor to keep dying to ensure that nothing changes. Saudi Arabian flags come to mind as does the Enron flag. They still expect soldiers who serve them to take what they offer and nothing more.
McCain is truly Bush III. Bush doesn't support the veterans either. McCain has voted only 20% of the time for veteran issues whereas both Obama and Clinton have voted 80% of the time for the same issues. Does this not send a message to our veterans? Who should they be voting for this fall?
Of course, the veterans can always go out, dump their existing family including their disabled wife, and marry a rich woman. That way they can afford to do as they please and not have to worry about such things, just like their future wannabe Commander in Chief, Flip Flop John.
I like to think that the First Lady is a woman we can all look up to and respect, even if we do not agree with the spouse or even the First Lady.
However, Cindy:
* stole someone`s husband
* stole from a charity (could not be bothered to use her own hundreds of millions)
* stole recipes to try to capitalize on newfound fame
* committed felony act of purchasing, owning, and consuming controlled substances for which she did not have a prescription and/or she lied to obtain a prescription
I am all for giving people a second chance, but it is not like the idle rich are the only ones who deserve a second chance. In fact, imo, it is the opposite.
I honestly believe if McCain were to somehow "steal" the presidential election, the VA will be one of the first things on his list to destroy.
Then he will try to privatize SS, and destroy that for we who already receive it, and all future generations. The only way we will survive a McCain presidency is with a Dem Congress.
The only way we will survive a McCain presidency is with a Dem Congress.
~~~~~~~~~
Unfortunately, it would take a 100% Dem Congress because even a majority, like we have now, hasn't been able to stop GWB.
I think you will see our majority grow significantly in this next election. Then you will see some things getting done. Let's just hope the Democrats don't get full of themselves like the Republicans did and waste time and money feeding special interests.
Agreed!
I don't think we'll see enough gains in the senate to overcome the repeated filibusters. If we don't get enough to overcome filibusters, we do need someone with the willingness to shout from the rooftops exactly why nothing is getting done.
I respectfully disagee with yo bruhaha.I think this next election is the turning point in our country(if we can just last that long)and we will see one of the largest losses of repub senate seats in our history.People can sometimes be dumb,but all 300 million of us aren't blind.Take this thread for instance,where are the bush supporters ?The same will happen in the election,they won't show because the actions of the past eight years can not be defended.It doesn't matter if it's Obama or Hillary,all they have to do is hold up bush boys sign that said "mission accomplished " and everything that has been wrong with these turds will be said in those two words.
The new G I Bill is so loaded with domestic pork no one should vote for it. Democrats know no one believes in the socialist issues they want so they cannot pass them on their own. They tie Amnesty, increased spending, etc to any bill they think they can stuff down our throats. Thank you for not passuing this one.
Democrats know no one believes in the socialist issues they want so they cannot pass them on their own.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So WHY have so many REPUBLICAN signed on to co-sponsor the bill?
How many? Evidentally not enough to pass it.
ANIOKLY:
"The new G I Bill is so loaded with domestic pork no one should vote for it."
Obviously, you did not bother to read the Congressional Budget Office report I posted, which reports that the costs could easily be recouped by reducing recruitment costs.
"Educational benefits have been shown to raise the number of military recruits. CBO calculates that raising the educational benefits as proposed in S.22 would result in a 16% increase in recruits.
To maintain the same force levels and thus the same number of recruits, enlistment bonuses and other recruiting costs could be reduced. The marginal cost of enlistment bonuses and other expenditures necessary to attract an additional enlistment is about $35,000. CBO estimates that reduced spending for those purposes would result in a SAVINGS OF ALMOST $5.6 BILLION between 2009-2013."
You support spending money to send troops into war, but not spending money to heal and educate them.
Despicable.
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"McCain supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans just 20% of the time.
McCain voted almost a dozen separate times against spending additional money on veterans' health care in 2005 and 2006, even as thousands of soldiers were returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
McCain voted against expanding mental health care and readjustment counseling for returning service members, efforts to expand inpatient and outpatient treatment for injured veterans, and proposals to lower co-payments and enrollment fees for prescription drugs.
McCain's vote also helped defeat a proposal by Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow that would have made veterans' health care an entitlement program.
Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, both support the bipartisan effort to improve the GI Bill. In 2006, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave Obama a B and Clinton an A-. Obama and Clinton both voted with the interest of Disabled American Veterans 80% of the time."
The D.A.V. I have been donating to them since the early 80s, when I first became solvent.
Well anyone who pays attention to votes for vets knows that the Repugnant Cons always shout the loudest about "supporting our troops" but that when it comes down to dollars and programs it's the Democrats who actually do anything.
Obama? The same guy who voted to defund troops in the field? He somehow is supposed to be a "champion" of veterans?
As reported on MSNBC...
"It is absurd for Barack Obama to question John McCain's commitment to America's veterans, when Obama himself voted against funding our nation's veterans and troops in the field during a time of war," McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said in an emailed statement. "Voters need a leader with uncompromising judgment, and will reject Barack Obama's decision to vote against funding our troops in the field, after he said it would be irresponsible to do so."
Every vote to "fund" the war was taken when there was still more than 4-6 months funding left from the previous funding vote. No risk of anything other than debating where the money would best serve our nation: Rebuilding Iraq and Haliburton's bank account or rebuilding our failing nation.
"No risk of anything other than debating where the money would best serve our nation: Rebuilding Iraq and Haliburton's bank account or rebuilding our failing nation."
Ah yes, more of that Haliburton BS. Diane Feinstein - a DEMOCRAT - is the only one busted profiteering from the war, there, bubba.
The troops were at risk of losing valuable funding because of the likes of Obama. You can pretend it meant nothing, but veterans know better.
Also, Wesley Clark is a Democrat operative, as is the "VoteVets.org. Of course those Democrats are going to put out anti-McCain BS. Veterans will vote for him anyway.
LIBS:
"Obama? The same guy who voted to defund troops in the field? He somehow is supposed to be a 'champion' of veterans? The troops were at risk of losing valuable funding because of the likes of Obama."
Where do you get your information? Do you believe EVERYTHING you get via email? LOL.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007...
"Senator Barack Obama yesterday defended his votes on behalf of funding the Iraq war, asserting that he has always made clear that he supports funding for US troops despite his consistent opposition to the war. Obama has voted for ALL of the president's war funding requests since coming to the Senate, and is poised to vote in favor of the latest request.
Obama explained his initial opposition to the $87 billion was based on the fact that $20 billion of that sum was earmarked for reconstruction projects that he feared would be awarded by the White House in no-bid contracts."
It is BUSH and REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMEN who opposed Iraq funding for fear of a 0.5% tax increase for those making over $500k annually.
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,859...
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/R?cp110:F...
"The war spending would provide $163 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan into next year. But Democrats are focusing more on their add-ons, especially the big increase in the GI Bill and an extension of unemployment insurance for people whose benefits have run out. The two items have led the White House to promise to veto the measure.
The House also was poised to approve an extra tax on the wealthy. The new revenue would help cover the 10-year, $52 billion cost of bolstering the GI Bill and providing those veterans with a college education. Republicans and business groups are balking at the 0.5% increase in tax rates on income topping $500,000 for individuals and $1 million for couples."
http://vets4mccain.com/
" Veterans support Senator John McCain because he is the most qualified candidate for President and Commander in Chief. Senator John McCain has a remarkable record of leadership and experience that embodies his unwavering lifetime commitment to service. Military Vets know that as the son and grandson of distinguished Navy admirals, Senator McCain deeply values duty, honor and service of country. Veterans also know that Senator John McCain will not settle for anything less than VICTORY in the Global War on Terror, and the Iraq battlefield. Vets will support John McCain on November 4. Vets are for McCain!"
You can add to it his oldest son is an Iraq War veteran and his youngest will be deployed there soon.
Military and vets hate McCain because he is a wuzzy sell-out who puts personal agenda over integrity.
70% of Iraqi veterans give money to anti-war candidates
http://www.omgili.com/newsgroups/alt/fan/dan-qu... order:newer
http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com...
Academy room-mate and fellow POW says McCain aint presidential material:
http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,164859_...
Obama and Paul, two most anti-war candidates, lead in military donations
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3601542
LIBS:
"Veterans support Senator John McCain"
Not all of them do.
http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com/
"Vietnam Veterans Against John McCain was formed to dispel the myth of Straight talkin', principled, maverick war hero.
Navy pilot John Sidney McCain III should have never been allowed to graduate from the U.S. Navy flight school. He was a below average student and a lousy pilot. During his relative short stunt on flight status, McCain III lost five U.S. Navy aircraft, four in accidents. Robert Timberg wrote that McCain's 'performance was below par, at best good enough to get by."
http://www.usvetdsp.com/jan08/mccain_military_r...
"McCain's grades were 'marginal.' He drew so many demerits for breaking curfew and other discipline issues that he graduated fifth from the bottom of the class of 1958."
Even McCain's old floormate from Annapolis and fellow POW won't support him.
http://politics.propeller.com/story/2008/04/30/...
"John McCain is a long-time acquaintance of mine at the U.S. Naval Academy and as Prisoners of War in Vietnam. There are a number of reasons why I will not vote for him for President.
Believe me when I say that back then I would never in a million or more years have dreamed that the crazy guy across the hall would someday be a Senator and candidate for President!
John was a wild man. He was intent on breaking every USNA regulation in our USNA Regulations book.
McCain barely managed to graduate, standing 5th from the bottom of his 800 man graduating class. I and many others have speculated that the main reason he did graduate was because his father was an Admiral, and also his grandfather, both U.S. Naval Academy graduates."
You know McCain's campaign is in trouble when even ONE OF MCCAIN'S CAMPAIGN ADVISORS, Mark McKinnon, would rather step down than campaign against Obama.
LOL!
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/02...
"On Wednesday, a top adviser to John McCain said more definitively than he has in the past that he will step down from the Arizona senator's presidential campaign if the presumed GOP nominee faces Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in the general election.
'I would simply be uncomfortable being in a campaign that would be inevitably attacking Barack Obama,' said McCain adviser Mark McKinnon in an interview with NPR. McKinnon gushed about the Illinois Democrat. I met Barack Obama, I read his book, I like him a great deal,' said McKinnon.
LIBS:
"You can add to it his oldest son is an Iraq War veteran and his youngest will be deployed there soon."
What's your point? Highly-decorated, former military Jim Webb (D-VA) has a son CURRENTLY SERVING in the marines in Iraq. You're not going to an argument on who has supported the military longer and who is the bigger patriot against someone like Jim Webb (D-VA).
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-01...
"Webb is a combat veteran and served as secretary of the Navy in the Reagan administration. His eldest son and namesake is a Marine stationed in Iraq."
lrf have you met a veteran? I have been honored to work with, volunteer with and met lots of veterans and all of them do not like McCain. Not a one has anything nice to say about him. Not a one. Most were in combat. Even the ones that weren't don't like him.
vets4mccain are they combat veterans? or were they at home during the war?
At least McCain has children who fought and are fighting in Iraq. Still doesn't excuse his lack of standing up for veterans rights.
****sorry ybdogsct meant to give you a positive.
Libs,
Your hero, George Bush, is as far as I know the first and only president ever to veto funding of our troops during a time of war.