Deja’vu All Over Again

Does the Military Support Bush?

It’s widely known that the officer corps of the military is far more conservative than the U.S. population as a whole; accordingly, it’s not surprising that among the officer ranks support for Mr. Bush is likely to be extremely high. The enlisted ranks are a whole different animal, because they are far more diverse — in terms of race, educational levels, socio-economic background, etc. Now, one can easily understand why, in a time of conflict, one is likely to support one’s leader — no matter who he or she is; this phenomenon alone goes a long way at explaining why, at this time, the military is far more like to support the Commander-in-Chief. One has to wonder, though, about the levels of dissent that I know exist among the military ranks. Oftentimes, dissent in the military is not reported on because access to the troops is well regulated, and because the pentagon has cracked down on those servicemen and women that have spoken against the war.

Here’s an anecdote of a soldier from the 82nd Airborne:

“According to him, 75% of all soldiers want Bush defeated in the election and don’t care who defeats him; anger and resentment are high. He says that 90% of the officers remain far out of harm’s way, from lieutenants all the way up — and that only about 10% of the officer corps has some reasonable concern for the troops. There is general understanding that the officers are hiding in holes, or holding back in well-defended buildings and quite cavalier about sending troops out for assignments and errands that are frequently stupid, poorly planned, and dangerous.”

[...]

“Interestingly, he said that all enlisted men or officers in command positions have orders not to talk about their war experiences with the junior and fresh troops. He refuses — and tells those people under him everything he knows because he thinks it will help save their lives. When he went to Afghanistan at the beginning, basically nothing was told to them; he kept repeating “nothing.” And he said that their basic training in North Carolina was 180 degrees opposite of what they really needed to know for this kind of combat.” [Full post here]

You have to read the entire thing… it’s extremely powerful. Now, some may reflexively dismiss it, but from my experience I recognize the sentiments expressed in the post, and I know it — in general — to be true. I’ve recently spoken with some officers and enlisted men that served in Afghanistan and they all expressed the same level of frustration that this soldier from the 82nd spoke of.

I Still Belive

I am convinced that on November 2nd John Kerry will be CONCLUSIVELY elected president, unlike what occurred in 2000. Thereafter, Mr. Kerry will move to restore the international respect and goodwill that the Bush administration squandered over the past three and a half years.

I am hopeful and optimistic, and, like MANY MANY American citizens, I’m backing up my “faith with works;” so that on November 3rd I don’t wake up with this nagging question on my mind, “Did I do all I could do to put my country back on the right-track?”

I love my country, and I — and many others — recognize that what the Bush administration has wrought is not the kind of legacy I want to leave to those that come after me. Unfortunately, since 9/11, many well meaning Americans confused nationalism for patriotism, and in the process forgot about all those wonderful ideals and values that our country is supposed stand for. Just as a quick example of how down-is-up and up-is-down these days, Mr. Bush repeats over and over again that our boys are in Iraq to “fight for freedom”; however, here at home, Mr. Bush’s party — our Commander-in-Chief’s party — prohibits non-supporters from attending Republican rallies, unless they first sign an “oath of support” for Mr. Bush. [ref] In the other hand, Mr. Bush’s supporters are often seen at pro-Kerry rallies heckling the Democratic candidate.

I grew up believing in an America where dissent is viewed as legitimate, where dissent is tolerated and where our representatives are accountable to us. However, the Bush administration, and many of its supporters, do not belive in the kind of America that I grew up believing in. This is why I’m backing up my “faith with works,” so that others can grow up believing in the America I continue to belive in.

Republican Shenanigans

Incredible! I guess our Republican friends belive that the examples cited below have not “occurred” — please note #3, where a Republican party official has admitted guilt in court. The most malignant of these offenses is #1. Given that we live in America — a shinning example of democracy to the rest of the world — all citizens should be OUTRAGED that anyone would tarnish the name of American democracy by preventing our fellow citizens from exercising their RIGHT to vote. I am pissed off about the Oregon and Nevada voter registration card destruction (#1), which I see as the sort of thing I have come to expect from the Republican party. In my eyes, with this example, that party has proven once again how their rhetoric is completely empty of meaning, and how they’ll do anything to win — even if it means subverting the Constitution and trampling on basic human decency (not to mention federal law).

1. Republicans tear Democratic voter registration cards:

“I personally witnessed my supervisor at VOA, together with her personal assistant, destroy completed registration forms that VOA employees had collected,” said Russell. “All of the destroyed registration forms were for registrants who indicated their party preference as ‘Democrat.’” (link)

2. Ohio Secretary of State, a Republican, tried to invalidate voter registration cards because some of those new voter registration cards did not conform to an “archaic” rule requiring that the cards be on 80 lbs paper. Since the initial announcement the Secretary of State backpedaled and is now allowing those new registration cards to be counted. (link)

3. Phone jamming, initiated by Republican campaign operatives to suppress Democrats from voting in 2002 congressional election.

“Chuck McGee, the former executive director of the state Republican Party, pleaded guilty a few months ago to paying $15,600 to a Virginia telemarketing company to make the calls that jammed the get-out-the vote lines of Democrats the morning of the 2002 election.” (link)

“Trial Lawyer” Attack Line

True to party line, many Republicans are relying on the “Trial Lawyer” attack line. I’ve already come across comments like, “It’s lawyers like Edwards that make me sick.”

Well, it’s irresponsible lying men, like Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney, that have lead our nation into a war under false pretenses. A war that has cost thousands of lives; a war that has cost the hard fought respect of many nations and peoples around the world; a war that has cost billions of dollars to the American people. When placed on a scale, I would rather have an honorable lawyer, like Mr. Edwards, that’s fought for the wrongly injured, as a vice president; rather than the current vice president, whom continues to lie about connections between Al Queda and Iraq simply to justify what is increasingly seen as the wrong war.