THE DRAFT IS COMING!!!!

The best the way to counter the "fear" campaign of the republicans and white house is to fight them with "fear" also, by campaigning that if bushco were re-defeated they will start drafting for the war in Iraq, as Sen. Edwards said. CBS News featured the draft in their news yesterday and I think it put fear on electorate with age 18-26 yead old. This may not be true but who cares as long as it will be good theme for us in the campaign. But who knows, maybe they are really planning to make the draft after the election, they denying it this time but how many times have they deny one thing then do it anyway.

•  no

  don't counter fear with fear. counter fear with knowledge.

  we don't want to cow voters into voting for our people. then we are bushco pt. ii. what we do want is to show people why our side is better, and get them to understand why they want us.

  i think that talking about a potential bush draft is a great way to do this, btw. but let's not fear-monger.

  by scottesposito on Wed Sep 29, 2004 at 08:40:48 AM PDT

  •  Whatever it takes...

    We've got one month left. Playing nice and hoping that the electorate will wake up or allow themselves to be educated ain't gonna' win this thing for us. It's too late and the stakes are too high.

    It's knee to the groin time!

    by RonV on Wed Sep 29, 2004 at 08:49:47 AM PDT

    •  Hell, yes, counter with fear!

      They are using every psychological trick in the playbook.

      We need to reach people on an emotional level too.  The good thing is we have the facts on our side.

      There's an e-mail about the possible renewal of the draft going around -- it's excellent.

      Snopes has put up a "debunking" of the message that assesses its truth as "probably not", but if you read the Snopes article, it's clear that they should really say "unknown".  

      A new draft is entirely possible.

      by Geheimbundler on Wed Sep 29, 2004 at 09:14:52 AM PDT

•  Well I heard...

  I heard from a friend whose ex-boyfriend is an Army recruiter that the recruiters have already been briefed that a draft will happen next summer.  Just a "rumor" really, but the Army at least is getting ready for it.

  by Nathan in MN on Wed Sep 29, 2004 at 08:47:09 AM PDT

•  Alterman Column

  I thought Eric Alterman had a good column on this topic in this week's Newsweek.  While acknowledging that the email circulating around campuses is an urban myth, Alterman makes a convincing case that Bush has spread our armed forces so thin that it won't take much to necessitate a draft.

  This is the one issue that makes me a passionate John Kerry supporter. I have a 16-year-old son and a 19-year-old daughter (who has a talent for learning foreign languages).  I am brought to tears when I think about how the way Bush chose to deploy our military resources may impact the choices my children have as they reach adulthood.

  by IllinoisMom on Wed Sep 29, 2004 at 08:54:43 AM PDT

  •  asdf

    Whoops!  Make that Jonathon Alter, not Eric Alterman.  How do I edit comments??

    by IllinoisMom on Wed Sep 29, 2004 at 08:58:52 AM PDT

    •  Unfortunately...

      Once you hit the "Post" button, it's permanent.  You can edit your diary entries, though.

      by A Texan in Maryland on Wed Sep 29, 2004 at 09:00:56 AM PDT

  •  It's coming

    I'd have to say that anyone that thinks it's not going to happen under another BFEE regime is living in a fantasy land.  Rumsfailed broke the military and people aren't buying into it's a great way to travel the world anymore.  Whenever I run into a particularly obnoxious person that can't believe I'd be voting for Kerry, I just tell them I don't want my son to die bleeding to death in the sands of Iran.  And if you don't think we are going there as soon as they think they can get away with it, you are a fool.

    by DanD on Wed Sep 29, 2004 at 09:04:45 AM PDT

•  Okay seriously.

  Yes, I know the draft bills were put out their by Democrats.  I know that when they were drafted it was to call attention to the fact that maybe going down this road wouldn't be such a good idea, unless everyone was prepared to send their own kids to battle.

  Well, now we have enemies everywhere, so at some point we keep trying to put out fires with forces, at some point I cannot see how a draft could be avoided if we keep talking war, going to war, and things escelate all over the world.

  So my take is this, (I have three sons, the oldest one has to register in a couple years) I want a president that will seek peace, not war.  I want security at the borders, alliances with countries that work to preserve peace, no aid unless countries work toward routing out terror, and a clear plan to preserve peace in the Middle East.  North Korea, Iran, and anyone else who thinks they are going to gain bombs need to be convinced not just by us, but by world standards that it is non-negotiable.

  I see no difference between suicide bombers who die willingly for their cause, and the blind willingness to die for our cause we impress upon our soldiers.  We expect to impose Democracy upon a people who scorn us, and all Democracy stands for.  At the same time, we are also caught in a cycle of theological debate in our own justice system.  

  The draft will come as long as we stay on the current path.  It will come as a crusade to the rest of the world, and will always be seen as one, no matter how it is marketed. Even if we win the battles, what exactly will we win?  I doubt very seriously it will be peace for our children and the grandchildren.

  by lilorphant on Wed Sep 29, 2004 at 09:01:29 AM PDT

  •  Well Said

    You really hit on the mark. These are my sentiments exactly.

    Thank you for sharing this to us.

    by private5star on Wed Sep 29, 2004 at 09:14:24 AM PDT

•  College CampaIgn

  "You're Gonna Get Drafted" - It's getting some criticism as a "fear tactic," but it also may be having an impact.  The Denver Post today reports on a new effort by Students for Kerry:

  Boulder - The table placards began showing up at the University of Colorado student center this week: "YOU'RE GONNA GET DRAFTED."
  The hundreds of tiny placards, attributed to Students for Kerry, scold: "You blew it. You didn't vote last time. ... Now you're gonna get drafted."

  At the University of Denver, students have been talking about the draft for weeks.

  At the Auraria Higher Education Center, home to three colleges, students talk about a potential draft in the food court.

  What might happen if this spread nationwide?

  by Sabarte on Wed Sep 29, 2004 at 10:02:12 AM PDT

•  Ok, fine. But is there some tangible proof that

  there will indeed be a draft? Could someone be so kind as to point out exact events that could lead to a draft? Just saying there will be one doesn't ut it for me in order to tell people there will be one.

  Thanks.

  by xsal on Wed Sep 29, 2004 at 10:17:44 AM PDT

  •  I meant any events that could

    be perceived as indications that a draft may be in the works.

    by xsal on Wed Sep 29, 2004 at 10:18:56 AM PDT