100 years of War vs. 4 Years of College

An endless war or a decent education: which one of these two does John McCain want for American veterans?

While McCain is willing to have troops in Iraq for a hundred years (and hey, in the interest of fairness, let's admit that what he actually said was... a million years) he's not willing to put support behind an improved version of the GI Bill that would help see more veterans through four years of college. General Wes Clark and VoteVets.org chairman Jon Soltz call on McCain to do his duty for veterans.

Sen. John McCain served his nation with honor in Vietnam, and he is right to be proud of his service. But by hedging on whether he will support a "GI Bill for the 21st Century," he is casting doubt on his own commitment to the newest generation of American heroes.

The Post-9/11 Veterans Act has an estimated cost of $2.5 to $4 billion -- or less than two weeks of what we're spending in Iraq.  It was put forward by Senator Jim Webb, and enjoys broad support from veteran's groups. McCain has already helped to block another important pro-veteran bill authored by Webb, the one that would have assured soldiers time to recover between deployments.  Now he's stalling improvements to veteran's education.

The Pentagon has come out against the bill for the most sickly cynical of reasons.

The Pentagon and White House have so far resisted a new GI Bill out of fear that too many will use it - choosing to shed the uniform in favor of school and civilian life.

In other words, how can you keep them putting their neck on the line if you give them options?  McCain hasn't made that argument against the bill, but then he hasn't made any argument at all.

There are three other Vietnam veterans in the Senate.  All have signed onto this bill.  Senator John Warner, the former chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the top Republican on the committee when McCain is on the campaign trail, has signed on.  In fact, there are already 51 cosponsors, but with the Republicans filibuster-by-default in place, it will take 60 to make this happen.

So where is McCain?

As de facto leader of the party, McCain could signal to other Republicans to sign on to the bill and assure passage. Instead, McCain has said he hasn't had time to read the bill and isn't sure if he could support it. It's hard to believe that neither he nor anyone on his staff has had time to read such an important bill, which has been around since before he started running for president.

Hillary Clinton made time to read this bill, and she has signed on.  Barack Obama made time to read this bill, and he has signed on.

John McCain has plenty of time to drone on about the danger of al-Qaeda being a Shi'ite faction, but he doesn't have time to consider a bill helping veterans?

•  this is why we can't have nice things

  n/t

  by Demosthenes on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:35:46 AM PDT

  •  Can we afford it?

    I am beginning to wonder if it makes any difference.

    How can we provide a GI bill if financially, the US can't afford the little extras that make society better?  Who knows how bad things are going to get wtih debt and the poor economy.

    We could cut the defense bill but we may have to do that for other reasons.

    by Jagger on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:58:36 AM PDT

•  I see that the Pentagon's solution...

  ...for fixing our broken military is the "Hotel California" plan: you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave.

  Support the troops!  Replace your yellow ribbon with a DEAD END sign!

  by The Termite on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:35:59 AM PDT

  •  lol

    yeah I wouldn't expect them to be too vocal about this~ Then again, they prove me wrong so often...

    by plok on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:50:44 AM PDT

  •  They're promoting de facto slavery

    like the old "company store" paradigm that kept miners eternally in debt and beholden to their employer. You have no optios, so you have no choice but to stay. That's unoffensive and yes, unamerican.

    by anastasia p on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:56:20 AM PDT

    •  That's unfair

      There's a way out.  You can always take a bullet.

      by The Termite on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:57:08 AM PDT

      •  yeah, and get Bu$hco's craptastic

        veteran's healthcare program.  Might as well issue a second bullet, so you can end the misery.

        by CParis on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:02:46 AM PDT

    •  Especially when there are no jobs

      waiting on the ones getting out. By creating a permanently impoverished class, the GOP guarantees many generations of future soldiers.  

      by entlord1 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:14:49 AM PDT

  •  Can't have both! The U.S. has ONLY..

    2 choices, either upgrade domestic social and physical infrastructure or continue to fight the Iraq War.We can't do both.

    by Barry Leonardini on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:00:14 AM PDT

  •  It isn't Hotel California

    It is more like a roach motel which shows how the powers that be view our guys in uniform. OTOH why be surprised; it has always been this way, predating the days when they told us Agent Orange was safe to bathe in.

    by entlord1 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:13:36 AM PDT

  •  Or, Worse Yet, the Roach Motel

    You check in, but you don't check out - especially with all the stop-loss bull$hit.

    by CityLightsLover on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:23:22 AM PDT

•  He graduated 895 out of 899

  Obviously he doesn't consider academics important.

  by JML9999 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:36:08 AM PDT

  •  You don't need academics to succeed.....

    you just need to follow the McCain Plan for Success in America: when the going gets rough ditch your family for a much younger trophy wife with scads of money, become a politician, and you'll never have to work again.

    by cometman on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:45:10 AM PDT

    •  not enough heiresses to go around

      is Paris Hilton still unattached?  Maybe Britney's getting lonely for hubby #3?

      by CParis on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:04:24 AM PDT

•  Why is this NOT TALKED ABOUT

  In the so called MSM?

  Its outrageous, the way the rethugs are conning Vets.
  Yet these Vets also confound the problem by voting rethug!

  by wuod kwatch on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:36:16 AM PDT

  •  Votevets.org is doing great stuff to awaken...

    ...the community of veterans to the truth, and show them who's really on their side.  It's slow going.

    by The Termite on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:38:41 AM PDT

    •  Please call it the traditional media

      Kos has a good point on the whole MSM thing -- we should not agree that we are not mainstream!

      by SoxFan04 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:47:21 AM PDT

      •  I didn't call it the MSM

        by The Termite on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:53:37 AM PDT

    •  Here is another vet site that has some good stuff

      http://www.vetvoice.com/...

      by Amber6541 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:47:56 AM PDT

      •  Ah, that's part of VoteVets.

        It's basically the blog for VoteVets.

        by BruinKid on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:30:29 AM PDT

        •  Thanks for the infoBruinKid. n/t

          by Amber6541 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 11:29:15 AM PDT

      •  Thanks Amber

        Vetvoice.com is the VoteVets.org Blog.

        JS

        by Jon Soltz on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 11:43:13 AM PDT

    •  Thanks

      For your support!

      Jon

      by Jon Soltz on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 11:42:49 AM PDT

  •  According to most recent count

    there are currently 33 countries in danger of collapsing into anarchy due to food shortages. Now why isn't the MSM covering this where thousands die unnecessarily from hunger instead of some starlet's newest underwear?

    by entlord1 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:16:41 AM PDT

•  Will McCain sign on?

  No. Supporting the troops means cheering them on while they kill and get killed.  Obviously, if they're getting an education, they won't be doing that.

  by therealcervantes on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:36:41 AM PDT

  •  Higher education...

    ...is the enemy of hegemony.

    by The Termite on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:39:31 AM PDT

•  Mccain wont be alive in 8 years.

  let alone 100.

  by Salo on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:40:01 AM PDT

  •  Some people might construe that statement...

    ...as creepy.

    by The Termite on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:54:38 AM PDT

    •  He's what?

      70 something, he's had a bout of cancer, maybe two. I doubt he'll be alive in 8 years.

      by Salo on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:59:15 AM PDT

      •  Nicely rephrased

        Reads less like the rantings of a would-be assassin or (worse yet) Bill Frist.

        ;)

        by The Termite on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:00:13 AM PDT

        •  assassin?

          omfg.

          He's a 70 year old man.

          by Salo on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:01:07 AM PDT

          •  It's a slow death.....

            Pahhhhh-rump.

            by xxdr zombiexx on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:15:35 AM PDT

  •  that is why he said 100 years

    McCain will not around or maybe he meant we will be Iraq when he is 100 years old.  

    by wishingwell on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:12:57 AM PDT

•  Veterans

  Who will they support?  Will they oppose McCain?  I'm afraid that he does not need to support a new GI Bill because he has the military vote pretty much locked up.  War hero and all that, you know.  He won't cut and run.

  by ZeroSum on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:40:16 AM PDT

  •  Not really

    Just make sure Iraq vets know about his stroll through that Baghdad market. The one that got both American soldiers, as well as Iraqi citizens killed, in the name of McCain getting a fucking photo op.

    by Hannibal on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:50:31 AM PDT

  •  All indications

    polls, surveys, studies and interviews have indicated that the military vote is absolutely NOT "locked up" by anyone at this point. People who have actually served can assess those knee-jerk "war hero" references for what they are perhaps even better than some of us can. How many active-duty service personnel do you think have seen through the protestations about "cut and run" and believe we're done there and just want to come home? I'll bet the number is significant.

    by anastasia p on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:00:04 AM PDT

    •  true as my nephew was in Iraq and a lot of

      his fellow soldiers are disgusted at Bush as they have no idea the purpose of their mission there. All they do is try to stay alive and try to keep Iraqis from killing their neighbors and protect the people the best they can. But other than staying alive, they have no idea what the hell they are doing there.

      by wishingwell on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:15:04 AM PDT

  •  Is that why Kerry won in 2004?

    After all he had a war record where the incumbent had no war record at all.  Military vote is there to be won or lost but getting Limbaugh off Armed Forces Radio would be a good start since so many in the military are told his is a news show.

    by entlord1 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:18:29 AM PDT

•  The longer a civilian government forces

  its military to stay in the military with no other options... well, let's just say that is not the wisest long-term policy for government by civilians.

  by vox humana on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:40:19 AM PDT

  •  This administration has shown little concern

    for the military, in any way.
     It make me so sad and mad every time I read about another stop loss or other injustice to our military.  It is abuse.

    by Amber6541 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:51:28 AM PDT

•  Well the "little jerk"

  McCain's other mouthpiece said that Webb could sign them up to sit and listen to the specifics of the bill, whatever that means.  Should take all of 30 seconds!

  It wouldn't be too hard for the corporate media to point out one more example of how McCain "supports" the troops.

  by Molly M on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:40:27 AM PDT

  •  whatever that means

    absolutely nothing it's double talk in triplicate

    by JML9999 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:41:53 AM PDT

•  McCain subscribes to W's model for preparation

  He doesn't have time to read.  Sound familiar ??

  W's lifetime is a tribute to lack of preparation.  McCain seems to want to follow in that model. The US is in a war to save Iraq for democracy and he still can't distinguish between the 2 major sects of the largest religion in the region, if not the planet.

  I hope the voters realize that all this damage to the republic has happened at their expense, and that they throw the bastards out for at least a generation or two.

  by AllanTBG on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:40:54 AM PDT

  •  Amen to this sentence -

    AllanTBG - "I hope the voters realize that all this damage to the republic has happened at their expense, and that they throw the bastards out for at least a generation or two."

    by Amber6541 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:54:16 AM PDT

  •  Born to Lead - Not to Read!

    by CityLightsLover on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:26:21 AM PDT

•  Dead = fixed

  If you are killed off in a war, you don't need a college education.  Problem fixed by McCain.

  by dan667 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:40:56 AM PDT

•  He can't be for this...

  ... Else where is he gonna get soldiers for The American 100 Years War?

  by punditician on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:43:48 AM PDT

  •  military service is fast-tract to citizenship

    for immigrants.  Just break open a hole in the new Halliburton-Cheney border fence and collect a fresh batch of recruits.
    See, it's easy!

    by CParis on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:08:51 AM PDT

    •  Unless you get killed

      Dependents of noncitizens killed in service as deported before the body of their beloved cools down.

      by entlord1 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:19:27 AM PDT

•  An Indicator of McCain's Priorities

  ...and apparently the best interests of the troops aren't very high on his priority list.  

  by kurious on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:43:52 AM PDT

  •  I hope Vote Vets and other 527s run ads for

    the General election about the true McCain and how he is not interested in helping the troops and he will use them, just like Bush did.

    by wishingwell on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:17:19 AM PDT

•  John McBoth Sides of His Mouth

  Stay in Iraq but serve the vet.

  Straight talk but botch the facts.

  Maverick who parrots Bush and worst.

  What a leader.

  by CW Wisconsin on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:44:46 AM PDT

•  The military won't even provide...

  ..the military education soldiers need to advance their own military careers.  A solider I know currently in his second tour in Iraq (a fifteen monther) is in career deadlock because he cannot fit in the miliary education he needs to take over his next command around his Iraq deployment schedules.  Many others are in the same boat.  

  If the need for troops is so tight that they will not allow soldiers the time necessary to get their own military education -- which creates all kinds of obvious problems down the road -- you can imagine the reception that Webb's improved GI Bill is getting by the idiots in charge.  

  by SoxFan04 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:45:58 AM PDT

•  Mr. McCain, your hypocrisy knows no bounds. n/t

  by FXDCI on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:46:44 AM PDT

  •  His speech at the VFW recently while not signed

    on to the new GI Bill is insufferable.
     What a stooge.

    by KenBee on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 12:03:46 PM PDT

•  John McCain is an authoritarian.

  Authoritarians are convinced that they are entitled to be obeyed, regardless of the consequences for those who obey.  Indeed, they don't look for the consequences to be positive because that would be rewarding obedience and rewarded obedience means that authority is diminished.

  Bottom line is that the autoritarian's demands must produce negative consequences (that's why they're HARD choices), if the authoritarian's power is to be shown in the proper light.

  The consequences of authoritarian rule are bound to be negative.

  by hannah on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:47:36 AM PDT

•  You can't even discuss

  a frickin GI Bill without being overwhelmed by the stench of desperation from the Bush/Cheney Pentagon.

  by plok on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:49:28 AM PDT

•  tell me again,

  how is it that the democrats are the "elites"?  You have Bush and McCain wanting to limit educational opportunities to those like themselves...those who were born into privilege.  

  by tjb22 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:50:12 AM PDT

•  The real reason...

  The Pentagon and White House have so far resisted a new GI Bill out of fear that too many will use it - choosing to shed the uniform in favor of school and civilian life.

  I thought Republicans loved to implement criteria so as to determine who is "eligible" & "ineligible" when it comes to government programs.

  They could do this with the GI Bill if so inclined.  But you don't want these soldiers getting educated at these liberal colleges & universities.  They might hook-up with one of those anti-war hippie profs who talk bad about  Bush & Cheney & their neocon criminal henchmen.

  That's the real reason the Pentagon, White House & McCain don't want this passed:  An education (as opposed to a steady dose of pro-war propaganda) will enlightened our soldiers to the whole Bush/Cheney war scam.  The last thing a Totalitarian regime wants is its soldiers being subjected to  critical, outside the box  thought.

  by wyvern on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:51:16 AM PDT

  •  Back in The 18th and 19th

    centuries, there were serious discussions about the draw backs of educating people "above their station in life".  In other words, education should be for the privileged few on top...to offer it to anyone else would just upset the social order and create confusion in the individual about their proper place in society.

    by tjb22 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:53:54 AM PDT

    •  But in the 20th century...

      ..Our government was enlightened enough to realize the G.I. Bill (after WWII) was a smart thing  to implement.

      Not only did the 20th century G.I. Bill help create the  post-1940's  middle class, it was also directly responsible for great works of literature like Jack Kerouac's On the Road.

      But Bush/Cheney/McCain think all that is  "left wing pacifist bullshit."

      That's why they are determined to keep this country's 21st century heroes forever ignorant & afraid.

      by wyvern on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:03:42 AM PDT

      •  They want to undo

        all that "new deal" type of thinking and go back to what they consider the glory years.  

        Seriously, I think that's a lot what Iraq is all about...it was the neo-conservatives' change to put all of their whacked out notions about the proper economic and social ordering of a society into place...using their neo-conservative vision.  Show that it could be done better their way than it was in Europe and Japan after WWII.

        by tjb22 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:07:16 AM PDT

      •  You are Singing My Song

        Without the original GI Bill, we also wouldn't have the great works of Lawrence Ferlinghetti, William S. Burroughs, and others of the authors that the sun rises and sets with as far as I'm concerned.

        by CityLightsLover on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:30:35 AM PDT

    •  that goes back at least to

      the 1000's and feudalism. Hopefully we have moved beyond such concepts as God fixing your station in life while you are still in the womb

      by entlord1 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:20:46 AM PDT

      •  Well, all of us here have, I daresay...

        People like Bush and McCain?  I'm not so sure...yeah, they'll drag out their token "hard luck" cases in order to prove they have no prejudice, but they believe they have the right to pick and choose who gets the opportunities.  

        by tjb22 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:23:42 AM PDT

      •  Sorry. Nope, We Haven't.

        by CityLightsLover on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:31:11 AM PDT

  •  Thank You So Much!

    From one of "those anti-war hippie profs who talk bad about Bush & Cheney & their neocon criminal henchmen", I am truly honored for the shout-out!

    by CityLightsLover on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:28:51 AM PDT

•  Supporting Troops and Educating Them Is

  Obviously a contradiction, and morally reprehensible.  When will we libs learn how to support them the correct way: by getting them shot.

  by SteamPunkX on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:51:23 AM PDT

  •  Don't forget

    Giving them subpar equipment from contractors who bribe the right politicians, using them for photo ops, using them as props for press conferences, using them to secure oil fields for oil companies...

    by Hannibal on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:55:10 AM PDT

  •  Yes

    And then extending them and their familes the thanks finger of a grateful apathetic nation.

    by The Termite on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:56:12 AM PDT

    •  someday

      someone will teach me how to make strikethrough text.

      by SteamPunkX on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:59:44 AM PDT

      •  it is easy

        All you do is insert a dash on either side of what you wish to strikethrough, with no spaces.

        Like this:

        dashthanksdash finger of a dashgratefuldash apathetic nation

        by The Termite on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:01:34 AM PDT

        •  THANKS! nt

          by SteamPunkX on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:04:11 AM PDT

        •  And, Thanks from Me, Too!

          I'll have to try to remember this.

          by CityLightsLover on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:34:03 AM PDT

•  well, john is busy, thats why he hasn't had time

  to read it. He's on some kind of memory tour, using the straight talk expressway. or is it the straight talk bus? straight something or other...

  by pickandshovel on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:56:42 AM PDT

  •  A Straight Talk Horse and Buggy...

    ...would be more of Senator McCentury's generation, would it not?

    by CityLightsLover on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:34:56 AM PDT

•  Not only a sickly cynical reason...

     The Pentagon and White House have so far resisted a new GI Bill out of fear that too many will use it - choosing to shed the uniform in favor of school and civilian life.

  but it doesn't even make sense. Sure, there would be some who'd leave for school, but wouldn't it also be a draw for more to join?

  by thejeff on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:59:24 AM PDT

  •  They despise higher education.

    by xxdr zombiexx on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:18:56 AM PDT

•  McCain got his...

  ...screw them damn kids!

  by JeffW on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:07:55 AM PDT

•  What have colleges ever done for us?

  by xxdr zombiexx on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:14:45 AM PDT

•  Pentagon & WhiteHouse Tonight's WPITW!!

  They really had the audacity to say that - absolutely unf*ckin' believable. Keith, if you're reading this, that little gem might be good for BUSHED!, too, under "Support the Troops-Gate" or something!! *&^%$#@!

  by CityLightsLover on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:22:23 AM PDT

•  ONLY 51 co-sponsors?

  And that includes Hagel and Warner?

  OK, which Democrat has NOT signed on to this bill yet?

  And lemme guess, Joe Lieberman has NOT signed on.  Right?

  by BruinKid on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:26:26 AM PDT

  •  No, wait. Lieberman has signed on.

    OK, props to Joe where props are due.  The bill's co-sponsors are as follows:

    Sen Baucus, Max [MT] - 6/12/2007
    Sen Bayh, Evan [IN] - 12/4/2007
    Sen Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [DE] - 12/3/2007
    Sen Bingaman, Jeff [NM] - 2/26/2007
    Sen Bond, Christopher S. [MO] - 4/7/2008
    Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA] - 2/26/2007
    Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] - 5/9/2007
    Sen Byrd, Robert C. [WV] - 3/10/2008
    Sen Cardin, Benjamin L. [MD] - 3/6/2008
    Sen Casey, Robert P., Jr. [PA] - 5/10/2007
    Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] - 5/14/2007
    Sen Coleman, Norm [MN] - 3/11/2008
    Sen Collins, Susan M. [ME] - 9/24/2007
    Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] - 3/11/2008
    Sen Domenici, Pete V. [NM] - 2/29/2008
    Sen Dorgan, Byron L. [ND] - 12/3/2007
    Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] - 3/13/2007
    Sen Feinstein, Dianne [CA] - 11/15/2007
    Sen Hagel, Chuck [NE] - 10/24/2007
    Sen Harkin, Tom [IA] - 6/12/2007
    Sen Inhofe, James M. [OK] - 2/29/2008
    Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] - 9/11/2007
    Sen Johnson, Tim [SD] - 12/18/2007
    Sen Kennedy, Edward M. [MA] - 2/28/2008
    Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] - 3/1/2007
    Sen Klobuchar, Amy [MN] - 3/6/2008
    Sen Kohl, Herb [WI] - 3/13/2008
    Sen Landrieu, Mary L. [LA] - 5/23/2007
    Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ] - 6/13/2007
    Sen Leahy, Patrick J. [VT] - 3/3/2008
    Sen Lieberman, Joseph I. [CT] - 4/3/2008
    Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. [AR] - 1/29/2008
    Sen Lugar, Richard G. [IN] - 2/28/2008
    Sen McCaskill, Claire [MO] - 2/26/2007
    Sen Menendez, Robert [NJ] - 6/27/2007
    Sen Mikulski, Barbara A. [MD] - 2/16/2007
    Sen Murray, Patty [WA] - 3/5/2008
    Sen Nelson, Bill [FL] - 3/5/2008
    Sen Obama, Barack [IL] - 11/14/2007
    Sen Pryor, Mark L. [AR] - 1/22/2008
    Sen Reid, Harry [NV] - 10/22/2007
    Sen Rockefeller, John D., IV [WV] - 2/25/2008
    Sen Salazar, Ken [CO] - 2/28/2008
    Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] - 2/16/2007
    Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] - 2/28/2008
    Sen Smith, Gordon H. [OR] - 3/5/2008
    Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] - 9/12/2007
    Sen Stabenow, Debbie [MI] - 4/16/2007
    Sen Tester, Jon [MT] - 3/22/2007
    Sen Warner, John [VA] - 2/29/2008
    Sen Whitehouse, Sheldon [RI] - 6/27/2007
    Sen Wyden, Ron [OR] - 3/19/2007

    So that means these Democrats have NOT signed on yet.  WTF?

    Daniel Akaka (HI)
    Maria Cantwell (WA)
    Tom Carper (DE)
    Kent Conrad (ND)
    Russ Feingold (WI)
    Carl Levin (MI)
    Ben Nelson (NE)
    Jack Reed (RI)

    Um, why hasn't Feingold signed on to this yet???  It's a bit bizarre for us to demand that McCain sign on to this, when one of our heroes, Russ Feingold, hasn't bothered to put his name down on this.

    by BruinKid on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:44:52 AM PDT

•  John "1 Million Years in Iraq" McCain

  God.

  What happened to McCain?

  I mean, I never liked him. But I at least felt like our differences were honest.

  Remember that? An honorable opponent?

  But in the last 6 years, he's just...

  Did someone remove his spine?

  by Adistius on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:32:46 AM PDT

  •  I think we're finally seeing the real John McCain

    The other was a figment of the media's imagination.
    I guess when you run for POTUS, people get to see the real you.  No stone or character trait is left unturned.  As for McCain's spine, it takes a lot of spine to say that ". . . it's fine"  to stay in Iraq for more than 100 years.  It also takes  a measure of stupidity.  In many unexpected ways, Mr. McCain is truly another George W. Bush.  Is he using the presidency as a way to outdo his famous father and grandfather?  Unfortunately for us, he wasn't able to achieve this goal in the navy.

    by trinite on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:48:13 AM PDT

  •  Whipped Puppy

    McCain got knifed by the Bushies in 2000 and ol' "Warrior" John came skulking back in 2004 like an abused puppy asking forgiveness. As reward, he is getting his chance in 2008. But he can't now repudiated the National Security State and all its tenets and still keep the money coming. It is not much more complicated than that.

    McCain is the most recent front man for that group of thugs who knew we were going into Iraq to stay without any intention of leaving until the oil reserves are sucked dry. Given the dire energy predicament the world is careening toward, a very large US footprint in the heart of the Strategic Ellipse was called for stat. Petreaus' job has been to keep the boots firmly in place until McCain has a chance to get himself elected. Mission Accomplished.

    by Wahrheit on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 01:19:14 PM PDT

•  Can we fucking GET A COMMERCIAL OUT THERE?!

  This shocks people when I tell them this.

  by SemDem on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:34:05 AM PDT

•  My situation with education in the Army

  I am an officer in the Army. I enlisted as a Private (E-1) back in 1999. My first reenlistment I received the "college option" in my contract, so I was allowed to go to college during duty hours for one semester, so I took 15 hours. From there I used the 100% tuition assistance program and took four more classes (12 hours), and my university gave me 29 credit hours for my prior military education. I reenlisted again so I would have the required time left so I could do the Green to Gold Program through ROTC where I was in a non-deployable status for two years, assigned to my university, and did nothing but college for two years to finish my bachelor's degree. I used about 90% of my total GI Bill to pay for those two years of school (89 hours, yes 89 in two years) because I couldn't receive tuition assistance while in ROTC and on active duty (something about the way the bill is written) and have a four year commitment to the Army. I have been an officer for almost two years now, and have completed four classes towards my first master's degree using the tuition assistance program. Every class I take and use tuition assistance I incur a two-year commitment from the day the class ends. I also have it written in my commissioning contract the the army will send me back to school for two whole years to get a master's degree, fully funded (Harvard if I can get in), even if I already finished this first one. I cannot use my graduate school option until I have been an officer for five years minimum (I believe), and for each day I spend in class at graduate school I owe the Army three days of service. So a two year master's program will effectively make me pay back six more years. All in all, when I commissioned in my seventh year of service, with the graduate school option and the timing of when I can actually use it, I effectively signed myself up for a 22 year career.

  I completely understood every option I signed up for before I signed, and I knew what I was doing. I don't mind because I love the Army, and the benefits I receive makes it even better. Once this is all said and done, the Army will have paid for one bachelor's and two master's degree, and four of my 22 years of service will be in a non-deployable status, on active duty getting paid, doing nothing but going to school. I have worked the system to its extreme, I believe. This is not available to everyone.

  I emailed about 100 of my closest friends about the petition at TheRealMccain.com to get them to sign on and put some pressure on this guy. I don't think everyone should have to retire from the Army in order to be taken care of. If you serve your nation in a time of war, that is more than 95% of the rest of the population can say, and we should take care of you (nothing against anyone who hasn't worn the uniform).

  Oh yeah, GO OBAMA! (sorry so long)

  by Matt from Iraq on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 12:26:49 PM PDT

  •  VoteVets.org

    Hey Matt,

    How are things for you in Iraq?  Have you signed up at VoteVets.org?

    Please check out our blog at www.vetvoice.com

    JS

    by Jon Soltz on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 01:28:07 PM PDT

•  He needs to be NAILED for this

  Because there is no excuse for him and the wrap themselves in the flag crowd NOT to support this bill.

  by rikyrah on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 12:45:01 PM PDT

•  bumper stickers!

  

  JOHN McCAIN IS YOUR NEW LOGO

  by lukas on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 01:45:23 PM PDT

•  It's not directly related, but agh! Why do they

  let the Republicans have a painless filibuster!?  You might think the "pain" being avoided is that of going through the motions and losing time on other bills, but the real pain being avoided is the political price 40 members of Congress would pay if they had to officially go on the record as being willing to filibuster legislation for veterans.

  Probably the same for all the other things they do this to.  What, are they afraid they'll pay a price too? It's not their fault Republicans want to be obstructionists, and won't let anything get an upperdownvote!

  by someone else on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 02:52:19 PM PDT