“Most Republicans in civilian government avoided military service - Dick Cheney, is one that comes to mind.”
“Even Rush Limbaugh didn’t sign up.”
Never thought I would meet a conservative who would condone dodging the Vietnam draft.
One could say that dodging the draft was just another way of voting against LBJ.
I served in the U.S.Navy, 1980-1986, as a crypto-linguist with a TSC, and am a traditional Conservative (Goldwater-type).
Firmly, I believe active duty military service ought to be one of the eligibility requirements to serve in the Congress and the Presidency (V.P., too!.) If not enshrined in the Constitution, then unwritten and customary.
I didn't dodge, I didn't serve because I was not drafted, and did not join. Like 10's of millions like me, I lived a life not caring about "liberating the yellow man". I supported the troops, my brother and at least 9 cousins went to Vietnam. They all told me that if I joined anything but the Navy, I was stupid. The war was a lost cause to nearly all the guys that were "grunts". The reason it was a lost cause, the politicians played games with objectives, ROE, mens lives and the facts. How many POW's did we leave behind? We even left some behind in WW II for political expediency.
I know it sounds like I am a lefty, but I am not. I am just an average American that can SEE the waste of lives and treasure, for no gain. It has not always been so, but since the "smackdown" of McCarthur in Korea, it has been mostly true. I would not have volunteered to "free Kuwait", invade Iraq, or Afghanistan. The false premise shows now, or will be evident soon enough. We fight because we use war as a political tool, not to win a war and vanquish the enemy.
With all that I have written, if I knew then, what I know now about politicians, I would have protested the war in Vietnam.
Yes, the victory was stolen in Vietnam by our own politicians after a negotiated "victory". Communist expansion needed to be opposed, but why with proxy wars with no end in sight? The answer is, Billions for the politicians, money industrialists making arms, training for the professional soldier class, and to inevitably bankrupt the US Treasury.
Sorry, off subject a lot, but the point is, there is a big difference between not serving and being a draft dodger.
How many conservatives do you know, anyway?
I guess that depends on what the definition of Draft dodger is. My sergeant in the reserves told me I was nothing but a g-d m-f'n draft dodger..so, I guess I was one...and I'm definitely conservative as they come.
Rush Limbaugh was 4-F, he was not a “draft dodger”.
By the way avoiding military service is the same whether it is 1970 or 1990 or 2010, funny how even many none veteran conservatives only want to count the Vietnam war, which ironically, was overwhelmingly fought by volunteers, not draftees.
Oh my goodness, I thought he was back again....for a sec....