[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

The military has most of the best people left in this country.

Not for long.

My niece's command recruiter lost FOUR sure-thing reenlistments yesterday, first thing in the morning.

The troops are going to vote with their feet. They can read the writing on the wall.

[RobFromGa]

The troops are going to vote with their feet.

That is one of my major concerns-- they need to know that the American people are going to stand behind them and that the election results will not change that. We cannot just hit the snooze button on this War.

[Howlin]

Nobody thought that through, did they?

[A Balrog of Morgoth]

The troops are going to vote with their feet. They can read the writing on the wall.

Well, we need to see just how this plays out. The Democrats don't enjoy the huge majorities they did the last time they were able to stab the military in the back.

Don't forget that the President, as disappointed as some of us may be with him right now, has seen us through quite a few rough patches these last few years.

I think the real barometer of how things in Iraq are going is the reenlistment rates, especially in units that are deployed there.

If those start to plunge, it's time to really start to worry.

[hellbender]

"The troops are going to vote with their feet. They can read the writing on the wall."

That's very sad, and I hope it's not true everywhere. People who join a volunteer military, when there are much safer things to do, are not likely to be quitters. The real quitters are the Republican congressional leaders (esp. Senators) who wallowed in pork and pursued egomaniacal personal agendas at the expense of Party and national unity on the war. For all his faults, Bush sticks by what he believes. It's hard to tell what Hagel, McCain, Graham, and their ilk believe in, other than self-glory.

[SE Mom]

That's truer than anyone will realize for awhile. They trust their guts...I know some who have decided not to re-up because of Tuesday's results.

They also worry that Charlie Rangle will get his draft- not one of them agrees with the draft...unless there is a catastrophic war.

[Txsleuth]

I don't blame ANYONE for not re-enlisting..or enlisting at ALL.

I would surely wait until after the 2008 elections...or would tell my child to.