Posted on 02/15/2009 11:55:49 AM PST by pabianice
TOMMY
by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)
I went into a public-’ouse to get a pint o’ beer,
The publican ‘e up an’ sez, “We serve no red-coats here.”
The girls be’ind the bar they laughed an’ giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an’ to myself sez I:
O it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, go away”;
But it’s “Thank you, Mister Atkins”, when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it’s “Thank you, Mister Atkins”, when the band begins to play.
I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but ‘adn’t none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-’alls,
But when it comes to fightin’, Lord! they’ll shove me in the stalls!
For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, wait outside”;
But it’s “Special train for Atkins” when the trooper’s on the tide,
The troopship’s on the tide, my boys, the troopship’s on the tide,
O it’s “Special train for Atkins” when the trooper’s on the tide.
Yes, makin’ mock o’ uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an’ they’re starvation cheap;
An’ hustlin’ drunken soldiers when they’re goin’ large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin’ in full kit.
Then it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, ‘ow’s yer soul?”
But it’s “Thin red line of ‘eroes” when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it’s “Thin red line of ‘eroes” when the drums begin to roll.
We aren’t no thin red ‘eroes, nor we aren’t no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An’ if sometimes our conduck isn’t all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don’t grow into plaster saints;
While it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, fall be’ind”,
But it’s “Please to walk in front, sir”, when there’s trouble in the wind,
There’s trouble in the wind, my boys, there’s trouble in the wind,
O it’s “Please to walk in front, sir”, when there’s trouble in the wind.
You talk o’ better food for us, an’ schools, an’ fires, an’ all:
We’ll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don’t mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow’s Uniform is not the soldier-man’s disgrace.
For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Chuck him out, the brute!”
But it’s “Saviour of ‘is country” when the guns begin to shoot;
An’ it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ anything you please;
An’ Tommy ain’t a bloomin’ fool — you bet that Tommy sees!
bump and place keep
It’ll be interesting to see which way the military guns point when the inevitable riots occur.
Goodness, what a piece of %^&*. This man will be the death of America. We need to have him removed, PRONTO, if this nation has any hope of survival.
A quick search at readthestimulus.org shows no mention of TRICARE in the bill, nor any reduced VA medical benefits. Not sure where this might be hidden, but I’m sure someone will find it if it’s in there.
Socialists detest and despise the military and usually do their best to undermine it.
The United States Military will suffer under the Socialist actions of Obama and Pelosi and Frank.
A key lawmaker has reintroduced legislation that would freeze Tricare fees for military retirees, a preemptive strike in case the Defense Department tries again to raise deductibles, copayments and enrollment fees in an effort to hold down its health care costs.
The Military Retirees Healthcare Protection Act, introduced Tuesday, is important because of its chief sponsor Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Texas and because of the timing.
Edwards, an ally of President Barack Obama who had been discussed as a possible vice presidential running mate, is chairman of the House appropriations subcommittee responsible for military quality of life programs and veterans health care. Overcoming Edwards opposition would be difficult.
_____________________________________________
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/02/military_tricare_freezefees_020409w/
Write your congress critters!!
Congressional Budget Offices Budget Options for Healthcare, December 2008. http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/99xx/doc9925/12-18-HealthOptions.pdf pages 187-189 have the Tricare and Tricare for life increases.
Other details include the Veterans Administration sharply cutting medical treatment for vets, and for military retirees, patient premiums and co-pays for TRICARE are being raised 100-400%, PLUS medical care for veterans and retirees will be the first to be rationed by the White House Office of Healthcare Coordination.
The initial assault with S-CHIP was aimed at ripping private insurance away from "children". The "porkulus" rips it away from military vets, retirees and survivors. Conyers takes the final swipe at the rest of us.
Crap on the military and expect loyalty afterward. Zero must be smoking weed...again.
Why would that surprise anyone. Democrats could care less about the men and women that keep this country safe.
Hey, weren’t we assured by O during the presidential debates last year that he wouldn’t be cutting veterans’ benefits?
thanks LucyT.
HR-667 does not contain any language about catastrophic care, and that is something the individual states can establish on their own. Florida has been considering this plan for awhile. Catastrophic care is the most expensive, so having a state-run PUBLIC insurance pool getd around the provisions of the bill and Porkulus.
Everything they have falsely accused Bush/Cheney of doing the Democrats are now happily doing.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.