Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Reservist Sen. (Graham) Begins Stint at S.C. Base (Any Dems? - NO!)
AP via Earthlink ^ | 11-17-03

Posted on 04/17/2003 7:40:00 PM PDT by erk

Reservist Sen. Begins Stint at S.C. Base

April 17, 2003 06:36 PM EDT

CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. - Sen. Lindsey Graham, the only U.S. senator in the reserves, donned combat fatigues Thursday and spent the day working in this Air Force base's legal office.

"I've got to do some reserve duty and I asked, 'Where can I help?'" said the South Carolina Republican, a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve.

Graham, 47, an attorney, served six years of active duty as an Air Force prosecutor and defense attorney. He is not drawing pay for serving, but does earn credits toward a military retirement.

"For two days I'm playing a very small part trying to help this legal office," the freshman senator said. "They are undermanned and they are overworked but they have got the mission done."

The need for reservists' help has grown, Graham said. "The active duty forces are 40 percent of what they were during the first Gulf War. But the tasking and the demands on the active force has not gone down, it has gone up."

Four Republican members of the U.S. House are in the reserves: Mark Kirk and John M. Shimkus of Illinois, Steve Buyer of Indiana and Roger Wicker of Mississippi. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., is in his state's Army National Guard.


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Illinois; US: Indiana; US: Mississippi; US: South Carolina
KEYWORDS: iraqifreedom; joewilson; johnshimkus; lindseygraham; markkirk; reservists; rogerwicker; stevebuyer
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-70 next last
Where are the Democrat reservists?
1 posted on 04/17/2003 7:40:01 PM PDT by erk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: erk
Good luck - It's going to be difficult finding any....
2 posted on 04/17/2003 7:42:19 PM PDT by TheBattman (Kid Control, not Gun Control)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: erk
You mean the human shields?
3 posted on 04/17/2003 7:47:05 PM PDT by PianoMan (Liberate the Axis of Evil)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: erk
You'd have to check the Republican Guard reservist ranks for a registered Dem.
Look under 'D' for Dasshole.
4 posted on 04/17/2003 7:56:03 PM PDT by uncbuck ("Lady, I'm not an athlete, I'm a baseball player." -- John Kruk)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: erk
Since even the youngest members of Congress are a little past the prime age for military service I wouldn't expect to find many reservists.

You could make the philosophical argument that Congressmembers should resign from military service before taking office....the civilian government makes policy, the military carries it out, and never the twain shall meet, that sort of thing. One of the Secretaries of the Navy under Reagan (Lehman maybe?) was a Naval Reservist at the time, which I didn't think was a wise idea either. I believe he eventually resigned his commission.

I think a more telling statistic is how many Congressmembers have children serving in Iraq. It was posted on FR recently that the answer is a grand total of one senator and no Reprsentatives.
5 posted on 04/17/2003 7:56:45 PM PDT by kms61
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PianoMan
Hehehehehehehehehe...good 'un!

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

6 posted on 04/17/2003 8:00:43 PM PDT by wku man
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: erk
Our new Govenor of South Carolina Sanford just served his 2 weeks reservist duty and now our Senator. Can any other state boast such high ranking officials serving? Let alone finding a single demoncrapt?
7 posted on 04/17/2003 8:02:12 PM PDT by Ethyl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kms61
Hmmmm? But the really interesting stat is how many congresspeople are members of the DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST PARTY - now there's an interesting group!!
8 posted on 04/17/2003 8:04:03 PM PDT by CyberAnt ( America - You Are The Greatest!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

Comment #9 Removed by Moderator

To: PianoMan
You mean the human shields?

If only Puff Daschle,Finestinkle, the Kennnedeys et al....... would please become human shields, that would really help the Iraqis, they would probably shoot them first.
10 posted on 04/17/2003 8:06:22 PM PDT by Ethyl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: CyberAnt
Also, how many Dems "EVER" served???

Many of the Pubbies served long before running for office, though they may not be reservists now.

At least they did their stint.

DL

11 posted on 04/17/2003 8:17:40 PM PDT by Pee_Oui
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

Comment #12 Removed by Moderator

To: kms61
"I think a more telling statistic is how many Congressmembers have children serving in Iraq. It was posted on FR recently that the answer is a grand total of one senator and no Reprsentatives."

What about the total for all of the Washington, DC elite. You know, the ones that rule and ignore us...

13 posted on 04/17/2003 8:24:38 PM PDT by cibco (Xin Loi... Saddam)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Pee_Oui
Also, how many Dems "EVER" served???

Some have.

When I lived in Illinois, my Congressman was Lane Evans, a former Marine. He's also a die-hard Clintonista and on the Dem. Soc's I-Love-You list (Progressive Caucus member).

I respect and admire military service. Unfortunately, it's not a guarantee of anything. That Evans was a Marine, nobody can take away. That he's vermin now, only a statist can deny.

14 posted on 04/17/2003 10:27:20 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows (Diplomacy is my middle name. I don't know what Mom and Dad were thinking.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: kms61
I have questions about how "telling" that statistic really is... a more important statistic would be how many have children who are serving or have served in a branch of the military.

Only a fraction of the servicemen currently serving have served in Iraq or Afghanistan. Out of the 15 or 20 military families with whom I am closest, none have a member in Iraq now...luck of the draw I guess.

If you look at the population at large, very few people have a kid serving in Iraq or Afghanistan...I'm not sure if Congress really looks so bad in this respect.

15 posted on 04/17/2003 11:45:37 PM PDT by American Soldier
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Slings and Arrows
I would consider military service a nearly necessary (though there are some good non-vet Congresscritters) but NOT sufficient condition for political service. The men who have done the most damage to this country -- Benedict Arnold, Robert E. Lee (I admit he was honorable in his own way but he did betray us), Tim McVeigh, etc. were all not only soldiers, but actually known to be damn good ones. Lee and Arnold were both, at least for a time, known as the greatest living combat soldiers of their day. This does not prevent them from screwing up later.

Hackworth is probably the best modern example. What a freaking fruit he is.

Ted Kennedy is the most obvious example in the Senate, though I don't know if he was known as particularly good soldier or not-he's certainly no friend to soldiers now.

16 posted on 04/17/2003 11:51:08 PM PDT by American Soldier
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: American Soldier
Beautifully put. Another example that pops to mind is from Israel: Peres and Barak are both former IDF generals (the latter a world-reknown commando), and their misdeeds are still doing damage to Israel.
17 posted on 04/18/2003 12:06:15 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows (Diplomacy is my middle name. I don't know what Mom and Dad were thinking.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Pee_Oui
"Also, how many Dems "EVER" served???"

McGovern, Kerry, and Kerrey (missing a leg). Please respect ALL vets for their service, politics aside.
18 posted on 04/18/2003 1:28:29 AM PDT by truth_seeker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: erk
Actually, I'd like to see my congresscritter -- Jerry Nadler -- deployed as a MOAB. We could also send my state's hag senator's crusty pantsuit as a WMD. :)
19 posted on 04/18/2003 6:21:31 AM PDT by NYC GOP Chick (Republicans for Kucinich)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NYC GOP Chick
Actually, I'd like to see my congresscritter -- Jerry Nadler -- deployed as a MOAB.

Just as soon as I quit crying with laughter, I'm going to reprimand you for that insensitive remark.

20 posted on 04/18/2003 6:27:05 AM PDT by TontoKowalski
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-70 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson