Senator Blocks 850 Promotions in the Air Force

The New York Times ^ | 06/09/03 | ERIC SCHMITT

[Centurion2000]

Senator Larry E. Craig of Idaho

.... notice ..... no political affliation listed. 100 to 1 he's a demoncrat.

[Centurion2000]

missed that ..... this guy's a disgrace to the GOP ...

[af_vet_rr]

Other GOP Senators are starting to call him out on it. They need to stop this now, before it gets any bigger.

[deport]

The Plane Truth: Sen. Larry Craig says he has a bone to pick with the “paper of record.”

....But Craig disputed several facts in the Times's account. He said the number of officers' promotions he is holding up is less than the 850 the Times reported. (Craig said he didn't know exactly how many promotions are being held up, but he called the Times's number "inflated.")......

But Craig said the hold was necessary to get the Air Force's attention, .......

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Not that it matters who reported it but it seems that Sen. Craig did indeed place a hold........

[MEGoody]

"rewards them with 2 senators despite the fact they have 1/100th the population of states like California and Texas."

That's part of being a republic.

[MEGoody]

"the only thing that can hurt Republicans in the upcoming election: THEMSELVES!!"

Exactly right.

[Labyrinthos]

What could the authors of the Constitution have been thinking? Too bad they didn't have you there to guide them.

The authors of the Constitution provided that Senators would be appointed by the legislatures of their respective states thereby minimizing the politics of election and re-election, which is the primary impetus for pork barrel spending, which is nothing more than bribing people with their own money. Thanks to the 17th Amendment, U.S. Senators from both parties are as big as whores as their brethern in the lower house.

[Trace21230]

Enlisted Performance Reports and decorations. If you can't get promoted then it's YOUR fault.

Right. And your rater for your EPR is always totally objective. And it doesn't turn on whether he usually gives fives or threes out. And it doesn't matter if he likes you or not. And it certainly doesn't matter if you are kissing his a$$ or not. You're perfect enlisted material. Trace

[T.Smith]

Sounds like you thought you were better at your job than you really were. It also sounds like you don't like to take responsibility for your own career path. You're perfect civilian material; a liberal civilian at that.

[Trace21230]

Sounds like you thought you were better at your job than you really were.

Well, let's just say that I DID get all 5s on every one of my EPRs except my initial one. I DID maintain language proficiency (3/3 except for one testing cycle) throughout my entire tour of duty. I was awarded a joint service commendation medal because my CIVILIAN supervisors nominated me. I trained every incoming airman and marine to our shop because nobody else could. I finished three years of law school at night while on active duty.

As to why I didn't get promoted: I never tested for SSgt.

You see, I recognized that I wasn't staying in, so I didn't want to take away someone else's promotion when s/he was planning on making a career out of the Air Force.

So spare me your moralizing. I always did the right thing when I was enlisted. Unfortunately, my peers and superiors didn't, so I was disenchanted.

Probably my experience was isolated. But you can save your snide comments for someone else, because I did my time for this country and I would do so if called upon again.

As to me being "civilian" material, that's a joke. The military needs people like me, but people like you keep driving them out. All the good people leave and the people who shouldn't be in charge stay. Another reason I left.

Trace

[T.Smith]

I also started and completed school - albeit only a four year degree - during my four year enlistment. I also got all 5s on my EPRs and scored "outstanding" on my SKT. I got out after 4 years because it was never my intention to make it a career. If I had stayed in, though, I have absolutely no doubt that I would be a captain at this time, because I was a damn good airman.

Here's the thing, you sound like a smart guy so I'm not going to go on about whether or not you were good at your job. At the same time I think you are probably smart enough to know that painting all officers with such a broad brush doesn't make much sense. It's equally illogical to say that enlisted people deserve promotions more; the most shiftless people I knew were enlisted.

You said your experience was isolated, and I think that pretty much ends the argument. That's the point I was trying to make. FWIW, I've heard the same things that were in your initial post before and been annoyed. That likely colored my arguments. It occurred to me earlier that I probably came off as being hostile from the get go. Sorry 'bout that. You served in the USAF, so you can't be all bad.

[Bonaparte]

I've got no argument with that.

[Labyrinthos]

With which part? The way it was or the way it is?

[Bonaparte]

I have no problem with original intent, ie. election of Senators by state legislatures. I take issue with the 17th Amendment.

[Labyrinthos]

I have no problem with original intent, ie. election of Senators by state legislatures. I take issue with the 17th Amendment.

I agree. If it ain't broken, don't fix it, because the result is often worse than the original product. Now if we could only go back to the days when you had to won real property in order to vote.

[deport]

Sen. Craig Clears Air Force Promotions

[optik_b]

"That's part of being a republic."

That some states have disproportionate power relative to their population?