Bush, Republicans losing support of retired veterans

Knight Ridder ^ | 07-28-03

[jmc813]

Well, at least we half-agree. :-)

[olliemb]

"he is HABITUALLY trying to wriggle out of the blame (it was the CIA's fault, etc). "

Oh, really, habitually sounds a little exaggerated. Give me examples of your etc. YOur comments are sounding like this editorial--many (who are these many?)

Besides, I believe that the president did not lie in those famous 16 words--it seems you believe anything--and if Tenet says he should have stopped it from being the speech, whom do you know in the administration and CIA that are refuting Tenet's statements?

[olliemb]

I totally agree with your comments. Cleaning up Clinton's mess is costing us lots of money and lives.

[olliemb]

Oh, please, character and dazzlement will not make up for national security. The democrats are WEAK on defense--at least this new bunch out there.

[olliemb]

"The 'he's selling out his base' tripe and 'I won't vote for him in 2004 if....' crowd are getting really boring."

Could not agree with you more--if you notice most of these "I won't vote for him" freepers say the same thing no matter what--without a doubt they never voted for Bush.

[olliemb]

"Rove the brilliant needs this money to convince illegal aliens and their supporters to vote GOP so tell everyone to shut up and pull the lever."

How so untrue--look at what you are saying--illegals can't vote so why would you ever think that they would cast aside the veterans. You are just so wrong.

[Miss Marple]

Well, well, well. I went to get my hair cut, and when I come back I find that apparently this person WAS a retread! Ha!

Now the folks who do this are probably re-thinking their strategy. Much gnashing of teeth for spilling the beans by using the term "Bush-bot."

The next tactic will be to feign ignorance of all things FR prior to whatever sign-on date they re-enroll. They may think they are clever, but I will bet we can spot them. Heheheh.

[carenot]

DING DING DING! No more calls, we have a winner.

That would be me. I didn't vote for GW the first time. And I won't again.

[hchutch]

Sooner or later, they slip up.

[ohioWfan]

This guy was unbelieveably transparent.......but apparently not bright enough to disguise his identity......

And you say it's going to get WORSE as the election nears??

[Luis Gonzalez]

"...but apparently not bright enough to disguise his identity..."

You mean he didn't have the gift of anonymity?

[Redleg Duke]

"I'll just die young."

Promises...promises...all you give us are empty promises!

[Redleg Duke]

"Why? Hillary would be the best thing for the Conservatives in this country! She would galvanize opposition like you have never seen it."

Yep...and that is what you Brownies want, a RAT dictatorship with an armed revolt by the citizens that would create a power vacuum for you to step into.

The only way libertarians can take power.

[Redleg Duke]

The fact you believe this swill points to the 'stupids'. (Hint: See mirror...see stupid!)

[carenot]

All have a decided anti-Bush, anti-FR attitude, however.

Hmmm....
If I am anti-Bush, I am anti-FR?

Is this a Bush only site?

[Dane]

That would be me. I didn't vote for GW the first time. And I won't again.

So who did you vote for in 2000, carenot?

I voted for Bush.

Who did you vote for, or are you afraid to admit who you voted for.

[Miss Marple]

Take your complaints up with Jim Robinson, who has proposed supporting Bush as a way to get conservative judges appointed. That is the position of the owner of this website.

You are quite free to criticize the President. You are NOT free to come here after you have been banned with a new id and pretend to be a new poster who "supported Bush but now sees the light."

[ljmar]

First, it's Disabled Veterans Tax, not concurrent pay, because any other disabled veteran working for the government gets both VA disability and federal retirement with no deduction. Only those who serve until retirement have to give up the dollar for dollar offset; thus it is clearly discriminatory to one selected group. It can only be made equal or right by passing the repeal of the Disabled Veterans Tax or making a law to decrease the other government pensions dollar for dollar too.
Most veterans don't vote? Bull. Most veterans are also teachers, lawyers, laborers, politiians, men, women, all ethnic groups, and all other divisions or classifications in the USA. They vote--it's just that no one has ever taken the time to single them out as veterans and really see how many vote. Get rid of the stereotype that those veterans leaning on the bar in vets clubs, drinking, telling stories, and do not generally do anything are typical of the veteran. That's as accurate as saying all cats have 3 legs after seeing a 3 legged cat.
Finally, most of this article is true but downplays all the problems vets go through. Retired disabled vets almost always live at the edge of or below poverty because of this law. Promised free medical care was a major enticement to keep people in the service until 1995, even being printed in brochures and supported up to & including the President & Congress. Funny, though they embraced and encouraged it, Congress never passed a law to give it. The vets lost on a technicality (see the Supreme Court ruling where they agree that we were promised and encouraged at all levels and deserve it, but can't have it because Congress failed to pass the law.) Other problems not mentioned are the lack of funds for VA medical & other care. VA Sec Principi sent his 100% disabled, wheelchair bound aid to 7 VA facilites in different locations. He found the same thing that an 83 year old vet with cancer and many thousands like him already know. Even though he had top priority, he could not get into 5 of the 7 facilities and was put on a minimum 6-month waiting list. (With veterans dying at 1200-1700 a day, I guess that's how the are able to fit those waiting in.) In one case, an elderly vet with 80-99% occlusion in the heart had to wait in the waiting room over 8 hours because there was no room in the ER. VA programs are mandatory. VA funding is left to Congress & the President who always give less than the cost of living, and often take away what they have just given. They agree the VA is in terrible shape but refuse to either appropriate enough funds to alleviate the crisis or make the funding mandatory so the VA can plan and meet its mission. That does not even touch the problems of SBP, DIC, Ageng Orange, and Sec. Rumfeld's proposed rollback of the death gratuity benefit, hazardous duty pay, separation pay, and denial of Tricare to families of the guard who are getting wounded or killed daily in Irag and other places. The author, ironically, left out one of the main reasons Sec. Rumsfeld gives for this. In addition to the "bust the budget" argument, he argues with the same fervor that the monies saved from this need to go to pay raises for those on active duty and to improve the living standards of their families.
Bush has done a masterful job in Iraq and the war on terror, but he is not perfect. To really hear what veterans think and will do you need to go to the Vets-Voting-Bloc@yahoogroups.com, MRGRG, and many new groups of veterans and their families. These groups are ad hoc groups with no dues, officers, or any purpose but to see that the veterans finally get what has been promised and denied for many years, and voting out those who do not actively support us and voting in those who will. (E.g. the bill to allow retired disabled veterans has been introduced by Republicans for 10-12 years now, been co-sponsored by both parties to the point that any veto could have been overridden, the Senate has passed it several times, but the House Republicans always do something to keep it in committee, kill it, or come up with some wierd substitute that has little or no meaning & is a monster to administer. Last year we were promised a compromise of those with 60% disability up being allowed to have both with the program phased in over 5 years--a compromise we were willing to live with until the others could be addressed. Two days after they got our vote, the met in a late-night session, subsituted CRSC which helps less than 35,000 and is a nightmare to prove, to get accepted, and to administer; obviously a ploy to delay payment while claiming to do something. Again, go to VVB, MRGRG, FireFire, and the multitude of new groups being formed daily, working together, and representing several hundred thousand vets and active duty (one of VVB's first members was an active duty soldier who emailed from Afghanistan during a break inthe fighting to include him). Yes, some are for Bush & will always be die-hard Republicans, but that wall is crumbling fast due to the failure of the current administration and House to follow up on their promises, provide what we were promised and earned, and make us equal to all others.
ljmar

[BenR2]

Yep...and that is what you Brownies want, a RAT dictatorship with an armed revolt by the citizens that would create a power vacuum for you to step into.

The only way libertarians can take power.

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I, sir, do not consider myself to be a Libertarian . . . .