Guys, I know about this one, because my father-in-law was a 30-year man in the service, and is so conservative he makes me look like Noam Chomsky ... but he's extraordinarily PO'd about stuff like this, although he isn't threatening to vote Dem or stay home just yet. And one can make the argument that such folks shouldn't have the level of expectations that they do about what the government owes them for their service, but the fact of life is that they DO have those expectations and that isn't likely to change without a fight.
Got to tell YOU man, if the base is so selfish they'll get pissed off over something like this, I'm sure President Bush would just as soon go home to his ranch at Crawford instead of sacrificing the best years of his life to solve the biggest problems this country has ever faced. Why should he give up so much to serve people who will sell their vote so cheaply?
So which 'base' do you think Bush would piss off if he spent $5 billion to change the retired military pay outs?
Got to tell you man, piss off the Base and you will LOSE the election as their support evaporates.
I don't think so.
I think Dubya is completely beatable in 2004, but the bigger question is: Who would he lose to?
Lieberman? He's a chronic nasal whiner, who could stand THAT for 4 years? Hell, there'd be a revolution.
Kerry? He looks like Lurch and his idea of foreign policy is imposing Koyoto type enviro regs on us to mend the "ties" that Dubya allegedly broke when he dissed our backstabbing and completely worthless UN. On the upside, Kerry did go out of his way to mention that he would cripple us economically without "comprimising the strength of our military" LOL! That's encouraging, isn't it?
Then there's Howard Dean.. He's pro-gun (But so was algor, remember..) and his idea of a Presidential issue is honoring queer marriages from Canada. (and before you ask, the answer is "yes" he is serious)
From a comic relief POV however, it will be interesting if Dean get's the nod.. I mean, can you imagine the campaign commericals? It will be a laugh a minute.
Dubya's biggest asset at this point isn't the loyalty of his base (generally speaking, I think the exceptions are over-represented on FR)) it's the complete and total vacuum from the democrat side of the isle.
PLUS, all of them.. the democrats collectively, in fact, have categorically failed with regard to national security.
They proved beyond anyones wildest dreams that they are simply out of their depth here, and cannot be trusted with life and death, national security matters.
By all right's, algore should have beat dubya in 2000 (good economy, sitting VP, etc..) and the rats should trounce him in 2004. But it won't happen, and it's a disaster of their own design.
He's going 4 more years..
IMVHO.
To: Brian S
Bush seems to enjoy alienating his supporters.
Most of the vets I have spoken with (and my system seems to be as scientific as this author's) think of 9-11 as a siren call, just like December 7, 1941. There is more to agree with Bush than disagree with him. Furthermore, restructuring of social security and medicare is going to be the focus of Bush 43-II.