Free Republic

The jackass brays back: Rangel wrangles with National Youth Slavery by Greg Swann Yesterday I held a colloquy with a braying jackass over New York Democratic Representative Charles Rangel's plan to institute universal military conscription. Today Rangel is back, in an op-ed in the New York Times, insisting that he really means it, that he wasn't just braying at random on CNN. Fine with me. I'm clipping and snipping, so see the original to wrangle this jackass unedited. I believe that if we are going to send our children to war, the governing principle must be that of shared...

Bring Back the Draft By CHARLES B. RANGEL WASHINGTON President Bush and his administration have declared a war against terrorism that may soon involve sending thousands of American troops into combat in Iraq. I voted against the Congressional resolution giving the president authority to carry out this war — an engagement that would dwarf our military efforts to find Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice. But as a combat veteran of the Korean conflict, I believe that if we are going to send our children to war, the governing principle must be that of shared sacrifice. Throughout much...

Colloquy with a braying jackass--and with those who should know better... by Greg Swann New York Representative Charles Rangel, a Democrat if not a democrat, plans to introduce legislation in the upcoming session of Congress that would make military service universal and mandatory. So says CNN.com after Rangel's appearance on CNN's 'Late Edition.' So says newsday.com. And so says the ever-vigilant Carl from Oyster Bay, Carl Limbacher on newsmax.com. Rangel of course is a braying jackass, with a voice befitting his origins, and each of these sources let him bray in his own behalf: I'm going to introduce legislation...

<p>WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A Democratic lawmaker said Sunday he will introduce a bill in the next session of Congress to make military service mandatory.</p> <p>Rep. Charles Rangel, D-New York, said such legislation could make members of Congress more reluctant to authorize military action.</p>

The Nutty Professor The other day a friend of mine forwarded an account of an e-mail exchange between a cadet at the Air Force Academy and a professor at St. Xavier University. The cadet was innocently informing the college about an event called The Academy Assembly, a gathering where political subjects are discussed and inquiring about the best methods of advertising in the St. Xavier area. The letter ended up in the hands of a certain professor, Peter Kirstein, and here is the professor’s reply: “You are a disgrace to this country and I’m furious you would even think I...

To what extent are records available on draft registrations and classifications of a politician who was prime draft age during Nam's hottest years - but never served? And - assuming they are available - where would I find them? (No DD214 on this guy; he never served - despite being a big jock at the time.) Thanks in advance; feel free to email any suggestions you want private.

Someone asked me if I would support having women drafted if indeed a draft occurred. I don't have an opinion on that matter. What do you think?

Congressmen Jim McDermott and David Bonior have "MISLED" the American people about their Vietnam service.  During their Baghdad press conference, both McDermott and Bonior touted their Vietnam combat service, while calling President Bush a liar and praising Sadam Hussein's openness and cooperation.  Upon returning to the U.S., the two congressmen held a press conference and again highlighted their Vietnam combat service, as an obvious measure to boost their qualifications to remark on the horrors of war. Following the news conference, McDermott appeared on MSNBC and once again clearly established at the onset of the interview that he had served in...

<p>With all the talk about a war with Iraq, the bugle call was sure to sound. And this week, it did, on the op-ed page of The Washington Post.</p> <p>There, Washington lawyer Jeffrey H. Smith wrote that before Congress signed on with President George W. Bush for any war, the legislators should order a new military draft, if only in limited form.</p>

Just saw Buchannan's show on MSNBC, and retired military guy Ken Allard was hotly calling for a draft as required to conquer Iraq and hold our empire (paraphrased his terms). How serious is the possibility of a draft? Who would entail? For how long? What would public opinion be, in light of high "invade Iraq" support?

Lately, even as I hear the war drums incessantly beating with regard to Iraq, I've heard numerous radio ads reminding all "young men" that registration for "selective service" is "the law". Could it possibly be that a ressurection of the draft is being contemplated? And if so will this draft be "selective" in the sense that it won't "select" the children of our national leaders(?) (as apparently was the case with Vietnam?) My own three boys are a few years from being eligable for such a draft, and I've shared with them my belief that the integrity of our leadership...

U.S. Summons Experts to Draft Asteroid Defense Plan Toledo Blade The Cincinnati Post June 7, 2002The U.S. federal government is summoning the world's top scientists to an urgent conference this summer to plan defenses against an attack that could wipe out an American city or disrupt the whole country's infrastructure. No, it's not global terrorism. The scientists will map ways to combat an asteroid attack, a cosmic sucker punch like the collision that killed the dinosaurs 65 million years ago and flattened a Siberian forest in 1908. While the world's attention is focused on the real threat of terrorism, the...

Yao lands in Chicago, workout setBy Andy Katz ESPN.comYao Ming arrived in Chicago on Monday night and his workout is on schedule for Wednesday. He will have one workout partner during his 45-minute session: University of Oregon center Chris Christofferson, who will be giving away three inches to the 7-foot-5 Yao. At least 22 NBA teams have committed to sending representatives to the workout. Yao will participate in shooting and half-court drills and will not do any full-court work. The workout will be run by former NBA coach P.J. Carlesimo. Last Friday, Yao's team -- the Shanghai Sharks --...

The morning headlines: Colts: Draft day eve deal nets HuardTexans to take QB Carr No. 1, Harrington's stock plummetsSteelers got 'wrong guys' in 1974 draftReport: Carr's deal with Texans approved by Management CouncilDonahoe not optimistic about Bledsoe trade talksLast call - Boston Globe (Apr 19, 2002)Football fortunetelling - USA Today (Apr 19, 2002)Giants' Focus on Big Men May Change - NY Times (registration req'd) (Apr 19, 2002)Crouch Ready to Play Any Position - Associated Press (Apr 19, 2002)Rich Williams Shuns NFL's Big Bucks - Associated Press (Apr 19, 2002)'Skins, Trotter Talk As Draft Looms - Associated Press (Apr 19, 2002)NFL...

For the past year or so, there have been mutterings in the Pennsylvania Home Schooling community about a revision of the current Home Schooling law. Several groups that claim to represent the home schooling community have been working on this new law for quite some time. It now appears that they are very close to completion of the proposed law, and have been passing around a "Draft" for opinions. The only problem is, they have only been passing it among themselves...and they don't seem to want anyone else to know about it. The owner of a Pennsylvania HomeSchooling website has...