Author: jimstaro

Wasilla, nobody knew about that little Alaskan town unless from Alaska. Wasilla’s favorite daughter, what is it now 5 or 6 weeks ago few ever heard the name Sarah Palin and apparently those that did didn’t know much about her either, even Alaskans are quickly finding out that apparently they didn’t really get rid of the corruption and incompetence in the Alaskan Governors office when electing Sarah who ran on cleaning it up and honest government.

Now Wasilla and Sarah palin are well known in the lowere 49, and yes Hawaii is below Alaska despite where some maps of the U.S. put it.

But this isn’t about the hockey mom nor really about Wasilla except for one of the residents of.

It is about a Soldier’s source of hope, and that soldier, John Shaubach, who is an Alaskan veteran struggling with PTSD, and was reunited with his long-lost dog.

I don’t know anything about this except what I read in this article I just caught, link above.

On Friday, Sarha Shaubach made the hour-long drive from her Wasilla, Alaska, home to the Anchorage airport by herself.

The winding road between the mountains carries too strong a reminder of convoys through Afghanistan for her husband, John Shaubach, a veteran suffering from a severe case of post-traumatic stress disorder.

But Sarha brought her husband’s hunting jacket with her.

When she reached the kennel crate, Sarha put the jacket against the door. The bone-thin black Lab inside sniffed the jacket and jumped.

Zeus knew he was almost home.

I want you to clink the link and read about how and where Zeus was found but a few snippets won’t hurt.

On the way home to Wasilla, Sarha bought Zeus five cheesburgers and a large order of fries.

He devoured them in seconds. Then he started to crawl on Sarha as she drove. He slurped at her face and then licked a pearl earring right out of her ear.

It goes on to describe, briefly, John’s meeting with Zeus when Sarha finally arrived at their home.

Sarha has been worried John’s condition will worsen as Alaska’s long, dark winter settles in, when her husband won’t be able to go duck hunting or take long walks in the woods.

She still is.

But Sarha hopes reconnecting with his old friend will give her husband a renewed sense of purpose. And hope.

They have this at the bottom of the article:

AT A GLANCE

John Shaubach served 22 years in the Army with the 82nd Airborne Division. He led men in combat in both Iraq and Afghanistan, earning a purple heart and a bronze star.

Now retired and living in Alaska, Shaubach is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and the effects of a traumatic brain injury. He has repeatedly had difficulty receiving the care he requires from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The York Daily Record/Sunday News wrote about Shaubach in June, after his sister, Melissa Gieniec, a dental assistant in Springettsbury Township, went to visit him.

According to the VA, Shaubach is one of more than 75,000 veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan to receive treatment for PTSD at either a VA medical facility or a Vet Center.

You can read the previous story about him at in our veterans and military affairs special section.

Wasilla, just like any American Town, politicians and all, but with Real People and Real People stories, some heartwarming some heartbreaking, but American Stories all, and this one from Alaska which many of us down here know little about, till recently!

Thought folks might enjoy this, wether a Dylan fan or not, some good stuff and a free listen as well as downloads

It comes from the NPR Music Notes – All Songs Considered newsletter and site.

Exclusive Preview: Bob Dylan’s ‘Tell Tale Signs’

NPR.org, September 30, 2008

For the legions of fans who still can’t get enough, Dylan’s longtime label (Columbia Records) has been releasing a series of “bootleg” CDs from the singer — a vast collection of rare recordings and outtakes spanning five decades. The series began in 1991 with the first three bootleg volumes, covering the first 30 years of Dylan’s career. Now, 17 years later, Columbia is about to release the eighth volume. Tell Tale Signs covers Dylan’s past 20 years, a period that produced the albums Time Out of Mind, Love and Theft, Modern Times and Oh Mercy. Tell Tale Signs offers a rare glimpse into Dylan’s creative process, with alternate takes that show the evolution of his work, as his songs take shape lyrically and musically.

You can also visit this NPR blog post All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen remembers the original Bob Dylan bootlegs.

And use the following two links to listen in to the Dylan Bootleg Cuts, they bring up the NRP Player:

Hear Disc One of ‘Tell Tale Signs’

Hear Disc Two of ‘Tell Tale Signs’

Haven’t listened to any Dylan songs in awhile and the two links above give some great listening pleasure.

Stop over to Dylan’s Web site for a visit with an old friend as well.

And you can visit the next link for another show of:

NPR’s All Songs Considered, did a show on September 22, 2008 of the Fall Music Preview covering the Dylan bootlegs as well as other artists releases with reviewers, visit the site to listen to the show.

And an added treat, some of you know about Tom Chelston of Tom Songs a young ex-marine medic, some may not, Well Tom sent out an e-mail with an announcement and a few links, the announcement was:

I was invited to record my interpretation of Willie Nelson’s Peaceful Solution and I added a video as well.

The link takes you Willies Peace Research Institute site page, where you can find Toms’ Video and much more. But I’m bringing the Video, with song, to you here:

A Peaceful Solution Tom Chelston

You can visit Toms’ site, linked above, for some great sounds as well as video productions and more, or you can visit the Tom Songs YouTube site

Enjoy all the above!!

Everyone knows that the first Presidential Debate is supposed to take place tonight, but once again we have a member of the GOP trying to put the skids on Democracy, read the 2000 election and the supreme’s, by refusing to show because, admitted himself he understands little about economics, he’s going to save Wall Street Bankers and the Country from Collapse. Now he’s coming to the rescue some 10 or so days after all the bad economic news started survicing, but for Our Savior “Better late than never, Not!”.

My guess is that if there is a Debate tonight it won’t be on the main subject lines it was to cover: Foreign Policy and National Security. It will be covering the economy or at least much of it will be because of the News that has sucked the air out of everything else.

But wether it covers the intended subject matter, tonight or in another, or not, just in case there are extremely important things to be brought to the Debate about our now lack of a Foreign Policy especially as to our National Security.

The debate will, or will not, take place at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, known colloquially as Ole Miss. NPR has a very good writeup as a leadin: Site Of Presidential Debate Has Come Far From Past for this historic event in more ways than one.

We are a Nation and People that seem to like to use ‘God’ an awful lot, we say we are a Tolerant Nation, and a Peaceful Nation, we Condemn others for not being so and for practicing Inhumane Treatment of others.

But instead of following what we preach we have many, some elected and large portions of the population, that think we can go and Destroy and Occupy other Countries and somehow be Secure in the fact that we’ve Killed and Maimed others, instead of leading by example and word and making friends of others we Enhance the Hatreds and Create Enemies than call ourselves Secure. Through our actions even those that allie with us have Little Respect for us, not just our government but Us.

Lets look at the why our National Security is now in jeapordy for possibly decades to come and why the World has lost any remnants of Respect they once gave us:

Introducing Iraqi Refugee Stories:

Voices Missing From Media Describe Life in Exile

Watch “Hiba’s Story,” one in a powerful new series of video accounts by Iraqis who have had to flee their home.

Beyond the violence and instability of Iraq is the largely untold story of Iraqi displacement and exile and its enormous human consequences. A new website, Iraqi Refugee Stories, is now giving voice to the growing crisis and providing concerned individuals viable avenues to take action.

“The silent story of Iraq has been that of the millions who’ve been displaced within their country or who have fled to neighboring countries and are now living in limbo. In countries like Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon, Iraqi refugees can’t work legally and are often hiding at home for fear of deportation because they’re unable to renew their visas,” said Jennifer Utz, a video journalist, founder and creator of Iraqi Refugee Stories. “The media coverage of the issue has largely focused on the plight of military interpreters, while countless other vulnerable individuals have virtually gone unnoticed, such as single mothers, members of minority religions, the elderly and those in need of serious medical assistance.”

In this video clip, a young woman named Hiba, whose family fled Iraq in 2003 only to be denied entrance to Jordan, describes the four years they spent living in a tent in Ruwayshed, a refugee camp on the border, saying that she often thinks about her classmates and wonders whether they lived or died.

To learn more, visit Iraqi Refugee Stories.

Or how about one of the main reasons the violence has dropped, even though Iraqi’s and Soldiers are still being killed and maimed:

After Siege, Wall Sadr City’s New Oppression – 09.22.2008

Iraq, Baghdad/Sadr City – After the failure of many security plans proposed by the Iraqi government and US military strategists, a recent plan, hand-in-hand with the so-called “Surge,” was designed. It was a desperate attempt by the US and Iraqi military forces to control the Sunni-Shia militia. At the suggestion of military leaders, the Iraqi and US governments decided to build walls to separate neighborhoods and to control militias and insurgents from entering or exiting any neighborhood without passing a checkpoint. The first wall was built in Adhamiya, in April 2007. Despite protests and opposition, United States military and Iraqi National Guard forces began to erect a wall surrounding the neighborhood of Adhamiya. The people living in the neighborhood engaged in several demonstrations against building the wall, and even Prime Minister Maliki, a Shi’a critical of the neighborhood, publicly protested the plan. Despite his intervention and public discontent, the wall was built and finished by late April 2007.

These walls tend to be approximately 3 meters in height and made from concrete. In some areas the top of the wall is covered with concertina wire to prevent intruders from climbing over the wall. There are patrols set to guard the wall and they are present around the wall daily, and at all hours, to protract the wall from being attacked or bombed by insurgents.

Another wall built at end of April 2007, but this time in Ameriya, this wall is approximately 10 kilometers in length and again 3 meters high. In September 2007 yet another wall was built in the Saidiya neighborhood. The wall surrounding that district was 23 kilometers, and by the end of 2007 there were over 50 different walls built around different neighborhoods across Baghdad.

In May 2008 a wall was built in Sadr City after battles between the US military and the Mahdi Army. There are approximately two million citizens living inside the area now known as Sadr City, probably the largest single group impacted by one of Baghdad’s walls. Previously they could come and go via nine major entrances. Many shops were force to close because of the wall, the shop owners found they could not complete there work anymore due to the wall sitting just in front of their shops.

Or how about Getting to School in Iraq

Would you want to live like this, Would you want your children to live like this, Would you want to live in a Destroyed and Occupied Country, Would you develop growing Hatred for being forced to live like this in your destroyed country, Would you search for retribution for the loved ones, friends, and killed and maimed, and your country destroyed, in an occupation by an outside military force, What Would You Do??

And what happens in Wars of Occupation and Wars of Choice, the Soldiers know:

Winter Soldier: OIF and OEF Soldiers the Book

Back in March of this year History repeated itself. A history many of us Vietnam Veterans felt would never be repeated for we swore we wouldn’t allow the country we served to ever allow itself to be led into another debacle of human destruction, a War Of Choice, an Occupation Of Innocent Others!! The country, back than, even seemed to grasp the huge mistake we had made in the policies set forth by those we elect to lead, they themselves said “We will learn from the mistakes made!”, we didn’t, and others don’t neither!

Book Exposes Iraq Occupation Through US Soldiers’ Eyes

Aside from the Iraqi people, nobody knows what the U.S. military is doing in Iraq better than the soldiers themselves. A new book gives readers vivid and detailed accounts of the devastation the U.S. occupation has brought to Iraq, in the soldiers’ own words.

Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan: Eyewitness Accounts of the Occupations, published by Haymarket Books Tuesday, is a gut-wrenching, historic chronicle of what the U.S. military has done to Iraq, as well as its own soldiers.

Authored by Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) and journalist Aaron Glantz, the book is a reader for hearings that took place in Silver Spring, Maryland between Mar. 13-16, 2008 at the National Labour College.

“I remember one woman walking by,” said Jason Washburn, a corporal in the U.S. Marines who served three tours in Iraq. “She was carrying a huge bag, and she looked like she was heading toward us, so we lit her up with the Mark 19, which is an automatic grenade launcher, and when the dust settled, we realized that the bag was full of groceries. She had been trying to bring us food and we blew her to pieces.”

Glantz admits that it would be difficult for the average U.S. citizen to read the book, and believes it is important to keep in mind while doing so what it took for the veterans to give this historic testimony.

“They could have been heroes, but what they are doing here is even more heroic — which is telling the truth,” Glantz told IPS. “They didn’t have to come forward. They chose to come forward.”

Few are Sacrificing yet there are still many, who aren’t, that support our agressive actions towards others and seem to relish in  making the tens of thousands of enemies that will only take a few to destroy any feeling of a strong national security, for the country or the citizens wherever they travel.

The Brave New Foundation, for the past thirteen weeks, have had a series of very important online inner active Video Shows called “In Their Boots”.

The last three weeks have covered a group who have Sacrificed Everything, their Spouses, but are coming together to move on with their lives and give meaning to the loss of their loved ones.

You can watch the video’s here, they are about a half hour each, or at the site, where you can catch the previous important episodes and sign up to be notified prior to the wednesday evening coming episodes, But These Three Are Extremely Important, Especially For Those Not Sacrificing Anything!!

Topic: The American Widow Project We Regret to Inform You Chapter 1
Originally aired on September 10th, 2008

Led by Taryn Davis, a group of young military widows band together in a new peer support network called the American Widow Project.

Taryn Davis
War Widow

James Sheeler
Author
Final Salute Site: A Story of Unfinished Lives
Jim’s Book: Final Salute: A Story of Unfinished Lives

Taryn Davis
Last year, 22-year-old Taryn Davis’ world crumbled. On May 21, 2007, Taryn was told her husband, Army Cpl. Michael W. Davis, had died from wounds sustained from an IED explosion in Iraq. She was crushed. Unable to find the peer support she needed from other recently widowed military spouses, Taryn founded the American Widow Project four months later to help her cope with the loss of the love of her life. Using the power of the internet, Taryn has been able to reach out to over 100 young military widows (the majority of which are under 30), offering them peer support and help with whatever they might need.

Nicole Hart
Nicole Hart, found her soul mate when she was 16-years-old and married him three years later. Then, this past winter she lost him. On January 8, 2008, Army Sgt. David J. Hart was killed while trying to help one of his wounded men. Nicole, now a 23-year-old widow, didn’t know life could go on without David, and sometimes she still doesn’t understand how the earth continues to rotate. But, with the peer support from her new friends at the American Widow Project, she’s realizing that if she gets into her wedding dress on her anniversary and flips through wedding photos, she’s not weird, and she’s not alone.

Windy Link
Windy’s husband Sgt. Joey Link died while serving in Quatar as Air Support for the war in Iraq. Not only did he leave behind his wife Windy, but he also left behind two sons, and their baby daughter, Rylee. This summer, Windy left Rylee for the first time to travel to Austin, Texas to hang out with, and lean on, her new friends with the American Widow Project.

Topic: The American Widow Project ** We Regret to Inform You Chapter 2

Topic: The American Widow Project* We Regret to Inform You Chapter 3

The Women of the American Widow Project

Originally aired on September 24th, 2008

We Regret to Inform You Chapter 3

The Women of the American Widow Project

And a short clip of these young widows moving on together.

American Widow Project–A Light-Hearted Video Clip‏

In Their Boots: We Regret To Inform You – Surfing

Visit their site and show your support to these Military Widows and their families

New online tool to aid with overseas voting is launched

An online tool was launched this week that proponents say will make it easier for overseas Americans to vote if they have requested but not received their absentee ballot.

Users who log on to Overseas Vote Foundation can click on the FWAB link and be prompted for information according to the ZIP code where they are registered to vote.

The system presents the federal candidate lists for a voter’s district. Voters can mark their ballot on the computer or print it out and mark it by hand. Users are then provided the address of their home county election official where they mail their write-in ballot.

OVF and Defense Department officials recommend that overseas voters who don’t receive their ballot by Sept. 30 use the FWAB.

If you want abit more click link above.

Waiting for a ballot?

Did you register to vote and request an absentee ballot for this election? Are you still waiting for it to arrive? If so, you can use the federal write-in absentee ballot, which will let you vote in your district’s federal races. Voting officials recommend using the FWAB option if you don’t receive your ballot by Sept. 30.

To use a new automated system that will help you fill out a write-in ballot for your home county, log on to Overseas Vote Foundation.

I want to point you to a friends website PTSD Combat: Winning the War Within if you hadn’t know about Ilona’s work and research, or if you’ve visited but not in awhile.

And point you to her recent post OEF/OIF Veteran Suicide Toll: Nearly 15% of Overall U.S. Military Casualties Result from Suicide

I’m only going to give you a small snippet of her post, visit and read the rest, for there are a number of link backs giving one an open window in the problems that war and occupation theaters inflict on those who serve in them, as well as the people of the occupied and destroyed countries.

Back in February, the Marines released their military branch’s updated suicide statistics. They revealed the number of Afghanistan and Iraq combat troops and veterans who took their own lives in 2007 had doubled over the previous year.

Earlier this month, the Army reported its own current soldier suicide data, reflecting another year of record increases. And just last week, the VA chimed in with their latest OEF/OIF veterans suicide figures — also another record-breaker — for its Afghanistan and Iraq veteran clients.

Gregg Zoroya of USA Today:

Visit above link to Ilona’s site, there’s much more than just this well researched post, much more, and the results of War, PTSD, TBI, the Maimed Physically and Mentally, must be placed up front and at the top of the list as War should be the Absolute Last Resort for any Democracy of the People to Lead by Example not by Destructive Policies creating hatreds and enemies!

Below you will find a list of great books, there are others, that should be read, understood, and referanced as to what needs to be done to help those who’ve been placed in these Hell’s on Earth!!

First Ilona’s terrific referance booklet of great information:

Moving A Nation to Care: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and America’s Returning Troops

And a few more to add to the personal libraries and public libraries as well:

I Can Still Hear Their Cries, Even In My Sleep: A Journey Into PTSD

Veterans’s PTSD Handbook: How to File and Collect on Claims for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

After the War Zone: A Practical Guide for Returning Troops and Their Families

War and the Soul: Healing Our Nation’s Veterans from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Back from t Front: Combat Trauma, Love, and the Family

Heart of War: Soldiers’ Voices From the Front Lines in Iraq

Blood Brothers: Among the Soldiers of Ward 57

As I said above, there are others in the bookstores and online book sources. To stop repeating the mistakes of destructive conflicts one, the majority that don’t serve in them, must understand what conflicts do to their brothers and sisters, the few who do serve, and the damage done to any countries National Security, for the Innocents can and do become the Targets of the Blowback and Retaliation from Failed Policies!!!

Today at  High Noon Eastern Time we can hear from many of the people right in Alaska about Sarah.

As we’ve already found out if anyone really knew much about her, and her so called executive experience, they kept it under wraps, plenty of wraps, and than tried to sneak her by the American People who do the hiring and want the resumes!

My thoughts, with all that’s come to light, they were calling her a rising political star on personality only, as John McCains daughter says, PERIOD!
Seems they do that in most they hire to government positions as well, as we’ve watch the total incompetence these past almost eight years, in the administration, and times before in congressional staffs as well as federal agency staffs.

Will this just be a Town Hall of Alaskans of like minds, can’t say I live in North Carolina and wasn’t there, but from the Video’s that are online now as to the Rally, in front of the Anchorage Library, fitting, many will probably have nice things to say about their Governor, though their probably now thinking twice as to that office, but will be telling us that she isn’t ready to hold the Office of The Vice Presidency.

There may also be some of her supporters in the crowd, everyone was welcomed who could fit into the venue from my understanding.

Here’s abit of what the now famous blog MudFlats posted

It’s still amazing to me how the media have flocked to our fair city.  One visit that I was particularly pleased with was progressive radio talk show icon Ed Schultz, bringing “Team Fargo” to the University of Anchorage for a Town Hall meeting.  Sarah Palin was the topic du jour.  No need to say that was there?  Nobody found us particularly interesting until this whole fiasco came up.  Usually we have to resort to bribing famous people with fishing trips and tales of natural splendour.  And they still don’t come.

The house wasn’t packed, but there was a respectable crowd, and everyone was more than willing to give opinions on the woman who might very well be sitting in the Oval Office some day. I’m sorry.  I know that felt as strange to read as it did to write…but that’s what we’re dealing with.

Bottom Line:  Do Alaskans think she’s prepared?  No.

The Ed Schultz Show’s Town Hall Meeting in Anchorage!

Monday through Friday 12:00PM to 3:00PM (Eastern)

Here’s how you can listen if you either already don’t:

These fine affiliate stations broadcast `The Ed Schultz Show’ LIVE through internet streaming.

You are a few scant moments from some Straight Talk from the Heartland.

Hurry up, will you—if you miss a little, you miss a lot.

WWRL     1600 AM New York City, NY
WCPT     820 AM Chicago, IL
WXXM The MIC 92.1-FM Madison, WI
KKZN 760 AM Boulder, CO
WWRC 1260 AM Washington, DC
WZNZ AM 1460 Jacksonville, FL
KTNF 950 AM     Minneapolis – Saint Paul, MN
WVKO 1580 AM Columbus, OH
WPEK 880 AM Asheville, NC
KJLL 1330 AM Tucson, AZ

If you just missed the beginning of the LIVE show, the following stations air the show delayed
.
KPTK 1090 AM Seattle, WA 12:00 – 3:00pm PT
KKGN     Green 960 San Francisco, CA 12:00 – 3:00pm PT
KPOJ 620 AM Portland, OR 12:00 – 3:00pm PT
WDTW 1310 AM Detroit, MI 3:00 – 6:00pm ET
WJML 1210 AM Traverse City, MI 3:00 – 6:00pm, CT
KCUP 1230 AM Newport, OR 2:00 – 5:00pm PT
WTKG 1230 AM Grand Rapids, MI 5:00 – 8:00pm ET
KFXD 63 AM Boise, ID     4:00 – 7:00pm, MT
KUDO Newstalk 1080 AM Anchorage, AK 9:00am to 12:00pm, AT
KRXA 540 AM Carmel, CA  6:00 – 9:00pm PT
KFGO 790 AM Fargo, ND 7:00 – 10:00pm CT
KFNX 1100 AM Phoenix, AZ 7:00 – 10:00pm, PT

You can find all those stations at the Ed Schultz Show site.

Foot Note:

Joe and Jill Biden were in Charlotte last night and spoke around 6:30PM. The local FOX all News station carried the speeches live and also streamed over the net. They didn’t post up the stream link until just as they spoke, but said afterwards that they’d have the video on their site to watch later. It still isn’t up.

All they have there is a very short piece that was their last update a little after 8PM:

Biden stumps for Obama in Charlotte

In it they put this:

“I could walk from here to Greensboro and I wouldn’t find one person who says we’ve made great progress economically unless I ran into John McCain on the road.”

Both of them gave well received crowd pleasing speeches, and Joe touched on a number of Issue’s, actually quite abit.

If they place a URL up for the Video feed I’ll post it, I’ll try and see if I can find another outlet but I doubt it as they were the only ones who carried it live.

I’m going to steal a part of Peter Kornbluh’s title, above, from his Huffington Post Report about this, also a cut from him:

When Henry Kissinger began secretly taping all of his phone conversations in 1969, little did he know that he was giving history the gift that keeps on giving. Now, on the 35th anniversary of the September 11, 1973, CIA-backed military coup in Chile, phone transcripts that Kissinger made of his talks with President Nixon and the CIA chief among other top government officials reveal in the most candid of language the imperial mindset of the Nixon administration as it began plotting to overthrow President Salvador Allende, the world’s first democratically elected Socialist. “We will not let Chile go down the drain,” Kissinger told CIA director Richard Helms in a phone call following Allende’s narrow election on September 4, 1970, according to a recently declassified transcript. “I am with you,” Helms responded.

Go over and read his post it will give insight into this:

NEW KISSINGER `TELCONS’ REVEAL CHILE PLOTTING
AT HIGHEST LEVELS OF U.S. GOVERNMENT

Nixon Vetoed Proposed Coexistence with an Allende Government
Kissinger to the CIA: “We will not let Chile go down the drain.”

National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 255

Posted – September 10, 2008

A snippet of our past of which is only part of the circle that keeps going round and round, repeating but with different players added to the old players:

Washington D.C., September 10, 2008 – On the eve of the thirty-fifth anniversary of the military coup in Chile, the National Security Archive today published for the first time formerly secret transcripts of Henry Kissinger’s telephone conversations that set in motion a massive U.S. effort to overthrow the newly-elected socialist government of Salvador Allende. “We will not let Chile go down the drain,” Kissinger told CIA director Richard Helms in one phone call. “I am with you,” the September 12, 1970 transcript records Helms responding.

The telephone call transcripts–known as `telcons’–include previously-unreported conversations between Kissinger and President Richard Nixon and Secretary of State William Rogers.  Just eight days after Allende’s election, Kissinger informed the president that the State Department had recommended an approach to “see what we can work out [with Allende].”   Nixon responded by instructing Kissinger: “Don’t let them do it.”

Click on the link above to read more!

Just prior to the Republican Convention Veterans For Peace held their annual convention, it to took place in the twin cities area, Minneapolis-St Paul. For those who might be interested you can take a look at some photo’s of the VFP Convention Here and Here

But this isn’t about the VFP Convention, it’s about what came out of.

Veterans For Peace adopted two resolutions last week effectively firing signal flares into the path of whoever wins this November’s election, regardless of party.

VFP LIGHTS THE WAY

The resolutions mentioned above, along with the others voted on, set the goals for the over 150 chapters of Veterans For Peace for the coming year. In these times of two, now long running, Occupation Theaters they are also adopted as goals by the rapidly growing, in members and chapters, Iraq Veterans Against the War – IVAW adding to their other goals and resolutions for their own present brother and sister Veterans of OIF and OEF.

Along with VFP and IVAW another fast growing groups members attended and also adopt these resolutions, Military Families Speak Out, the families who along with the soldiers are the only ones sacrificing, in this country, in these times and because of these long running occupations.

Members of Military Families Speak Out from around the country traveled to Denver and St. Paul to make their voices heard.

In meetings with delegates, interviews with the press, and demonstrations in the streets, MFSO members criticized Democrats and Republicans alike for voting again and again to fund the occupation of Iraq while denying troops and veterans the health care they need.   In an early morning meeting in Denver, MFSO members from Colorado and California  were able to tell Michelle Obama that they want the next President to bring all of our troops home from Iraq immediately and give them the care they deserve when they get here.  Other members tried to deliver the same message to Republican leaders in St. Paul.

{if you click on the photo you’ll be able to get a much bigger one to view, it would be a slow load for dial-up as it is a much larger picture}

Why am I using the photo above, of Michele Obama hugging a member of MFSO and if you look close you will see Jill Biden, both are wearing “Supporting Our Troops” t-shirts, well it’s the least I can do to thank them as an older Veteran for this:

IVAW Victory: Message Delivered at the DNC

IVAW members were in Denver on August 27th where they led a march of ten thousand to the Democratic National Convention to deliver a message to Barack Obama calling on the Democratic nominee to endorse the three main goals of IVAW: Immediate withdrawal, full veterans benefits, and reparations for the Iraqi people.

Following a packed show at the Denver Coliseum where Rage Against the Machine and the Flobots encouraged the crowd to join IVAW’s march, two squads of 25 IVAW members each formed up outside the venue and began marching to the Pepsi center. The squads were led by members in dress uniforms and combat uniforms, with thousands of supporters marching behind them in support.

Read more for a full report on the actions at the DNC plus video and photos of the actions.

And why, you may ask, not any photo’s of the Republican candidates wife and their VP choices husband, well apparently there aren’t any that I can find and also because of this:

IVAW Turned Back from Delivering Briefing to McCain

A formation of 60 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans marched in uniform to Xcel Energy Center on Monday to deliver a briefing on veterans’ issues to Senator McCain on the opening day of the Republican National Convention.

IVAW member Wes Davey led the march and attempted to deliver the briefing to Senator McCain’s staff. Despite numerous mailed, faxed, and in-person invitations to meet, McCain’s office refused to send anyone to receive the briefing. When Davey, a retired Army First Sergeant and former St. Paul police officer, attempted to deliver the briefing, he was escorted off the premises.

Davey is a father of five and grandfather of seven. He served 28 years in the Army, including a tour in Iraq in 2003. His oldest child has served two tours in Iraq. “After being an NCO for all those years, I care deeply about all those still serving in Iraq,” said Davey about his reasons for organizing this march.

Read more for a full description and photos of the action and to download a copy of the briefing IVAW was attempting to deliver to Senator McCain.

Sorry those of you in this so called Republican party, this Independant and old Vet doesn’t have a Thank You to give to you!

Now back to the two very important resolutions mentioned at the beginning.

The First Resolution, sorry but not up at the site just yet but soon to be, as written in the article linked above as well as Here states:

is likely to become a guidepost for a peace movement now almost exclusively concentrating on Iraq

It is a

statement recognizing that when the U.S. invaded Afghanistan;

    * “…the only threats to our nation existing there were non-indigenous groups whom we ourselves had fostered and fed,” and that “our wanton use of force and violence against the people of Afghanistan has inflamed world opinion against the United States and has diminished our nation’s ability to work toward world peace and our own security by non-violent means.”

The resolution called for the immediate withdrawal of all military and intelligence forces, similar to what most of the peace movement demands in Iraq.  More significantly, however, VFP “renounces the claim that the war in Afghanistan is somehow the `right’ war and reaffirms our position that war must be abolished.”

My take on Afghanistan runs along the same line. Once we left Afghanistan to invade Iraq, who’s people than were not a threat to us, and didn’t bring forth the promised monies to help them rebuild after we helped stabilize somewhat that country, we opened the door for the al Qaeda and Taliban factions to reform and fanned the fires of hatred for them to easily recruit more into their ranks. Now the dangers in Afghanistan have been growing rapidly. We also have started bombing, and probably special forces, raids across their border into Pakistan which while probably killing and maiming members of those two insurgent factions have killed and maimed innocents. The killing and maiming of innocents and the opening of another front in another country, Pakistan, will only bring forth the patriotism of many of the Pakistanis, who have stayed out of the fray, causing many to join the established insurgent factions or forming their own and attacking American and Nato forces. This is already happening as well as others from that region traveling to the border to join the insurgent factions. We lost Afghanistan when we left it high and dry, there is no win situation in this growing Guerilla War, and the more innocent Afghans killed and maimed will only make more Afghans also go against the U.S. and Nato forces. Taliba and al Qaeda, along with Pakistanis and others to the front at the border and possibly growing forces of Afghans to the rear. It’s time to Get Out instead of fanning the fires of hatreds even further and creating an overwhelming number of enemies of Us and the Western World!

The Second Resolution is extremely important for this Countries survival, as we knew it, and for bringing us back towards the direction this Leading Democracy, of this World, can only take to bring back the respect of the rest of the World, and we’ve got a long hall, a real long hall!

This Resolution Calls For The Accountability This Country Must Take and Has Thus Been To Afraid To Approach:

Resolution on Prosecuting George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and other Bush Administration Officials for War Crimes, Crimes Against Peace and Crimes Against Humanity

Whereas, the March 2003 invasion of Iraq was not only immoral but illegal, violating numerous U.S. and international laws, including but not limited to USC 2441 (War Crimes Act of 1996), the Geneva Conventions, the Nuremberg Tribunal Charter, the U.N. Charter and Resolutions, the Laws and Customs of War on Land and;  

Whereas, the Veterans For Peace “Case for Impeachment” details six pages of violations of the above laws and is still but a partial listing, and;  

Whereas, the spineless dereliction of duty of the U.S. Congress may well allow Bush, Cheney and other administration officials to avoid impeachment before they leave office in January of 2009, and;

Whereas, U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Robert Jackson, appointed by President Truman to be the Chief Prosecutor at the Nuremberg Tribunals following World War II, stated so prophetically, “…let me make clear that while this law is first applied against German aggressors, the law includes, and if it is to serve a useful purpose it must condemn aggression by any other nations, including those which sit here now in judgment.” and;  

Whereas, the anguished cry of a village sheik in Iraq must be answered when he implored, “You say you live in a democracy.  How can this be happening to us?” and;  

Whereas, as citizens of the United States we are complicit in the crimes of the Bush administration in Iraq because we cannot claim ignorance of these crimes, and;  

Whereas, for the sake of humanity, for the sake of history, and to absolve even a small measure of the complicity we each share as U.S. citizens, we must do everything in our power to hold our leaders accountable and bring them to justice;  

Therefore be it resolved that Veterans For Peace will take every appropriate measure on our own and in coalition with others to insure that George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and responsible members of their administration are prosecuted for war crimes, crimes against peace and crimes against humanity before any court claiming jurisdiction in this country or abroad, for as long as they shall live.

Veterans For Peace membership, like many Veterans Groups as well as the thousands of groups, many Community Service Groups, around this country, consists of all of political parties of the citizens of this country. This isn’t Politics this is keeping with the Oath civilians take at the time of entry into the Military Forces of Service to their country:

“I

___

do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.” (Title 10, US Code; Act of 5 May 1960 replacing the wording first adopted in 1789, with amendment effective 5 October 1962).

And good news to add to the above, especially for those who can tear themselves away from their computers and actually do some Community Service’s and Activism of the Political Stripe:

V.A. to Allow Voter Signup for Veterans at Facilities

The Department of Veterans Affairs said Monday that it would no longer ban voter registration drives among veterans living at federally run nursing homes, shelters for the homeless and rehabilitation centers across the country.

Many of us who do have Won a Victory, one that shouldn’t have even been fought for!

Veterans officials said that they would welcome state and local election officials and nonpartisan groups to hospitals and outpatient clinics to help register voters but that such assistance needed to be coordinated by those facilities in order to avoid disruptions to patient care.

More than 100,000 people reside for a month or longer at V.A. facilities nationally, a number that has grown as soldiers return wounded from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Right On Ms Feinstein, Right On:

“Given the sacrifices that the men and women who have fought in our armed services have made, providing easy access to voter registration services is the very least we can do,” said Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, who introduced legislation in July to reverse the V.A. ban. Ms. Feinstein added that she would soon hold hearings on the issue.

Now there is a question as to whether the VA will implement in time for the coming election, Hit The Bricks if you have a facility near you and Demand You Be Allowed In To Register, the country doesn’t wait when Soldiers are given Orders to Invade until the Soldiers Ready, this should have already been a Right for those who give service to!!

It’s no wonder the 109th GOP Congress and Administration, in their rush to War with the Drums beating Louder and Louder, didn’t take Military Care and once again the Veterans Care, Wars Makes, into consideration and Pass Legislation and Funding, They Couldn’t Find The Facilities, and still can’t!!
John McCain may not be able to find the right Walter Reed, but we sure can. Watch this new video from Americans United for Change.

* Media Advisory for Saturday, September 6th @ 11AM EDT at Walter Reed Army Medical Center *

IRAQ WAR VETERANS TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE OUTSIDE OF WALTER REED TO REMIND JOHN MCCAIN WHERE IT IS, CALL MCCAIN OUT FOR TURNING HIS BACK ON AMERICA’S VETERANS

 McCain Campaign Gaffe Involving Walter Reed Underscores McCain’s Shameful Veterans Record

Washington, DC – Veterans will meet outside of Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Saturday, September 6th at 11 a.m. to discuss John McCain’s shameful record on veterans health care, the GI bill, his suggestion to ration care to only the combat wounded, and other veterans issues. The press conference comes just two days after John McCain’s campaign mistakenly used an image of Walter Reed Middle School in North Hollywood, CA instead of an image of Walter Reed Army Medical Center.  The gaffe symbolizes how McCain, like President Bush, has not provided America’s veterans and service members at Walter Reed and around the world the attention and care they need and deserve.

WHO:              Brian McGough, a U.S. Army Veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division

Kayla Williams a U.S. Army Veteran who served in Iraq  and is the Author of “Love My Rifle More Than You:Young and Female in the US Army”

                        Other veterans – TBA

WHAT:            Press Conference in front of Walter Reed Army Medical Center

WHEN:            Tomorrow, Saturday, September 6 at 11 a.m. EDT

WHERE:           Main Gate of Walter Reed

Intersection of Georgia Avenue NW and Elder Street NW

Washington, DC

-30-

McCain’s Disappointing Record on Veterans’ Issues

McCain Record Opposing Healthcare for Veterans

McCain Has Voted To Cut, Eliminate, or Gut Veterans Health Care Funding At Least 27 Times. [HR 4939, Vote #98, 4/26/06; SCR 83, Vote #70, 3/16/06; SCR 83, Vote #67, 3/16/06; SCR 83, Vote #63, 3/16/06; SCR 83, Vote #41, 3/14/06; HR 4297, Vote #15, 2/13/06; HR 4297, Vote #7, 2/2/06; S 2020, Vote #343, 11/17/05; HR 2863, Vote #251, 10/5/05; HR 2528, Vote #242, 9/22/05; HR 2361, Vote # 165, 6/29/05; HR 2361, Vote # 166, 6/29/05; HR 2361, Vote # 168, 6/29/05; HR 1268, Vote #90, 4/12/05; HR 1268, Vote #89, 4/12/05; SCR 95, Vote #40, 3/10/04; S 1689, Vote #379, 10/14/03; SCR 23, Vote #81, 3/25/03; S 2168, Vote #185, 7/7/98; S 936, Vote #168, 7/10/97; HR 3666, Vote #276, 9/5/96; HR 3666, Vote # 275, 9/5/96; HR 2099, Vote #466, 9/27/95; HR 4624, Vote #256, 8/4/94; HR 1335, Vote #97, 4/1/93; S 2884, Vote #226, 8/4/90; HR 2519, Vote #132, 7/17/91]

·        McCain Was One of 13 Senators To Vote Against Increase In Veterans’ Healthcare.  In 2006, McCain was one of 13 senators to vote against an amendment to add $430 million for outpatient and inpatient health care and treatment for veterans. Amendment passed 84-13.  [HR 4939, Vote #98, 4/26/06]

·        McCain Voted To Cut Funding For Veterans’ Healthcare.  In 2006, McCain voted against an amendment to strike a provision in the 2007 Budget that will hold farm programs, veterans, Social Security, and Medicaid hostage to rising health care costs by creating automatic cuts once an arbitrary level of spending is reached in the Medicare program.  The amendment failed 50-50.  [SCR 83, Vote #70, 3/16/06]

·        McCain Voted Against Increasing Veterans’ Funding By $10 Billion.   In 2006, McCain voted against an amendment to eliminate a tripling of fees for veterans in the TRICARE health care program by raising the discretionary spending limit by approximately $10 billion. The provisions would have been fully offset by eliminating certain corporate tax breaks.  The amendment failed 46-53.  [SCR 83, Vote #67, 3/16/06]

·        McCain Voted Against Veteran’s Healthcare Program.  In 2006, McCain voted against an amendment to make veterans’ health benefits a mandatory program, spending $104 billion over five years. The funding would have been offset by closing corporate tax loopholes and rolling back the Bush tax cuts for millionaires. Amendment rejected 46-54.  [SCR 83, Vote #63, 3/16/06]

·        McCain Voted Against A $1.5 Billion Increase In Healthcare For Veterans.  In 2006, McCain voted against an amendment that increased the discretionary spending limit by $1.5 billion to $874.5 billion to provide an increase in funding for veterans’ medical services. It would be offset by ending certain corporate tax breaks. Amendment rejected 46-54.  [SCR 83, Vote #41, 3/14/06]

·        McCain Failed To Vote To Support Healthcare For Veterans In Lieu of Tax Breaks For Millionaires.  In 2006, McCain failed to vote on a motion to instruct conferees to insist that the tax reconciliation conference report includes funding to support health needs of veterans and military personnel in lieu of an extension of capital gains or dividends tax breaks for individuals with incomes of more than $1 million.  Motion failed 40-53.  [HR 4297, Vote #15, 2/13/06]

·        McCain Voted Against $19 billion For Military And Veterans’ Hospitals.  In 2006, McCain voted against an amendment that provided $19 billion for military and veterans’ hospitals, offset by limiting the dividend and capital-gains tax rates to individuals earning less than $1 million.  Amendment failed 44-53.  [HR 4297, Vote #7, 2/2/06]

·        McCain Voted Against Mental Healthcare For Veterans.  In 2005, McCain Voted against an amendment that provided an additional $500 million per year for the next five years for mental health services for veterans. The funding would be offset by deferring tax cuts for those making $1 million per year.  Amendment rejected 43-55.  [S 2020, Vote #343, 11/17/05]

·        McCain Voted Against Considering Inflation In Veterans Funding Formula.  In 2005, McCain voted against an amendment that would establish a future funding formula for health care for former members of the Armed Forces takes into account changes in population and inflation.  Amendment failed 48-51.  [HR 2863, Vote #251, 10/5/05]

·        McCain Voted Against A $10 Million  Increase In Readjustment Counseling for Veterans.  In 2005, McCain voted against an amendment that would provide an additional $10 million for the Readjustment Counseling Service, offset with a $10 million reduction in the HealthVet account.  The amendment failed 48-50.  [HR 2528, Vote #242, 9/22/05]

·        McCain Failed To Vote For A $1.5 Billion Increase In Veterans’ Healthcare.  In 2005, McCain failed to vote for an amendment that would add $1.5 billion of funding to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for medical services provided by the Veterans Health Administration.  Amendment passed 96-0.  [HR 2361, Vote # 165, 6/29/05; HR 2361, Vote # 166, 6/29/05; HR 2361, Vote # 168, 6/29/05]

·        McCain Voted Against $1.9 Billion In Emergency Funding For Veterans’ Hospitals.  In 2005, McCain voted against an amendment that designated $1.9 billion in emergency funding for veterans’ hospitals.  The $1.9 billion provided for the VA by the underlying amendment will help the VA to cover the costs of caring for these new veterans, and ensure that the VA is able to provide them with the care they deserve.  The amendment failed 46-54.  [HR 1268, Vote #90, 4/12/05]

·        McCain Voted Against A $2 Billion Increase In Veterans’ Funding.  In 2005, McCain voted against an amendment that would increase funding for the Veterans Affairs Department by $1.98 billion and designate it as emergency spending. It would stipulate that $840 million be used for veterans’ regional health networks; $610 million be used to address the needs of service members deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan; and $525 million be used to provide mental health care and treatment.  Amendment failed 46-54.  [HR 1268, Vote #89, 4/12/05]

·        McCain Voted Against Creating A Reserve Fund For Veterans’ Health Care.  In 2004, McCain voted against an amendment that would create a reserve fund to allow for an increase in veterans medical care by $1.8 billion, the amount determined by Veterans’ Affairs Committee to meet existing needs; and is fully offset by closing tax loopholes.  Amendment rejected 46-51. [SCR 95, Vote #40, 3/10/04]

·        McCain Voted Against A $1.3 billion Increase In Veterans’ Health Benefits.  In 2003, McCain voted to table an amendment that included a $1. Billion increase in funding for health benefits.  The amendment would reduce the amount provided for Iraqi reconstruction by $5.03 billion, and redirect that funding for domestic programs, including $1.8 billion for veterans’ health benefits, $1 billion for school reconstruction, renovation and repair and class size reduction, and $1.5 billion for capital improvements for federal highways. It also would express the sense of the Senate that Congress should consider an additional $5.03 billion in funding for Iraqi reconstruction during the fiscal 2005 budget and appropriations process.  The motion to table passed 59-35.  [S 1689, Vote #379, 10/14/03]

·        McCain Voted Against Increasing Veterans’ Health Care Program.  In 2003, McCain voted against an amendment that would increase spending on the TRICARE program by $20.3 billion over 10 years to give members of the National Guard and Reserves and their families greater access to the health care program. The increase would be offset by a reduction in tax cuts.  Amendment rejected 46-51. [SCR 23, Vote #81, 3/25/03]

·        McCain Voted Against Increasing Veterans’ Health Administration By $1 Billion.  In 1998, McCain voted against an amendment that would add $1 billion for Veterans’ Health Administration Medical Care.  The funding would budget neutral and would come from the termination of the space station program.  The amendment failed 33-66.  [S 2168, Vote #185, 7/7/98]

·        McCain Voted Against $400 Million In Veterans’ Funding.    In 1997, McCain voted to table an amendment that would permit $400 million in DOD funds to be transferred to Department of Veterans’ Affairs to provide health benefits under laws administered by Secretary.  Motion to table agreed to 58-41. [S 936, Vote #168, 7/10/97]

·        McCain Voted Against Covering Spina Bifida For The Children of Veterans.  In 1996, McCain voted against the germaneness of an amendment that would extend veterans health care and related benefits to the children of Vietnam Veterans suffering from spina bifida, a spinal cord birth defect that causes neurological damage.  The amendment was judged germane 62-35.  [HR 3666, Vote #276, 9/5/96]

·        McCain Voted Against Preventing Cuts In Veterans’ Healthcare Funding.  In 1996, McCain voted to table an amendment that would prohibit the Department of Veterans’ Affairs from reducing funds to any state for health care facilities in fiscal 1997 below the fiscal 1996 funding level.  Motion to table passed.  [HR 3666, Vote # 275, 9/5/96]

·        McCain Voted Against Increasing Veterans’ Healthcare Funding By $511 Million.  In 1995, McCain voted against an amendment which would increase the funding for veterans’ medical care by $511 million; and offsets the cost of this amendment by limiting any tax cut to families with incomes of less than $100,000.  Amendment failed 51-49.  [HR 2099, Vote #466, 9/27/95]

·        McCain Voted To Restrict Funding For Veterans’ Care Facilities.  In 1994, McCain voted against tabling an amendment that the amendment would prohibit the construction of three inpatient facilities, located in Hawaii, California, and Tennessee.  The projects in Hawaii and California will provide access to acute care for large numbers of veterans in the areas to be served, without which they would not have access to VA inpatient services. The project in Tennessee involves the correction of serious seismic deficiencies in the Memphis VA facility, which is located in a dangerous earthquake area.  Motion to table passed 62-36.  [HR 4624, Vote #256, 8/4/94]

·        McCain Voted To Cut $25 Million From Veterans’ Health Programs.  In 1993, McCain not to table an amendment that transferred $25 million of veterans’ health funding to programs for the Veterans Department to occupation conversion and employment training programs for veterans.  Motion to table passed 57-43.  [HR 1335, Vote #97, 4/1/93]

·        McCain Voted Against Increasing Veterans’ Healthcare & Research Funding By $431 Million.  In 1991, McCain voted against an amendment to increase veterans’ program funding by $378 million for medical care and $53 million for medical and prosthetic research.  Amendment failed 35-64.  [HR 2519, Vote #132, 7/17/91]

·        McCain Voted Against $200 Million For Veterans’ Healthcare.  In 1990, McCain voted to table an amendment that transferred $200 million to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs medical account.  The money would be transferred from the Strategic Defense Initiative.  Motion to table passed 54-43.  [S 2884, Vote #226, 8/4/90]

McCain Record Opposing Funding for Veterans’ Programs

McCain Voted To Gut, Eliminate, or Cut Funding for Veterans Programs At Least 18 Times. [SCR 21, Vote #114, 3/23/07][SCR 18, Vote #55, 3/16/05][HR 2673, Vote #3, 1/22/04][SCR 23, Vote #74, 3/21/03][S 2400, Vote #136, 6/23/04][HR 2861, Vote #449, 11/12/03][SCR 23, Vote #83, 3/25/03][HR 2620, Vote $334, 11/8/01][HR 2620, Vote #269, 8/2/01][HR 4635, Vote #272, 10/12/00][HR 2684, Vote #328, 10/15/99][SCR 57, Vote #115, 5/16/96][HR 2099, Vote #470, 9/27/95][HR 2099, Vote #465, 9/27/95][SCR 13, Vote #226, 5/25/95] [S 1, Vote #76, 2/22/95][S 869, Vote #259, 11/20/91][HR 4624, Vote #306, 9/27/94]

·        McCain Voted Against A $3.5 Billion Funding Increase For Veterans’ Healthcare.  In 2007, McCain voted against the 2008 Budget Resolution that included at $3.5 billion increase in funding for veterans’ healthcare programs.  The bill passed 52-47.  [SCR 21, Vote #114, 3/23/07]

·        McCain Voted Against Increasing FY 2006 Veterans’ Health Care Funding By $2.8 Billion.  In 2005, McCain voted against an amendment that would increase funding for veterans health care by $2.8 billion for fiscal 2006 and reduce the deficit by $2.8 billion. Amendment rejected 47-53.  [SCR 18, Vote #55, 3/16/05]

·        McCain Voted Against $62 Billion In Funding For Veterans Affairs.  In 2004, McCain voted against an appropriations bill that would provide $62 billion for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.  The bill passed 65-28.  [HR 2673, Vote #3, 1/22/04]

·        Two Days After Iraq Invasion, McCain Voted Against A $1 Billion Increase In Veterans’ Programs.  Two days after the invasion of Iraq in 2003, McCain voted against an amendment that would increase spending on veterans’ programs by approximately $1 billion and put the same amount toward deficit reduction. The amount would be offset by a decrease in tax cuts.  The amendment failed 49-51.  [SCR 23, Vote #74, 3/21/03]

·        McCain Voted Against Modernizing Retirement Packages For National Guardsmen And Army Reservists.  In 2004, McCain voted against an amendment that would reduce from 60 to 55 the age at which certain members of the National Guard and Army Reserves could receive retirement benefits.  Motion rejected 49-49.  [S 2400, Vote #136, 6/23/04]

·        McCain Voted Against $122.7 Billion For Department of Veterans’ Affairs.  In 2003, McCain voted against an appropriations bill that included 122.7 billion in fiscal 2004 for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Housing and Urban Development and other related agencies.  The motion failed 44-49.  [HR 2861, Vote #449, 11/12/03]

·        McCain Voted Against A $13 Billion Funding Increase For Veterans’ Programs.  In 2003, McCain voted against an amendment that would provide an additional $13 billion for veterans’ programs.  The substitute amendment would reduce all tax cuts in the resolution by $1.24 trillion, fund President Bush’s proposed $75 billion war supplemental bill, and increase homeland security spending by $80 billion, spending for a Medicare prescription drug benefit by $194 billion, spending on veterans’ programs by $13 billion and spending on transportation and infrastructure by $71 billion.  The amendment failed 43-56.  [SCR 23, Vote #83, 3/25/03]

·        McCain Voted Against $51 Billion In Veterans’ Funding.  In 2001, McCain was one of seven senators to vote against the adoption of the conference report to provide 51.1 billion for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs; $30.1 billion for the Department of Housing and Urban Development; $7.9 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency; $3.1 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and $14.8 billion for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.  The conference report was approved 87-7. [HR 2620, Vote $334, 11/8/01]

·        McCain Voted Against $51 Billion For The Department of Veterans’ Affairs.  In 2001, McCain was one of five senators to vote against approval of a bill including $51.1 billion for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs; $31.0 billion for the Department of Housing and Urban Development; $7.8 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency; $14.6 billion for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and $3.2 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  The bill passed 94-5.  [HR 2620, Vote #269, 8/2/01]

·        McCain Failed To Vote For $47 Billion In Veterans’ Funding.  In 2000, McCain failed to vote for a bill that would appropriate $47 billion to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs as well as $23.6 billion for the Energy Department and Army Corps of Engineers, and other independent agencies.  The bill passed 85-8.  [HR 4635, Vote #278, 10/19/00]

·        McCain Voted Against $47 Billion In Funding For Department of Veterans’ Affairs.  In 2000, McCain was one of eight senators to vote against an appropriating bill that provided $47 billion for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.  It included $453 million for new rental assistance vouchers and language that incorporates a slightly amended version of the fiscal 2001 energy and water appropriations bill. The bill passed 87-8.  [HR 4635, Vote #272, 10/12/00]

·        McCain Voted Against $44.3 Billion For Veterans’ Programs.  In 1999, McCain was one of five senators to vote against an appropriations bill that provided $44.3 billion for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, $26.0 billion for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, $7.6 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency, $3.4 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and $13.7 billion for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.  The bill passed 93-5.  [HR 2684, Vote #328, 10/15/99]

·        McCain Voted Against A $13 Billion Increase In Funding For Veterans’ Programs.  In 1996, McCain voted against an amendment to increase veterans’ spending by $13 billion in fiscal 1997-2002 to be offset by closing corporate tax preferences and reinstating expired taxes.  Amendment Rejected 45-53. [SCR 57, Vote #115, 5/16/96]

·        McCain Voted To Underfund Department of Veterans’ Affairs.  In 1995, McCain voted for an appropriations bill that underfunded the Departments of Veterans’ Affairs & Housing and Urban Development by $8.9 Billion.  The bill passed 55-45.  [HR 2099, Vote #470, 9/27/95]

·        McCain Voted To Withhold Benefits From Mentally Disabled Veterans.  In 1995, McCain voted against an amendment striking the provision that withholds benefits to mentally incompetent veteran who does not have spouse, children, or dependent parents, and has estate valued in excess of $25,000.  Amendment failed 47-53.  [HR 2099, Vote #465, 9/27/95]

·        McCain Voted Against Closing Tax Loopholes To Increase Veterans’ Funding By $74 Million.  In 1995, McCain voted against an amendment eliminating tax breaks and closing tax loopholes in order to provide revenue to restore some of the proposed cuts in Veterans’ Affairs spending.  Amendment failed 45-55.  [SCR 13, Vote #226, 5/25/95]

·        McCain Voted Against Protecting Veterans’ Benefits From Budget Cuts.  In 1995, McCain voted to table an amendment to exempt current veterans’ benefits from cuts required by the balanced-budget amendment.  Motion to table passed 62-33.  [S 1, Vote #76, 2/22/95]

·        McCain Voted Against Funding The Department of Veterans’ Affairs.  In 1994, McCain was one of nine senators to vote against appropriating $90,118,186,061 in budget authority for the Veterans’ Affairs and the Housing and Urban Development departments.  The bill passed 90-9.  [HR 4624, Vote #306, 9/27/94]

·        McCain Voted Against Providing Automatic Cost of Living Adjustments To Veterans.  In 1991, McCain voted against an amendment to provide automatic annual cost of living adjustments (COLA) for certain veterans’ benefits.  Amendment failed 24-71.  [S 869, Vote #259, 11/20/91]

McCain Has Failed To Support Expanded Benefits For GIs

McCain Has Refused to Endorse Webb’s GI Education Bill.  According to the Politico, “Yet the former Navy pilot and Vietnam POW makes himself a target by refusing to endorse Webb’s new GI education bill and instead signing on to a Republican alternative that focuses more on career soldiers than on the great majority who leave after their first four years.” [Politico, 4/30/08]

·         Webb’s GI Bill The Top Legislative Priority For Veterans Groups. According to The Hill, “Webb’s bill is the top legislative priority for several veterans’ groups, including the nonpartisan Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). Its projected cost to the federal treasury is about $4 billion per year.Webb has argued his bill is necessary because the current GI bill cannot pay for today’s cost of higher education. [The Hill, 4/22/08]

·         Current GI Benefit Woefully Inadequate to Meet Educational Needs of GI’s. “The most a veteran can receive now is approximately $9,600 per year for four years. Those who served combat tours with the National Guard or Reserves are eligible for even less — typically just $440 per month, or $5,280 a year. By contrast, the College Board reports that the average four-year public college costs more than $65,000, or about $16,250 a year, for an in-state student. A private university costs on average about $133,000 for four years.” [The Hill, 4/22/08]

·         McCain Missed Vote Passing Webb’s GI Bill.  The Iowa Independent reported that Webb’s version of the GI Bill passed 75-22.  Despite his “concerns that Webb’s bill would persuade service members to leave the military early and pursue higher education,” McCain “was AWOL on the day of the vote, reportedly raising money in California for his presidential bid.” [Iowa Independent, 6/20/08]

RHETORIC: McCain Favored Troop Retention Over Benefits For Veterans.  In response to the CBO analysis of S. 22, Senators Graham and McCain released a joint statement in which McCain commented: “Congress must enact legislation that will increase education benefits, aid in recruitment and, importantly, encourage continued service in the military… As our armed forces fight a war on two fronts, we must do everything we can to maintain and encourage reenlistment…Unfortunately, S. 22 could greatly harm retention rates in our All Volunteer Force.” [McCain Press Release, via States News Service, 6/17/08]

·         McCain Against GI Bill Based On Fears Of Retention Loss.  CNN reported: “McCain has defended his opposition to the bill that would expand education benefits for veterans, saying it would hurt the military that he hopes to lead… McCain, a former Navy officer and prisoner of war during Vietnam, says the bill would hurt military retention by 16 percent and be a disincentive for service members to become noncommissioned officers, which he called `the backbone of all the services.'” [CNN, 6/10/08]

REALITY: CBO Found That Benefits Would Increase Recruiting 16 Percent.  The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) found that “while the better benefits [of the GI Bill] might lure 16 percent of experienced soldiers out of the service…it would be so attractive to civilians that it would increase recruiting by 16 percent” completely offsetting the loss in retention.  [U.S. News & World Report, 6/23/08]

The above Media Advisor is brought by Americans United for Change

These people have No Self Worth, I’m talking about those that just hang to this imaginary, once proud, Republican Tag. Even still calling themselves Conservative!

They allow themselves to be led around like the robots they’ve become, and frankly some on the Democratic side are just as willing, but the fall into line and march in lockstep Falls Souly on the GOP!

They’ve been Silent and Accepting of the Lies that led our Troops into Occupations and All that has come about because of that, the torturing, the no-bid contracts, the corruption, the deaths and maiming’ s…………………………………………, and oh so much more!

They’ve been Silent and Accepting as our Freedoms have been slowly stripped away, and Accepting of Rule by Executive Branch Alone ignoring the fact they have hired others to Represent Them!

They also find it Very Easy to Condemn those that give Service to Their Lives and Freedoms!

Last election cycle they Laughed at and Mocked the Military Service of one of the Presidential Candidates who Served This Country In Vietnam, just as I Did, and being in the same service branch, the U.S. Navy, they Spit on my Service, All my brother and sister Naval personal who served In-Country, and All the other Service Personal, but most of All, All Those Who Have Served This Country and Received It’s Highest Honor For That Service, The Purple Heart!!!

I was waiting to see how they would Slam their Fellow Americans this year. Well they started early, peppering their talking points with the words needed, leading up to their Convention, and Let Both Barrels Go, Loud and Clear!!

They went after Anyone who ‘Volunteers’, everyone who run those Volunteer Organizations, to Help Others, you know that Christian and Human Ideology They Claim seemingly as their own as they Slam those who are following the same teachings but not Their Views!

I’m to Royally Pissed, as a Veteran, an Activist, and an Advocate to really go deep into All they’ve ‘Spit’ on, others have already started these Long Lists, you can read one Here as well as  Here and Here.

There will be Plenty more I’m sure, especially as the Advocate, Volunteer, Community realizes what they’ve been subject to.

And Yes It’s Spitting On That Which You Do as An American As Well As All Others Who Share This Planet With Them!!!!!!!

By the way, did Anyone hear anything mentioned on what these candidates and this so called political party are going to do for this Country, Our World Standing {not creating more hatreds and enemies} and Leadership, Our Constitution, Our Democracy, Our Freedoms, and will we tonight??