REPUBLICANS DON’T SUPPORT OUR TROOPS

[rhett o rick]

The republicans have had control of the government for the last eight years. Six of those years they controlled all of the government. During that time we have spent more than $500,000,000,000 on a war. But little of this unbelievable amount has gone to help troops in the field, in barracks in the US and the biggest shame, to help our wounded vets.

Where has the money gone? Well, right off the bat Bremer lost approx $10,000,000,000 in cash. It just got lost. Halliburton, GE, Blackwater, and other profiteers have had no trouble getting their money. Some times even for projects they never completed. But did our troops get the body armor when they needed it? NO! The Blackwater mercenaries did. Did our troops get the blast protected Humvees? NO! The Blackwater mercenaries did. Did our troops get decent housing in barracks. NO! They got rotting, moldy, leaky, disgusting barracks.

And what have the republicans done for our wounded vets, the young people that we sent to Iraq to fight a war for nothing, they get poor service and a mountain of bureaucracy. The Nation magazine (Sept) has an excellent article on this issue and they state, “In 2007, 32,000 veterans appealed the VA’s initial ruling. They waited an average of three and a half years for their appeals to be processed.” This is a crime. These people that got wounded in battle have been ignored by the very republicans that were so eager to send them to battle. The republicans have pulled out all stops to get their contractor friends “no bid” contracts and their money, but somehow have failed to help out the wounded veterans.

John McCain says he doesn’t like big government. But in the last eight years he has supported the Bush administrations push for bigger government. And John McCain says he supports his fellow soldiers and veterans, but he voted consistently against increases to vet benefits, and he has supported republican filibusters stopping Democratic legislation aimed at streamlining the bureaucracy hurting our wounded vets.

When republicans say, support our troops, they mean support our contractors.

Also posted at keepitsimple-mo.blogspot.com

[w8liftinglady]

1. My latest letter to the editor..to be printed Thurs or Fri

As the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan rage on,the disproportionate burden our troops bear becomes more evident.Today,I would like to focus on Brigade Combat Teams(BGT).High-intensity combat is the norm for these frontline units.These units are also the most likely to serve multiple deployments.
Texas units have paid an extraordinarily high price in The War.While most BCT units lose 21 soldiers per deployment,Texas units have lost double that. Several
Texas BCTs experienced dramatically higher fatality rates: the 3rd BCT/1st
Cavalry Division lost 56 Soldiers during its most recent tour, 167 percent above
the average, and the 1st BCT/4th Infantry Division lost 57 Soldiers from December
2005 to December 2006, 171 percent above the average. Altogether, Fort Hood has lost more Soldiers than any other American military installation: 436 in the past five years.
These mortality rates,combined with multiple deployments and dwell times of less than a year between deployments,are causing a terrible strain to our troops and their families.Interestingly enough,there have been several pieces of legislation introduced to address this unbearable burden so few bear.
Senate Amendment 2909,introduced by Senator Jim Webb,specified minimum periods between deployment of units and members of the Armed Forces deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. It prohibited the deployment of members of the regular armed forces unless the time period between deployments is at least as long as the period of the previous deployment and prohibited the deployment of members of the Reserve Armed Forces and National Guard if the member has been deployed within the preceding three years.
You would think that our legislators would favor something as critical as the welfare of our troops and their families,wouldn't you?The amendment lost due to the votes of 44 Republicans.The following Senators voted Nay:Cornyn,Hutchison,and McCain.This is how these legislators support our troops-waving a flag while placing party loyalty ahead of the welfare of our troops.
Election day is soon.Research the voting records of your candidates before pulling the lever.

[rhett o rick]

2. Great letter. We need to keep the pressure on McCain's vet voting record. nm

[AtomicKitten]

3. The GOP should lose on their disregard for veterans alone.

Turns out there are a gazillion more reasons they should lose as well.

[rhett o rick]

4. We need to concentrate on the top 6 or 8 and hammer them home. nm

[bcoylepa]

5. the truth about the troops

The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the country’s largest Iraq veterans’ group, looked at 155 Senate votes since Sept. 11, 2001, on legislation that “affected troops, veterans or military families.” It then awarded each senator a grade by comparing his or her votes to IAVA’s view of what constitutes effective support for active troops, veterans and their families.

No senator received an “A” grade. Thirteen senators — all Democrats — received an “A-.” The worst grade received by a Senate Democrat was higher than the best grade granted to a Republican. Obama, for his part, got a B+.

McCain received a “D.”

just gimme some truth as John Lennon would say.....

[rhett o rick]

6. Thank you, good post. nm