troops talk back to kerry

[Stephen072774]

QFT.  Don't you just love how the Reps and Dems (and their associated media outlets) just latch onto any opportunity to attack each other this time of year?  The Reps used this little incident to segue into their "Democrats are soft on defense" rhetoric. 

Does anybody really think that Kerry meant that US troops are stupid?  Even if he believes that there is no way he would openly admit it.  He's still a Senator, and you don't get to where he is by publicly expressing unpopular opinions.  Kerry is far too smart to make a statement like that intentionally.

Seeing as how he WAS a troop; I don't see how he could think like that.

I do... He only joined for one reason, to further his political career.  He joined at the advice of his mentor, Teddy.

[Grainbelt]

troops from my (fairly liberal) home state of MN, giving kerry a hard time. Good stuff. 

[pantablo]

I think he honestly meant that if you don't study you'll end up a soldier. What would possess him to say shaZam! like that is TOTALY beyond me.

-T.

what would possibly possess him to say something that is so true...I dont know.

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

I think he honestly meant that if you don't study you'll end up a soldier. What would possess him to say shaZam! like that is TOTALY beyond me.

-T.

what would possibly possess him to say something that is so true...I dont know.

Whoa.. Pablo.. don't tell me you agree? You seriously think the military is an avenue for stupid people to make it in the world?

WTF. I'd like to think I'm a pretty smart kid... not bragging, but I was just shy of acing my SATs, graduated number 4 in a class of over 400 (of course, these are Florida schools, and we all know how dumb Floridians are.. ) I'm still seriously debating joining the Navy. A. I want to serve, feel like I accomplished something, do something for my country. B. Being an officer in the military greatly increases your likelihood of success in the private sector. C. I could use the money to help pay for college. Ya know, the #4 CompE school in the country, where I go, cuz I'm not dumb?

My dad was Air Farce.. he's seriously one of the smartest people I know.

My personal opinion is that that's a f%&ked up point of view...

[porsche4786]

I think he honestly meant that if you don't study you'll end up a soldier. What would possess him to say shaZam! like that is TOTALY beyond me.

-T.

what would possibly possess him to say something that is so true...I dont know.

Whoa.. Pablo.. don't tell me you agree? You seriously think the military is an avenue for stupid people to make it in the world?

WTF. I'd like to think I'm a pretty smart kid... not bragging, but I was just shy of acing my SATs, graduated number 4 in a class of over 400 (of course, these are Florida schools, and we all know how dumb Floridians are.. ) I'm still seriously debating joining the Navy. A. I want to serve, feel like I accomplished something, do something for my country. B. Being an officer in the military greatly increases your likelihood of success in the private sector. C. I could use the money to help pay for college. Ya know, the #4 CompE school in the country, where I go, cuz I'm not dumb?

My dad was Air Farce.. he's seriously one of the smartest people I know.

My personal opinion is that that's a f%$ked up point of view...

+1
Most of the people fighting for us over there are definitely NOT dumb/stupid.

[Stephen072774]

you graduated #4 in a class of 400 and you don't have a college scholarship?

[pantablo]

you may not agree with my view on the matter, based on my personal experiences with armed forces but there it is. I do agree...

I am in no way saying that everyone in the military is stupid. thats ludicrous...However, I have seen how many guys (mostly) that dont have other alternatives, such as college, or otherwise career employment, will join in order to get that. For every brilliant Commander there are countless minions that toil away in the battlefield-many of them with less than stellar intelect.

Please dont take this as a personal attack. I mean no disrespect or insult to you personally but that is what I have witnessed myself, and that is what my opinion on the matter is based on. I respect those that choose military life or military service, for whatever reason.

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

you graduated #4 in a class of 400 and you don't have a college scholarship?

Bah! I went out of state... If I'd stayed in the state of FL, I would be making roughly $1500 per semester in excess scholarships, working less, getting better grades, and seeing more attractive women. I would also, however, be hanging out with all the same people I went to high school with, and not branching out, which is what college is for. I'd also be getting a lesser education than I am now (IMHO).

At Tech, I'm paying for everything out of pocket. I worked construction all summer (80+ hours a week) to pay for this semester's tuition and a GS... looks like I'm taking a loan to pay for next semester's.. it's not so bad. I live in the fraternity house and am on a fraternity meal plan, so I pay 1/2 of what Tech housing/food would be.. and I took a year off to live/work in GA, so now I'm a resident, and only pay roughly $10K per year versus the $30K per year out of state would be...

Anyway.. Pablo.. I respect your right to have an opinion.. I just thought you were disrespecting our military men and women.. I will agree, not all are the brightest bulbs, but a good number are, I didn't think you were giving them the respect they deserve. If you're not being disrespectful, I have no problem with your opinion.




almost forgot, I maxed out my ASVAB too!

[pandy]

I worked construction all summer (80+ hours a week)

AND PW'd? How in the WORLD did you ever MANAGE all that!?

[RVertigo]

He only joined for one reason, to further his political career.

Totally why he got shot too...  He knew it would look good on his resume.

And, I'm sure that's why Bush went straight to Vietnam...  So, he could be president one day... Oh wait.

[Stephen072774]

Yeah cause lots of rich kids go to war.

[BaoQingTian]

Myth of the underprivileged soldier

According to a comprehensive study of all enlistees for the years 1998-99 and 2003 that The Heritage Foundation just released, the typical recruit in the all-volunteer force is wealthier, more educated and more rural than the average 18- to 24-year-old citizen is. Indeed, for every two recruits coming from the poorest neighborhoods, there are three recruits coming from the richest neighborhoods.

In fact, since the 9/11 attacks, more volunteers have emerged from the middle and upper classes and fewer from the lowest-income groups. In 1999, both the highest fifth of the nation in income and the lowest fifth were slightly underrepresented among military volunteers. Since 2001, enlistments have increased in the top two-fifths of income levels but have decreased among the lowest fifth.

[Stephen072774]

When my granddad was drafted for WW2 the drafting officer told him if he or the family paid 500 dollars he wouldn't have to go.  My Great-granddad didn't have 500 dollars so he went.  Many of his friends and peers didn't have to go because they paid.  True story. 

I'm sure this doesn't happen now, but it sure as hell used to.

[scottpA_GS]

He only joined for one reason, to further his political career.

Totally why he got shot too...  He knew it would look good on his resume.

And, I'm sure that's why Bush went straight to Vietnam...  So, he could be president one day... Oh wait.

Bush never went to Nam.. Is that what your are sayin? He joined the Air Guard so he wouldnt have to go.. Looser..


Anyway.. I was in the Airforce and I still like Kerry.. I think it was a joke gone wrong. As someone else said, he would have to be as dumb as Bush to make a real comment like that. Its just election time and you have to hear how so and so voted against feeding homless babies and voted to kill all the white people... Bla Bla... its all BULL  

I think more non military people are pissed about what he said than actual US troops  

[RVertigo]

kill all the white people

[RVertigo]

Watching politics is like visiting this Zoo Exhibit:  Miami Metrozoo.

[pandy]

In his remarks in California on Monday, Mr. Kerry said: "You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq."

Mr. Kerry said that he botched a joke that his aides said had been prepared as follows: "Do you know where you end up if you don't study, if you aren't smart, if you're intellectually lazy? You end up getting us stuck in a war in Iraq. Just ask President Bush."

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/01/us/politics/01elect.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1

[94suzuki500]

Is it true that kerry shot himself in the foot so he would get out of the military or at least for awhile.  Ive heard jokes about his purple heart award.

[RVertigo]

I heard he shot himself in the head so he'd be qualified to be president.

[pantablo]

so thats how Bush got in....