http://www.dodbuzz.com/2012/08/14/paul-r...-pentagon/

I actually think that coming out and publicly making a pledge for "immediate withdraw" of ALL troops in the region would be a boost for the GOP. It would play well with the independent and blue dog Democrat vote. Let's be honest. the GOP thus far has done a poor job at going after that vote. I firmly believe you can't win today without the independents on your side. Obama got them before. They are primed today to switch sides this time if given the incentive to do so.

notable that out of obama, biden, romny, and ryan, not a single one of them has any military service

we're not quite there yet, but it's going to be interesting once the political leadership is almost completely devoid of military veterans

guys like truman, jfk and nixon, ford, carter and bush-41... say what you will about them, but they had dealt with officers in 'real life' and weren't intimidated by the brass once they reached the oval office

The DoD is just as bloated as other arms of the Federal Government. I served over 10 years, so I am not speaking out of my ass.

If we are to really tackle debt issues, then cuts need to be made, including into the sacred cows of the Republicans and Democrats.

(08-15-2012 09:02 PM)Cardiff Wrote:  notable that out of obama, biden, romny, and ryan, not a single one of them has any military service

we're not quite there yet, but it's going to be interesting once the political leadership is almost completely devoid of military veterans

guys like truman, jfk and nixon, ford, carter and bush-41... say what you will about them, but they had dealt with officers in 'real life' and weren't intimidated by the brass once they reached the oval office

Didn't realize Truman was a former grunt. Don't know how I missed that. Interesting you left out Ike. Of course, the last 5 all share a common background. I highly doubt that Obama has any trouble telling the military what to do. In general, you don't really see many senior military leaders that want to enter public service. Most have already worn themselves out after 11 years of war (some got time in Iraq '91) and have no desire to deal with Washington again.

I believe that if you took a panel of 11 solid O-5s that had just left command (and maybe 5 of their top JOs), gave them the current US operating costs, a copy of the Constitution, and a budget, and told them to balance it in accordance to the Constitution and needs, you could have a balanced budget within 3 months.

(08-15-2012 09:11 PM)ODUsmitty Wrote:  If we are to really tackle debt issues, then cuts need to be made, including into the sacred cows of the Republicans and Democrats.

might be the wrong thread for this but if we are going to be the worlds police then we should charge a price for it.

(08-15-2012 09:11 PM)ODUsmitty Wrote:  The DoD is just as bloated as other arms of the Federal Government. I served over 10 years, so I am not speaking out of my ass.

If we are to really tackle debt issues, then cuts need to be made, including into the sacred cows of the Republicans and Democrats.

Yes. When the GOP addresses the military spending and the Dems. address entitlements...then...We know they are serious about turning around decades of big government.

I have NO faith it will happen without MASSIVE public civil protest. They will not give this stuff up without being FORCED to do it. At this point...I see nothing that would lead me to believe Americans think we are in that bad of shape. They are comfortable on their plantation.

(08-15-2012 09:14 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  

(08-15-2012 09:11 PM)ODUsmitty Wrote:  If we are to really tackle debt issues, then cuts need to be made, including into the sacred cows of the Republicans and Democrats.

might be the wrong thread for this but if we are going to be the worlds police then we should charge a price for it.

Yes..but..I would prefer that property owners protect their own property and not expect me to do it for them.

(08-15-2012 09:14 PM)T-Monay820 Wrote:  Didn't realize Truman was a former grunt. Don't know how I missed that.

yup

battery commander in 1918

Quote:Interesting you left out Ike.

well since he already outranked the brass even before he got elected i figured he belonged in a separate category

Quote:I highly doubt that Obama has any trouble telling the military what to do

i doubt it, too

but that's not quite what i was trying to say. what i'm talking about is more subtle than that but i'm not able to explain it right now

Quote:In general, you don't really see many senior military leaders that want to enter public service

true, but even the enlisted men and mid-level officers are getting scarce, too

compare the service records of congressmen of the 1950-1990 era with now