Posts with the tag Navy

ONLINE VETERANS COMMUNITY

WEBMASTER — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:42:47 EDT

President Barack Obama says all Americans have a “sacred trust" with the military personnel who have served this Nation, a responsibility to reward courage and self-sacrifice with all the benefits an open democratic society can provide.

MyVetwork (myvetwork.com) provides the solid foundation for a vibrant network of support in the spirit of that sacred trust to improve the lives of not only our active duty personnel and the 600,000 veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, but all our nation's estimated 23 million living military veterans - and their families, too.

MyVetwork is already operational, with the capability to service the Veterans Community—for the first time—in three intersecting strings, known as a Trident Connection, add up to One Trusted Source for Veterans that anyone connected to the government understands is crucially needed:

Connection: An easy to use—free—means for our service men and women (all branches, all conflicts, whether active duty, veterans or retired) and their extended families to connect and shape their own community where they can interact and exchange information on getting the services and resources they need (replacing current “Needle in a haystack” searches with the badly needed “Bingo. Found it!” laser-like search). Employs a cool Pin View that makes it easy to:
- Locate people you know, like buddies from combat
- Find people you don’t know, the very people—living nearby or half a world away—with whom you most want to connect based on values, interests, concerns, and specific experiences you’ve identified as important
- Find jobs the MyVetwork way: the “job board on steroids” helps find work that matches your interests and skill sets, and helps vet-friendly employers ensure vets get first-look opportunity at available positions.
Information: MyVetwork is building the innovative “Milipedia” with content specifically shaped by and for the military community, continually adapting to the needs of service personnel and their families and updating the information they seek, especially in the areas of healthcare, education, money and finance, and careering. Whether cutting through the red tape to benefits programs available from the VA; differentiating the proliferation of local services and programs; or finding specific people offering advice and support, Milipedia info has the added advantage of being “vetted” by military personnel who can vouch for the value of the proffered service/information (think “Military meets Wikipedia meets Zagat guide”).
Organizational Umbrella: Finally, a place for unwinding the organizational maze, categorizing all the available services, the scores of organizations, the many websites and the hundreds of community programs already providing support for our military and their families, giving them the best possible means to showcase themselves to the military community with the accompanying opportunity to increase membership, even raise needed funds.

Veterans community in one location. All for free.

Founded by decorated veteran John R. Campbell, MyVetwork draws on the “secret sauce” of the military, the “I’ve-walked-in-your-shoes” strength military personnel willingly share with one another, which will be a driving force behind MyVetwork.

Learn more about MyVetwork by visiting myvetwork.com or join the Veterans Community by visiting community.myvetwork.com.

Online Veterans Community: veterans.barackobama.com/page/community/post/president/gGxcKg
Document posted by David Apperson

Happy Easter America

Janet Sue Gagliardi — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:47:04 EDT

Captain Phillips has been rescued. Happy Easter America and thank you, President Obama, for giving the order to rescue. Wow, what a Navy we have and what eagle eye snipers. Blessings to all of you.

Blessings to you, Captain Phillips; you are truly a hero!

This is a goooooood day!

Military Sexual Assault

Lisa Holmes - Obama Precinct Captain #3361 — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 20:08:49 EST

Marine Corps - “Victims of sexual assault are entitled to our support” | By Suzia Van Swol - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service and Talk Radio News Staff | Friday, March 6, 2009

The House Armed Forces Subcommittee held a Military Personnel hearing, today, on “Sexual Assault in the Military: Prevention.”

The subcommittee heard testimony from Carolyn Collins, program manger of the Army’s Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) Program, Raymond Bruneau, manager of the Marine Corps’ Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program; Katherine Robertson, deputy manager of the Navy Installation Command’s Counseling, Advocacy and Prevention Program and Charlene Bradley, assistant deputy for the force management integration in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Prevention and Response Office.

This was one in a series of hearings that this subcommittee will conduct on the subject of sexual assault in the military, this year. The hearing today focused on Prevention Programs that are currently in place.

Chairwoman Susan Davis (D-CA) said: “Just as we have the responsibility to ensure that victims of a sexual assault receive all the support that can be provided following an attack, we also have an obligation to do all we can to prevent such attacks from ever taking place. The Department of Defense has made significant improvements in recent years, but the question we need to ask is, has enough been done?”

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) asked the witnesses whether and why the question “do women belong in the military” was still an issue and stated that this needed to be addressed. She said there needs to be a “change in cultural attitudes” towards woman in the military, and more “effective laws.”

The prevention and after-care systems that were identified by the panel seemed focused on the woman; offering counseling for victims. There was no evidence of rehabilitation programs in place for the men who commit this offense.

Mr. Bruneau said: “People are our most important resource. Marines have a long history of taking care of their own. Which means that we do not intentionally harm one another. Nor, do we leave a comrade behind. Victims of sexual assault are entitled to our support and care and deserve to be returned to the fight as fully functioning marines. The marines as always, are committed to caring for their own, as it’s the right thing to do.”

The subcommittee showed three videos by the witnesses that have been created by and for the military in an attempt to highlight the serious nature of sexually criminal behavior.

Source:

http://talkradionews.com/2009/03/marine-corps-%E2%80%9Cvictims-of-sexual-assault-are-entitled-to-our-support%E2%80%9D/

IN OUR OWN WORDS

Terry Danielson — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 00:18:34 EST

IN OUR OWN WORDS

A Collection of Stories and Photographs

From Military Families of the

Iraq and Afghanistan Wars

To our President and First Lady

On February 27, 2009, in his speech from Camp Lejeune, President Obama said, "…my strategy for ending the war in Iraq does not end with military plans or diplomatic agendas; it endures through our commitment to uphold our sacred trust with every man and woman who has served in Iraq.... And for you and your families, the war does not end when you come home. It lives on in memories of your fellow Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who gave their lives…. You and your families have done your duty; now a grateful nation must do ours….”

“We also know that service does not end with the person wearing the uniform. In her visits with Military Families across the country, my wife Michelle has learned first hand about the unique burden that your families endure every day. I want you to know that Military Families are a top priority for Michelle and me, and they will be a top priority for my administration…. Each of you has your own story. And that story is now a part of the history of the United States of America..."

Recently, on a show from Walter Reed, Oprah talked about Military Families, reminding Americans that every day when we listen to the news, we hear another number, and we go on with our lives. Behind the statistics are real families. An injured service member at Walter Reed said, “No soldier comes back the same - it is a family process. Go to the floor upstairs where the injuries are not seen. They are just as injured as those with physical injuries."

As President Obama works to end the war in Iraq, and the war in Afghanistan continues, the faces and every day lives of Military Families who wait at home will remain at the center of the war and our stories will continue. During war, military family experiences are so much more than can ever be communicated in news reports, care packages, legislation, military or political strategies.

Our MYBO/OFA group, “Military Families Need Obama as We Share the Human Faces of War,” led by military parents and siblings, invites military spouses, children, grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles to be a part of "IN OUR OWN WORDS," a special collection of stories and photographs that will be presented to our President and First Lady.

"IN OUR OWN WORDS" will share the human faces of the consequences of war from the hearts and souls of those who live it everyday. It is intended to serve as a tribute to the lives of Military Families of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and will include both our inspirational and heart breaking experiences, with a special section honoring those service members who have been killed while at war. Together, Military Families will create "IN OUR OWN WORDS” with the hope that as we share our stories, it will lift us all up.

Stories and photographs will only be used in this project to be presented to our President and First Lady. They will not be distributed to any other group, organization, or the media. To learn more about how to participate in this project, please contact one of us:

Debbie: DebbieIngraham@gmail.com

Jessica: JessicaIngraham@gmail.com

Terry: Tdaniel333@comcast.net

JON BON JOVI

WEBMASTER — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 13:37:04 EST

COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF'S BALL TO AIR ON PENTAGON CHANNEL
AVAILABLE ON MILITARY BASES AROUND THE WORLD

JON BON JOVI TO PERFORM

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Presidential Inaugural Committee announced today that the Commander-in-Chief's ball, honoring the country's active duty and reserve military, will be broadcast to American troops around the world on the Pentagon Channel, which is available via cable on 368 military bases and on commercial cable and satellite services throughout the United States. Overseas, the Pentagon Channel is distributed via cable and direct-to-home satellite to nearly one million troops via the American Forces Radio and Television Service.

Jon Bon Jovi will headline the talent lineup for the ball, which will be held on Tuesday, January 20th, at the National Building Museum. George Lopez will emcee the event, which also feature performances and appearances by Jordin Sparks, Miss America 2009 Kirsten Haglund, and Right On. The event is also co-hosted by the Senior Enlisted Advisors of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.

"This opportunity to honor our troops should not be limited to those who are able to be in the room with us for the evening," said PIC Executive Director Emmett S. Beliveau. "We want all our troops, around the world, to share in this special evening with the newly sworn-in President and Vice President and the excellent talent we have for the evening. Our troops deserve our thanks and our gratitude and this is one way we hope to express our thanks to those here and abroad."

"While a relatively small number of service members will be able to attend the Commander-in-Chief's Ball in person, they will represent more than 2 million men and women in uniform," said Col. Hiram Bell, director of public affairs for the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee. "Most of those service members will be able to watch the celebration on the Pentagon Channel, or later on Armed Forces Network, and we want them all to feel part of this historic event."

The Pentagon Channel will break into regular programming with live coverage of the Commander-in-Chief's Ball, including remarks by Department of Defense leadership and both the Vice President and the President. Coverage begins at approximately 8 PM Eastern time and continues throughout the evening.

The event will be produced by The iDream Company, led by entertainment executives Suzanne de Passe, Suzanne Costen, and Madison Jones, and written by Ruth Robinson. The iDream company has been recognized with Emmy Awards, Golden Globe and Peabody Awards.

Tickets are being provided free of charge to all invited guests, which includes active duty and reserve military, wounded warriors (Purple Heart recipients), families of fallen heroes, and spouses of deployed military. This event is not open to the general public.

source: http://veterans.barackobama.com/page/community/post/president/gGxFsx

SUPPORT MILITARY FAMILIES

WEBMASTER — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:37:28 EST

Getting our Military Families what they Deserve
By Jay Chalnick 15 January 2009

NEW YORK, NY– In his Inaugural speech, President-elect Obama will no doubt voice his intention to ensure those who have served their country in the US military get what they deserve. As he said, “This is something I care deeply about.” The team of people who built MyVetwork (www.myvetwork.com) will be among those cheering his words.

One of them is Brendan Hart who left the Marine Corps in 2005, and wanted to reconnect with other veterans, people who would understand what he went through and what support he may need. Plenty of services exist, says Hart, 26, on medical leave from Dartmouth College because of a contaminated smallpox vaccine he was given while serving. But finding them was another matter. Hart launched Student Veterans of America, now one of the many military-focused groups taking advantage of www.myvetwork.com, the new online community designed specifically to facilitate the intention of President-elect Obama and others to take advantage of available technology to get to veterans the services they have earned.

MyVetwork.com is the first-ever online social network designed specifically for our military and their families that lets them shape their own community…so they can connect and interact with each other while exchanging information on getting the services and resources they need– all in one place. This has not been possible until now; MyVetwork.com provides the timely vehicle to bring to reality Michele Obama’s “vision of a system that does more to support military families, both when loved ones are deployed and long after they return.”

“Why is it that no one has ever asked the military community what they need?” says John R. Campbell, Founder and CEO of MyVetwork, and a decorated Vietnam era Marine officer. “We’ve conducted interviews across service branches, ranks and cities, and have heard time and again our service men and women want to connect with one another, share stories, exchange resources, and give and receive support. This fundamental and natural channel for sharing information is long overdue. And they want all the groups who serve them to be easily accessible, under one umbrella.”

MyVetwork invites active duty, retired, and veteran military members and their families to build their own community and interact on multiple levels of shared interests. The community is built upon a dynamic customized platform specific to the military, providing the basis for a community that’s shaped by and for its members. Member profiles and sophisticated matching algorithms make it easy for participants to find others with similar interests; make peer-to-peer recommendations; locate long lost buddies; find other parents of wounded veterans eager to exchange critical information; look for support from someone who has “walked in their boots;” give, receive mentoring or career advice; and exchange information on a virtually unlimited number of topics.

Many of our 1.6 million troops deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan return home to challenging times for them and their families. “MyVetwork replaces the sense of isolation with the comfort of community for military personnel and their families,” says Jaine Darwin, Clinical Instructor in Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School. “As a conduit for the exchange of information and support, MyVetwork provides a way to join hands across the nation during deployment as well as during the challenging time of reintegration.”

Large Veterans Service Organizations (VSO’s) like the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) with its 1.9 million members; AMVETS (600,000); and the American Legion Auxiliary (750,000) are partnering with MyVetwork to provide a new means of connection and interaction among their members. Similarly, smaller groups like VET Foundation, Army Wife Talk Radio, and The Coming Home Project; Strategic Outreach for Families of all Reservists (SOFAR) have signed on to get exposure and expand membership.

All will join the applause for President-elect Obama who seeks a “shift in attitude in the VA” to make sure those who served are getting treated with the honor and respect they deserve.”

# # #

About MyVetwork

MyVetwork (www.myvetwork.com) is a not for profit organization with 501(c)(3) status, and is free to members. MyVetwork is the exclusive trademark of MyVetwork, LLC

source: http://disabilties.barackobama.com/page/community/post/president/gGxbgp

CITIZENS BRIEFING BOOK

WEBMASTER — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:45:58 EST

Share your ideas on any issue facing the new administration, then rate or comment on other ideas.

The best rated ideas will rise to the top -- and be gathered into a Citizen's Briefing Book to be delivered to President Obama after he is sworn in.

'Citizens Briefing Book' sample: Military Medical Coverage

MILITARY HERO - G.I. JOE

WEBMASTER — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 18:30:15 EST

In honor of military pigeons throughout history, I post on this Christmas Eve, information produced by Otto Meyer, U.S. Army (Ret), and supplied by the ARPU, on the American Hero “G.I. JOE” -

“G.I. JOE”
American Hero

“G.I. JOE” is the most outstanding military pigeon in history and is credited with saving the lives of at least 100 British troops during World War II. The British 56th Brigade was scheduled to attack the city of Colvi Vecchia, Italy, at 10 a.m., October 18, 1943.

The U.S. Air Support Command was scheduled to bomb the city to soften the entrance for the British Brigade. The Germans retreated leaving only a small rear guard and as a result the British troops entered the city with little resistance and occupied it ahead of schedule.

All attempts to cancel the bombings of the city, made by radio and other means of communication, had failed. Little “G.I. JOE” was released with the important message to cancel the bombing. He flew 20 miles back to the U.S. Air Support Command base in 20 minutes and arrived just as our planes were warming up to take off. If he had arrived a few minutes later, it might have been a different story.

Gen. Mark Clark, Commanding the U.S. Fifth Army, estimated that “G.I. JOE” saved the lives of at least 100 of our British allies. In November 1946, “G.I. JOE” was shipped from Fort Monmouth, N.J. to London, England, where he was cited and awarded the Dickin Medal for Gallantry by the Lord Mayor of London. “G.I. JOE” is the only bird or animal in the United States to receive this high award.

“G.I. JOE,” a dark checker pied white flight cock, was hatched March 24, 1943, at the Pigeon Section in Algiers, Algeria, North Africa. Later he was taken to the Tunisian front, then to Bizerte, and from there to the Italian front.

After World War II, “G.I. JOE” was housed in the Churchill Loft, U.S. Army’s “Hall of Fame” at Ft. Monmouth, N.J., along with 24 other pigeon heroes. In March of 1957, the remaining pigeon heroes were placed with different zoological gardens throughout the U.S.A.

“G.I. JOE” was placed with the Detroit Zoological Gardens where he died June 3, 1961, at the age of 18. “G.I. JOE” was returned, mounted, and placed in the Historical Center, Meyer Hall, at Fort Monmouth, N.J.

--- Otto Meyer, U.S. Army (Retired)
--- Former Commander of the U.S. Army Pigeon Service

I dedicate this inspiring story of courage and determination of the pigeon named “G.I. JOE” to the generations of troops that will secure the success of the 44th President of the United States.

May the message of peace come to The White House and spread throughout the land.

Merry Christmas Everyone,

David Apperson, Life Cloud Discussions

American Legion - member
ARPU - lifetime member
VFW - life member

Source: http://veterans.barackobama.com/page/community/post/president/gGxKt3

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

WEBMASTER — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:26:14 EST

The Pickens Plan: For those who would like to become an active participant in a solution for our nations energy needs I urge you to join with T.Boone Pickens in his quest for a cleaner planet through alternative energy.

Also see Green Wave Energy: Green Wave was founded by Mark Holmes and was formulated for viable alternative energy solutions. Green Wave Energy is promoting state-of-the-art energy-saving products and services throughout the country.

Green Wave Energy understands alternative energy technology will become “main stream” when

individuals and organizations understand that alternative energy technology exists and
when people see the economic benefits of using alternative energy technologies

Call 949.645.1701 for information on how Green Wave Energy can help you save the planet.

Alternative Energy
Source: David Apperson

url: http://veterans.barackobama.com/page/community/tag/alternative-energy

VETERANS DAY

WEBMASTER — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:51:24 EST

On 11 NOV 2008 We CELEBRATE VICTORY by remembering our brothers and sisters who sacrificed for future generations of men,women and children throughout the world.

THE RIGHT TIME TO DO THE RIGHT THING; Today, children everywhere are celebrating the tremendous grassroots victory of President-Elect Barack Obama. THINK AMERICA FIRST and THANK A VETERAN.

With that said, I send a 'PRAYER OF BLESSING' to the following personnel who presently serve on active duty, have served in the past, and will serve honorably in the following branches of military service:

US AIR FORCE * US ARMY * US COAST GUARD * US MARINES * US NAVY

IT IS BETTER TO BE A FRIEND IN PEACE THAN AN ENEMY IN WAR

And yes, today we bless all service members around the world -

see NATIONAL RESOURCE DIRECTORY and PHYSICAL EVALUATION BOARD

Welcome, Military Wives!

Sara from Oak Harbor, WA — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:37:31 EDT

Thank you for joining me, and making your voice be heard. Please feel free to leave your comments, ideas, and concerns. You now have a voice, be loud and proud! Obama will bring us the change we NEED, and bring our men and women home again.

Guts without Glory: Make-Believe Maverick

Henry M — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 11:42:26 EDT

From Make-Believe Maverick, Rolling Stone Magazine

To watch the Republican National Convention and listen to Fred Thompson's account of John McCain's internment in Vietnam, you would think that McCain never gave his captors anything beyond his name, rank, service number and, under duress, the names of the Green Bay Packers offensive line. His time in Hanoi, we're to understand, steeled the man — transforming him from a fighter jock who put himself first into a patriot who would henceforth selflessly serve the public good.
There is no question that McCain suffered hideously in North Vietnam. His ejection over a lake in downtown Hanoi broke his knee and both his arms. During his capture, he was bayoneted in the ankle and the groin, and had his shoulder smashed by a rifle butt. His tormentors dragged McCain's broken body to a cell and seemed content to let him expire from his injuries. For the next two years, there were few days that he was not in agony.
But the subsequent tale of McCain's mistreatment — and the transformation it is alleged to have produced — are both deeply flawed. The Code of Conduct that governed POWs was incredibly rigid; few soldiers lived up to its dictate that they "give no information . . . which might be harmful to my comrades." Under the code, POWs are bound to give only their name, rank, date of birth and service number — and to make no "statements disloyal to my country."
Soon after McCain hit the ground in Hanoi, the code went out the window. "I'll give you military information if you will take me to the hospital," he later admitted pleading with his captors. McCain now insists the offer was a bluff, designed to fool the enemy into giving him medical treatment. In fact, his wounds were attended to only after the North Vietnamese discovered that his father was a Navy admiral. What has never been disclosed is the manner in which they found out: McCain told them. According to Dramesi, one of the few POWs who remained silent under years of torture, McCain tried to justify his behavior while they were still prisoners. "I had to tell them," he insisted to Dramesi, "or I would have died in bed."
Dramesi says he has no desire to dishonor McCain's service, but he believes that celebrating the downed pilot's behavior as heroic — "he wasn't exceptional one way or the other" — has a corrosive effect on military discipline. "This business of my country before my life?" Dramesi says. "Well, he had that opportunity and failed miserably. If it really were country first, John McCain would probably be walking around without one or two arms or legs — or he'd be dead."
Once the Vietnamese realized they had captured the man they called the "crown prince," they had every motivation to keep McCain alive. His value as a propaganda tool and bargaining chip was far greater than any military intelligence he could provide, and McCain knew it. "It was hard not to see how pleased the Vietnamese were to have captured an admiral's son," he writes, "and I knew that my father's identity was directly related to my survival." But during the course of his medical treatment, McCain followed through on his offer of military information. Only two weeks after his capture, the North Vietnamese press issued a report — picked up by The New York Times — in which McCain was quoted as saying that the war was "moving to the advantage of North Vietnam and the United States appears to be isolated." He also provided the name of his ship, the number of raids he had flown, his squadron number and the target of his final raid.
THE CONFESSION
In the company of his fellow POWs, and later in isolation, McCain slowly and miserably recovered from his wounds. In June 1968, after three months in solitary, he was offered what he calls early release. In the official McCain narrative, this was the ultimate test of mettle. He could have come home, but keeping faith with his fellow POWs, he chose to remain imprisoned in Hanoi.
What McCain glosses over is that accepting early release would have required him to make disloyal statements that would have violated the military's Code of Conduct. If he had done so, he could have risked court-martial and an ignominious end to his military career. "Many of us were given this offer," according to Butler, McCain's classmate who was also taken prisoner. "It meant speaking out against your country and lying about your treatment to the press. You had to 'admit' that the U.S. was criminal and that our treatment was 'lenient and humane.' So I, like numerous others, refused the offer."
"He makes it sound like it was a great thing to have accomplished," says Dramesi. "A great act of discipline or strength. That simply was not the case." In fairness, it is difficult to judge McCain's experience as a POW; throughout most of his incarceration he was the only witness to his mistreatment. Parts of his memoir recounting his days in Hanoi read like a bad Ian Fleming novel, with his Vietnamese captors cast as nefarious Bond villains. On the Fourth of July 1968, when he rejected the offer of early release, an officer nicknamed "Cat" got so mad, according to McCain, that he snapped a pen he was holding, splattering ink across the room.
"They taught you too well, Mac Kane," Cat snarled, kicking over a chair. "They taught you too well."
The brutal interrogations that followed produced results. In August 1968, over the course of four days, McCain was tortured into signing a confession that he was a "black criminal" and an "air pirate."
"John allows the media to make him out to be the hero POW, which he knows is absolutely not true, to further his political goals," says Butler. "John was just one of about 600 guys. He was nothing unusual. He was just another POW."
McCain has also allowed the media to believe that his torture lasted for the entire time he was in Hanoi. At the Republican convention, Fred Thompson said of McCain's torture, "For five and a half years this went on." In fact, McCain's torture ended after two years, when the death of Ho Chi Minh in September 1969 caused the Vietnamese to change the way they treated POWs. "They decided it would be better to treat us better and keep us alive so they could trade us in for real estate," Butler recalls.
By that point, McCain had become the most valuable prisoner of all: His father was now directing the war effort as commander in chief of all U.S. forces in the Pacific. McCain spent the next three and a half years in Hanoi biding his time, trying to put on weight and regain his strength, as the bombing ordered by his father escalated. By the time he and other POWs were freed in March 1973 as a result of the Paris Peace Accords, McCain was able to leave the prison camp in Hanoi on his own feet.
Even those in the military who celebrate McCain's patriotism and sacrifice question why his POW experience has been elevated as his top qualification to be commander in chief. "It took guts to go through that and to come out reasonably intact and able to pick up the pieces of your life and move on," says Wilkerson, Colin Powell's former chief of staff, who has known McCain since the 1980s. "It is unquestionably a demonstration of the character of the man. But I don't think that it is a special qualification for being president of the United States. In some respects, I'm not sure that's the kind of character I want sitting in the Oval Office. I'm not sure that much time in a prisoner-of-war status doesn't do something to you. Doesn't do something to you psychologically, doesn't do something to you that might make you a little more volatile, a little less apt to listen to reason, a little more inclined to be volcanic in your temperament."

Please support Obama and donate to the campaign

Henry M

Does Anyone Know John McCain's Navy Call Sign?

Robin Z — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 23:43:40 EDT

I'm just curious. Anyone?

Thanks.

Was it really an "accident"?

Joe — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:30:51 EDT

John McCain graduated from the Naval Academy with "marginal grades".

He crashed five aircraft.

Was he a marginal pilot?

At this website which is definitely anti-McCain, there is a passage about the fourth of five aircraft that McCain crashed.

http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com/cin_mccain_lost_five_u.htm

"McCain's fourth aircraft loss occurred July 29, 1967, soon after he was assigned to the USS Forrestal as an A-4 Skyhawk pilot. While seated in the cockpit of his aircraft waiting his turn for takeoff, an accidently fired rocket slammed into McCain's plane. He escaped from the burning aircraft, but the explosions that followed killed 134 sailors, destroyed at least 20 aircraft, and threatened to sink the ship."

The hotdogging McCain caused this tragedy

AO — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:04:38 EDT

Quoting Alexa from The Field:

"This US Navy film clip -- the only one available -- is from the Forrestal. It was always used in Navy damage control training films subsequently. McCain hotdogged on deck and caused this; he was identified in Navy classes as the cause by those who attended these classes and saw the film.

Because McCain was the Admiral's son he was airlifted immediately off the Forrestal to the USS Oriskany (the only Forrestal crewman to be transferred immediately) and was shot down in NVN three months later."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chuiyXQKw3I

After watching that horrific video, I'm beginning to think that McCain was shot down by an American.

Obama's Interview with Military Newspaper

E.Rich — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:04:51 EDT

An important read for military folks...

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=56694

A similar interview with McCain is also on the Stripes.com site for comparison.

McCain's Not So Steller Veteran Voting Record

Nia "Hussein" J. — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 04:46:59 EDT

· Bill: S 1438 - Conference Report to Accompany S. 1438; National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002
Date/time: December 13, 2001, 5:03 p.m.
Voted No: John McCain ·

Bill: H R 3338 - Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 3338; Department of Defense and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Recovery from and Response to Terrorist Attacks on the United States Act, 2002
Date/time: December 20, 2001, 3:13 p.m.
Voted NO: John McCain, Phil Graham·

Bill: H R 5010 - Vote description: Conference Report H.R. 5010; Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2003
Date/time: October 16, 2002, 2:32 p.m.
Did not Vote: John McCain, Wayne Allard, Michael Enzi, Timothy Hutchinson, , Jeff Sessions ·

Bill: H R 1 - Vote description: H.R. 1 Conference Report; Prescription Drug and Medicare Improvement Act of 2003
Date/time: November 25, 2003, 9:23 a.m.
No Votes: John McCain, Donald Nickles, John Sununu, Lincoln Chafee, John Ensign, Lindsey Graham, Judd Gregg, Chuck Hagel, Trent Lott ·

Amendment num: S.Amdt. 3409 - Motion To Waive CBA Daschle Amdt. No. 3409 As Amended; To assure that funding is provided for veterans health care each fiscal year to cover increases in population and inflation.
Date/time: June 23, 2004, 10:43 p.m.
NO Votes: John McCain, Lamar Alexander, Wayne Allard, George Allen, Robert Bennett, Kit Bond, Jim Bunning, Conrad Burns, Ben Campbell, Lincoln Chafee, Saxby Chambliss, Thad Cochran, Norm Coleman, John Cornyn, Larry Craig, Michael Crapo, Mike DeWine, Elizabeth Dole, Pete Domenici, John Ensign, Michael Enzi, Peter Fitzgerald, Bill Frist, Lindsey Graham, Charles Grassley, Judd Gregg, Chuck Hagel, Orrin Hatch, Kay Bailey Hutchison, James Inhofe, Jon Kyl, Trent Lott, Richard Lugar, Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski, Donald Nickles, Pat Roberts, Rick Santorum, Jeff Sessions, Richard Shelby, Gordon Smith, Ted Stevens, Jim Talent, Craig Thomas, George Voinovich, John Warner ·

Amendment num: S.Amdt. 3303 - Vote description: Motion To Waive CBA RE: Corzine Amdt. No. 3303; To amend title 10, United States Code, to reduce the age for receipt of military retired pay for nonregular service from 60 to 55.
Date/time: June 23, 2004, 1:47 p.m.
No Votes: John McCain, Lamar Alexander, Wayne Allard, George Allen, Robert Bennett, Kit Bond, Jim Bunning, Conrad Burns, Ben Campbell, Lincoln Chafee, Saxby Chambliss, Thad Cochran, Norm Coleman, John Cornyn, Larry Craig, Michael Crapo, Mike DeWine, Elizabeth Dole, Pete Domenici, John Ensign, Michael Enzi, Peter Fitzgerald, Bill Frist, Lindsey Graham, Charles Grassley, Judd Gregg, Chuck Hagel, Orrin Hatch, Kay Bailey Hutchison, James Inhofe, Jon Kyl, Trent Lott, Richard Lugar, Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski, Donald Nickles, Pat Roberts, Rick Santorum, Jeff Sessions, Richard Shelby, Gordon Smith, Ted Stevens, John Sununu, Jim Talent, Craig Thomas, George Voinovich, John Warner ·

Bill: S RES 356 - Vote description: S. Res. 356; Condemning Iraq Abuse of Prisoners resolution
Date/time: May 10, 2004, 5:31 p.m. Not Voting: John McCain, Norm Coleman, Lisa Murkowski, Arlen Specter ·

Bill: S CON RES 95 - Vote description: Nelson Amdt. No. 2745; To create a reserve fund to allow for an increase in Veterans' medical care by $1.8 billion by eliminating abusive tax loopholes.
Date/time: March 10, 2004, 9:34 p.m.
NO Votes: John McCain, Lamar Alexander, Wayne Allard, George Allen, Robert Bennett, Kit Bond, Sam Brownback, Jim Bunning, Conrad Burns, Ben Campbell, Lincoln Chafee, Saxby Chambliss, Thad Cochran, Norm Coleman, Susan Collins, John Cornyn, Larry Craig, Michael Crapo, Mike DeWine, Elizabeth Dole, John Ensign, Michael Enzi, Peter Fitzgerald, Bill First, Lindsey Graham, Charles Grassley, Judd Gregg, Chuck Hagel, Orrin Hatch, Kay Bailey Hutchison, James Inhofe, Jon Kyl, Trent Lott, Richard Lugar, Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski, Donald Nickles, Pat Roberts, Rick Santorum, Jeff Sessions, Richard Shelby, Gordon Smith, Olympia Snowe, Arlen Specter, Ted Stevens, John Sununu, Jim Talent, Craig Thomas, George Voinovich, John Warner ·

Bill: H R 2863 - Vote description: H.R. 2863 Conference Report; Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2006
Date/time: December 21, 2005, 9:57 p.m. Not Voting: John McCain, Lincoln Chafee, Jim DeMint, Judd Gregg, ·

Bill: S 1042 - Vote description: Nelson (FL) Amdt. No. 2424; To repeal the requirement for the reduction of certain Survivor Benefit Plan annuities by the amount of dependency and indemnity compensation and to modify the effective date for paid-up coverage under the Survivor Benefit Plan.
Date/time: November 8, 2005, 4:35 p.m.
Did Not Vote: John McCain ·

Bill: S 1042 - Vote description: Durbin Amdt. No. 2473, as modified; To provide for eligibility for retired pay for non-regular service.
Date/time: November 9, 2005, 6:04 p.m. Voted NO: John McCain, Lamar Alexander, Wayne Allard, George Allen, Robert Bennett, Kit Bond, Sam Brownback, Jim Bunning, Conrad Burns, Richard Burr, Lincoln Chafee, Saxby Chambliss, Tom Coburn, Thad Cochran, Norm Coleman, Susan Collins, John Cornyn, Larry Craig, Michael Crapo, Jim DeMint, Mike DeWine, Elizabeth Dole, Pete Domenici, John Ensign, Michael Enzi, Bill First, Lindsey Graham, Charles Grassley, Judd Gregg, Chuck Hagel, Orrin Hatch, Kay Bailey Hutchison, James Inhofe, Johnny Isakson, Jon Kyl, Trent Lott, Richard Lugar, Mel Martinez, Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski, Pat Roberts, Rick Santorum, Jeff Sessions, Richard Shelby, Gordon Smith, Olympia Snowe, Arlen Specter, Ted Stevens, John Sununu, Jim Talent, Craig Thomas, John Thune, David Vitter, George Voinovich, John Warner ·

Bill: S 1042 - Vote description: Dorgan Amdt. No. 2476; To establish a special committee of the Senate to investigate the awarding and carrying out of contracts to conduct activities in Afghanistan and Iraq and to fight the war on terrorism.
Date/time: November 10, 2005, 11:35 a.m. Voted NO: John McCain, Wayne Allard, George Allen, Robert Bennett, Kit Bond, Sam Brownback, Jim Bunning, Conrad Burns, Richard Burr, Saxby Chambliss, Tom Coburn, Thad Cochran, Norm Coleman, Susan Collins, John Cornyn, Larry Craig, Michael Crapo, Jim DeMint, Mike DeWine, Elizabeth Dole, Pete Domenici, John Ensign, Michael Enzi, Bill First, Lindsey Graham, Charles Grassley, Judd Gregg, Chuck Hagel, Orrin Hatch, Kay Bailey Hutchison, James Inhofe, Johnny Isakson, Jon Kyl, Trent Lott, Richard Lugar, Mel Martinez, Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski, Pat Roberts, Rick Santorum, Jeff Sessions, Richard Shelby, Gordon Smith, Olympia Snowe, Arlen Specter, Ted Stevens, John Sununu, Jim Talent, Craig Thomas, John Thune, David Vitter, George Voinovich, John Warner ·

Bill: S 1042 - Vote description: Talent Amdt. No. 2477; To modify the multiyear procurement authority for C-17 aircraft.
Date/time: November 10, 2005, 12:04 p.m.
Voted NO: John McCain, Wayne Allard, Jon Kyl, Jeff Sessions, John Sununu, Craig Thomas ·

Bill: S 1042 - Vote description: Warner Amdt. No. 2518; To clarify and recommend changes to the policy of the United States on Iraq and to require reports on certain matters relating to Iraq.
Date/time: November 15, 2005, 11:47 a.m. NO Votes: John McCain, Jim Bunning, Richard Burr, Saxby Chambliss, Tom Coburn, Jim DeMint, Lindsey Graham, James Inhofe, Johnny Isakson, Jon Kyl, Jeff Sessions, John Thune, David Vitter ·

Vote description: Motion to Proceed to Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 1815; National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 Missed the Vote: John McCain, Richard Burr ·

Bill: H R 2863 - Vote description: H.R. 2863 Conference Report; Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2006
A simple majority of those present and voting is required for approval or passage.
Date/time: December 21, 2005, 9:57 p.m.
Missed the Vote: John McCain, Lincoln Chafee, Jim DeMint, Judd Gregg, ·

Bill: H R 1585 - Vote description: Boxer Amdt. No. 2947; To reaffirm strong support for all the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and to strongly condemn attacks on the honor, integrity, and patriotism of any individual who is serving or has served honorably in the United States Armed Forces, by any person or organization.
Date/time: September 20, 2007, 11:58 a.m.
Voted NO: John McCain, Lamar Alexander, John Barrasso, Robert Bennett, Kit Bond, Sam Brownback, Jim Bunning, Richard Burr, Saxby Chambliss, Tom Coburn, Thad Cochran, Norm Coleman, Susan Collins, Bob Corker, John Cornyn, Larry Craig, Michael Crapo, Jim DeMint, Elizabeth Dole, Pete Domenici, John Ensign, Michael Enzi, Lindsey Graham, Charles Grassley, Judd Gregg, Orrin Hatch, Kay Bailey Hutchison, James Inhofe, Johnny Isakson, Jon Kyl, Trent Lott, Richard Lugar, Mel Martinez, , Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski, Pat Roberts, Jeff Sessions, Richard Shelby, Gordon Smith, Olympia Snowe, John Sununu, John Thune, David Vitter, George Voinovich, John Warner ·

Vote description: Motion to Concur in the Amendments of the House to the Amendments of the Senate to H.R.976; Support for Injured Servicemembers Act
Date/time: September 27, 2007, 7:54 p.m. Not Voting: John McCain, Sam Brownback ·

Bill: H R 1585 - Vote description: H.R. 1585 as Amended; National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
Date/time: October 1, 2007, 5:59 p.m.
Not Voting : John McCain ·

Vote description: Motion to Invoke Cloture on H.R.3963; Support for Injured Servicemembers Act
Date/time: November 1, 2007, 4:45 p.m.
Not Voting: John McCain, John Warner ·

Bill: H R 3963 - Vote description: H.R.3963; Support for Injured Servicemembers Act
Date/time: November 1, 2007, 5:15 p.m.
Not Voting: John McCain, John Warner

·Bill: H R 1585 - Vote description: H.R. 1585 Conference Report; National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
Date/time: December 14, 2007, 1:26 p.m.
Not Voting: John McCain ·

Bill: H R 4986 - Vote description: H.R.4986; National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
Date/time: January 22, 2008, 5:32 p.m.
Not Voting: John McCain, John Thune, John Warner ·

Bill: S CON RES 70 - Vote description: Boxer Amdt. No. 4368 as Modified; To increase funding for the Department of Justice for the vigorous enforcement of laws protecting children.
Date/time: March 13, 2008, 8:45 p.m.
Not Voting: John McCain ·

Bill: S RES 501 - Vote description: S. Res. 501; A resolution honoring the sacrifice of the members of the United States Armed Forces who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Date/time: April 3, 2008, 2:48 p.m. Not Voting: John McCain Saxby Chambliss, ·

Vote description: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to S.1315; Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007
Date/time: April 22, 2008, noon
Not Voting: John McCain, Pete Domenici, David Vitter ·

Bill: S 1315 - Vote description: Burr Amdt. No. 4572; To increase benefits for disabled U.S. veterans and provide a fair benefit to World War II Filipino veterans for their service to the United States.
Date/time: April 24, 2008, 12:16 p.m.
Not Voting: John McCain, Jim DeMint ·

Bill: H R 980 - Vote description: Motion to Table Graham Amdt. No. 4763; To improve educational assistance for members of the Armed Forces and veterans in order to enhance recruitment and retention for the Armed Forces.
Date/time: May 14, 2008, 2:50 p.m.
Not Voting: John McCain ·

Vote description: Motion To Concur In House Amdts To Senate Amdt To House Amdt To Senate Amdt To H.R. 2642; Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008
Date/time: June 26, 2008, 9:42 p.m. Not Voting : John McCain Voted No: Wayne Allard, Tom Coburn, Larry Craig, Jim DeMint, Jon Kyl, George Voinovich

·Lets also not forget Jim Webbs GI Bill this year that McCain voted against and his comments backing President Bush’s threatened veto.

Here is an article to put it all into context: http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/articleid/9559andhttp://www.thenation.com/doc/20080602/beutler

McCain claims that veterans overwhelmingly support him for President, my only question is why? He does not support them as this record shows. I would also like to point out that the last time McCain showed up in the senate to vote was April 8th, consecutively.Here is an article I think is also intresting McCain Questioanble Record:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-klein/mccains-secret-questionab_b_107409.html

This Is A War Hero?

Charley James — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 09:09:52 EDT

For decades, John McCain actively cultivated the image of a “warrior” and “war hero,” the genuine article, toting that carefully crafted impression around like a Louis Vittuon carry-all. The problem is that the supposedly genuine Vittuon actually is a cheap knock-off, a piece of counterfeit luggage that has no more in common with the genuine article than I have with McCain himself.

After years of McCain perpetuating the myth, it’s time someone publicly calls McCain what he is: An exaggerator of his military experience and fabricator of his status as war hero.

To bastardize a distasteful line he unwrapped this week, McCain would rather win a campaign than be honest about his wartime experience.

In fact, the record shows that the Man Who Would Be President was a not-very-bright Naval Academy student who preferred parties to studying and graduated in the bottom five of his Annapolis class; a mediocre pilot who crashed three jet fighters during training before being shipped out to ‘Nam where he crashed a fourth; an insubordinate junior officer who got shot down over Hanoi because he disobeyed direct orders to abandon his 23rd mission and return the A-4 Skyhawk he flew to the USS Forrestal; and, as a POW, willingly provided so much intelligence – admittedly, some of it false – and co-operated so extensively with the North Vietnamese in exchange for favourable treatment over a three year period that his fellow prisoners at the Hanoi Hilton gave him the derisive nickname “Songbird.” In propaganda aimed at the US, the North Vietnamese even used his nickname in a news release about McCain, not understanding it was an insult given him by prisoners who were disgusted by his behavior.

Put bluntly, the closest John McCain has ever come to a war hero was when he sat on his grandfather’s lap as a child. The first John McCain commanded naval aviation at the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. The candidate’s father, also an Admiral named John, commanded American forces in Vietnam for a time.

In other words, John McCain III (or “Johnny Three Sticks” as a Republican Senate aid called him when being interviewed for this article) not only changes his positions on substantive issues in the campaign, he totally changes the reality of his “service to my country.” No wonder he seems to have so much trouble staying on message as a candidate; he can’t keep the story of his life straight.

In the process of repeatedly violating the Military Code of Conduct during his time as a POW, he placed other naval airmen in jeopardy. Declassified North Vietnamese and Pentagon records confirm that he provided Hanoi with detailed information about the number of airplanes on the Forrestal, flight paths into and out of North Viet Nam, how targets were selected, the positioning of rescue ships and the success rate of attacks from fighter-bombers based on his carrier. As far as can be discovered, the only thing he deceived the North Vietnamese about was the names of the pilots with whom he flew, for which he substituted the names of the Green Bay Packer’s offensive linemen. McCain has dined out on the Green Bay Packer story for decades, omitting the other, less noble, portions of his captivity.

If the fact that his father and grandfather were Annapolis grads kept him from being booted out of the Navy, then his family background also contributed to McCain being awarded 28 medals including a Silver Star, a Legion of Merit for Valor, a Distinguished Flying Cross, three Bronze stars, two commendation medals, and a dozen other service medals. But he only flew 23 missions – which amounts to a medal-and-a-half for every hour he flew in combat.

“There were infantry guys – grunts on the ground – who had more than 7,000 hours in combat,” explains Bill Bell, a veteran of Vietnam and former chief of the U.S. Office for POW/MIA Affairs – the first official US representative in Vietnam since the 1973 fall of Saigon.

“I can tell you that there were times and situations where I’m sure a prison cell would have looked pretty good to them by comparison,” Bell states. “But the question really is how many guys got that number of medals for not being shot down."

Eventually, even the Navy was on to McCain. He left the service after being told twice that he would not be made an Admiral like his father and grandfather.

For years, McCain has been an unchecked master at manipulating an overly friendly and oft-times biased news media. The former POW turned Congressman, turned U.S. Senator, turned Presidential candidate, has managed to gloss over his failures as a pilot and his collaboration with the enemy to become America’s POW-hero presidential candidate.

Viet Nam Veterans Against McCain provided some research information for this article.

California Veterans for Obama

Dee Dee, CalVFO Co-Chair; Delegate, Assembly District 4 — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:23:10 EDT

Hello: I am the California State Co-Chair for Veterans for Obama. If you are a veteran, military Reservist, active duty, family member, or just someone who supports veterans and has an affinity for their concerns, please join the "California Veterans for Obama" group so that we can communicate with you. Please pass this on to anyone you know who would have an interest. Our goal is to get the word out to the vets, as well as geting their feedback to the campaign . Thanks!

Support our Troops -- Join Veterans for Obama

Vicki "Hussein" in New Mexico — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:39:11 EDT

In these days of the All Volunteer Army, I fear too many Americans are oblivious to the sacrifices of our servicemen and women on our behalf. I am pleased to see several new groups and the growth of existing groups dedicated to Veterans, active duty soldiers and their families supporting Barack Obama for President: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/vetshome

Friends and families of our soldiers can help them make sure their vote will be counted in the upcoming Presidential Election for their Commander-in-Chief. Let them know about the Military Voter Services Web site: https://military.overseasvotefoundation.org/overseas/home.htm

Also, here in New Mexico, we would like to identify Veterans and active-duty military and their families who are supporting Barack Obama and would like to know about future veteran-related events in the next few months. For more information or to get on a contact list, please send your name, mailing address, home/cell phone, rank, branch and dates of service and email address to Jim_Buhaug@msn.com.

Here is a powerful new video "How You Ended the War" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frR0qklU1_o. Watch it, then make a donation to Barack Obama's campaign. We cannot wait any longer to bring good judgement and sanity back to the White House.

Republican Deception - Barack, BE TOUGHER!!!

Michael from Alpharetta, GA — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:29:29 EDT

General Wesley Clark was and is absolutely right that being a fighter pilot and being shot down does not qualify one to be President of the United States. That does not take away at all from John McCains' military service. I am a former Naval Officer who participated in Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Restore Hope. Does that qualify me to be commander in chief? BE TOUGHER BARACK and stop falling for the Republicans trickery. You're the next President of the US and the Republicans have been effective in making you act like you don't believe that.

Howdy

kathologist — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:57:57 EDT

Taking my first tenative steps in participating in the candicacy of Mr. Obama.

There is a part of me that wants to believe whole hog, and another that is pragmatic, knowing that politics is compromise. Yet this is the closest we the voters have ever got to a tangible change in the political process. The fact that Mr. Obama has received funding support from so many is a start.

My son is voting for the first time (aside from the primary) and he has a clear choice. I don't need to go into McCain's flipflops or relationships with lobbyists here. He is going into the Navy and that is a recent decision. Who he votes for for President will affect his time there. We watched Mr. Obama's nomination acceptance speech together, and it was a moving moment. A moment for hope.

I was dissappointed in Mr. Obama's decision to support the FISA bill as it stood. This is an important issue regarding the 4th ammendment and it stung. I also am concerned about his support of giving more power to the Federal Reserve Bank. I am very much against that. I believe Ron Paul in his explaination of why the Fed should be abolished. The Fed is not government, but private bankers, it does not have a reserve. It was created in 1913 by bankers, for bankers. Google Jeckyll Island 7. There is also a google video that if you have patience, will explain how it happened and what has happened since. It didn't prevent bubbles, recessions or the Depression and taxes every penny from the Treasury.

I live in a small town on a lake in Northern California. Even without a recession, we struggle to take care of things. It is very tough for small businesses to survive here. In our advantage, we have clean water and some of the cleanest air in CA, and the largest natural lake. We have a good supply of farm fresh produce. No traffic to speak of. I work for the County as the Law Librarian. I have worked in a few departments for the County, including the Registrar's office. I have full confidence that our voting process exceeds the standards set by the state. It is a real source of pride for me to work during elections. It's great to have a non-partisan way to participate. I am also a volunteer on a couple committees for the city I live in. While I am disabled, I try to give back what I can. I feel it sets a good example for my son, too. His grandparents are very active in their community and with Rotary, so he gets to see them do it, too. I like that about small towns. You have more opportunity to get involved in a personal way.

Ok, that's enough about me for now.

I hope this blog will get me in touch with other open-minded people in my area.

McCain: Accidental Hero?

Michael Whitehead — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:55:04 EDT

I ran across this snippet about John McCain's flyboy days:

"[A]fter a European fling with the tobacco heiress, John McCain reported to flight school at Pensacola in August 1958.... [H]is performance was below par, at best good enough to get by. He liked flying, but didn't love it. What he loved was the kick-the-tire, start-the-fire, scarf-in-the-wind life of a naval aviator. ...One Saturday morning, as McCain was practicing landings, his engine quit and his plane plunged into Corpus Christi. Knocked unconscious by the impact, he came to as the plane settled to the bottom....McCain was an adequate pilot, but he had no patience for studying dry aviation manuals.... His professional growth, though reasonably steady, had its troubled moments. Flying too low over the Iberian Peninsula, he took out some power lines, which led to a spate of newspaper stories in which he was predictably identified as the son of an admiral.... [In 1965] he flew a trainer solo to Philadelphia for the Army-Navy game. Flying by way of Norfolk, he had just begun his descent over unpopulated tidal terrain when the engine died. 'I've got a flameout,' he radioed. He went through the standard relight procedures three times. At one thousand feet he ejected, landing on the deserted beach moments before the plane slammed into a clump of trees."

from: John McCain: An American Odyssey, a biography by Robert Timberg, Sept., 2007

(found in posting by Jeffrey Klein on HuffingtonPost.com)

Makes one wonder just how McCain fell into enemy hands. Was he flying "with less than mission discipline", figuratively daring the NVA to shoot him down? Was his nearly 6 years as resident of the "Hanoi Hilton" essentially a self-inflicted wound as a result of one of his frequent, well documented episodes of recklessness?

I realize the desire to honor McCain's service to the nation, but it was over a hundred years before the truth about Custer and Little Bighorn came out. Are we getting sucked in by an overblown PR job when we don't really know the details of McCain's service?

Kerry's service clearly wasn't beyond "alternative perspective" after all.

If McCain was less than a model Naval Officer (and the record suggests that on balance he was) I don't hold that against him. History is littered with men who were reckless in their youth and developed sufficient discipline to succeed at some level. What I am concerned about is the apparent depth of real achievement in McCain's history as a politician. Did he garner all the attention and importance because his handful of "Maverick Moments" were the deciding votes in those pieces of legislation that bucked the GOP line? No. He was simply the colorful Vietnam Vet who had the background from "Central Casting" who joined several other GOP members in many of those cases.

Truth be told, McCain has had his eyes on the Presidency since Reagan took office. In and of itself that's not a bad thing. But it makes his "Maverick Moments" appear less courageous than calculated. The trick is how to express this to "Jane and John Independent Voter" without appearing to be attacking "the Military", "the Flag", etc.

McCain is not "Bulletproof" on Foreign Policy, Defense

Michael Whitehead — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:55:30 EDT

Too often we allow the discourse about Military Affairs to be hijacked by the "experts" and rarely, if ever challenge their basic assumptions -- or even challenge whether they are INDEED expert in this field.

On the face of it John McCain passes the "military expert" eyeball test. He was, after all, a decorated Vietnam Vet and a Five and one-half year resident of the infamous "Hanoi Hilton". But if you dare to scratch the surface, you should wonder if that is enough. John McCain is from a multi-generation Navy family. Both his father and grandfather rose to the rank of Admiral in the U. S. Navy. The point to be made here is that few, if any, men were allowed to rise to the rank of Navy Admiral on merit exclusively: McCain's grandfather may well have been a superior and gifted leader of men, but in the era of America's first Guilded Age, "commoners" --for lack of a better description -- were not allowed to rise to such a high rank.

McCain graduated from the Naval Academy in 1958, ranking 894 of a total class of 899. He immediately entered Naval Aviation training (there is no such thing as a Navy Pilot: they are Aviators), and has been part of that cozy fraternity ever since (you know, the same guys that bought us "TailHook"). I write this not to disparage the Navy, but rather to suggest that McCain has a very narrow exposure to the broad range of armed conflict experience that exists.

I will spend my next few Blog entries exploring this issue, but for now remember these key points:

1. The purpose of the Surge was to give the Iraqis "space" to deal with political reconciliation. The fact that violence has been reduced recently does NOT mean the Surge is working. Don't be surprised to see an uptick in violence because the weather is getting better. Historically, adversaries have taken the Winter to rest up and re-think and/or re-tool strategy for the coming Spring.

2. McCain may have gotten himself onto more committees and subcommittees regarding Defense and Foreign Affairs, but he has NOT exhibited anything more than an ordinary grasp of the complexity of the world. Indeed, his recent gaffes regarding Iran and Al Quaeda can cause one to seriously question if he has been paying attention to what is going on, or is he simply occupying a seat as a means of political resume padding?

Barack 2nd Largest in Military Donations

JAB - CO Precinct 119 Capt — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 12:24:49 EST

MILITARY DONORS FAVOR ANTIWAR CANDIDATES:

Individuals in the Army, Navy and Air Force made those branches of the armed services among the top contributors in the 4th Quarter, ranking No. 13, No. 18 and No. 21, respectively. In 2007, Republican Ron Paul, who opposes U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, was the top recipient of money from donors in the military, collecting at least $212,000 from them. Barack Obama, another war opponent, was second with about $94,000. http://www.opensecrets.org/pressreleases/2008/YearEndPresidential.2.4.asp

An open letter to Senator Obama

Will — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 14:26:13 EST

Dear Senator Obama:

There are a few hot button issues out there that evoke strong emotional reactions the instance they are spoken. Veterans and the military are always front and center, especially in this time of conflict, but runs to the corp of our national being and as such has a bit of an untouchable/tread-lightly tint to it when spoken by politicians.

I joined the Navy Reserves in 2002 after long reflection on the events of September 11th, 2001. While I knew there were a number of programs available to volunteer for, I found my calling in helping my country by bringing my years of consulting in the computer industry to bear. Helping out where I could and since then I have been serving in Europe, the US, and other places around the globe. My active duty status will expire by the end of next year, God willing, and I'll go back to a well paying job in the computer industry again.

As a reservist I have the opportunity to see how our military functions from a viewpoint that active duty soldiers maybe don't appreciate but seeing how our young men and women leave home, many times at 18 or 19 years old, and give themselves up to the nation utterly amazes me on a day-to-day basis.

Senator, I don't know what you think about tax exemption but I think your campaign would make enormous strides by suggesting that all soldiers/sailors/marines/coast guard members would be tax exempt from federal taxes regardless of where they serve.

Currently the tax exemption applies only when we're in the war zone but daily I read that the Army, in particular, is having to lower its standards in order to obtain the recruiting numbers they need. I say, keep the standards as they once were but offer tax exemption. It would create an instant boost to the moral. An instant boost to the viability of serving to those who might have been on the fence. An instant recognition of your progressive thinking.

True, I'd benefit from these suggestions but only in the short term. I plan on heading back home, where I've been absent since October 2006, and enjoy living on the farm and consulting again.

You truly are different Senator. I've never given money to a campaign before but you have energized thought and action and for that I'm thankful.

God bless,

NORTH CAROLINA CHURCH SAYS ‘NO” TO MUSLIMS

funkfresh01 — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 19:30:15 EST

Source: Oriental Harbor

http://www.orientalharbor.net/hotoffthepress.html

Oriental's Episcopal Church has 'un-invited' a Muslim group that was to speak at the church to quell a parishoner revolt against '"non-Christians" and keep peace in the parish.

"Concern was expressed that non-Christians should not be given a voice in our church," Senior Warden George Robinson wrote in the church's October newsletter, The Moorings. "Others felt that to gain understanding, particularly about 'the enemy' was important."

The Muslim group was invited after a local Methodist congregation had them speak and thought it added to understanding between faiths, according to the newsletter. The Muslim group was invited to St. Thomas Episcopal Church as part of its "One God" series of seminars.

But some members objected, and at a September meeting at the church where both sides presented their cases, the church's Rev. Jeremiah C. Day apparently stepped in to quell controversy, saying the group would be un-invited, based on the newsletter.

The Muslim group was the idea of the church's Christian Education Committee.

"So what was the result of all the discussion? Father Day suggested that ministers in the community might have a forum for the whole community. Pat Webster, of the Christian Education Committee – the group suggesting a Muslim speaker – suggested we could spend some time together trying to develop a tolerance for diversity," Webster wrote on Page 5 of the October newsletter.

"Consequently, the Muslim speaker is not coming to St. Thomas, as Father Day noted, to keep peace in the parish.

Dean John Hutson Endorses Obama

Eddie Lee, Obama Staff — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 13:00:08 EDT

John Hutson, Dean of Franklin Pierce Law Center and former Judge Advocate General of the U.S. Navy, announced his support for Barack Obama today. Hutson endorsed Obama as best candidate to move the country beyond our failed foreign policy and restore our moral leadership in the world, citing Obama’s unifying leadership, his early stand against the war in Iraq, and his belief in strong, personal diplomacy with friend and foe.

Now a resident of Bow, Hutson served as a judge advocate in the United States Navy from 1972-2000. He has served as President and Dean of Franklin Pierce Law Center since 2000. Dean Hutson was a registered Republican until changing his party affiliation this month to vote for Obama in the primary.

George W. Bush jokes about killing our men & women

Mary H. — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 10:31:45 EDT

Bush Jokes About WMD by debbyski

How sad that the "President" of the United States amuses himself and his associates with jokes about Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Nuclear Power Issue and Support

Eric Harvey — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 09:46:52 EDT

I am in search of a media that I can reach as many people as possible in an effort to clean the record once and for all. My specific issue is about the use of the infamous Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster as a reason for why we should "fear" or be concerned of nuclear power. There perhaps are some legitimate problems with nuclear power, that is up for discussion, but I would like everyone who reads this to know Chernobyl is not one of them. Does everyone realize that the Chernobyl disater occured in 1986? Last I counted that was 21 years ago. Refresh your stories people, please. Lets see... The United States Navy as of "July 2007 had produced 200 nuclear-powered submarines, and 23 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and cruisers, though many of these U.S. vessels are now decommissioned and others under construction" (Wikipedia: Hyman G. Rickover). I think you can find one or two success stories out of that bunch.

I am severly disturbed about the propagation of lies and false facts about the events surrounding this historic nuclear disaster event. Please read the following decripitions and discussion for an explanation of why Chernobyl is an invalid comparision to todays' typical nuclear reactor construction. I will attempt to minimize the science involved in this discussion to make this blog applicable and understandable to as many readers as possible. I have done some subtle research through Wikipedia and I will cite accordingly in the following discussion. The rest of the knowledge I gleened from first hand experience during the 6 years I was in the United States Navy's Nuclear Power Program.

First of all, lets discuss a couple of details of nuclear reactions and reactors. I can start with the big picture for the benefit of those who don't know too much about nuclear power. The nuclear process we are dealing with is Nuclear Fission. That is the splitting of a heavy Uranium nucleus into smaller elements, called fission fragments, and giving off thermal and nuclear radiation in a few forms in the process. This process as you can well guess or imagine creates some serious heat, and needs to be cooled off. By keeping it cool it allows you to "control" the fission reaction that is occuring within operating parameters set forth through the study of nuclear physics and reactor dynamics. I have to say it is quite a surreal feeling to be a 19 year old starting up a nuclear reactor. It is definately one of my most charished memories. At any rate, this cooling required is accomplished with a substance called a moderator. The moderator in the typical reactors used today by the United States commercially and for Naval Nuclear Propulsion is water. Good ol' pure de-ionized water.

The names or categories of such a reactors is a PWR or BWR (See below for description). That is PWR - Pressurized Water Reactor. BWR - Boiling Water Reactor. Granted this water is treated with some chemicals, sort of like a fish tank or a swimming pool. It is my understanding there is a relationship between the pH of water and the amount of corrosive activity going on in the associated system piping and components. I learned that by maintaining a basic pH in the water it minimizes the corrosion rate to certain reactor construction materials. Namely the piping, which is kind of important. Not every group that runs reactors does it the same way. Some methods are better than others. Some countries even do things better than we do for that matter.

I would like to establish the point that prudent experience has taught us that using chemistry controlled pure water is the proper way to cool off nuclear reactors in operation. The Russians had a different idea when they were developing their nuclear power program. Specifically, the biggest night and day difference was in the moderator itself. For Chernobyl rather than use water, which creates an inherantly stable reactor in the case of the PWR, they chose graphite as the moderator. An interesting material to choose, but not really the best idea. The resulting type of nuclear reactor is classified as a RBMK (see below for acronym clairification and description).

A boiling water reactor (BWR) is a type of light-water nuclear reactor developed by the General Electric Company in the mid 1950s.
Pressurized water reactors (PWRs) (also VVER if of Russian design) are generation II nuclear power reactors that use ordinary water under high pressure as coolant and neutron moderator. The primary coolant loop is kept under high pressure to prevent the water from reaching film boiling, hence the name. PWRs are the most common type of power producing reactor and are widely used all over the world. More than 230 of them are in use to generate electric power, and several hundred more for naval propulsion.
RBMK is an acronym for the Russian reaktor bolshoy moshchnosti kanalniy which means "reactor (of) high power (of the) channel (type)", and describes a now obsolete class of graphite-moderated nuclear power reactor which was built only in the Soviet Union. The RBMK reactor was the type involved in the Chernobyl accident. In 2004, several were still operating, but there were no plans to build any more and there is international pressure to close those that remain.
- Wikipedia

In closing, I would like to mention that Chernobyl in no way reflects how we in the United States operate nuclear reactors today. I am not even going to get into the specifics of the retardedness of the Chernobyl operators, their violated interlocks, total disregard for procedural compliance, and in the end no respect for an incredible source of energy. In an effort to provide energy solutions now and in the future, nuclear power may very well be a viable option. Please share this information with as many people as you know. If there are any questions, comments, bitches, or complaints... Lets hear them....

REPORT ON CHINA - CHINA THE WORLDS NEW SUPERPOWER

Timothy from Hastings, NE — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 02:21:48 EDT

The aim of this report is to demonstrate that China's economic and military transformation, under the current Communist regime, has the potential to seriously threaten the current economic and military security of America and the West. The economic reforms that were introduced by Deng Xiaoping in the late seventies have transformed the Chinese economy and produced a period of spectacular growth. China's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew at an average rate of 9.3 percent between 1979-1993. The world experienced a growth rate of 2.6 percent for the same period. China's GDP has also quadrupled over a period of only fifteen years. While China's performance has been impressive, it also has the potential to maintain this growth. It has a massive population, which represents not only a large domestic market but also a cheap labour source of some eight hundred million people. It is also a country that is blessed with vast natural resources. Even in its present form China has the world's largest military. The PLA consists of over two million men and is complemented by the world's third largest air force, consisting of 5,300 aircraft, and the world's largest small ship navy. Although these figures look impressive, there are major problems with obsolete equipment, poor training and the transition to new doctrine.However, the future promises to be different. In an effort to modernize the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), China is developing or acquiring the rights to produce six new tactical aircraft models. China has already purchased Russian Su-27 aircraft and has also acquired the license to produce these aircraft. China also developed a new F-10 single seat aircraft that is based on the cancelled Israeli Lavi fighter aircraft. Both Israel and Russia are providing assistance in this project and the F-10 is operational now. China's military has undergone significant change in the last decade. Its military strategy has become more offensive oriented and it has recognized the importance of power projection with modern military technology. Americas strategic policy concerning China is in a state of confusion. While China emerges into the new superpower. The Bush administration is gripped by greed. Yielding to China's every whim as long as it lines their pockets. While high paying jobs disappear from the USA and billions are wasted overseas to supposedly build new democracies, the current administration adopts the (One China) policy? Abandoning a established sovereign democracy (Taiwan). As China emerges as the next superpower, public opinion in the West seems split over how this event should be treated. A policy of openly engaging China encourages establishing a wide range of contacts with the hope of having some influence. However, it can also be viewed as giving concessions when a more firm policy is required. It is clear that China's economic and military transformation has been aimed at challenging the balance of power that has existed in the region since World War Two. China has demonstrated hegemonic intentions through its territorial claims in the South China Sea and in its recent actions against Taiwan. A more aggressive and expansionist policy may occur as China faces more pressure to provide food and resources for one quarter of the world's population. If the current transformation continues, China will have, in the future, the economic and military might to threaten both the countries in the region and the West. The closer ties with Russia have already resulted in a strategic relationship that is designed to counter the influence of the US. How long this relationship will be required is unknown. With its ongoing effort to develop a high technology economic system, China has set the foundation that will likely ensure that it is much stronger than the former Soviet Union and even more powerful than the US. China more and more sees itself as a counter to Western values and way of life. In its effort to emerge as a great power, China has changed its security strategy from defensive to offensive. If China wants to be a dominant world power, and chooses to act based on the example of the former Soviet Union, it will have the potential to seriously undermine the current world order. The economic and military transformation of China is well underway. It is critical that the West not be naive to its intentions. [As for the United States] for a relatively long time it will be absolutely necessary that we quietly nurse our sense of vengeance...We must conceal our abilities and bide our time. - Lieutenant General Mi Zhenyu Vice-Commandant, Academy of Military Sciences, Beijing

IRAQ: MORE THAN 1,000,000 IRAQIS MURDERED

funkfresh01 — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 15:42:50 EDT

IRAQ: MORE THAN 1,000,000 IRAQIS MURDERED

Opinion Research Business, 9/19/07

http://www.opinion.co.uk/Newsroom_details.aspx?NewsId=78

In the week in which General Patraeus reports back to US Congress on the impact the recent 'surge' is having in Iraq, a new poll reveals that more than 1,000,000 Iraqi citizens have been murdered since the invasion took place in 2003.

Previous estimates, most noticeably the one published in the Lancet in October 2006, suggested almost half this number (654,965 deaths).

These findings come from a poll released today by ORB, the British polling agency that has been tracking public opinion in Iraq since 2005. In conjunction with their Iraqi fieldwork agency a representative sample of 1,499 adults aged 18+ answered the following question:-

Q: How many members of your household, if any, have died as a result of the conflict in Iraq since 2003 (i.e. as a result of violence rather than a natural death such as old age)? Please note that I mean those who were actually living under your roof.

None 78%

One 16%

Two 5%

Three 1%

Four or more 0.002%

Given that from the 2005 census there are a total of 4,050,597 households this data suggests a total of 1,220,580 deaths since the invasion in 2003.

Detailed analysis (which is available on our website) indicates that almost one in two households in Baghdad have lost a family member, significantly higher than in any other area of the country. The governorates of Diyala (42%) and Ninewa (35%) were next.

My Obama Labor Day in IL

Mid America Mom — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 10:41:14 EDT

Hey Illinois! How was your Labor Day?

Are you now refreshed and FIRED UP? BBQ's are happening throughout the state today!

Court clears Navy to use Sonar Deemed Risky to Whales

Lisa Beyer — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 01:25:06 EDT

Court clears Navy to use sonar deemed risky to whales

Story Highlights:
Navy permitted to use high-powered technology for exercises
National security outweighs environmental concerns, judge rules
Natural Resources Defense Council mounting legal challenge

'DEVASTATING' MOYERS PROBE OF PRESS AND IRAQ COMING

funkfresh01 — Sat, 05 May 2007 00:27:52 EDT

Greg Mitchell, Editor and Publisher, 4/19/07

Link

The most powerful indictment of the news media for falling down in its duties in the run-up to the war in Iraq will appear next Wednesday, a 90-minute PBS broadcast called "Buying the War," which marks the return of "Bill Moyers Journal." E&P was sent a preview DVD and a draft transcript for the program this week.

While much of the evidence of the media's role as cheerleaders for the war presented here is not new, it is skillfully assembled, with many fresh quotes from interviews (with the likes of Tim Russert and Walter Pincus) along with numerous embarrassing examples of past statements by journalists and pundits that proved grossly misleading or wrong. Several prominent media figures, prodded by Moyers, admit the media failed miserably, though few take personal responsibility.

The war continues today, now in its fifth year, with the death toll for Americans and Iraqis rising again -- yet Moyers points out, "the press has yet to come to terms with its role in enabling the Bush Administration to go to war on false pretenses."

Among the few heroes of this devastating film are reporters with the Knight Ridder/McClatchy bureau in D.C. Tragically late, Walter Isaacson, who headed CNN, observes, "The people at Knight Ridder were calling the colonels and the lieutenants and the people in the CIA and finding out, you know, that the intelligence is not very good. We should've all been doing that."

At the close, Moyers mentions some of the chief proponents of the war who refused to speak to him for this program, including Thomas Friedman, Bill Kristol, Roger Ailes, Charles Krauthammer, Judith Miller, and William Safire.

But Dan Rather, the former CBS anchor, admits, "I don't think there is any excuse for, you know, my performance and the performance of the press in general in the roll up to the war…We didn't dig enough. And we shouldn't have been fooled in this way." Bob Simon, who had strong doubts about evidence for war, was asked by Moyers if he pushed any of the top brass at CBS to "dig deeper," and he replies, "No, in all honesty, with a thousand mea culpas….nope, I don't think we followed up on this."

Instead he covered the marketing of the war in a "softer" way, explaining to Moyers: "I think we all felt from the beginning that to deal with a subject as explosive as this, we should keep it, in a way, almost light - if that doesn't seem ridiculous."

AREA MUSLIM LEADERS REGRET PRESIDENT'S DECISION TO VETO BILL

funkfresh01 — Sat, 05 May 2007 00:25:46 EDT

Megan Blaney and Mona Shadia, Daily Bulletin, 5/1/07

Link

Muslims around the region Tuesday lamented President Bush's veto of a bill that set a timeline for U.S. withdrawal from Iraq.

"There is no military solution," said Salam Al-Marayati, executive director of the Los Angeles-based Muslim Public Affairs Council. "Right now the military operations are just that - operations. The operation can be a success but the patient is dead."

Al-Marayati said the ongoing violence is not a reflection on the capabilities of American soldiers, but that the conflict in Iraq can not be solved with military action.

"Our military is wonderful. It's made up of dedicated young men and women," he said. But, he said, the resolution of Iraq's crisis must "be done through political channels."

One of the necessary ingredients of that is the involvement of the American Muslim community, he said.

"That engagement has been missing," he said. "We have a lot to offer." . . .

Hussam Ayloush, the executive director of the Southern California Council on American Islamic Relations, said most Muslims agree the presence of the American troops in Iraq is causing more hostility.

Setting a timetable "doesn't mean they have to withdraw tomorrow, but it means that we have to have a clearly set strategy on how and when we need to withdraw," he said. "This is what Iraqis are asking for and this is what Americans are demanding."

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Perspective on $128 million

Alpha Doug — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 04:07:22 EDT

The budget request for the National Endowment for the Arts for FY 2008 is roughly $128 million. Additionally, the budget request for the National Endowment for the Humanities is $141 million. Those numbers seem pretty hefty on the surface, but when compared to other expenditures, we do gain some perspective. One item, the new, and very much needed, F-22 Raptor fighter has an additional unit cost of roughly $120 million. When development costs for the aircraft are figured into the cost of the entire fleet, the actual cost of each fighter is over $300 million.