US soldiers could go from pawns to kingmakers

[Tellurian]

..more good news..

Support for bush slips among some in military

Thursday, May 20, 2004

NEW YORK: When Iraq war veteran Paul Rieckoff delivered the Democratic Party's response to President Bush's weekly radio address on May 1 - accusing Bush of mismanaging the war in Iraq, neglecting US troops and refusing to acknowledge his mistakes - he laid bare a growing discontent among a key voting block in this November's presidential election: members of the US Armed Forces and their families.

In a race that is a statistical tie between a wartime president and his Vietnam-veteran challenger, the traditionally conservative armed forces are a key constituency. With ongoing chaos and interminable casualties in Iraq, their support for the Republican incumbent seems to be ebbing, however.

...snip...

"I think I'm the tip of the iceberg," he told The Daily Star. "The men and the women who've come back, many of them are frustrated. Many of them were unhappy with the original rationale for the war, unhappy with the plan for war and how it was executed. ... And many of them were unhappy with the way we were equipped and trained."

...snip...

Zogby reiterates a refrain heard often among those in the armed forces - soldiers seem more comfortable with Kerry, a decorated veteran, than Bush, whose service in the National Guard during Vietnam is controversial."It's a case of bonding, of, 'oh, here's a guy who understands what it's like to have a barrel of a gun pointed at his face,'" says Zogby.

..It would behoove Kerry to contact this soldier..his webaddress is: paulrieckhoff.com

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=3979

[Tellurian]

1. Florida a key battleground state is home to the US Central Command..

"With the military vote therefore in play, Bush and Sen. John Kerry have their eyes on several key "swing" states."

"Kevin Kellerjup, who served as a platoon sergeant with Rieckhoff in Baghdad, hails from perhaps the most important battleground state, Florida, which also happens to have a large military presence - US Central Command is headquartered in Tampa."


This is a powerhouse block just waiting for Kerry to cast his eyes their way. I hope someone in his campaign picks up on this and contacts Paul Rieckhoff asap. I know I would in a heart beat if I were working for him.

[Rebellious Republican]

2. Good post! I think you may be on to something Tellurian.

[Tellurian]

3. Thanx...and I like your moniker. I hope there are more like you around. nt

[Rebellious Republican]

4. Thank you, yes there are many of us, more comming over ....

everyday! :toast:

[Tellurian]

5. Great, I'll keep the light on for you!

[Tellurian]

6. We have a special place in our hearts for vets...

My BIL was killed in Cambodia.

he was only 18yrs old..

We're doing a dedication at his square next weekend.

[CrispyQ]

7. I especially liked this:

"Bush has had four years," says Rieckhoff, speaking for himself and not his organization, "and I don't think America is better off; I don't think the soldiers are better off; and I don't think the world is better off. I don't think you need to get a second chance at the presidency. Four years is enough."

[Tellurian]

8. I liked his decisiveness.

If Kerry arranges time for him, he would be a blessing to all of us.
His words are clear and true and speak to the heart of the matter, dethroning Bush.

[symbolman]

9. THIS

is why Take Back the Media OFFERED our ad ARMY OF ONE (it played 3000 times in New Hampshire during the primary on Cable TV - CNN, etc) to Kerry for FREE..

"ARMY OF ONE"
http://www.takebackthemedia.com/onearmy.html
or VIEW the 30 second TV ad
here: http://www.bushin30seconds.org/view/11_small.shtml

I have 15 flash attack ads I'm offering for FREE to the Kerry campaign.. if you know them have them contact me at:

http://www.takebackthemedia.com

As a Veteran I'm extremely pissed off.

[Rich Lewis]

10. When pigs fly is what my brother (fng republican) says about ot

[TahitiNut]

11. DUers all over the country can help.

Many VFW Posts all over the country have Fish Fries on Friday night. (American Legion halls seem to opt for steak.) Find one. Go. Chat. Be friendly. Eat. Leave a flyer or poster. Make a donation. Rinse. Repeat.

(The people who wait on the tables are usually female veterans or spouses of veterans. The guys who work the kitchen are veterans. Don't treat them like "hired help." Tip anyway.)


Look ... 13,100 Google hits ...
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&edition=us&q=VFW+Post+Fish&btnG=Google+Search

[ConcernedCanuk]

12. "I think I'm the tip of the iceberg," - hmmm, should be careful saying

.
.
.

things like that.

While I believe it is true, and I applaud the soldier coming forward, I am leery when making statements about "other" people's opinions, even when true.

A personal experience of mine (more than once) will explain why I say this.

I have been a representative on Health and Safety Committees, and Union Executives.

Yeah, the proverbial "sh*t-disturber" - that be me.

More than once I relayed common complaints to the "higher-ups", only to have the others fail to confirm the statements/opinions that I was told in private, making me look like I was exaggerating the truth.

I'm sure there are some here on this board that are familiar with this "phenomenon" if you want to call it that.

I hope these people don't back down under the enormous pressure that I'm sure the Military will bring to bear on them to "toe the line" so to speak.

If ever there was a time for the men and women in the Armed Forces(and their families) to speak out, it is now. Doing so could save millions of lives in the decades to come.

Hat is off for those that brave the criticism of their superiors to speak the truth. :thumbsup: