Dean's Request to Support the Troops

[LuminousX]

Our troops are in harm's way this holiday season. Hundreds of thousands of American soldiers won't be home for the holidays -- but we can still let them know how proud we are of the finest military in the world. There are two ways you can show American troops how grateful their fellow citizens are for their sacrifice.

Many Americans want to send care packages to the troops, but have no idea how to do it. By visiting this site you can get information about sending a care package to one of our troops in the field:

http://www.anysoldier.us

The site provides information about what our troops need us to send and where we can send it. Many of our men and women in uniform endure the harshest conditions -- even the most basic food items or personal hygiene products can make a huge difference. They also need help with supplies like gloves and flashlights to help them complete their missions. Click here to send a soldier the supplies she or he needs on the ground:

http://www.anysoldier.us

Some soldiers will almost make it home for the holidays. Each day more than 470 soldiers arrive home on short notice for two-week R&R stints -- but the military only takes them part of the way. Servicemen and -women are flown to Germany or one of three airports in the United States -- from there they are on their own to get home.

You can donate your airline frequent flyer miles to Operation Hero Miles to bring them all the way home. Twelve major airlines will accept donations as part of this program, started by Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger, Democrat of Maryland:

http://www.heromiles.org

Because the last-minute notice the troops receive, they are forced to pay very expensive fares to finish their journey. Your miles can bring an American soldier home to his or her family for the holidays:

http://www.heromiles.org

Many of you, like me, did not support a unilateral war in Iraq. But the brave women and men of the U.S. military deserve our support and gratitude even as we seek to change the policies that put them in danger. Please join me in supporting our troops this holiday season -- and in wishing them a safe return home.

Yours sincerely,

Governor Howard Dean, M.D.

[LatinManNH]

1. Is Dean the first

of the Dem candidates to encourage this kind of support through his campaign? It's a very good thing to do and will put Dean in a good light among military personnel and their families if his supporters contribute to these causes.

[LuminousX]

3. I don't know

I assumed not. I assumed that this would be a pan-campaign call and not have anything to do with politics. It isn't like there is a measuring stick to see which campaign brings in the most donations. This is just about doing what is right.

At the end of the day, though, I sincerely hope that the military personnel who are eating real food because of this effort, realize it wasn't a Republican President who fed them, but liberal voters who truly care.

[blm]

6. Kerry started sending body armor and supplies last month.

.

[Hep]

8. Body armor?

Kerry keeps a supply of body armor?

[blm]

12. This is serious, Hep. There is no joke there.

The troops have had their families send them kevlar vests because theirs are worn or nonexistent. Kerry has been collecting and sending them, too.

[Cheswick2.0]

18. I have to admit I got a funny picture in my head

Body armor made me think of the characters from LOTR riding around on horse in Iraq. I am sorry, but I did.

[Hep]

20. Nice that some people have a sense of humor

Did Kerry'd body armor keep him from getting that nick on his arm that allowed him to escape Vietnam, leaving his buddies behind?

[NewYorkerfromMass]

19. Yep. None of the other stuff means a thing

if you're not alive.

[Hep]

21. Why isn't our military

providing body armor?

[NewYorkerfromMass]

24. I don't know. Obviously military doesn't have its priorities straight

but it's good to see Kerry does.

[Hep]

25. Where did Kerry get

165 thousand of these things? Or do just some people get them. Who gets them? Are people allowed to wear them?

[Phelan]

9. Clark campaign is very active in collecting for the Blue Star Families

in South Carolina

[Justice]

2. I Received This Email from Dean

and thought it was wonderful.

[poskonig]

4. I'm impressed.

This is a very nice thing for Dean to do.

[Sean Reynolds]

5. But, but, but Dean LOVES Saddam and the Iraqi militants!

[mzmolly]

7. :)

:kick:

[chocolateeater]

10. Kick

:kick: :yourock:

[TexasSissy]

11. Do we take our X-Rays with us, when we go to support the troops?

[Cheswick2.0]

15. if you are asked I guess you do, huh?

If the US army asks you to take your medical records, I guess you would.

[Hep]

23. Na, he's not a REAL sissy

He's willing to keep his medical history a secret. No one wants to find out about that penicillin prescription he got back in the day, wink wink.

[Zomby Woof]

13. wasted no time in kissing ass

He knows he is in trouble with the middle American idiots who actually DO think we're safer after Saddam's capture. So now this phony gesture to win some back. He smells polling trouble.

It won't work, but you can't fault a huckster for trying.

[Cheswick2.0]

16. really, I see no evidence of polling trouble

do you?

God forbid anyone do the right thing even if others might be cynical about it. Would it have been better if he had not bothered at all?

[quinnox]

14. Yes, and this is not politically motivated at all

It is just the kindness of Dean's heart. Why not put some of that fundraising prowess behind this effort, I wonder?

Put a bat up for the troops!

[Cheswick2.0]

17. such complaining from other candidates supporters

I guess it really would have been better had he not suggested this to his supporters, huh?

[Hep]

22. Yeah, they'd like Dean a lot more

if he didn't want us to help the troops out. Can you see how low some people are willing to go? How scary is THAT shit?