VERY INTERESTING

[HARDCORE]

FYI and very interesting

Subject: VERY interesting list....

From Alternet...

Recognizing who served

This could be the last election where military service in Vietnam has any political currency. But just for the record, it's worth noting who really served among the heavyweights in each of the major political parties. There are some surprises here. Did you know John Kerry received three purple hearts? Just kidding. But here's the list. Be sure to check out the bottom where the people who spend their time jabbering about military service (the TV pundits) have their military credentials exposed.

Democrats

Richard Gephardt: Air National Guard, 1965-71.
David Bonior: Staff Sgt., Air Force 1968-72.
Tom Daschle: 1st Lt., Air Force SAC 1969-72.
Al Gore: enlisted Aug. 1969; sent to Vietnam Jan. 1971 as an army journalist in 20th Engineer Brigade.
Bob Kerrey: Lt. j.g. Navy 1966-69; Medal of Honor, Vietnam.
Daniel Inouye: Army 1943-'47; Medal of Honor, WWII.
John Kerry: Lt., Navy 1966-70; Silver Star, Bronze Star with Combat V Purple Hearts.
John Edwards: did not serve.
Charles Rangel: Staff Sgt., Army 1948-52; Bronze Star, Korea.
Max Cleland: Captain, Army 1965-68; Silver Star & Bronze Star, Vietnam.
Ted Kennedy: Army, 1951-1953.
Tom Harkin: Lt., Navy, 1962-67; Naval Reserve, 1968-74.
Jack Reed: Army Ranger, 1971-1979; Captain, Army Reserve 1979-91.
Fritz Hollings: Army officer in WWII, receiving the Bronze Star and seven campaign ribbons.
Leonard Boswell: Lt. Col., Army 1956-76; Vietnam, DFCs, Bronze Stars, and Soldier's Medal.
Pete Peterson: Air Force Captain, POW. Purple Heart, Silver Star and Legion of Merit.
Mike Thompson: Staff sergeant, 173rd Airborne, Purple Heart.
Bill McBride: Candidate for Fla. Governor. Marine in Vietnam; Bronze Star with Combat V.
Gray Davis: Army Captain in Vietnam, Bronze Star.
Pete Stark: Air Force 1955-57
Chuck Robb: Vietnam
Howell Heflin: Silver Star
George McGovern: Silver Star & DFC during WWII.
Bill Clinton: Did not serve. Student deferments. Entered draft but received 311.
Jimmy Carter: Seven years in the Navy.
Walter Mondale: Army 1951-1953
John Glenn: WWII and Korea; six DFCs and Air Medal with 18 Clusters.
Tom Lantos: Served in Hungarian underground in WWII. Saved by Raoul Wallenberg.
Wesley Clark: U.S. Army, 1966-2000, West Point, Vietnam, Purple Heart, Silver Star. Retired 4-star general.
John Dingell: WWII vet
John Conyers: Army 1950-57, Korea

Republicans

Dennis Hastert: did not serve.
Tom Delay: did not serve.
House Whiip Roy Blunt: did not serve.
Bill Frist: did not serve.
Rudy Giuliani: did not serve.
George Pataki: did not serve.
Mitch McConnell: did not serve.
Rick Santorum: did not serve.
Trent Lott: did not serve.
Dick Cheney: did not serve. Several deferments, the last by marriage.
John Ashcroft: did not serve. Seven deferments to teach business.
Jeb Bush: did not serve.
Karl Rove: did not serve.
Saxby Chambliss: did not serve. "Bad knee." The man who attacked Max Cleland's patriotism.
Paul Wolfowitz: did not serve.
Vin Weber: did not serve.
Richard Perle: did not serve.
Douglas Feith: did not serve.
Eliot Abrams: did not serve.
Richard Shelby: did not serve.
Jon Kyl: did not serve.
Tim Hutchison: did not serve.
Christopher Cox: did not serve.
Newt Gingrich: did not serve.
Don Rumsfeld: served in Navy (1954-57) as aviator and flight instructor.
George W. Bush: six-year Nat'l Guard commitment (in four).
Ronald Reagan: due to poor eyesight, served in a non-combat role making movies.
Gerald Ford: Navy, WWII
Phil Gramm: did not serve.
John McCain: Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross.
Bob Dole: an honorable veteran.
Chuck Hagel: two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star, Vietnam.
Duke Cunningham: nominated for Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Silver Stars, Air Medals, Purple Hearts.
Jeff Sessions: Army Reserves, 1973-1986
JC Watts: did not serve.
Lindsey Graham: National Guard lawyer.
G.H.W. Bush: Pilot in WWII. Shot down by the Japanese.
Tom Ridge: Bronze Star for Valor in Vietnam.
Antonin Scalia: did not serve.
Clarence Thomas: did not serve

Pundits & Preachers
Sean Hannity: did not serve.
Rush Limbaugh: did not serve (4-F with a 'pilonidal cyst.')
Bill O'Reilly: did not serve.
Michael Savage: did not serve.
George Will: did not serve.
Chris Matthews: did not serve.
Paul Gigot: did not serve.
Bill Bennett: did not serve.
Pat Buchanan: did not serve.
Bill Kristol: did not serve.
Kenneth Starr: did not serve.
Michael Medved: did not serve.

[reconeil]

Guess that you pretty-much prove the point, and/or why currently those Republicans having Served in National Guard, gotten Drafted (the norm of The Time) or not, TRULY appreciate and TRULY support The Military in every way possible, during peacetime or wartime and to this very day,...and greatly respect and treat The U.S. Military accordingly, by normally increasing and rebuilding The Military and/or what Democrats usually reduce in favor of foreigner-friendly social programs.

Whereas those Democrats having once Served (Drafted or not) tend to perpetually undermine and demoralize The U.S. Military in many ways (even during wartime), what with their normally absurd and foreign-favoring mindsets and/or capitulating to UN or: "Chamberlain"-like antics.

So then, and in that context, isn't it fair stating that Service to Country is quite meaningless for determining A POLITICIAN'S credibility, integrity and ACTUAL intent? Seems to me that those making most of "Their" Service to Country or being a Veteran for political purposes,...are always the least trustworthy and believable of the dirtiest and most worthless of all careers.
Hell, reinstituting The Draft being bandied about by The Democrat Politicos, MORE SO than by anyone else,...sez-very-much-to-me.

Guess that our current All Volunteer Forces are sort-of-resented by The Democrat Veteran Lords? Must figure that if The Draft was good enough at forcing most of "Them" to Serve,....why not force same on all other Americans? Or, maybe once shortime Privates getting promoted straight to being longtime Generals,...just scrambles the brains (French Style of course)?

Hey Rick,...just some thoughts on your subject/listing.

Neil

[Boats]

I think it depends on whether or not your family has any money or influence to alter or get special considerations. I was in during the draft days. I enlisted but many didn't want to go. I also remember when they pulled up the reservist they too didn't want to go. Many of us got extensions including the reserves so this isn't a new deal that suddenly happen.

The listing above is impressive and seems to indicate somethings never change. How many of those in office would you want to fight along side of you is another question.

I'm sure if we dug through all the data since time began there are many who are fighter's and other's who are not. They would rather have someone else fight their battles for them and we know who they are.

Most haven't been pushed into a corner to see if they would fight back without asking for someone to help them. Most of us say would fight if a family member was threatened.

Think of the many reasons you would give your life for another and see how long (or short) your list is if your honest.

[MORTARDUDE]

Excellent post Rick !!! Glad to see you back on the boards and threads !!!

Larry