As has been reported, John Sidney McCain vehemently opposed the New GI Bill introduced and championed by Senator, personal hero, best person in the Congress, Jim Webb. See_Here. In what could be considered a flip-flop or something akin to plagarism, McCain now takes credit for the bill. Apparently, he supported it privately but was publicly opposed to it. So he would have voted against it but instead he voted for it by not showing up to vote on it at all. It’s tortured logic I know, pardon the pun.
Here’s a link about McCain taking credit for the bill he opposed. Taking_Credit_w/Video OK, it’s Huffington Post BUT they do provide video of his statement.
Apparently, McCain’s love and respect for the troops that serve this country only extends to when they are actually serving. Once they are out, he’ll support them if it’s politically expediant. Oops, I forgot, that is the Republican party line.
In true liberal fashion you slant the real story to where it is almost a lie. Your source is the Huffington Post!!! College Boy Lawyer Type Trademark Guru, you can do better than that!! I disagreed with McCain’s position on the new GI Bill, but understand his viewpoint. He wanted to give the higher education benefits to those who server longer. In other words, I served 8 years in the Navy and would be eligible for more money towards my education than YOUR 2 years of service in the Air Force.
Obama tries to imply that McCain does not support expanded benefits for the military that is patently false and idiotic. He should stick with “talking down to blacks”… -Rev. Jesse Jackson.
Seriously. What is going on with the VA Medical Center? I never heard a follw-up in the news, except for a lot of finger pointing.
Actually, my link to Huffington Post was for the video and I said as much in the piece. Please review again.
You’re correct about the alternative plan offered by McCain, Graham and Burr in so far as it provided benefits on a sliding scale dependant upon your time in service. But, the McCain, Graham and Burr plan didn’t even come close to offering the same amount of benefits found under the Webb/Hagel plan. It wasn’t even in the same ballpark.
Here’s what the McCain et. al bill would give veterans:
Active-duty vets would get $1,500 per month to pay tuition and personal costs (up from $1,101 under the current Montgomery GI Bill), and an additional $500 annually for books. Under Webb’s bill the service member needn’t contribute to the fund, since Sidney’s is merely a increase of the old Montgomery GI Bill, one would assume that military members would still need to contribute the $1200 to establish the fund.
Oh as for time in the military…IF you stayed in for 12 YEARS – Johnny Mac would increase that benefit by a whopping $150 a month! That’s at least 2-3 extra cases of Ramen Noodles!!!! That’s what we in the south call, “High Cotton”.
It would also hike the benefit for members of the National Guard and Reserves to $1,200 per month, up from $880.
After offering that pultry pile of crap, McCain now wants us to believe that he didn’t support Webb’s bill because it wasn’t offered as a PERMANENT bill and will either need to be renewed or sunset. What a load of mularkey!
I’m really becoming bewildered with all this bickering. I have (young) children, grown children and grandchildren. I suppose I, like most parents, tell my kids not to fuss and fight. But we look at the way politics are done and it’s nothing about what’s best for the USA but mud slinging. I will say, however, I do firmly believe that Senator McCaine slings the least mud.
Hayden, as for your VA question… funny you should ask. I just returned from an appointment today. It’s still screwed up. I mean come one it’s only been a few months. Nothing in the government moves very fast. I will say though that I have noticed better attitudes by the “front line” people.
Finally, is there any way SOMEONE can discuss what is BEST for this country without being so nasty about it? Truely I think this is affecting me in a negative way. I may just quit. Yeh, I know big deal.
There used to be respect in most areas of life. Now respect is the exception rather than the norm.
@M54 – put your concerns to rest as far as the PolitiPorn Blog is concerned. Me & The Fallen bicker back and forth all the time, but we are the best of friends, literally. Typically, our little tiffs are face-to-face. We both inhabit opposing sides of the aisles but we agree on many issues. We can also argue and then toss back a couple friendly shots of Sambuca.
You point is taken though. I’ve grown disenchanted with the rhetoric you see out there. Most of it is for shock value I think. Just look at the crap spewed by MediaMatters.Org, Huffington, FOX News, MSNBC, Olbermann, Limbaugh, O’Reilly, Franken, Hannity, Coulter, etc. If your political astrology map lines up with theirs then its entertaining. If you oppose their very existence, guess what, it’s just as entertaining.
I might be a liberal, but I occasionally will tune in to Hannity & Limbaugh. I’ll yell at the radio of course but I’m big enough to admit that it’s fun. Hell, O’Reilly is my obsession and I’ve said as much before. With him, it’s not so much about his political views, it’s really all about his hypocritical nature.
Lest we forget that truly great thing abou this country is that people of opposing viewpoints can live side-by-side, espouse those points of view and not feel the need to commit violence in the name of it.
Dear College Lawyer Boy;
Thanks for your heart felt reasurrances.
Now, speaking of O’Reilly, were you listening to his show (radio or TV) in March of 07? That’s when he was talking Rosie Odonnal saying that (basically) the USA attacked it’s self. Well that was right after my son-in-law was KIA in Afghanistan. O’Reilly made the point that those of us who had had family members would take her comments personal. Well, depending on your view point, I did take her remarks personal. And (again, depending on your view point) I was fortunate enough to get through to his radio show. He also used my call as a featured segment on TV that night.
My emotions then were still so raw… still seeing my daughter screaming and moaning as those two Army guys rattled off their “On behalf of the United States Army we regret to inform you….”
Any way I appreciate your comments.
Be well
I confirm that “College Boy Lawyer Type Trademark Guru and I are the best of friends and respect each other’s opinions. Most of my comments are in fun and not meant to be vitriolic at all.
I agree that the Webb GI Bill (after deleting the withdrawal timetable) was much better than the McCain proposed bill. Our military deserves the best benefits possible and Sen. Webb has done a good job.
@M54- I have only one bone to pick with you regarding the O’Reilly/O’Donnel comment or rather one bone to pick with O’Reilly I should say.
See O’Reilly, who never served and to this day will not explain how he avoided the draft, loves to politicize the military. His comment regarding O’Donnel’s claims belie that fact.
O’Donnel and ALL the 9/11 conspiracy nutjobs don’t just offend military families, veterans or Republicans with that “American did it to itself” crap. I as an American am offended as every American should be. I’ve never believed that Bush/Cheney would have allowed that to happen. It’s crossed my mind but come on, it’s crap plain & simple.
@The Fallen – agreed with the New GI Bill. Looks like Bush will be getting a “withdrawal timetable” from the Iraqis and not Congress. The saddest news I heard this week is that Webb has withdrawn his name from the potential VP candidates list. What a shame! This country needs Jim Webb. Fortunetly, we’ll still have him in the Senate.
M54-I agree with you completely on the assinine comments of people like Rosie O’Donnell. Such comments should be taken personally by all who have active duty friends and family and such comments do not reflect the majority of this country. BTW, my son and daughter-in-law are both serving in the U.S. Coast Guard.
Bush/Cheney are not evil, but have run the war in Iraq incompetently much to my chagrin. The Bush Administration gets skewered by Newt Gingrich in his new book, REAL CHANGE, in their handling of the war. If they had listened to the military leaders the war would not have become so long and bloody.
Webb is very smart not to run with Obama! They would butt heads frequently.