Hipployta's Comments (27)

“1) Medicare and Medicade are borrowed from by the legislative branch to cover deficts in other areas

2) The USPS is an INDEPENDENT organization within the government and the third largest employer in the country. Basically at some point that chopped it up into private pieces and left the nominal regulation (the appoinment of the post master and trustees) to the government.

3) So...a couple of months is enough to determine how the stimulus is working regardless of the fact that MOST projects haven't started or in bidding phase?

4) Sure take FedEx...$50 bucks to deliver the same package for $20 with USPS. You allowed to purchase service from other companies. You have the option for special packages... but who handles your day to day mail? It's not FedEx so why are you complaining?

5) My healthcare, as a military member, works out pretty well and I don't see Congress complaining about theirs (which is what the public option will be modeled off of).

6) My final, and most important, point...if you don't like the public option and don't want the gov't to run your health care do like Bob says AND BUY YOUR OWN! No one is removing those private options from you.

Siobhan”

“Hmm, though your post was odd (and idiotic) my annoyance is not with you but more the suggestion that the military is some conservative enclave that chooses to be brainwashed by the right wing.

There are alot of conservative servicemembers but that is, in my opinion, more to do with how they grew up and not bothering to reevaluate their political opinions once they were adults (like most Americans).

Servicemembers on the ground have no practical input over what's broadcast here. If it's free AFN will play it.

Interestingly Milo Ventimiglia, Peter on Heroes, came here last summer on a USO Tour and upon finding out Heroes was not played here via AFN because the NBC wouldn't give it to us for free (or for a small fee) he called around and got it on AFN.”

“Why are Hannity and Limbaugh piped overseas via Armed Forces Radio? Is this a question or a statement ?

Interestingly enough I have yet to hear either of their radio shows being played on Freedom Radio here in Afghanistan...nor have I heard any Air America shows. The point of the military radio here is to play american music.

More importantly, have you ever even been deployed to hear Armed Forces Radio?

However, their shows are played on AFN (Armed Forces Network) for the same reason ANY show is played on AFN...they gave them to AFN for free.

AFN is not allowed to play commericials or profit from the use of the shows so only shows that the networks give us for free are allowed to play.

So from the network "news" side we have Hannity and O'Reilly as well as Olbermann and Maddow. We have Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN.

We get The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.

We get most shows a few seasons after they've been out and we get alot of the cancelled shows.

The point I'm making is your post is idiotic. There are plenty of servicemembers on HuffPo who will correct you so don't make statements unless you know them to be fact.

From Hipployta...28 days left on a year tour in Afghanistan...kisses darling”

“Bob, it's just their blathering to distract that they have nothing to offer. I just came back from the Arena over on Politico and these guys are just out of it...utterly useless.

Prepared remarks (via printed page or teleprompter) are generally a better idea then trying to go "off the cuff" like 43 used to.

Of note, I no longer cringe and change the channel when I hear the American President speak...you have to adore 44 for that.

Excellent post.”

“Alot of folks out here are happy about the end of stop loss and since they're already on stop-loss they're happy about the pay.

Great job and makes me even more proud to be an IAVA member.

I'm recruiting out here in Afghanistan and before the new GI Bill was signed the IAVA site GIBILL2008 was a great source to explain the bill to troops out here.”

“Awesome post Mr. Cesca. It summarizes so many of my arguements so wonderfully that I have to post it over a Open Salon so everyone else can enjoy the wonderful. I'm also going to email it to everyone in my office that I've had the "Do you even know what socialism OR welfare is?" conversation with. Keep in mind I'm active duty military...socialized healthcare and things like WIC are a fact of miltary life.

Hipployta
A service member in Afghanistan”

“I was thinking the exact same thing. Richardson was appointed to appease latinos and pay him back for backstabbing the Clinton during the campaign BUT after reading the Obama team's questionaire for positions they probably knew he would never make it to confirmation. They already had a story ready to cover their end about Richardson not being entirely forthcoming. Bonus points for making Hil happy by choosing her over Richardson for Secretary of State. I never liked the guy's politics and it does not pain me to see him go.”

“I am in agreement with your assessment. Everyone wanted Obama to do what they thought was best during the election and he listened...but used he own council and discretion in the end. That will be key to his decision making and progress.”

“I rather like VolunteerMatch. A few years ago (back when AOL was viable) I used that service through AOL to volunteer. I wanted to break out of my normal volunteer patterns. Why I had patterns as a 15 year old I have no idea but Habitat for Humanity was a favorite.”

“I'm currently in Afghanistan. I find this article to be VERY unbalanced. Alot of people feel the way those soldiers do but they at least took the time to research before sharing stated opinion. I can't believe one of them stated they wonder which book President Elect Obama will swear in on.

I also can't believe they said this war is about religion. Religion is one facet of this conflict but among the local population has a bigger concern...winter is coming and many of them question their survival. You have to be tough to live/survive here.

What worries me most is that Senator McCain has a horrible record in regards to military issues...and they seem totally unaware of it.”

“Well, it seems the revolution will be televised. Let's hope it unifies us in a way we have never been before.”

“Single people only get $2500.00 so you're worse off than you think”

“I tried to explain this in my office to someone in my office who is voting on Prop 8 and was met with...I'm voting with MY morals. I was like okay give the scripture and all that. He's Morman so I had to back up since I'm not familar with their books...he still hasn't given me the scriptures though.

I tried to explain this HIS religious beliefs shouldn't impact OTHERS beliefs or behaviour if it hurts no one. I couldn't get them to explain to me about why marriage is not a legal institution and and a holy one instead.

I'll stick with it's legal institution in which religious beliefs shouldn't impede...separation of church and state and all that.”

“I get calls from my local office and emails from the campaign. Since I phone bank via the online number rolls I get reminders about calling.

Of course there are the donation emails and also videos and links to events.”

“As someone who is active duty and currently in Afghanistan I am looking forward to an Obama presidency. His record has made it clear he supports the military and military families as well as Michelle making Military Famililes one of her foci (Hello Blue Star Families for Obama). Unlike the Senator from Arizona who consistenly fails to support the troops or vote for us in a meaningful fashion (New GI Bill anyone? Check out IAVA's congressional report card).

Proud to Serve America...but especially under Mr. Obama.

Donate Obama/Biden 08: http://my.barackobama.com/page/dashboard/public/xqD9W4B

Siobhan”

“Excellent post. Both of them point out that religion is a personal choice and not being Christian shouldn't demonize someone or affect their character. Though I remain disappointed in Mr. Powell for waiting until after the 2004 election to leave the party I am pleased with is endorsement. I would have loved if he had point out that Mr. McCain does NOT support the military but I suppose that would have been too much to ask.

Siobhan”

“I haven't seen an episode because I don't have access to HBO where I'm at but I do read the "Dead" book series by Charlaine Harris which True Blood is based off. I look forward to seeing how close it is...or if it's dreadfully different (like The Dresden Files).

Siobhan”

“Oh my...that's terrible LOL...I didn't realize there were protests over that WITH plungers

Go Barack the Builder...BUILD AWAY”

“Wonderful response. I particulary love the part about a letter from your attorney being enclosed FABULOUS!

I hope I get one. I'm FROM SC (I'm a NJ resident now as SC doesn't treat the military right at all and the elected officials are TERRIBLE) so it'll be even more humorous.

You think they'll mail it to my APO address?”

“Those Vets should have been heard. Though I'm not a member of that group (I'm more inline with IAVA) I sympathize. My primary concern through the last 8 years is if Americans at home are allowing their rights to be trampled on then what am I over here fighting for...Haliburton's dividends?”

“My office of Republicans is so resigned to their loss that not a WORD has been mentioned about the debate. When they came into work the channel was changed and they had the Philles/Dodgers game on instead LOL. (We're 8.5hrs ahead of east coast time).

I kept up...and was quite happy.”

“The phone banking section on the barackobama.com site.”

“You don't have to live in PA to help. I'm calling folks in PA via my Skype phone out here in Afghanistan based on the volunteer phone banking section. If I was home in NJ and not deployed I'd be out there in PA canvassing as well. I just do my best to get as many absentee ballots sent from Afghanistan with Barack Obama/Joe Biden marked as possible.”

“Well, I'm posting my Obama/Biden 08 sign (coming in the mail soon I hope) on the my door of my baracks out here in Afghanistan or posting it in my VERY Repub office...should be interesting.”

“Speaking as someone currently deployed to Afghanistan Cindy McCain's rhetoric does not hold up when compared to Senator McCain's record. I am one of those AF people re-deployed to cover a gap in an Army unit. Senator Obama is the best choice and I have put my money where my hopes are. When it was first posted I personally emailed out the Brandon Friedman article (the Vet Voice version, sorry HuffPo) on Mr. McCain's voting record to everyone out here who did not believe me when I explained his voting history and lack of support for the troops.

Obama/Biden 08”