parkerfly38

As it would happen, the Uniform Code of Military Justice pretty much outlaws all forms of coitus save for the good old missionary position.

I've seen adultery acted upon in quantities greater than the nefarious queers in our midst.

From what I've seen, there's enough homoeroticism going on in the infantry that a true-blue gay fellow would blend in. I guess it's only "not gay" if the guy slapping, squeezing, perhaps even fondling my ass says "good game." posted 07/11/2008 at 16:17:11

Nancy Pfotenhauer, advisor to McCain: "Just suppose Obama who has a preacher"s gift for a righteous statements but side steps like a politician when it"s going to cost him anything, with John McCain he wouldn"t take the easy way out, even when his life was on the line as a prisoner of war and he was offered early release and special treatment and he refused to take it because that wasn"t the right thing to do."

McCain himself released an ad, and I quote: "I hate war and I know how terrible its costs are. I"m running for president to keep the country I love safe."

I guess I'm at the point myself where I'm not caring too much about McCain's wartime service, which he feels all too comfortable touting as a reason to elect him. Reason being? He doesn't seem to give a rat's tuchus about my service or the service of others in the current war, vis a vis his above mentioned dwell time and GI Bill votes (or lack thereof).

I'm not altogether sure that either McCain or Obama suffer for lack of qualifications in lieu of military experience. It's why we have the Joint Chiefs, after all, to inform civilian leadership. posted 07/01/2008 at 13:19:14

I'm sure I'll get flamed for these sentiments.

I'm a proponent of homosexual rights. It's not an issue I would ever vote for in either direction...I agree, I have it easy in life by merit of being hetero, married, and religious. Most of what drives my support of equality for homosexuals isn't because I believe in tolerance, but because I believe in equal protection under the law. A gay coworker puts in the same hours as I do at work, he or she deserves all the same rights and protections for his or her partner and themselves. If they pay taxes, they deserve to have the same access to marriage by the state, I believe.

All that said, I struggle with holding sympathy for the GLBT movement because of the drag queens and the Dykes on Bikes, just as others had and still do have trouble with militant portions of the black civil rights movements. Historically, it's when our commonalities prevail that acceptance begins, as demonstrated by the thousands of loving couples "sealing the deal" in California recently. I believe this will change minds in the U.S. So, if maybe I can't abide Priscilla, Queen of the Desert moving in next door, but I would trade sugar with Ellen and Portia, can't that be good enough? posted 06/30/2008 at 12:46:26

Was he really the right candidate then? I figure that his response to 9/11 would have been just as heavy-handed as the current administration, and he was just as much a throwback to Reaganomics as W. has proven to be.

I don't think he could have gone all the way through the nominating process in 2000 without at some point having to point his ass in the air for the religious right. I would posit that had McCain won his party's nomination in 2000, Gore would be president right now. posted 06/06/2008 at 12:05:42

Outdated, is all.

No one can come out of such an experience unscathed, but you can come out functional. Let's not give a guy a hard time for being a POW and go for the cheap shots. From POW camps to concentration camps, survivors of either are touched by the experience, but they can remain functional in spite of it. I'm not sure what John McCain's problems are, but they have more to do with conservative politics than military experience, it would seem. posted 06/06/2008 at 12:01:18

You know, I'd like to pencil in an addendum to the Golden Rule. "Thou shalt not vote to send troops to fight a war based on a lie."

Since much of this article rightfully criticizes her vote on this war, some might remember that her abdication of responsibility and good judgment has been just as deleterious to the American service member as the administration's push for war.

I think these things continue to be relevant, perhaps as reason Senator Clinton shouldn't even be a consideration for the Veep slot. Until the end of the convention, that is as much a REAL fight for some of us, particularly those who will be mailing absentee ballots for Obama, thanks to Senator Clinton's vote. posted 06/05/2008 at 14:19:55

True, but it's all in the timing. Four days from now, this wouldn't be as funny.

Grow up, and get over it. After 7 years of Bush, you need that much time to get over Senator Clinton's loss? There are more pressing concerns than suffering ourselves a little snivel break. posted 06/05/2008 at 14:13:18

...many members of the military, people who don't like out of touch old guys in high office, a swath of independents...

and nevermind that conservative grasp on reality, you know, the one that had all kinds of WMDs in Iraq... posted 06/05/2008 at 11:43:21

This is more harmful than useful. The assumption that this was the work of Navy fliers in Vietnam is ridiculous, and McCain does have a heroic record as both an officer and a POW. It's much more conducive to the debate to demonstrate that his current policies aren't informed by his heroism, which is all the more upsetting. posted 06/05/2008 at 11:40:35

I don't think your sentiment is anti-Semitic at all. I'm a Jew, lover of Israel, but I don't think Israel should figure as prominently into the US election process. It will be nice to have our foreign policy not be held hostage by right wing ideologs with some rapturific agenda driving Middle East policy on the whole.

The best thing that could happen for Israel would be a two-state solution. Iran wouldn't have cover for its regional influence peddling, and Jews and Arabs in Israel/Palestine would be so much safer. Lieberman is turning into quite the embarassment for both Jews and Democrats these days. He should stop humping CUFI's leg and think harder about what 7/8 years of Bush has exactly done for anyone. posted 06/04/2008 at 21:39:04

All things considered, 280,000 ultra Orthodox Jews are just as draining on Israel as they are here.

Study Torah, making babies...I'd rather pay for neither as a tax payer, and I study Torah in my free time while I work two jobs. posted 06/04/2008 at 21:34:13

Because there we were, in Lebanon, fighting a war for Israel... posted 06/04/2008 at 21:31:25

I would go for the latter as well. As an observant Jew serving in uniform, there's no religious reason for us, then or now, not to serve in the military. posted 06/04/2008 at 21:30:22

Ms. Zaleski, posted 03/25/2008 at 09:28:30