DISQUS

Fred Schmultz · 1 year ago

John McCain is a sissy who has no idea what it's like to serve in the military or suffer in the slightest for his country. He's a commie pinko and needs to go back where he came from!

Christopher · 1 year ago

I agree that McCain is wrong in not supporting this bill, however you can't say he doesn't know what it's like to serve in the military or suffer for his country. You're joking right? He was a Navy pilot in Vietnam, and he was captured and tortured for more than five years!

PoliticAl2008 · 1 year ago

There is no way I'd try to sway Senator McCain to sign/sponsor this bill. Let it makes it's way w/o him and then use this against him in the General Election.

Give him enough rope and he'll hang himself with it.

Murray Hall · 1 year ago

Its unconscionable that anyone could vote against this bill. These brave men and women who have served this country, often on more than 1 tour, and have been willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice, while the rest of us go about our peaceful lives here, deserve at LEAST this much. In America, privileged Congressmen send their kids to the finest schools instead of to war, and DENY the same privilege to those who can't afford to go to school because they served the country in war.

Zoey · 1 year ago

fred, maybe you wee trying to be funny but i would think that you would have to be a hermit with no t.v.,resource internet or any other resource to not know McCains tale. That said, I really think the picture we had of John McCain the maverick, the lone Repub. standing against the neo cons, was false. I've read many articles trying to explain him, from him being so filled with military honor that he can't make the decisions necessary to get out of Iraq, (because there may be no honorable way to leave). After finding out he won't sign the new GI bill I find it hard to believe it's "military honor"; then theirs articles saying he's lost his idealism, that he realized he had to play some game to win. I don't know, I just know that I don't think of one of the only decent republican politicians, actually one of the few decent politicians at all. I didn't agree with all his conservative views, but I admired him for standing up to his own party.

stupid troops · 1 year ago

hi
i am going to be harsh but if our troops were smart they would never sign for the army ; government conducs the wars to make rich more richer not for the security of our country or/and honor; if u people have not figured that out yet then good luck

KimN · 1 year ago

Read the bill! The military is also apprehensive about this bill. We need to reward people who serve and decide to stay as well as those who decide to leave. This only provides an incentive to leave the military. See www.military.com

Beverley Wiskow · 1 year ago

Politicizing this issue is obscene. Why not target ALL those who haven't signed on? How about we ask Harry Reid to offer up continued war funding as a trade-off for co-signing S.22 ? He could say something like, "Hey guys. We (the highly touted Democrat majority, er tiny majority, er not-enough-to-matter majority) always give you money to continue the illegal and immoral occupation of Iraq. How's about you throw a bone to all those troops you brag about supporting?" Nancy could do the same in the House.

I'll not spend one moment of time appealing to John McCain for anything.
Nor will I pander to Hillary or Obama, both of whom are playing the hawkish-dove / dovish/hawk routine to the hilt. Signing on to a no-brainer bill like S.22 wasn't one of the items their teams spent weeks deciding.

In my view, the political games are just another way to distract the peace community from the ugly and nearly hopeless work of stopping this madness. It's not going to be the politicians. It's not going to be the media. It's certainly not going to be WE the people -- note Cheney's "So" observation. Stopping this madness will be the work of brave soldiers who refuse to fight, who lay down their arms, who refuse to deploy, who honor their oath to defend the Constitution and not the political/economic whims of a rogue administration and a complicit Congress. IVAW, VFP, West Point Graduates Against the War, MFSO, GSFP, not to mention the 70% of the American people who know the occupation is a travesty waged in our names for profit and greed -- these are the ones who will stop the war.

And frankly, if John McCain signs on to S.22, it just gives his pathetically misguided supporters another arrow in their quivers to tout his worthiness.

Back to work. The war still rages. Veterans are still suffering and doing without needed services.

Dakotahgeo · 1 year ago

If you are interested in who daddygramps is, click on his name in the upper left side of his posts. No wonder this guy is such a sour grapes person. He is a right wing-nut "social" patriot only who takes delight in making sure his bowl is full of food...and if it isn't he would have no problem in stealing yours. And this guy condemns our troops for asking for merely what they were promised. I think not, hypocritte daddygramps!
GMMelby

Tom Seemuth · 1 year ago

Demanding that John McCain sponsor this bill is like demanding that George Bush bring the troops home tomorrow. People ought to realize that it's past the point of petitions, writing letters to your representatives, or demanding regress of grievances...it doesn't matter. Get those warm, fuzzy feelings that American is still the land of the free and home of the brave out of your heads. The answer will be the same...So?

Paul · 1 year ago

Thanks, KimN, for pointing out the story on www.military.com. I read it, along with all the comments from readers - which were pretty 100% in favor of the bill. Worst case, if people do leave the military in droves, we'll have to institute a draft to continue the war. Once that happens, the war will be over in about 20 minutes. "What? You want *my* Johnny to fight? I don't think so!"
I do agree, however, that urging McCain to sign on isn't wise. I'd rather get the other 99 senators to sign on and watch McCain flap in the breeze come November, trying to explain how he "supports the troops."

Veteran · 1 year ago

Dear Brave New Films,

I am a veteran. The occupation of Iraq is a shameful genocide. People need to be educated before they enlist not after they kill. Inducements to enlistment such as an education benefit encourage militarism and empire building. When the government lies to start wars of aggression, inducements to enlistment are a crime and the taxpayer should not be forced to pay for lies, aggression and genocide. Without troops the government cannot conduct genocide. Educate people before they enlist and they will not practice genocide. Your pleas to 'help' the troops are misguided and misplaced.

Michael Yomtov · 1 year ago

the bush is trying to export 'democracy' exactly the way the bolshevics tried to spread worldwide communism after 1918. stalin had hitler, just as bush has musharif and the sauds and hu jintao.

mccain is bush's little sir echo, forsaking his veteran father and grandfather and all the rest of us who served, by scrimping on veteran care to prolong another futile and wrong war.

democracy is a false issue here. the causes are ego and oil.

mccain has sold all veterans and all americans out to pander to oil interests and the lunatic right to try to win an election.

humanist · 1 year ago

Linda Q, No, this isn't a socialist country, more's the pity. If it was, we wouldn't have the rich and the ultra-rich getting everything for nothing (including tax breaks, incidentally), leaving the bottom ninety percent to squabble over the twenty percent of resources not going to the top ten percent. We also wouldn't be stuck in humiliating, dehumanizing drone-work jobs instead of expressing ourselves creatively through our work.

KimN, so much the better. The less military there is the world, the safer we'll all be. The civil rights activists did more for this country in 6 years than the military (or any government entity) did in over two hundred. The best way to support our troops is to scrap the military.

stupid troops, most of those people signed up for the military because of extreme poverty, or to escape racism or one of the other forces that oppresses people in this country. The rest were indoctrinated with nationalism and the cult of redemptive violence into believing their country was better than anyone else's simply because they were born in it, and that murdering other human beings can somehow make things better. Blaming the troops for joining the military is like blaming a woman (or a man) for getting raped.

Beverly, you make some good points. Ultimately, if we're ever truly going to have peace, freedom, and democracy in this country or anywhere else (real peace, real freedom, and real democracy, not the narrow, twisted, false-ideals the politicians like to pay lip-service to) it can only come from the people themselves. These things can only come from below, they cannot be forced from above. However, while we as individuals work towards these ideals, I feel it's important to do what we can to make the current system more humane. (Yes, maybe that will make it harder to dislodge, it's something I struggle with, but the alternative is just to horrific for me to support.)

I am 100% against the military in principle and moreso in practice, but I refuse to be a part of punishing its victims, and that includes the United States armed forces. If that means giving John McCain a chance to do good, so be it.

TruthsBeKnown · 1 year ago

What's so important about getting McCain on board with this? McCain is a known non-supporter of our military personnel, so why bother with him? Let McCain's track record of non-support for our POW/MIAs come out & challenge him with it before the American public so everyone can see what a double-talking, hypocritical coward he really is. Expose him, don't implore him! He's not worth it & for God's sake, if he signs on to this bill, he will tout it during his run for the presidency - is that what you want? Give him an "out" to distract the public from his real track record of turning his back on our military personnel? You've got to be kidding me! I am not signing this petition. You guys at Brave New Films have really got to start examining what you're doing - who comes up with these ideas? Who's side are you on, anyways? You really need someone to examine your bright ideas before you waste your valuable time, energy & resources on the wrong tack.

In response to Zoey's post: You sound like a very confused person. McCain is a fraud, he has turned his back on POWs/MIAs: received preferential treatment while a POW because he gave the enemy information they wanted - in other words, he cowardly ratted out. He has pushed legislation thru that makes it extremely difficult for families to get information on their POW/MIA members. He has also continued the war on Native Americans, particularly the Dineh people, & continues to try to force them off the land, breaking treaties, & destroying their homes, their wells, their livestock, their very existence. He turned his back on his first wife for sugar & $$ which he needed to stay in politics & not have to get a real job like the rest of us.

If you study McCain closely, you will find his actions those of one who is disconnected from humanity & real integrity. I consider him one of the most confused & dangerous people on the planet. Definitely not the kind of person we should have running the most powerful military in the world.

Now if you want to support a REAL PATRIOT, check out Congressman Dr. Ron Paul. He served as an Air Force Flight Surgeon during the VietNam War. He is the "Champion of the Constitution" and receives more financial support from military personnel than any other presidential candidate, & not too long ago, his financial support from military personnel was more than all the other candidates combined! You won't hear his name too often on mainstream media because the banking/military/industrial complex that runs this country wants to shut him up. If you want to find out more about this courageous man, just Google: Ron Paul - visit his congressional website & read some of his speeches to Congress, or go to his campaign website & read his position on the issues, go to his YouTube link off his campaign site & watch him speak Truth to Power! Check out the series of videos of the Veterans Day Rally in Philadelphia last year.

He voted against the Iraq War from the very beginning (his position was to go after the individuals responsible for 9/11 - Congress didn't listen & now, years later, billions of $$ in debt later, & thousands dead & displaced, we still don't have Bin Laden). He voted against the Patriot Act. He's never voted to raise taxes. He doesn't partake in the lucrative Congressional pension plan. - When Senators & Congressmen retire, they get their ending salary for the rest of their lives - that's you & me paying for their house, their clothes, their food, their health care, the vacations, etc., for the rest of their lives - even tho' they never really did their job of truly representing the people while in office. And if we don't pay it, we lose our home, our life's savings, & get thrown in jail. Now does that sound like a fair deal to anyone? When I retire, no one is forced to support me. No one will lose their home, savings & get thrown in jail for not supporting me in retirement. Ron Paul is the ONLY politician I know of who REFUSES to participate in ripping off his fellow American. He's all about FREEDOM & understands that with FREEDOM, comes RESPONSIBILITY, including responsibility for yourself, your actions, your state of affairs, your future. Enough of people trying to secure their welfare off the backs of others! Now THAT'S a person who understands the concepts of FREEDOM this country was supposed to be based on!

Forget McCain - don't support him - expose his fraud.
Support Ron Paul for President 2008!

Miss Havisham · 1 year ago

Dear General Wesley Clark, Robert Greenwald, and Jon Soltz et al, Brave New Films

The video is very moving. My son came back from Navy service recently, and explained to me that he would get some of his education paid for and not what he was promised by the Pasadena High School recruiters. When he got to boot camp, the terms were explained more honestly. If you want a full scholarship (like the GI Bill of WWII) re-enlistment is required.

I have respect, of course, for John McCain. He puzzles me to know end. Why? Did he give a reason he doesn't back the GI Bill? Is he worried about staffing? Recruiting issue for 100 year war? That makes sense. Please be sure to be clear and honest when depicting John McCain. Do not enhance his appeal by leaving these questions unanswered.

I find the Bill that he is ignoring or is against (not sure which) very confusing and hard to understand. To me, it sounds more restrictive and could be much more generous-but that's not what I'm hearing from McCain (reason for nonsupport)and the dems are not being clear why they are supportive either.

I am just out here wondering, what does it all mean?

Sincerely,

Lisa Dereki · 1 year ago

I am a recent Army widow- my officer husband, John Dereki; was killed in Afghanistan September 2005. I am STILL AWAITING FOR HIS ARMY LIFE INSURANCE PAYMENT!!! 3 YEARS and I am owed military spousal survivor funds and children/dependent benefits- and I keep getting notices "your benefits are delayed due to BUDGET OVERSIGHT PROBLEMS!" "Please be advised we need your assistance in accepting a deferral and delay in your benefit payments. Sorry for your loss."
??!!!
For 3 1/2 years I have been waiting. I have filled out 100s of forms in triplicate- gave IN PERSON, then FAXED, then postmailed and now THIS?!! Forget college funds-- what about taking care of the widow and the family NOW?!
So already I sacrificed my husband and now I have to sacrifice an funds I am owed due to "budget problems with the federal government"?!!!

Lisa Dereki · 1 year ago

Also-- I have applied for Army base jobs just to HAVE MONEY to take care of my family and I am told "as an active duty widow; YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO APPLY FOR ANY CURRENT CIVILIAN POSITIONS ON BASE!" When I ask for reason or to document why I am not allowed I am told to contact the base supervisor-- I do and leave 100s of voicemail messages. I've contacted attorneys and told "we don't handle any military type cases; refer me to the base legal aid-- which is NEVER OPEN ANYMORE!"

My God this is just so hard to overcome right now.

R Cousineau · 1 year ago

Comparing the mercenaries who invaded a country that posed no threat to our survival- Iraq to kill the enemies of Israel, for money, to the Viet Nam veterans justifiably fighting for the survival of their country really pisses me off.
Most Americans still had some honor during the Viet Nam conflict and wouldn't even consider killing someone who didn't threaten our survival.

Going to Viet Nam to stop communists from taking over our country along with the rest of the world made sense to someone who lived through the Cuban missile crisis and also watched Kruchev on TV pounding his shoe on the table at the UN shouting we will bury you.

I remember seeing pictures of missiles in Cuba and everybody being scarred of dying in a nuclear holocaust. I remember getting under my table in grade school in preparation for a nuclear attack.

During the cold war we saw the insurgents on TV stirring things up on our Indian reservations as well as some in Canada.

The Domino theory was obviously true because we could see for ourselves as country after country all over the world fell to communism by being directly invaded or by being taken over on the inside with the help of the insurgents provided by the Soviet Union.

As late as twenty years ago I personally saw two Cuban insurgent in a small town called Puerto Angel Mexico.
Friends who lived there told me they were passing our the Cuban Spanish versions of the anarchist cook book teaching Mexicans what to do when enough of them finally invaded the US to take control.

It's unnatural to kill, maim or even to hurt someone you don't know or hate who poses no threat to you or your loved ones survival and no natural man will. Back them hardly any American would even considder doing so.

Us Viet Nam veterans had a lot of good reasons to hate the Communists for severely threatening our survival and that of our loved ones.
I didn't know anybody who went there to kill and maim people they didn't think were a part of the global threat to our survival, just for the money.

The entire invasion was like shooting fish in a barrel with the Iraqis so out gunned they didn't have a prayer of a chance. Our mercenaries mowed them down like lawn mowers with out hardly even getting a scratch.

We would have easily lost WW2 had we not cut off the fuel supply for the Nazi war machine with it's incredible tanks, jet fighters, U2 rockets and many other advanced weapons we only dreamed about having.
Before we betrayed them a lot of Arabs loved Americans and helped us cut off the Nazi Oil supply which more than anything else, won us the war.
They felt betrayed when we gave the Arab land called Palestine to mostly blond haired, blue eyed Europeans, hated by their own people in their own countries, who claimed to be Jews but didn't look like Jews. This betrayal justified their hatred for us and giving the Israelis powerful weapons that got used against their people justified it even more. Giving their immortal enemies the atomic bomb guaranteed it to the max.

As a Viet Nam veteran I didn't like McCain until I just read he isn't supporting the veterans who invaded the enemy of Israel- Iraq and killed 150,000 innocent women and children and over a million men in their own country. I hope John Mc Cain and our country screws these immoral mercenaries out of every cent they can.

Why isn't anybody calling these mercenaries baby killers like they did us guys who according to Gorbachev won the cold war for the west by loosing in Viet Nam without getting the whole world blown up in a nuclear holocaust?
Could it be because they're killing the enemies of Israel and Israelis control our media?

Robert Kunferman · 1 year ago

McCained is a vet, you dummies. He is also a vet that was injured enough so he cannot lift his hands above his shoulders, so where do you get off on this one.

Oh, I get it. the lazy, say nothing, do nothing Democrats have created another paper tiger argument so they can not commit to anything.

All veterans already get the GI bill, and all have their education benefits paid by the US government. No wonder you vote for the democratic party: You get confused so easily that facts, hard work, and self determination become alien to you.

Read the present benefit package before you come with more distractions, because the Dems will surely have our worthless medical care system become even more worthless. they are the experts at being able to fuck up a steel ball with a rubber hammer.

Leave McCained alone. He is in pain everyday, and that reminds him of the casualties of war. Your in pain because you sit on your ass all day.

Betsy Miller · 1 year ago

I'M not talking to any of this administration anymore because they're a gang of criminals who would rather steal FROM YOU and beat you than look at you IMPEACH BUSH AND CHENEY AND KEEP MCCAIN OUT OF THE PRESIDENCY!!! STOP THE WAR! SUPPORT OUR TROOPS AND BRING THEM HOME TO JOBS AND EDUCATION!

A.J. Liptak · 1 year ago

McStupid cannot be the next President. He promises 100 or more years of war. I hope those Vets who voted for McCain now see him for the tool he is.
God help us all.

Nathan Wheeler · 1 year ago

I got out of the Navy after 10 years and whoa! what a crock! I haven't even touched my GI Bill. I have a family to feed and besides the one person in charge of VA's at my local community college being completely useless (Seminole Community College in Orlando) and unprofessional, I know it is a waste of time until I can find a job. I think I finally know how Rambo felt in First Blood. McCain doesn't know how us enlistedmen feel because A.) he was a college boy officer and
B.) His Dad was a flag officer- I'm pretty sure he was accounted for after he came back.
Note: I am not at all saying anything about the Hell he must have gone through in the Hanoi Hilton. That was then, this is NOW.

bcstones · 1 year ago

I am a Viet Nam Combat Veteran (served there in '68)
I respect Senator McCain for his service, even tho as was reported below "...(he) received preferential treatment while a POW because he gave the enemy information they wanted..." Ya'll better understand - most of those who did not break are dead. McCain, better than most of us, know what it means to live more dead than alive...he knows he 'broke', that does not make him a "cowardly rat" but a human being...& I challenge anyone to go thru what this man experienced and see if ya'll 'break'. He served, he is a VETERAN - that is more than most of the population of this country can say (and certainly more than GW can say. all he has said is that he was 'discharged honorably').
I am glad he has returned...but I don't support him in any other way.
And the person who states that "...all veterans already get the GI bill & all have their education benifits paid by the US government..." doesn't have all the facts either. The GI bill so many of these Veterans use is one where they paid their $'s into...the GI bill I used and many of the Viet Nam era Veterans used was different - I was paid a certain amount of monies that had to cover tuition, fees, and books while never taking into consideration the rising cost of education. I also worked a couple of jobs just to provide food & shelter for my family. Todays Warrior can barely make ends meet on Active Duty...how in hell, does anyone expect them to live on less when they are out, much less get an education!
MaCain lost my respect as a politician when he refused to acknowledge the Sacred Navaho Grounds, Black Mesa, & opened it up to strip mining coal quite a few years back. He forgot what it meant to be imprisioned for a people (on the res) & threw his backing to the rich coal barons.
"SUPPORT OUR TROOPS - IMPEACH THE DESERTER!!!"

ed · 1 year ago

Robert Kuntferman-Leave it to an asshole like you to turn this into a -the democrats did it-political issue.When it is a non-party issue-it's about the men.Who the fuck r u that u say the GI bill is fine as it is?And u say the democrats fuck everything up?Look what Bush did to this country you lame ass blind douchebag.Clinton left 4 TRILLION dollars n asshole Bush spent evry nickel and doubled the debt.Boy some of you republicunts are blind assholes.PAY THE MEN.

humanist · 1 year ago

Lisa Dereki, I am very sorry to hear about your loss. I can't imagine what you've gone through. And I am also sorry (though by no means surprised) to hear that the military and government establishments have not come through for you. Your story is just one more sign that the Establishment only cares about soldiers in their capacity to kill and/or die for the sake of the Establishment.

R Cousineau, I do believe there were honorable men and women in Vietnam (despite the dehumanizing effects of serving in the military--any military). I believe there are honorable men and women in Afghanistan and Iraq (although I can also believe the army has gotten better at dehumanizing them since Vietnam). I'm sure there are honorable Israelis (and Palestinians) fighting each other for control of Palestine/Israel.

However, that conflict was in no way more just or moral than these ones. You want to talk about murdering children? What about bombing the hell out of Vietnamese villages? You think only communist Vietnamese died in those attacks? Think again.

Furthermore, the Vietnamese were fighting for their freedom against a dictatorship, first backed by the French, then by the US. Something like 90% of the Vietnamese were fighting the US, and the ones who were fighting for the United States were mostly poor Vietnamese who fought for the pay and the promise of a better life (rather like most US soldiers).

The father of my philosophy teacher was a soldier in Vietnam. According to the teacher, one night his father's group was attacked by a squad of Vietnamese. When the US soldiers captured the Vietnamese leader, he turned out to be their daytime barber. That's how much the Vietnamese people wanted us there.

The Government during the Cold War used "communists" in the same way it uses "terrorists" today: as an all-purpose scare-tactic catchphrase.

Maybe the domino effect hypothesis had some truth to it (though I doubt it) but even so, was it any better for the people caught up in the middle to be subjected to US imperalism as opposed to Soviet imperalism.

Yeah, the Soviet Union was messed up, and not at all a good communist model, but US isn't any better. What we were fighting for in the Cold War--and what we're still fighting for--is our ability to exploit as much of the world as possible for the benefit of the ultra-rich.

(I've heard it said that the Soviet ideology claimed the capitalist system would eventually collapse under the weight of its own contradictions. Thus, what Khrushchev meant was that capitalists would bury themselves. No such luck so far.)

I pity any person serving in any armed forces. They've been dehumanized into killers or potential killers and I pity them for that. The fact is that you cannot kill another human being in a good cause.

Robert Kunferman, McCain is a veteran, and I understand he was injured. However, that does not excuse him from turning his back on the people in the military, or espousing immoral causes and ideologies (some of them mentioned below).

In my opinion, Democrats are, at their best, mediocre. However, Republicans are demonstrably far worse. (I realize there have been Democrats and Republicans are better than that, although the biased system in this country has so far kept any of them from ever serving the White House.)

bcstones, I agree with you completely that McCain is only human and we shouldn't look down on him for doing what most of us would have done in a similar situation. (He probably lasted longer than I would have.) The fact that he served his country is also a point in his favor, although the way in which he chose to serve it is not as far as I'm concerned. (He'd've done better to serve his planet.)

To wrap this up: the people serving in the military below officer rank are one of the most exploited groups in the US. We need to acknowledge that and not blame them for being victims of an oppressive, anti-American, anti-human System in which we all live.

jovial · 1 year ago

It seems like most commenters are either disingenuous or just ignorant. The title of this video itself is misleading and no one man has as much power to produce or obstruct as most of the comments suggest. Most of you need to go back to 8th grade civics class and learn how the government works. I'm sorry for the red tape and unmet expectations your military service has involved. But to hogtie McCain with all of these gripes is just juvenile. And the three guys in the video just come across as whiners. As for the recent military widow, I'd take out an add in the local newspaper and shame everyone you've talked to (listing them by name) until they gave you the money you're owed. I'd then call the local TV station, Greta VanSustern or whoever you need to to light up the place. I'm so sorry for your loss and your continued struggle.

David Rochlin · 1 year ago

The WWII GI Bill was a great benefit for soldiers who really, otherwise, did not receive a lot of benefits, pay or much of anything, otherwise.
Frankly, today, 2008, soldiers receive a lot of other benefits, real pay. Maybe it isn't enough, but all of them volunteered, and accepted a package of benefits that already does involve considerable educational benefits. Arguably, an alternative package could be created, with more emphasis on education for those who need it, but I think this legislation is creating a sort of double dipping, where soldier got cash incentives, sometimes tens of thousands to sign up, and this probably should be offered instead of cash, as an enlistment option, not in addition to it. Anything like this should be an incentive for re-ups and new enlistments, not just to pay people more who have already signed.

Joe · 1 year ago

He is a republican, he wants to reduce spending. His constituents want him to reduce spending in programs that support the majority of the population, especially low income earners who cannot afford college. Securing are borders by increasing military spending, that’s what he supports. The oil companies are not the only people involved, private military corporation profit billions of tax money, he supports bush administration. When hummers explode by road side bombs, the government buys another hummer, from a private corporation. They get there pocket money filled, while soldiers die overseas.

Ryan P · 1 year ago

When I enlisted in the military I opted for less of a cash bonus in order to receive the Army College Fund. It is an additional amount of money per month to be used to for college on top of the GI Bill. Pretty much anyone who enlists has the option to choose this, just most people go for the straight cash.

helen j fristrom · 1 year ago

It is appalling to me that our government would promise financial support to these young people and then renig on their promise....what happened to this country is the greed....excessive personal greed on the part of Republicans has destroyed our society. And frankly, the Congress is a huge disappointment.......do these people forget that we are their employers???
McCain is on an ego trip....he is no more qualified to be President than any other Senator....and in the words of Dick Cheney.."soooo ?"

Charlie · 1 year ago

I have to say that being an active duty military member, the idea of 100% tuition assistance, room and board really does appeal to me. I however used my tuition assistance (100%) and received my Bachelors degree in Business Management 2 years ago. But even with the 100% tuition assistance, and the G.I. Bill that I signed up for when I first enlisted, I still owed over $7K in student loans because it was just not enough to cover the needs of a college education. I went to school full time while still working a fulltime military job.

So how can we say that the current G.I. Bill, even with 100% tuition assistance, is adequate for our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines to come back from conflict after serving their county and be able to better themselves through obtaining a college education. They won't be able to with the current state of things and that's why I truly support this initiative.

This is not for me, this is not for others like me, it's for our brothers and sisters taking up arms overseas for the duty that has been bestowed upon them.

I hope everyone gets behind this movement.

ken lusk · 1 year ago

McCain's education was paid for by the American taxpayers at Annapolis. Now it's screw you Vets, I got mine. His is attributed to the political ties of his Admiral relatives, not merit. Furthermore McCain has a 20%, out of a possible 100%, favorable rating to fund the Veterans Administration. Hillary, for example has an 80% favorable. This information is determined by his voting record in Congress.

Joe Smith · 1 year ago

I'll pay that one guy $500 to get those teeth fixed.

GuyManDude · 1 year ago

Most of the stuff on the proposed GI Bill looks good. You have to wonder what other silly agenda the Democrats are going to piggy back onto this bill though. You know they will...

Cynthia Eggert · 1 year ago

I used to wear one of McCain's POW bracelets as a kid. While I honor his sacrifice, you can make the same argument about him that so many other make about today's vets. McCain came from a naval family; he chose to serve in Vietnam, though no doubt he would have been drafted. It would have been tricky for his naval officer father to get him out of service, unlike Baby Bush and Cheney. The reason people feel frustrated by McCain stems from his wanting to use the soldiers to prop his campaign, while not providing leadership in helping them secure much needed benefits.

I don't disagree about the volunteer services, but as the aunt of a young man serving in the Navy and the former English professor to others in the services, I have to point out none of these volunteers ever expected to be dragged into an endless war based on lies. This war is a shameful pipeline to war profiteering by Bush, Cheney & Co. As a former Art History professor and lifelong humanitarian, I feel horrified by the destruction of lives and ancient civilization just to pad the pockets of these monsters, who usurped the White House to begin with. What happens when another country deems them dictators and attempts to rescue us? They would be justified, according to this administration's logic.

I am just as disgusted by the spineless Democrats who allowed the administration to get away with these crimes. Many voters are ready to say a plague on both your houses. I'm seriously considering immigration, as are many other Americans.

It strikes me as rather amusing that so many of you rave about education, when your own clearly seems woefully inadequate. Rather than flaming each other on websites, perhaps you could apply that same energy to brushing up on your grammar and spelling. Sorry to be blunt, but all these errors are like chalk on a blackboard for a dedicated grammarian. And for those who question whether the government could afford more help for the military, perhaps they could if they weren't wasting so much money on Haliburton, Blackwater and other fatcat contractors who received no-bid contracts that should be illegal. The government also seems to find billions to bail out the greedy, stupid banking system that handed out sub-prime loans as if they were candy. And where is the government when it comes to protecting us against the robber barons of big oil? Ask your good buddy McCain why he has so many lobbyists on his staff. And while you're at it, ask Clinton and Obama the same tough questions. When will Americans learn they must rise up against corporate greed, which is what landed us in this mess in the first place?

Gripp · 1 year ago

Cynthia.... the sooo standard reponse to a loosing arguement on the net is to attack people spelling and grammer

here's something you need to realize: people see right through it.
no one stops to take the time to read back through what they just wrote to amke sure that everyone who reads it will be "happy"
who cares? i write it down as rapidly as i can and put no more thought into it, becuase i dont the time for such stupidity.

and how are the democrates "allowing" the replucinbs to get away with these crimes? they've been fighting the good fight the entire time, but they are out numbered and unfortunately we still have a number of people who refuse to see the truth of the matter.

democrat Vs rep, left Vs right this isn't a sport, you dont choose sides for the sake of choosing sides. you need to look at whats right and what's really going on rather than just bash the "other team"

Ryan P · 1 year ago

Well I get out of the military in 2010, and will be starting college in the Spring 2011 semester. We'll see if the army screws me again. Even though I've forgone a bigger upfront cash bonus for the ACF (Army College Fund), I would not be surprised if the Army manages to cheat me out of the money.

However at the same time, I would like to give the system a chance for myself.

humanist · 1 year ago

Cynthia, hopefully sooner rather than later. And while I join you in lamenting the state of grammar and spelling on the internet, I think it's something we're just going to have to accept.

Gripp, yes, there is an important difference between Republicans and Democrats. However, it's nowhere near as big as they, Big Business, or Big Media would like us to believe. They're both pretty much in favor of our system of elected dictators and capitalist struggle for the poor but socialist financial cooperation for the rich. And they both on the whole favor US imperialism to one degree or the other. So yeah, Democrats vs. Republicans is important for the short run. In the long run, both they and their Domination System have got to go.

johnrosina · 1 year ago

Hopeless. I agree, You are HOPELESS! You add nothing of value to this discussion.

Cynthia, whether we agree or not, comments like that come from trite and silly people.

As a Vietnam Veteran, I never felt I was owed anything. Of course, if you are a casualty or physically handicapped by war, our government needs to be accountable for their care.

It amuses me how people can become so huffy over veterans benefits, however, by citing "lazy, undeserving, bleeding heart, earn your keep" types of arguments. You are often the same free market folks who actually remain silent when CEO's make multi-millions of dollars in salary anually. I suppose you think they are worth that much and earn it. Think again. Income and wealth redistribution needs to happen so our country can prosper as a whole. And if you believe these Hedge Fund and Predatory Investment Banker types have our economic well being at heart, you are delusional.
The 30 Billion loan guarantees by The FED (a privately held institution, incidentally) to assist JPMorgan in their buyout of Bear Stearns will be paid by we taxpayers and, yes, veterans. And the CEO of Bear Stearns. who is incompetent beyond all measure, is kept on a chairman of the board of directors. Ludicrous! My generation of business leaders are the greediest, most incompetent schmucks ever! Ever!
Best regards to all of our children. And kudos to GW Bushs' unfunded "No Child left anything".

Boilermaker · 1 year ago

That's Purdue University in the the old video explaining the GI Bill of Rights. You can see the bell tower and then the union. Boiler Up!

Skip · 1 year ago

I am a veteran who just recently got out of the Navy after serving for 5 years. Looking at this video, I'm sure that these veterans worked hard as I did and want to go to college like I am now. What puzzles me is who told them that they would get a free ride in college. I was never misguided like these veterans supposably were. I work a full time job and take at least 3 classes per semester. My GI bill monthly payment is approx. $830.00 per month, with the possibility of over $1000 per month during shortened semesters. This is very good amount of money and I have been able to pay for each semester since I have been going to college without having financial issues. I am also going to a large university with tuition fees that are fairly high (approx $300 per credit, not including books and fees.) Looks to me as if this video is agenda driven and does not accurately describe the GI Bill and it's benefits to veterans. If they are going to change it, great, but don't talk down about it when it really is helping veterans like myself and several of my classmates. Perhaps someone with similar experience would like to comment?

Ken.T. · 1 year ago

I'm a Veteran of the Vietnam War, and I am discussed with some of the language that has been used on this sight. I didn't fight for the right of "Drongos and Dill's" to put bad language onto public sights like this. I do believe that the reason that some of you have trouble being listened to or taken seriously is the fact that you have been deprived of an upbringing in common courtesy. So stop your complaining, you all have the best Government that money can buy, and the best that you deserve. Why do you think you are stuck with the "Lackeys" of big business and administration is weak-kneed? Because you morons can't see past your own predigests and your own foul language, habits, and attitudes that bring you down. Until you decide to use your God Given Right to be civil and courteous, you will remain as you are. The Under Dog's deprived of any real respect that you all crave. I was asked to look at this sight and get my Brother Veterans to consider supporting it. Why would I do that when it is only read and supported by the Morons of the worst type.
You will have the right to condemn me and state you're feelings to wards me and my comments. I will not object, because I will not be back to read your filth.
God Bless America, because she dam well needs it with the current generation coming through.

jackie · 1 year ago

First off--Truths be Known--right on! Secondly, I usually support Bravenew endeavors, but Whoa! on this one! War is first of all an obscenity. The tactics the military uses to get kids to sign on is disgraceful--the envy of any used car salesman (no offense). Thirdly, LISTEN to these young men in this video. They are saying that this GI Bill will make the military MORE attractive, thereby enlisting more and more young people, and continuing the bloodshed in Iraq, for say, 100 years? People who play the Dem vs. Repugs game, seriously, Where were the Dems when the Repugs were formulating and setting their evil plans in motion? How in the name of sense and sensibilty did Blackwater get their contract renewed even after all the publicity? Quietly getting their checks,and complacently working on I don't know what programs--maybe the farm bill? there's a joke! My senator does not believe that impeaching Dick cheney is a priority--then what is? My congresswoman does not believe that protecting young women around the world from military rapists (including our brave soldiers--c'mon, you know they don't make 'em like they used to)is something we should be involved in. She is busy supporting rice growers in southern Missouri. Anyway, I agree with Truths be Known--why get Mccain on board? It will just give him more ammo in his rhetoric. The man is only slightly less an idiot than Bush, but people are actually telling me they will vote for him, if Clinton gets the Dem nomination, because they see him as the lesser of two evils! Grammar and syntax errors be damned! If John McCain is elected President of the United States, I will emigrate to someplace far away! Lastly, EVERYONE should be able to get an education, as well as health care in this greatest of nations, damn it! It not just the GIs that are being used and discarded. To hell with politics. Why not fight for ALL of us to get what the lesser industrialized nations' citizens provide for one another, for crying out loud?

joy · 1 year ago

Ken T -- Your inability to spell and punctuate correctly speaks volumes for the quality of the education and indoctrination you received.

Steve -- People join the military because they are led to believe that it is a responsible way to provide for themselves and family. Aside from governments and corporations, how are most people able to take care of themselves, and what recourse do they have when those institutions lie to them?

leoburg · 1 year ago

I doubt the bill will go for enough for me. We can not do enough for any one who has been put in harms way. But then I still dream of the day when the military is turned into a real Peace Corp. Which will help feed people before they turn into our enemies.

patralink · 1 year ago

John McCain is 1st and foremost a republican. A republican looks out for corporate profits-screw the individual. This man is nothing but a war worshiper. If you like the direction that this country has gone, on the verge of a depression then vote for him. When you vote for him realize that you are voting for, an endless occupation of Iraq, other wars that have yet to be announced (although they are already planned), continued theft of our tax money for the military, a ruination of our infrastructure, ruination of public schools, corporate welfare, no healthcare for hundreds of thousands of Americans. He's also an old dude who does not have a grasp of a modern world. He also cannot seem to remember the difference between Iraq and Iran for that matter. John McCain would be another disaster for America, following on 8 years of the bush/cheney disaster.

Berton Siegel · 1 year ago

I am a veteran of the Korean War, drafted and served 1954-1956. I went on to again serve our country as a civilain doctor setting the first 5th
Army Hdqs eye clinic pre examining enlistees for The Vietnam war, (1965-'66) I with aid would see 1000 pre enlistees to save our govt. thousand of
dollars in medical fees. At that time many individuals were enlisted, sent to "boot camp" with various unacceptable eye conditions and had to be sent back.

I definately feel after 4000+ lives have been lost
in this Iran debacle, a post army complete educational (GI) is the least our country can do!

Kat · 1 year ago

Charlie(in red 5 days ago)
I don't believe you took out $7,000 in education loans because you had to or you must have been living well beyond your means if you were getting you GI Bill and a military salary. I do believe they need a better education comp but they will have to do something because most parents aren't pushing their children into the military even if they are poor, they would rather have poor alive children then dead ones. They already have big enlistment bonus for those willing to go directly to war after their training.

Carol Crumpler · 1 year ago

I feel so much for all these Vet's coming home now. let me tell you the Vet. adiministration did not tell the soldiers of WW 2 what they were allowed, as they do not today. My father was approved aug. 07 for Pension and aide and attendance, but he never received his benefits. My father died March 8, 2008, he would have been 90 years old March 30, 2008 and he never received any benefits, and never asked for anything from his goverment, because he didn't know he was due anything. The Veteran's Administration is the worse horror show I have ever seen. This system is flawed, disrespectful of our men and woman that have served their country with great honor.
I say SHAME ON YOU - to our system. I feel our system is complacent with the needs of our veterans, and we have become a country of the disregarded. It is too late for my precious father, but it is not too late to fight for the rights of our new veterans. PLEASE PRAY SOMEONE WILL SEE THE HORROR AND DISRESPECT FOR THESE WONDERFUL MEN AND WOMAN. I PRAY FOR YOU EACH AND EVERY DAY. Carol Folsom Crumpler ( a tax paying citizen that pays taxes without representation. Oh, by the way I am a republican.

M Griffin · 1 year ago

I am a Marine and served in an infantry unit from Sept 98 -03. Last spring I graduated from school and I used the GI Bill. What stood out to me most about your video was that the vets stating what they wanted was money to cover things beyond school like meals and electricity. I received $1150 a month ($13800 a year) while in school, and to me that is a huge help. Add in $2000 a semester for the Pell grant, which everyone coming out of the military and going to school should apply for right away. Tuition at William and Mary, a prestigious school in VA is $9164 a year. In doing the math you can see that one could well afford school. What i believe the kicker is for the vets in the video is that they don't want to have to work as well. They are correct that if they don't get a job they most likely wont have money to buy food and electricity. The vets also make statements like I was "under the impression" and I would "pretty much" get my school paid for. I feel for them because the recruiters most likely mislead them but they had also had a responsibility to read the contract and find out what the decision they made was all about. Where has our accountability gone? In actuality they are getting everything they signed up for. And now they have to get a job and go to school. In actuality they are getting everything they signed up for. They have to watch spending and can't do what they used to and it's frustrating I know. But it's an education not live for free and go to school for fun time. More money is always nice, and I am for more but don't let people tell you that they can not afford to go to school because the GI bill isn't enough. You can't live on it alone and go to school but it certainly pays for school. Maybe not private schools or where you are out of state, I will admit to that.
And Mr.Greenwald I have to say I read your blurb about Fox news and I find it funny because from your videos and blog I would say you are just as biased and don't hold the objectiveness that you tout journalist should have with as high regard you would like others to believe. If people like what you say because they like your spin on it then your not a journalist, you're an entertainer. If people like you because you get to the bottom and root out truth, with personal opinions aside, then you are a journalist. Unfortunately, those people seem to be almost extinct.

Brian · 1 year ago

I am a Marine vet who is currently going to college on the GI Bill here in CA and it barely covers my tutition and books and this is only due to the fact that I live at home. I also have a part-time job that pays $11/hr. The fact is, not every can live at home with their parents. Some people have bad families, or are married, or need to live on campus or an apartment for various reasons (as opposed to just wanting to). The GI Bill comes no where close to making that possible here in CA. I understand that the GI Bill should have reasonable limits, but it is time to increase the amount no matter what. The numbers being floated about seem reasonable to me. I believe one number was something like $1,700/month for full-time students. While I don't think its reasonable for the government to pay for higher priced private and public schools, but I think that the spirit of the GI Bill was meant to allow vets to go school without having to work in order to cover their tuition and college related expenses.

Jim · 1 year ago

I am a Viet Nam "Era" vet. Served from 73-77. When I got out I used my GI Bill for college. Even back in 77 the amount wasn't enough. I went to school full time while holding 2-3 part time jobs at the same time. I suppose at that time if I would have gone to a 2 year community college it wouldn't have been such a financial struggle but then I wouldn't have a 4 year degree. Maybe we could stop paying out SSI and RSDI to illegal immigrants as well as medicaid and food stamps. Save a Billion here and a Billion there. The priority should be our citizens and citizen Soldier,Sailors and Airmen. Stop trying to be so politically correct and get back to the basics. Support our military men and women, active duty, retired, prior service and reserve. Everyday is Veterans day for survivors!

jl0311 · 1 year ago

I think this is out of hand. If you are a veteran stop crying to the public. It is as much of an embarrasment as the movie "Jarhead". Grow a pair. If you enlisted for college money then your not that bright to begin with. Things like studying, grants/loans/scholarships, determination, initiative are alot smarter than risking your life for money. If you enlisted young and now coming out is your first taste of the real world, well well youre in for a surprise. Dont piss and moan like the world owes you something, you probably only did it for college money anyway. What you have in life is a total summation of your ambition, and guess how much crying on the internet pays. If you dont have what you want then you either dont want it bad enough to go get it or flat out dont deserve it.

Semper

Jim Sower · 1 year ago

I am a Marine veteran of two tours in Vietnam and got little enough out of the GI educational benefits then. The deplorable way we are teating our current veterans is the utterly predictable result of a very few carrying the very many while the many are not asked to so much as turn over their hand for this "defining struggle of the 21st century". Now why this administration chose to fight this "...devining struggle ..." on the cheap - too few troops with too little equipment and support - is unclear, but that is another discussion. These young men and women who are carrying ALL of the burdens deserve, at the very least, a benefit package in every way equivalent to that offered after WWII. They are unlikely to get it from such a narcissistic citizenry as the US public. Sad.

Suppose we were to bring back the draft? With NO deferments. NONE. AT ALL. If everyone shared the burden as was more nearly the case in WWII, veterans would be treated with a little more respect. A collateral benefit might be a little more thought before we took to invading folks with such recless abandon. If the Bush twins were in harm's way, or some senators' sons were walking point, things would be a LOT different. But the draft is anathema to all of the high priced help for exactly that reason - they would have to act responsibly or their OWN kids would pay the price.

Hostage Mike

Robert Kunferman · 1 year ago

Actually, McCained claims that he will issue a medical card to all Veterans to have their choice of medical care paid for wherever they use it. That alone is by far much more to Veterans than anybody could possibly do, and if you cannot do the math of how much this is worth to Veterans, then you need the schooling, but will unlikely bring much to the party after you get your near useless degree.

The Democrats have only said nothing at all, and lied about the rest, so maybe you are just not capable of finding sit-down do nothing work(that the government is full of, and especially the military). Get a construction job for awhile, see what it is like to actually do productive work, realize how corrupt our democratic party designed insurance industry is to real working people. Then, and only then, will your realize who the thieves are, who keeps the thieves there, and how important the medical card would be to you.

Watching Mutual of Obama try to run a country would be embarrassing and full of never ending conversations about his personal life and his corrupt dealings in Chicago. That is, unless he just sells the American people out, like Clinton did. Then they will leave him alone until the second term, then claim his lame duck status is just part of the election year BS.

Same shit just different assholes. The democrats have failed to find candidates who are without crimes, scandal, murders, and gangster backing, so vote outside of the two-party system, so they at least have to prove that they don't even count the votes. Then maybe we can have trials, and hang them for treason. If found guilty by a jury of dumb factory workers.

Carl Robinson · 1 year ago

It is an easy task to send the military into battle, what seems to be lacking is equipping them, caring for them, and supporting them after the battle. Lets evaluate the problem.

I want to state outright, this is not my thinking, it is their thinking . . .

"The soldier, sailor, marine, or airman is expendable. When you sign up with any of the services, the governments position at that time is, 'We own you.'" You are then a piece of property, and a disposable one at that.

So lets look at the equipping them part . . .

Lets just take the whole Humvee armor situation. Any vehicle the military has should be providing the personnel operating them the best protection from high velocity rounds. Whether in an urban street environment or the open arid desert where there isn't much in the way of shelter, these vehicles should be something of a safe haven and shelter for the troops in battle. For the Secretary of Defense to state, "We go into battle however we are supplied at the time . . .", well, that's why I got out after 9 and a half years. I can think for myself and I sure am not going to rely on the US Government to do the right thing for people they feel are expendable.

As far as caring for the service members after they've been injured we only have to look at the situation at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington with the deplorable conditions in it's med hold facilities. But to be fair, prior to the war, the facility had been tagged for base closing. And after the Agent Orange fiasco from Viet Nam or the Gulf War Syndrome from the First Gulf War, and treating PTSD from all three of the conflicts, I would say the treatment, or rather denial of treatment and responsibility has spoken for itself.

Then after the Veteran gets out of the service, the benefits they were promised when they joined, simply have not kept up with inflation, especially in the Education area. College's and Universities all across this country have increased tuition, and the GI Bill has not increased to keep pace with these rising costs. The after care the service members are entitled to, not only physically, but also mentally is their, but it may take time to first get it approved. That's something that has to be seriously looked at. You have to prove it is service connected and THE VA has to either approve or disapprove, and its based on what you are able to get to prove your case.

I can bet you this, Members of Congress and the Administration don't have to worry about their health care, or retirement for their future.

It is not America's best and brightest that are leading America . . . and the worst is, we vote them in based on their promises, and in most cases, their lies.

If Senator McCain can't support the veterans he's willing to send off to war, then why should they support him . . .

Be involved, be educated in your decisions because whether they are decisions in your personal life or in decisions about who governs us.

It is my own personal opinion, but, my belief is, The Republican Party only cares about Corporations and the Rich who can give money to their party. I think Abraham Linclon, who was a Republican would be very unimpressed with the direction the party h as taken. It is also my belief that the current President of the United States is unfit for the office and should be impeached. He has lied to the American People and the world, he has not supported or defended the Constitution of the United States as he swore to do against enemies both foreign and domestic, and he and some of the people in his administration are war criminals and should be tried as such.

Daniel Powers · 1 year ago

Who the f*** are you Robert Kunferman??? At least list your military credentials or anything before making a statement so obscene? If you are lost in some kind of fantasy land I invite you to come to along & talk to some of these veterans who are struggling through school now, struggling to put food on our family (oh wait oops that's what some DUMBASS told us to do), & waking up from nightmares regarding a WAR. Do yourself a favor & study what you preach before pumping out some BULLSHIT! It isn't the Democrats or Republicans losing this battle it's the f'n piss poor leadership we have to follow. Your statements are baseless & make we want to throw up Chickenhawk.

SSGT Daniel J. Powers

mark wichterman · 1 year ago

...and why won't the MSM ask this question.
Just like the corp media gushed over the Shrub and would not ask him the tough questions, here we go again. Can you spell President McCain? Don't worry, your local newspaper and network and cable news outlets will help you with this.

Mary Angell · 1 year ago

It is rediculous that our military,police, firefighters, and the like... make so little putting their lives on the line for us while movie stars, athletes and politicians make absurd amounts of money! Talk about thankless and out of line! The whole wages thing in this country needs to be revamped! The people who work the hardest and do the most needed and dangerous jobs, make "near the bottom-of-the- barrel" in wages and hardly have a pot to pee in. My husband has a job that he has worked for 36 continuous years, which has destroyed his body, while the major company he works for barely gives him a raise each year, keeps cutting his benefits and retirement. With the way investments and social security have gone for the baby-boomer generation and the future generations....if things aren't revamped...we will not be able to EVER retire and will work until we drop over dead on the job! (Middle and lower classes are now the slaves of this country!) Wake up America! Everyone needs to hound their Congressman, Senators and the President about his situation! Don't just sit back for an easy ride with your head in the sand! Do something before you don't have anything left to do anything for!

scott · 1 year ago

Isn't it interesting how right wingers love to compare the Iraq quagmire/oil theft to WW2 when it is politically expedient to do so?Given their exploitation of patriotism,its also fascinating that these facts never come up:
"The law gave the following benefits to U.S. soldiers coming home from World War II:

education and training opportunities
loan guarantees for a home, farm, or business
job-finding assistance
unemployment pay of $20 per week for up to 52 weeks if the veteran couldn't find a job
priority for building materials for Veterans Administration Hospitals.

For most, the educational opportunities were the most important part of the law. WWII veterans were entitled to one year of full-time training plus time equal to their military service, up to 48 months. The Veterans Administration paid the university, trade school, or employer up to $500 per year for tuition, books, fees and other training costs. Veterans also received a small living allowance while they were in school."

Personally I am repulsed by the notion that Vets returning from this disgraceful slaughter in the Mid East would be somehow getting a "free ride" if their schooling and medical needs were addressed.Patriotism is much more than lapel pins,and tuning into Rush Limbaugh every day to find new ways to hate Liberals.Its about supporting the GD Troops!

Robert Kunferman · 1 year ago

Reply to Daniel Powers:

Turn off the TV Dan. Your not a hero. So spare me the BS. I got out of the military with no benefits, had to wait six months to get into a one bedroom apartment for six hundred dollars a month rent outside of Boston. That, and work minimum forty hours per week, take night classes, and take classes at my training center.

I paid for it, and I am still working on my degree because of it.

We don't even need the clowns coming out of University now, and I have studied this long enough to realize most of you cannot do an honest days work on a construction sight for two very big reasons:
1.) You spineless dolts have spent too much time in the military not doing an honest days work, but instead sucking your officers dicks and killing time. If you don't do that you won't get promoted.
2.) You all realize that doing an honest days work in this country doesn't pay, and unlike civilized countries, we import labor so the government can again smear our faces in dog crap while you back them up. Get a job. I mean one where you havre to produce, and you will not want to see the government dullards thumbing themselves in their offices doing nothing useful.

Here is our main problem: We are printing money like crazy, because we are being told that we need a huge military standing around sucking each other's dicks doing nearly nothing. That applies to the near useless police and near useless firemen. That is how third world countries ruin their societies, so the British and Europeans can invest in our cheap labor, and hire our politicians to take your rights, so they can steal from us without any level of criminal prosecution.

Better yet, you tell me the battles you fought in, and if you are anything but infantry don't even bother to act like a soldier, because cooks, clerks, and support personel are not soldiers in my mind.

There were only a handful of days that any battles were fought in Iraq, and likely you were nowhere near any of it.

70% of the casualties in Iraq are women and children. 50% or more of our soldiers killed over there were killed by Americans, because you are so freaken stupid and jumpy that you should not even be allowed in the military. So play hero with the TV clowns and you silly families that thought Sadam was a threat to us.

As far as I am concerned, McCained has committed to giving you healthcare cards to use with no questions asked. That is worth a ton in benefits, it keeps the British run insurance companies out of the middleman routine, and it allows you to have far more benefits than the average US citizens. All that for doing next to nothing with your thumb up your ass in Iraq.

Now, hang around that bunch of dumbasses at the VFW until you all convince each other that General Franks was a traitor instead of Bush and the other clown coward civilians in his camp, including that pile of trash Colin Powell. Franks and other highly dedicated military men told the thieves that they would not break the law, violate the troops, or any other foolishness, and you clowns still today treat him like he did not sacrifice a lot in telling the foreign owned Bush family to get right with the world.

The Falujah retribution against civilians mostly, and the few weeks it took to bomb all of the buildings into rubble are all that has happened there for battles. The rest is just a bunch of fuck-ups that don't want to work for a living hanging around trying to pass themselves off as heroes. A more lazy bunch of useless people cannot be found outside of the military, except in the democratic party run federal and state government jobs. There-in lies your problem. The Democratic party has no intention of helping you with anything. They plan on doing what they have always done(you are too dumb to know this yet). They are going to create fake, designed to fail, programs that make their non-military and useless, spineless children a living off of your feeble complaints of no money, and hightmares.

If you have nightmares from riding around in a totally waste of money vehicle with tons of wasteful electronics in them, you should have shot your officers. All of this because your public was too stupid to realize that the Dems and the repubes wanted this war so they could steal our rights, money, land, and replace us with Mexican labor, so they can steal from them.

If you are having nightmares, then sleep it off. The degree that you think will be your answer to a better life was taken up by a democrat's kid, and he has the connections to not even have to show up for the job. The whole thing was a fiasco designed to steal our rights, so there are no heroes in this one.

If you want somebody to pay for your noghtmares then you will need to get the right tools to get to the people who harmed you. Many walk right down the streets of Washington everyday laughing at people like you for being so dumb as to sign up for the military, where officers make four times as much as enlisted swine, and have medical, school and other benefits. You will notice at the VFW that no officers are there, ever, so ask them to share their pay or put a bullet in one of their heads the first chance you get. No loss. They are just dumbassed yesmen who have you make them look good.

My military credentials are dwarfed by my ability to realize that you people can't get away from the media long enough to think for yourself. Neither can the idiots that are being turned out by my University, so this problem will re-occur for your children, if you do not start talking seriously about what you need to do to prevent it.

Two simple things: Make laws that do not allow us to colonialize another country for the British government and blue-bloods. And, make laws that hold all government officials criminally accountable for their actions. A third would be to ship all of the sell-out Irishmen, and all of the sell-out blacks in our government back to their respective countries and send the Mexicans packing, and we will all get by just fine among the intelligent people left in our society.

Anybody calling this a war is lieing from the get-go. We are doing dirty work for the Britis, Israel, and rich families like the Bushes. If it continues this way, you will have to burn all of it to the ground, like we did in the sixties, so the British can pay to rebuild it.

Your puppets for the rich, and too dumb to know it.

And no, NO we do not need to print anymore money to pay for soldiers, policemen, firefighters or any other near useless people. We cannot afford it, and we had no business being there in the first place, so take it out on the dems and pubes, and vote both parties out. They don't even count your votes anyway. Nor do they prosecute the thieves in government that steal from you, nor the ones who miscount your vote or disqualify you when you try to vote....etc. etc. etc.

You can spend a lifetime in college, and you likely cannot see past the Television. That is how dumb most people leave university, so don't expect much, and quit snivelling. Wait until you see the liars at the University level. These people are nearly incapable of telling the truth about anything. They only see money, and are sorry citizens for it. This is even in the sciences that are now being used to hide the fact that our government is willfully harmiong us with vacines, drugs, aerosol spraying in large cities, and other methods employed by the NSA to harm or kill U.S. citizens. The Universities are taking their money and looking the other way. They have no choice. They need a new car and three televisions just as much as the next slug with a doctorate degree.

scott · 1 year ago

BTW Robert Kuntferman?Sorry!I meant "Kunferman",I'm curious.Which rock did you crawl out from under?Could you possibly crawl back?Thanks a whole bunch.

Robert Kunferman · 1 year ago

I am not surrounding myself with narrow minded idiots at the university(democrats) that repeat exactly what we all (each other) want to here. Nor am I doing the same with a bunch of uneducated idiots at the VFW. If you chose to live and converse with people who are too lazy to read history(like minds to you), then blame yourself. The Vietnam vets at the VFW didn't do much either, but far more risk than you clowns have.

This was not and is not a war. Do some reading of history about real wars, then you will understand why you were used to make a bunch of non-fighting people money. You should at some point come to grips with this, because otherwise you will be playing along with a media too controlled by foreignors to even want to tell us the truth. Turn off the tube, and practice cooking and sharpening pencils in an air-conditioned garage someplace. Then you will be ready for your next deployment, punk.

I am easy to find, so don't bother with your questions. I have enough enemies to keep me busy for a lifetime, so one more means one less in the future. I plan on getting even with all of the people who fucked me, why are you whining about it? Because you are incapable of even realizing who fucked you. My religion allows me to do this, yours is a problem for you, that you want to make a problem for us.

There must be a lazy, corrupt, FBI ghost-chaser job you can fit into very easily. The best part is that you never have to work, and you not doing anything all day will be kept a secret.

This country is under a foreign run coup. Your either with us or agin us, but your not an American if you side with this coup. Don't breed.

Robert Kunferman · 1 year ago

Scott. You didn't do anything over there, and neither did most of the other self-proclaimed soldiers. The slimey dullards at University here, don't even know where Iraq is, don't care, and don't talk about it unless they are forced to. In some ways they are correct. If you had not gone there and not been an Army clerk or a cook, then maybe we would not be there wasteing our money on making Bush, Clinton, and tons of their foreign friends rich by you and other dummies being there.

At least that is how it appears that the college kids think. The majority of them were even dummer than you. They actually beleived trash like Colin and Bush when they lied about WMD's. At that time I was very unpopular with both sides, and the only, I am serious now, the only person I could find that thought that Bush, Cheney, Powell, Wolfawicz, rumsfeld, and the other dumb cunt condi were all lieing. I was the only person I could find, and I talk to lots more than you, with lots more diversity of thought than you surround your chump self with. The only person who would think and say that there were obviusly no weapons of mass destruction, and I even gave them all of the logical reasons why this was obvious.

If you were too dumb to listen to smart people, even if you could have found one, then you got off easy by not being killed, as your dumb ass should have been. Start paying attention and realize that this was a two-party war, not just the repubes.

Also, decide what needs to be done to people who are not counting our votes, stealing our rights, stealing our property, useing soldiers and policemen to scare us into giving it to them, and trying to harm us.

The retired factory workers at the VFW, from the Vietnam era, are too stupid to admit they were used, and their jobs are now being done by Mexicans. Either here or in Mexico, so you may just want to keep playing along with the Democrats at your University, so that you too can have a do nothing, sit down job in unkle swine's camp. The next time a war comes around(or British theiving expedition) you can sit at your lazy government job and not think. This way I can hear another future Scott whine that he did so much for our country and he can't siphor why he did, but he wants others to give him money? Boy, you are a democrat, but you just better be one at a university, now that your officer's dick isn't right there for you to suck into action.

Turn off the tube, and think for once. We don't need anymore students here at my school proving that they have a firm grasp of the obvious by sucking up to the democrats that run our universities(into the ground actually).

Then again, like most Irishmen, you won't make it on your scientific contributions, so maybe you have to put out such drivel just to survive. I have a University full of similar useless human beings, doing near nothing all day. You will be taken care of just fine, once they realize you are a traiter, and need to suck up to them to survive. You were well trained for it. Nothing new here, except that there may be no room for you, now that we printed tons of money to pay your near useless ass in Iraq, to do nearly nothing useful. The truth often hurts liars. I benefit nothing in lieing to you. Not one fucking benefit to me to lie to your useless ass. You already spent your overpriced allowance, now we seriously have a problem printing a whole lot more money like a third world country. Sure, why not? Just run it into the ground further, so Scott doesn't have to think or be real. Nothing new here.

Robert Kunferman · 1 year ago

Scott, what would you know about patriotism? You spineless, discusting clerk. I am not a conservative, nor do I side with the Dems when I am at school. After you lick their boots, like you licked your officers boots clean, they will send you out just as dumb as you came in. Just like the military. You have the GI bill, now you want more. Then vote for McCained, cuz he will pay your medical expenses in the future, which will be more than you can pay doing honest work.

Robert Kunferman · 1 year ago

Ask British petroleum, Dutch Shell, the puke Bush family, Bechtel family, and all of the other tripe that benefited from this war to thank you with their money. I am one of the people that is getting stiffed with the bill, while this government prints money to give a firesale to the British on everything in this country, especially our rights.

Turn off the TV, if you can afford any other form of entertainment. And remember that most of your fellow students are coming out of college $40,000 in debt, and many work forty hours a week on top of that. No Bullshit. I could do that when I was young, but I still realize that they are getting fucked in this deal more than anybody.

I would sugar coat it, but that is why you own three TV's, because you cannot handle the truth. That bunch of slag that hangs around the military for twenty years is a major problem as well. We barely need a standing Army at all, our Navy spies on Americans for foregnors, and the airforce sissies are run by the NSA, a privately owned foreign organization.

Now that it got this corrupt because the Democrats and repubes want it that wAY, IT CANNOT BE CORRECTED.

Be thankful they have not decided to do what they plan to do in the future: Start creating another more violent and corosive attack on your health, medicine, and other areas of trust that they want to keep secret.

Then you will finally realize that you are a colony of Britain again, and that you are just cheap dumb labor that works for no benefit to you.

Actually, maybe you will never figure it out, because you think that somebody within the system is allowed to educate you on this.

Go Figure why they tell us what we want and set all of our agendas. Because they need our money for their kids.

Solution: link all government spending to GDP growth. Seize all of the pensions of the Admirals, Generals, and anyone else like Powell's bank accounts, and get rid of about fifty persent of the government uselesses that are overtaxing our society. Then we can find a nascient or quesient level to base government growth only on GDP growth and wage growth.

You do not want to waste four or twelve years in college to make money for swines that are not in the building, and when they are it is even worse.

We also need to raise minimum wage to about thirteen dollars an hour, and to correct for that, we need to get rid of the Mexicans and about half of the government tripe, especially the wasteful military tripe. This foolishness has gone on long enough. It is time for you to quit acting like you are heros, and get in the business of thinking before you vote. Don't drag me down anymore than your tripe government is doing to all of us as it is.

Robert Kunferman · 1 year ago

Corrected for inflation from the 1970's minimum wage of $3.50 per hour, you would have a minimum wage of $13.00 per hour. Most of you will not make that, and not have medical benefits worth having. But that trash officer core will have it, as will your highly wasteful military.

Be smarter than your parents were and are, and vote both parties out that sold you out to make this country a cheap labor camp for the British.
Then we can run them back to their island, and seize all of their assets here, and exile the traitors like colin Powell, Rumsfeld, Wolfawicz, and other tripe that have not been acting in the interest of the real American people. And they all got rich selling you out to foreign owned business interests.

MBO · 1 year ago

Kumpferman is an idiot. The sentiment expressed in this video is meaningful and should be heard. Kumpferman (did someone refer to him as Kunterman?) has his head stuck in a cavity from which he will never extricate it. Quite clearly, he is a victim of a lack of oxygen to the brain.

Milani · 1 year ago

I am not surprised by the out right "DO NOT GIVE A F***!!!" by the McCain or any other republicans.
The general population needs to be aware of how often military members are screwed over. People do not hear about all the crap that they go through because the US military defends a democracy but does not practice it within it, so military members cannot speak as freely as the general public. Just because men and women chose to join the military to defend the rights of every American, should not mean that they should get screwed!

milivet · 1 year ago

funny, I went to school on the GI Bill and received everything as stated in writing. Paid in full for my entire four years. The one arse stating " I was under the impression it would be paid in full" Fools, resdearch and know what yopu are signing....it can not get any clearer and my standard 600 per month added with what I was able to invest on my own was more than adequate. As the prof will tell you, do not listen to molde dsound bites...do the research.

David · 1 year ago

I'm going to school on the G.I. Bill now. You know when you sign up for the G.I. bill that it won't pay for your entire education. You invest one hundred dollars a month for a year and in return get twenty times that. If you want to use your G.I. bill go to community college for your first two years get good grades save on cost, then go to a University. The largest problem is the rising education costs, this is a problem everyone faces.

Robert Kunferman · 1 year ago

Most of the expense at my University in Wisconsin is from having at least two times the number of people in administrative positions that are getting paid at lest five times what they are worth. Almost always createing problems for people they do not like, or should I say that are not afraid to express their political opinions.

It is actually a country club here in Wisconsin, where the government skum has their third generation government skum offspring fill a position in Northern Wisconsin. This often takes place right after they complete their government administration degree, and advanced underwater basket weaving or social worker second and third degrees. This is their training ground for them to learn to fuck up a steal ball with a rubber mallet, and in Northern Wisconsin it is deemed nearly impossible to harm the dullards that live there.

After padding their resumes and sexxing their parent's friends enough, then they may get offered one of the highly sought after, do nothing jobs of campus administrative, deputy to the assistant, acting concubine to the director of director jobs, which allows for more artificial padding of their near useless appearing resumes.

Assuming these clowns have not given any of the top administrators a serious venerial desease, then they will have one of the $100,000 jobs that it takes to appear successful beyond your limited IQs type job.

What they are extremely good at is setting up redundant, never ending procedures for simple matters that require many artificial yet necassay visits and phone calls to their office(s). This makes their staff appear so busy as to not be able to do the jobs assigned to them, but in reality they are just toying with people due to their boring meaningless positions.

The directors that extend from three generations of equally lazy and useless dullards are not to be found anywhere on campus on Mondays or Fridays, unless the weather is really lousey. They cannot be found on Tuesdays or wednesdays because they have meetings at the local hotels at taxpayer expense on those days that include lavish meals and kickbacks from the hotel owners to keep it that way. Thursdays they are usually at their doctors getting their fourth colonoscopy, since they have to be good at something afterall.

Other than that it runs pretty much like a well oiled machine.

johnniec · 1 year ago

If you openly admit you can't use a computer, how can you say you have experience doing anything for the past 15 years? McBush = OLDNEWS. Time for CHANGE = VOTE OBAMA!

STV · 1 year ago

AMERICA NEEDS A PERMANENT -NO EXCEPTIONS
-CIVIL AND/OR MILITARY DRAFT -----NOW!

WAR OR NO WAR ---EVERYONE MUST SERVE!

WHY IS THIS NOT TALKED ABOUT? -NOT AN ISSUE?

haha · 1 year ago

haha
PLEASE DONT READ THIS!!!!U WILL GET KISSED ON THE NEAREST POSSIBLE FRIDAY BY THE LOVE OF UR LIFE. 2MORROW WILL BE THE BEST DAY OF UR LIFE.HOWEVER IF U DONT POST THIS COMMENT TO ATLEAST 3 VIDEOS U WILL DIE IN 2 DAYS.NOW UV STARTED READIN THIS SO DONT STOP NOW!THIS IS SOOO SCARY.SEND THIS TO ATLEAST 5 VIDEOS IN 143 MINUTES WHEN UR DONE PRESS F6 AND UR CRUSSHES NAMEWILL APPEAR ON THE SCREEN IN BIG LETTERS THIS IS SOO SCARY CUZ IT ACTUALLY WORKS!!!!!
bb

Phoenix · 1 year ago

I always find it curious that people use the rhetoric of "there has been no terrorist attack on American soil since 9/11" as evidence of curbing terrorist activity and increased national security under the watchful eyes of the Bush administration (and supported by McCain). What the truth is that in the _225_ years prior to 9/11 we had NO attacks from terrorists. With that history, we could have assumed that PRIOR to the Bush administration we HAD national security and on the Bush administration's watch what actually happened was that we lost it. He slept on his watch and McCain has supported continued failings by the Bush administration. They have both done incredibly poorly by our courageous troops. What people fail to recognize when they quote the mortality rate in OIF and OEF is that the mortality rate does not tell the complete story. The truth is that medical care has improved to the point that the majority of injuries that would have been/were fatalities in Vietnam, Korea, WWII, WWI, etc., are now rapidly addressed in order that death is prevented. Yet, these individuals, at astronomical rates, are left permanently physically disabled and are at even more astronomical rates are psychologically disabled with literally thousands suffering the effects of PTSD and huge numbers committing suicide. There are far more damning and disastrous effects of this failed policy and retaliatory move by our president than the dollars lost or even, sometimes, lives lost.

Brad · 1 year ago

My one concern is that: "making a full college tuition available to those that join, WILL ENTICE MORE TO JOIN"... thats not what I want.... especially when our government is so easily willing to mis-use those that sign up.
Both Gulf Wars, Vietnam, possibly Korea, Afghanistan, and most probably IRAN (coming soon to a war theater near you) were never needed. I would sooner see the ADMIN run out of voluntary troops. If they re-instate the Draft especially under these policies of starting uneeded wars, we might see some real "CHANGE" in policy, as the tough- talkers might not talk so tough when its thier kids who must carry the rifles, or when the kids of voting age realize its themselves who will have to march in the desert or ride in vehicles facing IED's or sniper's bullets and rpg's. The article seemed to insinuate that the 911 attacks were of foreign origin "I am not at all convinced of that".

Retired Marine · 1 year ago

For the record, military personnel pay taxes just like everyone else. In fact, our retirement pay is taxed as well. Get sick of reading comments about military being deadbeats or losers that the honest tax payer is supporting. As to the GI Bill: it changed 3 times while I was on active duty; fortunately, I was under the old GI Bill that paid for education expenses without having to pay into it. I worked part-time while attending college and I did not expect the GI Bill to pay for all of my living expenses, just those directly related to attending college (books, tuition, etc). Inflation and the current economy make it much harder for vets to pursue their educational goals, especially in areas with higher tuitions and cost of living expenses. So, while $1180 might work in one situation, it might not in another. Just my two cents and change.

James Parker · 1 year ago

What THE HELL MCain a Vietnam VEt Against the GI BIll

Robert Kunferman · 1 year ago

To XTV:
"Real pieces of work?" I have seen entire Pyles. And I don't even mean of the Gomer variety.

I assume the Marine was trying to pass himself off as a heroe from the first Miniture Gulf war.
Boy that musta been ruff.

Thanks for your near nonexistent service to us all.

micahwc · 1 year ago

Interesting, because the GI BILL completely paid for my undergrad degree, and paid for a full year of my graduate degree this year. You get more money if you are a full time student. Granted, I want the new bill to pass just as much as anyone else in the service, but it is possible to pay for your education with it. I got $1011 per month for the active duty GI BILL while I was enrolled full time. This was without paying the extra $600 for a better monthly rate.

SPC Micahwc
TN National Guard

progressiveinsurance · 3 months ago

PLEASE DONT READ THIS!!!!U WILL GET KISSED ON THE NEAREST POSSIBLE FRIDAY BY THE LOVE OF UR LIFE. 2MORROW WILL BE THE BEST DAY OF UR LIFE.HOWEVER IF U DONT POST THIS COMMENT TO ATLEAST 3 VIDEOS U WILL DIE IN 2 DAYS.NOW UV STARTED READIN THIS SO DONT STOP NOW!THIS IS SOOO SCARY.SEND THIS TO ATLEAST 5 VIDEOS IN 143 MINUTES WHEN UR DONE PRESS F6 AND UR CRUSSHES NAMEWILL APPEAR ON THE SCREEN IN BIG LETTERS THIS IS SOO SCARY CUZ IT ACTUALLY WORKS!!!!!