I'm a 22 year old Airman.

[VulgarPoet]

Four years ago, coming out of high school in El Paso, Texas, as we came down to graduation; it became clear that despite my 3.8 GPA, I would not be offered full rides anywhere, even in state. So shortly after Winter Break of my senior year, I enlisted in the Air Force. Not even a week after graduation from high school, I was shipped out to Lackland Air Force Base, Texas; where I was taken from child to airman, and they beat three distinct words into me that to this day, I can still hear my MTI screaming at the flight:

Integrity First, Service before Self, and Excellence in all we do.

This is why I cannot support Hillary Clinton. I see none of those traits in someone who would aspire to be my leader. In someone who would expect me to salute her and not just the position.

Integrity? When she can WILLFULLY LIE about coming under sniper fire in Bosnia, that's about as much integrity as a crumbling marble pillar.

Service? Service TO self, maybe, if she was able to peddle a story about being dead broke after Bill's presidency, and somehow come back with 5 freakin' million dollars? Right, and maybe I'll purchase some oceanfront property in Kansas while I'm at it-- oh wait, the Clinton administration slashed benefits to the military, didn't they?

Excellence? All I have to point at is the bungles in Libya, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Honduras.

You expect me to put in time, energy, and enthusiasm in for a woman who going by the principles beaten into me at basic training, is not fit to be Commander in Chief. You expect me to willfully support someone who from where I sit, hasn't done a damn thing to help the active duty, reservist, guard, and veteran military since she voted to spill our blood in foreign lands on an interventionist mission. You expect me to fall in line and throw my life away to pad someone else's pockets, and not in defense of our Constitution.

This is what I hear when I hear Clinton supporters snidely remark that "oh, they'll fall in line".

This is what I hear when I hear Clinton supporters try to put down votes of conscience over "pragmatism".

This is what my reality is; and if Clinton gets the nomination, she'll have to get it without me. I have no faith in her as a leader.

[floriduck]

1. Thank you for your service to our country.

You and your fellow soldiers , sailers and airmen deserve the best!

[VulgarPoet]

14. Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, hell, as much as we shit on 'em

even the Coasties. Sure, the military's got it's own bucket of issues that to be honest with you, I didn't know about coming in. What kind of recruiter's gonna tell you "oh yeah, there's currently a rape epidemic going on and the JAG docket's almost always filled with heinous shit" straight out of the gate?

But at the end of the day, it was the choice I made for my future. I can't stomach the idea of voting for the antithesis of what I was taught, no matter how many people harp on that it's just what's "practical", or that "everybody's doing it".

[JonathanRackham]

2. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

[daleanime]

3. As an old airman, 55, to a young one....

I hear you. Let's work hard for a future worth having.

[NobodyHere]

4. Excellence in All We Do?

Integrity First?

Do the people at the Air Force Academy know about these values?

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=123748

[VulgarPoet]

10. Excellent attempt at a deflection, but

I'm an Enlisted Airman. I fail to see what shitting on one of the five institutions that keeps you safe accomplishes here so if you'd kindly fall the fuck back, that'd be greatly appreciated, and actually talk the issues if you're going to talk.

ETA: I more than understand that the military in general has a rape epidemic, but maybe it wouldn't be that way if we didn't have to constantly lower our standards to try and replace our tanking numbers of personnel. Garbage in, garbage out, and sometimes, all the training in the world CANNOT CHANGE THAT FACT.

So like I said. Either talk issues, or fall the fuck back.

[lancer78]

25. Just FYI

The American soldier has not fought for our freedom since WW2. The constant dick-riding of the military (and police) after 9/11 has caused some of those people to think that they are entitled to do whatever they want. Not saying you are like that at all, and being admitted to a service academy when I was young, I know the indoctrination methods used. Just don't fall into the hype that the "military keeps us safe". That belief has harmed this country a lot.

[VulgarPoet]

26. To be fair, it was a bit of a knee-jerk.

But it still galls me that someone would think that's a valid refutation of my post. Not to imply that I don't get your sentiment.

[lancer78]

32. No problem

Just it pisses me off that you were "forced" to join the military because we spend so much money on defense instead of education. A 18% reduction in defense spending would pay for everyone to go to college.

I joined the navy (US Merchant Marine Academy. My eyesight kept me out of Annapolis) because I love warships, and I was the 3rd generation of navy sailors.

[SammyWinstonJack]

28. +1000000. Thank you for this.

[sabrina 1]

38. I think that is precisely WHY the OP cannot vote for someone who is FOR all those 'wars' that have

nothing to do with our freedom. Didn't get the impression s/he was on board with our interventionist 'wars' for profit.

[VulgarPoet]

43. Never have been, never will be. n/t

[sabrina 1]

45. Good for you, neither have I. And couldn't agree more with your OP which is excellent.

[MineralMan]

5. I was once a 22 year old enlisted USAF person, too.

It was 1969, and Richard Nixon was President. I learned two words: Never again!

[spin]

37. Some have called Hillary, "Nixon in a pantsuit."

To me that seems to be a very accurate description.

Hillary and Nixon share many personality traits.

1) Both were driven to become POTUS with what could be described as an obsession.

2) Both have been called deceitful for good reason.

3) Nixon was paranoid as is Hillary.

4) Nixon distrusted the press and so does Hillary.

5) Nixon has an enemies list as does the Clinton Machine.

6) It was hard to like Nixon and that is also true of Hillary.

7) Both tried to destroy evidence. Nixon erased 18 1/2 of Oval Office audio tape. Hillary tried to have her dark server wiped clean. Nixon's missing 18 1/2 minutes has never been recovered but rumors are that the FBI was able to restore the data on Hillary's server.



I also lived through the Nixon years and I agree that I never want to see another president similar to Nixon.

edited to add
I was also in the Air Force in 1969. Those were interesting times.

[Fuddnik]

58. I refered to her years ago as "Bush in a skirt".

I was in the Navy in 1969. After I got out, I joined the antiwar movement, and spent a lot of time with Yippees!.

I remember in Jan. 1973, we spent a couple of weeks in DC gearing up for Nixswines second coronation. Our Madison, Wis chapter brought down 13,000 dead lab rats, and when his motorcade passed us, he was caught in a waterfall of flying dead rats.

Such memories. The smell of tear gas in the morning.

Bernie is the candidate I've been waiting my entire life for. It could be my last election, and I'm not going to waste my vote on another New Dem corporate toad.

FEELIN' THE BERN!!!!!! finally.

[spin]

65. My vote will go to Bernie in the Florida Democratic primary. ...

I hope he becomes the Democratic candidate for president.

[GReedDiamond]

66. Yay! for the Yippies!...

...I was a Yippie!/Zippie! in '72 - and back to Yippie! - well into the 80s and...well, up until now, I suppose.

Turn On, Tune In, Take Over! - Flamingo Park '72

I agree with you about Bernie and the "entire life" thing!

[tblue37]

67. Hey, MM--my dad was a 19-year-old enlisted airman at a little base called Pearl Harbor,

in 1941.

Yep. He was there when it was hit.

[H2O Man]

6. Powerful.

Thank you.

Recommended.

[Logical]

7. Great post! nt

[cherokeeprogressive]

8. This veteran thanks you for your service.

Story for ya... I used to work for this E-9 who was one of the most awesome guy any of us kids have ever met. Master Chief Melton. He was from Texas and talked like Ross Perot; everything was a one liner. One of his favorite things to say when some young Sailor complained about anything at was: "Son... if it was EASY, they'd have the Air Force doin' it." That was always good for a laugh.

I hope you don't take offense to that. It wasn't an insult, it was his way of motivating his Sailors and honestly, we'd have all followed him into any battle anywhere. I agree with every word you posted by the way.

Be safe My Friend.

[VulgarPoet]

11. No offense taken, after all

We do the same thing to the Army; after all.

But no, I understand exactly what you're getting at. I've had a couple E-7's, 8's, and 9's that I'd have gladly walked into a minefield with, if that was what was required of me. I can't in good conscience vote for someone I don't have that kind of faith in; especially not with a track record like Hillary's.

Keep your head up, friend.

[Kilgore]

35. We had a Chief of the Boat who used to break out that same

Line after about three months of submerged deployment.

We would follow that guy, our Exec and the Captain to hell and back. True leaders, every one.

[Depaysement]

9. Not an airman

But the Bosnian sniper fire lie really riled me.

[freddyt]

13. Brian Williams...

...essentially lost his job for nearly the same lie that Hillary Clinton told. Yet, Hillary has gotten a free pass. So much for white male privilege.

[VulgarPoet]

15. Exactly.

[azmom]

12. She's not getting our families' votes either.

Like you, we can't in good conscious support what she represents.

[farleftlib]

16. You're no

VulgarPoet, just a poet. I didn't know you were in the service. Thank you for your service to our country and for your eloquent words. I agree that her lies are indefensible and her record is one of failure, except for how she's been able to enrich herself.

Great post. K & R.

[VulgarPoet]

20. You've seen how I get when I'm properly nettled.

You know as well as I do I'm more than deserving of my handle.

But as far as her lying goes-- had I said anything especially about the Bosnian sniper fire in company of other military, do you know how quick I'd have been fact checked and outed as a liar? About as quick as it takes a FOIA on a servicemember to come back.

As far as I'm concerned, Hillary committed a case of Stolen Valor, and I can't support someone like that.

[farleftlib]

36. Yes !!! You nailed it. Stolen Valor!

That sums the Bosnian-sniper-fire incident up perfectly.

Hell, I get so nettled so often now I'm thinking I need to change my user name to flaminfarleftlibernator.

[TBF]

17. Thank you. K&R nt

[amborin]

18. thanks for posting!

[jwirr]

19. Thank you for your service. And for those 3 phrases. Good

lessons for life.

[Liberal Jesus Freak]

21. Thank you!!!

Thanks for this post and thanks for your willingness to serve our country. The dearest man I've ever known served 23 years in the U.S. Air Force--my dad. He is the reason I am such a staunch liberal to this day. Best wishes to you and thanks again for such a good post

[w0nderer]

22. i like it

>Integrity First
>Service before Self
>and
>Excellence in all we do.

Mudslogger S.O. diff country though
"if it was easy, why are we here taking out AA so Airforce can cover the Navy after we take out coastal batteries?"
:-p

[whereisjustice]

23. "You mean wipe it with a cloth?" Well fuck us for giving a shit what you do with public property.

[Katashi_itto]

24. Navy Here. K&R she gets nothing from me.

[bunnies]

27. I've seen you take some shit here.

Thank you for this.

[VulgarPoet]

59. To be fair, I invite it on myself.

Because I know these people can't say anything worse than the things I heard at basic, before the regulations got changed and basic was made softer and more cuddly. When you've got a bald, 5'6" man with braces the size of Texas yelling about how your mother had carnal relations with a dog to make you, you tend to spit in the face of polite insults.

[nolabels]

84. As one former GI to another, it's not the oversized DI or slights about mom

It's letting the the team (USA) down by not helping to show the people what should be the correct choice if they had their own integrity. The US Armed Forces cannot make anyone the person they want to be if that person does not have the willingness to grasp hold of that personal integrity for themselves.

I applaud your honesty, frankness and courage

[kgnu_fan]

29. kick

[DrBulldog]

30. Me, too

My November vote will be either "Bernie" or "abstain".

[Cheviteau]

77. In Other Words...

...if Bernie is not our nominee, you will vote for either Trump, Cruz, or Rubio. Great thinking on your part. You're no Democrat. Just a selfish whiner. For the record, I'm a Bernie man, myself.

[Skwmom]

31. I don't see Clinton getting a lot of the military support. n/t

[sabrina 1]

40. Bernie has the Veterans, they are in fact a big part of the driving of his campaign. Repubs, Dems,

doesn't matter, they respect him. Believe he will not send them to wars they should not be asked to fight, as Hillary has.

[erlewyne]

33. You sound like my son!!!

He graduated from HS, turned 18, and was in the Air Force in less than a month ...
23 years ago. He is now here at home with his wife and four children. He is now a LPN
working on RN and loving it (he never planned to be a nurse). He is in the living room
with my wife (his mother) and his family watching Bernie and Chris Matthews.
He does not like Hillary and he likes Bernie.


Keep up the good work VulgarPoet! Oh, I will read all about Bernie and Chris
Matthews here on DU (and Rachel Maddow I suppose)!

[Duckhunter935]

34. Air Force is a great choice

Thank you for serving and a great post

[zentrum]

39. At 22, you

….have more moral compass than the one who is old enough to be your mother.

Hat's off and well said.

[tokenlib]

41. "throwing lives away to pad pockets"

And Hillary has the nerve to accuse Bernie of being a one issue candidate..The economic interests of the oligarchy cannot be separated from our foreign policy...

[AzDar]

42. Thank you for your service... very glad you see things so clearly!

[WishfulThinker]

44. We also thank you for your service to this country!

As life long Democrats, my husband and I feel EXACTLY the same. Clinton is in this for her own best interests and the best interest of corporate Wall Street. She has lost our trust completely and she will never have our votes!

[GP6971]

47. So if HRC prevails and is the democratic nominee

you and your husband will not vote for her? If not, how will you vote?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

50. That is actually none of your business. It's a private vote. n/t

[jillan]

54. .....

You always have!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

55. Aw, thanks, jillian!

That's very kind of you.

[malthaussen]

68. Beat me to it.

I don't even like "which candidate do you support," since it implies a binary position that I find inaccurate. We should be concerned with issues, not counting coup.

-- Mal

[VulgarPoet]

80. +a million.

[democrank]

46. Thank you for your service

and for writing this.

~PEACE~

[SeattleVet]

48. Another one from the USAF, 1972-1984.

Went to Lackland in August of 1972, right after High School; got to vote for my first time by absentee ballot from Lowry AFB while in tech school (18-year olds got the vote that year). Proudly cast my first ballot against Nixon.

Served under Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Reagan. Proudly served under Carter. Had zero respect or confidence in Ronnie.

Got out in 1984, before that bastard Reagan got re-elected and managed to get Americans shot at, again.

I can see where you're coming from.

Lots of veterans are supporting Sanders:

https://www.facebook.com/Vets4Sanders/

[VulgarPoet]

53. Thanks for the link!

Lowry AFB? That must have been closed some time, cause I definitely don't recognize it; but given '72, that's to be expected; and I've been hearing rumblings about more closures coming in the future.

[SeattleVet]

62. Yeah, Lowry is long gone...

peach of an assignment, though. Lowry was there, then Denver expanded around it, so essentially it was an Air Force Base in downtown Denver. We used to walk to the state Capitol area and all the bars, clubs, and restaurants downtown. There's an Air Museum there now. Trained there (basic electronics and then avionics) for 9 months. Went from there to Plattsburgh AFB, NY (also closed now) to work on FB-111A avionics, then cross-trained into computer maintenance in Biloxi (Keesler AFB), went to Sembach AB, Germany (also closed), then did my last 3 years at Ft. Meade, MD, assigned to fix computers in a big government agency that used to deny its own existence. Fun times!

[VulgarPoet]

63. Biloxi was my tech school

Cyber systems operations; and if we don't get a warmonger for president, I might stay on and crosstrain into Network Warfare. If not, I plan to cut my losses in two years and go to school, and pray the world doesn't start crumbling around my ears.

[bigbrother05]

69. Sembach reopened as an HQ/admin location for Army Installation Mgt Command

Part of the drawdown/consolidation in Europe.

[beam me up scottie]

49. A kick and thanks from a former Marine.

Well said, Airman!

[Tiggeroshii]

51. Hoooahh

Army national guard, current

[FairWinds]

52. One way I try to make up for the "bad mission" war I was in . .

Vietnam, is to be active in

Veterans "For Peace

And check out the new literature on "moral injury."

PAX, VFP Golden Rule Project

[HassleCat]

56. Thank you

Count me as another veteran who does not want to see our young people sent off to fight another bogus war.

[hack89]

57. Hillary gets this Navy vet's vote.

as well as my Army vet brother's vote.

[LP2K12]

60. Hooah!

This Army vet stands with you and shares your views.

[Docreed2003]

61. Thank you Airman....from a Squid!

[coyote]

64. Wow! Powerful.

What a great post. Hats off to you Airman.

[senz]

70. Clear-eyed intelligence.

I hope you'll run for office someday if you want to. Young people like you give me hope for the future, VulgarPoet.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

71. Well spoken!

[JustAnotherGen]

72. If she is the nominee

Yes I do. Stay home if you want in the GE.

Just don't expect me to just take the sick shit those people on Right will inflict on me and people like me.

I will burn my house down and be on a plane to Italy if those people take the White House. I'm not letting those people seize my home and give it to some racist white guy that voted for Trump because he was too much of a cry baby to make something of himself. He can build his shack from the ground up.

Not for nothing - my dad served as an officer and 1964 at home on leave he couldn't even vote for fear of his life. A Green Fucking Beret was afraid to vote. You have the right to say, write and do whatever you want -

But thank God he sacrificed for you or you be would be doing it in Russian.

[VulgarPoet]

82. Excellent red-bait.

/bye

[JustAnotherGen]

83. Bye

Have fun working for Trump!

[Enthusiast]

73. K&R! I'm pleased to see this post has hundreds of recommendations!

[dchill]

74. Thank you for your service.

[sarge43]

75. Hand salute Airman

Air Force MSgt and former MTI aka No Neck Monster here and I like your style. Go for 20 plus; you'll be one of senior noncoms everyone looks up to.

The Clinton lie that blows sand in my nacelles is her "I wanted to go in the service, but the Marine recruiter told me I was too old." Bull stuff honey. You're a lawyer and you were exactly the right age. The branches were always looking for more sharks, especially after the VN war. It's one thing to try the idiot treatment on civilians, but, clue burner, it doesn't work with us. You don't know how it works on the ground; we do.

Yeah, that Constitution that we take an oath to protect, preserve and defend. That's our first order. The rest get in line.

She won't have my vote either. I am tired to the bones of people who think my people are Kleenex to used up and thrown away. Senator Sanders knows war is always the last option and usually the worst one. One of the many reasons I support him.

Remember, Zoomers only have to take just enough to win.

[Avalux]

76. Bravo! Thank you for your service, and your message of truth.

I feel exactly the same way you do, although I've never committed my life to this country as you have. Your perspective is greatly appreciated!

[Fumesucker]

78. Semper Fi

Well said...

[noamnety]

79. The Bosnia thing didn't win this vet's love either.

We're not alone.

This is from November: "A new RallyPoint/Rasmussen Reports national survey of active and retired military personnel finds that only 15% have a favorable opinion of Clinton, with just three percent (3%) who view the former secretary of State Very Favorably. Clinton is seen unfavorably by 81%, including 69% who share a Very Unfavorable impression of her."

I can't even imagine what was in her head to think she could get away with a lie like that, when there were obvious witnesses - or that she would think "eh, lying about being in combat is no biggie."

[Major Nikon]

81. The problem with military sloganeering is it doesn't apply all that well even in the military

Everyone lies. Some just do it more than others. Self-preservation virtually always trumps integrity. If it didn't, there would be no need for service medals for bravery.

I did 10 years between USAF active duty and the Texas ANG. My family always came first, followed by myself. Service was down on the list. Granted my service was in the officer ranks, but the same principles still apply. The military is still a job, albeit one that requires a greater level of commitment than most, but not actually as much as you might think. Many private companies expect you to sell your soul to them, but only a fool does. You only get so many trips around the sun. Using them wisely has a lot to do with priorities.

Excellence all the time is a noble goal, but one that just isn't all that realistic. People make mistakes, even deliberate ones. If you expect excellence all the time from everyone, including yourself, it just isn't going to be that long before you are disappointed.

While there's plenty of reasons to find fault with HRC, I just don't see holding her up to some abstract military motto as all that great of a standard. I certainly never met anyone in the military who could, including myself.

[Hortensis]

85. You don't know if yet, but there is no one

you could support with the standard you claim. The simple fact is, Hillary is one of the cleaner politicians in Washington. Certainly, Bernie won't meet your standard, but if you want to believe he can, you had better pray he doesn't win the nomination. If he does, all the shabbiest details off his nearly quarter century in Washington politics, and before, are going to be pushed in your face by the GOP.

Hillary never tried to ship her state's toxic nuclear waste to a helpless and impoverished small town several states away. Whatever you do, DON'T remember that every time Bernie condemns those responsible for the poisoning of Flint, Michigan.

We see a whole lot of posts of this Hillary-smearing type here, and dressing this one up in invocation of honor is not even a variation. All of these posters obviously consider themselves far more honorable than not just Hillary Clinton but the many millions of people, like me, who respect and support her. And, yes, they are all offensive. Of course.

Note that those applying moral standards to others also inevitably invite the question of whether they themselves meet their claimed standards, such as in this case of integrity, service and excellence, which in every citizen starts with honesty to self and extensive education of self in order to be able to perform one's duties with anything approaching excellence.