CBS just used the "D" word!

[annabanana]

A piece on Selective Service, yes, The Draft (shudder). There are bills in both the house an the senate, the draft boards are staffed by volunteers, the names are on file... the original drums that carried birthday dates are still there.... the whole stinkin' thing.
This time around, boys and girls together (18-26 yrs old) and students only get to finish their current school year and AWAY THEY GO!

I hope lots and lots of kids got a good look.

[amber dog democrat]

1. Navy is better.....

or Air Force.. Quality of life.

[annabanana]

4. Navy was the choice "back in the day" too..

If you joined the Navy for 4 years, you probably wouldn't get shot at. If you wanted to roll the Big Dice... the Army was only 2 years.

[HereSince1628]

9. Hard to get shot at by VC in a submarine...

but so many guys new this that by the early 70's there were waiting lists for Coast Guard, Air Force, and the Navy...leaving poorly informed and late to act suckers few good options.

[Spinzonner]

21. When I enlisted in the Air Force in 1971

because I had a draft number of 26 and was 1-A, there was no waiting list that I'm aware of.

Where is your information from ?

[kskiska]

19. My dad always said he joined the Air Force

because he knew he wouldn't be sleeping in some foxhole. Same goes for Navy.

[FighttheFuture]

25. Until the Navy unviels their new Jabba-the-Hut Sand Barge!! LOL!!

[PROGRESSIVE1]

Bush = Draft.......Kerry = Peace

[canuckybee]

2. Thank you CBS

[Kagemusha]

3. Those bills are mostly by Democrats, right?

Just checking.

[annabanana]

5. ... not sure.... anybody? Who are the sponsors?

[jasmeel]

7. It was a great story!! They even showed a college kid

that thought he wouldnt be drafted and corrected him saying that under these proposals he could be drafted - no deferment for college! That should scare some 18-24 year olds to the voting booths! Also, women would be drafted. Interesting.

[Blue Gardener]

14. Finish out your semester - That's it

Then you're off to the military. No exceptions this time around. It was a great piece and needed to be done. Thanks CBS!

[Media_Lies_Daily]

11. Democrats sponsored both bills in the belief that the GOP would....

...NEVER support drafting women. They were wrong. The GOP has been more than happy to order women into the Middle Eastern combat zones.

Here are the bills that are have been sitting in their respective Armed Services Committees since they were introduced in January 2003:

<http://www.theorator.com/bills108/hr163.html>

<http://www.theorator.com/bills108/s89.html>
------------------------------------------------

Additionally, the Selective Service System has been funded to bring all of their systems up to date by May 2005:

<http://www.sss.gov/perfplan_fy2004.html>

[atreides1]

23. Ordering...

..woman who are already on active duty isn't the same as drafting them, the female troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, were already on active duty or in the NG and Reserves. Granted it results in the same thing women in a combat zone.

This time the Democrats were wrong, but let's wait and see what kind of little protect the "rich" rules the Republicans try to add to these bills as riders. We all know that neither of these bills will pass as written, and that the Rethugs will try to find a way to exempt more Dick Cheneys, Tom Delays, and all of the other Chickenhawks from getting their tail feathers shot off.

But yes the draft boards are being staffed even as we discuss it here, and that staffing has been going on for some time now. How do I know because I'm a draft board member, and have been since February of this year.

The problem seems to be that the media has taken no interest in the draft boards, maybe with this story they will, but I would'nt hold my breath.

[annabanana]

6. These are the bills

S89 and HR 163... How do I look it up?

[BrotherBuzz]

8. Google is your best friend

:)

[KamaAina]

10. Thomas may not have the flashy IPO, but he can be a good friend as well

in a political pinch

http://thomas.loc.gov

and enter your bill numbers.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

12. Why the heck did this get moved from LBN????

[annabanana]

15. ????

[starbuck6446]

13. This is the reason that

my VERY Republican co-worker is voting for Kerry. She has two sons a couple of years younger than me. (I'm 26, so they're prime draft age).

[Tuttle]

17. My sense is that the draft is coming no matter who wins

so the question becomes "Who, with the draft, do you want leading the nation: Bush or Kerry?"

I think the answer is pretty obvious.

Tut-tut

PS: and yes, this belongs BACK in Late Breaking News -- how do we get it back there???

[newyawker99]

29. Hi starbuck6446!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Surf Cowboy]

30. Nowadays, so are you.

[ranosgol]

16. Navy Veteran 1991-1997

I agree you are less likely to be killed in the Navy cause you would not have boots on the ground. The Navy is not as easy as everyone likes to think. It may not be as physical but doing time on ship at sea is not a Carnival Cruise. You will work long hours, food will sub par, living conditions onboard a ship or submarine are not a resort. You will share a bathroom with about 70 other guys, say two showers, three sinks, two urinals and two toilets. The sleeping area you are stacked three high and cannot even sit up in bed. Top that off with a ship rocking in the waves and it’s not for everyone. When I was in people who got real seasick in rough seas carried trash bags so they could puke in while they was working.

[Trajan]

18. Shucks ....

Not much opportunity to jerk off there ....

I would go crazy ....

Chuckles ....

[phylny]

20. So I'll tell my girls,

tell them that you're a lesbian. Will that work, even if they're not?

[annabanana]

22. "Sarge.. I'm only 18, got a ruptured speen and I always carry a purse..

Got eyes like a bat and my feet are flat and my asthmas gettin' worse...

[sleepyhead]

26. Think of my career and my sweetheart dear

And my poor old invalid aunt
Besides I ain't no fool 'cause I'm going to school
And I'm working in a defense plant!

Phil was the best!

[Ilsa]

24. Big Kick back up.

I missed CBS News tonight in favor of The News Hour w/ J.L.

:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

27. Link here

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/home/main100.shtml

Return Of The Draft?
With troops over-extended in Iraq, Congress is discussing two bills that could bring back the draft, and all men and women 18-26 would be included, Jim Stewart reports.

Video sponsored by Walmart, btw. How conveeeeeeeeeeeenient!

[Keirsey]

28. Dubya's girls

They've already graduated college - no deferment there.

Guess they could follow in Daddy's footsteps: TANG.