Young Repubs. support Iraq war, but not all are willing to join the fight

[Rose Siding]

NEW YORK - Young Republicans gathered here for their party's national convention are united in applauding the war in Iraq, supporting the U.S. troops there and calling the U.S. mission a noble cause.

But there's no such unanimity when they're asked a more personal question: Would you be willing to put on the uniform and go to fight in Iraq?

In more than a dozen interviews, Republicans in their teens and 20s offered a range of answers. Some have friends in the military in Iraq and are considering enlisting; others said they can better support the war by working politically in the United States; and still others said they think the military doesn't need them because the U.S. presence in Iraq is sufficient.

"Frankly, I want to be a politician. I'd like to survive to see that," said Vivian Lee, 17, a war supporter visiting the convention from Los Angeles,
...
"I physically probably couldn't do a whole lot" in Iraq, said Tiffanee Hokel, 18, of Webster City, Iowa, who called the war a moral imperative. She knows people posted in Iraq, but she didn't flinch when asked why she wouldn't go.
...
Similarly, 20-year-old Jeff Shafer, a University of Pennsylvania student, said vital work needs to be done in the United States. There are Republican policies to maintain and protect and an economy to sustain, Shafer said. .......MORE........

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/9556221.htm

[Hobarticus]

1. Ah yes...always eager to spill someone else's blood...

What a bunch of cowardly, useless pukes.

[Rose Siding]

6. "The bug may get me after college,"

The "bug". Like a taste for combat duty is a virus.

Thankfully, he's not an *economic* girly man :eyes:

[Hobarticus]

16. Just a combat girly-man...

But it's okay for you and I!

[jdj]

44. COMBAT GIRLY MEN

There's the new dem motto.

"Similarly, 20-year-old Jeff Shafer, a University of Pennsylvania student, said vital work needs to be done in the United States. There are Republican policies to maintain and protect and an economy to sustain, Shafer said. .......MORE........"

what a load of shit.

[calimary]

52. Okay guys... repeat as necessary: GREAT Meme!

It's SO true!

Spread the word...

[saigon68]

62. There are Republican policies to maintain and protect

Its a STEAMING PANT LOAD

[Hobarticus]

64. New bumper sticker...BUSH WAS A 'NAM GIRLY-MAN

We'll sell millions!

Turn the turds' words back on them!

[slojim240]

31. Hey, ain't that just like a "Republican?"

They sure are predictable.

[loathesomeshrub]

2. F*cking cowards

[lostnfound]

3. Vivian has such promise as a chickenhawk.

"Frankly, I want to be a politician. I'd like to survive to see that,"

[troublemaker]

10. We are going to see Vivian Lee in the oval office someday.

[Green Lantern]

13. Maybe

she could work as a Bush intern....Hmmmmm

[MidwestTransplant]

12. Great politican

in her first campaign this will be brought up.

[Surf Cowboy]

55. Actually, the way things are going

with our inability to field a full-time volunteer force, chances are the "bug" is going to catch up with plenty of chickenhawks. There will be another draft, unless we cool off our guns. And if there is another draft, women will be sent off, as well as men, and there won't be any deferments, so they can all have a taste of what it's like being an ordinary American instead of an elite shit.

I think Vivian would make most interesting cannon-fodder, as would the dope from Penn. I would like to survive to see that.

[wtmusic]

4. 'Can better support the war here'

Cowardly bastards. No wonder they like Junior; they can relate

[stray cat]

5. Hipocrites! Kind of like Bush, Cheney, Rove etc.

Its easy to be for something that costs you nothing. So much for the great sacrifice this generation is being called to make that Laura Bush spoke of. There is something very wrong when a nation is at war and soldiers are called to sacrifice when the rest of the nation is called to shop, the wealthy are given huge tax breaks and business such as halliburtin get enormous noncompetitive contracts. On the other hand, that was George Bush's perspective on the Vietnam War as well. I guess he is consistent even if he is pampered.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

7. "Frankly, I want to be a politician. I'd like to survive to see that,"

LOL!

Young Repugs: "We'll let the masses do the dying. We're too important to risk."

[lapfog_1]

22. Thank god for the internet and the WWW

When and if this young stupid idiot ever decides to run for
office, her opponent (even if it is just for city council) will
"google" her name. And this ONE quote will stand out.

"I'd like to survive to see that". Wow. That just sums up
for me the entire republican party. Arrogant. Selfish.
Stupid. War mongerers.

Young lady, I assure you that every young man and woman in Iraq
and Afghanistan, fighting the war you love so much, would like
to survive to see SOMETHING. And their SOMETHINGS are every bit
as important to them as your political career.

Just F'ing unbelievable.

Bring back the draft! And start with these people.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

28. Using the same logic of "The poor are that way because they want to be

poor," I guess she figures the dead and dying are that way because they want to be.

But, she's so much smarter and needed for her special insights that it's imperative that she be kept safe to keep America strong.

[acmavm]

8. Never willing to put their asses on the line, but always willing to

promote a cause where they don't mind other people dying. I wonder how uncomfortable they felt when asked if they would be willing to undergo the same hardships that the troops in Iraq are experiencing, or if they are just to damn stupid and morally bankrupt to know what a bunch of assholes they are.

[glitch]

9. "Frankly, I want to be a politician. I'd like to survive to see that,"

said Vivian Lee, 17, a war supporter.

I think that pretty much says it all, nothing for me to add.

[progressivebydesign]

26. Yeah Vivian, and the ones that died there already wanted to survive, also.

Typical chickenhawks. Wants to see someone else's loved ones die in a war THEY support. She'll be the ideal GOP politician.

[BootinUp]

11. Hell, they don't want to pay for it either! -eom-

[earthside]

14. Could Learn A Lesson ....

These spoiled little chickenhawks could learn a lesson from John Kerry about sacrifice for country.

But this is why Bush is going to be soundly defeated this year ... his supporters are soft, wimpy, rotten, brats.

[clydefrand]

15. If the chimp is elected, many of those smart asses

just might get called up when the draft is reinstituted. Of course, rich kids don't go to war. They let the poor and middle class get mangled/killed. Why should they bother with war when they can live the good life and elect some idiot who thinks he knows what in the hell he is doing. They will get their comeuppance someday.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. God when the draft comes, can I volunteer to PUSH

these boots?

I promise to abuse them just a little, DAMN COWARDS... yellow streak down their back as wide as the Missisipi

[bobbyboucher]

18. What a surprise, chickenhawks.

Fucking cowards.

[chieftain]

19. It Was The Same

in Vietnam . YAFers decrying peace protests but making sure that they didn't put themselves in harm's way . W and most of his crew are prime examples .

[NeoConsSuck]

20. and an economy to sustain?

Hey Jeff Shafer, Get a Brain, Moran! You call the last four years 'sustaining an economy'? My 401k disagrees with you, and my unemployed friends do too.

Now if you would like to discuss the Clinton economy.... :)

[frylock]

21. c'mon now. fighting the war is for poorer, darker people..

but y'all knew that already.

[DinahMoeHum]

23. "...physically probably couldn't do a whole lot" - Don't break my heart!

Ms. Tiffanee Hokel, you could still serve in the Armed Forces, as a clerk.

Hell, I think that was Pvt. Lynndie England's MOS in her MP company.

:evilfrown:

[mike_c]

24. they all have "more important things to do..."

...just like their role model, Dick "The Undead" Cheney.

[Khephra]

25. Awwww, cut them some slack!

They're just carrying on their family traditions. They're Conservatives, you know.

:evilgrin:

[Rose Siding]

33. How many of 'em do you think were wearing purple heart bandaids...

as they said "No" to the war they support?

[tabasco]

27. Utter lack of patriotism, moral and physical courage.

How did we allow gutless wonders like this to take control of our Nation?

NEVER AGAIN !

[UpInArms]

29. freakin' pukes

letting someone else die in their stead for the wars that they "support".

They can all go and stick their asses in Iraq and shut the cheney up.

[Kimber Scott]

30. There are 1000s upon 1000s of peope who would have liked to live

long enough to be a fucking politician! And a few others who might have liked to get married and have babies, or take care of the ones they already have, or drive their mother's to the store, or pay next month's rent.

Fucking bastards. Kind of makes you wish there were a draft.

[donkeyotay]

57. a republican draft

so they can put their kids where their mouths are.

[sonicx]

32. "better things to do" = Future Politicians! nt

[CRK7376]

34. As one who did Tour de

Afghanistan I sure wish some of those chickenhawks had been with us...But then their whimpery, whining asses would probably have drawn more fire towards us....Glad those assholes were not with us afterall....Purple Heart Bandaids my ass......

[number6]

35. I say we start the RNC chicken hawk ready reserve ........

I submit O'Reilly , Rush , Hannity ,,,ect ...

[Dhalgren]

36. If these little rancid pukes are the America of the future

then I don't want any part of it. I have no problem with consciencious objectors, but these little gutless cowards just make me sick. If you support the war, you should volunteer for it, period.

[sniffa]

37. sign up or shut up

[yellowcanine]

38. CheneyHawks have "other priorities". Some things never change. Just as in

Vietnam, it will be those who have limited options who are fighting in Iraq.

[Ilsa]

39. They probably have a 1-800 # for the talking-point answers

to this question.

I know people with autism who have better empathy for others and their personal dreams than these people.

[Jack Rabbit]

40. Patriotism is for suckers

Their emulate their neoconservative chickenhawk heroes. Wars are to be fought by the classes from the ghettoes and barrios; the children of privilege are to go to Ivy League schools so that they can become the polical leaders who send the next generation of poor Americans to die in a war that is predicated on lies and serves only as an opportunity for transnational corporate profits.

[BrotherBuzz]

67. I think Leo Strauss touched on this

;)

[Javaman]

41. My favorite quote...

"Frankly, I want to be a politician. I'd like to survive to see that," said Vivian Lee, 17, a war supporter visiting the convention from Los Angeles,

Lee said she supports the war but would volunteer only if the United States faced a dire troop shortage or "if there's another Sept. 11."

And just how many 9/11's does this little shit for a human need? Fucking prick.

[Ganja Ninja]

43. "Just one more 9/11 and I'm gonna join, just one more, just one!"

There must be one gene for both cowardice and conservatism.

[TahitiNut]

42. A good argument for a Universal National Service obligation.

These are little reichbots whose 'worldview' is bifurcated into "us and them" in every respect. Abortion? "Them" immoral women don't deserve it but "us" can always go to another country to get ours. War? "Them" lazy homeless bums can do it but "us" ownership elite need to whip the slaves back at home on the plantation.

Every person between the ages of 18 and 35 should be required to serve their nation for 12-48 months in some form of national service, whether that be the military, the Peace Corps, the Public Health Service, VISTA, or some other designated common national need. (Want out quickly? 3 months of training and 9 months on the front line. Go get your PHart band-aid, motherf*cker!)

It's simply amazing how "united" people can become when they're in the same f*cking boat! (or foxhole.)

[llmart]

54. I agree 100%!

Excellent comments. You should send them to all major newspapers as an editorial.

[DavidMS]

58. Wonderful Idea!

I have alwasy liked conscripted armies because they are apolitical. Also, I would only have exceptions for people who have longstanding opposition to war (quakers, etc) or who medicaly can't serve should have other national service opportunities.

The only downside of such a short period of military service is that training costs are very high.

[TahitiNut]

69. Training costs are amortized over a lifetime.

Physical fitness? What's wrong with that? An appreciation for the killing power of a weapon? Seems we need more of that. (Grenade practice is particularly "educational.") Basic teamwork? Sounds OK to me. Basic first aid? Not bad. Personal hygiene? Sounds good to me. Then there's the training required for the non-military services. Bedpans and broomsticks and shovels and setting up sanitation for a village. Sounds like training that's useful for a lifetime - if only in "adjusting perspectives."

In the meantime, people who've never missed a meal and have enjoyed mom's home-cooking will be sitting at the same table as those who've never been able to depend on eating the next day. Funny how complaints about the food are dealt with.

[NickB79]

59. Hehehe, shades of Starship Troopers

Only those who complete military service recieve citizenship, and only they can vote.

Not an entirely bad idea, IMO.

[KitSileya]

61. Just wanted to point that...

Heinlein said veterans should receive citizenship, not military veterans. This means veteran teachers, firemen, etc. As long as they've completed their service to the nation, no matter in what, they would be given suffrage. However, the volunteer would not be given a choice on whether to do civil or military service.

KitSileya
-who wrote her masters' thesis on Heinlein-

[TahitiNut]

70. Here's Karen Kwiatkowski's take on 'Starship Troopers' ...

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig3/kwiatkowski1.html

[KitSileya]

73. Thanks!

Thanks, TahitiNut, for pointing me to this interesting analysis. Let it be noted that I did not write about Starship Troopers in my thesis - I wrote about Friday and To Sail Beyond The Sunset.

KitSileya

[ignatius 2]

45. They will go far if they don't go to war. Their party HATES the

vets, considers them cannon fodder and whiners who didn't bleed enough or lose enough limbs.

A whold new batch of chickenhawks has been bred.YUCK.

[Blue_Tires]

46. cowards n/t

[bamacrat]

47. Let's round them up

i can not stand young republicans, or old one's for that matter. If they support this "war" and this "president" then they ought to go and fight, not the good men and women who are there because they have to be, send the little b*sh's, make this world a better place.

[leftofthedial]

48. this is the distinction between the two parts of the repuke party

the majority, who are ignorant, exploited victims of the policies they have been brainwashed or coerced into supporting--the good serfs

the minority, who actually benefit from the repuke agenda, and who view their place as one of privelege and exception--the lords

[saigon68]

49. GARBAGE YOUTH---- LIKE THE GARBAGE CHIMP

DRAFT DODGERS ALL

[devinsgram]

50. They can talk the talk,

But can't walk the walk. Cowards the bunch of them, hide behind their mommy's and daddy's, just like *.

[Dr Fate]

51. Let "those other people" do the dying- I've got campaign signs to draw!!!

Anyone got a red magic-marker?

[cthrumatrix]

53. the chickenhawk dance is thier favorite...who would have know

[SKKY]

56. Let me make sure I understand this correctly...

...They don't want to serve their countries military. Fine, I don't hold that against people simply because I chose to serve and continue to do so 13 years later. But don't stand there in front of the nation and say you're too good to go and die for your country and that someone else should do it because, "Frankly, I want to be a politician. I'd like to survive to see that." I personally would like to survive to see my child's birth in March. Matthew Vail's comment strikes me as particularly disturbing. "The bug may get me after college." Let me tell you something young Matthew, military service isn't a bug you get- like deciding to wear a mullet or become a vegetarian. It's a lifestyle change. It's a soul change. I would submit that you shouldn't enlist in any branch of the service because you obviously look at military service like it's summer camp, and we simply can't have people like you.

[lukasahero]

63. Thank you

for your service. This quote "But don't stand there in front of the nation and say you're too good to go and die for your country and that someone else should do it" is what I was thinking as I read their comments. It's not so much they're "too busy" or have "other priorities", it's that they think they're f'in better than that. F' them.

[JLucas4092]

66. Bless you

for serving. I never did, therefore eliminating my right to criticize ANYONE else's service to this country. That said, I am grateful to everyone that helps protect this country.

[ignatius 2]

68. A child due in March, Congratulations. Nothing brings purer joy

than a new baby. Take care.

[BrotherBuzz]

72. You don't parse words, do you?

Thank you for your service from a dumb draftee who would have dutifully guarded your six, even though Rumsfeld told me I added "no value, no advantage, really, to the United States Armed Services over any sustained period of time."

Congratulations on your expected child. They do make it all worthwhile - enjoy!

[The_Casual_Observer]

60. "but not all"

How about more like "NONE"

[Career Prole]

65. Disgusting pack of cowards...just like their parents. n/t

[LuminousX]

71. They have other priorities