From VoteVets.org
This week, the Senate will consider an amendment offered by military veterans Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) and Chuck Hagel (R-NE) that puts on paper one of the greatest things we can do to support the troops and the military -- guaranteeing them proper time on the homefront, to improve our readiness.
Call your Senator Burr and Senator Dole at 202-224-3121 and tell them to support the Webb-Hagel Readiness Amendment.
Their amendment simply says that active duty troops should have as much time home as they had on deployment, and that National Guard and Reserve troops should have three years at home after their one-year deployment. Besides being a just and fair thing to do for those who are making tremendous sacrifices for all of us, it is just good military policy.
The war in Iraq is breaking our fine Army and Marine Corps. You've heard the stories about deployments being extended again and again, and troops coming home only to turn around and head right back. It has led to our troops being depleted and exhausted. Not only that, but it has seriously damaged our ability to defend this nation. Many units are simply not combat ready, and God forbid an attack by a rogue nation necessitates opening up a new war front, our forces would be unable to respond. Further, extended and frequent deployments of our National Guard has left us much more vulnerable at home.
As Major General Batiste, a former commanding general in Iraq said, "In addition to our country's lack of strategic focus and failure to mobilize the country, our military is at a breaking point. The Webb-Hagel Amendment is a step in the right direction to force our leadership to come to grips with the gross mismatch between capability and requirements."
Comments
Cloture vote scheduled for 10:30
So please PLEASE don't wait call this morning.
Will It Do Any Good?
to call the carpetbagger and mr. not there?
Sweet Jesus can we get some representation in this state.
Okay. I'll call.
This is fairly much how it was before the RotteN Crew took over:
ETA: Done. And will wonders never cease - I was fairly dripping Southern charm. Guess I've been down here long enough now.
If they don't hear from us
you can be sure they'll continue breaking the military. If enough call their offices, who knows they might get the idea.
BTW for those like me living in the stoneage without a cell phone with free long distance plans Dole has toll free numbers at her website and Burr has a few local numbers.
I was told -
by the staffer that the office has been receiving calls on the subject.
She can't say she didn't know - and if she does - we should be able to tell her she doesn't need a staffer if she doesn't get her messages from them anyway. Right?
thank-you
thank-you for calling.
When I spoke with Dole office yesterday and asked her position on the amendment I was told:
" We'll know when we get the talking points."
Glad to hear they are getting calls on the matter.
Done.
I usually don't bother contacting Dull and Brrrr but I did this morning because you asked so nicely.
I suppose there's a long-shot chance Dull might actually break ranks because of her desire for re-election. But it's a slim one.
I understand
chances are slim of changing the minds of our glorious dear Senators but a couple of minutes on the phone are worth the chance I suppose.
It may also help that the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) supports the amendment.
For My Brothers in Arms
Ay Caramba!
Done.
Burr's staffer couldn't decide if I was a Ma'am or Sir; Dole's number went to VM on the 12th ring, and I left a very nice message. Sure would be nice to have a Senator with some competence.
mr. not there
told ya.
Unique - sometimes slightly psychic
Didn't get an answer at Dole's office
Not even VM after 20 rings.
Got a staffer who was very nice at Burr's office. Yes ma'amed me all over the place.
We'll see.
Gosh, Dole stinks.
update
Cloture vote on the Webb-Hagel Amendment is at 11:30 am ET per CSPAN 2.
Still time to try and send a message.
w00t!
CSPAN
**check out this headline** · Centrist House Republicans Set Up New Political Action Committee
wonder what that's all about, eh?
Dole now has her talking points
and not too surprising she will oppose the amendment
per her military staffer the amendment is "political posturing and micromanaging the war"
Regardless the futility on the matter if you haven't called please do - let them know they WILL be taking heat on this.
Micromanaging
is better than NO managing.
This is yet another nail in Dull's sad coffin.
yep
"Supporting the troops being over there so they don't have to support them here."
as one kos commenter noted
The woman only quotes
that which proceedeth from the pen of Rove. Ever read any of her replies to letters?
Honest-to-dog, the second paragraph always starts out with that irritating "As you know" (when no sane and aware person knows any such drivel as immediately ensues) and right close on the heels of that follows "...since September 11th..." as if that justifies the mindless crap that's supposed to be a position. A position that reliably opposes the will of the people, I might add.
It's obvious that Burr uses the same steno-pool for his replies, since the fingerprints on the boilerplate are identical. At the end of the day, they all say the same thing: "You exercised your right to petition, but we didn't read your letter, don't have to, and don't really give a damn. We don't have to. We're the ruling class. Now just run along, willya?"
Are they willful, criminal, or as dumb as they sound? You'd think that there'd be nobody that damned stupid out walking around, let alone in government. But, mirabile dictu, there they are...
"The most unamerican thing you can say is 'You can't say that'" - G. Keillor
A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.
Mohandas Gandhi
Making Sure our Soldiers
are properly trained, equipped, and recovered from their wounds before sending them back is -
Ms. Dole - a hearty fuck you. It's obvious YOU'VE NEVER BEEN IN THE GD MILITARY.
Sorry, -A- you can edit me if you like. That piece of work has pissed me off for the last time.
Did she really SAY that? Is that a direct quote?
This is WAR! No Quarter!
Not Dole herself
That is what Dole's staffer told me - you think Dole would actually speak to her constituents?
I'm trying to find out if VoteVets can run some ads here in NC against Dole.
Thank you everyone
for the attempt. I didn't have high hopes of Dole or Burr doing right by our troops but it was worth a shot.
I've been a frequent BlueNC lurker but this amendment brought me out of the woodwork.
Again thanks for the help
Thanks for pushing this
We love action posts . . . and this one certainly fit the bill. Sorry I didn't front-page it . . . I've been in meetings most of the day.
As to Dull and Brrrrr, they are hopelessly out of touch with reality and have to much blood on their hands that they'll never come clean. History will look back on both as mindless Bushbots who helped destroy the integrity and character of our nation.
I'm Still Pissed
You know - not too many people are asked to put their lives on the line for their communities and their country ....
Is it too much to ask for a GI to get used to his prosthesis before he goes back to a war zone?
I'm mean really.
Or how about - 'here's an enlistment bonus - oopsy - you can't fulfill your mission - you're all blown to hell - we want our money back.'
Blackwater? They get how much per month? 3X to 8X the pay of a GI depending.... Is that not a crock? C'mon!
I know why they won't bring the troops home - they're skeered. They should be.
I'm well beyond pissed
but sometimes a kick in the teeth is a good motivator. I have an odd habit of listening to the local talk radio on occasion and Dole is far from a popular person with the that crowd already. Tomorrow I'm calling in to discuss how she and
Burr hid behind procedure while our troops are paying for Bush's folly.
I saw in an email from Sen Kerry that this vote is going to be used against Dole come election time. He's requesting donations for the eventual Democratic nominee for her seat.
And speaking of which I email Grier Martin's campaign and offered to volunteer for him in Wilmington should he run for the Senate.
I'm extremely pissed but trying to channel it into productive ways.
Good thinking
If I could turn all my "pissed" into productive, I'd be one unstoppable wildman!
You Are Brave -
very brave to tackle this in aid of your country:
Even a Yankee knows a carpetbagger is no damn good.
I don't know who you're calling, sweetheart, but I hope everybody hears you:
Oh, pleaseeeee. A candidate, a candidate, my heart, my soul, my life for a candidate .... give me liberty!
Good advice is always welcome here ...