[richlevy]

Originally Posted by Urbane Guerrilla

Oh for Pete's sake, Rich, foreign policy IS homeland defense, particularly in time of war, declared or otherwise. A formal declaration of war -- though there isn't any enthusiasm for it because it feels too weird -- would clarify the thinking of certain mudheads nationwide who mistake a Republican President for the big-E Enemy. Talk about misordered priorities!

I agree on the federated Iraq, as we've seen what attempting absolutist control has wrought there under the Saddam regime. Dividing Iraq à la Gaul might give you proud independent states, but a greater likelihood of general poverty and less stability as well -- the likeliest meddler being Iran, in spite of its having been bled white in the first half of the eighties.

You know what? I think the Democrats will lose the next Presidential general election too. They don't have any war fighters, and no military strategists either. All they have are people who waste their time searching for some substitute for victory. That's searching for something that doesn't exist.

Well, we agree about foreign policy, which is why Bush's lack of competence goes from being merely funny to dangerous.

As for war fighters, the list below seems pretty split, proving once again that despite the rhetoric being absorbed by less-than-intelligent members of the public, Republicans do not have the exclusive franchise on patriotism or self-sacrifice. This of course has not prevented smear campaigns against disabled veterans.

Keep in mind that many retired 'war fighters', the only ones publicly able to speak freely, disagree with much of the adminstrations handling of the war and foreign policy. In fact, many 'war fighters' might prefer a Democratic president, simply based on the fact that he or she would not be hampered by having to pretend that the Bush adminstration had effective policies.

McCain probably wouldn't care, but someone like Frist would be hampered by not being able to completely change direction without having to acknowledge past mistakes, which would cost the %30 of the party that feels that Bush was right.

<dir> Veterans in the United States Senate

</dir>

<hr> <dir> Note: "#" in front of the name indicates a combat veteran.

</dir>

• #Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI)
  
  
  
  U.S. Army 1945-47
• Robert Bennett (R-UT)
  
  
  
  National Guard 1957-61
• Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
  
  
  
  Army Reserves 1968-74
• Conrad Burns (R-MT)
  
  
  
  USMC 1955-57
• #Thomas Carper (D-DEL)
  
  
  
  U.S. Navy 1968-1973
  
  
  
  Navy Reserve 1973-1991
• Thad Cochran (R-MS)
  
  
  
  U.S. Navy 1959-61
• Jon Corzine (D-NJ)
  
  
  
  USMCR 1969-1975
• Larry Craig (R-ID)
  
  
  
  National Guard 1970-72
• Christopher J. Dodd (D-CT)
  
  
  
  Army Reserve 1969-75
• Michael Enzi (R-WY)
  
  
  
  Air National Guard 1967-73
• Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
  
  
  
  
• #Chuck Hagel (R-NE)
  
  
  
  U.S. Army 1967-68
• Tom Harkins (D-IA)
  
  
  
  U.S. Navy 1962-67
  
  
  
  Navy Reserve 1968-74
• James M. Inhofe (R-OK)
  
  
  
  U.S. Army 1954-56
• #Daniel Inouye (D-HI)
  
  
  
  Medal Of Honor
  
  
  
  U.S. Army 1943-47
• Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
  
  
  
  National Guard 1966-1972
• Jim Jeffords (I-VT)
  
  
  
  U.S. Navy 1956-59
  
  
  
  Navy Reserve 1959-1990
• Tim Johnson (D-SD)
  
  
  
  U.S. Army 1969-
• Edward Kennedy (D-MA)
  
  
  
  U.S. Army 1951-53
• #John Robert Kerry (D-MA)
  
  
  
  U.S. Navy 1966-1970
• Herb Kohl (D-WI)
  
  
  
  Army Reserve 1958-64
• Frank Lautenburg (D-NJ)
  
  
  
  U.S. Army 1942-46
• Richard Lugar (R-IN)
  
  
  
  U.S. Navy 1957-60
• #John R. McCain (R-AZ)
  
  
  
  U.S. Navy 1958-81
  
  
  
  *POW Vietnam 1967-73
• Frank Murkowski (R-AK)
  
  
  
  US Coast Guard 1955-57
• Bill Nelson (D-FL)
  
  
  
  U.S. Army 1968-1970
• Pat Roberts (R-KS)
  
  
  
  U.S. Marine Corps (1958-62)
• Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
  
  
  
  Army Reserves 1973-86
• Arlen Specter (R-PA)
  
  
  
  U.S. Air Force 1951-53
• #Ted Stevens (R-AK)
  
  
  
  Army Air Corps 1943-46
• Craig Thomas (R-WY)
  
  
  
  U.S. Marine Corps 1955-59
• #John R. Warner (R-VA)
  
  
  
  U.S. Navy 1945-46
  
  
  
  Marine Corps 1950-52
  
  
  
  Marine Corps Reserves 1952-1964
• Zell Miller (D-GA)
  
  
  
  Marine Corps 1953-1956