Edwards bombarded with war questions during town hall meeting

[quaoar]

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/politics/9672292.htm?1c

JENNIFER BUNDY
Associated Press

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. - Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards returned to West Virginia on Wednesday to talk about the outsourcing of jobs during the Bush administration but many in the crowd wanted to talk about the war in Iraq.

About 500 people turned out for Edwards' 45-minute appearance at West Virginia University-Parkersburg, his sixth visit to the state.

During a question-and-answer session, one woman whose 23-year-old son recently graduated from WVU's main campus in Morgantown asked Edwards whether the draft would be reinstated.

"There will be no draft when John Kerry is president," Edwards said, sparking one of several standing ovations he received during the event, which sometimes had the feel of a religious revival meeting.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Ok the only problem wtih this

as much as I hate to say it, is... we just may need a draft anyhow

But under Bush it will be for a tour de force (no pun intended) to places like North Korea and Iran... but we just may need one.

That said, John make the draft the issue it should be

[napi21]

3. I don't think K/E would ask for a draft. It's Shrub who would have to

do that because they continue to talk about Iran, Syria, Egypt, Korea, etc. as evil and our enemies. BushCo wants to control the world! To do that, he will HAVE to enact a draft!!!!

Kerry doesn't want to do any of that.

[Zensea]

5. The House and the Senate can ask for one though

no matter who is president.

[napi21]

24. Of course they can, but the Pres. can veto. None of these

congressmen have the ba**s to vote to over-ride a veto for a draft!!!

[Carla in Ca]

7. I totally agree...this difference between them should be told

and as loudly as possible. Use it as a scare tactic.
*= draft
Kerry =diplomacy

[blm]

4. I think Kerry will advocate for gays to serve openly.

.

[NNN0LHI]

23. God damn good chance we may need a draft real soon

And as you say, this is regardless of who is elected. Bush has got us into some shit that most people are unable to comprehend the seriousness of. He has led us all down the path to hell in a hand basket. Its going to require damn near a miracle worker to get us all out of this mess in one piece. I trust Kerry is the man for the job.

Don

[jdj]

28. I categorically oppose any draft

I don't care if who wins. If we have to pull out and leave a mess, then fine, but no Draft.

Sorry, this is Dubya's mess, he'll reap the end of it, but maybe this is their plan to get us into a mess, throw an election to dems, have it turn into an even bigger fiasco and then win in 08...I don't know, but no draft.

[amandabeech]

29. Unless Kerry can get us out of Iraqnam quickly, I don't see

how he can avoid either continuing the back door draft or instituting an upfront one.

I do not think that the situation in Iraq is likely to change any time soon, even if a nation-wide election is actually held in January. So many Iraqis seem to want us out that so long as we're there, the attacks against us and anyone cooperating with us will continue. In my opinion, any newly-elected government probably will still lack wide-spread support, which will mean that they'll probably still want us there to prop them up.

The situation could become a vicious circle that will only be broken if we just leave the Iraqis to their own devices and a probable civil war that is long past due thanks to the iron-fisted rule that Iraq has suffered for so long. Of course, instability in that part of the world could overflow into Syria, Turkey, Iran, Kuwait or Saudi Arabia. Perhaps even Jordan would have problems.

Although I believe that Kerry would have had a much, much better chance of enlisting much more international support for the invasion (which I opposed) and might have managed a weak U.N. resolution, I believe that the situation in Iraq is so bad that no other nation will step forward to help us now, even if the U.S. shows its contrition by electing Kerry in a landslide. Obviously, I could be wrong and would love to be. Wouldn't it be great if the French actually decided to help because the hostage takers are trying to interfere in French social policy vis a vis its North African minority? The Freepers would flip!

Bush and his cronies have put us between a rock and a hard place. I'm not confident that anyone can get us out without taking huge risks for the world in a very important but conflict ridden region.

[LTR]

2. Here's a login for the Miami Herald

from http://www.bugmenot.com

[e-mail]
miamivice

[Ohio rules]

6. It's Congress that has a say

about passing any legislation on the draft.

They were not going to up that gun control bill last week.....

[clover]

8. big news

this is a major statement by the kerry campaign and one that i hope the media uses to ask the same of cheney. many believe that the reactivated draft--this time with women marked for combat as well as men (despite the right-wing hysteria voiced decades ago in opposition to ratifying the equal rights amendment: "mothers will be forced to leave their children and go to war!") --sorry, a tangent--many believe, as i have, that the active draft was inevitable next spring, no matter which party takes the white house. i teach at a university and have told my students about the proposed hollings amendments--sitting quietly in the house and senate--to require all ALL americans age 18-27 (if i remember correctly) to serve in the military or "in other capacities."

even the little neo-cons among my 150 or so students (the neo-con number is small, here in the heartland) stated they would refuse to even register. if, in fact, kerry does not support the twin bills awaiting discussion, he should say so asap. an active draft enjoys no significant support among the folks it targets; kerry could convince many fence-sitters to take a side.

[xray s]

9. if they haven't registered they are breaking the law now

all males 18 and over have to register now. better turn those neo-cons in.

[clover]

13. right!

yes. you are right, of course. the women who spoke--after recovering from their shock--usually stated they would refuse to register, and men refuse to serve, usually citing career goals that would be thrown off-track with military service, sort of the cheney-bush-ashcroft POV.

[Dems Will Win]

12. In fact Kerry has a NO-DRAFT PLAN costing $7 billion

John Kerry has a No-Draft Plan, a plan to strengthen the military in key areas yet draw down U.S. troop levels in Iraq by internationalizing the situation and then getting out as soon as possible.

Here are the five main points of Kerry’s No-Draft Plan:

1. Move some paper-pushers to combat (lots of potential there)

2. Increase enlistment with real scholarships, benefits and pay raises

3. Let troops know Special Ops will hunt al-Queda, no more invasions needed, so re-up rate goes up. "Primarily a law enforcement effort, not a full military effort", said John Kerry on Meet The Press.

4. Start a "Civilian Stability Corps" that would help in reconstructing Afghanistan and Iraq and relieve military pressure. It would be kind of like the Peace Corps—but on steroids.

5. GET FOREIGN TROOPS TO COME INTO INSTEAD OF LEAVE IRAQ.

Kerry gave some details about the proposed Civilian Stability Corps, made up of volunteers:

"...I propose that we enlist thousands of them in a Civilian Stability Corps, a reserve organization of volunteers ready to help win the peace in troubled places. Like military reservists, they will have peacetime jobs; but in times of national need, they will be called into service to restore roads, renovate schools, open hospitals, repair power systems, draft a constitution, or build a police force. A Civilian Stability Corps can bring the best of America to the worst of the world—and reduce pressure on the military."

- Source: Kerry, John. "Protecting Our Military Families in Times of War: A Military Family Bill of Rights." March 17, 2004. http://johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2004_0317.html

In April, on a conference call with 130 College Newspaper Editors, Kerry said “No Draft”, that he would have a sensible foreign policy that would not require reinstatement. And in June, Kerry told a Wisconsin high school that if elected, a draft would be "absolutely unnecessary".

Kerry’s plan calls for increasing active-duty troop levels by 40,000 people. He also doubles the number of Special Ops troops. Half the 40,000 being added are civil engineering/reconstruction specialists and half are combat, costing an extra $7 billion, but it relieves the pressure on the Guard and Reserves for overseas deployments and essentially saves the Volunteer Army. $7 billion is well worth not having to bring back the draft!

Kerry charges that Bush is ruining the Volunteer approach with long Guard and Reserve deployments and numerous stop-loss orders, which Kerry says is a “Back-door Draft”. Since Kerry will increase pay, benefits, scholarships and reduce long deployments of regular troops and the reserves, if he is elected the re-enlistment rates and recruitment rates will return to normal. Recently, troops returning from Iraq are reportedly leaving the Service in huge numbers, although denied by DoD (see David Hackworth, Voting With their Feet http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=38644).

With this No-Draft Plan, Kerry will not have to resort to conscription, even after Bush has made such a mess of it in Iraq. Kerry has also pledged that he will push renewable energy development and true energy independence, “so that we never again have soldiers dying for oil”.

Kerry has criticized the inequality of the draft, that the poor and minorities are inducted in higher numbers than their fair share and that the draft is a source of conflict. John Kerry will not reinstate the draft—outside of the invasion of the United States by China or something like that.

The choice is thus clear to all voters. Vote for Bush and you are also voting for the resumption of the draft—to man his hidden agenda of invading more countries and staying in Iraq forever.

Or vote for Kerry and you are voting PNAC out of the White House, and with it Bush’s hidden agenda to bring back the draft so U.S. companies can dominate the world’s remaining oil supply.

Finally, a draft is morally reprehensible, an infringement of freedom against the principles of the Constitution. We know that Bush cares nothing about morality when it comes to Iraq and that Kerry has over the years always expressed real opposition to the draft for a number of moral and ethical reasons. Having lived through the Vietnam era, Kerry knows well the long history of conflict and opposition that the draft has wrought.

John Kerry will not reinstate the draft, but Bush is secretly gearing up the whole system right now for the summer of next year.

BUSH '04 = DRAFT '05

KERRY '04 = PNAC OUT THE DOOR!!!

[hansolsen]

10. The message here is that Kerry still hasn't nailed the war issue yet.

His supporters still don't know exactly where he is on the war, and what he will do differently. The war issue needs to be clarifed before the debates of during the debates.

People who are satisfied with Kerry's war psoitions thus far are missing the widespread dissatisfaction that still exists.

[daleo]

11. It will be interesting to see how Bushco responds to this

Or if they do. Now that Edwards has nailed down their position on this, it should be the front and center question at the first debate, to force Bush to make a commitment, if he hasn't by then.

[clover]

15. defining issue?

this'll do it! i recall reading on truthout.org ( that william rivers pitt kicks butt ) a piece in which GOP kids in NYC stated that they would not choose to fight, with no plans to enlist, saying essentially that they are needed in the Homeland (does that term bug anyone else but me? my german eugenical grandad would've loved it, though).
i was told by a student, as he left my class mid-semester to go to iraq, that he was told by the nat'l guard recruiter that "the iraqi people" had attacked NYC and that he would be granted full citizenship after his tour of duty, otherwise he should consider returning to mexico very very soon.
anyway: the best thing the DNC could do is to have kerry hold a press conference and get the word out: there is a MAJOR difference between these 2 men: one is a war hero who will not draft our children into combat and the other a deserter who will. and it appears that kerry will sweeten the pie for those who choose to volunteer.

[Sterling]

14. I don't see how he can make that promise?

Pandoras box is open. Our military is stretched very thin and Kerry's policy I doubt will be one of military weakness.

That is why I protested the Iraqnam invasion as hard as I did. I knew once we opened this can of worms there would be no putting them back in until the balance of power was re established. With us bogged down in Iraqnam the world is much less of a safe to live.


N Korea is one of a long list of problems that I no longer feel certain can be contained. In fact I see Iraqnam as catalyst for a worldwide conflagration that Kerry and Edwards will not be able to prevent. We really could be looking at a new world war within the next 8 years. In fact history will probably view this time as being the opening stages of such a war.

[clover]

16. pandora's saving grace

"Epimetheus bade his wife open the box and set the speaker free, adding very amiably, that she had already done so much harm by her ill-fated curiosity, that it would be difficult to add materially to its evil consequences, and that, perchance, the box contained some good spirit, whose ministrations might prove beneficial.

It was well for Pandora that she opened the box a second time, for the gods, with a sudden impulse of compassion, had concealed among the evil spirits one kindly creature, Hope, whose mission was to heal the wounds inflicted by her fellow prisoners.

"Hope sole remain'd within, nor took her flight,
  Beneath the vessel's verge conceal'd from light."
                    Hesiod (Elton's tr.)

Lightly fluttering hither and thither on her snowy pinions, Hope touched the wounded places on Pandora's and Epimetheus' creamy skin, and relieved their suffering, then quickly flew out of the open window, to perform the same gentle office for the other victims, and to cheer their downcast spirits.

Thus, according to the ancients, evil entered into the world, bringing untold misery; but Hope followed closely in its footsteps, to aid struggling humanity, and point to a happier future." (lost the link address in my cut and paste)

[Only Me]

17. The world hates shrub and if he is re-elected it is going to look bad on

us for re-electing him. I have a friend in Ireland that understood that the people were mislead the first time out and elected and evil idiot... Now.. it's just embarrasing. How do you explain why some of us in this country are so stupid to fight for his re-election.
I think they wonder if we are not all as arrogant and war mongering as he is.

I personally believe that if we show the world that we don't approve of our president and his administrations actions by ousting him in November. We will begin to get the support in Iraq and in the world we desperately need. And maybe stabilize some, not all, of the hate that some of the other nations have against us right now.

[latebloomer]

25. "Fool me once"

"Fool me. . . won't get fooled again!"

Our fearless Misleader

[0007]

18. In a nut shell

http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/lou.dobbs.tonight/

Which presidential candidate do you believe would best fulfill his campaign promises for the next four years?

President Bush
10%
631 votes

Sen. John Kerry
85%
5390 votes

Ralph Nader
5%
324 votes

Total: 6345 votes

[clover]

19. cancel yer expatriate plans

isn't this the core question of any campaign? hope for the next four years?
i do believe the storm is ending.
i must send these poll results to my 5 friends who are planning to split in december if kerry fails. what fine news. thank you.

[tjdee]

20. This is getting good press, his No Draft with Kerry statement.

Good.

[Dems Will Win]

21. And a standing ovation in West Virginia!

[yardwork]

22. The story is now on yahoo news - please rate it up!

Edwards did a great job! In addition to his strong, clear statements about "no draft" he made other excellent points.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=1963&e=11&u=/ap/20040915/ap_on_el_pr/edwards

"We will never send American men and women into battle without first having a plan to win the peace and without the training and the equipment they need, including armored vehicles and including body armor," Edwards said. "We have one candidate for president who has fought in a war. The truth of the matter is John Kerry takes this very, very personally."

Bill Ambrose, a land surveyor from Volcano, told Edwards, "I don't know why we can't hammer George Bush. The concern is we are not supporting the troops. I think that's a separate issue. We all support the troops. This administration has made the most monumental foreign policy mistakes since Vietnam."

snip...

"Iraq is a mess. It is a mess because of George Bush and Dick Cheney. It's that simple," Edwards said. "The facts are overwhelming. This president's father did the work, the hard work, of bringing others with us before the Gulf War."

Edwards said the Gulf War cost American taxpayers $5 billion.

"This president did not do that. The result is over $200 billion and counting" and a thousand American deaths, Edwards said.

[Only Me]

27. Done n/t

[quaker bill]

26. This is an issue we need to work.

I can think of few better ways to capture the youth vote.