Dean discusses draft at Williams, large crowd.

[madfloridian]

http://www.thetranscript.com/Stories/0,1413,103~9049~2434421,00.html

WILLIAMSTOWN -- Former Vermont governor and presidential candidate Howard Dean told a standing-room-only crowd at Williams College Tuesday that it isn't enough for people to vote: They also need to run for political office.

A crowd primarily made up of students -- some who had to lean in through the Chapin Hall's open windows to hear Dean -- were among the more than 1,300 to listen to the former Vermont governor speak at the college's annual public policy forum. He was greeted with cheers and thunderous applause as most leapt to their feet to give him a standing ovation.

SNIP..."It wouldn't be a surprise to him to see in the paper a couple of days ago for the first time in many, many years, the National Guard can't meet their quota," said Dean. "The truth is, it's worse. They're actually borrowing from next year's quotas in order to meet this quota."

In addition, for the first time, older reserve members are not being given passes to exempt them from active duty, Dean said. "They're saving 40-year-olds and 50-year-olds and sending them to Iraq."

Saying he knows many people in the service because, as governor, he appointed many of them, Dean said they were told that, "When there's a draft, they're going to take 20-year-olds first, and medical people will be their other high priority."