James Baker Backs Reinstating the Draft

[babylonsister]

Why'd he wait 6 years to say this?

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2009/5/3/james-baker-backs-reinstating-the-draft.html?s_cid=rss:washington-whispers:james-baker-backs-reinstating-the-draft

James Baker Backs Reinstating the Draft
May 03, 2009 01:19 PM ET | Paul Bedard | Permanent Link | Print

By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers


Rep. Charlie Rangel, Congress's lone champion of reinstating the military draft, can count on another Korean War-era vet for support: Republican James Baker, a soldier in the Reagan and Bush administrations. Baker, secretary of state during the first Gulf War, visited a private girls' school in Virginia, where he was asked how to attract kids into some kind of service that gives them a stake in the country's future. "This is a very unpopular thing that I am about to say," he warned. "But one thing that makes it harder to go to war is to have a draft, because when you have a draft, then everybody's got a stake in it, and the costs of war are brought home much more vividly and vigorously to the American people. I think national service is a wonderful idea." But unlikely, he conceded: "You get killed if you support a draft, politically, but it sure would raise the stakes. Everybody would understand a lot better what we have at stake when we go to war."

[annabanana]

1. I am not particularly inclined to listen to James Baker.

He is up to his neck in blood for decades.

[elizfeelinggreat]

2. He waited for a Democratic President

of course.

What's a "very unpopular thing", Mr. Baker, is your political party and their war.

[BOSSHOG]

3. Its hard to believe we need a draft

when there is literally trillions of flag waving Patriots in this country who have never served in the military. (The Silent Majority. They sure are noisy motherfuckers for being silent.) Apparently they have been too busy tea bagging to get on down to a recruiting station.

[sarge43]

7. Does Baker have any male relatives of draft age?

If so, Baker should frog march them to the nearest recruiting office.

If not, STFU.

[HereSince1628]

4. Baker is so...last presidency...

The BEFEE needs to worry more about staying out of jail.

[Danger Mouse]

5. Oh bullshit. You just want a draft so you can pin it on the Democrats..

so you can resuscitate the rotting corpse of your party. Dipshit.

[bushmeister0]

6. Concocting another war, Jimmy?

[bluestateguy]

8. I was against it when Bush was in there, and I remain against it today

Rangel's bill was a cheap political stunt, nothing more.

He's insane if he thinks the draft will have no exceptions or loopholes for the privileged. I don't care what his bill says.

[sarge43]

13. Of course, there will be exceptions.

What's Rangel's solution for parents? Right now the military makes first term enlisted who are parents, either single or both military, placed their children in what amounts to foster care.

So, if there's a draft, will parents be exempt or will the gov't force them to give up legal control of their children? Either way, that ought to fill up a lot of court dockets and have the paper mills working over time.

Would the military scrap DADT? Back in the bad old days to declare homosexuality publicly was just about unthinkable. Nowadays, not so very much and about time. So either bye-bye to DADT or right back to a de facto volunteer force. Can you say easy exemption because you can take it to the bank that a lot of hetros will make use.

Are women included in his draft proposal? The days when the military could say it doesn't draft for non combat MOSs are going away, too. Hell, a woman is commanding a naval task force. If not, I wouldn't blame any guy for going to the legal mat on that one.

Finally, all the physical exemptions which must be in place.

And yes, the privileged will find all the loops holes. They always have. What's makes Rangel think they won't this time?

[AllentownJake]

9. We don't need a draft right now

Unfortunately with the economy in the shape it is in the recruiting stations will be doing fine.

I want to say I mean that its unfortunate that the economy is in the shape its in. Not that people choose service.

[Coyote_Bandit]

10. He's right about one thing

If the draft were to be reinstated - with almost no exceptions and exemptions allowed - then everbody's got a stake in the outcome. Those who wouldn't give a thought to someone else's kid coming home in a body bag will think twice if it could be their kid or grandkid.

[anonymous171]

11. A 90% income tax on the rich should accompany the draft.

That way everyone is forced to contribute.

[Lars39]

12. If there was absolutely one reason why we should *not* have a draft:

because James Baker wants one. He is an evil fucker who wants more warm bodies for Bushco.

[NEOBuckeye]

14. Sure thing, old man.

I'm all for it. Provided, of course, that:

1. ) You and Poppy are made eligible to join, and indeed do so.

2. ) You both put yourselves on the front lines in Iraq.

When requirements 1 and 2 are met, then I will support a Draft.

[roamer65]

15. This from the man who helped steal the 2000 election.

He's a fucktard.