Obama calls on Americans to enlist

angelica

Rhinocerous Surprise wrote:

Well thank you.

But I see it as common sense... Sign of the times when common sense is exceptional?

I love that type of thing...like when alternative bands find mainstream success....

however, in this type of case, it's a little scary. :(

Rider

That was a great speech. Lots of good ideas.

Rhinocerous Surprise

angelica wrote:

I love that type of thing...like when alternative bands find mainstream success....

however, in this type of case, it's a little scary. :(

It's just a little weird to think that people are so resigned to the fact that their government is so quick to arms that a draft could be seen as the solution... Seriously... people need their kids to be in immediate danger before they'll start looking for a better way?

dg1979us

Rhinocerous Surprise wrote:

It's just a little weird to think that people are so resigned to the fact that their government is so quick to arms that a draft could be seen as the solution... Seriously... people need their kids to be in immediate danger before they'll start looking for a better way?

Yes. A large portion of society is apathetic.

Vince

Urban Hiker wrote:

Thumbs up on expanding the AmeriCorps program.

Thumbs down on recruiting more people to die and kill in oil wars.

To serve and protect the US is an honor. It's a shame that Bush has misused our brave men and women but I think it's about time someone called on the American public to stand up and do something for their country. Young people today take this country for granted.

"And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. "

angelica

dg1979us wrote:

Or a public who wont put up with or elect/re-elect politicans that go to opportunistic wars. It starts with the public, not the politician.

I agree totally.

Vince

RolandTD20Kdrummer wrote:

http://i34.tinypic.com/2a99wy9.jpg

keep the faith 08!

Edit: he looks astonishingly hitler-esque without hair. the original: http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/Obama%20on%20Time%20Nov.%2029,%202007-thumb.jpg

When in doubt throw out the Nazi and Hitler card.

angelica

Vince wrote:

"And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. "

This is an amazing quote. I believe in it 100%.

What I don't buy into is when it is used to justify the unjustifiable.

Rhinocerous Surprise

Vince wrote:

To serve and protect the US is an honor. It's a shame that Bush has misused our brave men and women but I think it's about time someone called on the American public to stand up and do something for their country. Young people today take this country for granted.

"And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. "

I agree that the public should stand up and do something for their country, but I disagree that mass enlistment is the action required. More a mass enlightenment.

nobody

Vince wrote:

When in doubt throw out the Nazi and Hitler card.

just found out today about a witty swiff called Godwin's Law:

"As a Usenet discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law

turns out it didn't have to grow that long;)

I might be behind general knowledge, though;)

m.

DixieN

One of the things I have always least liked about Obama has been his talk about taking it up in Afghanistan. I'm not really saying he's wrong about where we needed to go--obviously Afghanistan/Pakistan, not Iraq--but my worry is hydra-headed war-making. We need to finish our Iraq offensive before going whole-hog in Afghanistan. I don't think our existing troops need the added stress or added tours of duty. Talk of increasing our available troops is fine, but it's just talk. Until we have more people to work with, I think our burdens, as they stand, are heavy enough.

cincybearcat

Rhinocerous Surprise wrote:

It's just a little weird to think that people are so resigned to the fact that their government is so quick to arms that a draft could be seen as the solution... Seriously... people need their kids to be in immediate danger before they'll start looking for a better way?

I never said that I believe it should be the solution, just that others here have made that exact argument.

Rhinocerous Surprise

cincybearcat wrote:

I never said that I believe it should be the solution, just that others here have made that exact argument.

Oh, I didn't mean you, specifically - I was just taking your example and running with it.

fuck

DixieN wrote:

I'm not really saying he's wrong about where we needed to go--obviously Afghanistan/Pakistan, not Iraq

why is that obvious?

El_Kabong

Rhinocerous Surprise wrote:

You don't need a draft... you need a government that won't take you into opportunistic wars in the first place.

or a congress that acts as something other than a rubber stamp

dmitry

a truly volunteer military would let people quit. If people could quit, unnecessary wars would be less likely. This is a better idea than a draft because a draft assumes that the state owns you.

Abookamongstthemany

Was the whole speech not in the airforce times link? If not then I apologize. I posted the parts that concerned me from that source.

Abookamongstthemany

cincybearcat wrote:

So, I know you don't like him...what abotu this don't you like? Just the overall increase in the military? Many would say that sharing the load would be a good thing, even in a time of peace. Many here have argued for th eneed for a draft so that we stay out of wars that are not necessary.

What's your take?

Why on earth would we need to expand the military by 90,000 troops if he's planning on ending the war and being a 'diplomat'???

I'm confused.

RolandTD20Kdrummer

Vince wrote:

When in doubt throw out the Nazi and Hitler card.

no doubts...

but hell yeah, and a good photoshop job to boot. :cool:

unsung

So another politician who never served says people should join up. I wonder if he will encourage his daughters to enlist, or will they be too busy taking his mandatory Spanish classes?