It is interesting that you encourage people to consider not voting for Romney when he did not serve in the military, but went on a two half year LDS mission. I think you underestimate the desire for LDS young men to serve a mission. My son, graduated top of his class, worked hard in sports so he could attend the U.S. Air Force Academy. He received a $415,000 dollar scholarship to the AFA. He worked hard, he was on the dean’s list, was also in the 22 squad (Raptors) which finished first in the school and was able to stand behind President Obama at the graduation. He gave all this up to serve a mission in Chile. That is how important Mr. Romney also felt. He did this with the hope that there will be no major budget cuts to the AFA so that he may return there.
This should not even be one of the issue’s we are talking about since President Clinton did the same thing avoiding the draft and President Obama never served in the military but could have. Let’s stay on topic and improve this economy.
We should be debating idea’s for our future... not slinging mud.
Rick Smithson
Globe
Arizona Willie posted at 8:32 am on Fri, Oct 12, 2012.
If someone serves in he military THEN goes on a mission. Fine and dandy. Great job. More power to them.
If someone goes on a mission THEN serves in the military. Fine and dandy. Great job. More power to them.
If someone goes on a mission INSTEAD of serving in the military. Hints of self-serving and cowardice.
If someone goes on a mission INSTEAD of serving in the military, AND THEN BECOMES A HAWK and wants to send OTHER people to get shot at. Bad Karma. Boo. Coward. Self-centered. Not fit for public office.
JNelson posted at 9:15 am on Fri, Oct 12, 2012.
ArizonaWillie.....You said: "If someone goes on a mission INSTEAD of serving in the military. Hints of self-serving and cowardice.
If someone goes on a mission INSTEAD of serving in the military, AND THEN BECOMES A HAWK and wants to send OTHER people to get shot at. Bad Karma. Boo. Coward. Self-centered. Not fit for public office."
And where is this "standard" of behavior or commitment stated anywhere except in your own mind? Not volunteering to serve in the military demonstrates cowardice? Since when? President Clinton was a coward? Obama is a coward? And because one may choose serving in a missionary capacity instead of joining the military, that automatically translates to his becoming a war hawk wanting others to put themselves in danger and get shot at? So Obama is a despicable hawk now? And Clinton, too, even though they did NOT go on a missionary venture as Romney did? Only Romney is a hawk in comparison to those two?
The bias and illogical nature of your comments tells us quite a bit more about you rather than anything pertinent about Romney, IMHO.
Arizona Willie posted at 11:11 am on Fri, Oct 12, 2012.
JNelson, that " standard " of behavior is indeed MY standard. My opinion. That's what this place is --- a place to express our opinions.
Choosing to serve go on a mission instead of serving in the military HINTS at cowardice. You ignored that one 5 letter word. Yes, if there is a war going on and ducking military service by serving the CHURCH instead of serving your COUNTRY, in my opinion is an indicator of cowardice. Yes, I held that opinion about Clinton too.
Obama, no, because there was no active war at the time he turned of age.
Neither Obama nor Clinton advocated STARTING a war as Romney / Ryan seem to be advocating with Iran. Iran poses no threat to the U.S. mainland. Israel is fully capable of defending itself up to and including nuclear responses to any Iranian aggression.
I may be biased ( I bet you are too ) we all are in one way or another.
Engaged Voter posted at 11:12 am on Fri, Oct 12, 2012.
"Not volunteering to serve in the military demonstrates cowardice?"
JNelson, read Willie's comment again...slower this time.
No one said anything about "not volunteering" - he didn't just "not volunteer" he received FOUR deferments to NOT serve.
And if you don't understand the difference...
DonMey posted at 11:15 am on Fri, Oct 12, 2012.
Willie - What do you think of Bill Clinton? Look up his story about he didn't get drafted.
chatmandu002 posted at 12:10 pm on Fri, Oct 12, 2012.
Romney was registered for the draft. His number was 300 which was never called. What's the problem?
Romney/Ryan all the way.
Slabside posted at 12:23 pm on Fri, Oct 12, 2012.
C'mon DonMey, you know you're supposed to let the progressive leftist complain about everything the righties do and not hold the libs to the same standard!
Leon Ceniceros posted at 12:42 pm on Fri, Oct 12, 2012.
Well, I almost agree with Arizona's willie (would rather have Romney sitting behind the Presidential Desk in the Oval Office of the White House that Obama flying all over the World apologizing to our Enemies, past, present and future).
During the 1960's and 1970's, if you were drafted...75% of the Time you ended up in Viet Nam. So that meant that 75% all the Mormon young men who were "DEFERRED" to go on a Mission were substituted by someone else who had to go in their place.
Of these 75%...how many of these "Substitutes".....died in Viet Nam instead of their Mormon "Deferrers" ???
Of these 75%...how many of these "Substitutes".....were maimed in Viet Nam instead of their Mormon "Deferrers" ???
Of these 75%...how many of these "Substitutes".....were wounded in Viet Nam instead of their Mormon "Deferrers" ???
Of these 75%...how many of these "Substitutes".....suffer from P.T.S.D from fighting in Viet Nam instead of their Mormon "Deferrers"
You can say the same thing about Bill Clinton and the other "College and University Students" who were "Deferred" and ask the same questions.
I worked in an Army Hospital with C.O.'s (Conscientious Objectors) who went through Holy Heck in Basic Training from their Drill Instructors because they refused to shoot a rifle. Eight weeks of being demeaned and debased....but these C.O's had the guts to serve their Country in a Time of War and many became Medics in Viet Nam who are still revered by their "Fighting G.I. Buddies to this day.
THEY "SERVED".......NOT......."DEFERRED".
Bluepoet posted at 12:53 pm on Fri, Oct 12, 2012.
I agree with the OP...the discussion should be about the future, not the past, except as a directional framework for the future. In other words, we have politicians running for office, so let's hear the promises, and decide which is the more plausible, or most likely to be followed through on...keeping in mind that the position of President has a built-in function that makes whomever holds it to hopefully be, middle-of-the-road, pragmatic, and yet decisive and intelligent. He/she must have the patience of a tortured saint, and the ability to give an order, at a momen'ts notice. He must surround himself with people who are dedicated, competent, and loyal. He must be a figurehead, and yet somehow be a leader, too.
If you think military experience is important, go with that. I don't think it's even in my top twenty list.
If you think business experience is important, go with that. I think giving a businessman the leadership of the country is akin to making a doctor a football coach, but that's just me...
If you think being a Republican/Democrat/Independent is important, go with that. I think the party a candidate belongs to may be somewhat important, because that will be a strong factor in how they will be allowed to play the game of politics, but it's still not in my own top three...
My top three prerequistites?
Character, vision, wisdom
Who am I voting for?
Nobody's business but my own, but here's a hint...it ain't Romney. He's just a caricature.
Arizona Willie posted at 1:00 pm on Fri, Oct 12, 2012.
DonMey, I know about Clinton getting deferments for school.
His saving grace is that he never advocated starting a war as did Bush / Cheney / Romney / Ryan and the other chickenhawks in Washington.
Although I didn't respect his getting deferred, he turned out to be a very good President.He turned the country around and left office with a surplus which Bush the Lesser blew very quickly. So much for Republicans being thrifty.
DonMey posted at 1:18 pm on Fri, Oct 12, 2012.
Willie - According to this CNN article, Clinton supported Bush going into Iraq:
http://articles.cnn.com/2004-06-19/us/clinton.iraq_1_weapons-inspectors-iraq-war-iraq-thing?_s=PM:US
truth posted at 4:07 pm on Fri, Oct 12, 2012.
I have never read so much garbage in my life than what is printed in the trib's vent or letters to the editor, what you morons fail to comprehend is you should engage you brain before your mouth. The middle class has been in neutral since 1976 and has been all but destroyed in the last decade. What you morons should be talking about is not Democrats or Republicans but how to save the middle class in America or there will not be a America as we once knew. Germany is third in the world in ranking pertaining to the GDP and why? because they refused to fall to the corporate lies of outsourcing jobs is good for the economy. For my self I am to old to worry about but I am worried about the American people. Romney and Obama each are going to spend $1 billion on this election ask yourself who will benefit? not the American people.
downtownresident posted at 8:03 am on Sat, Oct 13, 2012.
I'd rather have been KIA than becoming a Mormon so I could get a bogus deferment so I wouldn't have to go. I had a high number, but you can bet I would have gone if I had been called.
That's better than getting a Mormon coward's deferment.
Arizona Willie posted at 8:53 am on Sat, Oct 13, 2012.
Yep, getting a deferment to serve the CHURCH is seen like claiming to be a homosexual to get out of serving. Of course, I suppose that excuse doesn't work anymore.
A deferment because a kid is in college is not nearly as bad on the image. In my opinion. Especially if he is going into the service upon graduation .. then no problem.
Serving your CHURCH is NOT equivalent to serving your country.
xyno posted at 1:07 pm on Sat, Oct 13, 2012.
Some churches must preach to their flock to breed like rabbits.
Arizona Willie posted at 3:15 pm on Sat, Oct 13, 2012.
xyno ... all of them do. Churches are a business and the main thing they look for is butts in the pews.
The more butts ... the more money in the collection plate.
I've lived in two gated retirement communities and in both the biggest nicest homes were owned by retired preachers.
truth posted at 3:16 pm on Sat, Oct 13, 2012.
Back when I was a working person, I communicated with people all over the U.S. one was a Mormon in Utah. His parents could not go to his wedding because they DID NOT TITHE ENOUCHT TO THE CHURCH.
Dale Whiting posted at 7:28 am on Sun, Oct 14, 2012.
Rick,
Your point is worthy of consideration. Service comes in many forms. Service to one's God or service to one's country are both service. I served both. But neither Romney nor Obama did.
I blame neither.
My Take posted at 1:06 pm on Sun, Oct 14, 2012.
Arizona Willie stole my thunder! Romney made the choice to stay out of the military and he was a strong supporter for the war in Vietnam. So he is ok when other Americans lay down their lives, but not his own.
Here he is doing the same thing all over again. Calling out other countries when he won't be the one doing the fighting, or his precious sons. His loose talk will put us all in jeopardy.
mrconservative posted at 1:43 pm on Mon, Oct 22, 2012.
Um, Willie, I've never ONCE heard Romney "advocating" for a war. I watched all three debates, as well as the RNC and DNC conventions.
MyTake, you are an idiot. Romney chose to serve his church. It was HIS choice. I thought you liberals were all about choice? Or is that only when you're referring to slaughtering innocent babies?