NationStates Jolt Archive

So much for that whole "the military vote is a lock for Republicans" meme. It seems that, by a fairly wide margin, members of the military (http://www.capitaleye.org/inside.asp?ID=300)like the idea of Barack Obama as President.
Obama, who has never served in the military, has brought in more contributions from uniformed service members—about $27,000—than any other presidential hopeful, Democrat or Republican.
The number two fundraiser is also an anti-war candidate--Ron Paul--while you have to drop to close third to get to a pro-war candidate, John McCain.

And it doesn't stop at the presidential level either.
In the 2000 and 2002 election cycles, uniformed service members gave about three-quarters of their federal contributions to Republicans. The percentage dropped to 59 percent in the 2004 cycle and has remained there since. This shift toward Democrats is most visible among members of the Army, who gave 71 percent of their money to Republicans before the war began. So far this year, members of the Army have given a mere 51 percent to the GOP, spreading their contributions nearly evenly between the two major parties.
The message here seems to be, if you want the military to support you, you'd better support it with more than car magnets and cutesy slogans.

Honestly, why would the military support the current Republicans? They want to keep sending them up ambush alley day in and day out. Most of the Republicans are armchair commandos anyway, they wouldn't know anything about war.

The message here seems to be, if you want the military to support you, you'd better support it with more than car magnets and cutesy slogans.

Ah, but a magnetic ribbon means so much (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmsOIjzQ1V8)...

So much for that whole "the military vote is a lock for Republicans" meme. It seems that, by a fairly wide margin, members of the military (http://www.capitaleye.org/inside.asp?ID=300)like the idea of Barack Obama as President.

The number two fundraiser is also an anti-war candidate--Ron Paul--while you have to drop to close third to get to a pro-war candidate, John McCain.

And it doesn't stop at the presidential level either.

The message here seems to be, if you want the military to support you, you'd better support it with more than car magnets and cutesy slogans.

Nice one Nazz.

As a long time real supporter of the grunts, and a fan of both Obama and Dr. Paul, I'm happy to hear this.

Honestly, why would the military support the current Republicans? They want to keep sending them up ambush alley day in and day out. Most of the Republicans are armchair commandos anyway, they wouldn't know anything about war.

I can understand why they moved toward the tough-talking Republicans in the late 70s and early 80s, but it was pretty clear to anyone who gave it more than a cursory glance that the Republicans were all talk and no action for the average soldier. But under Poppy Bush and Clinton, it wasn't as dangerous to be a soldier, especially a Reservist or Guardsman. Now it is, and suddenly those refusals to give the soldiers a raise and the the cuts in Army hospital funding and the outsourcing and the VA cuts all start to sting a lot more.

Honestly, why would the military support the current Republicans? They want to keep sending them up ambush alley day in and day out. Most of the Republicans are armchair commandos anyway, they wouldn't know anything about war.

Huh?

Are you suggesting that our dear old best friend Rummy didn't actually care about our soldiers? Why that's, that's preposterous!

Ah, but a magnetic ribbon means so much (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmsOIjzQ1V8)...

Yeah, that's why I'm getting a Prius...

Not to mention I like having snow in the winter and not sinking Tuvalu.

Can't afford one myself (or any new car) so I'm trying to save up (unsuccessfully) to put a diesel engine in the Vanagon and then switch to waste veggie oil.

Now, a diesel hybrid running on biodiesel... you'd only have to fill the tank once a month.

Yeah, that's why I'm getting a Prius...I like having snow in the winter and not sinking Tuvalu.

Can't afford one myself (or any new car) so I'm trying to save up (unsuccessfully) to put a diesel engine in the Vanagon and then switch to waste veggie oil.

I dunno, This is the first time I heard of anything saying the "Military supports Repulicans."

Considring some of my friends in the Military are strong Democrats

I dunno, This is the first time I heard of anything saying the "Military supports Repulicans."

Considring some of my friends in the Military are strong Democrats

Been living under a rock or something? It's been a statement of faith for two decades now that the military is rock solid Republican, and according to the article I posted, it's actually been fairly true--Army contributors gave 71% of their money to Republicans before the war began, and that's down siginificantly now.

Been living under a rock or something? It's been a statement of faith for two decades now that the military is rock solid Republican, and according to the article I posted, it's actually been fairly true--Army contributors gave 71% of their money to Republicans before the war began, and that's down siginificantly now.

nah, been talking to my friends who are staunch Dems while in the Military.

The Contributors could be mostly Republicans (in the past) but that doesn't mean the whole military supports the Republicans.

This is over $27,000? That's just about insignificant. Especially this far out from ANY election.

Nice try, but your hackery is showing...

Seriously I feel so fucking sorry for the guys over there. What the fuck are they fighting for. First it was WMDs then for Democracy and now its just to keep the country under control. Sometimes I wish we did it WWII style where the government would step in to control the economy and everyone was devoted to war production so people can realize the not only should soldeirs have to go through shit but so should we and then we would realize that war isn't really a great thing. Man I just wish veterans would get the recognition of serving in their country it just sickens me to see homeless people who were former soldiers from any war long forotten in the publics mind in the street trying to get up on their feet but can't do it because they weren't given aythig after the war was over. We parade around like we all care for veterans but in the end people only get caught up in the moment and when its done, these soldiers are history.

This is over $27,000? That's just about insignificant. Especially this far out from ANY election.

Nice try, but your hackery is showing...

Glad to see you're still irrelevant.

This article has the potential to ruin some people's days, I think.

This article has the potential to ruin some people's days, I think.

I saw one on the Boston Globe site saying military personel are giving the more to Obama then any other candidate.

This article has the potential to ruin some people's days, I think.

Here's hoping. ;)

I see this thread is getting all the interest it deserves. Good. Apparently everyone else can see the insignificance of the claims. This would be better received at one of those DailyKroc type web sites, I'm sure.

I see this thread is getting all the interest it deserves. Good. Apparently everyone else can see the insignificance of the claims. This would be better received at one of those DailyKroc type web sites, I'm sure.

Someone's sounding a little crochety, this early in the morining.

Someone's sounding a little crochety, this early in the morining.

Maybe so. I ran out of coffee yesterday and haven't gone to the store.

Thank you Jiminy (http://stp.ling.uu.se/~starback/dcml/chars/jiminy.html).

Someone's sounding a little crochety, this early in the morining.
He's just pissy that a Democrat is beating Republicans in military donations. If a Republican was in the lead, he would be making the threads his damn self.

He's just pissy that a Democrat is beating Republicans in military donations. If a Republican was in the lead, he would be making the threads his damn self.

Myrmi? Be inconsistent? Perish the thought! :p

I suppose it would be silly of me to mention that the GOP field of presidential candidates is quite competitve at this point, with no clear leader among the nominees, yes?

The Democrat nominee will be Hillary or Obama.

Makes sense to me that Republicans in (and outside of) the military are keeping their dollars in their pockets just now. I, for one, will wait for a clearer picture before I shell out for one GOP candidate or another. ;)

I suppose it would be silly of me to mention that the GOP field of presidential candidates is quite competitve at this point, with no clear leader among the nominees, yes?

The Democrat nominee will be Hillary or Obama.

Makes sense to me that Republicans in (and outside of) the military are keeping their dollars in their pockets just now. I, for one, will wait for a clearer picture before I shell out for one GOP candidate or another. ;)

By that logic wouldn't Billiary get the cash? She's in the lead by a considerable amount.

I suppose it would be silly of me to mention that the GOP field of presidential candidates is quite competitve at this point, with no clear leader among the nominees, yes?
Well McCain has no chance. I'm calling Romney or Guiliani or Thompson.

I suppose it would be silly of me to mention that the GOP field of presidential candidates is quite competitve at this point, with no clear leader among the nominees, yes?

The Democrat nominee will be Hillary or Obama.

Makes sense to me that Republicans in (and outside of) the military are keeping their dollars in their pockets just now. I, for one, will wait for a clearer picture before I shell out for one GOP candidate or another. ;)

What, like when Dean was going to be the Democratic nominee last time? And didn't Clinton also come out of nowhere?

A little early to call this thing with confidence, it seems.

I suppose it would be silly of me to mention that the GOP field of presidential candidates is quite competitve at this point, with no clear leader among the nominees, yes?

The Democrat nominee will be Hillary or Obama.

Makes sense to me that Republicans in (and outside of) the military are keeping their dollars in their pockets just now. I, for one, will wait for a clearer picture before I shell out for one GOP candidate or another. ;)
That's the point I'm trying to make -- Obama's got 10% of what's been donated -- a whopping $330,000, so far. That number is only about 18% of what was donated in 2004. So what we're talking about so far is 1% of 2004's contributions. Not a trend, yet.

Conclusion? Early givers favor Obama -- Nothing more, nothing less. Let's see what happens now that Thompson has joined the race.

That's the point I'm trying to make -- Obama's got 10% of what's been donated -- a whopping $330,000, so far. That number is only about 18% of what was donated in 2004. So what we're talking about so far is 1% of 2004's contributions. Not a trend, yet.

Conclusion? Early givers favor Obama -- Nothing more, nothing less. Let's see what happens now that Thompson has joined the race.

Makes sense. Though it could still be the start of a trend, especially in light of the situation overseas.

At least you've taken the barbs out.

Myrmi's right, Nazz. It's far too early to call things like this.

Makes sense. Though it could still be the start of a trend, especially in light of the situation overseas.

At least you've taken the barbs out.
Could be, might not be. Giving money to someone reflects far more of a commitment than just answering a question from a pollster. I would suspect that only the most enthusiastic are giving now, though. Remember that we're only seeing splits of $8000. To think of that as 30% is very misleading.


You know, that's the first thing I do when I get ready to tie a fly -- break the barbs off. There ought to be a lesson in there. When you set out to fool a fish, I guess you don't want add injury to insult by tearing the hook out of his lip. That's probably a good metaphor for posting here, too.

Could be, might not be. Giving money to someone reflects far more of a commitment than just answering a question from a pollster. I would suspect that only the most enthusiastic are giving now, though. Remember that we're only seeing splits of $8000. To think of that as 30% is very misleading.


You know, that's the first thing I do when I get ready to tie a fly -- break the barbs off. There ought to be a lesson in there. When you set out to fool a fish, I guess you don't want add injury to insult by tearing the hook out of his lip. That's probably a good metaphor for posting here, too.

Agreed.

If I wasn't a vegetarian who'd never gone fishing, I'm sure I'd appreciate the analogy more.

Agreed.

If I wasn't a vegetarian who'd never gone fishing, I'm sure I'd appreciate the analogy more.
I always catch and release. I don't think I've eaten but two or three trout this year, although I've caught twice that many.

I always catch and release. I don't think I've eaten but two or three trout this year, although I've caught twice that many.

I never saw the point to catch and release. I mean, why go fishing if you're not going to eat your catch?

I never saw the point to catch and release. I mean, why go fishing if you're not going to eat your catch?

It's the only fishing I'd ever do, if I ever got the opportunity to do so. But then again, I'm a vegetarian.

It's an issue of sport, made ethically simpler by the fact that you're not actually killing what you're hunting.

It's the only fishing I'd ever do, if I ever got the opportunity to do so. But then again, I'm a vegetarian.

It's an issue of sport, made ethically simpler by the fact that you're not actually killing what you're hunting.
Oh...well, okay then...I honestly have never seen the point to hunting for sport(even though it's necessary here in Colorado to keep deer and elk populations to sustainable levels)...but meh.

Why're you a vegetarian though? I figured you wouldn't eat beef since you're a Hindu, but I thought Hindus were otherwise dietarily unrestricted.

I never saw the point to catch and release. I mean, why go fishing if you're not going to eat your catch?
Fly fishing is fun. It's actually tough to fool a fish into taking a fly. I catch and release to help sustain the population. Trout are far from endangered, but it gives other people a chance to catch them, too. The only ones I keep are the ones that were hard to land. I've read that the lactic acid build up in the blood stream is usually fatal after the fish is released.
And "twice that many" meant per outing -- not all together.

Believe me, when I go spin casting for bass, I keep and eat every decent sized one of the things.

Fly fishing is fun. It's actually tough to fool a fish into taking a fly. I catch and release to help sustain the population. Trout are far from endangered, but it gives other people a chance to catch them, too. The only ones I keep are the ones that were hard to land. I've read that the lactic acid build up in the blood stream is usually fatal after the fish is released.
And "twice that many" meant per outing -- not all together.

Believe me, when I go spin casting for bass, I keep and eat every decent sized one of the things.

Oh, well, fair enough, then.

Oh...well, okay then...I honestly have never seen the point to hunting for sport(even though it's necessary here in Colorado to keep deer and elk populations to sustainable levels)...but meh.

Why're you a vegetarian though? I figured you wouldn't eat beef since you're a Hindu, but I thought Hindus were otherwise dietarily unrestricted.

Well, my parents are vegetarian. My mom won't allow any meat in her kitchen. So I grew up a vegetarian, and never really acquired a taste for meat. Now, I am steadily developing a fondness for sushi, but I haven't really tried, nor do I expect to try in the near future, pork and beef.

Plus I'm not Hindu anymore, or at least not really. So technically I don't even have the beef restriction. At the moment I just don't like the taste, though I guess frozen White Castle burgers aren't the best place to start.

Well, my parents are vegetarian. My mom won't allow any meat in her kitchen. So I grew up a vegetarian, and never really acquired a taste for meat. Now, I am steadily developing a fondness for sushi, but I haven't really tried, nor do I expect to try in the near future, pork and beef.

Whereas I grew up--for the first ten or so years of my life at least--on more or less bad--nutritionally speaking--food. My parents didn't start eating in a really healthy manner until that point, and by then it was a little late to get me fully into the habit of eating nutritional foods. I do try, but it's harder to break the old habits.


Plus I'm not Hindu anymore, or at least not really. So technically I don't even have the beef restriction. At the moment I just don't like the taste, though I guess frozen White Castle burgers aren't the best place to start.
No, they're not. Any meat you try, I highly recommend be fresh from the market, and cook it yourself. Don't buy anything preprepared...don't buy any fast food...if you do eat any out, go to a decent restaurant. And try slowly, and do remember that there are many varieties of beef and pork just within those two.

And try chicken...oh my, try chicken. It is absolutely lovely.

No, they're not. Any meat you try, I highly recommend be fresh from the market, and cook it yourself. Don't buy anything preprepared...don't buy any fast food...if you do eat any out, go to a decent restaurant. And try slowly, and do remember that there are many varieties of beef and pork just within those two.

And try chicken...oh my, try chicken. It is absolutely lovely.

Unfortunately for the time being I have to restrict myself to eating meat when I eat out with friends. I can't cook it in the kitchen, as it's banned. As to chicken, well I do kinda like that too, in some forms. My friend's g/f made some breaded/baked chicken...things in a spicy barbecue sauce a few months back when we got together for a wrestling PPV (if you're interested in how far back, and know anything about Pro wrestling, it was the WWE PPV the weekend that Chris Benoit died.)

For now I mostly stick to sushi. I had these Philly rolls two or three weeks back, basically spicy salmon, rice, and cream cheese wrapped in seaweed, that were absolutely delicious.

Unfortunately for the time being I have to restrict myself to eating meat when I eat out with friends. I can't cook it in the kitchen, as it's banned. As to chicken, well I do kinda like that too, in some forms. My friend's g/f made some breaded/baked chicken...things in a spicy barbecue sauce a few months back when we got together for a wrestling PPV (if you're interested in how far back, and know anything about Pro wrestling, it was the WWE PPV the weekend that Chris Benoit died.)

For now I mostly stick to sushi. I had these Philly rolls two or three weeks back, basically spicy salmon, rice, and cream cheese wrapped in seaweed, that were absolutely delicious.
Ah, yes, that's right...I keep forgetting that you're younger than I thought you were. (I thought you were twenty six.)

Well, in that case, just try when you can, I suppose. There's plenty of great tasting meat out there of all kinds, and so long as you eat in moderation and keep up the veggies, you'll find it'll be a great addition to your diet.

Ah, yes, that's right...I keep forgetting that you're younger than I thought you were. (I thought you were twenty six.)

Well, in that case, just try when you can, I suppose. There's plenty of great tasting meat out there of all kinds, and so long as you eat in moderation and keep up the veggies, you'll find it'll be a great addition to your diet.

Wow. Heh, I'll take that as a complement. But I'm about five years short of the mark.

Yeah, this summer was great for that. Mostly sushi, though. And one mexican place.