Let us stand together...

[chardonnay]

I have to say I have been accused lately, and know others who have as well, of being racist simply because I didn't vote for Obama. The fact that I don't like him and disagree with his political views, neither of which has anything to do with the color of the mans skin apparently means nothing. I have refrained from saying too much at work simply because I cannot afford to lose my job. Others that have said something were treated as if they had done something wrong by reporting statements as being harrassing. I hope that this isn't a sign of things to come around here.

[BlauBear]

Just tell 'em that you're happy to discuss issues, but won't descend to accusations. Disagreeing, maybe especially with our leaders, is what we get to do as Americans, and anyone that agrees completely with any president past present or future is drinking some nasty Kool-Aid.

Years ago, a subordinate went to the HR Director to file a racism complaint against me because he (an asian) hadn't been promoted into a job that didn't exist. Go figure. Never mind that The Boss had just chewed me for trying to give a woman a raise to market value. That was one of those days when I came home very confused.

[ShooterP14]

Chardonnay:

I know how you feel. I have NEVER made a choice in the voting booth based on race, but everyone thinks that if you vote Republican that you are a racest. Well I'll tell you, there is someone that I could support, Michale Steele.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_S._Steele

He has strong conservitive values and he is on the short list for RNC chairmanship.

Who knows Palin/Seele on 2012?

[Bob259]

I'm afraid that unless the Republican party reinvents itself or does more to support the average worker, Vs big business and lobbist we are in for a long road.

[BlauBear]

Democracy requires at least two functioning parties, so everyone needs the Republican party to get it together. They will of course, 'cause they're not quitters any more than the Democrats were after getting creamed a few years ago.

[atomicbrh]

On December 27, 2008 I will haved worked with and on Veterans for 25 years. I have lots of friends who are Vietnam veterans. When you read the following take into account that I have spent almost my entire career with veterans daily. McCain is to be admired for enduring the torture and possessing a very strong will to live but many Vietnam veterans do not respect McCain because in their words "He failed in accomplishing his mission". A friend that served four continuous years in the 4th Infrantry Division in Vietnam until a SKS bullet through both lungs ruined his health put it this way, "My overall mission was to fight to the death. I would never be captured alive. I carried two extra .45ACP bullets in my pocket to make sure that I was never captured alive. I carried two in case the first round malfunctioned".

I ran across a Vietnam Veteran F4 driver many years ago who could not dodge a SAM. He told me that he and his backseater EWO both ejected without injury and landed within eyesight of each other. They both immediately concealed themselves in some tall elephant grass. They were both armed with Smith and Wesson .38 Special revolvers. The pilot said the North Vietnamese found his EWO first and started jabbering at him to come out. He told me his EWO was hard core and shot and killed 2 or 3 of the enemy before they killed the EWO with rifle fire. They pulled his EWO's body out in the open and made sure he was dead. Then they found the pilot and started jabbering at him to come out but much more angrily than with the EWO. The pilot told me after seeing his EWO killed he decided to throw his Revolver out and come out with his hands up. If I can remember he told me that after some initial rough handling he was not really tortured because any intelligence they could get from him would be obsolete. The pilot told me that what made him the angriest after his release from the many years of captivity was not his captors but the examination by the American Military physician. The Doctor told him that he was in great physical condition and that it was like he had been at a health spa for years. He had had the ideal diet of boiled and raw vegetables, no meat except for occasional raw fish and that his cholesterol was very low. I wish I had written this guy's name down.

My theory and this is only my opinion is that McCain was specially singled out for torture because he was a well known admiral's son or he was a real troublemaker to his captors or both. After a few hours any intelligence gathered from POW's is usually useless except for "propaganda" material.

Who do you respect the most: the ones who survived being a POW or the ones who fought to the death and would not be captured? I respect them all.

Bobby R. Huddleston

[BlauBear]

Hmmm... All alone except for a .38, deep in enemy turf and surrounded. Fight to the death or surrender... I'll take door #3, Alex.