Support the Troops - Vote the Bums out

As you should have guessed by this point, I don't support the war in Iraq, and for a number of reasons. But that doesn't prevent me from having a deep respect for the men and women in uniform that fight for the country they believe in. It makes me down right angry when I hear people say things like: "It's their fault, they volunteered", or "They can always chose to be conscientious objector". The bottom line is this: these men and women are doing a job few of us would do ourselves: defending the United States in the trenches and mountain tops.

Yes, the men and women did volunteer; but shouldn't this be looked at as a courageous act? How many of us would really voluntarily sign a contract to lay in a ditch and get shot at for what we thought was the protection of not just our own family, but for complete strangers families as well? I'm guessing not many. Even I will admit, with the prospect of the draft, the thought of being sent to war even frightens me. These men and women, as any military is to any country, are essential for its survival and protection.

And, so is their faithful service, and willingness to take orders. The military didn't start the Iraq conflict, they just have to fight it. Think about it: what would happen if every person in the military defected as a "conscientious objector" whenever the lines of morality became slightly skewed? We would no long have a military at all, or not one strong enough to protect us from any industrialized foreign nation. Our safety depends on their obedience to the Commander in Chief.

So, that is why it is our responsibility, as it is theirs too on election day, to vote for the person who we think is going to make the most responsible decisions when it comes to our nations finest. And the same carries over to congress, too. And this is bigger than a "partisan" issue.

First, we need to stop looking at this war in binary oppositions: You're either with us, or you're against us. You're either tough on Terror, or you want to cut and run. And this is why I tend to wax more liberal. The liberals don't want to simply "cut and run", most of them see that this issue isn't going to be solved by a catchy either/or slogan.

Setting up Congressmen and decorated war veteran John Murtha

But that is exactly what the GOP did when congressmen John Murtha delivered a bill to the house floor detailing a precise timetable for troop withdraw. The GOP changed the bill from a "phased out" withdrawal, to an immediate "cut and run" withdrawal, but still promoted it as the original bill drafted by the decorated war veteran. Way to support our troops, GOP! So it shouldn't have come as a surprise when the bill only received six votes.

So don't forget what is at stake this November during the midterm elections. Just as those who serve in the military has a responsibility to protect us, it is our responsibility to keep them safe by electing officials who will use the power to fight and fund a war reasonably, and responsibly. Thank you.

Cody Hobbs