Comments on: The Rainbow Herring http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2005/05/04/the-rainbow-herring/ news and views from uc berkeley Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:21:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: jonp http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2005/05/04/the-rainbow-herring/#comment-898 jonp Sun, 08 May 2005 01:12:25 +0000 http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2005/05/04/the-rainbow-herring/#comment-898 *** How would having more FDR and LBJ-era Democrats as military officers change things? Who got us into WW2 and Vietnam again? Is it that they would be more likely to oppose “Republican wars"? *** A fine reference to Bob Dole! Anyhow, you're right that it wouldn't magically turn the military into a bunch of peace-loving hippies. But the officer corps right now is extremely far right, both politically and culturally, especially considering the reports about evangelical harassment of Jewish cadets at some of our service academies. Even an LBJ Democrat would be quite to the left of the median viewpoint among the officer corps these days. ***
How would having more FDR and LBJ-era Democrats as military officers change things? Who got us into WW2 and Vietnam again? Is it that they would be more likely to oppose “Republican wars”?
***

A fine reference to Bob Dole! Anyhow, you’re right that it wouldn’t magically turn the military into a bunch of peace-loving hippies. But the officer corps right now is extremely far right, both politically and culturally, especially considering the reports about evangelical harassment of Jewish cadets at some of our service academies. Even an LBJ Democrat would be quite to the left of the median viewpoint among the officer corps these days.

]]> By: B.A.D. http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2005/05/04/the-rainbow-herring/#comment-897 B.A.D. Fri, 06 May 2005 14:24:23 +0000 http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2005/05/04/the-rainbow-herring/#comment-897 While the military doesn't have direct control over the policy, if the military asked for the rule to be changed, it probably would be. While the military doesn’t have direct control over the policy, if the military asked for the rule to be changed, it probably would be.

]]> By: patr http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2005/05/04/the-rainbow-herring/#comment-896 patr Fri, 06 May 2005 06:51:07 +0000 http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2005/05/04/the-rainbow-herring/#comment-896 Well, the President, as Commander-in-Chief, is technically the highest ranking officer in the military. I believe that a new Executive Order is all that it would take to change things. So those looking for a change in that policy should consider changing their target. Well, the President, as Commander-in-Chief, is technically the highest ranking officer in the military. I believe that a new Executive Order is all that it would take to change things. So those looking for a change in that policy should consider changing their target.

]]> By: Lt W http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2005/05/04/the-rainbow-herring/#comment-895 Lt W Fri, 06 May 2005 05:52:30 +0000 http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2005/05/04/the-rainbow-herring/#comment-895 What everyone fails to remember that "Don't ask, don't tell" is not a military policy -- it's a federal policy. The highest ranking officer in the military can't change it. There use'd to be a word that preceded "Don't ask, don't tell policy" -- it was "Clinton's." Funny how no one mentions that... What everyone fails to remember that “Don’t ask, don’t tell” is not a military policy — it’s a federal policy. The highest ranking officer in the military can’t change it. There use’d to be a word that preceded “Don’t ask, don’t tell policy” — it was “Clinton’s.” Funny how no one mentions that…

]]> By: B.A.D. http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2005/05/04/the-rainbow-herring/#comment-894 B.A.D. Fri, 06 May 2005 01:27:20 +0000 http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2005/05/04/the-rainbow-herring/#comment-894 Well, if it won't work in the short term, I guess we'd better not do it. Then, in a few decades, when we go to war, there'll be another bitchfest, and someone will suggest joining the military to change it from within, and folks will scoff "Ha! That would require decades worth of change." Well, if it won’t work in the short term, I guess we’d better not do it. Then, in a few decades, when we go to war, there’ll be another bitchfest, and someone will suggest joining the military to change it from within, and folks will scoff “Ha! That would require decades worth of change.”

]]> By: patr http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2005/05/04/the-rainbow-herring/#comment-893 patr Thu, 05 May 2005 21:26:00 +0000 http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2005/05/04/the-rainbow-herring/#comment-893 How would having more FDR and LBJ-era Democrats as military officers change things? Who got us into WW2 and Vietnam again? Is it that they would be more likely to oppose "Republican wars"? How would having more FDR and LBJ-era Democrats as military officers change things? Who got us into WW2 and Vietnam again? Is it that they would be more likely to oppose “Republican wars”?

]]> By: jonp http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2005/05/04/the-rainbow-herring/#comment-892 jonp Thu, 05 May 2005 18:46:12 +0000 http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2005/05/04/the-rainbow-herring/#comment-892 *** If they truly want to change military policy, it’s probably a good idea for them to join it so that forces within the military can demand change. *** This has some merit, but it would require decades' worth of change, because of how the officer corps has lost almost all of its FDR and LBJ-era Democrats since the Vietnam War. When it comes to stopping current wars, it's useless as a short-term strategy. ***
If they truly want to change military policy, it’s probably a good idea for them to join it so that forces within the military can demand change.
***

This has some merit, but it would require decades’ worth of change, because of how the officer corps has lost almost all of its FDR and LBJ-era Democrats since the Vietnam War. When it comes to stopping current wars, it’s useless as a short-term strategy.

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