Question:

[some guy]

when was the last time Dems had retired military personnel, other than people who went into politics, e.g. John Kerry, Tammy Duckworth, give speeches at their convention?

Is General Allen going into politics? That may be a future question, and unanswerable as yet.

Do Republicans usually have retired military at their conventions? I know, for years they've been very jingoistic, hyper-patriotic.

My theme, I guess is, how normal is this, and are Dems becoming more jingoistic?

Thanks!

[MFM008]

1. one time I remember

a number of them for someone, including General Shalikasvili who lived just down the road from me.

[some guy]

3. Thanks.

It was 2004, and their were 12. I didn't bring a link, just confirming your memory.


That evening the celebration of the military reached new heights with the unprecedented appearance on the stage of the convention of twelve retired generals and admirals, including two former chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Gen. John M. Shalikashvili and Admiral William J. Crowe), a former NATO Supreme Allied Commander (Gen. Wesley Clark) and a former director of the CIA (Admiral Stansfield Turner). Shalikashvili was given a prominent time-slot for his remarks to the convention.

[cheapdate]

2. At a time when we have around 9,800 soldiers

in Afghanistan, advisors, soldiers, and special forces in Iraq, and pilots and aviators flying combat missions day and night from carriers and air bases in the region, a representative from the military at the convention isn't a bad thing, politically.

[some guy]

5. Do you know

who represented the military at the convention in '08 or '12?

[cheapdate]

8. No.

If it was up to me, I'd reduce the size of our military by at least half. Reason #65 why I'll never be elected to Washington.

[LongtimeAZDem]

4. On of the oft-cited concerns made over the years is that a woman would not

make an effective commander and chief. Also, the Republicans have been harping all week on "the Democrats won't say anything about ISIS".

The General, quite effectively, kicked both of those notions to the curb.

[some guy]

7. Thank you. n/t

[uponit7771]

6. NO!! In contrast to Republicans we think America is great and we represent the future of what it....

... looks like not Benedict Donald

Republicans in contrast think America is NOT great... they suck