Doing the right thing (Webb's Bill)

[cal04]

http://newsleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080526/OPINION01/805260301

When Virginia's freshman U.S. Senator Jim Webb says his recent, successful push to assure that returning war veterans will receive the educational benefits they deserve has nothing to do with politics, it's refreshingly sincere.

Webb has been accused of a lot of things since he beat out Republican George Allen in 2006, but they haven't included being overly political. Rough around the edges, perhaps, brusque to the point of rude, maybe, but not overly political.

Especially when it comes to the men and women serving this nation during the often divisive wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

(snip)
It's refreshing that our freshman senator sees the situation in its simplest form.

[MercutioATC]

1. To be fair, McCain supports similar legislation...

...his just gives more benefits to veterans who enlisted multiple times.

[tom_paine]

3. Gonna need a link to back up a statement on that, Mercutio.

(On another note :hi: - long time, no speak, and I hope you and yours are well)

First, what legislation, specifically, are you speaking of? McCain supports it? Is he a co-sponsor? Affixed his name to it? Or is this mere speculation when we know what the word of Bushie Liars like McCain are worth?

Second, what benefits are you speaking of? From what I have heard and read (which I am readily willing to admit may be wrong - if you show me some proof) McCain is deadly opposed to the open-ended college tuition reimbursements and has actually said that it will harm reenlistement rates, one of the reasons he opposes it.

As this is the main, biggest benefit of Webb's bill, how can you say that McCain supports almost identical benefits when, in comparison to Webb's Bill, his cillege tutition benefots must be minimal compared to Webb.

Like I said, I approach this with an open mind, but you must show me something before I can believe a blanket statement "on faith".

In an Imperial Amerika where most of us are not worthy to polish the boots of Free People, let alone make the absurd claim that we are free, in an Imperial Amerika where the bad guys keep winning and winning and winning, in an Imperial Amerika where Bushie Lies and Toady Media Lies are the New Coin of the Realm, complete cynicism and total distrust is quite warranted.

As if we lived in Communist China, which in so many ways...we do, we do live in our Sister BushPtuinist Inverted Totalitarianism, China.

But I digress. Please back up that statement of yours, Mercutio.

[MercutioATC]

4. McCain-Graham-Burr Bill:

http://www.jcfloridan.com/jcf/news/local/article/dueling_gi_bills_face_showdown_in_congress/12922/


To be clear, I didn't say "almost identical", I said "similar".


(on edit) One of the benefits of McCain-Graham-Burr is the ability to transfer the benefits to a spouse or children after 6 years of service. Another is the $6000/year student loan reimbursement for each year of active service. The Webb Bill is stronger in other areas, but offers neither of these benefits.

[blkirish03]

5. Call me cynical but...

Let's see if I have this straight. Jim Webb - a Democrat - proposes legislation extending the GI Bill to vets of Iraq and Afghanistan. This bill has bi-partisan support and the support of those serving in the Middle East and suddenly McCain and Graham put forth their own bill? In an election year? I may be sounding cynical here, but might it be that McCain and Graham are merely fighting to prevent Democrats from gaining a legislative victory on behalf of vets that will brand them as supporters of the troops? The Republicans cannot afford to hand the Democratic Party a victory like this on the even of a Presidential election. It undercuts the whole "Dems don't support the troops" propaganda that the Republicans have been running on since 2002. Did I mention I might be sounding a tad cynical ;-)

[MercutioATC]

6. I'm not arguing the political motivations...

...just the content of the two bills.

They're strong in different areas, but they're similar.

[MrModerate]

2. He is a professional politician. Pushing legislation is a political act . . .

To say it's not political is either disingenuous or naive. Webb's been around; he's not naive.

However, "political" is not synonymous with "evil." It's just the way people govern themselves. I *hope* Webb is politically minded and he stays in the Senate for some time. Converting Virginia from a red/swing state to a blue/swing state (which is already happening) would be a very.big.deal.