I might have just chosen a side

[Harrison]

...or at least joined the "fuck you" portion of the other.

http://www.nraila.org/obama/

Seeing as the NRA is heavily scrutinized at all times, I highly doubt that any of that is falsified lest they take MAJOR flak for it.

If most of that is true, I have officially joined the "Fuck you Obama, fuck you." camp.

Before I found that while browsing around bored, I just didn't give a flying fuck about anyone. No one suited my interests. Now he just officially hit my shitlist.

[Gypsiyee]

of course the NRA is anti-Obama. He's always leaned left on the gun issue and made no secret of it, while Palin is a gun-toting proud member.

We *could* get into yet another guns or no guns debate, but that'd go nowhere. This particular stuff is no revelation though, I don't think.

[Naethyn]

Would you rather lose your guns or enter a draft to go to war?

[Martrae]

In other news...Bob Barr asked Ron Paul to be his running mate. If he accepts it should be a very interesting election.

[Gypsiyee]

In other news...Bob Barr asked Ron Paul to be his running mate. If he accepts it should be a very interesting election.

that's pretty interesting. if he accepts, that's an awfully smart pick, I think.

[leah]

hey, since a draft was mentioned . . . what are the terms for drafts, generally? is it just men? is there an age cutoff? do you have to go if you're a student (weren't students exempt in the past?)?

[Gypsiyee]

if you are a man between the ages of 18-26 legally residing in the US (citizen or not, as we found out), you must be registered for selective service, which makes you subject to being drafted. I'm not sure about students.

[ClakarEQ]

I don't know for certain but being a student I don't think makes a difference. There are some exceptions though regarding family and current employement, being the sole "bread winner", etc.

You still have to "sign up" but depending on the exceptions you may or may not be called upon.

This was when I had to register and that was a long time ago

[Martrae]

Generally it's 18-22 year olds who actually were called up for the draft and full-time students were exempt only until the end of term unless a senior.
Women weren't drafted.

This was all Vietnam era rules, though. If and when they re-enact a draft they could change any or all of it.

[leah]

man i hope there isn't a draft any time soon

[Naethyn]

You cannot apply for any federal aid or any school loans unless you're signed up for selective services.

[ClakarEQ]

You cannot apply for any federal aid or any school loans unless you're signed up for selective services.

I thoguht if you didn't you're pretty much a felon, no? I mean it is a requirement to respond, not a question.

[Naethyn]

Not a felon unless convicted of it. But a quick google search results:
Maximum penalty for failing to register with Selective Service is a $250,000 fine and up to five years in prison.

John McCain has been quoted as saying this war is not sustainable without a draft.

[leah]

so perhaps we could just not sustain the war, then, and quit while we're "ahead" i don't want to lose my jorsh, or my brother for that matter (though he is out of the traditional age range), to a stupid war. booo.

[ClakarEQ]

I would be a bit shocked if a draft could actually go "live". I mean they could try it but right now I think there would be such a huge uproar, I'm just not seeing it happen.

[Tuggan]

I'm not going to be a single issue voter this year, even though I hold the 2nd very close to heart. The other side is too fucking out of touch with everything else, and I don't really think the democrats are going to try too hard to take my firearms.

If the democrats had any sense, they would just leave the gun issue alone. They wouldn't lose another election ever again.

[Naethyn]

The Lottery: A lottery based on birthdays determines the order in which registered men are called up by Selective Service. The first to be called, in a sequence determined by the lottery, will be men whose 20th birthday falls during the calendar year the induction takes place, followed, if needed, by those aged 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 19 and 18 year olds (in that order).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_Service_System

[ClakarEQ]

The dems, nor obama will be able to pass IMO any further legislation becuse it has now been "ratified" for lack of a better word as a constitutional "right". So harri can get off his soap box about it and vote for whom he thinks is best. The gun issue is another tactic any politician will take to de-fame the other.

Derail here:

IMO though, I think McC is doing a far worse job re: the issues and a really good lieing.

Don't mean to derail but just the other day he mentions how strong our economy is (I mean like yesterday or a couple days ago, after the lehman shit hit the fan) and then after the Obama camp was like, WTF are you stupid, he changed his toon in the very same day, "um well, ok then, yeah we have some eco troubles", WTF!! I mean talk about flip-floping BS.

I predict Obama will lose but it will have nothing to do with the issues, it will be :
- Palin is attractive (to "most" men)
- McCain lies better
- Obama is black

Those 3 issues will lose the presidancy for Obama, nothing more, nothing less. For the "knowledgeable" folks you can disagree, but our US populace is soo fucking stupid, it will be those 3 points and those 3 only.

[KaiineTN]

Here's a radical concept, how about you vote for neither. Instead, vote for some random third party candidate just to express your displeasure with what both of the main parties are offering us. Until more people start doing that, we wont be seeing any of that change that is so often talked about. We can talk and complain all we want, but voting is the only real power we seem to have. Use it productively.

If you want to throw out the wasted vote excuse, then find someone who would have voted for McCain if you had gone Obama, or vice versa, and have them do the same thing. Your votes cancel each other out, and neither republicans or democrats gain.

[Harrison]

I think the lazy masses of this country need a good draft to rock their comfortable lives. Everyone is far too complacent with the way the world around them is going, as if it's in another sphere outside of their reality.

I don't know how to put it into words, really.

But that's another issue entirely...

I have MAJOR problems with a government wanting to disarm its populace A LA Middle Ages and serfdom under the guise of a republic.

To address your ninja post Kaiine:

I'm not voting for either, as of now.

[KaiineTN]

I vow to never in my life vote for a pro-war candidate at any level of government. >_<

[Harrison]

Pro-war meaning, what, exactly?

That's a very broad term.

Pro this war? Very specific.

[ClakarEQ]

Pro-war meaning, what, exactly?

That's a very broad term.

Pro this war? Very specific.

McCain is on record for being "pro-war". He has said things regarding the draft, he has mentioned we should do more in the world with our military, etc. No I don't have exact quotes but I know some of it is in one of his books along with others being said at interviews. He IMO appears to be the type to fight and then go political, that of course being the wrong thing to do.

[KaiineTN]

I'm against anyone who will use military force aggressively against another nation unless there's another Pearl Harbor type event, but then you could argue it becomes defensive. Anyone who will continue old wars. Anyone who is an advocate of pre-emptive war.

[Arlos]

Pro-war can be a general statement as well, though. One of the primary tenets of the Neocons is to use the US military as a blunt arm, and preemptively beat the crap out of anyone we don't happen to like. Had Iraq gone better, I guarantee you we would've had at least one other new war during Bush's term, since the Neocons were (even moreso than now) running the show.

Alternately, the term "Warhawk" exists for a reason, and describes someone who's first reaction during any sort of diplomatic crisis is to send in the troops. McCain fits this category. For example, the warhawks in Kennedy's cabinet wanted him to nuke Cuba during the missile crisis.

Since I personally believe diplomacy should be the first, second, third etc options in any dispute, with sending in the troops being only the VERY LAST choice, I can't see myself supporting ANY GOP candidate these days, possibly with the obvious exception of Ron Paul, who's not really a republican, he's a Libertarian.

-Arlos