There are 25 million veterans. How many will switch to vote Dem?

[TruthIsAll]

Well, not all of them. But many are turning against Bush. Let's say 15 million vote and 20% switch from Bush in 2000 to the Dem in 2004.
That's at least 2 million net Veteran votes.

Add that to the 1 million new net votes from Nader supporters.

Add that to the 1 million new net votes from former Muslim supporters of Bush.

Add that to the 12 million unemployed (and their relatives).

Add that to the unknown number of Republican moderates and conservatives who are deserting Bush and listening to O'Neill and Kevin Phillips. They will be watching 60 minutes tonight. The Bush scandals are finally mainstream.

Add that to the energized Democratic base.

And Wolfie is asking Holy Joe right now on CNN if Bush is beatable.
Jeez, what a whore.

[yelladawg]

1. I still have many military contacts

Almost all of them are ready to vote Democratic.

[DU9598]

4. Yeah

My partner has always voted R ... don't know why a gay service member would, but he has. He is solidly in the Democratic column. The fact that his brother left for Tikrit today has made him almost a dove. Never thought I would see this day. The military is coming around to the fact that B**h lied and they are dying while Chen*y and company is profiting.

[Skittles]

12. DU9598, you should KICK HIS ASS for EVER voting repug

if you don't have the heart to do it, let me know and I'll come over and KICK HIS ASS FOR YOU. I'm sorry; gay republicans absolutely OFFEND me, ya KNOW ???

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. A lot of vets don't need to switch.

I'm a vet and have always voted Dem - except in '68 when I voted Peace & Freedom.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Perception, perception

the vets I know vote democratic.

Oh and in the base, teh meme is ABB now, or Clark

[benddem]

8. That's Strange

I worked with Wes and think he is a great guy. I doubt that all the military who worked with him think that way. But I am firmly in the Dean Camp....Wes just got in too late.

[Wickerman]

5. A lot of my contacts with the military

are saying its time to switch. Used to be if you voted self-interest you voted Repug while in the military. Only the hard core Republicans still believe that. I think a lot of foloks aren't there yet, but a few more O'Neil's and much more Iraq nonsense and the light will shine.

[otohara]

6. Colorado Springs Poll

indicated 69% of vets solid behind Bush. Lots of vets in the Springs, including retired.

[TruthIsAll]

7. That's 69% today. It may have been 80% in 2000.

The percentage of defectors moving away from * is what counts.

[KharmaTrain]

9. It's Also A Question of "Non-Votes"

I'll be curious how active the GOOP is in getting out the military vote as they were in 2000. There was a strong effort on bases around the country and world to make sure those who would vote for WhittleAss would fill out the absentee balots...especially in states like Florida, Missouri & West Virginia...swing states that those votes could make a difference...and they did.

Now, let's see how much of an effort is going on, and if there is a counter-Democratic effort going on within the military (I don't expect the DNC to have the stomache for this) to get the message out so well stated about...* lied and you're dying and Cheney's profiting. Get this message out and watch what happens.

[bahrbearian]

10. Yes but will it counter Chimpies new hispanic vote.

[LiberalFighter]

11. It won't make any difference unless

their votes are congregated in key states. If they are spread throughout the 50 states evenly then they will have little effect.

It would also depend on where they register to vote. Their hometown or their base.

They could make more of a difference if they express themselves more openly that they are voting Democrat and their reasons.

[Tactical Progressive]

13. When Republicans say they support the military

they mean that they support big contracts to their buds in the corporate military-industrial complex who return the favor. Billions to Star-Wars and Carlyle as it were.

I've always gotten the sense that Democratic support for the military has been somewhat more biased towards the enlisted people.

Inotherwords, a direct analog to Democratic vs Republican policy differences in the broader society.

I've also had the impression that military men who have lived through real combat are far more likely to be pacifists and pro-active in preventing military adventurism than those in the necessarily 'gung-ho' culture while in the service. More likely to be Democrats iow.

I'm not really sure how accurate those impressions are, but I have a feeling that the absurd 'Democrats destroy the military' propaganda isn't going to play as well from now on.

[UTUSN]

14. Well, I Was Always Here, Didn't Need to Switch n/t