Marine general speaking in AEI forum on CSPAN

[oasis]

So Republican think tanks can sponsor active military in a public forum?

[MildyRules]

1. Active military

can particpate in those types of forums. It's allowable AFAIK.

[oasis]

2. In that case I'm ready for a Marine to speak at a MoveOn.org event

without facing disciplinary action.

[MildyRules]

3. He can

UNLESS it degenerates into a PARTISAN political rally or protest.

[oasis]

5. AEI is as partisan as they come. They have a fondness for spewing PNAC

propaganda.

[MildyRules]

8. What is the general saying?

Is he calling Democrats names? Questioning democratic policies? Is the forum being used in a partisan manner? If those are happening, he's in the wrong.

[oasis]

12. The general's presence in a hotbed of Republican hacks is annoying. He

would have had to get clearance from higher-ups before appearing. They know what AEI is.

[MildyRules]

13. And your point?

[oasis]

14. Our military should not be used to promote the agenda of partisan groups.

Edit to add: The AEI is actively spewing the talking points of Bush Adminisration's policy in Iraq.

[MildyRules]

15. They talk about a range of issues

why shouldn't the military present their views at a public non-partisan forum?

[oasis]

16. The AEI is not the Rotary Club.

[NecessaryOnslaught]

4. Privatizing the housing finance system must be their jurisdiction too!

Published 10/28/2003

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the ten regional Federal Home Loan Banks together create a level of government involvement and taxpayer risk in the housing markets that is unequaled among the United States' major trading partners. Accordingly, an American Enterprise Institute seminar Monday looked at the possibility of fully privatizing the housing finance system, and removing this large risk from the taxpayers' back.

The seminar was held to examine the technical aspects of privatizing Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks, which together form the Government Sponsored Enterprises that dominate the U.S. housing finance market.
http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20031028-053602-9635r

[oasis]

7. Who needs government to make policy when we have right wing think tanks

willing to do the job?

[readmylips]

6. The guy is a jerk...when he said...

'lost of life in Iraq is very small...' Yeah, say that to Cindy Sheehan and all the families that received their child's body in a bodybag. Non of them with the last name bush.

[MildyRules]

9. Loss of just ONE life

is great...if it is your's or your loved one's.

[LibDemAlways]

11. Wecome to DU. You are absolutely correct.

I had an argument one day with an aquaintance over loss of Iraqi life in this war. I said I'd read figures of over 100,000 dead. He argued the figure was probably lower. When I said, "What's the difference? One death is one too many," he walked away. Inability to handle the truth is one of the distinguishing characteristics of a repuke.

[oasis]

10. Our tax dollars are being used for our military to spread propaganda

since public trust has eroded in the civilians of the Bush Administration.