A question for the congniscenti re: 'The Military Vote'

[Stinky The Clown]

I can't claim any connection to today's average military person or their families. Back when I was in (Moby Dick was a minnow back then and all the news was about Viet Nam) there were at least as many of my fellow sailors who were against the war as for it; probably with a tilt to 'against'. In fact, our supply officer, for whom I worked and who was an Annapolis grad, was quite opposed. I know, however, that's no indication of anything besides my own personal experience.

During the Reign of St. Ronnie, there seemed to be a shift to a stronger RepublicIck leaning, mainly because he spent so much for new toys and appeared to be a supporter of the military. This continued under Bush The Slightly Smarter But No More In Touch, and then take a turn back to neutral under Clinton, but with more overtly vocal opposition from the right side of the spectrum.

Does anyone have any feel about what the political lean of the military and their families is today? I can imagine it would be a lot like what I experienced way back in the day .... what with an unpopular war and stupid decisions by the civilian leadership.

But I don't know.

How do you see it?

[BOSSHOG]

1. delete please

[Stinky The Clown]

3. Actually, that was valuable .....

.... the speechifying rhetoric using the terms of the civilian leadership is what the military professionals are *supposed* to do.

The fact that no one was saying anything else is telling. Neutral is good. It says to me they look a lot like the rest of the country ...... pretty evenly divided.

[BOSSHOG]

2. I was up at NPC two weeks ago

at the CPO pinning ceremony. No surprise, but the patriotism was palpable. I heard "global war on terror" in a couple of speechs and I observed a whole bunch of professionals wanting to do their jobs. But in my unscientific survey I could not detect any politics, neither pro or anti bush. I guess I did just a great job of answering your question huh?

[Stinky The Clown]

4. My reply to you is under your now self deleted thread.

[Qanisqineq]

5. From my experience

My husband is in the army and went to Iraq back in 2003, a few months after it started. Back then, when they first went, it was fairly evenly split for and against the war (at least in terms of the people he knew). The Bush backers were largely for the war, of course. By the time they came back, even the majority of republicans were against the war and at the 2004 election chose to either vote for Kerry or not vote at all.

He is now with a different unit and no one likes Bush. His commander hates Bush. His soldiers hate Bush. The majority of people he knows hate Bush and the others just don't say much either way. I couldn't tell you how they are split in terms of Republicans and Democrats, but in our experience, they are against Bush. They complain that the army is in shambles all because of Rumsfeld and Bush.

As far as military families -- I hate to say this, but the wives seem to be a little dumber and are somewhat more supportive of the war and Bush.

But that's our experience, I'd like to hear what other troops/their families have experienced.

[Stinky The Clown]

7. Wow!

If your experience is at all indicative of the larger military community, guys like Allen should see some real blowback .... blowback that will favor a guy like Webb.

[The Deacon]

6. Several Of My Wife & My Friends Are Up For Re-Deployment

(For one it will be his second, for another his third stint) and they seem somewhat less than thrilled with Junior. Of course, they both also love Bill Clinton & practically worship Jimmy Carter (the wives do, that is), so its hard to say if the War has anything to do with it. Third couple were anti-Gore and are very tight-lipped at the moment - haven't heard them make any political statements (and don't know who they voted for in 2004 - just that they SAY they were anti-Gore in 2000.)

[JohnnyLib2]

8. Active at Ft. Knox in the 70s, work nearby now---

The antiwar sentiment is here again but not as strong. The multiple deployments and PTSD stuff is rough as hell on families. I also hear what
a previous poster does--deafening silence now from those who were pro Bush and pro-engagement in '04. I hear no respect for Bush; only dedication to duty. Some vets around here are more vocal about the overworked/underequipped/stretched thin status that they know a lot about.

Upshot; the tide hasn't turned yet but the rah rah days are gone.