I cannot read these articles anymore. Just cannot. They make me sick. HE makes me sick. And I was thinking yesterday how Colin Powell has now lost all international credibility, and he was the only one I liked.

Sigh. When's the election again? 54% of Americans don't want to see Bush re-elected. Let's keep that up, OK?

KC, I feel so badly for Powell. I'll bet he accepted his job thinking he could provide balance and "make a difference," but his political career - should he ever want one - has suffered because of his association with this president.

I still admire and respect the man, but damn - I would love to see him cut his losses and get the hell out now. He deserves better.

I read your blog on a regular basis, and usually look forward to it. In the past I have read your remarks on Bush, and even though I don't share your opinion, everyone is entitled to free speech, so I just skipped past the snide remarks and entertained myself with the rest of your blog. But Lately, It seems every blog entry has a negative refrence to Bush. He has done remarkable things with the Military. He is who my Husband works for. My husband puts his life on the line for ALL of our freedom. And you know what? He is proud to do so. If you polled the US armed forces, As a whole they would agree that the last 2 years have been neccesary. For the present as well as the future. I go months without so much as hearing one single word from him, and though I feel alone, sad, proud, and even sometimes downright PIS*ed off, I still support my husband as well as his commrads, including the Chief of Staff. Not everything Bush has done I agree with, however I DO FEEL safer today than I did on 9/12/2001.
I know, I know we are each entitled to our opinion, but I wanted to get the opinion of an actual military wife out there. This is something we face head on day i and day out. Our children forget their daddy's voices, and their daddys miss out on alot of their "firsts", but in the end hopefully, their daddy's will help make the world a safe enough place so that daddy's voice wont be forever forgotton.

I think you'll find that at no point does highwaygirl say anything derogatory about the military.

I don't think that disagreeing with Bush has anything to do with her opinion of the military. The military is there to follow orders, and unfortunately, they are forced to follow the orders of a man she has significant issues with, as do many other people.

Furthermore, every comment she's made about Bush has been backed up by an intelligent interpretation of his actions, rather than the standard vitriol about his inability to pronounce the word "nuclear", and such.

Never once did I say she has in issue with the military. Nor did I say I had issues with her opinion. I just stated my opinion differed, and simply pointed out what an "inside view" from the military looked like. I simply wanted to state my opinion that he has done an excellent job with our armed forces.

Saying you skip someone's "snide remarks" on a topic seems to indicate you have an issue with the opinion expressed.

I'd be interested to hear exactly how Bush has done "remarkable things" with the military. Besides, you know, send husbands and fathers off to war.

I grew up in a military household. My dad served in Vietnam and the Gulf War and I know what it's like to forget the sound of your father's voice. And maybe that's part of the reason I can't support this war. I've tried to see Bush's (and my Republican husband's) reasoning for the war, but I just can't.

I think that it is very, very possible to support our military forces without supporting our President. And I'm sick and tired of being told I'm not "patriotic" because I don't worship Bush. Why should I? He can't even pronounce nuclear!

I just figured she was skipping certain entries and comments to get to the stuff I post. I know that's what I do. It just seems patriotic.

My! I seem to have caused some sparks. OK, so.... I know not everyone supports Bush, nor do I believe everyone should. If everyone had the same beliefs the world would be boring. As for the formentioned "snide remarks".. You have to admit Highwaygirls' opinion is reflected in her remarks. I never said they were falsey claimed remarks.. Just that her dislike for our current president was apparant in the tone of her remarks.
As for what Bush has done for our military. He has brought pay raises, certain tax relief, support for our service members as well as personal support for the loved ones that belong to the service members. He has pushed for funding to update military quarters that frankly, were to the point of unhabitable. He has made many personal appearances to many bases to go "one on one" with family members and dependents.. To hear our views and to give us a better understanding of what/how our spouses are doing while deployed.
Growing up in a military family is definatley a challange. I grew up an "air force brat". However, being a "navy wife" and raising my own "navy brats" all by myself is a whole different ball game. As for the war. Do I understand the whole reason behind it? Do I support it? Not really. When we first started the campaign I swear my first words to my husband were, and I quote:" I don't understand how fighting and killing equals peace.? How does shooting someone solve a political problem? Why can't they just figure it out, come to a peaceful conclusion? We tell our children not to fight. We tell them to use their words, not their aggressions. Why can't everyone do that?"
After about a weeks' worth of explanation, military style, I still hadn't come to an understanding. However, my husband was being shipped out, and at that point I didn't care who supported the war, I just wanted everyone to support our troops, to support my husband. I meant nothing negative towards Highway girl. I just wanted to let her know that even if Bush cant say nuclear, and even if I dont vote to re-elect him, he HAS done SOME good. Even big losers have an achievment or two in their lives.
If you don't support the war, but you support our troops, you ARE patriotic. Patriotism pumps thru my veins, and there is SOOO much about the war/military lifestyle I DO NOT AGREE with... But the pride our men and woman serving in our armed forces have is contagious. I hate war, but I love my sailor. I love our freedoms. I love my country. NO MATTER WHO IS PRESIDENT. Have a good night y'all, hopefully I have mended any feet I stepped on, It was not my intention.

Thanks for clearing up my question about Bush's improvements with the military - I think you are right, some of us may think he sucks, but we should admit he's done some good. Unfortunately, "some" good isn't always good enough. But I do think it's great to hear what he's done for military families.

I don't know...I don't really think that "some good" outweighs the tremendous bad he's done and continues to want to do. America's position in the eyes of the world today is truly tenuous. When I was traveling this summer I was often - for the first time in my life - ashamed to be an American abroad, and not because of the stupid "ugly American" thing, but because of politics.

When a woman spits on you in a Paris subway because of your president, "some" good isn't enough at ALL.