Rep. Rangel will seek to reinstate draft
Americans would have to sign up for a new military draft after turning 18 if the incoming chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee has his way.
Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., said Sunday he sees his idea as a way to deter politicians from launching wars and to bolster U.S. troop levels insufficient to cover potential future action in Iran, North Korea and Iraq.
“There’s no question in my mind that this president and this administration would never have invaded Iraq, especially on the flimsy evidence that was presented to the Congress, if indeed we had a draft and members of Congress and the administration thought that their kids from their communities would be placed in harm’s way*,” Rangel said.
Rangel, a veteran of the Korean War who has unsuccessfully sponsored legislation on conscription in the past, said he will propose a measure early next year.
In 2003, he proposed a measure covering people age 18 to 26. This year, he offered a plan to mandate military service for men and women between age 18 and 42; it went nowhere in the Republican-led Congress.
Democrats, he figures, will be in favor of this legislation, because it targets the real enemy. Uh . . . volunteerism.
*Apparently the members of our present military have no representation in Congress and the administration, unlike potential conscripts
monkyboi voice: So, this means conservatives advocate conscription, right?
Good God, is really advocating federally mandated hostage-taking? Is the electorate really too freakin’ stoopid to understand this?
My (secular) God, Iraq isn’t nearly Vietnam-esque yet, but damned if we ain’t gonna try to make it that way….
A Draft.
Peace with Honor “redeployment” to the global hotspot known as Okinawa.
“Hey Hey Charlie Ray,
How many kids did you kill today?”
Well, at least the music will be better in 1968
why is it that about the time I calm down and think everything might, just might be okay some prominent Dem has to say something stupid like this?
If I remember right, last time Rangle tried this, even he didn’t vote for it, his own bill.
“I wouldn’t want to lead an army of mercenaries.” –GEN William Westmoreland
“General, would you rather lead an army of slaves?” –Milton Friedman
(H/T: Gail at Scribal Terror)
– Ole Charley has come up with his own little ploy, intending to try to keep the race wars alive on the one hand, and reenforce the whole “Iraq was wrong” meme on the other, in a way that makes it seem he’s not just anti-American/War. He knows it’s a “hide the political salami” trick, that’s why he does it. In the mean time, the vast majority of 42nd ave. Liberals that keep sending him to Congress, go forth every day, making their largess at the swill tanks of wall street, while they dutifly hide in their brownstones, ankle biting the man.
– If Rangle, or any of the Left really thought his repeated bills had legs, they’d crap their pants. So of course he votes against it.
Rangel wants to have a draft ostensibly because not enough Congresscritters own kids are in the military …
or rich conservative chickenhawks …
yet Pelosi’s own Friscoites just kicked JROTC off high school campuses and all the best lefty universities have factions that love to ban or chase military recruiters off campus.
Rangel thinks it’s recruits from the LEFT that currently dominates the rank-n-file military? Or is this just a sop to the young leftists looking for new things to be outraged about on campus?
Unbless something has changed recently without me noticing, 18 year olds are already supposed to register for the draft, and have been since at least the 80’s. I had to show proof I’d registered in order to get financial aid for college.
I believe what Rep. rangel wants to do is to actually beginng holding lotterys and start drafting kids again.
Lee, you’re right about Rangel voting against his own bill previously.
Rangel: “There’s no question in my mind that this president…would never have invaded Iraq…if indeed we had a draft and members of Congress and the administration thought that their kids from their communities would be placed in harm’s way.”
Is this another way of saying that kids that study hard and do their homework and make an effort to be smart currently don’t end up in the military?
I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: ‘O Lord, make my enemies ridiculous.’ And God granted it.
The more the new “Democratic Majority” open their mouths, the more I come to believe that Karl Rove is a Fricking Genius, a Sith Lord and the greatest master of political Ju-Jitsu that the world has ever seen.
I think Rangel’s idea will really get out the youth vote!
Which should be cool, watching “rappers for Giuliani” on MTV.
Y’know, I’ve decided I’m for this, with a few small modifications to regulations.
1) All draftees will nominally be Army. None will be requested or accepted by the Marines, Air Force, or Navy;
2) The term of service for draftees will be one (1) year, extendable by act of Congress on a roll-call vote;
3) The ASVAB will not be administered to draftees unless they volunteer for further service. Draftees will require 5 points higher score on the ASVAB than non-draftee volunteers for (re-)enlistment;
4) Draftees will wear a distinctive uniform, consisting of forest camouflage trousers with a (minimum) 44” waist, a black T-shirt with a randomly-selected picture or motto on it, and a ball cap with the Army logo. Draftees will be issued one (1) backpack, containing an 18” wooden baton with a brass ferrule;
5) Draftees will not go to “boot camp” or indeed any of the current Army schools, instead getting 18 weeks of “sensitivity training in a nonthreatening environment”, followed by assignment to the office of their Congressional Representative as guards;
6) All draftees will have the rank of “Field Marshal” (see (4));
7) No draftee will be posted outside the United States, or to any unit with a combat role including supply, without a direct act of Congress on a roll-call vote;
8) No draftee will be issued a firearm, or required (or permitted!) to demonstrate proficiency (or otherwise) with any weapon;
9) A General Discharge under Honorable Conditions (“go home, loser”) will be available on request to any draftee, at any time after swearing in.
Given that those minor details are in the implementing legislation, I’m cool with it.
Regards,
Ric
I like the discharge upon request idea, but make it a trapdoor option, i.e. no credit for time served and no later option for re-enlistment. Other than that don’t weigh the military down with overly cumbersome enacting legislation, let them get as creative as necessary – putting the conscripts to good use such as repairing and maintaining our facilities stateside or doing Katrina cleanup.
What annoys me the most about this kind of crap is that the current number of people allowed to enlist is (most likely) limited by the amount of money budgeted for training and general pay. If they want more people in, increase the budget and raise the number of people allowed to enlist. I doubt they would have trouble meeting new quotas.
However, we all know the real purpose of this crap is to “make a point,” not to increase the number of people serving.
I wish the left would just grow up. They’re eternal teenagers, who rant when things aren’t “fair” and want to have their own way while still having mommy and daddy there to take care of them when they screw up.
By the way, does anyone else find Rangel to be one annoying bastard? He’s always turning up on FauxNewz, and I mute the sound as soon as I hear his voice.
Charlie boy isn’t proposing a registeration bill. He is proposing a full blown draft bill. Welcome to the Army lefties, remember step off with the left foot and stay in step. College brainwashing will be delayed for about 3 years.
Hey?!?! Not on your frickin’ life!
Honestly, I have no idea why Rep Rangel is doing this – he knows it won’t pass. Is he slipping into late Strom Thurmond or Thurgood Marshall territory now?
He’s doing it so that the Dems can say we had to have a draft because of the war that Bush dragged us into.
Ric,
I have a quick email question for you. I’m sending it to the address in your tag.
BRD
Let’s see:
The new Speaker demonstrates that two-thirds of her own caucus think her judgment is impared.
Charlie Rangel grandstands on an issue that has zero traction.
Alcee Hastings is a front-runner to be chair of the Intelligence Committee.
George McGovern is trundling around Capitol Hill like it’s 1972 (after Wallace was shot edition).
And they’re off!!!!
Gonna be a fun two years–especially around these parts.
Peace, Major
(Or Mercedes-Benz, as appropriate—see Tim Blair)
I’m just trying to widen Rep. Rangel’s comfort zone with my proposals. That is, after all, the way it worked during the Viet Nam era.
Regards,
Ric
I’m sorry this didn’t get more public airtime.
Ric,
Don’t get me wrong, I like your idea – just not with those folks in the Army… heh.
Rangel is proposing a Human Shield Draft; it’s goal is to prevent the US from conducting any military operations. Draftees will be deployed to potential enemy territory to take up positions in front of all potential military targets, including any dictator’s palaces, mosques, madrassas, military bases, airfields, etc.