I'm Not Sayin...I'm Just Sayin

[1OldGI]

OK, that tears it. After midnight tonight pay will cease for a whole bunch of brave young kids that are going to bed tonight in a country full of people that would prefer them dead. Contrary to what the political elite and the mainstream media would have you believe, I never saw a GI in 25 years in the business that had more money than they knew what to do with.

God knows I could write 25 pages on all the compelling philosophical and ethical reasons for my 25+ year career, and no, I don't regret a damn second of any of it (in fact I'd go back in a minute if they ever got so desperate they'd take doddering old codgers) but like anyone else, these kids have to make a living and they've got bills to pay. Any Commander in Chief that would stand idly by and watch this happen should be impeached for Deriliction of Duty. I'm off to write a letter to my Congressman.

[thebigspendur]

You know that's part of the problem. The right wingers think they have the upper hand and the pres will cave to them and if he doesn't well all the essential Govt services will continue so big deal shut it down. If I were Obama I'd really shut it down totally. Shut down air traffic, borders closed, no Govt checks to anyone. The right wingers within hours will be crying to Obama.

[JimmyHAD]

From what I understand, and that isn't much, the armed forces is not included in the shut down. Maybe the tea party will succeed and undo the "new deal" and we can go back to the Darwinian society that preceded it. Glad I'm closer to the end of the game than the beginning.

[1OldGI]

From what I understand, and that isn't much, the armed forces is not included in the shut down. Maybe the tea party will succeed and undo the "new deal" and we can go back to the Darwinian society that preceded it. Glad I'm closer to the end of the game than the beginning.

According to the DFAS website, yes and no. Yes the military will remain open for business and no, they will not get paid after midnight tonight. Unit a new CR or a budget has been signed. For your average GI this means that they get roughly half a paycheck on the 15th and as of now bupkiss on the 1st of the month. The message is clear. We really appreciate your service but as Commander in Chief, I don't figure you even rate a paycheck. Wow! and I thought Bubba Clinton was a doucher.

[gugi]

Any Commander in Chief that would stand idly by and watch this happen should be impeached for Deriliction of Duty.

We really appreciate your service but as Commander in Chief, I don't figure you even rate a paycheck. Wow! and I thought Bubba Clinton was a doucher.

You've got to explain to me how is this his fault? Isn't it the job of the congress to give him the money? What happened with the mandate that the american voters gave on the last elections to make the government smaller? Here's small government.

From what I understand the issue is that we're broke, so we'll borrow 1 500 billion dollars and will under no circumstance borrow 10 billion extra, because those 10 billion pay for things our political half doesn't like, so let's punish everybody until the other political half learns their lesson and cries 'uncle'.

What if all those GIs come back and find good paying jobs in the home country. If national security is the problem, may be tasking them with effectively protecting the borders, as well as dealing with the existing internal threads would be something that would cost less and pose less risk than running several wars abroad?

[nun2sharp]

Both parties are tax and spend elitists and this is just another dog and pony show. They dont care what happens or who gets hurt, its all about the perks and status on capital hill. The more I look at these people, the more I think someone should hit the "reset" button and start over from scratch. Sometimes I wished I were as old as Jimmy!

[Kingfish]

I would bet that if the Senate would go without pay everyone playing politics might get some real budget reforms. We have returned to an oligarchy just like France before it's historical revolution. The government is the budget problem and right left who cares. Why wait to the 11the hour to play these games and with of all people our soldiers.They could have easily accomidated for them to, that is the sad part.
It is hard to believe that we have got to this point and they can't even balance their budget. If any of us ran our households or buisnesses like these guys run DC we would be on the street and more likely in jail. One set of rules for the Senate and the rest of us schmucks buy into taking sides thinking that our party is going to make miracles. KISS, pay as you go. Stop play with people's lives to win political points and start loving the greatest country on earth you were sent to serve.

[crichton]

You've got to explain to me how is this his fault? Isn't it the job of the congress to give him the money?

Yes, the President only proposes (and signs once passed) the budget.


Unfortunately, this is (and has been for some time now) a huge problem: both sides seem to derive pleasure from pitting everyone against everyone else. It doesn't matter what the issue is, who is truly at fault or what really needs to be done to fix it. The greater majority of people in this country don't bother to check facts or figures - they just listen to "their" party and believe. You think President Obama put this country in the state it is in the last 24 months? Really? I find that conclusion to be absolutely amazing considering all the antics that occurred in the 8 years prior to his being sworn in.

If you want real change, get them all out of office, each and every one! Then get new faces and new rules starting with term limits. These positions in Congress should be used to serve your country, not to gain power and money.

End rant.

To 1OldGI: I agree that it is horrible what will happen to the men and women overseas in harms way. They should be guaranteed a paycheck, amongst other things. And thank-you for your service to this country!

[1OldGI]

You've got to explain to me how is this his fault? Isn't it the job of the congress to give him the money? What happened with the mandate that the american voters gave on the last elections to make the government smaller? Here's small government.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that if Obama says poop the Democrats in Congress will squat and say how much. As Commander in Chief he should have at least used this leverage to ensure the kids getting shot at were at least making a living. Yes, it is and was the Democrat controlled Congress that was supposed to have passed this budget not later than 01 October 2010. They apparently sluffed that deadline off to ensure that Obama's medical care debacle was crammed down people's throats. This isn't smaller government this is absolute stupidity! We've got $2 Billion to loan to Brazilian Oil interests owned by George Soros so they can bolster their operations in the Gulf of Mexico, while Obama's assanine moritorium on American oil drilling remains in place but we can't pay kids that are putting their lives on the line for this country? Sorry Dude but this is just plain damn wrong.

From what I understand the issue is that we're broke, so we'll borrow 1 500 billion dollars and will under no circumstance borrow 10 billion extra, because those 10 billion pay for things our political half doesn't like, so let's punish everybody until the other political half learns their lesson and cries 'uncle'..

All we here from state controlled media is about the Republican attack on women's health. Isn't this cats A$$ medical reform bill supposed to cover all that? So if we can't pay for abortions with tax payer dollars we can't pay soldiers? During the Obama Care debate the right was told that "Elections have consequences" so sit down and shut up. Why does that only work one way? It doesn't take a genius to figure out that we're broke and cannot sustain our current spending levels. I applaud efforts to cut spending and in case you are wondering the DoD has already given up more than their fair share. Besides getting their lowest pay raise since 1961 this year. Many benefits are on the chopping block and taxes on military retirements mysteriously increased by $40 a month because "the tax tables had been re-drawn". What's more, despite a higher operations tempo than any time in history, there was another round of personnel cuts to the tune of around 100,000 people. On top of all that, we can't even pay the people that are still out their in the $hit. This is should be a national disgrace but the liberal left see's more value in the use of abortions as birth control than it does in someone fighting to defend freedom.

What if all those GIs come back and find good paying jobs in the home country. If national security is the problem, may be tasking them with effectively protecting the borders, as well as dealing with the existing internal threads would be something that would cost less and pose less risk than running several wars abroad?

I think what we have here is a failure to communicate. If you're in the military and you don't get paid, you can't simply take your ball and go home. Nor can you walk off the job. At worst (in a combat command) desertion is punishable by life in prison or a death sentence. At best, (in a stateside command not involved in tactical operations) desertion is a felony conviction that will result in jail time (and oh good luck getting a decent job if you're a convicted felon.) Where will all the homecoming heroes find all these good jobs? Will we ship them back home to China? I don't disagree that we should get out of the Middle East at the earliest opportunity. It would seem that no matter how many of our kids die over there or leave arms and legs over there, or how much of our money we pump into their corrupt governments, our efforts will never be appreciated and America will always be the great Satan. At the end of the day, we're all just pork eating infidels that should be systematically slaughtered. That's just plain old truth. As much as the Old GI in me hates to bail in the middle of the fight, it's obvious our country will not tolerate the level of brutality necessary to win a war with these people and winning hearts and minds no matter how well intended, is totally out of the question in that part of the world. I would further agree that our military would be better used to secure our borders and defend our own country. While we're at it how about canning the Kumbaya garbage and bolster our nuclear arsenal because regardless of what they might say, our nuclear adversaries are not inclined to string love beads and join hands. However, at the end of the day, whatever role they would be used in they will likely not do the job for free.

PS: If Obama keeps this up, the 5 Democrats currently on active duty with the U.S. military will probably vote Republican next time out.

PPS: If you'd like to hear some of my ideas for REAL budget cuts, PM me as this one will likely be a bit caustic for public display.