TheAnvil

They are two different topics - and you brought it up, not I. I don't just infer that anyone who has served shouldn't have the right to a free ride for three years + E-5 housing pay - I state that belief outright. Anybody who desires to enter college has the right to do so - provided they meet all the entrance requirements - be they civilian or veteran of any MOS/rate. The right to the government paying for it free and clear doesn't exist in my book. What exactly is reprehensible about that? If you'd read the details about the new bill, you'd realize that it requires no buy in Clicky If you've been in 20 years and don't know many ratings/MOS's other than nukes that have incredible in service schools, then that's probably an effect of a very stove-piped career. Nothing wrong with that, but your assertion is far from correct. I've never asserted that any one rate or MOS has more of a right than any other to post-service benefits and wonder where you got such an inference. I DO state unabashedly that some MOS/ratings get better education benefits than others due to the nature of their individual rate/MOS's - choose your rate, choose your fate. What I propose - just the tip of what I would desire, actually - shouldn't scare ANYBODY scared to work, i.e. worthy of getting gov't $$ expended on their behalf. If they aren't ready to meet such a minimum requirement, then why the hell should the gov't expend those funds in the first place? Of what benefit is fund expenditure without QA to the taxpayer? What i'd like would be a piggy-back on/bastardized version of the troops to teachers program, just with a little more icing and pizzazz, as I'd like to see those skills funneled elsewhere within gov't as needed in addition to the ranks of teachers. WRT who would administer such a program, whom do you think would be administering the new GI Bill benefits? The Cookie Monster? Who do you think administers the program now? It's not the Easter Bunny, rest assured. Adding another feedback loop wouldn't be hard at all. A boost to recruiting would be about the ONLY benefit this bill brings to the government. I don't like it, but it will probably pass. That's an indirect return at best. There's an all volunteer force currently recruited without the additional benefits. But, think as you like. I always do.

Tequila? Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

I learned a thing or two from that...left wingers will like the ANWR bit. I don't agree with their reasons against drilling there, but this fellow has a point about the potential effect of any drilling there on prices. http://www.ajc.com/search/content/opinion/stories/2008/06/22/oiloped.html

I have injured my foot and haven't been able to work out since last Tuesday. Driving me batty. Upper body only. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

There's a saying in the Navy - choose your rate, choose your fate. It's quite true. There are PLENTY of non-nuclear rates that have superb in-service schools - perhaps you should learn a bit more before making a statement to the contrary. These folks weren't hired to give them a degree - rather to perform a service. Those who don't go into such rates made the choice not to do so or were not qualified to do so. Make the choice, accept the consequences. I have been given the opportunity for graduate education - I earned it. I earned it by making choices and excelling academically. Tell me - why should anyone who didn't make similar choices and didn't excel academically have the same opportunity I or other officers had? Anyone who makes the right choices can have that security. Again - why should those who did not go down that path reap identical benefits? I'll answer - they shouldn't. You're an Army fellow - should everyone wear a RANGER tab even if they didn't go through RANGER school? No way in HELL. They didn't make the choice, they didn't go through it, they don't get it. Pretty similar. I don't think enlisted folks or officers should be given three years of tuition plus E-5 housing pay as a post-service benefit because I don't think college is a right, first and foremost. I think it's a privilege - that's why admissions standards exist. If it's given free, then it should be earned via academic excellence and not for doing a job for X # of years. College isn't about service - it's about academics and learning. Secondly, as stated previously, there is no direct return on investment for the government by giving away that $$. Those using that money won't come back and work for the government (necessarily; some might). It's no strings attached and a SIGNIFICANT chunk of change compared to what the old system offered. In case you haven't read the budget recently - we're broke. I asked for a real answer and didn't get one - we did a job and deserve it is what your answer boils down to. Guess what? Look around you. There's an all volunteer force recruited without that benefit. Amazing, eh? This extra incentive isn't needed to recruit, though it most assuredly will help. How would I make that bill better? Hmmm... - do a multiple on the GI bill benefits today with no change to the buy-in amount by the service member - exclude officers, except warrants and LDO's, unless they pursue a degree in mathematics, hard science, or critical languages and agree to teach in the public schools or use that in federal service. Mandate a 2.7 minimum GPA if they do. - mandate a 2.5 GPA or benefits go away - provide an extra multiple for benefits for non-officers agreeing via contract to re-enter federal service or earning degrees in mathematics, science or critical languages and agreeing to teach in public schools. Mandate a 2.7 GPA or benefits disappear for these folks. Among other things. Not really germane, as I think the current bill is destined to pass. As a taxpayer, I don't like it. Think as you like - I always do. Discussed this at the office today out of curiosity - about 70/30 among the O's, 70% with me and 30% with you. The 30% gave answers virtually identical to yours (i.e. nothing substantive) and we agreed to disagree (not the first or last time there).

I just read this - how horrible. What a funny man he was! I always liked listening to him and reading his stuff.

No need to forgive! You're still working on it! Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

Most interesting. - virtually anyone that wishes to get into college can finance it through student loans - very few exceptions. - I don't feel those people - civilian or military - that do not go to college will become drug dealers. If you do, then you disagree with me. Think as you like. - Obeying the law is not payback, it's a requirement expected of anyone, military, civilian, or veteran. That's no answer and you know it - Your credits depend on the school. Several are quite good - the technical ones, predominantly. - my own experience with military health care has been pretty good, with few exceptions. I've heard some horror stories from friends elsewhere in the military (Army guys), but I've also heard far worse stories about the civilian system as well. Think as you like. I always do. Best of luck - and don't lose sleep over the bill. It's probably going to pass with much fanfare, despite my own dislike of it as a taxpayer.

I read about this f-tard. Sickening. This guy deserves what's coming to him. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

I don't like the GS pay scale as compared with the military for several reasons. Even in the new NSPS era - which I like from my experiences with it so far. I heard David Gergen give a talk at the Jacksonville Council on Foreign Relations a couple of years ago and though I disagreed with him on a few things - we spoke afterwards, actually - he had one great point (among several others). That point being that the U.S. needs to invest far more in it's professional government employees education wise. He pointed out how well the military does that, actually. I thought he had a very good point.

Disagree with me if you so desire. I stick around for reasons other than pay and assume many other folks do the same. It seems the opportunities the officer corps get for further education is an issue for you. Officers do frequently get the opportunity for higher education - and there's one HELL of a payback the government gets for that investment, else those opportunities wouldn't exist. GE and several other companies also invest $$ for the higher education of their mid-senior level managers. Crotonville was one of Jack Welch's greatest success stories. What payback would the government get by taking enlisted folks out of their career track and sending them through a bachelor's degree? Think about it. The fellow would either apply for a commission (programs exist for that now, actually) or come back way out of touch with his/her rate and an education equivalent to junior officers. He could also come back to have one of his classmates from undergrad be his new boss' boss. Not really good for keeping talent within the enlisted ranks and nurturing it, eh? Many service schools are at or near the equivalent of an associate's degree already - any Nuclear trained electronic technician will have that. What's the benefit to DoD or the government buy getting these folks bachelor's degrees while they're in service? College is not a right - it's a privilege. What payback is the government getting by paying for 3 years of tuition + E-5 housing after a service member departs Active duty? I don't want any pansy/bullshit 'we've earned it' type of answer - we've earned a paycheck, health care, 30 days of vacation/year (on the off chance we get to take it), current VA benefits, Montgomery GI Bill benefits, and many other benefits while serving - including the attendance at military schools that have equivalent civilian credit. I want the benefit to the government by expending funds in that manner. What is it? The bill as written is far to liberal and unfocused. If you disagree, then you disagree, but please answer my questions posed above.

I always face reality. And reality is that sponsoring a bill is an accomplishment, content of a sponsored bill is tangible, Congressmen do NOT exert the same effort to get a bill through, getting a hearing before a committee is an accomplishment, coordinating a successful team effort is an accomplishment and ignoring those facts will not make them go away. Face them whenever you so desire.

face reality whenever you like.

Retention is a completely different topic than this flawed bill. Since I've been commissioned, the retention issue has always been there. Far more for officers than enlisted folks. I'd say with high confidence the problem with officer retention had its seeds in the late years of the Carter administration and the early years of the Reagan administration. The officer corps typically earns far less than their civilian counterparts, but the delta between the enlisted ratings is HIGHLY dependent up on what skill sets you're speaking of - some are better paid in the service and others worse than their counterparts. Many variables at play there. The force as a whole, IS well compensated. Regular pay raises, an EXTREMELY good vacation policy, upward mobility opportunity, Montgomery GI Bill (in its current form), a SUPERB pension plan, plenty of tax breaks, free health care, and many other benefits. Could the compensation/benefits be improved upon? Absolutely. Is the bill under discussion the manner in which to do that - I say no.

Sponsoring a bill not an accomplishment? Bullshit. It takes quite a bit of work - administratively and otherwise - to draft a bill and get it before a committee for consideration. Work and a lot of leadership. Content of a sponsored bill intangible? Bullshit. The content of sponsored legislation is QUITE tangible - especially in conjunction with how far the legislation proceeded. Calling hearings on an issue not an accomplishment? Bullshit. Getting a hearing before a committee isn't exactly easy, and it shows a dedicated interest in the topic of the hearing. Sponsors of a bill not pushing a bill through congress? BULLSHIT. They're key and critical in garnering support for and getting the bill through. Implying that all 100 members of the Senate have an equal role in passage of any piece of legislation is absurd. The Constitution alone grants Senators power within the Senate itself? Bullshit! There are committees, sub-committees, rules of order on the floor and in committee, committee chairmanships, vice-chairmanships, Majority and Minority leaders, and other positions and powers that go along with them. Weighs and Means Chairman is FAR more powerful than the Chairman of the Agricultural Committee, for example. There IS an answer to Matthews' question - you just don't like it. THe answer is - there aren't many accomplishments at all about which to speak. I don't advocate the outright lies of anyone, left or right, and am not speaking of the current administration - I'm speaking of the Democratic nominee. Changing the subject won't give Senator Obama any accomplishments to speak of - only his record will do that, if such accomplishments do exist. Do you REALLY think populism, oratorical ability, and current political climate are the ingredients to a successful primary run? Dig deeper - that's far from correct. The answer to my query is quite simple - there is no beef. Only populism, oratorical ability, and the advantage of running against a party with an extremely unpopular President in office. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

Some good things in what Sen. Obama says in this clip - many bad things as well. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

I've just been selected for Commander, not that my rank is sequitur to the conversation at hand. I've been offered jobs for just about twice my current salary on several occasions over the past few years- turned them down for myriad reasons. Some in the military earn less than their civilian counterparts - others more. Those earning less, if they feel the additional benefits and culture do not make up for the pay delta, are welcome to leave at the end of their obligated service. Quite the nice thing about a volunteer force. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

# of bills sponsored intangible? I think not. Content of bills sponsored intangible? I think not. # of hearings called for intangible? I think not. How many bills did Senator Kerry or Senator Obama sponsor and get pushed through - either of them - out of morbid curiosity? That Watson fellow - smashing last name - was ill prepared for the interview. The 'what has Obama accomplished?' mantra will be key to Republican rhetoric throughout the campaign. Leftists had better get used to it. Or better still - break the 'run like cowards' mold of answering questions that many of them have adopted and craft a response! That would be ever so nice. Unfortunately for them, there's not much substance from Sen Obama's record with which to craft a response. They've created a campaign based upon populism, dissatisfaction with an unpopular President, and oratorical ability. As my favorite elderly actress of all time might ask, 'Where's the beef?' Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

The current force is all volunteer for the most part - a few involuntarily recalled folks are still about - unlike the WW II force. Compensation packages for the WW II force compared with today's would probably be staggering. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

Their service is still real - and this bill is still overly generous to an already well-compensated military. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

Revamping - yes. But not in this manner. This is far too generous and unfocused. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

I'm going to surprise many folks in here with this - I hope it's vetoed. I AM a military member - 13.5 years and some change and I HAVE been on the ground in Iraq multiple times, though not for an extended period - and think this is overly generous. The benefits should be re-written to target certain groups - combat vets from Iraq and Afghanistan most prominent among them. Its current blanket coverage and lack of focus makes it unpalatable to me. It will probably pass, though. I'll probably even avail myself of its benefits someday. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

Clicky Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

I just finished a wee bit o' Glenmorangie. Superb. I love scotch. Anybody have a favorite? I tend towards Glenmorangie, but enjoy many others. British friends have introduced me to some superb ones, but I don't remember many of the names. Bastards always try and get me hammered on Scotch in revenge from some innocent tequila fun I've had with a few of them. Hehehehehehehehe. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

nobody is having any fun in this thread...other than mnealtx so it seems...tsk tsk... at least the Ewoks got a couple of votes! Short power! Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!