Would you vote a qualified veteran into Congress?

LTC Charles Blake - Sir, I'll give you that "no one is truly neutral". Yes we have our "leanings". I cannot and would not argue with that. However, I think what I am saying in terms of "Independent" is realizing that for the two parties to get off their collective butts is to suggest a group of NO NONSENSE "Independent minded" vets such as the US Marine LtC who had the guts to ask the question that needed to be asked are engaging in force to "...support, protect and defend... the Constitution of the United States..." would get someone's attention.

Perhaps the LtC would be willing to run for office under such an umbrella! Who knows.

Just saying....................

CPO Nate S. - While I agree it would be great to have a large number of truly party-independent people in Congress, that just isn't reality. It can be somewhat successful at the local level but if you don't have access to the resources of one or the other party you'll be extremely hard-pressed to get anyone elected to a national-level office.

Better would be veterans elected from both parties that would form a caucus once in office and show the rest what true bi-partisanship or non-partisanship looks like in action, putting what is right above the partisan posturing and demonstrate the ability to compromise rather than ostracize.

LTC Stephen B. - Sir, very reasonable.

But in looking at the list from the website of the Congressional Veterans Caucus (http://caucus.militarytimes.com/members/) there are a mix of veterans by party and while I appreciate your comments, many pictured continue to be VERY PARTISAN and would seem to lack the courage to make the change you suggest. Which would be welcomed.

Another organization calling itself NO LABELS (https://www.nolabels.org/) seems to be doing, or at least advocating what you are suggesting. I have listened in on some to the monthly and other calls. Interesting presentations and topics.

In any event, it is not as much as the numbers as the quality of veterans in congress. MOAA (https://www.moaa.org/content/publications-and-media/news-articles/2021-news-articles/veterans-in-the-117th-congress,-by-the-numbers/) gives this review of members of the 117th Congress with military service.

More interesting is the article entitled "The top 10 veterans in journalism and how you could join them" published 01 Jan 2021 (https://www.militarytimes.com/education-transition/2021/01/01/the-top-10-veterans-in-journalism-and-how-you-could-join-them/). It would seem that getting more vets engaged in fair and accurate reporting of the news, especially "investigative journalism", is another prong of potential service to the entire nation at local, regional, national and international levels.

Just saying.....................................

CPO Nate S. - That kind of bolsters my comment on another part of this thread - just because someone is a veteran does not mean they are automatically the best person for the office. I would add to that the comment that just because someone runs AS an Independent does not mean that they ARE independent. There are a small number of Independents in the Senate but they ALL caucus with one party, and are more reliably partisan than some members of that party.

COL Lee Flemming - Sir, I guess I'll beg to differ. Not all SM make the best employees. Fact. How many have you boarded out during your time in command? How many "get by" but are not actively pushing DA policy and inspiring their subordinates? It's very easy to allow someone else to advocate for you, especially if the system is already in place and everywhere we turn we see another advocacy group telling us they "got our back."

I am not advocating that a Chaptered SM run for public office. To the contrary I am advocating that our best and brightest run for office...The military is a self-policing organization. By that I mean when we make mistakes we admit them, we publicize them and we learn from them. I know of very few professions that intentionally communicate issues and faults that they are working to correct. Integrity and forthrightness are not just watch words; they are aspirational objectives that are targeted by the smallest unit and the military as a whole. Why would we not want personnel cut from this cloth leading our communities as Congressmen? MAJ Charles Blake I have no issue with you having another opinion. Mine is that we have great leaders in the military that could also be difference makers for their communities.

COL Lee Flemming - Sir, I misread your statement. You said "if we agree that SM make " and I didn't see the "if".
Certainly the military produces some fine leaders, some should be able to successfully cross over to the political arena.
Do you think that a retiree could do this or would it be a younger person without the potential for "institutionalized thinking"?

MAJ Charles Blake I think that there could be great candidates who are younger or retired. Thanks and take care...

SFC Pete Kain Agree vets don't automatically get a pass and some that post on RP are circumspect. No argument from me.

I have had a number of off-line discussions with Col Flemming and find him honorable on a number of levels. Just saying..............

Here is a Political pin I own that is My view as a Vietnam Veteran and MY dislike for that Rat Kerry ! I have met Him in person and what He said depended on His Who He was speaking to. He is a complete disgrace, a phony, liar enemy of the United States in my opinion !

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter - Totally agree. He's one of many two-faced lying bastards in politics - like many on both sides of the aisle he believed the rules should apply to everyone but himself. Definition of a tyrant.

I think many veterans are like me - I don't want to serve with 500+ people who have little integrity, questionable ethics

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter - Having buried our Dad with PH, I couldn't vote for Kerry. He tossed his medals and that's disrespect. War was destined to end. He punched his ticket and got on political train quick. Hanoi Jane and Tom Hayden. Too much blue blood for Kerry. The Royals were a bit screwy due to genetics too.

CWO3 (Join to see) - Also Kerry only spent 2.5 years of the 4 He was supposed to be on active duty plus 2 more reserve for six. That was in lieu of a Court martial He was allowed to resign His Commission, leave the service and left without an Honorable Discharge to avoid prosecution under the UCMJ. His medals didn't come from His chain of Command and He bypassed them and went to connections in Washington and based on write up Kerry Himself was the author of. He was never wounded even once but had three fake Purple Hearts. He bypassed His Commander and even the Rear Admiral in the chain of Command above Him. Kerry did finally get His Honorable Discharge when President Jimmy Carter allowed all the Deserters and Draft Dodger Who fled to Canada back into the Unites States. I've read the statement from the people in His chain of Command and also the Navy Doctors Who stated He had no injury that could be attributed to enemy action. One Navy Doctor, Lt 03, made a statement as to Kerry and member of His crew entering the Navy Medical facility He worked at saying He was injured. The Doctor could see an injury and had t ask where it was. Kerry showed Him a scratch on his arm. The Doctor said, "That's it, You have got to be kidding ! Kerry said it was from shrapnel , the Doctor felt it was a self inflicted scratch. Shrapnel makes a puncture would NOT a scratch. I know that Myself from being in Vietnam and seeing those sort of wounds Myself on others. Kerry asked, "Well are You going to treat it ?" The Doctor took a band aid and put it on the scratch and told Him to get the hell out of My medical facility ! He let Kerry know He disgusted Him.

Admiral Zumwalt's, the Chief of Navel Operations, son, an Officer in the US Marines also expressed His disgust with Kerry and His fathers disdain also for John Kerry and His false record. John Kerry has NEVER released His Military record to the public despite many request He do so. Myself and thousands other other sent Kerry SF Form 46 to request copies of His record, He never responded. He was even confronted on Live TV about tha tand still didn't release it. Admiral Zumwalt and His son both said You better hop no one sees Your Military record. This was Kerry was running for President and lost but the Democrats kept yelling over and over for the Military record George Bush Jr. , which He had already release, all 85 pages of it and He had an Honorable discharge for 5 and 1/2 years service. His obligation was of course also six, He applied for and got the early out to run for political office. Its point the finger at someone else so the won't look at You tactic being used by the Democrats. Having actually met and talking with John Kerry in person I know what a line of BS He is and what He says depend on Who His audience is.

Thanks MSG (Join to see) --- still wearing the green, but I will definitely keep that in mind!

Let me know if you need any campaign volunteers,

COL Lee Flemming - i would also vote for you and help/donate to your election campaign.

MSgt (Join to see) - thanks for the vote of confidence! I still lace them up like you everyday though!

Well said SSG McCoy!

MSG (Join to see) - Being a Chief I agree! However, engaging Flags to do some real heavy lifting is a strategic reality that could be well leveraged with a bunch of senior enlisted supervising the same!

So, electing a General or Admiral might be good; IF a few Chiefs, Gunnys or 1st Sgts were elected to keep him/her in check? LOL Good idea!