[RANT] My god...

[Ducimus]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

Honestly in my 12 years in the military I can only think of a handful of people that where staunchly Republicans or Democrats.At least in the units I was in the topic of politics only came up so often usually started by one of the staunch types and the typically ended by someone else telling them to shut up.Around election times when such matters are more common rabble I'd say that most where middle of the road types not loyal to any party which is actually a good thing.

Personally, I never concerned myself with politics while I wore a uniform. Just lofty BS to me at the time. I usually concerned myself with the here and now, taking one day at a time. I think most I served with were the same way. We didn't have time to concern ourselves with lofty BS or rhetorical words. Oh you'd hear jokes like "peoples republic", or "I did so solemnly swear to give up my rights and give them to (insert country name here)", but that was about the extent of it; don't ask don't tell jokes aside, which there was PLENTY of. Eventually I figured out you didn't have to agree with what was going on. You didn't even have to like it. You just had to do your job, and that was that.

I can't think of a time where the word republican or democrat ever came up in a conversation. Of course, when i as in, the country was a much different place then it is today. What goes on today, I have no idea.

[Stealhead]

Originally Posted by Ducimus

Personally, I never concerned myself with politics while I wore a uniform. Just lofty BS to me at the time. I usually concerned myself with the here and now, taking one day at a time. I think most I served with were the same way. We didn't have time to concern ourselves with lofty BS or rhetorical words. Oh you'd hear jokes like "peoples republic", or "I did so solemnly swear to give up my rights and give them to (insert country name here)", but that was about the extent of it; don't ask don't tell jokes aside, which there was PLENTY of. Eventually I figured out you didn't have to agree with what was going on. You didn't even have to like it. You just had to do your job, and that was that.

I can't think of a time where the word republican or democrat ever came up in a conversation. Of course, when i as in, the country was a much different place then it is today. What goes on today, I have no idea.

I was around to see the change from Clinton to Bush nothing changed not much changed after 9/11 just more things to do with no extra man power.My brother told me that as the years have gone by in Army a least with infantry,sappers,front line guys "SPQR" has become a popular tattoo with troops.Of course that is used as mark of solidarity with other soldiers not so much to make a political statement.Another popular one is the date of a particularly nasty fire fight tattooed on the trigger finger.I think that came form WWII one of my great uncles has the date of a naval battle on his forearm.

the most stand out thing I can recall about politics was when some Congress members from a few different states came by the base to see things.Well I do not recall all of the states but one was Indiana seems that they could not find enough people from these states who where supposed to have a meal or some other crap with the Congress members.

The public affairs officer made the rounds for a week or before the shindig.Finally he came in again during roll call I recon he figured some troops might be from the states but where not wishing meet some yahoo politician.The officer kind of rolled his eyes in frustration and said "surely someone is from these states" someone said "Flog() Indiana" well that guy according to the public affairs officer was now from the Hoosier state and the guy went around and assigned states to people luckily he missed me cause I'd have told the Congress member that I was not from his state with no qualms.Of course I might first have kept up the ruse just to see how dense he or she might have been and then played up being hard core what ever party they where.

I am sure that it worked quite well though the pretenders likely knew more about the state than the rep.