At least, that's certainly what it looks like congressional Democrats think of them...
Congressional Democrats are pushing what could become the most dramatic expansion of college aid for military veterans since World War II, with a bill they hope will buoy them this election season and become an albatross for Republicans.
Ah yes, the sweet sounds of an election year. Ain't it all just grand?
Pitched by the Democrats is a plan that would essentially guarantee a full-ride scholarship to any in-state public university, along with a monthly housing stipend, for individuals who serve the military for at least three years.
Let's translate that - spend 3-years in the military (T-H-R-E-E, as in more than 2, less than 4, years - as in 25% less than the time it typically takes to earn a bachelor's degree) and you get a free ride to any public university you wish to attend.
Pretty sweet deal, that. And hey, even the Speaker-in-Law is on board...
"Meeting the needs of our veterans is a cost of war," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who described the bill as a "thank you" to the troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
How about you and your Blame America First caucus-mates ceasing and desisting in your efforts to undermine their mission as a "thank you to the troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan" - you damn-fool, idiot biatch? But I digress...
And in a time of war, who could possibly oppose such a move?
While Democratic leaders say they see a yes-vote on their proposal as a no-brainer for any lawmaker facing voters this fall, the new GI benefits plan has Republicans — and even some members of the more fiscally conservative Democratic rank-and-file — balking at the cost.The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the proposal would cost $51.8 billion in the next 10 years.
That's 52-BILLION-dollars. Billion - with a "B" - dollars. That's money that will not be going to soldiers/marines/sailors/airmen in the field - in actual harms' way - mind you. Nope - that will go to people who go to basic, then individual training, and then spend maybe 14-18 months in a line unit before "retiring" and getting an all-expenses-paid ride to State U.
Gotta give credit to the Democrats for this one - this is possibly one of the most idiotic, hair-brained, damn-fool, don't-operate-heavy-equipment-because-you're-too-stooooopid fiscal proposals to ever be brought to a vote in the Congress, and yet, it's likely going to pass in some form because sounds so darn good.
But surely there are Republicans in the Senate who, attractive though this bill may sound, will be able to use their cred as vets to demonstrate its silliness. Right? Right?
Adding weight to the GI proposal are the military records of the bill's three leading co-sponsors in the Senate: (Democrat Senator and former GOP flak James) Webb, a Vietnam war veteran and former Navy secretary; Republican Sen. John Warner of Virginia, former chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a Navy enlistee during World War II; and Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, a Vietnam veteran.
Warner and Hagel - what a flipping surprise that isn't.
Though at least one of their Senate seats is certain to flip Democrat in 2008 (and flipping the other still remains a remote possibility), these two dim-luminaries simply cannot leave the public stage fast enough.
Clearly though, this is going to be one of (I'm sure) many ways the Democrats are going to try to show how they Support the Troops!TM. Though what should be obvious is that in spite of their seeming willingness to shower cash on our veterans once they are out of the military, they really don't give a tinkers' damn about, and certainly don't support the missions of, self-same soldiers while they are still in.
And that's a circle no amount of Other Peoples' Money will ever be able to square for them.
"One man with courage makes a majority." - Andrew Jackson