I truly think if candidates had military experience themselves, they would have a different perspective on how the military should be used.....

How do you feel?

__________________
"You can never really pay back. You can only pay forward."

Wayne Woodrow “Woody” Hayes

O-H-I-O

I disagree. The worst president in history supposedly had military experience.

Whom do you consider the worst president in history?

__________________
"You can never really pay back. You can only pay forward."

Wayne Woodrow “Woody” Hayes

O-H-I-O

I would love to see more candidates have military experience....but then again, I think the country would be a better place if more of the population had some military experience.

The current one. No other president in history has done so much to harm this country and its standing in the world.

I don't think that it's necessary. I also think that there is a big difference between having military experience and witnessing combat. John Adams argued against even maintaining a standing army. Gen. Sherman was right. War is hell.

We seem to try finding something noble in war and none for those who seek peace. I believe that there are causes worth dying for but none worth killing for. I am perfectly okay with my son never taking a human life.

No, I don't think it's necessary. A good leader should be able to comprehend the issues and concerns and build a strong staff to provide him/her with the correct information to make informed decisions. He/she cannot have lived every possible experience personally. I also suspect that someone could have military "experience" and depending on the nature of the assignment, it might provide limited insight or value into how to use the military so I'm not sure it would be a meaningful requirement, know what I mean?

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Having military expertise is an added bonus, but not a necessity. To run for president, one has to be 35 years old. That would mean that the only candidates with military experience would have fought in Vietnam, or MAYBE in the First Gulf War. The war we are fighting today is a different type of war, it's a war against insurgents and terrorists, not armed forces in uniform. The only candidate who has served is Sen. John McCain.


2008...... The Year of the Civilian

I really don't think it matters whether they served or not. The Press, and Americans will always bring up past military records and what they did wrong.

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"Madison AnnMarie " 6/13/2008

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I consider being in the military to be military experience, whether you serve during wartime or not. Obviously, war experience is different from "just" military experience.

Oh definitely, for many reasons. If you serve in a good/legitimate (not what I'm trying to say, can't find the right words) you gain a working knowledge of the military, and after all, the President is the Commander In Chief. How can you be the leader in an organization you know nothing or very little about??? Also, I don't look at military experiences such as how much action or wars were they in??? To me, having military experience shows Patriotism.

As a side note, we need to do something in this country (sadly, even including WITHIN the Military), to bring back the respect the military deserve. Too many times I have gone to parades or ceremonies/functions where the National Anthem is played, and the parents are allowing their children to just run amock while it is being played. Usually one look at the parents explains that, but, still.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

I guess that leaves Hillary out!. lol

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"Madison AnnMarie " 6/13/2008

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meaning?..........

__________________
"You can never really pay back. You can only pay forward."

Wayne Woodrow “Woody” Hayes

O-H-I-O

I guess I look at it like this....

If I were running a multi-billion dollar corporation, would I put someone in charge who has working knowledge and experience within the company, or someone who has never been in that particular kind of work.....While being Commander in Chief is not the President's only job, right now it is a very important part of it. (not that isn't always important)

__________________
"You can never really pay back. You can only pay forward."

Wayne Woodrow “Woody” Hayes

O-H-I-O

ummmm, I was joking Ma........ Maybe Hillary can be like Private Benjamin, or G.I Jane?? lol

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"Madison AnnMarie " 6/13/2008

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Sorry.....very groggy this morning.....didn't get to bed till after 4, and most of the kids were up by 6......



I took it the wrong way. Woman can serve in the military too! I did!

__________________
"You can never really pay back. You can only pay forward."

Wayne Woodrow “Woody” Hayes

O-H-I-O

Women can and have served in the military. I don't think it is a prerequisite but I think that it is a rare individual that would be a great president and not have that experience.

Quote:

Originally Posted by onemorequestion? Women can and have served in the military. I don't think it is a prerequisite but I think that it is a rare individual that would be a great president and not have that experience.

I will settle for moderately good right now. "Great" is few and far between and really is subjective, depending on your point of view. And if you require military experience you have eliminated about 80 or 90 percent of the population. Then there is the question of what really constitutes the right military service. There is a far cry between serving in a war and being in the guard and/or serving stateside during a war. We have had good and bad presidents and some bad have served and some good have not. You could also make an argument that a career military person can not understand and deal with issues other than military since they lead such insulated lives. Should we eliminate them as well?

We have this President to thank for keeping this country free of another terrorist attack. If this country starts to govern with fear of what other countries with think of us...we are in big trouble!

Thanks for the Monday morning laugh. Terrorist attacks are committed against our soldiers EVERY DAY. This president has endangered this country from the inside and the outside.

No... thank you for the Monday afternoon laugh!

terrorist attack

noun
a surprise attack involving the deliberate use of violence against civilians in the hope of attaining political or religious aims

Has there been a terrorist attack against American civilians on our soil since 9/11? No... because of what George W. Bush & his Administration has done to protect this country.

Interesting, by that definition IMO, Mr. Bush and his administration have been practicing a form of terrorism on us since 9/11. We have been lied to and bullied and almost daily reminded that we should ignore the weakening of our rights so that he can continue to "keep us safe". Those who challenge the administration are called unpatriotic and weak because we believe giving up our freedoms is worse then almost any threat from a terrorist group.

IMO, he and his administration have misused our military and sullied our good name in the eyes of the rest of the world all to "attain political aims".

Exactly, Ana! Why people persist in believing that GWB has saved this country from anything is beyond me. How blind do you have to be to not acknowledge that Bush, who claimed to be a uniter, has split this country in half and brought such dishonor to us all. He is a disgrace to hold the same office held by such real men as Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Roosevelt.

Just wanting some clarification on "insulated" (isolated???) lives.

Thanks.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.