Saturday, January 26, 2013

Kris Dared Me To Post This ...

Kris works hard all day, and today (Friday) I was picking her up to meet some friends for dinner.
As we made final arrangements by email, she was sounding pretty harried because this is the busy season. I quickly patched together a cartoon that I hoped would bring a smile. It worked; one of the nice things about the internet is that while we work miles apart, we can send asynchronous pick-me-ups easily.
This is not great art but Kris dared me to publish it, so here it is:

Thursday, January 24, 2013

"Life After Death: The Evidence": What a Stupid Person Thinks a Smart Person Writes Like

Dinesh D'Souza's book "Life After Death: The Evidence " is (to borrow a critique of Newt Gingrich)  how stupid people think smart people write.
Its vocabulary is erudite, there are a sufficient quantity of endnotes, and most of the chapters refer to some interesting concepts. It is easy to see that if you read it quickly, you can think this book makes a strong intellectual case for what-ever it may be that the author intends to prove. However, you stop and examine the links between the various claims in the book; you will note some pretty astonishing gaps.
For but one example of many, Chapter Five "The Physics of Immortality" ponders the question whether a supernatural afterlife is consistent with science. He strings together some pretty "wow!" concepts such as dark matter and alternative universes, and concludes that because these things that are currently impossible to detect may exist, therefore so too a supernatural afterlife may also exist.
 This is what a stupid person thinks a smart person sounds like: talk about some really fancy concept as a substitute for linking ideas together logically. Each paragraph makes sense, but they are like bricks with no mortar.
 Let us take the best case for D'Souza's Chapter Five argument on the physical basis for an afterlife. Assume that there exists an alternative universe in which the natural laws differ from this one, such that in the other universe we live forever. If something exists, then there is at least a theoretical way to observe it by some objective means; some sufficiently sophisticated device would enable us to communicate information between ours and that other dimension. Should such a device be crafted, there will be no need for religious ritual; we can simply board an appropriate interdimensional vehicle and go there directly - or at least pick up the interdimensional cellphone and ask to be connected with Harry Houdini.
I would definitely like this to be true, but it would rather annoy D'Souza and his ilk. They would face the choice of changing their religion from a faith-based enterprise into just another one of the sciences, or arguing that, yes, Heaven exists but we cannot prove it with any instrument we can craft. But the latter is *precisely* what the scientific attitude toward his Heaven is - that it is meaningless to seek to prove the existence of the supernatural - and it is also the attitude of genuinely thoughtful religion institutions, such as the Vatican.
Similar issues pervade the entire book. In the end, it is very nicely written and may be a comfort to those who wish to believe in life after death, but don't feel comfortable accepting that it is a matter of faith. However, regardless of the title, the book should not be mistaken for a systematic examination of "The Evidence".

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

January 23, 2013 Sections Open Night

Working a Crowd is FUN!
I participated in the WSBA Sections Open Meeting Wednesday, January 23, 2013 using a backing board I bought at a thrift store as the main prop. I had had great ambitions for decorating it, but in the end simply printed five key slides from a powerpoint presentation intended to describe the section to newcomers, plus a sixth slide that was simply a title.
On the title slide I includes the tinyurl version of the section home page ( http://www.tinyurl.com/wsbawptl ) , because the current URL is just too long ( http://www.wsba.org/Legal-Community/Sections/World-Peace-Through-Law-Section ). Too many webdesigners have yet to figure out that sometimes URLs are printed, and therefore should be compact; fortunately tinyURL lets you use a custom string so long as you're the first to submit it; thus I used "wsbawptl" to denote WSBA's WPTL section.
The placement of the slides on the board reflected what I thought Open Night visitors were looking for. The prime positions were the top on either side, since that's what people read first. The section name naturally went top left; top right went to the slide describing our new program of leadership opportunities. Unlike most sections, we can't promise to provide substantive help in building a law practice; we're not law practice oriented. But we can offer the opportunity to get things done, network and so forth. I did notice people reading the top slides so I hope this was a good choice.
I supplemented the backboard with a small deck of section business cards that included section name, logo, a slogan and the tinyURL. I don't know whether that was an effective item but a few people took the cards.
I also included a dish of chocolate candies. This seems to attract people. In keeping with the "World Peace" theme, I chose tiny "Dove" chocolates. Interestingly, one person pointed out that Dove was not fair trade chocolate, so there was a strong chance that it have been made in part with child or slave labor. Well, that was a learning opportunity for me!
Many visitors seemed interested by the Section's concept, but reluctant to expend their one free Section membership here, since they were just starting out in law practice and needed all the help they could get. I encouraged them to contact me and get put on our mailing list regardless.
Former, and most likely future, Section Chair Nandini Rao stopped by with a friend, and took this picture. Thanks!

Monday, January 21, 2013

Sifting The Pantry: A #CTWW Challenge

One Benefit Of Organizing The Pantry!
This week's Change The World Wednesday Challenge is:

"This week choose one area of your home (a closet, drawer, cupboard, etc.) and organize it. ...."
I made a start on this Saturday morning, while the Lovely Wife was sleeping in, which is her right on the weekend. Our pantry has a tendency to fill up, because we like to buy in bulk anything that doesn't spoil quickly, especially when there's a sale. Unfortunately that means we get layers of stuff, as we shelf the new items in the front, pushing the older stock back. The "layers" are vertical in nature, like sedimentary rocks that have tilted upwards.
I took out my conceptual pickax and started prospecting. Sifting through multiple jars of artichoke hearts and cans of garbanzos, I stuck treasure:  scone mix! In the past, this probably would have settled to the back of the pantry and years later been discarded as stale, so I pulled it out, mixed it up and stuck it in the oven. When it came out, what joy! Scones with butter and jam make a Saturday brekfast that pleases The Lovely Wife (no need to tell her how easy it was!)
I think every Saturday I shall go prospecting in the pantry until the mine is played out!

I'm Not Dead, I Just Spend The Day Off The Internet

I went looking for an image to illustrate my text, and this photo made me laugh without any changes. I appreciate that I'm probably misappropriating someone's intellectual property, but I'm willing to share the vast royalties the text will generate.

What A Wonderful World: Happy Inauguration And Martin Luther King Jr Day

Maybe we just need to relax for a moment and think about how good things are.
Yes, there is still plenty of sukx. To much violence, too much global climate change, too much injustice.

  • But my generation grew up 30 minutes from global nuclear annihilation, which today is unthinkable.
  • Europe used to have huge wars every 20 years or so, and that is now unthinkable.
  • In my home state, marriage equality and a sane approach to drug policy are growing into the new normal, and only ten years ago that was unthinkable.
  • I had honestly never thought that we would have a black president in my lifetime, and here was are celebrating his re-election!

There is much to do, but why not enjoy the good stuff too?

Sunday, January 20, 2013

4freeCLE: The Free CLE Newsletter! January 20, 2013


4freeCLE: The Free CLE Newsletter!
January 20, 2013
In This Issue
Webcast CLE
On-Demand CLE
In California
In Florida
In Illinois
In Massachusetts
In Minnesota
In New York
In Ohio
In Pennsylvania
In Tennessee
Past Issues

Oliver Wendell Holmes served 30 years on the Supreme Court, was wounded 3 times in the Civil War, and met Lincoln, FDR and nearly everyone of importance to our legal community in between. This is one of the first biographies of him and still well worth reading.


Webcast CLE
Webcasts Bring Classes to You!
Quality education as convenient as your desktop, when you register and attend free webcast CLE.
Find more webcasts at 4freeCLE's Web-Based CLE.


On-Demand CLE
Learn and Earn Credit Just About Anytime! 
Your busy work and life schedule can be simplified by a regular program of free, on-demand CLE.
Find more on-demand programs at 4freeCLE's List of On-Demand CLE. If you're looking for help with a particular state, contact the publisher - we can help!


Live Programs Combine Education And Networking
In-Person CLEs State-by-State

These in-person programs are eligible for credit in the states in which they are held, but in addition often satisfy credit requirements in other states.
They're also a great opportunity to meet your colleagues and establish those connections so useful to growing your practice!

California

Florida

Illinois

Massachusetts

Minnesota

New York

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Tennessee

Texas
About 4freeCLE
4freeCLE is delivered weekly and will always be free!

Who Served? Open Posting....

Most of this comes from Who served in the military? but I'll add new stuff as I find it.
Are you a little bit tired about "conservatives" claiming they're the only ones who loves our country?


Prominent Democrats


  • Representative 
    Tammy Duckworth Served
    Tammy Duckworth flew a Black Hawk helicopter in Iraq; it was hit by an RPG. 
  • Rick Noriega, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate from Texas -- joined the U.S. Army in 1979; currently Lt. Colonel in Texas Army National Guard, served in Afghanistan. (1)
  • Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) -- rifle platoon and company commander with the Fifth Marine Regiment in the An Hoa Basin west of Danang; was awarded the Navy Cross, the Silver Star Medal, two Bronze Star Medals, and two Purple Hearts. (1)
  • Representative Tim Walz, D-MN - Twenty-four years of service in the Army National Guard, retiring in 2005.
  • Representative Joe Sestak, D-PA - 31 years of service in the Navy, rising to the rank of Vice Admiral.
  • Representative Chris Carney, D-PA - Lieutenant Commander in the United States Naval Reserve, Carney served multiple tours overseas and was activated for Operation Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle, and Southern Watch.
  • Representative Patrick Murphy, D-PA - extensive career in the U.S. Army from 1993-2004; earned Bronze Star and Presidential Unit Citation.
  • Representative Phil Hare, D-IL - Served in the United States Army Reserve for six years.
  • Representative Jack Murtha (D-PA) - distinguished 37-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps, Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts, retired from the Marine Corps Reserve as a colonel in 1990. (1)
  • Former House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt - Missouri Air National Guard, 1965-71. (12)
  • Representative David Bonior - Staff Sgt., United States Air Force 1968-72 (12)
  • Former Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle - 1st Lt., U.S. Air Force SAC 1969-72 (12)
  • Former Vice President Al Gore - enlisted August 1969; sent to Vietnam January 1971 as an army journalist, assigned to the 20th Engineer Brigade headquartered at Bien Hoa, an airbase twenty miles northeast of Saigon. More facts about Gore's Service
  • Former Senator Bob Kerrey... Democrat... Lt. j.g., U.S. Navy 1966-69; Medal of Honor, Vietnam (12)
  • Senator Daniel Inouye, US Army 1943-'47; Medal of Honor, World War Two (12)
  • Senator John Kerry, Lt., U.S. Navy 1966-70; Silver Star, Bronze Star with Combat V, and three awards of the Purple Heart for his service in combat (1)
  • Representative Charles Rangel, Staff Sgt., U.S. Army 1948-52; Bronze Star, Korea (12)
  • Former Senator Max Cleland, Captain, U.S. Army 1965-68; Silver Star & Bronze Star, Vietnam (12)
  • Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) - U.S. Army Reserve, 1968-1975.
  • Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) - U.S. Army, 1951-1953. (1)
  • Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) - Lt., U.S. Navy, 1962-67; Naval Reserve, 1968-74. (12)
  • Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) - U.S. Army Ranger, 1971-1979; Captain, Army Reserve 1979-91 (1)
  • Former Senator Fritz Hollings (D-SC) - served as a U.S. Army officer in World War II, receiving the Bronze Star and seven campaign ribbons. (1)
  • Representative Leonard Boswell (D-IA) - Lt. Col., U.S. Army 1956-76; two tours in Vietnam, two Distinguished Flying Crosses as a helicopter pilot, two Bronze Stars, and the Soldier's Medal. (12)
  • Former Representative "Pete" Peterson, Air Force Captain, POW, Ambassador to Viet Nam, and recipient of the Purple Heart, the Silver Star and the Legion of Merit. (1, 2)
  • Rep. Mike Thompson, D-CA: Staff sergeant/platoon leader with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, U.S. Army; was wounded and received a Purple Heart. (12)
  • Bill McBride, Democratic Candidate for Florida Governor - volunteered and served as a U.S. Marine in Vietnam; awarded Bronze Star with a combat "V." (1)
  • Gray Davis, former California Governor, Army Captain in Vietnam; received Bronze Star. (1)
  • Pete Stark, D-CA, served in the Air Force 1955-57
  • Wesley Clark, Democratic Presidential Candidate - 38-year career of public service in the Army, culminating as Supreme Allied Commander of NATO.
Who's that guy shaking hands with Don Rumsfeld?  Was this footage shot on Rumsfeld's first trip to Baghdad, Dec. 19-20, 1983?  Or was it on his second visit, March 24, 1984, the VERY SAME DAY that Iraq was using mustard gas and Tabun in its war with Iran?

Prominent Republicans

  • Representative Patrick McHenry, R-NC - did not serve. Saw fit to endanger American troops' lives after a visit to Iraq by violating operational security and helping militias target their mortar attacks on the Green Zone.
  • Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY - did not serve (1)
  • Senate Assistant Minority Leader Trent Lott, R-MI - avoided the draft, did not serve.
  • Senate Republican Conference Chairman Jon Kyl, R-AZ - did not serve.
  • Senate Republican Conference Vice Chair John Cornyn, R-TX - did not serve.
  • National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair John Ensign, R-NV - did not serve.
  • House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-OH - did not serve.
  • House Minority Whip Roy Blunt, R-MO - did not serve.
  • House Republican Conerence Chair Adam Putnam, R-FL - did not serve.
  • House Republican Policy Committee Thaddeus McCotter, R-MI - did not serve.
  • National Republican Congressional Committee Chair Tom Cole, R-OK - did not serve.
  • Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani - did not serve.
  • Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney - did not serve in the military but did serve the Mormon Church on a 30-month mission to France.
  • Former Senator Fred Thompson - did not serve.
  • Former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert - avoided the draft, did not serve.
  • Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey - avoided the draft, did not serve.
  • Former House Majority Leader Tom Delay - avoided the draft, did not serve (1). "So many minority youths had volunteered ... that there was literally no room for patriotic folks like himself."
  • Former House Majority Whip Roy Blunt - did not serve
  • Former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist - did not serve. (An impressive medical resume, but not such a friend to cats in Boston.)
  • Rick Santorum, R-PA, formerly third ranking Republican in the Senate - did not serve. (1)
  • George Felix Allen, former Republican Senator from Virginia - a supporter of Nixon and the Vietnam war, did not serve. (1)


  • Former Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld - served in the U.S. Navy (1954-57) as an aviator and flight instructor. (1) Served as President Reagan's Special Envoy to the Middle East and met with Saddam Hussein twice in 1983 and 1984.
  • GW Bush - decided that a six-year Nat'l Guard commitment really means four years. Still says that he's "been to war." Huh?
  • VP Cheney - several deferments (12), the last by marriage (in his own words, "had other priorities than military service") (1)
  • Former Att'y Gen. John Ashcroft - did not serve (12); received seven deferment to teach business ed at SW Missouri State
  • Jeb Bush, Florida Governor - did not serve. (1)The wealthy have never yet sacrificed themselves upon the altar of patriotism.   Graphic courtesy Bartcop.com.  Thanks, Bartcop!
  • Karl Rove - avoided the draft, did not serve (1), too busy being a Republican.
  • Former Speaker Newt Gingrich - avoided the draft, did not serve (12)
  • Former President Ronald Reagan - due to poor eyesight, served in a noncombat role making movies for the Army in southern California during WWII. He later seems to have confused his role as an actor playing a tail gunner with the real thing.
  • "B-1" Bob Dornan - avoided Korean War combat duty by enrolling in college acting classes (Orange County Weekly article). Enlisted only after the fighting was over in Korea.
  • Phil Gramm - avoided the draft, did not serve, four (?) student deferments
  • Congressman Ron Paul - active duty flight surgeon from 1963-65; Air National Guard from 1965-68. (link)
  • Former Senator Bob Dole - an honorable man. http://www.bobdole.org/bio/wwII.php
  • Chuck Hagel - two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star, Vietnam. http://www.senate.gov/~hagel/Information/bio.htm
  • Duke Cunningham - nominated for the Medal of Honor, received the Navy Cross, two Silver Stars, fifteen Air Medals, the Purple Heart, and several other decorations Recently entered plea bargain on felony charges of bribery, etc. etc.
  • Senator Jeff Sessions U.S. Army Reserves, 1973-1986
  • Colin Powell. What are we to make of Powell? On the one hand, a long career as a military manager. On the other hand, accused of covering up the My Lai massacre. Back on that first hand, one of the seemingly sane voices in this administration when it comes to Iraq (or at least he used to be). On the other hand, a clear hypocrite ("I am angry that so many of the sons of the powerful and well-placed... managed to wangle slots in Reserve and National Guard units...")
  • Representative Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD), served in USMC in Vietnam; wounded in action.
  • John McCain. Needs no introduction. Served, to say the least.


Here are a few more...

Democrats

  • Chuck Robb, US Senator from Virginia, served in Vietnam
  • Howell Heflin... Democrat... Silver Star
  • George McGovern, famous liberal, awarded Silver Star & DFC, dozens of missions during WWII.
  • Former President Bill Clinton - avoided the draft through student deferments; in the autumn of 1969, Clinton entered the draft but received a high number (311) and was never called to serve. (CNN article.) "...it was his doubts about the morality of the war and the Selective Service system that led him to abandon the ROTC idea and to subject himself to a draft lottery. Only the luck of the draw - a high lottery number - kept him out. " (Jeff Greenfield, ABC News, quoting Gov. Clinton.)
  • Former President Jimmy Carter, most recent recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, seven years in the Navy. "Except for his fellow service-academy graduate Dwight Eisenhower, no President of the twentieth century spent more years in uniform than Carter." (New Yorker Magazine)
  • Former Presidential Nominee Mike Dukakis - United States Army, 1955-'57 (1)
  • Former Senator/Vice Presidential nominee Lloyd Bentsen - B-24 pilot in WWII 1942-'45, Squadron Commander; earned Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters. (1)
  • Former Vice President Walter Mondale, U.S. Army 1951-1953
  • Former Senator John Glenn, D-OH (1974-1999) - Served in WWII and Korea; extensive military commendations include the Distinguished Flying Cross on six occasions, and the Air Medal with 18 Clusters.
  • Congressman Tom Lantos, D-CA - Did not serve in the US military; did serve in the Hungarian anti-Nazi underground in WWII. Saved by Raoul Wallenberg, is the only Holocaust survivor to serve in Congress.
  • Representative Bud Cramer (D-AL) - joined the Army as a tank officer in 1972; served at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and continued military service as a member of the Army Reserve from 1976 to 1978. (link)
Great at cheering on others to do the fighting, yet too scared to enter the fray himself.  Truly a wimp, like the rest of the chickenhawks.

Republicans/Conservatives

Political
  • Senator Richard Shelby, did not serve (1)
  • Senator Jon Kyl, R-AZ - did not serve (12)
  • Senator John Cornyn, R-TX - did not serve. (1)
  • Senator Tim Hutchison, R-AR - did not serve (12)
  • Rep. Christopher Cox, R-CA, (formerly) fifth-ranking Republican in the House - did not serve. (1)
  • Rep. John T. Doolittle, R-CA, sixth-ranking Republican in the House - did not serve.
  • Rep. Mark Kirk, R-IL -- his website claimed he served in Operation Iraqi Freedom; in reality, he had to correct the record.
  • Representative Saxby Chambliss, Georgia - did not serve (12), had a "bad knee" (yet somehow feels he has a right to attack Max Cleland's patriotism)
  • Rep. Randy Kuhl, R-NY - Did not serve. (1)
  • Former Representative JC Watts - did not serve (12)
  • Jack Kemp, did not serve (12) (was unfit because of a knee injury, though he heroically continued as a National Football League quarterback for another eight years - source)
  • Former Vice President Dan Quayle, avoided Vietnam service, got a slot in the journalism unit of the Indiana National Guard when the unit was at 150% capacity (at least he showed up for his duty, unlike GW) (12)
  • Eliot Abrams, did not serve (12) (however, played a key role in subverting democracy in South America)
  • Paul Wolfowitz, did not serve (12)
  • Former Representative Vin Weber, did not serve (12)
  • Richard Perle, did not serve (12) (is the current bloodshed in the Middle East a direct result of his treasonous meddling in Clinton Administrstion foreign policy?)
  • Douglas Feith, Undersecretary of Defense for Policy - did not serve. (1)
  • Michael Bloomberg, did not serve (12)
  • George Pataki, did not serve (12)
  • Spencer Abraham, did not serve
  • John Engler, did not serve (12)
  • Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) - website used to claim service as a "Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm veteran." A current biographical website makes no such claim. In reality, was a National Guard lawyer who never left South Carolina during the Gulf War.
  • Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-CA, did not serve (1)
  • Rep. Darrell Issa, R-CA/49th, there were some problems with his service.
  • Rep. John M. McHugh, R-NY - avoided the draft, did not serve (1)
  • Rep. Todd Platts, R-PA - did not serve (1)
  • Arnold Schwarzenegger, CA Republican Governor - went AWOL from his Austrian army base to enter a bodybuilding competition
  • Senator Joe Lieberman - did not serve.
  • George Herbert Walker Bush, pilot in WWII. Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross. Shot down by the Japanese; was lone survivor out of airplane (link).
  • Representative Sam R. Johnson, combat missions in both Korea and Vietnam, POW in Hanoi from April 1966 to February 1973 (1)
    (don't ever run for president Sam, they'll spread rumors that you're crazy)
  • Senator Ted Stevens, R-AK, WW II pilot, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Air Medals, and the Yuan Hai medal awarded by the Republic of China.
  • Sen. John Warner, R-VA - Served in the Navy 1945-1946 as a RM3; reenlisted in the USMC 1950, 10 years service in Marine Corps Reserve, retired as Captain.
  • Congresswoman Heather Wilson, R-NM, served in the Air Force 1978-1989
  • Former President Gerald Ford, served in the Navy, WWII
  • Former Senator Strom Thurmond - apparently believes, along with Trent Lott, that America should have been a segregated society. Still, he served.

Fighting Democrats
Back from the front lines, the veterans listed below ran for Congress in 2006. Why were almost all the veterans coming home from Iraq running as Democrats?

Punditocracy and Preacher-types (See also Media Whores Online)
  • George Will, did not serve
  • Chris Matthews, Mediawhore, did not serve. (However, apparently served in the Peace Corps.)
  • Bill O'Reilly, did not serve
  • Paul Gigot, did not serve.
  • Bill Bennett, Did not serve
  • Pat Buchanan, did not serve
  • Rush Limbaugh, did not serve (4-F with a 'pilonidal cyst' [see "The Rush Limbaugh Story" by Paul D. Colford, St. Martin's Press, 1993, Chapter 2: Beating the Draft.])
  • Michael Savage (aka Michael Alan Weiner) - did not serve, too busy chasing herbs and botany degrees in Hawaii and Fiji
  • John Wayne, did not serve
  • Pat Robertson - claimed during 1986 campaign to be a "combat veteran." In reality, was a "Liquor Officer."
  • Bill Kristol, did not serve
  • Sean Hannity, did not serve.
  • Kenneth Starr, did not serve
  • Antonin Scalia, did not serve
  • Clarence Thomas, did not serve
  • Ralph Reed, did not serve
  • Michael Medved, did not serve
  • Charlie Daniels, did not serve
  • Ted Nugent, did not serve
  • Country Singer Toby Keith, did not serve. (1)
  • Radio Host Phil Hendrie, did not serve.
  • Ollie North - Convicted in the Iran-Contra scandal, at least he served.
  • Charlton Heston - served in WWII, but went AWOL when Michael Moore asked him some tough questions.
  • Wayne LaPierre, CEO of the National Rifle Association - did not serve (apparently pulled lottery #97 in 1969 as a campus radical at SUNY-Albany, but weaseled out by getting a family doctor to claim he had a nervous disorder).
  • James Carville, a.k.a. "Corporal Cueball" - Served in the United States Marine Corps, 1966-'68. (1)
  • Markos Moulitsas, a.k.a. "Kos" (leading liberal blogger) - Served in the United States Army, 1989-'92. (1)
  • Randi Rhodes - enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1977 and worked stateside as a mechanic in Texas, achieving the rank of Airman First Class. (link)

Independents

  • Gov. Jesse Ventura, U.S. Navy SEAL training, did UDT work
  • Senator Jim Jeffords, U.S. Navy 1956-1959

And let's not forget the Coast Guard...
The brave men and women of the United States Coast Guard risk their lives every day to protect our nation and save thousands of lives every year. The Coast Guard is in fact a branch of the United States Armed Forces.


About the National Guard Today
Dear Friends:
Having been a reservist and now in a state defense force serving with Guard in my state, I wanted to ask you to clarify for the masses the HUGE difference between the National Guard during the Vietnam War and today. After the establishment of the All Volunteer Force in 1976, the reserves and Guard became a major source for deployment. More than 40 % of the Army's combat arms units are NG. In fact, a big chunk of the folks who have served in Bosnia/Kosovo are reserve and Guard. The same is true of deployments to the Gulf in recent times.
The Guard and Reserve are no longer a haven for those who wish to dodge hazardous service. Hope you can make that clear to folks who might not otherwise understand and respect the volunteers in the reserve services today. It might be interesting to how many of the sons and daughters of politicians are serving in ANY capacity. Ahem. CPT B
Couldn't have said it any better...
The New Hampshire Gazette's Chickenhawk database
Complete list - members of the 106th Congress with Military Service. Why is the Republican leadership so top-heavy with Chickenhawks??
In response to NewsMax's "Deck of Weasels"...check out the Deck of Republican Chickenhawks!

Got other names to submit? Please let us know about heroes or chickenhawks, on either side of the aisle. (Hey, do your homework and include a link with any name you send us, OK?)

Put the dog down and salute properly, George.
Complete Disrespect: Saluting with a dog!