I have noticed that many people say that the reason they are voting for McCain is because of the war. They assume McCain is better at military issues. I would like to know what it is in John McCains career that guarantees he has the best judgment when it comes to military matters?

He comes from a military family. He has been in the military. He has been in the congress serving on military and defense committees.

None of those situations prove you have better judgment then Barack Obama. Should I start a list of people with miles of experience just like McCain who got it wrong. Obama can surround himself with smart military leaders. He has some very good ones supporting him now. And then he will have to make judgments. I don't see how McCain has the advantage there. This is the exact thinking that got Bush elected twice. The idea that he was tougher. It is a fallacy.

I like John McCain. And I will support his efforts if he is elected. But he doesn't have the market cornered on making proper defense choices. Hell, He is against the G.I. Bill. And he already is talking about cutting military spending. And lowering corp. taxes.

Here is the opinion from a guy that knows him.

Why I Will Not Vote for John McCain

I'll vote for John McCain because (and perhaps only because) he understands the war on terror and how important it is for us to continue to fight and ultimately win. I agree with his view of America, our enemy, and the war we are fighting.

Ayatollah Khomeini declares the United States as "The Great Satan"....Saddam Hussein harbors and gives refuge to the terrorist who bombs the World Trade Center in 1993....Mahmoud Ahmadinijad says that he envisions a world without Isreal and America.

I seriously doubt that any Presidential nominee has the "qualifying experience" for this sort of thing. But at least John McCain understands that their desire to destroy us must be met with our resolve to defeat them.

His real war experience is getting captured - right? Though tragic, not exactly a job reference.

As far as all these people who hate America: I think it's better to have somebody who the PEOPLE in THOSE countries see as trying to STOP war and will stop giving the hate-mongerers so much power - AND so much validation.

We have done AWFUL things to other peoples. Some deserved. But much Much MUCH not deserved. The last thing this country needs is another war monger strutting around and throwing his weight around and trying to be the big bad authority to the world.

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"No man is happy without a delusion of some kind. Delusions are as necessary to our happiness as realities."
...Christian Nestell Bovee

That's pretty friggin' insulting!...You don't know a damn thing about McCain's career except being a POW...

McCain graduated in 1958 from the Naval Academy and was captured in 1967...And even after capture he had his flight permission reinstated and became an instructor...he has 17 awards and decorations...

But in you eyes I guess he was just peeling potatos for 9 years waiting to get captured...

He had more war experince than Kerry BEFORE his plane went down and he became a POW...

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd

You don't think Obama believes terrorists should be tracked down and killed? You say that somehow McCain understands the enemy better then Obama. But you really don't say how or why. I understand you are happy with your choice. Or comfortable. If there were some substantial reason for that view I have yet to hear it. Again, This isn't an attack on your candidate. I am just seeking clarification as to what exactly he brings that gives him a special advantage. With all the previous experience in the Bush administration they still did everything wrong. Your first paragraph says that there are bad people around. So we should be frightened in to voting McCain?

Here is a thought. Lets say there is a President McCain. What would be his approach to Iran? Probably about the same as it is now. If things keep heading down this path what is the likely outcome? Maybe Iran will buckle. Or not. Then we are left to use force. The country will still be split. And the entire middle east could explode. We will have done nothing to improve our respect in the world. Muslims will continue to have their religion hijacked by extremists. And they will use the new Iran war as proof of crusading Christians.

Now lets say Obama is the President. He makes public overtures to Iran. He makes an attempt to negotiate. They continue their hyperbola towards Israel. They continue to build reactors and making threats. Here is the difference. Now the world sees a country that has made a honest effort to calm the situation and they have been rebuked. Now we have standing in the world as trying to be a peace maker. So now we have to go to war. We have more allies because we made the effort to keep the peace. And you get closer to total support at home for the same reasons. And you never know, the negotiations might actually save a life. Maybe of somebody we care about.

General Wesley Clark agrees with me it seems...I just read this - LOL - I had no idea I would have the same opinion as a general! LOL

By the way - what does John Kerry have to do with this? :

__________________
"No man is happy without a delusion of some kind. Delusions are as necessary to our happiness as realities."
...Christian Nestell Bovee

I cannot believe there are so many people in this country who think "we should stop the war". We didn't start it. The war on terror stems from 9-11. Iraq was a stepping stone. With Saddam in power we had a loose cannon, and frankly so did the entire world. Now the war is winding down there we can concentrate on the rest of the terror cells.
If we have to leave troops in a base in Iraq, it's no different than bases in Germany or Japan.
The war on terror will take as long as it takes.
I like some of the Democratic ideas like universal health care and thoughts on the environment, but when I look at the world status today with terrorist cells out there, I think we need to choose a person who has been around the block if you get my drift. Just being in the military expands your growth potential in ways people who don't serve may find it hard to realize. It's like if you never went to college you don't know what you don't know. Ya know?
Some say joining the peace core is a good substitute for the military as far as expanding your horizons. I don't know. Maybe.
If I was looking for a construction worker, I may be satisfied with a 40+ year old man that I could train as opposed to a senior citizen. But if I want someone to lead the free world when it is heavily engaged in a nasty world war, I would want someone at least 50 or 60 years old or a younger man with extensive military input. (JFK?) A 40 year old without some nitty gritty life experiences would not be my choice.
And as I say that I am still at heart an old school civil rights, union baby Democrat. But as I have said before the Democratic party left me- not the other way around. And while some conservative values are not my personal values, enough of them match to call me back from the brink of casting a rogue vote at such an auspicious time in history.
So it's McCain for me.

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Salty

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Anybody can do tough. Some can do smart.

Just be careful about making distinctions between the two. Sometimes being tough is the smart thing to do.

Ever shop at a supermarket and witness a mother continually telling her young child to behave....for the last time? Not a very effective way of making your words mean what they say.

That's just it, Mikeyy....I really do not know what Obama believes. For all I know he will be stronger on this issue than McCain by the time the last debate takes place.