ALEXANDRIA (AP) - When Larry Chevalier took his son to get his first driver’s license, he was floored to discover that to get it, the boy had to preregister for a nonexistent military draft.
”I just can’t believe it,” said Chevalier, whose 16-year-old son, Nathan, did fill out the form to register with the Selective Service so he could get his license.
”They wouldn’t let him get it otherwise,” Chevalier said Saturday.
Even a 15-year-old boy who wants a learner’s permit in Louisiana must provide information to be forwarded, when he turns 18, to the Selective Service System, which would run a military draft if one is set up again.
Read the entire story from the Beauregard Daily News
Speaking of the draft, we are still waiting to hear from the College Republicans. Do they support support a draft or not? College Republicans, feel free to post comments on this blog so we can better understand your positions on important issues like the draft.
Washington Post (registration required)
WASHINGTON — House Republicans plan to change their rules in order to allow members indicted by state prosecutors to remain in a leadership post, a move designed to benefit Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, in case he is charged by a Texas grand jury that has indicted three of his political associates, GOP leaders said yesterday.
How did we get this rule to start with? Well…
House Republicans adopted the indictment rule in 1993, when they were trying to end four decades of Democratic control of the House, in part by highlighting Democrats’ ethical lapses. They said at the time that they held themselves to higher standards than prominent Democrats such as then-Ways and Means Chairman Dan Rostenkowski (Ill.), who eventually pleaded guilty to mail fraud and was sentenced to prison.
For more commentary on this subject, visit the DCCC Blog.
Washington, DC, Oct. 28 (UPI) — The College Republicans raised more than $6 million by misleading senior citizens into thinking they were contributing to President Bush’s campaign.
Washington Times
Duluth News Tribune
All such official-sounding groups were identified in solicitation letters only in small print as being projects of the College Republicans, and little of the money collected through such means was used for actual elections efforts.
Are we to assume they used this money for beer? 6 million dollars? That must have been one heck of a party.
The new slogan of the College Republicans: “Scam the elderly, throw big parties, and then repeat.”
I’ll bet George W. is jealous.
It looks like our buttons are getting more attention.
We received a free plug by the right-wing Gateway columnist Matthew Lytle. We are not surprised by the free publicity, and we are not surprised that Mr. Lytle distorted the facts.
UNO Gateway
Published November 2, 2004
Here we are, ladies and gentlemen. It’s Election Night. (It’s about time.) But, I feel there’s something that I’ve got to say, and it’s about the Democrats. Over the past few months, I’ve seen some of the worst things come out of that party, and I think I’d better bring them to light.
Anyway, to start off, I was in my Intro to Black Studies course, when I saw on this guy’s bag a “F*** Bush” button, next to a Kerry/Edwards button. I think I heard somewhere that the College Democrats group actually gave out these buttons. Is this how low they’ve sunk? To the point where they start handing out buttons like that? You’ve got to be kidding.
Here is a link to the full column.
Mr. Lytle, if you are going to write a column about an organization you hate, at least get the facts straight. Don’t rely on something you heard.
The College Democrats are responsible for the buttons on campus. The buttons were sold in the Student Center and around campus for $1. We did not give the buttons away. It may come to a shock to Mr. Lytle that people on campus don’t like President Bush. It is not surprising that college students were willingly to spend a dollar to express their feelings. People came to us to buy the buttons (we didn’t go out and find them or give them to people).
Mr. Lytle we are tickled when you write about our organization, but make sure you get your facts straight. When you decide to write about us again, please send us an email, we would be happy to comment and enlighten you.
A recent “Letter to the Editor” appeared in the UNO Gateway. It was written by Dan Uphoff, a UNO College Republican, and it raised some serious concerns.
Go hear to head this reckless letter.
The right-wing UNO Gateway published this letter. Let’s see if they publish a response submitted by the College Democrats. The response is below.
Reinstituting the military draft is the only way to accomplish the goals outlined by Dan Uphoff’s letter to the Gateway (11-9-04)
Dan, since we are taking a more “proactive” role in world peace, I would like to know what country we should invade next. Your letter was unclear about what country needs to “give democracy a chance” next. North Korea? Iran? Cuba? By your litmus test, China would make a great candidate for invasion.
Given the current situation with our armed forces, the only way to implement your international policy is to institute a military draft. So, I would ask that you and your fellow College Republicans endorse a military draft. I’m sure The Gateway would love to write a story about your endorsement. During the Vietnam War, pacifists were willing to burn their draft cards and go to jail for their beliefs. If you really believe what you are saying, then take action.
Let me share a Japanese proverb with you. “Vision without action is daydreaming; action without vision is a nightmare.” We have proven the latter to be true. The U.S. invaded Iraq without a clear vision on how to win the peace, and many people consider the situation in Iraq to be a nightmare. I would like to see if the first part of that quote is true. Dan’s vision for a world in which all nations “give democracy a chance”, on our terms, calls for drastic measures. Are we to believe Dan and his fellow College Republicans are serious or daydreaming? They represent a party that controls all branches of government. The ball is clearly in their court.
And for the record, the College Democrats are strongly opposed to a military draft.
After criticizing State Senator Matt Connealy during the election, Mike Johanns now supports the tax increase needed to balance the state budget.
Omaha World-Herald
Published Thursday
November 11, 2004
LINCOLN - Gov. Mike Johanns won’t attempt to roll back the 2003 tax increases passed by the Nebraska Legislature - even though he vetoed them once and criticized the tax increases in ads during election season.
In response to a question Wednesday, Johanns said the state budget remains too tight to consider tax cuts in 2005.
“I don’t see any chance of that at all,” he said.
Johanns’ statement raised some lawmakers’ eyebrows.
“I’m very surprised and puzzled, considering all the pounding he gave the Legislature and some candidates,” said State Sen. Roger Wehrbein of Plattsmouth, a Republican and chairman of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee, who voted in favor of the 2003 tax bill.
Here is a link to the full story.
So Mr. Johanns, let’s get this straight. Only a few weeks ago, you were hammering Matt Connealy about raising taxes but you don’t support rolling back the tax increase Connealy voted for? You are saying we can’t afford to get rid of it.
Are you for the tax increase or against it? If you are against the tax increase, you should support rolling it back. You used this issue to drive a wedge between Matt Connealy and Jeff Fortenberry but it turns out you support Matt Connealy’s position.
Is Mr. Johanns now the “biggest road block to lower taxes” in the state of Nebraska?
Mr. Johanns, you are a flip-flopper of the worst kind. You deceived the voters of Nebraska for political gain and you should be ashamed of yourself.
Looks like the College Republicans can’t get enough of those anti-Bush buttons.
A Letter to the Editor was published about our “infamous” buttons in the October 22nd issue of The Gateway.
Here is a link to the letter.
