General Election 2024

Just a reminder of the man Trump picked as his VP.....

"Vance once questioned whether Trump could be “America’s Hitler” in a private Facebook message in 2016 to one of his former roommates."

Welp. I think Donny’s press conference highlights why Kamala is fine just doing rallies for now.

Just let him make a fool of himself for as long as possible.

He’d absolutely deranged.

Quote: ams288

Welp. I think Donny’s press conference highlights why Kamala is fine just doing rallies for now.

Just let him make a fool of himself for as long as possible.

He’d absolutely deranged.

What was lost in the time since the debate was that, during the debate, Donny trotted out his greatest hits of insults,lies, false accusations and derangements. But all anyone-the press and the public-wanted to talk about was Joe's performance and his fitness to continue the race-and deservedly so. Then came the shooting, then came the convention and JD Vance, then came Joe dropping out and Harris's ascension. Then came the VP sweepstakes parlor games. Then came the Walz announcement. Nobody in the press is talking the policy positions of Trump or Harris. So Trump's debate claims and lies and statements didn't get any scrutiny.

Quote: DaveeyD

Most of the comments I see are from people that don't understand the military or how military retirement works. Additionally, temporarily filling the Command Sargent Major role and retiring as a Sargent Major are two different things. As to why he didn't finish his required paperwork from the Sargent Major academy, that is know only to him. All those that want to criticize 24 years of service, are more than welcome to go to a recruiting office and enlist.

Now as to JD Vance, here's his service, a correspondent working in public affairs deploying once for six months. Attaining the rank of E-4.

"Vance served four years in the Marine Corps as an enlisted combat correspondent, in public affairs, and deployed once to Iraq for roughly six months, according to his military record. He left service in September 2007 as a corporal."

I do not value any Republican's position or opinion on military service since Swift Boating Kerry ion 2004, and especially since Donny's insults about John McCain. The Republicans only value military service only if it's THEIR kind of service.

Quote: GenoDRPh

What was lost in the time since the debate was that, during the debate, Donny trotted out his greatest hits of insults,lies, false accusations and derangements. But all anyone-the press and the public-wanted to talk about was Joe's performance and his fitness to continue the race-and deservedly so. Then came the shooting, then came the convention and JD Vance, then came Joe dropping out and Harris's ascension. Then came the VP sweepstakes parlor games. Then came the Walz announcement. Nobody in the press is talking the policy positions of Trump or Harris. So Trump's debate claims and lies and statements didn't get any scrutiny.

Other than the fact, that yeah, most everyone was too distracted by Biden's performance to really focus on Trump, I'd consider that early debate fortuitous. It' was distressing enough to happen when it did, but later could've been even worse. More potential chaos and what not.

Quote: DaveeyD

Most of the comments I see are from people that don't understand the military or how military retirement works. Additionally, temporarily filling the Command Sargent Major role and retiring as a Sargent Major are two different things. As to why he didn't finish his required paperwork from the Sargent Major academy, that is know only to him. All those that want to criticize 24 years of service, are more than welcome to go to a recruiting office and enlist.

Now as to JD Vance, here's his service, a correspondent working in public affairs deploying once for six months. Attaining the rank of E-4.

"Vance served four years in the Marine Corps as an enlisted combat correspondent, in public affairs, and deployed once to Iraq for roughly six months, according to his military record. He left service in September 2007 as a corporal."

I had no idea this was a controversy until quite recently. His contract ended and got out (actually retired since he had over 20,) was he supposed to sign a new contract because his unit was going to Iraq later that year? This makes zero sense, and the fact that it is controversial is bizarre. JD Vance should know better as a veteran, and he probably does, so he is just peddling dishonesty. You don't just "drop out" of the National Guard, your contract ends on a specific date (you usually sign up for anywhere from 2-8 years at a time.) The end date of his contract was probably determined before the Iraq War even began.

As for his rank, retirement reductions (at that level) are not uncommon. He was promoted to E-9 to fill a need, did not complete the requirements to hold the grade before his contract ended (not uncommon in war time,) so was reduced to E-8 in retirement. The SGM academy is almost a year long -I think its like 11 months- of pretty intense work that is a huge commitment to do for a job that you are on the way out of (and I have no idea on how it was in 2004, but I doubt there were remote/hybrid options like today.) Also, he was National Guard, so he worked the Army only 2 days a month, this was not his primary job, so he would have to give up his primary job for 11 months to do intense training for a (very) part time job he was planning to leave, it would be totally insane.

Walz was in the military longer than Vance was alive when Vance joined the military, just an interesting fact. I don't really like disparaging people's service, but it would be a challenge to have a less impressive record than Vance, so take that how you will. I think Vance pursuing this line of attack will backfire hard.

Quote: RonC

Do you wonder why VP Harris has not answered press questions or held an interview since she ascended to the throne without a single vote in the Democrat primary (unless someone wrote one in; it would still be very few)?

Basically, she'll do what she needs to do when it needs to be done. The campaign is going to run on the current enthusiasm until it starts to wane. And I don't blame them. You don't step on what's working. Poll numbers are still edging up, last I checked.

Quote: rxwine

Basically, she'll do what she needs to do when it needs to be done. The campaign is going to run on the current enthusiasm until it starts to wane. And I don't blame them. You don't step on what's working. Poll numbers are still edging up, last I checked.

Instead of slogging through a marathon as is typical of most Presidential candidates
She lucked into a fast sprint

Quote: Gandler

I had no idea this was a controversy until quite recently. His contract ended and got out (actually retired since he had over 20,) was he supposed to sign a new contract because his unit was going to Iraq later that year? This makes zero sense, and the fact that it is controversial is bizarre. JD Vance should know better as a veteran, and he probably does, so he is just peddling dishonesty. You don't just "drop out" of the National Guard, your contract ends on a specific date (you usually sign up for anywhere from 2-8 years at a time.) The end date of his contract was probably determined before the Iraq War even began.

As for his rank, retirement reductions (at that level) are not uncommon. He was promoted to E-9 to fill a need, did not complete the requirements to hold the grade before his contract ended (not uncommon in war time,) so was reduced to E-8 in retirement. The SGM academy is almost a year long -I think its like 11 months- of pretty intense work that is a huge commitment to do for a job that you are on the way out of (and I have no idea on how it was in 2004, but I doubt there were remote/hybrid options like today.) Also, he was National Guard, so he worked the Army only 2 days a month, this was not his primary job, so he would have to give up his primary job for 11 months to do intense training for a (very) part time job he was planning to leave, it would be totally insane.

Walz was in the military longer than Vance was alive when Vance joined the military, just an interesting fact. I don't really like disparaging people's service, but it would be a challenge to have a less impressive record than Vance, so take that how you will. I think Vance pursuing this line of attack will backfire hard.

I was an active duty E-8, but there was a gap in the senior leadership position, so I filled the E-9 position for a year. If I had retired at the point, it would have been as an E-8. I was able to complete my requirements for E-9 before putting in my retirement paperwork and received the higher pay-grade. If the requirements had not been met, I would have retired as an E-8.

Quote: DaveeyD

I was an active duty E-8, but there was a gap in the senior leadership position, so I filled the E-9 position for a year. If I had retired at the point, it would have been as an E-8. I was able to complete my requirements for E-9 before putting in my retirement paperwork and received the higher pay-grade. If the requirements had not been met, I would have retired as an E-8.

Army?

Yes, and the other important thing, is unlike you, he is not active. If you are active your whole career, it's hard to understand, but the NG/Reserves is a totally different ballgame, fulfilling such requirments when that is your fulltime job is one thing, when it is a very part time job (2-3 days a month,) spending such a large degree of time for something you are checking out on, is just not productive.

It's very easy to go to PME when active duty, because you are already doing Army stuff everyday. Much different case in the NG, especially since he had a family, fulltime job, and was running for office, no way he was going.