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  • Members of the military are citizens too.
    • Churches can't be overtly political, and members of churches are citizens too. The point is that something as big as letting active-duty military people take part in the democratic process is a Big Deal, not something that should've been slid thru days just before the RNC. This reeks.
      • So I don't get to take part in the democratic process? How am I any less a citizen than anyone else?

        Who are you going to exclude next?
        • Maybe you missed the part brian, the one where it states that IT IS AGAINST THE LAW. Not that laws matter to these folks anymore. Not like the military coup didn't take place years ago, but it's nice to try to keep up the illusion.
          • Which law are you talking about?

            Some newspaper says something and you believe it? I've read the entire Uniform Code of Military justice and it doesn't say I can't take part in a political party as a citizen. They even have officers especially appointed to let us register to vote! The horror!
            • Vets and non-active duty, sure, but active duty guys in uniform? Hey, aren't they supposed to be out shooting at something brown and vaguely menacing? this DoD directive [sdmcp.org] seems pretty clear but, then again, I guess you don't count since you were just in the National Guard and it isn't listed. The contention is on active duty officers....like having a regiment show up at a political rally or something, even if it weren't considered illegal, it'd certainly be very worrisome for this thing the US continues to c
              • I don't recall anyone saying anything about people in uniform being at the convention. The law is pretty clear that that uniforms are right out, but I haven't seen any part of the linked discussion that said anything about what people were wearing. All I've seen is an unsubstantiated sentence in an AP wire report that looks like it's based on a RNC press release. That doesn't look like a credible chain of information to me.

                The RNC press release says "active military personnel will make up 3 percent" an [rnc.org]
                • Thanks for the info, it puts the k5 story into perspective.

                  I'm certainly no expert but it doesn't smell quite like fascism to me. Bush supporters in the military now get to be extras in the RNC crowd scenes. They're not writing the platform. (Although, I wonder if we'd have fewer wars if military rank and file got to vote on these radical new doctrines for when you start a war.... yeah I know, that's not what it's about, but just saying.)

                  However, it certainly is a flagrant abuse of power by someone at the
                  • I do not agree. When not in uniform, someone in the armed forces should be able to participate in ANY political event anyone not in the military can.

                    • huh? (Score:1)

                      by brev (1827) on 2004.09.06 13:51 (#34073)
                      I don't see how your rebuttal relates to what I said. But anyway, as brian pointed out, the US military disagrees [dtic.mil] with you.
                    • I don't think I pointed that out. When not in uniform there isn't a problem.

                      I also don't see an abuse in power. Indeed, the Secretary of a cabinet level department is mandated to set policy for that department.
                    • I don't think I pointed that out.

                      My mistake. I meant "as in the military regulations brian linked to", but I misremembered -- you didn't link to them, I looked them up myself.

                      When not in uniform there isn't a problem.

                      The 1344.10 [dtic.mil] document lists example activities that are proscribed, like speaking before a political gathering, or doing clerical work for a campaign. I'm not a lawyer, but don't those apply whether in or out of uniform?

                      I also don't see an abuse in power

                      Well, the policy took effect the
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