Vermont has most deaths per capita in Iraq....large number called up.

[madfloridian]

I have always wondered about this, but I was afraid I would be made fun of for saying it. I believe 1400 reservists were called up....get this....the day after Howard Dean said on CNN that he had a problem with the terror alerts..."and out comes Tom Ridge." It got world wide coverage. Again he was right.

The next day all these guys were called up for service. (Not sure of the exact number that day, but a lot). I have an article from then, August I believe. Will find it.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9329-2005Feb8.html

Iraq War Is Affecting Small State in a Big Way
Vermont Has the Most Deaths Per Capita

By Jonathan Finer
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, February 9, 2005; Page A01

ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt. -- By now, the choreographed ceremonies are as painfully familiar as the arctic chill that crept across the Green Mountains late last month, when 400 more members of the Vermont National Guard were sent to war.

Boxes of tissues and Dunkin' Donuts greeted teary well-wishers packed inside the hangar-size pavilion at the Champlain Valley Exposition and Fairgrounds. Soldiers loaded Ryder trucks with olive-drab duffel bags before taking their places in formation. The state's three-member congressional delegation, which voted unanimously against invading Iraq, saluted the departing troops in speeches, but not the mission they are about to undertake....."

SNIP..."While military service is a source of pride in local communities, the activation of 1,400 troops also has taken a heavy toll on hundreds of families and left small businesses and police barracks understaffed...."

Hawaii and Vermont are so drastically obviously different in the numbers from other states, it does make one suspicious.

[autorank]

1. This is it folks. It's pretty undeniable.

[madfloridian]

3. In Florida 1.4% called up. Unreal. VT. Over 22% called up.

Disturbing.

[autorank]

11. I wondered about this when I heard someone talking about the

relative percentage of deaths from their particular state. It was well above the Blue state's percent of the US population (think it was CA). What horrible thoughts this promotes but it's all there in black and white. OUTSTANDING POST!

[WildClarySage]

2. Does this have anything to do with Jeffords' switch to independent?

This would not be the first time this admin has resorted to paybacks.

[madfloridian]

4. Well, let's see, Dean, Jeffords, Leahy ( whom Cheney cursed at)...

Does make one wonder. Comparing the percentages in other states is awesome.

[vpigrad]

5. Was this done to punish Dean? (ntxt)

[madfloridian]

6. Don't know, just wondering.

Jeffords left the Rep. party, Cheney told Leahy to f himself....so one never knows.

[gumby]

7. Another "strategic iniative"

This makes it clear how "deadly" these strategies really are.

http://www.rockridgeinstitute.org/research/rockridge/stratinit?nopag=1

[strategery blunder]

8. In all fairness, red states occupy every position

from third to eleventh.

Also, some really blue states, such as MA, CA, IL (and D.C., but that isn't a state) also come in darn near the bottom of the list.

While it appalls me that ANY Reservists are called up for $hrub's oil*f*ck, I don't think it's a massive conspiracy against the "blue states."

Edit: Both HI and VT have extremely small populations, which means that if even one unit gets deployed, it'll send the per-capita numbers through the roof.

[madfloridian]

9. I don't think it is a red/blue thing. I am wondering out loud.

Look at Florida with a huge population and Jeb as governor.

Just compare the numbers with an open mind. I think there is something at play here.

[strategery blunder]

15. I did look at the numbers with an open mind.

And I don't see a huge correlation.

While Jebbie is corrupt pond scum, in order for me to believe that he "influenced" his brother chimperor into not deploying NG units from his state, I would have to see more than circumstantial evidence consisting of two numbers. I do not deny the possibility; I'm just applying the "innocent until proven guilty" idea. Which is hard to do with Rebumlicans, I know.;) If you want to implicate Jebbie as pond scum, there are other scandals with more evidence to verify their existance, such as Purgetehvoterrollsgate.

A leaked memo to this effect would change my mind in a hurry. And it's entirely possible that one might show up in six months. I do try to keep an open mind.:) And it's possible that FL units were spared so they could help with hurricane relief efforts (I don't know because I don't live there).

And I'll admit that when I first looked at this, I thought you meant to imply it was a punish the blue/spare the red sort of thing. Apparently that is a misinterpretation.

[madfloridian]

20. Not red/blue state. Just thinking. The WP pointed out discrepancy.

I do know a huge call-up from VT was announced the day after he was on Wolf Blitzer with the terror alert critiques heard round the world. I have the article, will find. Yes, I was wondering out loud.

I was thinking also of Jeffords defection, and Cheney's despising of Leahy.

It is rather odd, and the Florida hurricanes just occurred a few months ago...no correlation there.

[madfloridian]

10. Almost 1400 from VT, only 2300 from Florida.

Why?

[autorank]

12. Agree, but the issue is, were VT and HI singled out?

There may be an explanation for this but for now this is very compelling stuff, timing and percentages. Also, what's the deal with CO? That's a big state with lots of military.

[madfloridian]

13. Colorado only 676 called up?

Most interesting.

[autorank]

14. Yes, quite the battle ground state that Colorado was!

Man, you are onto something.

[strategery blunder]

16. Well, don't know about Vermont, but HI has a BIG military presence

The Pearl Harbor complex is what, about a third the size of Honolulu?

[DistantWind88]

18. And most of them are active duty, not reserves.

[shance]

17. The figures speak for themselves.

This is so blatantly biased.

Thank you for posting.

[CWebster]

19. Military advertising on TV is over the top in VT

I couldn't believe it. They really push.