I just saw Charlie Rangel speak.

[drm604]

What a great speaker! He said something that I thought was very interesting and that I hope Democrats start using. He was speaking about the educational needs in our poorer communities. I don't remember his exact words but basically he said that 50% of our young men (speaking about African Americans) are ineligible for military duty due to either criminal records or poor education, and that this is a threat to our national security. This is a great point to make!

Afterward I was out knocking on doors and handing out literature about state and federal candidates. I'll be doing it again next week. Everyone of us should be out doing stuff like this right now.

[rodeodance]

1. i am signed up for lit . drops next week

[KG]

2. rangel misses the point about the military.

the fact that the US has an such huge military, spreading 'democracy' all over the globe, is the major source of threats to national security.

[drm604]

3. I don't think he misses the point.

You had to have heard his whole speech. I'm hoping a transcript shows up on line somewhere.

He did say that the military was last chance employment for many people, a place where they're forced to risk their lives for other's agendas because they have no other options (not his exact words, I'm paraphrasing from memory). It was obvious that he doesn't support indiscriminately trying to spread "democracy" through force.

I think linking the sad state of many youth in this country to national security is politically brilliant for the Democrats. It relates our agenda to national security and shows how the Republican agenda of forcing the poor to make it on their own is bad for national security. It attacks one of their greatest political strengths.

[BlooInBloo]

4. He doesn't miss the point. DUers just hate him....

Because he's in favor of a draft for the singular purpose of sending rich white kids to die with the poor black and hispanic kids, so that the war affects everyone equally.

That's too much for DUers to stomach, so they hate him.

[drm604]

5. Actually, I wasn't aware of that.

I certainly don't support a draft. Does he really support one or is he simply trying to make a point?

[BlooInBloo]

6. He's doing exactly what I said he was doing....

... by having rich white kids get killed in an idiotic war, Rangel thinks that the rich white ochestrators of the war will be inclined to end it sooner.

EDIT: That is, until rich white kids start getting killed, America, and its politicians, don't care too much. Rather like kidnappings, I suppose.