He should...he's the main reason our troops have reached their breaking point...
Notice President Obama and the Democrats supported Jim Webb's new GI Bill. The same Bill Bush and McCain opposed...they were concerned about our troops; that the Bill's provision to get an education would make it too easy for our brave soldiers not to re-enlist...
BTW, IF Bush's visit was secret, why are we AWARE of it?
they opposed it dipshit because of all the other bullshit that was stuck in there.....
McCain defends opposition to GI Bill
ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (CNN) -- Sen. John McCain on Monday defended his opposition to a Democratic bill that would expand education benefits for veterans, saying it would hurt the military that he hopes to lead.
The new GI Bill being debated in Congress would expand education benefits for veterans who served
at least three years in the military after the September 11, 2001, attacks.
The bill's main sponsor, Sen. Jim Webb, is a Virginia Democrat and, like McCain, a Vietnam War veteran. The Senate passed Webb's bill 75-22 last week. McCain was not in Washington for the vote.
Democrats have targeted McCain for his opposition to the Webb legislation. Watch McCain talk about the U.S. debt to veterans
Saying he takes "a back seat to no one in my affection, respect and devotion to veterans,"
McCain said Webb's bill would be a disincentive for service members to become noncommissioned officers, which he called "the backbone of all the services."
--------------------------
Bush Threatens to Veto Webb's GI Bill
As a bipartisan coalition of members of Congress came together with Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to press for a new GI Bill to provide full college scholarships to returning service members yesterday, the Bush Administration said no.
In a letter, Defense Secretary Gates declared his opposition: “Gates also restated long-standing Pentagon
opposition to GI Bill educational benefits that are too generous, making it more likely for service members to leave the military to attend college. “Serious” retention issues are expected if benefits exceed the average monthly cost for a four-year public college, including tuition, room, board and fees, Gates said.” [Army Times, 4/30/08]
President Bush has a long record of opposing efforts to help our veterans:
* Opposed A Bigger Military Pay Raise. Last year, the Bush Administration opposed the House-passed Defense Authorization bill – objecting to a range of provisions including those that increased military pay by 3.5 percent calling it “unnecessary.” (The Administration proposed a 3 percent increase.) Ultimately, Congress enacted this increase into law.
* Opposed Ending the Disabled Veterans Tax. In 2003, President Bush threatened to veto the National Defense Authorization Act over this provision. That year, the White House was forced to drop its opposition, as Congress passed legislation that took a first step in ending the disabled military retirees.
* Opposed TRICARE for Reservists. In 2003, Secretary Rumsfeld recommended that the President veto the defense bill if TRICARE for Reserve forces was included. In 2006, the Defense bill finally included TRICARE for Reservists.
