You may be right.

I must admit that my military service, though unwanted and drafted, was a boon I never expected. It made a “man” of me, whether or not I wanted it.

I have often debated with myself about the value of mandatory military service.

A young person, presented with a mandate to serve for the the country, is forced to question the values we represent. Or, at least, the values we represented before Bush began raping our Constitution.

I think Rangel is completely serious about reinstating compulsory service. But I think it falls more into the Hillary Clinton’s “Young people think work is a four letter word” category than about Iraq.

Too many middle-aged and older Americans complain about how lazy, selfish and unproductive young adults are. They think young adults are still children in need of chaperoning and personal development, not people starting a family, or pursuing an education, or beginning a career. That’s why Rangel’s proposal mandated service for all 18-26 year olds, and not, say retirees or the unemployed or simply everybody in the country.

There are plenty of people in Rangel’s generation who didn’t serve their country or make any selfless contribution when they had the opportunity. Why Rove and Cheney and the millions of other Vietnam era absentees avoid making up for their deferments?

I think you miss the point. That seems to be an inherited Republican failing.

Rangel is not declaring “war on the American public” he is simply pointing out the logical extension of Bush’s “stay the course” policy. No one has “embraced Ahmadinejad,” they’ve just recognized that talking does no harm.

Assume that the Democrats did “take office with no Iraq plan.” That is at least as good a “plan” as stay the course, which, of course, is not a plan either.

Pelosi had her choice for leader. The party didn’t agree … isn’t that what a democracy is supposed to look like? I suppose we could appoint a cheerleader to tell us what to do instead.

Rangel is not proposing to “draft his poor black constituents into military service,” they are already volunteering in droves because the economy stinks. He is proposing that the Republican power-mongers send their own kids, now there’s a new threat! Maybe Bush should have Jenna enlist and go to Iraq. That might get his attention.

As to your last comment … “Here come da judge,” indeed. I suspect that true oversight will require quite a number of judges to deal with the crimes of this administration.

I do think Donald Sensing’s point about the expense is also off base. The whole Iraq fiasco has had–continues to have–an astronomical price tag. And it’s Sensing’s party that ran up those bills.

The human costs are, of course, uncountable. Though I think there should also be accountability for running those up.

First, the Dems take office with no Iraq plan, with an assist from that dour, arrogant, self-styled brahmin Kerry.

Then, Pelosi lathers up her mentor, “Kickback Jack” Murtha for an aborted left-wing lovefest.(Political abortion is OK when the Dems do it, right?)

Now, Rangel wants to draft his poor black constituents into military service just to stir debate among the ivory tower wankers and the liberal bobbleheads?

Hey folks, you voted for them. The best is yet to come. Or should I say, “Here comes da judge?” (Hastings)

ugh.