Very good points. I know quite a few 'true loyalists' that would serve the Commander in Chief no matter what even though you are no longer taught 'blind service' in the military. There are very good reasons for military training being the way it is (afterall, if it were a democracy, then everyone would know everything in order to vote on a decision and then so would our enemies!), but in civilian life, that would and should always be unacceptable. While as citizens we have the right to know what our government is doing and why, there must be line that has to be drawn as to when information cannot be released to the public and in that case, you hope you voted for the right representative. National security is a real issue--just as real as our individual rights and both are equally as important. My daughter had to do a report on one of the women she most admires and she did it on Madeline Albright. She is quite an accomplished person and also has very strong opinions! :o) The Oliver North story is a tragedy. He has as many admirers as he does haters. Poor man! Is he really that stupid or really that smart???

>Tracy;
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>Colin Powell interested me as a presidential candidate, as did Alan Keys, who I enjoy listening to very much. I thought and think that Madeline Albright would also make a great President – except she was born in another country. People have interesting reasons why they like or dislike a candidate for political office.
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>I am sure that someone would suggest Oliver North for President. After all, Olie is a "true American"! I believe I have some understanding of what North did and why. All the more reason to “not re-enlist” in my book. Justification through military conditioning may not make sense to some people. Super patriotic people cannot distinguish right from wrong. You serve the “Commander in Chief” and that is all. My father and brother were Marines. You sleep with the Marine Handbook, as my brother did from the age of 6.
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>Tom
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>>Actually I must confess that the last election was the FIRST election that I recall that was actually split on military votes. That is based upon all of the folks I knew of course. Usually, the military vote pretty strict Republican, but I recall a LOT were considering voting for Gore the last time and crossing party lines! It was actually interesting hearing the debates on both sides in 2000. I think the Republican vote still pretty much outnumbered the Democrat vote with government workers, and I just couldn't resist the picture! I refuse to comment on who I voted for!!! :o) However, I always said that if Colin Powell ran I would quit my job and become a full-time campaigner! Too bad his wife refused to switch parties! (Or should it be the other way around to some folks?) :O)
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>>Tracy
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