My husband served 35 years in the U.S. Army. Our four sons also served, one on full disability from service related injuries. My heart breaks every time I hear one of these Magas, who never served, and even some who have, disparage and harm veterans. What cringe-worthy lives they live. Hopefully karma is watching and planning. We need to bring SHAME back to our culture.
Your husband and sons and you, Joanne, share in the country's gratitude for your family's service. True American patriots honor you and all those who have served our country. When the MAGA politicians are cleaned out of DC, we will work to make sure that no one's heart has to break over their inhumane and despicable policies.
We are missing the old small community social behavior of shunning and shaming IMO. The frozen number of political representatives in congress make those elected more and more remote from those they represent. A small handful of low population states are the exception and politics is usually done in a different flavor in those states.
It truly is heart-breaking! Your family should be celebrated for their service! And, I'm so sorry about your son! My father and his three brothers served during WWII. My late husband served in the Air National Guard, although it wasn't during wartime.
Since Trump is a draft dodger who has spoken disrespectfully about veterans who have died for their country, as well as about the late Senator John McCain, I'm not surprised by rude comments from MAGAs about veterans, but it sickens me. And, they deserve more than shaming.
I must admit that I've been furious by all the budget cuts to the VA, and the firing of veterans. At one point, I read 6,000 people were fired. What I just read (a May 10th article from NPR), although I'm not sure how truthful it is because it quotes Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins, but his department evidently shared info with NPR, that "11,273 agency employees nationwide have applied for 'deferred resignation,' which the Trump administration is offering as part of its DOGE initiative to cut the VA's workforce by 15%."
The initial deadline was April 30, but it was extended to May 16, and everyone who is accepted, will have to leave by September 30. I'm skeptical enough to think that they may have extended the deadline so that we wouldn't know how many people are leaving until Trump's budget is passed. This is the link to the NPR article.
You're welcome Joanne! If there's anything you're going to do about this, or you find an organization, that's doing a good job, please let me know. I'm on a fixed income, and can't donate, but it's a cause I support!
Joanne, thank you and your family for your sacrifice and service to our country. It’s truly deplorable what this administration is doing to the veterans. They are our heroes and they’re being treated so disrespectfully and wrongly. Wishing your family health and strength.
Of course he didn't. He has all their little balls in a vise in a small drawer somewhere at Mar-a-Lardo. He has them right where he wants them, and they're all too terrified to do anything about it.
Dems lost by 1 vote. Republicans Thomas Massie and Warren Davidson voted no. Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris voted present. Rep. Andrew Gabarino (R-NY) missed the vote.… Garbarino missed the vote because he was sleeping: “I fell asleep in the back. No kidding.”
3 Dems have died or it wudda lost.
i'm hoping the senate parlimentarian will kill all the non budget items.
Hawley, Johnson say it's dead on arrival, but.....
3 Dems have died : is there any question that we need to back Amanda Littman's effort to round up and support new, invevitably younger Democratic candidates? This should not be a rhetorical question.
Even young people can have health challenges. Remember that Democrats were down a senator for part of Biden's term after a middle-aged one from New Mexico suffered a stroke. He recovered and is still serving in the Senate. Bernie Sanders had a heart attack during the Democratic primary. Jamie Raskin has battled cancer. I think that we can agree that all of these members are highly productive.
I find a single-minded focus on age not to be useful. I would ask all Democratic congressional members to evaluate realistically whether they have the energy, stamina, and health to do the job. I would also ask them to help prepare the next generation.
I agree that some people can recover and be productive. But, they can't evaluate themselves. I saw it play out with Sen. Dianne Feinstein, whom I had voted for, admired, and respected for decades. It was a disaster. These are the highlights.
In a New Yorker article from 2020, Feinstein's staff told the writer, that her short-term memory was shot, she often forgot if she'd been briefed on a topic, and wasn't functioning well. When asked if she'd resign, Feinstein said it was up to the voters of CA.
On April 14, 2022 the San Francisco Chronicle's editorial board, asked for her resignation, arguing that their reporting had proven she wasn't mentally fit for the job. They had spoken to former staff members and four current senators. Feinstein said she was grieving her husband who had died, and that was the problem.
In 2023, she was sick for three months: She missed 91 floor votes, her absence slowed Biden's confirmation of judges, and five Democrats had called for her resignation. When she returned, it was with a retinue of staff members, which she'd had for years, but it wasn't public knowledge. Her aides pushed her wheel chair, reminded her how and when she should vote, and explained what was happening when she was confused. She wasn't capable of representing 40M Californians, but there was no transparency.
"In the last two and a half years, eight sitting members of the House or Senate have died in office. Every time, it's been a Democrat."
"It's not surprising since "Democrats tend to be older than Republicans, on average. A report from Fiscal Note found that in the last Congress, the average House Democrat was six years older than the average House Republican, while the gap was seven years in the Senate."
The billionaire media will try to create suspense with its focus on various Republicans, but I doubt there are enough Republican senators with the semblance of a spine to vote against it or create meaningful changes to the bill.
It should be noted that the Republican governor in Texas is delaying an election to fill the Democratic House seat there. I expect the Virginia governor to do the same.
I've seen this scenario before, and it always comes down to one or two votes that let the Republicans triumph, while a couple of them are allowed to vote against as political cover for their next campaign.
I was struck by that too. One vote. One vote was all it would have taken to kill the bill and, as importantly, deny the president something to brag about and gloat over.
It’s time to honor those who gave all. In the south, there’s a time honored tradition of decorating tombstones and monuments in cemeteries. This is done for all people including former veterans. Some cemeteries are strictly military and their graves are decorated with silk flowers. Depending on the cemetery whether it is city owned or owned by a church will choose which day in the month of May will be their decoration/memorial day. Many times unknown soldiers or servicemen will have their grave decorated as respect for their service. We still recognize Memorial Day as a country and remember those who gave all. 🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸
Once completed it is so beautiful. One local military cemetery has a special memorial service every Memorial Day. Many local bikers attend the ceremony and decorate with flags 🇺🇸
Don Bacon, who is portrayed as being a "sane" republican, is clearly a hypocrite of the highest order. I am very disappointed in him, though not really surprised.
What is so worrisome to me is that this Congress includes 72 Republican and 26 Democratic veterans. And, every single one of the Republican veterans--are supporting the Bone Spur Cadet, and have voted for extending tax-cuts to the rich, massive cuts to the VA and to veterans, as well as all of the measures that damage our government, erode our democracy, make us less safe, allow mass deportations, and have caused a constitutional crisis.
I would have thought that veterans would have more allegiance to our country than to Trump.
When Senators and Representatives admit they are too scared for their personal safety to stand up to Trump, I ask how do they then ask young Americans to place their lives on the lines to serve in the Armed Forces. Surely, standing up to Trump and his unhinged, ignorant, violent followers does take courage. But how hypocritical is their cowardice compared with serving Americans and veterans. My own Senator Ernst is among the most despicable.
They all send out messages marking Memorial Day, but their actions show they could care less about those who gave their lives or for the families they left behind.
You'd think that Ernst and Bacon would have the spines to stand against trump. What DO his threats consist of???? I understand he'll also YELL when on the phone to underscore a threat.... so what? And he's certainly not afraid to utilize public shaming.... but still????? Maybe Kinzinger or Cheney would tell us (where IS Cheney lately, anyway?? - not that she hasn't already made huge contributions at great personal risk on the behalf of all of us...)
Apparently, active duty military voters supported (and voted for) Trump by a wide margin in the 2024 presidential election. I cannot find any information that shows whether or if their opinions have changed in the past few months. Does anyone know where such information could be found? I simply cannot understand this. The current administration shows no respect, caring or even much interest in the military as many vets have lost their government jobs due to the Musk purges. Budget cuts at the VA are scrambling healthcare for vets. So much. So much. And the Big, Beautiful Republican bill that just passed will devastate the situation even further. What underpins the military loyalty to Trump? And didn't the president, during his first term, try to divert funds from military housing renovation in order to finance his damned wall? (I don't know whether he succeeded in this attempt.)
I never understood why any of them learning that trump calls them all suckers & losers would still support him.... and after knowing that he considered John McCain the same because he was captured in Viet Nam...... doesn't make sense..
The Trump regime has declared war on the American people and the Republican Congress has charged blindly into the fray. We are now in the Valley Forge stage of the current fight for a government of, by, and for the people. The rebellious colonists could have huddled in their tents, trying to stay safe and warm. Instead they loaded into small boats, crossed the Delaware, and surprised and defeated the mercenary Hessians who were paid to subject them to the will of King George.
So my fellow Americans, the time has come to decide. Will we bend to the will of a false king and his minions or will we board the boats, cross the river, and take back our country?
This nation was born of a rejection of tyranny. Let us reclaim our nation. To the boats!
Margaret--Do not underestimate the power of what you are doing. We all have our parts to play, and you are doing what you can. As Heather Cox Richardson said, in discussing the chain of events that led to Lexington and Concord, even small actions, such as knowing who could unlock Old North Church, so that the lantern could be put out, were significant. An entire network of riders had been established to get the news out to colonists about the British BEFORE it was used that night. At The Contrarian and at other places on Substack, we are establishing communication networks, and we are supporting legal action. Hold your head high, Margaret!
I’m not advocating guns. Just resistance, activism, protest, and votes. Mostly voted. We must actively and forcefully resist the regime attempts to restrict voting access. They can’t win with their agenda so they are trying to rig the game.
One of my kids is a veteran. After he left the service he put himself through law school. Many of his clients are veterans whose lives have fallen apart under the escalating burdens of trauma, addiction, joblessness, and all the other things that happen to our fighting men and women when the football game is over and the big brass band stops playing and the giant flags are stowed away, and all that's left is an acre of Republican legislators wearing flag lapel pins, working hard to defund the GI bill and the VA so that all that public wealth can be transferred to the billionaires.
My kid understands what these vets are going through better than most of us can. He brings his own memories to his professional commitment. I am proud of him every day: for his service in and out of uniform. It baffles me to realize that this country is full of so many great and noble people, yet it is ruled by so many wicked and unworthy ones.
When I practiced law, lawyers could only charge a max of $25 in VA cases. Some orgs, like the DAV and American Legion were anti lawyer -- especially vet lawyers.
I went to law school after Viet Nam. But for VA points, I probably would not have been hired. When I worked for the government, most of our staff were veterans. Musk has been killing off vet jobs....
The brave, devoted and dedicated veterans in my family are all in Heaven now. I miss them so much and wonder how they, their family, and their friends did all they did. I love each one of them and am so proud of them and of their ethics, love, and guidance. They devoted their lives, before, during, and after their service to what they believed and to helping other people, each in his own ways. I am so proud of them and of all of the people who devoted their time serving and upheld their values. I also am proud of all of the people who were supportive on the home front, and I always will be honoring them in my mind and from my heart.
I come from a family where nobody was in the military (I tried to join for a specific program, but was rejected). I can't fathom being willing to put your life on the line for our country, but I very much appreciate those who can and do. Our active military and our vets deserve respect, and service from our government. I guess there are a lot of people out there who have no idea that our country wouldn't be what it is (I mean was, before 47), without their service and sacrifice. The one thing I know from personal experience is how difficult it is to live and function with PTSD.
Thank you for this article honoring Veterans. My husband, son, son-in-law, brother and nephew are Veterans. Unfortunately, we have a President who does not care. He is a self absorbed, weak little person who lies, cheats and steals. I do not understand people who are just fine with what he is doing.
As I prepare to put my flag out over Memorial Day weekend, I wish I could attach a sticker (like the one on my Tesla) to the effect of "Pro-America forever, Pro-Trump never!".
He is the polar opposite of everything I've grown up respecting and representing.
I will not watch him posturing as a leader during his ego parade.
The only President not only never to have served in the military, but the ONLY one vile, wretched and sociopathic enough to actually scorn veterans and why they serve, making an utter mockery of the title Commander-in-Chief of the US Armed Forces.
I hope to live long enough to spit on this man's grave some day.
I'd vote for any veteran that is willing to dismantle our corrupt system and start from the ground up. Former military, like the lower ranks, will probably come up with better foreign policy than what we've had for the last 25 years.
Our veterans have fought and Many have died to serve and protect our constitution and the rule of law for the American democracy they deserve much more than they have received, thanks jen
Unlike Cadet Heel Spurs, many of us served during the Vietnam War. While some of my medical school classmates did serve in Vietnam, others of us served in stateside hospitals where young men whose lives were forever changed by mental or physical injuries were cared for. They were not suckers or losers, but patriots worthy of our undying gratitude, not disrespect. My father and 6 uncles all served in WWII; all survived, but the US Army chaplain, island hopping in the Pacific, returned just a shadow of his former self. We could only imagine how many young soldiers died in his arms. We should all be disgusted and embarrassed by the distain our president and his cowardly Republicans show toward our dear veterans.
Some lost their lives. Some lost their limbs. Some lost themselves. None are celebrated by Donald Trump or any GOP in Our Congress. Trump’s disease appears contagious.
…some lost themselves. My high school friend lost his face and then his mind; my fiancé committed suicide…Sgt. Bonespurs has no idea, not one iota of an idea and he devalues every..single..one.
When we served, we were aware that serving in wartime might cost us our lives. Now our senators and reps in Congress fear that their opposition to MAGA in any action might cost them their seat or, God forbid, their political career. Their cowardice is revolting to veterans and may destroy the Republic we defended.
My husband served 35 years in the U.S. Army. Our four sons also served, one on full disability from service related injuries. My heart breaks every time I hear one of these Magas, who never served, and even some who have, disparage and harm veterans. What cringe-worthy lives they live. Hopefully karma is watching and planning. We need to bring SHAME back to our culture.
Your husband and sons and you, Joanne, share in the country's gratitude for your family's service. True American patriots honor you and all those who have served our country. When the MAGA politicians are cleaned out of DC, we will work to make sure that no one's heart has to break over their inhumane and despicable policies.
Thank you, Carol.
Struggle, sacrifice, service - three things Trump and his menagerie of morons will never understand.
We are missing the old small community social behavior of shunning and shaming IMO. The frozen number of political representatives in congress make those elected more and more remote from those they represent. A small handful of low population states are the exception and politics is usually done in a different flavor in those states.
We are so honored by your family's service. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Nancy.
It truly is heart-breaking! Your family should be celebrated for their service! And, I'm so sorry about your son! My father and his three brothers served during WWII. My late husband served in the Air National Guard, although it wasn't during wartime.
Since Trump is a draft dodger who has spoken disrespectfully about veterans who have died for their country, as well as about the late Senator John McCain, I'm not surprised by rude comments from MAGAs about veterans, but it sickens me. And, they deserve more than shaming.
I must admit that I've been furious by all the budget cuts to the VA, and the firing of veterans. At one point, I read 6,000 people were fired. What I just read (a May 10th article from NPR), although I'm not sure how truthful it is because it quotes Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins, but his department evidently shared info with NPR, that "11,273 agency employees nationwide have applied for 'deferred resignation,' which the Trump administration is offering as part of its DOGE initiative to cut the VA's workforce by 15%."
The initial deadline was April 30, but it was extended to May 16, and everyone who is accepted, will have to leave by September 30. I'm skeptical enough to think that they may have extended the deadline so that we wouldn't know how many people are leaving until Trump's budget is passed. This is the link to the NPR article.
https://www.npr.org/2025/05/10/nx-s1-5391962/va-job-cuts-limit-doctor-nurse-resignations-veterans
Best to you and your family!
Thank you, SB. I’ll definitely check it out.
You're welcome Joanne! If there's anything you're going to do about this, or you find an organization, that's doing a good job, please let me know. I'm on a fixed income, and can't donate, but it's a cause I support!
Joanne, thank you and your family for your sacrifice and service to our country. It’s truly deplorable what this administration is doing to the veterans. They are our heroes and they’re being treated so disrespectfully and wrongly. Wishing your family health and strength.
Thank you, Liane.
The Republican veterans in Congress today should be relegated to the lowest circle of hell.
There was a cartoon back during the first tRump regime showing a part of Hell with a devil looking at a sign which said: tRump Circle - opening soon.
General Don Bacon et al did not come through yesterday. https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2025/01/02/breaking-down-the-number-of-veterans-in-the-119th-congress/
Trump/Musk are anti-veteran.
Of course he didn't. He has all their little balls in a vise in a small drawer somewhere at Mar-a-Lardo. He has them right where he wants them, and they're all too terrified to do anything about it.
As I recall, Bacon voted for that Big Ugly Bill.
Dems lost by 1 vote. Republicans Thomas Massie and Warren Davidson voted no. Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris voted present. Rep. Andrew Gabarino (R-NY) missed the vote.… Garbarino missed the vote because he was sleeping: “I fell asleep in the back. No kidding.”
3 Dems have died or it wudda lost.
i'm hoping the senate parlimentarian will kill all the non budget items.
Hawley, Johnson say it's dead on arrival, but.....
3 Dems have died : is there any question that we need to back Amanda Littman's effort to round up and support new, invevitably younger Democratic candidates? This should not be a rhetorical question.
David Hoag is correct, time to change out the “business as usual Dems”.
Absolutely. Old-timely dems are trying to oust David Hogg. My friends don't even know who David Hogg is https://marchforourlives.org/leadership/david-hogg/
and I wonder if they remember Parkland. Sad state.
Even young people can have health challenges. Remember that Democrats were down a senator for part of Biden's term after a middle-aged one from New Mexico suffered a stroke. He recovered and is still serving in the Senate. Bernie Sanders had a heart attack during the Democratic primary. Jamie Raskin has battled cancer. I think that we can agree that all of these members are highly productive.
I find a single-minded focus on age not to be useful. I would ask all Democratic congressional members to evaluate realistically whether they have the energy, stamina, and health to do the job. I would also ask them to help prepare the next generation.
That is sensible,but the system still sustains a lot of dead wood.
All hands on deck till we get through this very rough patch.. We old people can help.
It isn’t their health it is that they lack fire.
I agree that some people can recover and be productive. But, they can't evaluate themselves. I saw it play out with Sen. Dianne Feinstein, whom I had voted for, admired, and respected for decades. It was a disaster. These are the highlights.
In a New Yorker article from 2020, Feinstein's staff told the writer, that her short-term memory was shot, she often forgot if she'd been briefed on a topic, and wasn't functioning well. When asked if she'd resign, Feinstein said it was up to the voters of CA.
On April 14, 2022 the San Francisco Chronicle's editorial board, asked for her resignation, arguing that their reporting had proven she wasn't mentally fit for the job. They had spoken to former staff members and four current senators. Feinstein said she was grieving her husband who had died, and that was the problem.
In 2023, she was sick for three months: She missed 91 floor votes, her absence slowed Biden's confirmation of judges, and five Democrats had called for her resignation. When she returned, it was with a retinue of staff members, which she'd had for years, but it wasn't public knowledge. Her aides pushed her wheel chair, reminded her how and when she should vote, and explained what was happening when she was confused. She wasn't capable of representing 40M Californians, but there was no transparency.
"In the last two and a half years, eight sitting members of the House or Senate have died in office. Every time, it's been a Democrat."
"It's not surprising since "Democrats tend to be older than Republicans, on average. A report from Fiscal Note found that in the last Congress, the average House Democrat was six years older than the average House Republican, while the gap was seven years in the Senate."
https://www.businessinsider.com/8-members-congress-died-office-democrats-2025-5
The billionaire media will try to create suspense with its focus on various Republicans, but I doubt there are enough Republican senators with the semblance of a spine to vote against it or create meaningful changes to the bill.
It should be noted that the Republican governor in Texas is delaying an election to fill the Democratic House seat there. I expect the Virginia governor to do the same.
I still think we can pressure some of them....
There a lot of insider baseball to be played.
I've seen this scenario before, and it always comes down to one or two votes that let the Republicans triumph, while a couple of them are allowed to vote against as political cover for their next campaign.
I was struck by that too. One vote. One vote was all it would have taken to kill the bill and, as importantly, deny the president something to brag about and gloat over.
They would have lost by two votes, but a Republican fell asleep and woke up too late to vote for the bill. Another Republican voted "present."
""
It’s time to honor those who gave all. In the south, there’s a time honored tradition of decorating tombstones and monuments in cemeteries. This is done for all people including former veterans. Some cemeteries are strictly military and their graves are decorated with silk flowers. Depending on the cemetery whether it is city owned or owned by a church will choose which day in the month of May will be their decoration/memorial day. Many times unknown soldiers or servicemen will have their grave decorated as respect for their service. We still recognize Memorial Day as a country and remember those who gave all. 🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸
Once completed it is so beautiful. One local military cemetery has a special memorial service every Memorial Day. Many local bikers attend the ceremony and decorate with flags 🇺🇸
Don Bacon, who is portrayed as being a "sane" republican, is clearly a hypocrite of the highest order. I am very disappointed in him, though not really surprised.
I perfer to put them in jail for treason.
Better plan!!
What is so worrisome to me is that this Congress includes 72 Republican and 26 Democratic veterans. And, every single one of the Republican veterans--are supporting the Bone Spur Cadet, and have voted for extending tax-cuts to the rich, massive cuts to the VA and to veterans, as well as all of the measures that damage our government, erode our democracy, make us less safe, allow mass deportations, and have caused a constitutional crisis.
I would have thought that veterans would have more allegiance to our country than to Trump.
I believe they will be, and thus they will spend eternity with Trump. They reap what they sow!
When Senators and Representatives admit they are too scared for their personal safety to stand up to Trump, I ask how do they then ask young Americans to place their lives on the lines to serve in the Armed Forces. Surely, standing up to Trump and his unhinged, ignorant, violent followers does take courage. But how hypocritical is their cowardice compared with serving Americans and veterans. My own Senator Ernst is among the most despicable.
They all send out messages marking Memorial Day, but their actions show they could care less about those who gave their lives or for the families they left behind.
My senator Graham is a veteran and has drunk the orange koolaid from a firehose.
Those reps should be afraid to face their voters!
You'd think that Ernst and Bacon would have the spines to stand against trump. What DO his threats consist of???? I understand he'll also YELL when on the phone to underscore a threat.... so what? And he's certainly not afraid to utilize public shaming.... but still????? Maybe Kinzinger or Cheney would tell us (where IS Cheney lately, anyway?? - not that she hasn't already made huge contributions at great personal risk on the behalf of all of us...)
Ask Paul Pelosi what kind of threats Trump engenders. It’s not just him but his nutjob acolytes….
Too bad so many Vets fell for Trump's lies and voted for him.
That is something that as the wife of a Navy Retired vet, I will never understand.
Apparently, active duty military voters supported (and voted for) Trump by a wide margin in the 2024 presidential election. I cannot find any information that shows whether or if their opinions have changed in the past few months. Does anyone know where such information could be found? I simply cannot understand this. The current administration shows no respect, caring or even much interest in the military as many vets have lost their government jobs due to the Musk purges. Budget cuts at the VA are scrambling healthcare for vets. So much. So much. And the Big, Beautiful Republican bill that just passed will devastate the situation even further. What underpins the military loyalty to Trump? And didn't the president, during his first term, try to divert funds from military housing renovation in order to finance his damned wall? (I don't know whether he succeeded in this attempt.)
I never understood why any of them learning that trump calls them all suckers & losers would still support him.... and after knowing that he considered John McCain the same because he was captured in Viet Nam...... doesn't make sense..
The Trump regime has declared war on the American people and the Republican Congress has charged blindly into the fray. We are now in the Valley Forge stage of the current fight for a government of, by, and for the people. The rebellious colonists could have huddled in their tents, trying to stay safe and warm. Instead they loaded into small boats, crossed the Delaware, and surprised and defeated the mercenary Hessians who were paid to subject them to the will of King George.
So my fellow Americans, the time has come to decide. Will we bend to the will of a false king and his minions or will we board the boats, cross the river, and take back our country?
This nation was born of a rejection of tyranny. Let us reclaim our nation. To the boats!
Curtis, I wish I weren't so old. And I dont know how to use a gun.All I can do is send money and demonstrate
Margaret--Do not underestimate the power of what you are doing. We all have our parts to play, and you are doing what you can. As Heather Cox Richardson said, in discussing the chain of events that led to Lexington and Concord, even small actions, such as knowing who could unlock Old North Church, so that the lantern could be put out, were significant. An entire network of riders had been established to get the news out to colonists about the British BEFORE it was used that night. At The Contrarian and at other places on Substack, we are establishing communication networks, and we are supporting legal action. Hold your head high, Margaret!
I’m not advocating guns. Just resistance, activism, protest, and votes. Mostly voted. We must actively and forcefully resist the regime attempts to restrict voting access. They can’t win with their agenda so they are trying to rig the game.
Just unarmed resistance. I tell my ESL students that the only remnant of our democracy is at the grassroots level. Let's not get mowed down!
Me, too!
One of my kids is a veteran. After he left the service he put himself through law school. Many of his clients are veterans whose lives have fallen apart under the escalating burdens of trauma, addiction, joblessness, and all the other things that happen to our fighting men and women when the football game is over and the big brass band stops playing and the giant flags are stowed away, and all that's left is an acre of Republican legislators wearing flag lapel pins, working hard to defund the GI bill and the VA so that all that public wealth can be transferred to the billionaires.
My kid understands what these vets are going through better than most of us can. He brings his own memories to his professional commitment. I am proud of him every day: for his service in and out of uniform. It baffles me to realize that this country is full of so many great and noble people, yet it is ruled by so many wicked and unworthy ones.
When I practiced law, lawyers could only charge a max of $25 in VA cases. Some orgs, like the DAV and American Legion were anti lawyer -- especially vet lawyers.
I went to law school after Viet Nam. But for VA points, I probably would not have been hired. When I worked for the government, most of our staff were veterans. Musk has been killing off vet jobs....
The brave, devoted and dedicated veterans in my family are all in Heaven now. I miss them so much and wonder how they, their family, and their friends did all they did. I love each one of them and am so proud of them and of their ethics, love, and guidance. They devoted their lives, before, during, and after their service to what they believed and to helping other people, each in his own ways. I am so proud of them and of all of the people who devoted their time serving and upheld their values. I also am proud of all of the people who were supportive on the home front, and I always will be honoring them in my mind and from my heart.
I come from a family where nobody was in the military (I tried to join for a specific program, but was rejected). I can't fathom being willing to put your life on the line for our country, but I very much appreciate those who can and do. Our active military and our vets deserve respect, and service from our government. I guess there are a lot of people out there who have no idea that our country wouldn't be what it is (I mean was, before 47), without their service and sacrifice. The one thing I know from personal experience is how difficult it is to live and function with PTSD.
Thank you for this article honoring Veterans. My husband, son, son-in-law, brother and nephew are Veterans. Unfortunately, we have a President who does not care. He is a self absorbed, weak little person who lies, cheats and steals. I do not understand people who are just fine with what he is doing.
As I prepare to put my flag out over Memorial Day weekend, I wish I could attach a sticker (like the one on my Tesla) to the effect of "Pro-America forever, Pro-Trump never!".
He is the polar opposite of everything I've grown up respecting and representing.
I will not watch him posturing as a leader during his ego parade.
All veterans should demand that their organizations , VFW, AL, actively oppose Trump/Musk and the Republican legislators who support them.
The only President not only never to have served in the military, but the ONLY one vile, wretched and sociopathic enough to actually scorn veterans and why they serve, making an utter mockery of the title Commander-in-Chief of the US Armed Forces.
I hope to live long enough to spit on this man's grave some day.
The thought of outliving DJT makes me leap out of bed every day!
Huh?
Many presidents have never served in the military, including Obama, if I am not mistaken. https://nationalvmm.org/presidents-who-served-in-the-military/
But none of them disrespected the military and those who served like this coward-in-chief does.
Memorial Day is not Veterans’ Day. Memorial Day honors those soldiers who died serving.
I'd vote for any veteran that is willing to dismantle our corrupt system and start from the ground up. Former military, like the lower ranks, will probably come up with better foreign policy than what we've had for the last 25 years.
Our veterans have fought and Many have died to serve and protect our constitution and the rule of law for the American democracy they deserve much more than they have received, thanks jen
Thanks
Unlike Cadet Heel Spurs, many of us served during the Vietnam War. While some of my medical school classmates did serve in Vietnam, others of us served in stateside hospitals where young men whose lives were forever changed by mental or physical injuries were cared for. They were not suckers or losers, but patriots worthy of our undying gratitude, not disrespect. My father and 6 uncles all served in WWII; all survived, but the US Army chaplain, island hopping in the Pacific, returned just a shadow of his former self. We could only imagine how many young soldiers died in his arms. We should all be disgusted and embarrassed by the distain our president and his cowardly Republicans show toward our dear veterans.
This is why I can't fathom why so many law enforcement personnel are trump voters.
Some lost their lives. Some lost their limbs. Some lost themselves. None are celebrated by Donald Trump or any GOP in Our Congress. Trump’s disease appears contagious.
This is what I remember. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcI-O3FdZZs
55,000 Americans dead. Hundreds of thosuands adversely affected. Agent Orange.
…some lost themselves. My high school friend lost his face and then his mind; my fiancé committed suicide…Sgt. Bonespurs has no idea, not one iota of an idea and he devalues every..single..one.
I am a lone survivor..... Viet Nam 66-67.
I couldn't help some of my friends. I spent 10 years hearing disability cases.... I've been in a vet discussion group for many years. Fred Wellman was in the group. https://fpwellman.substack.com/. https://bsky.app/profile/fpwellman.bsky.social
Daniel, thank you for sharing and for all you have done. I am sorry for each loss.
More than sorry, Karen.
When we served, we were aware that serving in wartime might cost us our lives. Now our senators and reps in Congress fear that their opposition to MAGA in any action might cost them their seat or, God forbid, their political career. Their cowardice is revolting to veterans and may destroy the Republic we defended.
Tom