..just food for thought..if Kerry wins wonder what the retention rate will be,enlistments..

Posted by: Rob_NC at October 4, 2004 09:41 AM

I don’t think the retention will be good - though it may not be as bad as you might expect. A lot of us went on through the Clinton years respecting the office, not the man in it (who showed US precious little respect) and then a number of folks in my Reserve squadron retired when Clinton was out and his signature was no longer on the retirement documents.

I could see a lot of folks staying in past 20 because they wouldn’t want Kerry’s sig on their retirement certificates…

J.

Posted by: JLL3 at October 4, 2004 10:41 AM

I got out of the military when it looked like clinton was going to win in 92 I could have re-enlisted but chose not to because of him

Posted by: navyvetagainstkerry at October 4, 2004 11:45 AM

These survey results should be remembered every time someone uses the “chickenhawk” argument against Bush and Cheney; the people who are truly at risk in Afganistan and Iraq support the Bush/Cheney team.

Posted by: Average Joe at October 4, 2004 01:00 PM

Well, lemmeesee here:

“Unscientific?” That helps. What we have here is “knowledge” from “nothing.” A favorite ploy of the TFC when it comes to interpreting a “poll.”

Who knows what the real numbers might be? Not USA Today, nor anyone else hereon. Could be higher, could be lower.

This is a WAG — nothing else.

But arguendo, let’s say it was anywhere near close to being accurate — just for S&Gs.

Twenty percent of active duty personnel support Kerry?

Cool!

It’s called “shaving the margin.” And it works Just Fine too.

Were I on the Kerry staff, I’d find this not bad at all.

Posted by: Don at October 4, 2004 01:10 PM

..Don..you could spin the devils head..you da man..;-)))

Posted by: Rob_NC at October 4, 2004 01:42 PM

Everybody spins; everybody wins.

But in my case, I know something about the numbers and what’s a reasonable expectation. No one expects Kerry to win the Military vote. The more salient question is whether he loses by a larger or smaller margin.

“Margin” is the ballgame, RNC. Especially in a close election.

Always good to know how the game is played. This is how it’s played.

Posted by: Don at October 4, 2004 03:50 PM

Oh Don, tell us again what it’s like in the Bigs.

Most of us have never left the driveway, worldly guys like you are so interesting.

“Margin” - I’ll have to write that down. You want to win by a margin. No honey, you don’t understand, it’s the margin. Oh no, we lost by the margin.

Honey can you pass the margin?

Posted by: torpedo_eight at October 4, 2004 09:50 PM

T-8 Uhhh, Don lost the last one on Danglin’ Chad… Now there’s MARGIN for ya!

Posted by: Cap'n DOC at October 4, 2004 10:37 PM

Does Don actually believe this bilgewater?

It’s hard to tell sometimes.

Here’s the tactic he used: first, attempt to cast doubt on the poll. If the poll isn’t valid, fine. And had the dear Don stopped there he would have made a good argument.

But nooooo, so completely enamored of his ownself is our dear Don that he makes a forlorn attempt to prove that really 18% of this segment is OK.

What a genius we have here. An absolute master at the fine art of self deception!

Posted by: skip at October 5, 2004 11:26 AM