2016 Presidential Race Thread

[Josef K]

Originally Posted by fiddler

I'm military. It's a general rule of thumb that we don't vote in the Presidential election because 1) regardless of who gets picked they are our Commander and Chief, and we will follow their orders; 2) a huge vote either way by the military community would come off as fixing the elections.

Yeah there's no way this is true.

[fiddler]

Originally Posted by Chula Vista

That doesn't make sense. In 2013 the US military had approx. 1.4 million members. The number of US citizens eligible to vote was 235 million.

You guy's make up about one half of a percentage point in the grand scheme of things.

Splain Luzee.

Right but imagine if ALL 1.4 million members voted one way or the other. Just because there's 235 million eligible to vote doesn't mean they all will. And then imagine if that candidate happened to have won. It may not be based on fact, but the story would spin that the military had conspired to put a single person into office.

I said it was a general rule of thumb. You can vote if you want to, it's not like it's policy not to, infact it's encouraged to do so. However, most will not for the reasons I said. Again, based on my experiences.

[Chula Vista]

Originally Posted by fiddler

Right but imagine if ALL 1.4 million members voted one way or the other. Just because there's 235 million eligible to vote doesn't mean they all will. And then imagine if that candidate happened to have won. It may not be based on fact, but the story would spin that the military had conspired to put a single person into office.

Ok, I can get the spin angle.

[fiddler]

Originally Posted by Chula Vista

Ok, I can get the spin angle.

Me personally I don't care about that, but my line of thinking is more inclusive to the first one that regardless of their policies, they are still our Commander and Chief and unless they step way over the line we're going to follow orders.

Also there are things we are NOT allowed to do regarding the elections:
. Use official authority or position to interfere with an election, affect the course of an election, solicit votes for a candidate or issue, or require or solicit political contributions from others.

2. Be partisan political candidates for civil office at the federal, state, or local level. Soldiers also may not engage in public or organized solicitations of others to become partisan political candidates.

3. Take part in the partisan political management of campaigns or make public speeches in support of partisan political campaigns.

4. Make a campaign contribution to another member of the armed forces or to a civilian officer or employee of the United States to promote a political objective or cause.

5. Solicit or receive any campaign contributions to promote a political objective or cause.

6. Publish partisan political articles signed or authorized by the soldier to solicit votes for or against a partisan political party or candidate.

7. Serve in any official capacity or be listed as the sponsor of a partisan political party or club.

8. Speak before a partisan political gathering of any kind to promote a partisan political party or candidate.

9. Take part in any radio, television or other program or group discussion as an advocate of a partisan political party or candidate.

10. Conduct a political opinion survey at the direction of or in support of a partisan political group.

11. Distribute partisan political literature.

12. Use contemptuous words against the president, vice president, Congress, the secretary of defense, the secretary of a military department, or the governor or legislature of any state or territory.

13. Perform clerical or other duties for a partisan political party or committee during a political campaign or on Election Day.

14. Engage in fund-raising activities in federal offices or facilities for a partisan political cause or candidate, including anywhere on a military installation.

15. March or ride in a partisan political parade.

16. Display a large political sign, poster, or banner (as opposed to a decal) on his or her automobile.

17. Take part in any organized effort to provide voters with transportation to the polls (voting place) if it is organized or associated with a partisan political party or candidate.

18. Sell tickets for or otherwise actively promote political dinners and other political fund-raising events.

19. Attend partisan political events as an official representative of the Army, even when there is no active participation.

[Chula Vista]

Originally Posted by fiddler

my line of thinking is more inclusive to the first one that regardless of their policies, they are still our Commander and Chief and unless they step way over the line we're going to follow orders.

Gonna sound corny coming from a civi, but I really respect that aspect of the military attitude.

[fiddler]

Originally Posted by Chula Vista

Gonna sound corny coming from a civi, but I really respect that aspect of the military attitude.

There's certain instances where we can refuse an order, but we'd better have the evidence to back it up. Otherwise, orders are orders.

[Isbjørn]

One thing is to follow orders, another is to have a say in who will give you those orders and what they will be.

[fiddler]

Originally Posted by Isbjørn

One thing is to follow orders, another is to have a say in who will give you those orders and what they will be.

What's it matter? You're going to follow them anyways.

[John Wilkes Booth]

obama should bribe a significant portion of the military and get them to march on washington and declare him prez 4 life

[Chula Vista]

Originally Posted by John Wilkes Booth

obama should bribe a significant portion of the military and get them to march on washington and declare him prez 4 life

Nah, he should bribe them to insure Hillary gets elected just so all of Music Banter can watch you go insane.