I'd say thats right to a large extent, he was a spilot, a junior officer. Does he have the military experience of a Clarke, Petraeus Powell no way. I think one may be missing the boat on understanding what some mean when they say he has "military" experience.

To me it means he has served, as to his service and what it implies regards his feelings afterward and how he realtes to such, for instance as he was a victim of torture, he is against it, a state of mind I, not a victim but a veteran still finds hard to understand.

Kerry served, well done, but and heres were many of you might want to sit up and listen a bit, it WAS NOT the swift boat adds per se’ that really did him in, i.e the other sailors in the grp shots etc. it was the winter soldier hearings, the lies he told at them and the dishonor he attempted to shed on the military.

Its one of those things that registers with people accross the spectrum. It speaks to Kerrys (and maybe obamas we’ll see) lack of understanding regards what people here feel on a visceral level towards the military; Kerry thought it was a winner, he could not be made to be seen as hostile to the military, he dragged it out, he thought he was going to get a free ride regarding all the crap he did in the past regarding the service, that was delusional imho.

It never occurred to him that when you attempt to pull the structure down or berate in that fashion people are going to be upset. The military in this country is one of the very few institutions across the board that is seen as truly a meritocracy sans bias, honorable, above the rest of the gov. regards political machinations and the like, AND a reflection of the country as a whole. You fuck with that at your peril, veteran or not.

Old roman saying, Juvenal I believe; “It is easier to find a witness bearing false evidence against a citizen, than it is to find one who will bear true testimony against the interest and honor of a solider”.

Soldiers raping looting in scenes reminiscent of ghengis khan? Yea well we are right back to the McClellan issue, why then especially as on Officer, did he not report these violations when they occurred? He never did have any Names, dates places..etc. Sol he was seen as jackal, true or not.

That being said McCain has been accrued military "experience" that is more of a reflection of his service and platform as a whole, the guy spent 5 1/2 years in a pow camp treated harshly etc. He understands the military mindset better than obama thats for sure, and heres the kicker;
he has been a senator or in congress for 27 years, he has heard a lot seen a lot and with his limited hands on experience can I think make a claim to be more aware or experienced regards such, but hes no Ike, or Powell thats for sure. Lie it or not people are averse to critique of soldiers and they think better of one who has served honorably and speaks well of the organization, call it patriotism blind or not, that’s a reality. And this will accrue to him the term “experienced ” ala military matters whether real or imagined.

It a loser of Obama goes there. (adding to that he DID 3 years ago call bush out regards lack of troops resources etc. this provides or adds luster to that patina of experience as well).

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No individual can plan his own existence in their view.

So the state planners must arrogate to themselves the right to manipulate any sector of the economic system if the good of “society” or the “general welfare” is paramount.

Ipso- if the rights of the individual get in the way, the rights of the individual must be sublimated.

The Road to Serfdom
FA Hayek (interpretation)