Obeying President - not criticizing

[mjb4]

If the Pres sends an order for all these soldiers to vote for him, what will happen? I know they have to cheer him on instruction, where does this fall.

[bloom]

1. If people do not have a secret ballot - we're doomed - n/t

.

[Wonder]

2. As it was at the top of the Invasion DOD dispersed Pamphlets...

among the troops with order to rip along the perforation and send back to him their prayers for Bush to see them clear to victory, rather than Bush extending prayers for the soldiers and their families. I could believe he might order them to vote for him "the second coming".

However, morale has more than once been reported low, with a small percent of the soldiers now outwardly critical of the Pentagon. If their more patriotic platoon members are not enraged by the dissent and do not kill them in the field, all these US soldiers expressing dissent will not be casting their vote for Bush. And even if they did, hopefully popular vote will vote him out by a landslide.

[noonwitch]

3. I get your point, but...

I don't think that is something he can or will do. Any vets out there? Is there anything in writing that recruits sign that protects their voting rights? I would think so. I would be more worried about those serving overseas. If their commander knew which way an individual was going to vote and had a prblem with it, what would stop him from making sure the absentee ballot never got mailed in?

[Rick Myers]

5. No he can't order uniformed services to vote for him!

It's a secret ballot.

[Mountainman]

7. If you are overseas for any reason you can vote absentee

You get and absentee ballot from your state and vote by mailing it in. No one is supposed to see it but those counting votes.

[Nobody]

4. How utterly ridiculous!

I hope that the vets out in DU land can tell us this is BS. Otherwise, there are a lot of people risking their lives protecting democracy for us without getting to participate in it themselves.

If it ever does get to a point where there is a real requirement to vote a certain way (instead of just advertizing) we're doomed.

[asjr]

6. votes

Wasn't it Florida where Repubs sent the ballots to the military? How do we know they didn't also check the Bush box? My definition of a Repub is someone with absolutely no morals.

[mjb4]

9. this was my feeling about Florida as well

that got everyone to send in a vote and marked them accordingly. to show that the ENTIRE military was for Bush. now look at who is laughing.

[Bridget Burke]

8. No worry!

Our military will apparently be given the opportunity of voting over the Internet.

www.diggov.org/news/stories/2002/0402/0402military_holland.jsp

What could possibly go wrong? Surely, the results will be to *'s liking!

[damnraddem]

10. That is not soemthing subject to his orders.

But it would be interesting if he tried -- and the secrecy of the absentee ballot continues to be assured.

Think of all the husbands who, when they tell their wives how to vote, think that their wives actually vote as they have commanded.

[MasonJar]

11. In the army now

I do not have any relative in the military now; however, a friend was telling me today that her brother (who is in Iraq), her sister and her mother, all staunch Repugs, despise Bush and are going to vote for whoever wins the Dem nomination. There must be a lot more out there who think the same way.