Draft

Think back with me to the 2004 presidential election. Anybody remember the military rhetoric used by John Kerry in his campaign? One of Kerry's biggest attacks on President Bush was that he would reinstate the military draft. (And Bush flatly denied it, see here.) Well, Bush won re-election, of course, but have you heard him speak anything about bringing back the draft? Nope. However, a report out today tell us Democratic Representative Charles Rangel plans to introduce a bill next year, under which "Americans would have to sign up for a new military draft after turning 18." This despite the fact that Rangel proposed a draft bill in 2003 covering 18-26 year olds, only to have it shot down by a 402-2 vote. Yep, it lost by a mere 400 votes.