One of several things Kerry mentioned in his acceptance speech related to how things would be different in the America he envisions:

"No family should have to worry about whether they can afford body armor for their son if he is called to combat in Iraq."

I was amazed and horrified at the implications, and I was surprised that no one else seems to have taken note of this at all.

What the hell is going one here? The US Army **used to** equip its members with the best available protective equipment when sending them into danger. Now, apparently, underpaid enlisted men are offered the option to equip *themselves* with bulletproof garments, if and only if they have the funds to do so.

Of course, the US Army used to maintain its own mess halls and quartermaster facilities, too. Now, such support services are provided on a for-profit basis by Halliburton.

I'm glad [not] to hear that some fat-cat corporation has found a way to turn a profit by selling essential life-protecting equipment to those among American combat troops who can afford it.

Does this mean anything to you radicals and Naderites? (Not to mention you right-wingers who cry "Support the Troops!") Sure, it may be true on some level that "Republicats" are all the same, but on another, very important, level, the current worst-ever neocon Republicans are different indeed from the Democrats -- much more shameless and cynical than any bunch of American politicians have ever been before.

PLEASE get out and vote for "Anyone-But-Bush," no matter how you feel about his millions or his military past. The current gang of murderous thieves has GOT to go, and votes for third- and fourth-party cadidates are only going to help them stay in office.

Incidentally, on this morning's "Meet the Press" TV show, Tim Russert mentioned that National Guard units called into combat are being sent without body armor. Regular Army personnel apparently are issued the armor, but "citizen soldiers" (who are less well-prepared for combat to begin with) are burdened with the additional handicap of being left without protective equipment.

Russert said nothing about the option of buying one's own set of armor, presumably from Dick Cheney's business associates. Will this ever come up in the nationwide media?