The issue came up briefly during the 2000 race because the Democrats thought they could effectively contrast Gore's service with Bush's draft dodging. For whatever reason they couldn't make it stick, and it's unlikely that even a decorated war hero will do much to push the issue this year. Let's all remember that the last time the Democrats ran a war hero it was George McGovern.

But it does remind me how odd I find the GOP's staunch support among military types, even when Republican politicians use privilege and power to avoid military service. I can recall having a rather heated discussion with a friend of mine who is a major in the army about the 2000 election. He was, unsurprisingly, voting for Bush, and I asked him point blank how he could vote for a draft dodger. He gave me a bland policy-based answer, and I dropped the debate after my girlfriend dragged me away from the conversation. In the spirit of full disclosure I'd had a few beers and haven't voted since 1992.

I think the answer is not just self-interest. Obviously Republicans like spending a lot more money on defense spending, and Republicans have tended to avoid wars in the 20th century making them a safe bet for soldiers. But more importantly the Democratic party has done a miserable job of balancing its need to maintain support among its peace-nik base and those of us who live on planet Earth. With regards to the current military activity, or lack thereof, in Afghanistan, the Democrats have completely dropped the ball. Thankfully Libertarians have made a strong case in this regard.

Two trends, this year in fact, could change that. First, the military is increasingly Hispanic and Black. That will eventually lead to more Democratic votes. Second, the last two wars have both been Bush led, and this one is starting to get ugly, especially for Guard members who are getting a lot more than they bargained for. However I hope that some soldiers this year use a very different calculus in determining their votes. I hope they consider that a group of folks who largely shirked military service and lied to the public led us into a bloody and expensive entanglement that had nothing to do with stopping our real enemies and has ended the lives of more than 500 Americans and thousands of Iraqis.