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Nobody's talking about it this election year, but discussion of the draft issue has never been "off the table"...
Back about this time of year in '04 there was considerable talk about President Bush reviving the draft. In fact, much was made about House and Senate Bills designed to do just that. The argument was that a vote for President Bush would be a vote for a return to the draft.
Much of that talk faded when it was revealed that the "pending draft" legislation was actually separate Democrat-sponsored Bills.
In the Senate, Senator Ernest "Fritz" Hollings (D-SC) introduced Senate Bill S. 89 ("requiring that all young persons in the United States, including women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security") on 7 January, 2003.
Meanwhile, over in the House, Representative Charles B. ("Charlie") Rangel (D-NY) submitted H.R.163 ("requiring that all young persons in the United States, including women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security") . Rangel's Bill had 14 co-sponsors.
In an effort to kill the "Bush is bringing back the draft" talk from his opposition during election 2004, the Republican-controlled House brought the measure to a vote and destroyed it in October 2004.
But away from the election limelight, Rangel introduced H.R.2723 ("requiring that all young persons in the United States, including women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security") in May, 2005. It was ignored by the Republican-controlled House.
Undaunted, Rangel submitted H.R. 4752 ("requiring all persons in the United States, including women, between the ages of 18 and 42 to perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security") in February 2006. It too appears fated to die, ignored, in committee.
But next year's version might be taken a bit more seriously. If you believe the pre-election polls, the Democrats are about to break the Republican control of the House and Senate. If so, Rangel is slated to chair the Ways and Means Committee, while Representative Isaac Newton "Ike" Skelton IV is tabbed for Armed Srvices and Representative John "Jack" Murtha might lead the Defense Appropriations panel (barring a successful run for House majority leader). In spite of much talk (see links), they won't be able to eliminate funding for the Iraq war (it would be characterized as 'not supporting the troops'), and will need to find another way to turn more Americans against the cause. Re-instituting the draft might just do the trick.
But draft talk is just silly, right? Surely no one in their right mind would advocate that...
