Contrary to what some readers may think, that is not my personal life goal.
No post yesterday-I’ve been in an out of sorts mood and have been trying to shake off the crud that Korea always seems to inflict upon me. Decided to wine and dine the S.O. last night, stay away from computer, and really make up for my prolonged absences and my overall foul mood toward her of late.
Wine? Yup.
Dine? Yup
Mission Accomplished banner hanging from my flag bridge this morning?-Not a chance. That’s what comes of letting her spend time with too many American women……………….
Why even bother?
The original hope for a cure was to have the Supreme Court actually step up to the plate and do its job actually providing a proper interpretation of the Constitution-just as it did in 1981 when it declared that military retirement was not divisible as property, and should not be- because it is retainer pay. Today, however the court is clogged with BS cases about torture, school prayer, abortion, and other crap-instead of getting me back what is rightfully mine.
This is a travesty of justice worse than giving GWB Florida……………
What this small, but growing group of victims, wants to accomplish now is to help guild an effort to make the real costs of this evil law brought to light and get Congress to repeal-and if not that-amend this evil oppression of serving men and women.
“There are not that many people affected“, you say? Interestingly enough one of the folks actually petitioned DFAS under a FOIA request (Why is this not public record information?). Just under 100,000 whores Americans are receiving direct deposits of someone else’s hard earned retirement pay under the act. That does not include the folks who had to pay huge “buy outs” to get the little bitch Mrs off their back, nor does it reflect the number of people who make direct payments to their shrews ex spouses without making DFAS the middle man. Factor that in and the number is probably two to three times that.
And the number keeps increasing with women now joining the ranks of the fucked over victims.
One really good suggestion that has come to light is that one reason Congress is so apathetic as well as my favorite sycophant civil servant, Dr Chu, to the problem, is that so few of them are affected by the law. Of the 18 announced Democratic and Republican presidential candidates, only Republicans John McCain and Duncan Hunter have served on the front lines. Three others served in noncombat roles and another two served in the reserves. Probably only one, John McCain served for a full military career and qualified for military retirement. Albeit I think no one will doubt that he earned his retirement the hard way!
But…………
He did not lose any of his Captain’s retirement in his divorce…...
Lets look at what he did give up:
John McCain gave up his interest in two homes
and agreed to pay $1,625 a month in alimony and child support when he
divorced his first wife 20 years ago, court records show.The senator and Republican presidential candidate divorced his wife
Carol in 1980 when he was a Navy captain with a home of record in
Orange Park, Fla., about 12 miles south of Jacksonville.McCain, 63, gave her his interest in homes in Alexandria, Va., and
South Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., according to records of the divorce
settlement obtained by The Associated Press and other newspapers.The Arizona senator agreed to give her their furnishings, $1,325 a
month in alimony, $300 in child support. He also agreed to pay an
additional $500 monthly if she couldn’t find a job.She was subsequently employed in the Reagan White House, according to
George “Bud” Day, McCain’s attorney during the divorce. Day also was
one McCain’s cellmates when they were prisoners of war in Vietnam.Carol McCain, who has remained friendly with her former husband, did
not immediately return a phone call to her Virginia home Thursday
seeking comment.McCain filed for the divorce, stating in court records that the
marriage was “irretrievably broken.”Under the settlement, McCain maintained insurance policies worth
$64,000 with their children as beneficiaries, agreed to pay for their
daughter’s college education and paid $3,005 in joint debts. Carol
McCain got the family’s Audi, while McCain was allowed to keep a
Datsun 810 and his personal belongings, the records show.
Now in my opinion that alone is a heinous settlement-especially at 1980 prices-for a woman it would appear is, and was, quite wealthy in her own right. And who could get off her ass and work. However percentage wise, compared to many of the victims of the USFSPA, it was quite mild.
The problem is, McCain had the smarts to sell her out before Pat Schroeder’s abomination became law. However if memory serves the law did allow supposedly aggrieved ex- spouses to go back and file for what was “theirs”.
If only McCain were doing better in the polls. Then a group of veterans could get together and file a motion on behalf of the former Mrs McCain and get her divorce re-opened. Maybe if the good Senator had to give up 50% of his more than hard earned retirement-he might be a lot more sympathetic to those of us who do not have those kind of resources. If nothing else the court case could raise awareness of just how truly evil this law is-and how truly criminal the response of Dr. Chu and the department of Defense has been in sticking up for fairness and equity for serving and formerly serving Soldiers, Sailors, Airman and Marines. Hell, I bet in the right circumstances we could get some of the other candidates ( like the one who comes from a religion of multiple wives…….and sanctuary mansions) to pay for it!
I mean-it sure beats swift boating. And it helps a lot more people.
Yep, that would really make me happy. Almost as happy as opening up the paper and seeing:
My ex-wife run over by a bus.
Dr Chu identified as one Larry Craig’s secret lovers.
Seeing the USFSPA repealed.
None of which is going to happen. But a man can dream can’t he?