President George W. Bush announced that he is appointing former U.S. Senator Bob Dole (a republican and a veteran) and former Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala (a democrat and not a veteran) to serve as co-chairs of the Bipartisan Presidential Commission. The Commission will conduct a comprehensive review of the services America is providing our returning wounded warriors.

Supposedly, there will be seven more commissioners named in the next few days.

I think Dole is a good choice for co-chair. He joined the Army as an enlisted person and was promoted to Lieutenant. He is a highly decorated veteran.

But, surely (I know, don’t call you Shirley) there are several democrats who are veterans who could serve as co-chair instead of Shalala. Shalala is an intelligent and well-educated person, but how much she knows about veterans and the military is probably pretty slim.

I still believe some or most of these commissioners should be former enlisted personnel.

The commission needs workers to investigate this mess and not well-known bureaucrats.

Again, I ask where does Jack the Blogger sign up? E-mail me at: western_word@yahoo.com