please review my 134th letter before I send it off(grammar,facts)

As recent developments about increased suicides and PTSD among our Iraq War veterans have escalated, I thought it important to review how our Presidential Candidates “Support the Troops”.Recently,Senator Jim Webb introduced a bill for GI Educational Benefits called “The New G.I. bill“. Senators Clinton and Obama both voted “for” this bill. Senator McCain voted “against“. His rationale? “Officials in charge of Pentagon personnel worry that a more generous and expansive GI Bill would create an incentive for troops to get out of the military and go to college” Heavens forbid.

At this point, John McCain has fully embraced the "less jobs and more war" philosophy. He has been famous for touting this on several talk shows, noting how the American jobs shipped overseas aren’t coming back, but there will always be war. Essentially, he's offering troops the opportunity to sacrifice more for fewer incentives. With the Bush administration's help, McCain is telling America's troops, "Thanks for your service and your three combat tours in five years. Now get back to work."

This is the Republican stance on “Supporting the Troops”-support them as long as “Our” kids don’t have to serve. Support them until it requires more funding or effort. Support them until it involves their children or families. A “Bait and switch”-Support the Troops” on the sign outside-nothing inside the store that remotely resembles this. Remember who has been in charge of military funding for the last 12 years…do you trust them to truly” support our troops”?

If I were to quibble, I might say "heaven forbid" instead of "heavens" and I might not capitalize the words in the quoted phrases. Also, there is an extra quote mark after "Bait and switch".

These are small points. Your letter is already better written than most!

when I make stupid grammatical errors...

The best way to support the troops is to not send to a "stupid" war.

I have one suggestion that you can completely ignore. How about working in the superficiality of 'flag pin patriotism'? Something like 'McCain's support for the troops is like Republicans wearing flag pins to demonstrate their patriotism, it is all for show.'

A couple of little things: I wouldn't quote for or against. Punctuation goes inside quote marks (sentences 1,2,3,5, and the last one).

Also, you might consider including a reference to 'mental illness' of even in sentence one. I recently heard a story that claimed that among returning soldiers with mental illness (primarily PTSD and depression), just half were receiving help, and less than half of those were getting help considered 'adequate.' (I wish I remembered the source!)

grammar was never one of my strengths.

http://www.thedailylight.com/articles/2008/04/20/opinion/doc4808d44540e91975155338.txt