NEWS AND OPINION:

Is there a draft in here?

\We’re talking about the military draft. A new Rasmussen Reports survey found that only 21% of voters believe the U.S. should have a military draft, while 61% disagree and 18% are not sure.

The survey of 1,110 likely U.S. voters was conducted online and by phone July 10-14, and on July 19 and released Monday.

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Meanwhile, here’s what the Selective Service has to say about the draft, this directed to men of a certain age:

“While there is currently no draft, registration with the Selective Service System is the most publicly visible program during peacetime that ensures operational readiness in a fair and equitable manner. If authorized by the President and Congress, our Agency would rapidly provide personnel to the Department of Defense while at the same time providing an Alternative Service Program for conscientious objectors,” the Selective Service said in a written statement.

STILL NO. 1

An extra and perhaps unexpected benefit continues to up the appeal of J.D. Vance, running mate of former President Donald Trump. Mr. Vance’s book “Hillbilly Elegy” is ruling the bestseller list.

“In the week after J.D. Vance was named the Republican vice-presidential candidate, more copies of the 2018 trade paperback edition of his Hillbilly Elegy were sold than in the previous 234 weeks combined. Put another way, that edition’s print unit sales for the week were greater than its print unit sales for an entire year — any year. No matter how you look at it, it’s the bestselling book in the U.S. by a country mile,” reported Publishers Weekly, an industry source.

To illustrate = how far ahead Mr. Vance is in the publishing world, consider that in that short period, the book sold over 197,000 copies. That’s not bad for a book originally published in 2016. In second place is a 2022 book called “The Housemaid” by author Freida McFadden — which sold 31,452 books.

THE VEGGIE DOG FACTOR

Things will be interesting at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday at high noon.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals will be on hand for its long-standing efforts to raise lawmakers’ awareness of vegetarian hot dogs and other meatless fare.

“’My Hot Dog Has a First Name. It’s V-E-G-A-N!’ Oscar Mayer’s delicious new veggie dogs will be served with all the trimmings to members of Congress and their staff on Wednesday during PETA’s 28th Congressional Veggie Dog Lunch — which started as a protest in 1996 but is now a Capitol Hill institution,” the animal rights organization said in a written statement shared with Inside the Beltway.

“In addition to the animal-friendly franks, PETA will hand out free vegan cookbooks, pig plushies, and pig-shaped toys for congressional staffers’ canines,” the group said.

Pig plushies, by the way, are little stuffed animals.

“Oscar Mayer’s vegan hot dogs are as delicious as they are kind to animals, who feel pain and fear just as humans do and don’t deserve to be killed for a fleeting taste,” said Tracy Reiman, PETA executive vice president.

“PETA relishes the opportunity to serve vegan eats to policymakers and encourages people everywhere to leave animals off their plates,” she said.

The group will congregate at the Rayburn House Office Building, and advise they have a “free vegan starter kit” for those interested in going the vegetarian route.

MEANWHILE IN MANHATTAN

Let us briefly visit with the New York Young Republicans Club, established in Manhattan in 191l and the nation’s oldest and largest club for young Republicans. And they know how to socialize.

“Join us for an exciting Tiki Tuesday! Enjoy tropical cocktails with fellow members and network in a lively atmosphere,” the club said in an invitation shared with Inside the Beltway.

But that’s not all. Events scheduled for August include a scholarly talk with two authors, one an attorney, the other a pastor who is also an attorney. Also on the schedule: An “epic day of paintball” at a paintball site in nearby New Jersey.

HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

The National Republican Congressional Committee has revealed the initial list of 26 candidates in the 2024 Young Guns program.

The program mentors candidates in competitive U.S. House races and provides “the necessary tools to run successful, winning campaigns against their Democratic opponents,” according to a committee statement.

Almost all the candidates are challenging Democratic incumbents, and the others are newcomers seeking to hold Republican seats that an incumbent is vacating.

“Extreme House Democrats’ border, crime and cost of living crises wrecked Americans’ safety and security,” said Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina, the NRCC chairman.

“Fortunately, these Republican candidates are already well on their way to running winning campaigns that will grow our House majority in November,” he said.

The program also requires these hopefuls “to work towards specific goals and meet benchmarks throughout the election cycle to ensure their campaigns remain competitive, well-funded and communicative within their districts.”

Who are they? Here’s the list, alphabetically by state: Caroleene Dobson (Alabama); Nancy Dahlstrom (Alaska); Kevin Lincoln, Scott Baugh and Matt Gunderson (California); Jeff Hurd and Gabe Evans (Colorado); George Logan (Connecticut); Joe McGraw (Illinois); Randy Niemeyer (Indiana); Prasanth Reddy (Kansas); Austin Theriault (Maine); Tom Barrett (Michigan); Joe Teirab (Minnesota); John Lee (Nevada); Yvette Herrell (New Mexico); Alison Esposito (New York); Laurie Buckhout (North Carolina); Derek Merrin and Kevin Coughlin (Ohio); Monique DeSpain (Oregon); Ryan Mackenzie, Rob Bresnahan and Rob Mercuri (Pennsylvania); Mayra Flores (Texas) and Derrick Anderson (Virginia).

POLL DU JOUR

• 33% of the “world’s population” say inflation is a key issue facing their country.

• 30% cite crime and violence as a key issue.

• 29% cite poverty and social inequality.

• 28% cite unemployment.

• 26% cite financial or political corruption.

• 23% cite the quality of health care.

• 17% cite climate change.

• 10% cite military conflict between nations.

• 8% cite terrorism.

• 4% cite COVID-19.

SOURCE: An Ipsos Global Advisor poll of 25,520 adults living in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Chile, Colombia,  France, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, the U.S., Thailand and Turkey. The poll was conducted June 21-July 4 and released Monday. Respondents could pick more than one issue.

• Follow Jennifer Harper on X @HarperBulletin, on Facebook @HarperUniverse.