George W. Bush: War Hero

I noticed this story while blogging for Wonkette yesterday, and the magic of distributed intelligence* led me to a follow-up article.

Bill and Georgia Thomas reported they were elated Monday when they met in the Oval Office with President George W. Bush to present him with a Purple Heart.
…
"He said he didn't feel like he had earned it," Thomas said, noting the president looked thinner in person than on television.

Unable to touch his food for weeks, obviously, after that Keith Olbermann monologue slammed into his bunker. The kicker: How the Thomases got their idea.

Thomas said he and his wife came up with the unprecedented idea to present the president with the Purple Heart over breakfast one morning a few months ago as they discussed the verbal attacks, both foreign and domestic, the commander in chief has withstood during his time in office.

"We feel like emotional wounds and scars are as hard to carry as physical wounds," Thomas said.

By that logic, did the Swift Boat ads actually turn John Kerry into Audie Murphy?

*people doing your work for you

Comments

[crimethink]

He said he didn't feel like he had earned it

So, did he immediately run to the Capitol and throw it over the fence?

[Warren]

"We feel like emotional wounds and scars are as hard to carry as physical wounds,"

Wow. That's just... words fail me. So, the Commander in Chief has suffered just like soldiers who've been shot, because he had his feelings hurt over being criticized for getting those soldiers shot. Wow.

[Guy Montag]

He said he didn't feel like he had earned it

That is the same thing I would have said to wacky, but nice, people attempting a nice gesture.

"We feel like emotional wounds and scars are as hard to carry as physical wounds,"

Sounds like their attitudes are a little far Left of what I usually encounter, now that I have stopped hanging out at the Student's Center.

[SugarFree]

I just threw up a bit in my mouth.

I going to find a mint.

[thoreau]

I remember a few years ago when Bush rallies featured people saying things like "Mr. President, how can I pray for you?" and "I just feel like God is in the White House now."

As unbelievably weird as that was, this is even weirder.

Wow.

[JohnD]

Hey Warren, You don't know shit.

This president has be cursed and vilified like no other in my lifetime (I'm 63) by politicians and talking heads that are freaking cowards and traitors.

You don't have to be shot to be injured.

[joe]

In Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, they actually had to operate a system of abductions, concentration camps, and mass murder to get people to behave like this.

Tools.

[R C Dean]

This strikes me as being about on a par with Obama's equivalence of being shot in the head with losing your job.

[Tim]

When the Onion becomes real........

[Bhh]

I hear he verbally abused himself so he could get that medal.

Does seem an odd choice to build a cult of personality around. Maybe it's some sort of christian thing I'm not getting.

[VM]

strange stuff.

strange.

*passes SugarFree some jolt cola chewing gum

[jf]

Let's see, some apparently decent people, doing something they feel is right, and not hurting a single fucking soul.

Yep, let's vilify them.

[shecky]

Let's see, some apparently decent and completely unhinged people, doing something they feel is right, and not hurting a single fucking soul.

Yep, let's vilify them. And laugh at their idiocy.

[JW]

My self-worth is clearly not where it should be as a result of all the meanies in my life.

Where do I go to apply for one of these medals?

[David]

Who's vilifying them? Ridiculing their actions isn't quite the same thing.

[VM]

*slowly backs away from shecky. no sudden movements. feels cold pang of fear upon realizing that the Zagnut is still on the kitchen counter.....*

[abdul]

by this standard, the commenters on the Bill O'Reily post have earned the No-Spinner a congressional Medal of Honor by now.

[joe]

Gee, I wonder if the Thomases have, themselves, been insulted for their Iraq War advocacy.

And consider themselves the equivalent of wounded soldiers for it.

Ah, hell, I'm in. Let's send the lot of 'em to Building 18 at Walter Reid.

[joe]

Since Bush has suffered "verbal attacks" for his handling of Katrina as well, does that mean he gets a FEMA trailer?

[highnumber]

Is JohnD one of those people that tros is always talking about?

[Isaac Bartram]

This president has be[sic] cursed and vilified...

In order to qualify as vilification, I think statements actually have to be untrue.

I don't think GWB has received any more of his share of unfair criticism than LBJ* or Nixon. Or even Reagan, for that matter.

Sounds like your memory is beginning to fail. That's not supposed to happen until your much older than 63.

*Who I personally believe to have been the most despicable person to have ever occupied the office.

[Bhh]

See it's all bunk nowadays, but I used to like how conservatives weren't all about feelings and good intentions.

[thedifferentphil]

John D. said, "This president has be cursed and vilified like no other in my lifetime (I'm 63) by politicians and talking heads that are freaking cowards and traitors."

Let's be honest -this guy has been treated no worse than Nixon or Clinton were during their media low points. As a kid, I remember Nixon was really crucified. Right wingers were literally calling Clinton a murderer (Vince Foster) and a rapist throughout his presidency, criticizing his wife for keeping her last name even before her health care fiasco and military people were "saluting the office, not the man" because of his attempt to allow gay soldiers to not be court marshalled. Remember W. Bush got a 3 year pass after 9/11. People really only started going after him when the war turned south, which was about 13 minute after he declared victory on the aircraft carrier.

[shecky]

The gesture should be extended to chicken hawks who've been wounded in spirit, and subsequently honored for their bravery by getting their own Purple Heart.

[Guy Montag]

Actually, there is another story this morning that fits into this, in a way. According to some 'educators' a ham sandwich is the same thing as being shot at.

"We've got some work to do to turn this around and bring the school community back together again." Said Levesque, "These children have got to learn that ham is not a toy, and that there are consequences for being nonchalant about where you put your sandwich."

"Placing ham where Muslim students were eating as an awful thing," said Stephen Wessler, the executive director of the Center for Prevention of Hate Violence. "It's extraordinarily hurtful and degrading. They probably felt like they were back in Mogadishu starving and being shot at. No child, Muslim or normal, should have to endure touching a ham sandwich."

Money quote from the shilling Mr. Wessler: No child, Muslim or normal, should have to endure touching a ham sandwich.

Now, I can easily see these folks tossing medals at the self-segregating students for being exposed to ham.

If you missed FOX and Friends this AM, when they covered the story, hottie Gretchen Carlson actually ATE ham on TV! She was not "covered" either. Actually wore a (gasp) skirt above the knee!

[SugarFree]

VM,

wowthanksmanthisstuffisgreat

[Some Random Asshole]

"You don't have to be shot to be injured."

What kind of hippy, pissant bullshit is that?

Patton would friggin' slap you with his glove.

[Guy Montag]

Patton would friggin' slap you with his glove.

Or give him a well deserved kick with his little boot.

[Jack]

This just proves we need a new medal for those who've never seen combat in their lives but receive public condemnation for sending boys to die for no good reason. Perhaps a Yellow Heart?

[jimmydageek]

I forwarded the story to my fiance...this is her reply:

what a bunch of bullsh*t
what is this world coming to
are all fat people going to get one too because of the tauting they endured during their lives??????
gimme an f'n break.

God, I love her!

[mediageek]

I have to wonder how many Koolaid-drinking right-wingers will try to justify this, and how long it will take to dig up what they said about John Kerry's Purple Heart.

[Jennifer]

You don't have to be shot to be injured.

What pathetic touchy-feely hippie bullshit is this? Let's give purple hearts to everyone graduating boot camp, for the injuries inflicted when the mean ole drill sergeant yelled at them.

[joe]

"He Said Very Hurtful Things... Then My Shoes Fell Off"

All of those warbloggers who've been proclaiming themselves "soldiers" on a "front" in a "war" for the past five and a half years?

Saul Rosenberg. Every single one of them.

"It was very hurtful."

[David]

I thought it was Sol Rosenberg?

[Lupito41]

An important point is that an individual gave him the medal, not the state. He did not earn a Purple Heart by military standards, and no military gave him one. Laugh at these folks if you want -- I will -- but saying this speaks to a societal equation of taunting and combat injury is really stretching.

[ktc2]

Awful! What a disgrace to give that draft dodging playboy good for nothing coward a purple heart.

[joe]

One more word out of you, David, and I'll fire you down into the yard, you little bastard.

😉

[joe]

'Money quote from the shilling Mr. Wessler: No child, Muslim or normal, should have to endure touching a ham sandwich.'

That's awesome, Guy! LOL.

"Muslim or normal."

"Look, I don't care if you're black, white, Hispanic, or some sort of halfsie..."

[Jennifer]

saying this speaks to a societal equation of taunting and combat injury is really stretching.

Who's saying that? Personally, I'm just saying this speaks to a partisan twit deluded enough to think "If you're on my side of the red/blue divide, being criticized for bad political decisions is just as painful and traumatic as having your goddamned foot shot off. No, really, I sincerely believe this because I'm a delusional tool. But I'd never apply it to my opponents, no no no."

[SugarFree]

Lupito41,

Bush let them in the White House and alerted the press to what was going on. These people are just deluded and high on a finely ground powder of tony Snow's dandruff. Bush is the one making the comparison by talking about it / publicizing it.

This is also another example of the right learning the left's victim game and then playing it better than they have. If retard-Imus shattered the souls of those poor Rutger's "girls" with his mild remark, then a couple of hundred thousand protesters screaming "Bushitler!" surely qualifies as an injury.

[Guy Montag]

I have to wonder how many Koolaid-drinking right-wingers will try to justify this, and how long it will take to dig up what they said about John Kerry's Purple Heart.

As of your post, the only approximation of a "right-winger" here has said it was as stupid as the stuff dopes who live in the Student's Center say and I gave an example of the usual way sillyness like this is expressed by the Left.

Oh, if you read the hame story, you will see how the Leftists handle people being "hurt" by images or words. The "offender" gets suspended from school (or worse).

[thoreau]

When people start believing that rhetorical attacks are just as bad as bullet wounds, doesn't it beg the question of whether they think a violent attack (on an opposing segment of society) would be no worse than saying nasty things?

[Guy Montag]

Oh, if you read the hame story er, make that HAM story.

[Dylan]

get all the warbloggers together and have them slap each other with hot mops. that would be entertaining.

[smartass sob]

Patton would friggin' slap you with his glove.

Or give him a well deserved kick with his little boot.

Ooooh. Patton had little feet? That explains so much about the man.

[jimmydageek]

Free Purple Hearts For Everyone!

Simply print, cut out, and pin to the clothing of some deserving individual.

Know a fattie that's been teased for years? How about a four-eyed, wedgie recipient? Feeling bad for that pimply faced kid down the street? Give him a Purple Heart and make his life better today.

This message brought to you by the Pansy Loving Tree Hugging Hippie Coalition of America.

[Jennifer]

Last year, when Joe got pissed off and called me an inhuman Randroid, that was such a horrifying experience I think he should be prosecuted for it.

You may as well have beaten me, Joe, for all the trauma you caused. Bastard.

[Dylan]

ok to be somewhat serious about this (although it's difficult), thoreau has the best point. equating criticism with actual physical violence is not just a lame and pathetic exercise in self-pity, it's also kind of scary. cuz if being criticized is the same thing as being shot, then why shouldn't a person be able to shoot back?

[joe]

That was very hurtful, Jennifer.

[creech]

Check out the crap given any President at their presidential libraries. His handlers should have thanked them and tossed this undeserved award in the box with the knitted "Savior of Iraq" scarves and "Mission Accomplished" golf club covers. Shame on the President for even touching this medal.

[Jon H]

So how much money have these people contributed to the GOP?

Does Bush have any inkling how badly he just burned EVERY SINGLE WOUNDED SOLDIER, EVER, for the sake of the feelings of these asshats?

I'm guessing not. The man has no shame. I suspect he would have accepted it even if that Marine with the melted face had been watching over the abhorrent exchange.

The right thing to do would be to DECLINE the offer BY MAIL and not have the fools in to the White House, which only grants their gesture even more legitimacy.

Send the idiots a signed 8x10" glossy, say "Thanks, but no thanks, the troops suffer actual wounds and don't earn $400k a year like I do" and be done with it.

[mediageek]

Honestly, how can this not be considered anything less than an insult to every soldier who's ever taken a bullet on a battlefield?

How did these nutters get into the oval office in the first place?

Who thought this was a good idea?

[jimmydageek]

If I were a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, I would compose a letter, signed by other members of the same opinion, stating what a deplorable act this is. Then I would send it to the prez and the media.

[Jennifer]

That was very hurtful, Jennifer.

Exactly my point, O Randroid Caller. So where's my purple heart?

[Jon H]

"If I were a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, I would compose a letter, signed by other members of the same opinion, stating what a deplorable act this is. Then I would send it to the prez and the media."

If I were not a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, which I'm not, I'd go to their Contact page and suggest this to them.

[Guy Montag]

Then I would send it to the prez and the media.

The president is the person who said he did not earn it. How about sending it to the media and the people who presented it to him?

Make a copy for the Easter Bunny too.

[jimmydageek]

Jon H,

I was thinking of doing so. Had actually started to fill out a contact form. However, I figured it's really not my place to try to push my opinions onto them 🙂

If anybody else wishes to do so, fine by me...

[Jon H]

"So, did he immediately run to the Capitol and throw it over the fence?"

Isn't that effectively what Thomas did at the White House? Only since he was sucking up, not protesting, he was invited inside.

[jimmydageek]

Guy,

Yes, the prez said he did not earn it, but he still let them come to the Oval Office and put on this public display. What a spineless bastard.

[mediageek]

"The president is the person who said he did not earn it."

Doesn't matter. Somebody on his staff thought this would be a good idea, and actually invited these idiots into the White House, instead of sending them a gently worded letter that amounts to "piss off" back when they first approached them with the idea.

[dhex]

"This president has be cursed and vilified like no other in my lifetime (I'm 63) by politicians and talking heads that are freaking cowards and traitors.

You don't have to be shot to be injured."

ok chalupa's right and therapy culture has taken over. i surrender!

no, wait...you're both fucking nuts.

[joe]

"The president is the person who said he did not earn it."

After inviting them to the White House, greeting them in the Oval Office, and accepting it in front of the journalists and photographers we brought in to cover the event.

'"Congressman Carter called me last week and said the President was very moved by it, and would like us to present it in person," Thomas said.'

What a stand-up guy.

[Guy Montag]

Doesn't matter.

Of course it doesn't because it is an opportunity to bash Bush with the acts of others and being polite.

[thoreau]

Yeah, I am surprised that nobody sent a letter along the lines of "Dear Sir, We deeply appreciate your kind gesture, but we respect your service far too much to accept the medal that you bravely earned. We believe that the most appropriate bearer of this medal is you. Again, thank you for your good wishes, and thank you for your service."

It would have been an easy letter for an assistant to write.

[joe]

Did they give him the little chest insignia that goes with it, so he can wear it on his flight suit?

[Jennifer]

Of course it doesn't because it is an opportunity to bash Bush with the acts of others

No, we're bashing Bush for using the acts of others to put on a display of false modesty. "What, giving a purple heart to li'l ole me? Pshaw! I don't deserve it!... no, wait, let me say that again. With Camera One pulling in for a close-up on my face. MAKEUP! My nose looked a little too shiny in that take. All right, from the top: What, giving a purple heart to li'l ole me? Pshaw! I don't deserve it."

[Guy Montag]

So, how long before that middle school kid is institutionalized for leaving a ham sandwich on a table? Apparently THAT counts as being shot at for real, per his school administration.

[Guy Montag]

Jennifer,

Do you have a link for that? The only one I can find is John Edwards primping his hair.

[aaron]

Honestly, how can this not be considered anything less than an insult to every soldier who's ever taken a bullet on a battlefield?

Apparently it's an insult not to the guy who presented it to Bush. According to the article, he has three himself.

[joe]

Guy Montag does more "Hey look over there" before 9 AM than most people do all day.

[Jennifer]

The only one I can find is John Edwards primping his hair.

And if Edwards, with faux modesty, made a big deal of turning down the purple heart a supporter offered him after he got hairspray in his eye, his hairstyle might actually have something to do with the topic of this thread, rather than be another red herring you toss into the pool.

[Dylan]

wait. i'm almost totally awake at this point, but that ham sandwich article was a joke, right? if it wasn't, i should just go back to bed for the next several years.

[Lupito41]

(almost) All,

Your comments have been convincing. Bush's team should not have allowed this to happen.

[swillfredo pareto]

You don't have to be shot to be injured.

To earn the Purple Heart it helps. The man has no business having one. At best he deserves the Frank Burns Purple Earring.

decent people, doing something they feel is right, and not hurting a single fucking soul.

It is extremely disrespectful to the people who actually earned one. According to Wikipedia it is supposed to be awarded in the name of the President, not to him. Check the criteria to earn one. Also how not to earn one.

[jimmydageek]

Great picture of the prez recounting a heroic battle HERE.

Enjoy!

[thoreau]

Now, to be fair, it's entirely possible that the President had little say in this. It could be one of those things where somebody else is in charge of the photo ops, and one morning he looks at his schedule and says "Hey, why am I scheduled for this photo op? This doesn't seem like the greatest idea." And the publicity team says "Look, the guy is already on his way, the press is on its way, and sending them away would probably create a bigger stir than just graciously accepting it and shaking his hand and moving on."

So he does it, feeling kind of awkward, and then moves on.

I really doubt that Presidents are all that involved in planning these sorts of things.

Yeah, I know, the guy was told that the President wanted to see him, but I assume that the PR people who handle these things say that to everybody that they book.

[Jon H]

"Apparently it's an insult not to the guy who presented it to Bush. According to the article, he has three himself."

As the GOP taught us in 2004, they were probably trumped up or self-inflicted. No quality control on the darn things, any old person can get one for the merest scratch if they can get a buddy to fill in the forms.

[baba]

HI here is a young boy from tanzania
I would like to use this opportunities just to send my comment on your site
First of all I would like to say I have been viewing several speechs of president bush what I found in his speech was only rubish nothing good first I would like to declare this statement to the world that President George W Bush is a terrorist he is the main causes of all conflict all over the world before go far I would like to say one thing that personaly I know where Mr Osama binladen is and I always use much time to talk with him and now I would like to tell you that mr osama doesn't want to revange but what he need is only piece of mind and what personal i need to tell you bush is that your nothing under this world you always need to hit people of iraq now look the condition over there it is too bad what cant you shoot your doughters and sons
I hate you very much your like chamilion animal what you did at iran was fullish now take care dont force mr osama to revange

[joe]

thoreau's speculation sounds entirely plausible. Now here's the question: would Ronald Reagan, John Kerry, John McCain or Al Gore employ political advisors who would have thought this was a good idea?

The Buck Stops at Karl's Desk.

[lunchstealer]

Sounds like your memory is beginning to fail. That's not supposed to happen until your much older than 63.

Maybe he's taken one too many blunt-force insult to the head in all his verbal boxing matches, over the years. Especially if that's the jab he's got with his right. Intellectual southpaws like joe could eat him for lunch.

[Dylan]

well, someone in reagan's entourage seemed to think it was a good idea for him to lay wreaths on nazi graves.

[highnumber]

baba,

You could have shortened that to "BUSHITLER!"

[jimmydageek]

Joe, you pretty much took the words outta my mouth.

T has a good point, but in the end, any employee actions always reflect on the boss. As is the case with most of the administration, this was a total fuck up.

[jimmydageek]

highnumber...yoo da man!

[Jon H]

Can any of you even imagine the response from Big Wingnut if Clinton had accepted a veteran's Purple Heart during, say, the impeachment?

[jf]

thoreau's speculation sounds entirely plausible. Now here's the question: would Ronald Reagan, John Kerry, John McCain or Al Gore employ political advisors who would have thought this was a good idea?

http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2004/07/28/politics/28points2_ready.html

[BakedPenguin]

That a war vet has a right to do whatever he (or she) wants with his medals is a given, but even with the likely assumption this photo op was organized by staff, how could they possibly have thought this was a good idea? Who do they think this could possibly appeal to?

[David]

jf,

How is that supposed to be comparable? Sure, Kerry looks like a tool in that get-up, but I don't see the relevance.

[P Brooks]

If he's not wounded, what made him a lame duck?

[highnumber]

JIMMMMMMMMMYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!

Hi, how are you?

[jf]

David,

Sometimes handlers don't think things through before agreeing to have their politician do something. I'm sure I could find a Reagan, McCain, and Gore example but the Kerry one was the first to pop into my head.

Oh yeah, like someone else said, Reagan's trip to Bitburg was not exactly the best idea ever.

[jimmydageek]

P Brooks | April 24, 2007, 12:24pm | #

If he's not wounded, what made him a lame duck?

I think that was his dad's vice prez...

....wait for it.....

...wait for it.....

....Dan Quail [sic]

Thank you. Thank you. You're too kind...

[Happy Jack]

Ah, hell, I'm in. Let's send the lot of 'em to Building 18 at Walter Reid.

Sadist. That sounds like mental waterboarding.

[Guy Montag]

wait. i'm almost totally awake at this point, but that ham sandwich article was a joke, right? if it wasn't, i should just go back to bed for the next several years.

Nope and both Brian Kilmead and I thought it was an Onion story at first.

[Brian Sorgatz]

Laura couldn't wait to see her husband with his purple heart on. What better place for it than a Bush?

[lf]

These people did a pretty unselfish, not well thought-out gesture. The Pres. doesn't plan these events, he has people who plan those things - they should have stopped this one. He probably didn't know exactly what to do at the time. He's got tough skin - these criticisms don't phase him, I assure you, and he's undaunted by them - much less hurt by them. He's a stubborn hard-ass - he doesn't care what his opponents think, and it's hard for him to admit when he's wrong. But to blame him for this event is stupid. It should have been stopped before it happened, in light of the political climate, and he shouldn't have accepted it. Bush-bashing is the popular thing to do right now, for those intellectually boring members of our society, so he should have known he would get drilled for this.

[GILMORE]

aw, pwesident has a booby! Did the mean people say baaad things?

Jesus fucking shit on a stick. This fucking chicken hawk cheapskates the medical care of people who have serious brain injuries and are left to rot in moldy rooms, while he does photo ops in the white house, accepting *medals*???

I'm amazed this wasnt more replayed than "Mission Accomplished". It's disgraceful. My dad threw away his purple heart from nam because he was ashamed he'd never fired a shot. (he was staff lawyer - they gave everyone who did a tour a PH, more or less AFAIK)

[thoreau]

lf-

Yeah, I gotta give the benefit of the doubt and assume that somebody who handles the photo ops fumbled this one.

Whatever one thinks about any particular President, I'll bet that the photo ops get to be a real pain.

Imagine you're standing in the office, saying goodbye to the delegation from the Association of Peruvian Textile Makers exits. (And struggling to remember that under the protocols he can only say that he "Enjoyed" their visit but not "Greatly enjoyed", lest the Textile Attache from the Indian Embassy get all huffy about cashmere tariffs.)

And then your assistant whispers into your ear "The next visitor is here to give you his Purple Heart." "What?!?" you whisper as loudly as you can. "This was arranged by his Congressman. The guy really admires you," the assistant replies. "Um, I don't think I should be taking that medal from him," you whisper. "He's here, the press is here, and the Congressman's here. If you don't take it he'll be offended and it will make a bigger splash in the media. Just do it!" So you do it, and you feel awkward.

And then you wave goodbye and prepare to smile and greet a delegation of Turkish athletes in the US for some sort of tournament, remembering that under the protocols you can wish them "Good luck" but you can't say "I hope you win tomorrow," lest the Greek ambassador send an angry letter....

[GILMORE]

word to that (thoreau)

but seriously, this is again a competence question. He could have gracefully handled and explained his refusal to accept as unworthy of the efforts of the troops, god bless the troops, the troooooops. They are his deflector shield for everything.

[GILMORE]

Baba (O'reilly?) says =

"I hate you very much your like chamilion animal"

Hey! Thanks for the input.

So, since you're from Tanzania, maybe you can explain why anyone wanted to bomb the US Embassy in Dar es Salaam in 1998?

I mean, ("big evil") Bush wasnt even around then. In those days we had a guy who wanted (in theory) to intervene to help africans. At least until they dragged naked bodies of our troops around the streets.

Point being, what was your beef pre-Bush?

Good luck getting your electricity working, BTW.

[highnumber]

...they gave everyone who did a tour a PH, more or less AFAIK

My pappy got his for being shot in the leg. (Now permanently 1/8" shorter than the other.)

[josephdietrich]

He [Bush] said he didn't feel like he had earned it

That is the same thing I would have said to wacky, but nice, people attempting a nice gesture.

I don't think I would have said "I don't feel like I've earned it" but rather "I haven't earned this." Qualifying it like he did sounds like fake modesty: "Gosh, I don't feel like a hero, but sure, I'll accept the award anyway!"

This Administration seems to have a preternatural ability to make medals meaningless. First the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and now the Purple Heart.

[TrickyVic]

Is this becoming the new version of "sticks and stones"?

Stick and stone will break my bone, but words will hurt me more.

[TrickyVic]

"""This Administration seems to have a preternatural ability to make medals meaningless. First the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and now the Purple Heart."""

Should the Silver Star to that list since Tillman was given one for dying by friendly fire?

[TrickyVic]

"""This president has be cursed and vilified like no other in my lifetime (I'm 63) by politicians and talking heads that are freaking cowards and traitors.""""

Politicians such as Muthra who served his country in the Military for more time than Bush, Cheney, Feith, Wolfowitz, and Rumsfeld combined. A man willing to stand up for what he believes is right regardless of name calling. You call him a coward? If a 37 year vet is a coward, then who isn't?

You don't find it cowardly to get FIVE deferments to avoid fighting for this country in Vietnam?

Many of the people critizing the President have more active military experince than the President and Vice-President put together.

[jf]

Politicians such as Muthra who served his country in the Military

I believe he was eventually taken down by Godzilla.

[Gray Ghost]

Should the Silver Star [be added] to that list since Tillman was given one for dying by friendly fire?

I don't know. I wasn't there. Charging what you think is enemy fire, only to get shot by your own, seems heroic and tragic. I don't know if that by itself equals a posthumous Silver Star.

While we're re-evaluating this Administration's criteria for medals, we can look at the Jessica Lynch case and add her Bronze Star to that list.

[Guy Montag]

josephdietrich,

English language freaks need to be watched closely so that we do not have another Virginia Tech.

[Stevo Darkly]

Okay. For some reason I didn't get around to reading this thread until now, and I haven't actually read the comments yet, but Jesus Fucking Christ.

"We feel like emotional wounds and scars are as hard to carry as physical wounds,"

This is worse than Obama calling nonviolence "violence" last week. Now nonwounds and nonscars are the equivalent of wounds and scars. What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck?

Now I'm off to actually read the thread.

/rapes and brutalizes pebble

[Jon H]

Thoreau writes: "Yeah, I gotta give the benefit of the doubt and assume that somebody who handles the photo ops fumbled this one."

I might give that more creedence if Laura Bush didn't say in a Today show interview that she and George have suffered more than anyone in this war.

[Stevo Darkly]

Politicians such as Muthra who served his country in the Military

"I believe he was eventually taken down by Godzilla."

jf, I kiss your hairy feet. The memory of this line made me LOL twice on the way home last night.