It was too DAMN easy!

[Gimpy]

George W. Bush could have served his country in Vietnam, if he had really wanted to. Nothing indicates the military was turning away able bodied and willing people at that time. Instead the President shirked his generational duties, and hid out in the National Guard.......for awhile anyway. Then he decided to shirk his duties there as well, and simply stopped attending monthly meetings or taking his required pilot's physical. Dick Cheney too, could have served his country during the Vietnam War, but preferred requesting and receiving five deferments. As a matter of fact, there are a lot of pro-war "New" Republicans today that could have served the United States during Vietnam and other wars, but managed to avoid it.

People like Bush, Cheney, DeLay, Hastert and Frist make it all seem so easy now, to be fanatically supportive of war. Now, that it isn't their life or their children's lives on the line - it is just all too damn easy for them. They don't know what it's like to be eighteen or nineteen years old, laying awake at night looking up at the open sky and stars, and wondering if they will still be alive at the same time the following evening. Too many of these "New" Republicans don't have a freakin a clue what it's like at such a young age, to wonder if they'll ever see their parents, friends, and loved ones again. They don't know the feeling of coming home on leave, and listening to the talk and rumors of war coming, and having to watch their mother sob, and all she will say is, "I don't want you to die." Never having faced such difficult questions and situations so early in life, or in Bush and Cheney's case; never having had to confront that harsh reality, probably makes war all the more easy for them. Too damn easy!


Of course, neither Bush, Cheney, Hastert, or most of the "New" Republican Johnny-Come-Lately pro-war fanatics; has ever had to stay up every night, unable to sleep for worrying about whether or not their children will be alive when morning comes. They've never had to bury their children either. Never having had to confront such a harsh reality probably makes war easy. Too damn easy!


Then again, perhaps, it is because people like Bush and Cheney never bothered, when it was their turn to 'Saddle Up' and lace up the boots, that it is so easy for them to pervert the meaning of words like "Liberty," or "Patriotism," or "Sacrifice," or "Honor," and "Valor." For them, such words have no real meaning. For them, such things are merely a game they play, so they can better manipulate public opinion.


When it gets right down to brass tacks Bush, Cheney, and today's "New" Republicans in general, really don't understand very much about America, and why people are willing to die for this country. They don't realize that it really is about the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and most of all, your 'Brother' or 'Sister' standing beside you. Probably because so few of them and their supporters have served their county, they absurdly believe people die "for their leaders".


Whether Bush and Cheney will ever have the courage to admit it or not, they lied this nation into this war in Iraq, and in the process placed nationalism above patriotism. In order to get us into this war they shredded, gutted, disgraced, and almost destroyed the Constitution. All this they've done, and in so the doing they've shamed the country and soiled the image represented by our flag.


Bush, Cheney, and many of today's "New" Republicans are/were the first to avoid military service; first to wrap themselves in that flag; first to hide behind the sacrifices of the "troops" who continue to die and get terribly injured for their mistakes(s) in judgement; and above all else, first to besmirch those that actually served America with 'honor' and 'valor'.


Bush and Cheney, two men who didn't think enough of our military men and women to actually serve with them when it was their turn............ today, because it just might serve their political ambitions (or to try and salvage their political asses!), are the first to invoke them as justification for continuing the mismangement of this ill prepared for war.


For Bush, Cheney and these "New" Republicans, it has always been easy to cheapen the sacrifice and service of others. They've done it with people from Max Cleland to John Kerry and even one of their own, John McCain. And for what did they belittle and demean the true and valiant service of others? Service rendered to nation, which neither Bush, Cheney or many "New" Republicans were willing to endure? In the name of what goal were these men dishonored? For the contemptible political power and glory of Bush, Cheney, and the "New" Republican Party!


It is no secret that the overwhelming majority of American people now believe Bush and Cheney brought this nation to war under less than honest pretense. Why wouldn't the electorate feel lied to and cheated? Aren't Bush, Cheney, and today's "New" Republicans willing, able, and capable of endangering national security by outing an undercover CIA agent; and then just as willing to lie to cover up their nefarious deed, so they can gain politically? Why then wouldn't they be willing to lie about matters all the more grave, like war?


Bush and Cheney, with a lot of help from their accomplices in the "New" Republican congress, have deceived the people into this conflict. Then, once they'd gotten the war they so badly desired, they've bungled the management and execution of it beyond imagination. The result has been unquestionably the weakening of our nation's military, our national security and defense. Our military is stretched too thin. Men and women are serving perpetual duties in combat zones without adequate equipment, and with other equipment in near disrepair. If there were to be a true threat to America's overal safety and security, the country would be ill prepared to properly respond (remember Katrina???).


The American people have been disgraced, shamed, and scarred by Bush, Cheney, and today's "New" Republican Party. The military has been used as a political pawn, and nearly driven to the brink of collapse. All of this has been done by Bush and Cheney and their "New" breed of Republicans, not in the name of protecting the country; the constitution; our way of life; or even the people.


It has been done for cheap political gain. The American people see that now, and even members of congress that at first fully supported the Bush-Cheney military objectives and ideals; they too finally, recognize the reality. Men like John Murtha that served in Vietnam; earned a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts; served 37 years in the Marine Corps Reserves and rose to the rank of Colonel. A man too, who had fully supported the Iraq War at first, he has come to see what is happening, and spoken out.


Bush, Cheney and Republicans of course, took no heed of this real warrior's admonishments. Didn't bother to inquire about why such a man would change his mind. Didn't pause for a moment to ask what the professional pro-war war "avoiders" could, or should be doing to make the current mission successful. No, they simply, immediately and as usual assaulted Colonel Murtha by their regular "bashing" methods.


Colonel Murtha, God bless him, for his part fired back, "I like guys who've never been there that criticize us who've been there. I like that. I like guys who got five deferments and never been there and send people to war, and then don't like to hear suggestions about what needs to be done."


For Bush, Cheney and many in today's "New" Republican Party, sending others to fight and die in wars birthed out of their lies and deception was just too damn easy!


They don't want to hear suggestions about how to fix the disaster they've created, they just want to campaign in hopes of re-convincing the American people to vote Republican again, in 2006. As Harry Reid said, "We're at war. We need a Commander in Chief, not a Campaigner in Chief. We need leadership from the White House, not more white-washing of the very serious issues confronting us in Iraq."


Don't expect Bush, Cheney, and today's Republicans to provide that leadership. They'll just continue to hide behind the "troops," and "the flag" and in five years time, when those troops fortunate enough to survive this war may decide to run against a "New" Republican for a seat in the House, Senate, or even to be President; these 'New' Republicans will dissemble and disgrace their service too. For Bush, Cheney, and today's "New" Republicans, war is and was just too damn easy, and serving too damn much to ask!


The Bush/Cheney "Credo", ............"No sacrifice is too great for others to make"

[catman]

Gimp...if you post the same story over and over on different threads does it make it true?

As to YOU saying that ...... "Bush, Cheney, and many of today's "New" Republicans are/were the first to avoid military service; first to wrap themselves in that flag; first to hide behind the sacrifices of the "troops" who continue to die and get terribly injured for their mistakes(s)" .....

The first one that comes to my mind would be none other than John Wayne and his actions, or lack there of, during WWII.

The second would would be none other than Bill Clinton.

You see when you go to another's yard and complain about how messy it is, you must first make sure that your's is clean.

Trav

[Gimpy]

Originally posted by catman Gimp...if you post the same story over and over on different threads does it make it true?

As to YOU saying that ...... "Bush, Cheney, and many of today's "New" Republicans are/were the first to avoid military service; first to wrap themselves in that flag; first to hide behind the sacrifices of the "troops" who continue to die and get terribly injured for their mistakes(s)" .....

The first one that comes to my mind would be none other than John Wayne and his actions, or lack there of, during WWII.

The second would would be none other than Bill Clinton.

You see when you go to another's yard and complain about how messy it is, you must first make sure that your's is clean.

Trav

I've been out all day and couldn't get to my computor to answer you. Been at the VA hospital all day (4 doctors appointments-----JEEEE--USSSS, what a day!!!)

I was speaking 'metaphorically' Trav!

Using an analogy or figure of speech that suggests these two guys would be guilty of the 'items' or 'charges' I was speaking of.

Hell man, I am acutely aware that MANY, MANY folks before THESE two were 'guilty' of the same behavior, if not possibly worse.

That does NOT however change the F-A-C-T that THEY are as well, and since "they' are still in 'office' are much more 'relevant' to the 'situation' at hand.