Bush Has Not Attended Even One Funeral Of A U.S. Soldier Killed In Iraq

[NNN0LHI]

Just reported on Buchanan and Press and the guest who was on admitted that if Al Gore or Bill Clinton had done the same that there would be a firestorm in the American press because of it. But Bush hits two fund raisers today and no one says anything.

Don

[robbedvoter]

1. In all fairness: he's on vacation. All that golfing and brush clearing

take a lot of energy.

[kainah]

3. well, yes, robbedvoter

but the sad fact is that our soldiers were dying long before his vacation and it looks as if they will be dying long after.

And btw, Don, that commentator on Buchanan & Press who said Clinton would be crucified for doing this was Joe Galloway, author of "We Were Soldiers Once..." (I think that's the title.) Edited to add: He also wrote that excellent article yesterday or the day before about all the wounded soldiers at Walter Reed. (Sorry I don't have the link. Search Galloway on DU and it should kick up.)

[saigon68]

33. THEY ARE DYING FOR OIL

Their families (some of them see through this shit) are angry.
He wouldn't dare go because someone might call him a

SMIRKING OIL CHIMPANZEE !!!!

[RedEarth]

32. Really a moving picture robbedvoter.....thanks....nt

[Hobarticus]

2. Disgusting...Commander in Chief, my ass!

He's there for a shiny photo op, but nothing to honor a true sacrifice. Fucking evil SOB.

[alcuno]

4. I wonder if he has ever called the family of a dead soldier or

marine to offer his condolences. THAT would be the very least he could do.

[alcuno]

23. Since he is in Texas, perhaps he could visit one of the 24 families

there who have lost sons and fathers in Iraq.

[Pepperbelly]

34. he would view it as a photo op ...

:grr:

[nostamj]

5. who's going to do this button/bumpersticker/sign ???

NOT
ONE
HUG
he hates you!

on edit: formatting

[osaMABUSh]

6. He has to 'downplay' the significance of a GI death

On one hand he has to pretend compassion for all soldiers that are killed on the other hand he can't make a 'big deal' about and run off and attend several funerals. He must might it look like losing a couple of hundred GIs is the sacrifice we have to pay on the 'war on terra' but not so much that Americans feel like this is another 'Nam.

I was listening to PigBoy (Limbaugh) today (a once in a month event for me) and he tried to compare the number of deaths in Iraq with 'Nam or Korea and basically said it was a drop in the bucket. Exactly what * truly thinks, I believe.

[Ernesto]

7. And why should he?

Broke dick soldiers ain't got enough dough to attend a $2000 a plate luncheon! They're workin' trash, after all.

[atreides1]

11. You Are Correct

Broken soldiers who will get little if any benefits don't have $2000
to pay for a plate of chicken fingers. Only American Legion betrayers
of other veterans have that kind of money.

What a bunch of boot licking, ass sucking clowns.

[koopie57]

31. corn dogs....

in Minnesota those dumbasses paid $2000 for corn dogs. But then, it is sort of appropriate for them to be sucking on wieners, and as an added surprise a stick for up their asses.




Uhm...I actually like a tasty corn dog though ....

[JackSwift]

8. Bush is afraid to do his job

He should be attending at least one a month. He is a disgusting sniveling coward.

[MsChiff]

21. Perhaps the bereaved have made it known to the White House...

that his presence at services are not welcome. Wouldn't be the first time that's happened. :evilfrown: If I had the misfortune of losing one who was close to my heart in this evil adventure, that primate would befoul the memorial services over my dead body.

:grr:

[gratuitous]

9. You saying that Lil George should go somewhere?

Lil George? Go somewhere where he's not the center of attention? With a crowd of people who haven't been hand-selected and screened beforehand?

Why do you hate America so much?

[NNN0LHI]

10. I don't know what came over me? n/t

[gratuitous]

12. All's forgiven this time

But watch yourself! Crisco Johnny may not be in such an indulgent mood next time . . .

:evilgrin:

[ferg]

13. Bush responsible "to hug"

There's only one person who is responsible for making that decision , and that's me. And there's only one person who hugs the mothers and the widows, the wives and the kids on the death of their loved ones. Others hug, but having committed the troops, I've got an additional responsibility to hug, and that's me, and I know what it's like.

-- GWB to Barbara Walters, ABC "20/20," 12/13/02.

[MaineDem]

14. He is a lying POS!

How dare he dishonor the war dead like he has. He is one sorry excuse for a compassionate anything!

[susu369]

24. If he were "to hug" it would probably cause

him to whistle ass from the pressure.

[David Zephyr]

15. Unbelievable. What a Coward! We Need a Link.

I hope we can get this in a printed story form so that it can be e-mailed aroundt the country.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Don! :hi:

[NNN0LHI]

17. I will post the MSNBC transcript as soon as it is available

Probably tomorrow? And you are welcome.

Don

[David Zephyr]

26. Thanks!

This is quite a story. The American people need to know this about the AWOL punk who likes to wear his flight jacket and play G.I. Joe with the boys.

[dArKeR]

16. Firestorm in GOP Whore Media when Hillary didn't attend 9/11 funerals

They called her an unpatriotic witch. But as usual the scum lying immoral Repukes spin it until the 'sheeple' are confused.

1. HIllary did not order a war which lead to those citizens deaths.
2. Remember the time, people didn't know if another terrorist attack was 2 seconds away. Hillary being at the funeral could make the funeral a target.
3. Hillary didn't want to bring a swarm of (scum sucking lying GOP Media Whore) 'disruption' to the funerals.
4. Guiliani cared nothing about the families. He went to the funerals for PR work so he could use the media hype to launch a Senate or Governor run next election.
5. On the truth and moral side of the spin; Junior has a moral responsibility to attend some funerals because he ordered these children to war and their deaths.
6. Junior had/has a moral responsibility to take care Ali, and the other Iraqi children who lost limbs in US bombings and fire fights. Why are those children being sent to England? ANSWER: because Junior and Rove are more concerned about PR rating points to keep themselves in power. Talk about CHRISTIAN MORALITY? They've turned their backs on our children and limbless children for the thirst of Blood Satanic Power.

http://darkerxdarker.tripod.com/

[Pert_UK]

18. This is unbelievable, but to be fair to Bush.......

Would you go to a funeral where everybody there thought that you had been the direct cause of a tragic death through an unnecessary, under-supported, unjustifiable war?

Of COURSE Bush should be attending, but can you imagine the impact of a family refusing to shake his hand or even publicly criticising him at the funeral?

Maybe he's offered and families have told him to blow it out of his whistle-ass, God knows I would if he'd killed my brother for oil.

P.

[NNN0LHI]

27. I am afraid you may have missed the point here?

The point is that though you are technically correct, the Republican owned media here in America led by FOX news would have not looked at this with the logic that you have shown if Gore or Clinton would have been president right now. The press would have keelhauled either of them over this. They would have questioned them until they had to give an uncomfortable answer. But for Bush all is different. Know what I mean?

Don

[Pert_UK]

28. No, I didn't miss the point, but thanks!

I was explaining the very sensible reasons why Bush wouldn't want to attend one of the funerals. I didn't say I agreed with them.

I totally agree that the media would crucify (possibly literally) a Democrat who failed in their duty in such a public way.

"The fact that you are addicted to heroin explains your actions but it does not excuse them" - Trainspotting.

P.

[MsLeopard]

30. WhistleAss and Sympathy?

Perhaps he cannot be allowed to go to a memorial service, a real one with real dead soldiers, because he's so completely void of human compassion he could never carry it off. His handlers know that. You can't trust the guy in a real situation. He'll say something like "Bring em on" or "I know what it's like to put food on your family." He cannot be trusted to attempt fake compassion without scripts.

[aquart]

36. Nonsense. He's a remarkably popular president.

His minions say so. Therefore, he has no fear of going among the people who love him so well.

Right?

[Llewlladdwr]

47. Or perhaps you did.

I best as I remember the press never once addressed the issue of Clinton failing to attend the funeral of any sevicemember who died on his watch. And a number of them did. Look, this is a game both sides can play. Try to turn this into an issue and it could turn as ugly as the Nazi/MEChA thing over in Cali.

[kainah]

51. Clinton went to Dover AFB when caskets came home

I remember seeing him and Hillary do it. I will admit that I don't remember on what occasion, but I do remember the pictures. I do accept that it would be hard for * to choose a funeral. How do you explain that you're going to this one, but not that? That, I believe, is exactly why all the other presidents go to Dover AFB to see the caskets coming home. * has also not done that. He's a callous, cold man.

[Llewlladdwr]

52. But stuck in the same position with this.

How do you explain how these dead were fit to welcome home, but not those? A President, any President, has to be above apart from that.

[MUAD_DIB]

19. AWOL on his duties yet again.

He only visits the soldiers that are on U.S. soil.
They can be ordered to look adoringly at him.

I'd like to see him go one round of just Q&A with the troopers in Iraq. They would eat him for lunch.

[otohara]

20. AWOL Perfect Description Of

a man who cares not about life. But he has the nerve to call himself a christian.

[IggleDoer]

22. "Bring em on"

n/t

[realFedUp]

25. I'm sure Rove will pencil that in now...

.

[Llewlladdwr]

29. Anyone here ever been in the Military?

Look, there's no way Bush or any other President can attend the funeral of a servicemember killed in action. Not unless he intends to be at every funeral for every single soldier, sailor, or airman that dies. It's not like you can just pick a funeral at random and say "Okay, I'll hit that one." It would be a HUGE insult to the family of everyone else who gave their life not to mention to all the other branches whose dead weren't similarly honored. A President cannot show or even appear to show any favoritism in a matter like this. The only way a President can honor the dead from a war is to wait until the conflict is done and then hold one big ceremony honoring all the dead simultaneously. This is a non-issue.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

35. Bullshit

This is not a non-issue, as much as you may like it to be. This AWOL piece of crap sent these people to their deaths, along with tens of thousands of Iraqis. When he plays round after round of golf on yet another freaking month-long vacation while the rest of us lose jobs or go to war to be killed, well, that's just one step too far.

Your president is lower than dogshit. He's worthless garbage, and anyone who defends him is the same. Got that?


Edited to add: yes, I've been in the military. What does that have to do with this soulless sociopathic murdering fuck?

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[alcuno]

37. I come from a family that has served and died for this country.

And I disagree. The author of "We were soldiers" was on tonight and he said that attending just one funeral could be symbolic. I haven't heard anyone say that they have received a phone call from the president to express his condolences. I don't think I've ever even heard him express any sorrow for the deaths and injuries.

Remember, this president said before the war began that he would be the one who would have to hug the families of the dead. It sounded so compassionate. Sounded is all it was.

[NNN0LHI]

38. Here is the quote thanks to ferg

There's only one person who is responsible for making that decision , and that's me. And there's only one person who hugs the mothers and the widows, the wives and the kids on the death of their loved ones. Others hug, but having committed the troops, I've got an additional responsibility to hug, and that's me, and I know what it's like.

-- GWB to Barbara Walters, ABC "20/20," 12/13/02.

[catzies]

40. Flash forward: "It's been another fabulous year for Pickles and me,"

he'll say on THIS year's Barbara Walters' Christmas Special.

[David Zephyr]

42. Thanks to Ferg and NNNOLHI

Unbelievable.

[Llewlladdwr]

41. As do I.

I've served over 16 years myself. And I respectfully disagree. Explain to me alcuno, how could a President attend the funeral of only one dead soldier without it being a slap in the face to the family of every other dead soldier? He couldn't, it would be foolish to try. A President has to honor all the dead equally. The services will take care of their own dead, just as they always have, just as it should be.

[Mackay]

43. illogical

According to your logic, it would therefore be unfair for the president to speak with one teacher in a school in a district or state, or to speak to one family of farmers because then it would be unfair to the rest.

The point is if the president didn't speak at any schools or to any farmers, it would be a pretty clear indication that he didn't give a shit about either schools or farmers.

This isn't a non-issue because it shows that Bush doesn't give a shit about servicemen at a personal level. They are pawns for corporate imperialism and photo-ops.

[Llewlladdwr]

45. I think there's a bit of difference...

between speaking to someone who's still alive and attending the funeral of someone who died in service to his country, at your command. What's illogical is that you don't see what an insult it would be to all the others who died, intended or not. That's exactly why Clinton never attended any Military funerals either. The only reason to attend a funeral of someone you don't know personally is to honor the deceased. What makes any particular one of these soldier's more worthy of that than the others?

[TolstoyAndy]

55. alcuno said it: "symbolic"

The reason he should go to one of these funerals is that he can say he is there to show respect and honor this individual (whose life he had no respect for) _and_ all other such individuals. He can talk to people and make that clear.

(wait I didn't just say he could make it clear did I? must be getting late)

This wouldn't be a sign of disrespect to all the others - it would be (orchestrated) as a sign of respect, imho. On Veterans' Day, do all vets parade? Do we individually congratulate every single family of a dead serviceperson on Memorial Day? No - these are _symbolic_ holidays on which we _collectively_ honor the sacrifices. I think most families would understand that he can't go to every one.

The fact that this orchestration has not taken place indicates to me the likely truth lies in what others have said here:
- families don't want to see his monkey ass on their worst day ever
- Rove knows he would fuck it up and expose himself as the dry husk of a soulless ape (sorry apes) without the compassion god gave a cat

Now, don't get me wrong - I'm going to have it both ways on this:
I will bash him every day for not caring enough to go to a funeral; THEN if he goes to a funeral, I will condemn him for taking part in a repulsively cynical and downright evil political charade.

[truth2power]

48. He said he had the responsibility to hug...

so he was just flapping his jaws again??

[alcuno]

62. So in order to honor all the dead equally, you must honor none.

Is that what you are saying? The grief and pain that come from having your brother die a violent death in a far off land is hard to imagine. If the president were at the funeral, it would not really register with that family.

But I don't agree that it would be a slap in the face to other families because we recognize that the boy lying in that coffin is a brother to our brother or father or son.

[mediaman007]

44. Didn't Bill Clinton attend several funerals

and meet with the families of embassy bombings. I think that he went to Andrews Air Force Base to meet the families from the USS Cole. (I could be wrong.)

That's why everyone liked Clinton. The right couldn't stand him because he actually cared about people. Of course, that would the foreign to the repugs, so they thought that Bill was a phoney...its the only way they can rationalize Bill's classy act.

Shame on Barbara Bush and G. H. W. Bush for raising such an ill-mannered boor. Another good reason for birth control.

[Llewlladdwr]

46. To the best of my knowledge...

he didn't attend any funerals. And your example of the Cole is perfect for illustrating what a President CAN do. He was able to attend a ceremony honoring all the dead from that particular incident equally. He showed no favoritism to any particular family and avoided any hurt feelings by treating them all the same. Attending a particular soldier's funeral wouldn't have the same effect at all.

[ninkasi]

49. Whistle Ass made it an issue...

when he used hugging the widows and mothers of slain soldiers as a sound byte. He was, as usual, saying things he thought made him sound compassionate. If he had never made the statement, we wouldn't be making an issue of it right now, but he started this particular ball rolling.

[revcarol]

50. So the President COULD go to Andrews to meet a plane

containing coffins...but he won't.

And that's HIS decision. What does that tell you and me about how he appreciates the sacrificies of "our brave men and women?"

But he only goes for photo ops and the military won't allow pictures taken of our dead being unloaded...gotta keep them outta sight,outta mind.

[stevedeshazer]

60. Conservatives Stage a 'Funeral' for Clinton

Here's what your Republican conservative friends did for President Clinton (courtesy of the 'ultra-liberal Time magazine':

<snip> January 19, 2001 (date added on edit)
"We have only two days before we have to become compassionate," said conservative columnist
L. Brent Bozell to the jubilant crowd of 450 at Thursday night's "memorial service for the most
blatantly corrupt presidency in history," organized by the conservative-leaning Media Research
Center, of which Bozell is president. Officially billed as "The Funeral: A Conservative Celebration
of the Death of the Clinton Administration," the evening was dedicated to roasting the nearly
departed with a vengeance. Of course, Bozell was only kidding when he said that compassion
would reign in 48 hours. Given the temptation that Senator Hillary Clinton has put in their path,
as well as the need to fill columns and airwaves over the next four years, the knives are not going
back into the drawer any time soon. Besides, said Bozell, "We need fund-raising fodder. They left
her behind for us."

Although it was a fund-raiser, it was not a night for charity. The host and eulogists were attired in
dark suits and the podium was decorated with large funeral wreaths encircling a photograph of
President Clinton. Even the minister who delivered the invocation, the Rev. Jerry Falwell, couldn't
resist a dig at the latest Democrat to be embroiled in a scandal. "Jesse Jackson is coming to give
the benediction," he joked, before going on to lead the blessing.

"A Winston-Salem, N.C., alderman, Vernon Robinson, in town for the festivities, also took a jab
at Jackson. "The Clinton administration is going where it should go given that Jesse Jackson is it's
moral compass."

source: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,96044,00.html

[Cronus Protagonist]

53. He does think about them from time to time (proof)

Fair & Balanced Buttons — The Cronus Connection

[Aristus]

54. What about all them hugs he wanted to give to them

widders 'n' orphints he wuz tawkin' 'bout?

Wouldn't the funeral of an American soldier murdered by the order of shrubbie himself in order to secure cheap oil for his campaign contributors been a perfect opportunity.

[fortyfeetunder]

56. Dover, DE is is within hours of DC

No effing excuse, he should drag his sorry @$$ or even Cheney or Rumsfeld could rotate duty and go up BWI and I-95 to Dover and pay their respects. It's reprehensible they can't do this simple act. Probably wasting too much GAS money, can you imagine that?

[DemonFighterLives]

57. What a cold hard country

This has become. Death = Life
War = Peace
He should show some compassion in some way. Oh, I forgot the brush needs trimming. Anyone for pretzels?

[The_Casual_Observer]

58. People should begin to dump the rotting cadavers in the

driveway of that goddamn pig farm and ask bush to "Hug Them" and for Laura to "Pray for Them" while Fox news films it.

[peterh]

59. Proud of our soldier! Ashamed of our president!"

http://www.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-story/localnews/current/ba/08-21-03-91378.html

"Our primary concern with the president is we feel like a lot of bad decisions have been made leading up to our son's and a lot of other troops' being involved," Paul Vogel said.
Vogel just attended the funeral of a 40-year-old reservist from Aaron's unit, a Wisconsin man who was killed and whose three children are fatherless after the truck he was driving in convoy was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.


I somehow feel that Paul Vogel is but a handful of individuals out there with sons or daughters in Iraq or Afghanistan that actually have their eyes open to the charade being played by the WH. The real travesty is that the mediawhores will largely ignore the Paul Vogel’s until there’s a couple of thousand of their offspring coming back in bodybags…..and I’m not holding my breath on that one.

[Solly Mack]

61. I wouldn't want him at the funeral

Yeah, so a President might want to attend a funeral for a soldier he/she had a hand in killing...if only for appearances sake...however, speaking as a military spouse, I would much rather Chucklenuts not add insult to injury by attending the funeral.

I can think of no greater dishonor to a soldier than for that cowardly piece of shit to be there..........

[scarface2004]

63. you guys forgot the best part...

remember the 'pray for bush' postcards they distributed to the troops.

man that guy is one classy piece of shit!!!

[The_Casual_Observer]

64. I think you mean

"man that guy is one piece of shit!!!"

[Corgigal]

65. Bush and the Columbia Crew

He was in Houston for the memorial and if you remember when he was the Gov of Texas he never visited NASA once. It didn't look like most of the astronauts families gave a flying flip but he was still there.

But then again, this was televised. Which is why he might not be going to see the soliders returning home in their coffins. I think this is why Rove won't let him meet just one because they can't risk it being photographed or worst, televised.

[Q]

66. The American media has kept US deaths on low profile...

...and do their best to downplay the number killed.

- The Bushies and their New Media learned the 'Vietnam' lessons well: no flag-drapped coffin ceremonies show day after day on television. No official acknowledgement of the daily diet of death in the news translates into no one wanting to make a direct connection to screwed up foreign policy and the Bushie WH.