Login Here
In which I am once again proved fucking right. Not an everyday occurrence by any means, but far too frequent for this pessimist's taste.
Republicans love to rage about how we progressives don't support the troops, yet the Bush administration sends troops to Iraq with inadequate armor or leave time, covers it up when they get raped and/or killed under suspicious circumstances, subjects wounded troops to Civil War conditions, and screws veterans again and again. [To which I should have added, "and doesn't believe that their service entitles them to a college education unless they re-enlist over and over again."]
VA Secretary Jim Peake, 5/26/08:
On the topic of [post-traumatic stress disorder], Peake questioned if the condition is being overdiagnosed, considering the mental health services available to those in the armed forces.
"I worry about labeling all these kids coming back," he said. "Just because someone might need a little counseling when they get back, doesn't mean they need the PTSD label their whole lives."
Yeah, I guess being tagged with that PTSD stigma would be pretty rough - almost as rough as, say, having actual PTSD go untreated. But Peake wasn't done making an ass of himself, nooo.
VA Secretary Jim Peake, 5/27/08:
VA secretary Peake suggested some of the concern about post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury has been overblown.
Many of the brain injuries are serious but some of them are akin to what anyone who played football in their youth might have suffered, Peake told Guinn.
Awesome. Remember, this isn't just some random Republican yahoo sticking his foot in his mouth on consecutive days - this is the head of the by-God Veteran's Administration advocating the rub-dirt-on-it-and-take-a-lap philosophy for treating serious combat injuries.
How long can the Republican Party sustain this level of cognitive dissonance? How long before voters start noticing that all of Dubya and the GOP's support-our-brave-troops rhetoric thinly veils a fuck-the-troops worldview? And how much of an effort will the Democrats make to expose that hypocrisy and claim their rightful mantle as the Pro-Troops Party?
I think the Republicans are very very vulnerable on this, and it's one of those iconic, visceral flag/Mom/apple pie issues that they've traditionally owned. If the Democrats hammer it and successfully paint them as the anti-troop party who view soldiers as nothing more than expendable IED fodder, McCain and the GOP will be in a world of deep dark hurt come November.
Share This 
Spotlight
((( Eli )))
Eli!
I told the pups down-downstairs
I wish I were shocked.
Hi, Petro! Hi, Elliott!
Notified Davids’ post downstairs as well …
((((( Elliott )))))
Yeah, they are basically calling the troops that have PTSD a bunch of wusses.
Yea, that’s real new.
Oh yeah, and McBush’s health records show that he was no wuss, cause he didn’t have any PTSD symptoms, and he was tortured and a POW for over 5 years.
How long can the Republican Party sustain this level of cognitive dissonance?
Have I ever mentioned that I’m a big fan of rhetorical questions?
Hi Eli.
I think the VA Secretary has PTSD, because of what he’s saying. It’s the only answer I can come up with.
“And how much of an effort will the Democrats make to expose that hypocrisy and claim their rightful mantle as the Pro-Troops Party?”
They won’t win in November unless they do so …
you’re right, the Republicans are vulnerable on this; what’s the most effective way to use it against them?
Nah, he’s lost his conscience, which is necessary if you wanna be a Repug …
Petro!
Been sleepin any better? How’s you son?
I don’t think it’s an absolute requirement, but it sure would help.
Yeah, only his is Put Troops Syndrome Down.
Exactly, LS. You’d think with that kind of experience one would never be able to forget it and it would creep in every now and again? Nope! Apparently, when John McCrazy got back to America after being tortured for 6 years and living in a bamboo cage, he checked off “I don’t have PTSD” on the military medical form and that was that. He never looked back. Amazing!!!!
Hey Eli. Great post. Keep in mind that Webb’s bill passed the Senate with a veto-proof majority. Last time I checked, there were over 300 co-sponsors for the House companion bill. McCain and Dubya are so screwed on this, even Gooper analysts admit it.
I’m afraid I don’t agree. I think the head of the VA has the same attitude that the rest of the Administration do, which is..if you were any good(or smart, or came from the right sort of people, or whatever…), you would never have volunteered for this little hayride. But, since you DID, that means that you are a sap…and we know how to treat saps.
I’m really liking Abrams’ new avatar … off to read to the kids …. see ya later …
spent a little time in the hospital, feeling a lot better - #1 son ships out for basic training next week - things are looking up. Thanks for asking.
I love veto-proof majorities. Even more so if Dubya tries to veto anyway, so he gets to look impotent, irrelevant and out-of-touch as well as wrong.
And then there’s “The Other PTSD,” as Christy highlighted this morning.
I agree. What I was trying to point out (not well I may add) is that if the VA Secretary can say that our soldiers are making up their PTSD, then I can say he has PTSD. We’re both psychiatrists (snark). ;-)
That’s exactly right. The underclass is there to be used by the ruling class.
I think the VA Secretary has PTSD
Or at least has taken a big bonk on the head at some point….
He’s using the Frist Diagnostic Methodology.
Yes, but Eli, don’t you know? Republicans support our troops.
Good, glad to hear it. Where’s he going for basic? They do basic in their MOS’s now don’t they?
and the way they do that is to call them ‘awesome’ especially after they have sacrificed..all the time the Rethugs are saying to themselves, “Stupid jerk”.
if it were any other administration this would be surprising. can we have some congressional hearings or other way to get press attention on this.
how about impeachment for this guy??/
Gee…
Anyone think that dissin’ a bunch of folks highly proficient in IEDs an such after denying them the bennys they got an arm of a foot blown off TO FUKIN EARN might….
Just might….
Be a dumb idea.
See that’s the thing about the Bush Crime Family…they got no respect. They will play you for a chump and then expect you to be happy to be thrown under the bus.
I do believe that that’s coming to an end. And not because of fools like Rahm ‘The Rabbit’ Emmanuel or Miss Nancy or ‘SellOut’ Reid.
Nope.
They are part of the problem.
We…most of us….are the solution.
And there is nothing the troops love more than being shot at, and they *hate* school.
I would love to see someone actually ask some troops what they would prefer: Lots of yellow flag pins and decals back home, or better armor in the field.
Intelligence and law enforcement sources tell ABC News they are expecting al Qaeda operatives will post a new video on the Internet in the next 24 hours, calling for what one source said is ”jihadists to use biological, chemical and nuclear weapons to attack the West.”
FBI presents four Iraqi witnesses to testify before federal grand jury.
”There have been several reports that al Qaeda will release a new message calling for the use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) against civilians,” FBI spokesman Richard Kolko told ABC News in an e-mail.
Please, folks. Do. Not. Feed…
Been a while since the French ‘underclass’ really applied some discipline to the upper classes.
You know what they say about history repeating itself.
These bozos couldn’t find a whale in a swimming pool.
Damn voice of reason!
Eli great post! Our Vets have the very best care that OUR Taxes can buy for them. They have served our country, we can’t let the repubics get off cheap at the expense of those who need it most…. Hopefully a Democratic controlled Government can get it right and reward yes reward those who have served.
Oh and here is a digg for all of you to get your grunt shovels into! Support the Troops as the heroes they are just for serving!
Oklahoma for basic - then to Alabama(?) for 10 months of training. His MOS is to fix all things electronic, including missiles.
In the hospital, I called him and asked him to bring me about six things - he got two of ‘em right. So, if sometime next year, you begin to hear about missiles that don’t pop, or go a bit off-course - that’s my boy!
Details are not his strong point, though he *is* a hell of a lot smarter than I am, which is a huge pain in the butt.
“Intelligence and law enforcement sources tell ABC News they
are expecting al Qaeda operativeswill post a new video on the Internet in the next 24 hours, calling for what one source said is ”jihadists to use biological, chemical and nuclear weapons to attack the West.”My edit…:P
Sill and Rucker proly. He’ll get it together, he’s going to have a really nice bunch of motivational speakers.
Yep Jayt & SouthernDragon, he’s the expert. Me too, apparently. ;-)
My attitude on this is very firm: If we are going to send people into harm’s way, then we had damn well better give them the proper tools and equipment to do the job. Otherwise, Do…Not…Send…Anyone. Period. End of story. I have a lot of respect for Charlie Rangel for continuing to bring up the whole topic of a draft because this sends icy chills down the spine of every Gooper parent out there…no one wants their kids to come home physically, mentally or psychologically crippled…but no one has the right to say, “No, you people over there…YOU are cannon fodder…and my children over here are too good for that.
I’ve been amazed no one has pounded McCain for his draft remark, when he stated he wanted to increase the size of the force. He then said ” We must increase the size of our military, and much more so than we have done to date. It is an urgent priority. Obviously, that is going to require greater numbers of Americans to serve than have recently showed a willingness to do.”
Yeah, but he was just licking ass thinking there would be a permanent republican majority. Kinda like happened with some good Germans not too long ago.
(((Papa Petro!)))
Isn’t that how it’s *always* supposed to be?
Hospital? Por que?
excellent edit - it’s probably just about ready to come out of post-production…
I can’t wait for McCrazy to defend his stance on the war when debating Obama. McCrazy will answer a question about it (I’m sure of it) at one point, “Ummmmmm…I support the Iraq war….because…I like war?”.
LOL
Okay, going to bed. Nite nite everyone. ;-)
Brain injuries - high school football
Abu Ghraib - frat house hijinks
I think the Republicans have a metaphor problem.
that should be a really simple question, huh?
Still don’t know.
Dick Gregory was on Imus this morning, he said, “want to stop the war” draft white people’s pets”!
I see what you mean - they need to make up their minds whether war is like high school or college.
Where does Peake get his medical care? VA or private?
(Shush….Obama is a closet tree-hugger..:) :) bodes well..
‘He knows that “the boss,” as he calls Mr. Obama, likes MET-Rx chocolate roasted-peanut protein bars and bottles of a hard-to-find organic brew — Black Forest Berry Honest Tea. He keeps a supply of both on hand.’
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05.....ei=5087%0A
Ah, but Eli…if you’re foundation belief is that the people who are going over there to fight your dirty lie of a war are a bunch of saps who you have cozened into joining for educational benefits that you know do not exist…then you also have the foundation belief that they do not matter…they have no worth..no value…and if they are messed up, you have no obligation to try to put them back together again, either.
sheeeeet
That’s the reason I was hoping Obama would take up McCain on his offer to go to Iraq together. So Obama could talk to officers and enlisted people, along with Iraqis, with his press people. I was hoping that Obama would give Petreas a good what-for, and the whole thing would be OPEN rather than the bullshit we see when McCain and Lieberman go.
Oh, I’m well aware of the huge gap between what should be and what is. I was just pointing out that no sane person could seriously claim that the Bushies’ approach to war is in any way reasonable or defensible.
And just why do you think that is?
Folks here have a very narrow view of things:
McSame bad, bad man….do you really think a big majority of Americans think so?
War, never mind it’s an occupation, a bad, bad thing. Is that what the Boeing workers were screaming when the new Airtanker went to AirBus?
Barry is a great guy!
So what’s his plan for withdrawal from Iraq?
Things are not so black and white and I will tell you a dirty little secret…
The ‘Democrat’ Party leadership has calculated that they will pay no political price for letting the occupation go on and on instead of bringing it to an immediate end, as the promised, and guess what?
Doesn’t look as if they will at this point.
Cannon fodder.
It’s a dog and pony show no matter who goes.
Or he could walk around, pointing and saying, “Dog. Pony. Dog dog dog. Pony pony pony.”
Obama comes from solid roots..
He and ‘us’ could really change the world.
We can do it…:)
‘The other night I was talking with a friend about what we’d like to do if we weren’t writers. There isn’t much. I love what I do.
But I did mention that I used to know someone in Indonesia who had the greatest job that I ever heard of.
I met Ann Sutoro when I was working for Asian Business magazine and interviewing people for a cover story on what the private sector can do to help alleviate poverty. She was an economic anthropologist working for Bank Rakyat Indonesia, the rural development bank of the country. She was in charge of the bank’s microfinance program.’
http://www.ericstone.com/2008/.....-mama.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Dunham
This is the whole argument of Martin Buber’s “I and Thou”. The Rethugs’ position and relationship to the rest of the world is “I and It”…things to be used and disposed of then no longer useful.
Now that is some progressive shit!
the rub-dirt-on-it-and-take-a-lap philosophy for treating serious combat injuries.
gin one [up] for the whipper.
He’ll do beautifully, jayt!
no sane person…
and what is Bush’s JAR at the moment? Sane people are in shorter supply than they used to be, I think.
I believe I read somewhere that the Bush family’s world was basically divided between “Our kind” and “The help.”
Who are these supposed “progressives”? Does he mean Democrats? Is there a third party out there we haven’t heard of yet?
And then there’s the morning crew at Fux News, piling on, saying the troops volunteered so why should they get Webb’s G.I. Bill?
Why do the Republican politicians and their media hate our troops?
Good night, dear.
shun
Pronunciation:
ˈshən
Function:
transitive verb
Inflected Form(s):
shunned; shun·ning
Etymology:
Middle English shonen, shunnen, from Old English scunian
Date:
before 12th century
: to avoid deliberately and especially habitually
Yeah. Chumps. Sell that one, McCain.
See my number 20.
Do. Not. Feed…
That would be bro
Roger that.
Is it okay if I have dinner? :)
That frightens me, because if there is an ‘oppsie/attack’ by the ‘Iranalqidderterristsvegans’ whilst in Iraq, then the respective/vulture VP’s would step-up (for the good of the country of course/s) and ‘help’ guide us through ‘these difficult times’.. Not a good thing…
See ya in the AM.
I know the feeling. Watch yours as well.
Why? I was just thinking Obama might get more respect than McCain if he went. Guess that’s not possible with Bush as Commander in Chief. Seems like the military, when dealing only with candidates, might want to speak truthfully for once, and it would be in Obama’s favor.
I’ve never been in the military, so I’m just dreaming.
LOL…I thought that was a code plural of bro….sounded good to me…
Long as ya share. Waddya got?
Steak - how would you like yours?
No, no, no….that is a “set-up”…
If Obama goes, it should be on his terms, and certainly not with McCain.
Read between my lines….
As a former Air Force, you learn fairly quickly to either parrot the party line or keep your head down and mouth shut.
Something that was a bit difficult to do for me, I will admit.
OMG, you’re thinking he might not be safe? A set-up?
Republicans are big on war and weapons and short on actions for soldiers. They’d rather spend millions on worthless weapon systems than the american solider.
Hi Eli!!! How’s it going? Great reminder. I remember Cher has a project to get good helmets to our soliders to help with these injuries … maybe I can find the link still.
??
Obama and McCain should not travel together. Same reason a Pres and VP should not travel together.
Operation Helmet:
http://www.Operation-Helmet.org/
They would both not be safe. Think about it.
Hi Kat!!! Goin’ good, playing with new GPS.
Alright. The Obama campaign and security is top notch. Gotta trust them.
Wow.
Peake is conflating PTSD and brain injury from external causes such as penetration wounds, blows to the head, and blasts. His criteria would conveniently exclude many service members who have not demonstrably had one of those types of injury.
Doesn’t matter who it is. Obama, McCain, whoever, will be exposed only to those who will say what they’ve been told to say. There will always be an officer around to ensure that the troops toe the line. Staff officers will always be accompanied by a senior staff officer who will ensure the same thing. Pure dog and pony show. Any Iraki they speak to will have been completely vetted before hand. Remember, few of the Irakis speak English so the interpreter is the one who will be responding. Guess who s/he works for? Some poor shopkeeper could call McCain everything but a white man and he interpreter will deliver some rant about al Quiada. Pure bs, plain and simple.
The site I sent helps with special padding for helmets. It helps prevent many of the issues soldiers have–including psychological–when they sustain head injuries. It’s worth a look!
Believe me. McCain is not liked by a lot of people either. They are both security risks. They should not travel together.
Aw, I’m one of them radical far left vegetarians. Like my dairy products too much to be a vegan.
As a former Propaganda Tool, apparently little Scotty McClellan is no longer parroting the White House line.
exactly what I said last night. Don’t go Barack.
Yep. Chimpy isn’t the only one thinking about his legacy.
I’m sure someone would consider the scenerio a ’slam dunk’ even if only as a hypothetical exercise….But, if they thought they could do/get away with it, yes I think they would…
Ding.
That and control of oil reserves have been the game plan all along.
Remember what Obama had to say about living overseas compared to politicians dog and pony shows? Seems only weeks, months, years, decades, centuries, millenia, aeons ago….