Letters to the Editor
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The strength of persuasion
how very hard life was for them in France because it was so difficult to convert people
Think of how much easier time he would have had converting people if he'd been armed with an M-16. Obviously he was suffering from a lack of resolve or he'd have been more willing to use deadly force.
During your dust-up a while back with Dread-Pundit and his kin, I realized that there is a large group of people who actually think that they're contributing to the war effort from their keyboards. It would be really funny if it weren't for the fact that there are thousands of "phony soldiers" who are in fact in harms way actually risking their lives and sacrificing and one of the main reasons they're still in the killing zone, is because the Keyboard Kommando's and their bretheren in public office are terrified of being wrong.
History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.
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Paul Dirks:
During your dust-up a while back with Dread-Pundit and his kin, I realized that there is a large group of people who actually think that they're contributing to the war effort from their keyboards.
Many of them think that way. Read this:
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/07/25/may-war/
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"Lessons of the father" - what young Mitt learned
While Mitt was over in France doing his missionary gig, his father, George Romney, was running for president and made the mistake of being honest about the Vietnam War. Young Mitt watched his father’s campaign collapse because of an “honest” assessment that the press turned into a scandal. I wonder what lessons Mitt learned from this?
George Romney, then governor of Michigan who strongly supported the war after a visit to South Vietnam in 1965 but later he declared it a “tragic mistake.” When he did, support among Republicans began to fade. I wonder what lessons young Mitt learned from this?
When asked about his changing views on the War, this was the interview exchange that ended his candidacy:
“Gordon: Isn't your position a bit inconsistent with what it was? And what do you propose we do now?
Romney: Well, you know, when I came back from Vietnam, I had just had the greatest brainwashing that anybody can get. When you -
Gordon: By the generals?
Romney: Not only by the generals but also by the diplomatic corps over there. They do a very thorough job. Since returning from Vietnam, I've gone into the history of Vietnam all the way back into World War II and before. And, as a result, I have changed my mind...."
So, what today Jim Webb calls “dog and pony shows” to refer to military propaganda techniques, Romney referred to as “brainwashing” – a term he used to describe the campaign to get him to support the war.
The media (and the right-wing pro-war Nixon-type politicians), of course, ran with this term, implying that it had all kinds of sinister “Communist” meanings that questioned his very sanity. So, come out against the war and you’ll be considered insane no matter what the facts. I wonder what lessons young Mitt learned from this?
The lessons, sadly, are ones that are being played out once again:
Don’t ever question pro-war propaganda by the military and always agree that we’re “winning” or that there’s “light at the end of the tunnel” and don’t turn against the war. And for gosh sakes, don’t be honest and face the reality of what’s happening – it will kill your political career. Always be macho, pro-war and proud – it will work every time.
http://tinyurl.com/yrlbr2
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As we already have "President Codpiece", what would this make Romney?
President Martyr?
Father Chickenhawk?
Elder to the Church of Perpetual Chickens**ts?
Although in retrospect its probably just as well he didn't go. Lord knows how many of his fellows he'd have ended up killing with 'friendly fire' on his first patrol.
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George Romney had his faults,
but, having lived in Michigan under his governship, I always felt he was honest - for a politician - if sometimes out of touch. Perhaps the difference between him and his plastic son are due to the fact that George earned his money and status.
Mitt, like many privileged children, has been so coddled by power and wealth all his life -notice that dinner with the American ambassador - that he never can see the privilege that has eased his way all his life. Possibly that is not his fault, although there are other privileged children who have tried harder than Mitt ever has to discover what they could do outside their family's influence.
What's really unbearable about Mitt is the sanctimony he exudes while lecturing everyone else on their faults which seem to consist mainly of not agreeing with Mitt. Not that he stands out from the Republican contenders in this. They all are self-absorbed, self-righteous, and living in an America that vanished 50 to 150 years ago.
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another hypocritical republican
Poor poor Bitt. We could probably shave his head and still send him to Baghdad to do some good. He's not too old for that. The 747's could land on his shoulders.
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Karen Tumulty article from May...
Includes this quote:
He says he also felt guilty about the draft deferment he would get for it, when other young men his age were heading for Vietnam. [...] He didn't convert many Frenchmen but found the experience was something that "concentrates the mind," he says. "My faith has been a part of my foundation throughout my life. My faith has made me a better person than I would have been."
http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1619212,00.html
I guess you can read this two ways - either for Romney, faith is paramount, there is literally nothing more important than being a good Mormon. Or he simply regarded his life's calling as too important to fit in a deployment to Vietnam as well as missionary work.
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That Darned Lottery
And now, he[Romney]has the audacity to claim that he wanted to fight, but cites his high lottery number as a reason why his supposed desire was never fulfilled -- as though there was no such thing as voluntarily enlisting:--GG
Amazing! That's exactly the excuse that this blog's longest living troll, shooter242, used for his explanation to someone here who asked said troll about his reasons for having not served in a war he had claimed to have supported, Vietnam.