Well, the Conservative half-wits at First Friday spent the time to defend Druggy Limbaugh, and I posted a response they seem to not want to put up on their site, so here it is.
Prominent Democrats
Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) -- rifle platoon and company commander with the Fifth Marine Regiment in the An Hoa Basin west of Danang; was awarded the Navy Cross, the Silver Star Medal, two Bronze Star Medals, and two Purple Hearts. (1)
Representative Tim Walz, D-MN - Twenty-four years of service in the Army National Guard, retiring in 2005.
Representative Joe Sestak, D-PA - 31 years of service in the Navy, rising to the rank of Vice Admiral.
Representative Chris Carney, D-PA - Lieutenant Commander in the United States Naval Reserve, Carney served multiple tours overseas and was activated for Operation Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle, and Southern Watch.
Representative Patrick Murphy, D-PA - extensive career in the U.S. Army from 1993-2004; earned Bronze Star and Presidential Unit Citation.
Representative Phil Hare, D-IL - Served in the United States Army Reserve for six years.
Representative Jack Murtha (D-PA) - distinguished 37-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps, Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts, retired from the Marine Corps Reserve as a colonel in 1990. (1)
Former House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt - Missouri Air National Guard, 1965-71. (1, 2)
Representative David Bonior - Staff Sgt., United States Air Force 1968-72 (1, 2)
Former Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle - 1st Lt., U.S. Air Force SAC 1969-72 (1, 2)
Former Vice President Al Gore - enlisted August 1969; sent to Vietnam January 1971 as an army journalist, assigned to the 20th Engineer Brigade headquartered at Bien Hoa, an airbase twenty miles northeast of Saigon. More facts about Gore's Service
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Former Senator Bob Kerrey... Democrat... Lt. j.g., U.S. Navy 1966-69; Medal of Honor, Vietnam (1, 2)
Senator Daniel Inouye, US Army 1943-'47; Medal of Honor, World War Two (1, 2)
Senator John Kerry, Lt., U.S. Navy 1966-70; Silver Star, Bronze Star with Combat V, and three awards of the Purple Heart for his service in combat (1)
Representative Charles Rangel, Staff Sgt., U.S. Army 1948-52; Bronze Star, Korea (1, 2)
Former Senator Max Cleland, Captain, U.S. Army 1965-68; Silver Star & Bronze Star, Vietnam (1, 2)
Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) - U.S. Army, 1951-1953. (1)
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) - Lt., U.S. Navy, 1962-67; Naval Reserve, 1968-74. (1, 2)
Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) - U.S. Army Ranger, 1971-1979; Captain, Army Reserve 1979-91 (1)
Former Senator Fritz Hollings (D-SC) - served as a U.S. Army officer in World War II, receiving the Bronze Star and seven campaign ribbons. (1)
Representative Leonard Boswell (D-IA) - Lt. Col., U.S. Army 1956-76; two tours in Vietnam, two Distinguished Flying Crosses as a helicopter pilot, two Bronze Stars, and the Soldier's Medal. (1, 2)
Former Representative "Pete" Peterson, Air Force Captain, POW, Ambassador to Viet Nam, and recipient of the Purple Heart, the Silver Star and the Legion of Merit. (1, 2)
Rep. Mike Thompson, D-CA: Staff sergeant/platoon leader with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, U.S. Army; was wounded and received a Purple Heart. (1, 2)
Bill McBride, Democratic Candidate for Florida Governor - volunteered and served as a U.S. Marine in Vietnam; awarded Bronze Star with a combat "V." (1)
Gray Davis, former California Governor, Army Captain in Vietnam; received Bronze Star. (1)
Pete Stark, D-CA, served in the Air Force 1955-57
Wesley Clark, Democratic Presidential Candidate - 38-year career of public service in the Army, culminating as Supreme Allied Commander of NATO.
Prominent Republicans
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY - did not serve (1)
Senate Assistant Minority Leader Trent Lott, R-MI - avoided the draft, did not serve.
Senate Republican Conference Chairman Jon Kyl, R-AZ - did not serve.
National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair John Ensign, R-NV - did not serve.
House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-OH - did not serve.
House Minority Whip Roy Blunt, R-MO - did not serve.
House Republican Conerence Chair Adam Putnam, R-FL - did not serve.
House Republican Policy Committee Thaddeus McCotter, R-MI - did not serve.
National Republican Congressional Committee Chair Tom Cole, R-OK - did not serve.
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani - did not serve.
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney - did not serve in the military but did serve the Mormon Church on a 30-month mission to France.
Former Senator Fred Thompson - did not serve.
Senator John McCain - McCain's naval honors include the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross. Why did the Bush campaign smear him so in 2000? At least Senators Cleland (D-GA), Kerry (D-MA), Kerrey (D-NE), Robb (D-VA) and Hagel (R-NE) defended him.
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Former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert - avoided the draft, did not serve.
Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey - avoided the draft, did not serve.
Former House Majority Leader Tom Delay - avoided the draft, did not serve (1). "So many minority youths had volunteered ... that there was literally no room for patriotic folks like himself."
Former House Majority Whip Roy Blunt - did not serve
Former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist - did not serve. (An impressive medical resume, but not such a friend to cats in Boston.)
Rick Santorum, R-PA, formerly third ranking Republican in the Senate - did not serve. (1)
George Felix Allen, former Republican Senator from Virginia - a supporter of Nixon and the Vietnam war, did not serve. (1)
Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld - served in the U.S. Navy (1954-57) as an aviator and flight instructor. (1) Served as President Reagan's Special Envoy to the Middle East and met with Saddam Hussein twice in 1983 and 1984.
GW Bush - decided that a six-year Nat'l Guard commitment really means four years. Still says that he's "been to war." Huh?
VP Cheney - several deferments (1, 2), the last by marriage (in his own words, "had other priorities than military service") (1)
Former Att'y Gen. John Ashcroft - did not serve (1, 2); received seven deferment to teach business ed at SW Missouri State And They Call Him General -->
Jeb Bush, Florida Governor - did not serve. (1)
Karl Rove - avoided the draft, did not serve (1), too busy being a Republican.
Former Speaker Newt Gingrich - avoided the draft, did not serve (1, 2)
Former President Ronald Reagan - due to poor eyesight, served in a noncombat role making movies for the Army in southern California during WWII. He later seems to have confused his role as an actor playing a tail gunner with the real thing.
"B-1" Bob Dornan - avoided Korean War combat duty by enrolling in college acting classes (Orange County Weekly article). Enlisted only after the fighting was over in Korea.
Phil Gramm - avoided the draft, did not serve, four (?) student deferments
Former Senator Bob Dole - an honorable man. http://www.bobdole.org/bio/wwII.php
Chuck Hagel - two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star, Vietnam. http://www.senate.gov/~hagel/Information/bio.htm
Duke Cunningham - nominated for the Medal of Honor, received the Navy Cross, two Silver Stars, fifteen Air Medals, the Purple Heart, and several other decorations Recently entered plea bargain on felony charges of bribery, etc. etc.
Senator Jeff Sessions U.S. Army Reserves, 1973-1986
Colin Powell. What are we to make of Powell? On the one hand, a long career as a military manager. On the other hand, accused of covering up the My Lai massacre. Back on that first hand, one of the seemingly sane voices in this administration when it comes to Iraq (or at least he used to be). On the other hand, a clear hypocrite ("I am angry that so many of the sons of the powerful and well-placed... managed to wangle slots in Reserve and National Guard units...")
Representative Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD), served in USMC in Vietnam; wounded in action.
of course, you understand that Bill Frist did not serve because he was in a very serious motorcycle accident at the age of 16, and had a knee cap surgically removed. BTW, thank goodness that Bill Frist practiced on those cats. He saved a lot of human lives because of that. I would gladly sacrifice my cat for a family member, wouldn't you?
ReplyDeletethat is interesting. Bill Frist is doing a lot of good deeds now.
ReplyDeleteI believe the point of this was to point out the thought of a person condusting a war with a bunch other people who have never served in a war and firing those who have.
ReplyDeleteyeah, I'm sure it was, but fair is fair. If you are going to argue that someone is not qualified to vote or voice an opinion on war, then you have to be fair enough to say why that person didn't serve. I don't really see what service has to do with making decisions. I certainly don't think it is required to have only warriors decide if we should fight or not. That's a ridiculous argument. I really think that the important point here is fairness. If we can be fair to each other, we can have a civil debate. Debate turns ugly when we assume facts that don't exist.
ReplyDeleteSome of you get it some of you don't. The point is clear...those who can offer plans from experience and hardship are labeled left-wing,liberal,America hating,terrorist sympathizers, and simply just hate the President. The guys at First Friday are nothing but cheerleaders for the GOP, and have the foolishness to stand up for the likes of Limbaugh. One of them won't even stand up for one his friends in an unfair moment in a bar, where the 5'10" guy (me) aided a girl in distress and wound myself getting knocked around...he is 6'5" plus. The chickenhawks in the GOP world is astonishing. They are more than willing to send others off to die for oil, except their own. I suggest reading a handful of op-ed pieces over www.armytimes.com . The rules of this war, very different than previous wars, has a country at war that is wearing blinders. Our country needs to wake up, lend an ear to vets who have seen battle, ask them to define "phony soldiers", ask them about their benefits an/or dwell time vs. exteneded tours of duty, or how about how their parenting and spousal affairs are going. In addition, the righties in out time won't even take shots at Blackwater, who are in fact PHONY SOLDIERS.
ReplyDeleteyou know what giles, it is people like you who don't get it. I am sick and tired of liberal vs. conservative. How about Americans!!!! darn it anyhow, man. My brother gave his life for our country. I am very proud of the fact that he was awarded the medal of honor for his heroism in Korea. It is people like you who do a disservice to our country. I don't care who served and who didn't. Harry Reid is no less honorable than Bill Frist and neither one of them served. So what, Frist had a legitimate medical reason, and I'm sure Reid had a legitimate reason too. People who don't agree with you are not all cheerleaders for the right. Maybe they just disagree. I happened to hear Rush Limbaugh, who I can't stand. He did not disparage our soldiers. He talked about one fake. I agreed with him. So get on with the debate. Our soldiers are the best in the world. No one in this country seriously doubts that.
ReplyDeleteI am not doing any disservice at all by pointing out experiences vs. arrogance and power. We can agree our soldiers are the best in the world, they perform duties we can barely dream of. All I am saying is that while they perform the duties that are asked of them, shouldn't we perform the duty of holding accountable those who send them off to a senseless war? I come from a small family where most men served until myself. Shame I know. I myself, am proud of the tours my family members served in WWII,Korea, and Vietnam. With that said, I am awaiting a good friend's return home from Bagdhad, who's reservations of this war have grown. The point is, the political climate is so aggressive right now, and it is blamed on the "mainstream media", and those critics have huge networks that garner large ratings...isn't that the mainstream media? By pointing out who has served and who did not is pretty clear...these are folks elected to make deciscions like war and peace. The "served" ilk are searching for a new direction, a withdrawl, a redeployment, an end to this debacle...The "did not serve" ilk seem to be the "stay the course", and "surge" and "we're kicking ass in Iraq" crowd. I find it best to listen to voices of experience and reason. I look forward to the end of this filthy stinkin occupation that is taking our nation's best for lies, then we can get back to debating trivial stained dresses, the rise of crappy music on our airwaves, and spreading democracy with diplomacy. Peace!
ReplyDeletegiles, I have family members serving in Iraq right now. They do not see this as a dirty stinking anything. they believe in what they are doing. That doesn't make your opinion worthless, neither does it make their worthless. It simply means that reasonable people can differ. Jim Webb served honorably and he wants out. John McCain served honorably and he wants victory. Who is to say that they are wrong. Those that did not serve are also honorable. The fact that they did not serve in the military does not mean they are not serving our country. I have three nephews in Iraq now, one a PFC, one a Colonel and one a Lt. Commander. Good people all, the PFC is a kid, the other two are grown men, one on his second tour and one on his third. But you know what the kid PFC is as strong as the other two, and I am immensely proud of all three of them as I am of most of our public servants.
ReplyDeleteI see we come to an agreement on what our troops deserve. That is respect and gratitude. They certainly get that from you and I. We do however differ on how we accomplish it. I support our troops by wanting everyone of them home...now. You support seems to be support them until they come home. I see a minor difference. God Bless ya, and you family. The question now is, have you had enough? or do you want more? The repurcussions of our Govt's actions not only have put finest in harms way, but has left a large percentage of the globe hating us. As I stated before, we have wedge issues to bicker over, but I cannot while we are occupying a country in the middle of a civil war. Beginning redeployment into Kuwait now seems to be the most logical thing to do. It continues our prescence in the region, and beginning talks with Syria must take place, as well as Iran. This will take time, but these countries have a vested interest in the outcome of Iraq. The longer we occupy, the more danger we put our brothers and sisters in, and the longterm outcome becomes brighter with thought out plans. The partisan bickering will go on, I am sorry, but it's fact that the Deciscionator has laid this groundwork.
ReplyDeleteGiles, I support winning because to do anything else is unthinkable to me and my family. I do agree with you on how we got to this point, but to me, it doesn't really matter now. We can't let our kids down, and I honestly believe that to withdraw them to anywhere until we can leave a secure country behind will lead to chaos in Iraq and ultimately here at home. Peace and love to all our troops, and thank you for an honest intellectual debate. This is what we need to accomplish what needs to be done. I don't disrespect your opinion. In fact, I will weigh what you have said carefully. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteYour welcome, and I thank you as well. It is nice to debate civily, which is hard to come by these days.
ReplyDelete