bush accepts 'purple heart'. - Page 2

7960 · 04-24-2007, 11:06 PM

Originally Posted by imind

and they were all, arguably, lies.

And arguably, none of them were.

then we have someone give bush one, even if only honorary. bush was a draft dodger.

how did he dodge the draft, exactly?

RMNIXON · 04-24-2007, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by imind

true, blatant conservative hypocrisy is commonplace.

correct, he is not responsible for his actions.

oh please. the only way you get a war medal is by serving in the military, and the irony of receiving it when one has actively avoided it is apparently lost on many of us here.

He was not awarded a purple heart. That is a part of a military record. He was given one as a gift. Do you think everyone with a Purple Heart takes it to their grave? How hard is the clear difference to understand? The man made a personal jesture not the military. I don't see why the President should insult the man just so the far left won't have something to crow about today.

imind · 04-25-2007, 12:15 AM

And arguably, none of them were.

follow the links in post #20.

how did he dodge the draft, exactly?

bush was not a 'draft dodger', and i take full responsibility for misusing this term to describe him, as his 'participation' in the national guard is indisputable. by many accounts, though, he shouldn't have been accepted.

link, link, link

7960 · 04-25-2007, 12:30 AM

Originally Posted by imind

follow the links in post #20.

I've read them but I went back and read the first one again.

FactCheck.org: Republican-funded Group Attacks Kerry's War Record

Read that and tell me how he got the 1st and 3rd purple hearts again...... if it was a court and a jury was deciding if he deserved them he *may* win on a technicality, but being responsible for one injury and with the questions around the other there is no way anyone but someone from privilege would have received the medals.

nbiggershaft · 04-25-2007, 12:39 AM

All prejudice aside, no one should accept a purple heart from someone just because they are admired by that person.

thatguyoverthere · 04-25-2007, 12:59 AM

I won first place in a cupcake baking contest! I'd like to give my first place trophy to President Bush! My friend earned a third place ribbon in a track meet, she'd like to give that ribbon to Bush, too! And I'm sure that Mr. Bush would be perfectly happy and comfortable taking trophies and ribbons that he did not earn.

Sure, it would be my right to give the President whatever gift I so choose, and he might be able to take any gift given to him, whatever the law may allow.

And while I think it's not appropriate for him to take awards and trophies for things that he did not do, I have much more of a problem with military medals. A Purple Heart is NOT an award. It is given, but it is most certainly NOT a "gift."

Bush did not want to serve overseas during a time when his country was fighting a war overseas. Kerry went to where the bullets were flying. Bush didn't show up for all of his National Guard duty, instead working on a friend's campaign in Alabama. Bush is a deserter.

It's ridiculous that Bush accepted this. It's a terrible public relations action that reeks of desperation. But, the right wing is too blind to see their hypocracy here. It's mystifying. Remember the lady with the purple heart band aid during the 2004 Republican convention? Republicans ridiculed earning a Purple Heart under "questionable" circumstances, yet now defend Bush getting a Purple Heart!

I look at the people on this thread defending Bush because this heart is a gift from a private citizen, and then trying to imagine them saying the same thing if it had been Clinton receiving this gift. Ridiculous. They wouldn't defend him in a million years.

Why? You get a Purple Heart if you have been wounded in the line of duty, not because you've borne the brunt of verbal assaults. Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words should never earn you a Purple Heart.

Has no one here ever had a military medal passed on to them from a relative? If so, when you show it to people, do you hold it up and say "this is my grandfather's medal" or do you say "this is my medal?" You may own it, it may be your property, but it is not and will never be YOUR medal because you did not EARN it.

Shame on this dude for giving it to Bush, he demeans the Purple Heart by giving it to someone who did not earn it. And shame on Bush for accepting a medal that he did not earn.

JaJae · 04-25-2007, 01:45 AM

Why exactly can't someone gift their property to Bush?

7960 · 04-25-2007, 02:03 AM

Originally Posted by JaJae

Why exactly can't someone gift their property to Bush?

Nobody's saying he can't do it, people are saying (from the soldiers' side) it diminishes the value for the people who earned it and (from bush's side) in bad taste to take it when he wasn't injured in combat.

Kytro · 04-25-2007, 04:41 AM

I don't think it matters, as long as bush does not try to claim it was for what he did.

kinggovernor · 04-25-2007, 08:45 AM

as the only purple heart recipient in this thread, I believe the man can do whatever he wants to do with it. If he wants to send it to President Bush, he has earned that right

Linzyhop · 04-25-2007, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

as the only purple heart recipient in this thread, I believe the man can do whatever he wants to do with it. If he wants to send it to President Bush, he has earned that right

sure the guy that -earned- it has the right to do whatever he wants with it, that doesn't change the fact that Bush accepting it isn't poor taste.

Scrum · 04-25-2007, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

as the only purple heart recipient in this thread, I believe the man can do whatever he wants to do with it. If he wants to send it to President Bush, he has earned that right

Then send it in the mail and don't alert the press.

This is a stunt.

JaJae · 04-25-2007, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by Scrum

Then send it in the mail and don't alert the press.

This is a stunt.

Apparently he did:

Thomas said he drew up a citation and he and his wife signed it before dropping it and the medal off with Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock, to forward to President Bush.

"Congressman Carter called me last week and said the President was very moved by it, and would like us to present it in person," Thomas said.

Thomas is taking a copy of the original citation showing the origin of the actual medal to present as a companion piece with the citation he drew up for the President.

CrackSeed · 04-25-2007, 12:58 PM

"We feel like emotional wounds and scars are as hard to carry as physical wounds,"

...isn't this suggesting he has EARNED this medal by withstanding verbal attacks?

Stylerod · 04-25-2007, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

Weird, but it's not like the President is being honored with one from the government; it's a gift from someone who earned one himself

Can you really compare the two?

No. Nothing to see here

JaJae · 04-25-2007, 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by CrackSeed

...isn't this suggesting he has EARNED this medal by withstanding verbal attacks?

Only according to the person who is giving it to him.

Stylerod · 04-25-2007, 01:12 PM

Wow, Bush gets a touching gift from a supporter and the left goes fucking CRAZY!!! It's so easy sometimes

CrackSeed · 04-25-2007, 01:14 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

Only according to the person who is giving it to him.

So the Purple Heart is awarded to the President because the person giving it feels that the President has earned it by sustaining emotional wounds...and the President says Thank You, I accept.

JaJae · 04-25-2007, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by CrackSeed

So the Purple Heart is awarded to the President because the person giving it feels that the President has earned it by sustaining emotional wounds...and the President says Thank You, I accept.

Basically yes. To people who don't think negatively towards Bush it really isn't a big deal.

CrackSeed · 04-25-2007, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

Basically yes. To people who don't think negatively towards Bush it really isn't a big deal.

...just curious...

Do you personally think his 'emotional wounds' make him just as deserving as a soldier who has suffered physical wounds in combat?