Fuck. These. People.
Jul. 1st, 2008 01:16 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wolven7'Obama Fiercely Defends His Patriotism; Democrat Also Decries Criticism of Rival McCain on Service to Country'
Do you know why I hate this?
Here are the two quotes that have everyone up in arms:
"John McCain is running his campaign on his experience and how his experience would benefit him and our nation as president. That experience shows courage and commitment to our country — but it doesn't include executive experience wrestling with national policy or go-to-war decisions," Clark said. "And in this area his judgment has been flawed — he not only supported going into a war we didn't have to fight in Iraq, but has time and again undervalued other, nonmilitary elements of national power that must be used effectively to protect America."
And
"I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president"
Replies:
'"I was utterly shocked," Sen. John Warner, R-Va., told the conference call, "... that he would in such a disrespectful way attack one of his fellow career military officers."'
'Retired Marine Lt. Col. Orson Swindle said Clark was "denigrating the character and the experience and the integrity and the performance" of McCain.'
These people are shit. They are speaking things that directly contradict what was said and what is on record, AGAIN, and people are letting them, AGAIN.
I want someone, just One Person to state, on air, that There Is No Attack, Here.
Your pain and trouble as a soldier mean Nothing about your future capability as a World Leader.
Stop letting people say that they have anything to do with one another.
Stop letting people conflate Patriotism and Leadership.
Stop letting people change the subject by saying the easy thing ("He's a hero and a patriot, by god") and make this about the underlying problems of fucking politcs, in this country.
Stop Letting People Refuse To Raise The Discourse.
STOP IT.
Do you know why I hate this?
Here are the two quotes that have everyone up in arms:
"John McCain is running his campaign on his experience and how his experience would benefit him and our nation as president. That experience shows courage and commitment to our country — but it doesn't include executive experience wrestling with national policy or go-to-war decisions," Clark said. "And in this area his judgment has been flawed — he not only supported going into a war we didn't have to fight in Iraq, but has time and again undervalued other, nonmilitary elements of national power that must be used effectively to protect America."
And
"I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president"
Replies:
'"I was utterly shocked," Sen. John Warner, R-Va., told the conference call, "... that he would in such a disrespectful way attack one of his fellow career military officers."'
'Retired Marine Lt. Col. Orson Swindle said Clark was "denigrating the character and the experience and the integrity and the performance" of McCain.'
These people are shit. They are speaking things that directly contradict what was said and what is on record, AGAIN, and people are letting them, AGAIN.
I want someone, just One Person to state, on air, that There Is No Attack, Here.
Your pain and trouble as a soldier mean Nothing about your future capability as a World Leader.
Stop letting people say that they have anything to do with one another.
Stop letting people conflate Patriotism and Leadership.
Stop letting people change the subject by saying the easy thing ("He's a hero and a patriot, by god") and make this about the underlying problems of fucking politcs, in this country.
Stop Letting People Refuse To Raise The Discourse.
STOP IT.
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no subject
Date: 2008-07-01 05:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-01 05:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-01 05:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-01 05:34 am (UTC)I'm just angry and extremely sad.
But ANGRY.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-01 05:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-01 03:03 pm (UTC)They could have at least been actually Funny about it.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-02 12:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-02 03:23 am (UTC)A playful Watkins responded: "I woke up this morning and I shaved myself and I cut myself accidentally, and I decided since I had that little accident, I needed a purple heart. So I wrote up a certification and awarded it to myself."
I will never forget (or forgive) hearing that.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-01 01:26 pm (UTC)The fact that Obama has him as his military adviser scares me.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-01 03:02 pm (UTC)The two have nothing to do with each other.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-01 04:17 pm (UTC)Maybe not. But being taken prisoner, offered release because your father is a 4-star admiral, refusing to unless everyone captured before you is released, and having the shit beaten out of you for the next five years because you stick to your principles? Mayhaps not a demonstration of leadership, but definitely one of character, fortitude, and perseverence.
"..no executive experience."
Neither does the candidate who hired you, General. Obama hasn't led a city, county, state, school board or even a fucking cub scout troop. The Harvard Law review is the closest he's ever got.
Correct. These aren't attacks. Attacks have direction and focus.
This is a kid with no athletic ability juggling CS gas grenades. Amusing for a while, but will end in tears.
From Montana, today...
Date: 2008-07-02 12:52 am (UTC)I saw this, and I have to tell you, I agree and I disagree. As someone who is a retired Marine, who also lost a husband in Dessert(spelling sucks) Storm, I think it is very important that the Commander and Chief of the largest military in the world have military experience. Mostly, because I have always believed you shouldn't expect anyone who is following you to go anywhere you aren't willing to go yourself. If a man is making a decision to send more of my family members off to war, then, by God, I want him to be empathetic to what the hell he is doing. I want to know he has walked a mile in my shoes. If it were up to me, you wouldn't even be able to run for president unless you had done at least 4 years in the military. On the other hand, your right--flying a plane and leading a nation are two entirely different things. You could be great at one, and suck at another...however, flyers are usually officers, and officers are usually expected to lead at least a squadron. So, while his decision-making skills might be questionable, we know at least, he has been in the hot seat, once or twice. I'd love to see his DD-214.
Re: From Montana, today...
Date: 2008-07-02 04:04 am (UTC)We, as a nation, need specific instances of leadership and executive decision making, clear thinking, and the handling of difficult situations, from our presidential candidates, and just because someone Does know the life on the ground does not mean they have those qualities.
Nor is someone without those experiences completely incapable of recognising their import and impact, and the longer we continue to ignore the ability of people to learn from situations other than their own, the more divided we are going to become, as a country.