Posted on 01/29/2014 8:24:55 AM PST by logi_cal869
I first caught wind of a thread about "the use of a soldier as a prop" less than an hour ago; it's amazing how little interest it's generated, aside from the ad hominem attacks against those that saw it less about 'honoring' SFC Remsburg, than 'using' him.
Late to rise & without coffee, it was easier than normal to not react and I took a devil's advocate stance, looking for fact, as I did not watch SOTU.
Where to go first? Web search came up with little; I went to DU and found this thread:
Title: F**K (edited)Interesting. I viewed over half the comments there and went back to the web. Again, very little, save for innumerable 'praise-props' and this The State of the Union's most Despicable Moment over at Time Opinion.He stood that soldier up at the end, the man with the blasted head and the ruined life, with the visible dent in his skull, who will never ever be even remotely close to the same again because of the ten deployments we sent him off to so someone he'll never meet can make a lot of money, and gave that man his reward: a standing ovation from the worst roomful of people on the skin of the Earth...
...followed by this burbled bit of spitup pabulum: "Sometimes we make mistakes."
WOW DUDE. DEEP.
Yeah. That happened. On national television.
That guy deserves better than a star turn in the parliament of whores, he deserves better than "Oops" from his Commander in Chief, and speaking of the boss, that guy deserves better than to be a prop in a passion play about how everything is awesome, and the last 13 years never happened.
I am sure the to-the-knife Obama defenders out there will seethe and howl upon reading this. Whatever, man. That was one of the more despicable displays I have ever had the misfortune to witness. He had the opportunity to do more than use a blasted, shattered soldier as a prop in a ZOMG HOW AWESOME IS AMERICA I MEAN TOTALLY montage, to maybe bring home some truths about actions and consequences...and he went for the easy applause line and the "Awwwww" moment.
You say "Awwwww" at puppies and babies. You don't say "Awwww" at ruined soldiers victimized by ruined policy deployed by a ruined country...and if you have half a conscience, you make note of that on the largest stage with the biggest microphone in the world.
Another missed opportunity in what has become a truly impressive string of missed opportunities. Yeah, the SOTU is a show. That does not mean it has to be utterly meaningless, and it certainly does not mean that it has to be grossly exploitative.
Maybe I'll feel different tomorrow upon review. I doubt it. I am sick to my stomach.
Ok. Again, grain of salt.
I went to Youtube to watch the SOTU segment in context (go to 59:19); I found that impossible, as he led up to it with a handful of 'speech aggrandizement/applause-segments', including a just-prior 'Team USA' segment. I stopped the video and went to the text of SOTU.
I scanned it 3 times: I cannot find BUT ONE reference to the fallen. The only mention of the dead in Afghanistan is a passing
"And in tight-knit communities all across America, fathers and mothers will tuck in their kids, put an arm around their spouse, remember fallen comrades, and give thanks for being home from a war that, after 12 long years, is finally coming to an end."in the 3rd paragraph.
I continued watching the segment & repeated without drinking (I recommend starting at 59:19...you really have to watch the segment from the paragraph before to get the body language); I'm dubious.
From the Commander in Chief, I find that appalling. Not surprised (from this CIC), mind you. Appalled, nevertheless.
In addition, reading the Commander in Chief's body language just prior to introducing SFC Remsburg (in particular that irreverent smirk), I found myself incensed.
Frankly, I have to agree with the DU poster, title & all, but have to add my disgust at not honoring the fallen. But that would have drawn more attention to the fact that more soldiers have died under Obama than Bush, wouldn't it?
The soldiers I, & my boy, know, would not have permitted themselves to be used in such a manner without that honor, that of his fallen comrades.
What say you?
Believe me, there has NEVER been a president who receives less respect from our honored military than this piece of excrement.
They are professional, and they are smart enough to keep silent, but their thoughts are most definitely not respectful of the slimeball-in-chief.
The wookie gave that "This is all for you" nod and smile about 11 times.
Thank God for drugs
What. . .no comment from the Big Zero about how he supports cutting that soldiers COLA?
I was having lunch in a large FedGov mess hall a couple of months ago when Obama went on live TV regarding Obamacare and discussing the failed site. Many people in the room were audibly laughing at him. It was truly amazing.
ECOMCON.
?
It came from a movie “Seven Days in May,” if I remember correctly.
The movie concerned a president ...and the military...which was so disgusted with him that they had formed a group termed “ECOMCON” that planned to do some things that the president might not have liked.
Funny, I rooted for Kirk Dougless back then.
Now? Dunno.
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