Stuck on stupid

The Washington Times ^ | 9-26-05 | David Limbaugh

[JZelle]

I believe Lt. Gen. Russel Honore's classic admonition to reporters, "Don't get stuck on stupid," was one of the best lines so far of the new millennium. Part of its enduring value is its uncanny applicability to politics these days. Gen. Honore made the statement to reporters who insisted on asking about Katrina when he was trying to focus on Rita. He said there would be plenty of time later to sort through inadequacies in the government's response to Katrina, but for now they need to deal with Rita's impending wrath. "Don't get stuck on stupid," thus became an instant metaphor -- at least to me -- for "Quit playing gotcha, quit dwelling in the past, and help us with solutions." Gen. Honore's metaphor perfectly fits the behavior of Democratic politicians in Washington and caterwauling liberal loons since 2000 -- that's right, the entire millennium, so far. In their singular obsession with George W. Bush -- "hatred" is probably more accurate -- they have been "stuck on stupid." To clarify, I'm not calling Democrats in Washington and the whacko left fringe stupid. Far from it. I am saying, though, that their perspective has been tainted by their consuming antipathy for George Bush. They don't even deny their contempt for President Bush but wear it proudly. I think they would deny, however, its irrationality and poisonous effects. Many seem to think it's a completely rational reaction to his "contemptible" policies, particularly the war with Iraq. They don't tell you their ill will for him significantly predated our invasion of Iraq, which many of them, by the way, supported.

[Mother Goose]

Thanks for trying, but that site won't let through a hot link for lack of bandwidth. It is a very interesting site, though, so I am going to bookmark it.

[auboy]

That's okay. Still the best laugh I've had in ages. :-)

[diamond6]

What was the reporter's reaction to this?

[SF Republican]

I thought that was blatantly obvious, personally. - and yet we have two answers

[excalibur1701]

It's backwards so a Ambulance driver can view it. <

[nuffsenuff]

But the one about the ambulances is wrong.

[Freeper john]

From the happy look on sheehans face, this pic and the one of her being arrested at the white house, makes me wonder if she still remembers her sons first name

[SF Republican]

I agree the Ambulance one is sarcastic; the one with closer to the heart Post 16 is in quotes, it looks like from some sort of manual.

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

The patch is displayed so that the flag looks the way it would if it were being carried into battle on a staff.

That's exactly right. Always on offense. As Rumsfeld would say "we lean forward" and take the fight to our enemies.

[excalibur1701]

Well, it was a failed attempt at humor, since the word Ambulance is written backwards so that drivers can read it in their rear view mirror. I'll keep my day job. hehe

[nuffsenuff]

So who is right?

[SF Republican]

I believe evets got it right, their reply appears the same as in the Army manual describing how to "wear" the flag.

[carolinablonde]

evets probably is correct.

My answer is the one I got long ago when I asked the same question of my dad. He is a 22-year USAF veteran.

Or, maybe the answer is just different in the Army. ;-)

[RoadTest]

"I have wondered for some time; why is it the American flag is backwards on a soldiers uniform?"

I know the answer to that. It's a picky product of small minds. (not the General's) But when I worked at a large car company as a graphic designer I made a decal for both sides of the car that contained an American flag. My supervisor said "You need two decals. I said, "I do? What for?" "Because the flag seen from the other side of the car will be blown the other way by the wind". I'm not making this up.