Does Bush deserve a Purple Heart?

[UnrepentantSinner]

Apparently so (http://www.kdhnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=15367). Looks like the metaphorical slings and arrows he's been subjected to have caused grevious emotional injury and a Copperas Cove, TX VietNam vet thinks he deserve's a Purple Heart for it.

[slingblade]

It's one thing to want to make that gesture.

One crazy thing, but hey, whatever.

But to accept it...I find that disrespectful.

[sophia8]

It's one thing to want to make that gesture.

One crazy thing, but hey, whatever.

But to accept it...I find that disrespectful.
Thomas said the Purple Heart he is presenting the president has special meaning to him because the injury he suffered to earn it occurred just after a friend, Richard Peterson, lost his life attempting to save him.

"The hand grenade came in, and I didn't see it. Before diving, which he should have ... he pushed me down and the delay cost him his life," Thomas recalled. "Shortly after that, I was laying in position ... and took a .50-caliber round that shattered my shoulder blade and virtually took out my right lung."Yeah - just unbelievable. Bush could have showed real integrity by gently turning down the offer and telling Thomas that he hadn't done anything to deserve a real battle medal. Instead, he accepts it as his rightful due from a loyal subject. Sheesh!

[Mephisto]

Simply amazing!

Thomas said he and his wife came up with the unprecedented idea to present the president with the Purple Heart over breakfast one morning a few months ago as they discussed the verbal attacks, both foreign and domestic, the commander in chief has withstood during his time in office.

Too bad this befuddled veteran never questioned whether the verbal attacks were valid.

And all from the party that questioned John Kerry's FOUR Purple Hearts. Do these bastards feel no shame whatsoever?

[ponderingturtle]

And all from the party that questioned John Kerry's FOUR Purple Hearts. Do these bastards feel no shame whatsoever?

You realize they are politicians, so that makes the answer to any such question of shame moot, right?

[Mephisto]

You realize they are politicians, so that makes the answer to any such question of shame moot, right?

Yeah, I guess you're right, but these particular politicians are willing to publicly stoop lower than any we've seen before. Talk about the height of hypocrisy!

[fuelair]

And after I thought Bush could not possibly be any lower. I still have much to learn.

[Mephisto]

And after I thought Bush could not possibly be any lower. I still have much to learn.

I have plenty of confidence that they'll outdo themselves in the next two years; I envision Bush pinning a a Global War on Terrorism medal and a Iraq Campaign medal on big Dick Cheney. Who knows, he could even put himself in for a Medal of Honor.

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/medalsanddecs/l/blwotmedals.htm

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/medalsanddecs/a/iraqafghan.htm

[Cello Man]

Does Bush deserve a Purple Heart?

Did he at any time suffer battle wounds in defense of this country? What? He didn't?

Then NO.

Simple as that.

[Overman]

Even Eight year olds know the difference....

"Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me...

[Upchurch]

Instead, he accepts it as his rightful due from a loyal subject. Sheesh!
Wait, did he accept it? The article doesn't say.


eta: I have an extremely hard time believing that Bush would accept the medal.

[Beerina]

Brave Soldier: "The hand grenade came in, and I didn't see it. Before diving, which he should have ... he pushed me down and the delay cost him his life," Thomas recalled. "Shortly after that, I was laying in position ... and took a .50-caliber round that shattered my shoulder blade and virtually took out my right lung."

President: I think I was on a 4 day coke bender that week. Hehehehehe.

[fuelair]

Wait, did he accept it? The article doesn't say.


eta: I have an extremely hard time believing that Bush would accept the medal.
Yes he did. Here: http://www.thecoveherald.com/page3.html

[Mephisto]

Does Bush deserve a Purple Heart?

Did he at any time suffer battle wounds in defense of this country? What? He didn't?

Then NO.

Simple as that.

. . . but he DID get a paper cut while working for the Blount campaign. ;)

[thinkingaboutit]

This makes me want to vomit.

[Upchurch]

Yes he did.
Bouncing Baby Jebus on a Pogo-Stick! That is beyond vile.

I applaud Bill Thomas and he has every right to do what he wants with his medal, but for Bush to accept that what he has gone through in any way compares to what Thomas did to earn that medal is beyond the pale. What a selfish, disgusting simulation of a human being.

[Lurker]

I am hoping that Bush really just wants to meet the man face to face and will turn the medal down when offered. That would be the thing to do IMO.

Lurker

[Upchurch]

I am hoping that Bush really just wants to meet the man face to face and will turn the medal down when offered. That would be the thing to do IMO.
That's what I thought. fuelair's link indicates otherwise.

What a dick.

[KoihimeNakamura]

To play Devil's Advocate, he could have accepted it out of respect that someone would give it to him.

Personally, though, I'm unimpressed. Bush never really fought for the USA and has no real right to accept it.

[President Bush]

I accepted a Purple Heart from a Vietnam Vet because I got criticized. Guess Kool-Aid runs from the faucet in Copperas Cove.

[Lurker]

That's what I thought. fuelair's link indicates otherwise.

What a dick.

I echo your sentiment after reading the latest as past tense. *shakes head*

Lurker

[Esperdome]

I don't think Bush deserves a Purple Heart, but the people that go hunting with Cheney should be eligible. :D

[PrincessIneffabelle]

I accepted a Purple Heart from a Vietnam Vet because I got criticized. Guess Kool-Aid runs from the faucet in Copperas Cove.

I used to live in Copperas Cove. It is right next to Ft. Hood in what I like to call "The Armpit of Texas". It is a vile, conservative, shabby little army town.

[Darth Rotor]

I used to live in Copperas Cove. It is right next to Ft. Hood in what I like to call "The Armpit of Texas". It is a vile, conservative, shabby little army town.

I am sure they miss you. :rolleyes:

DR

[UnrepentantSinner]

I'm of the opinion that since Thomas is giving his Purple Heart to President Bush, not awarding him with it, there's nothing really wrong with the gesture per se... but I have a big problem with the sheeple mentality that thinks the President was "injured" by criticism of his initation and execution of the Iraq war to the point where such a cheesy symbolic gesture is warrented.

Presidents from the time of Washington have taken crap for their decisions, and I think it's a denigration of the Purple Heart to make a token guesture for being badmouthed. A clerk-typist at Khe Sanh or Bastonge who got a paper cut filing paperwork deserves a Purple Heart more than President Bush.

[Dr Adequate]

I think if someone also shot him that would make it fair.

I'll need travelling expenses and ... er ... one of those pointy things that goes BANG, what do you call them again?

[Lonewulf]

If President Bush was actually ever injured in the line of duty ("duty" including the presidency; it IS the Commander in Chief, after all), I could see him getting the purple heart.

But being badmouthed? Pfft.

The fact that Bush is accepting the award makes him look like a pussy. "Oh my gawd! I got badmouthed! It's just as bad as being shot in the throat on the combat field!" That's the message I'm getting... it may not be fair, but for chrissakes, the Purple Heart is supposed to mean something!

[UnrepentantSinner]

If President Bush was actually ever injured in the line of duty ("duty" including the presidency; it IS the Commander in Chief, after all), I could see him getting the purple heart.

This is just a quibble, and I agree with the rest of your post that I snipped, but Constitutionally, while the President is Commander in Chief, it is a civilian position, and as such not one where where military medals would be awarded.

[Upchurch]

I'm of the opinion that since Thomas is giving his Purple Heart to President Bush, not awarding him with it, there's nothing really wrong with the gesture per se...
As I said earlier, I have nothing against Thomas giving it to Bush. I have a very big problem with Bush accepting it for the reasons that Thomas is giving it.

[Lonewulf]

This is just a quibble, and I agree with the rest of your post that I snipped, but Constitutionally, while the President is Commander in Chief, it is a civilian position, and as such not one where where military medals would be awarded.

Okay, but technically, he was not awarded a purple heart in this case, but given it to him by a soldier. So I can still see him accepting the purple heart through unofficial channels, for being physically injured.

So yeah, you're right, he shouldn't be awarded the heart officially, no.

[brodski]

If purple hearts are being given away for “emotional harm”, does this mean that every serviceman who is shouted at, criticized or has mean things said to them during their service deserves a Purple Heart too?

I suspect a conspiracy organised by the powerful (and shadowy) medal manufacturing lobby…

[Mephisto]

If President Bush was actually ever injured in the line of duty ("duty" including the presidency; it IS the Commander in Chief, after all), I could see him getting the purple heart.

But being badmouthed? Pfft.

The fact that Bush is accepting the award makes him look like a pussy. "Oh my gawd! I got badmouthed! It's just as bad as being shot in the throat on the combat field!" That's the message I'm getting... it may not be fair, but for chrissakes, the Purple Heart is supposed to mean something!

Purple hearts ARE supposed to mean something, after all they don't just hand them out to any soldier. Of course, they stopped "meaning something" when all the right wingers started questioning John Kerry's four purple hearts.

[Upchurch]

Kerry's four Purple Hearts?

[hgc]

If President Bush was actually ever injured in the line of duty ("duty" including the presidency; it IS the Commander in Chief, after all), I could see him getting the purple heart.


He's the commander-in-chief only at the top of the military chain of command. He's not the commander-in-chief over anyone else, and he's not acting as commander-in-chief in any capacity other than in military command. If he is injured falling off his bicycle on the way over to the Capitol to deliver his veto in person, then no purple heart. If he's wounded in combat, then sure.

The U.S. military has a commander-in-chief. The country does not.

[Ocelot]

Wait, did he accept it? The article doesn't say.


eta: I have an extremely hard time believing that Bush would accept the medal.

From the original link (http://www.kdhnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=15367)

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

That's the bit that made me feel sick. Actually soliciting this unedserved presentation.

[Mephisto]

Kerry's four Purple Hearts?

Oops! Maybe it was just three:

Now Rupprath is pursuing the questions raised by the anti-Kerry veterans -- such as the nature of the wounds that led to the awarding of three Purple Hearts to the young lieutenant, and the circumstances under which he was decorated for valor.

http://dir.salon.com/story/opinion/conason/2004/07/16/swift_boat_veterans/index.html

[Lonewulf]

He's the commander-in-chief only at the top of the military chain of command. He's not the commander-in-chief over anyone else, and he's not acting as commander-in-chief in any capacity other than in military command. If he is injured falling off his bicycle on the way over to the Capitol to deliver his veto in person, then no purple heart. If he's wounded in combat, then sure.

The U.S. military has a commander-in-chief. The country does not.

Haven't people gone over this already? :boggled:

Kerry's four Purple Hearts?

If someone got four injuries, after the second I'd give him a smack on the head instead of a medal, and then inform him that ducking tends to help.

[Mephisto]

That's the bit that made me feel sick. Actually soliciting this unedserved presentation.

I suppose he sees it as a way to either bolster his sagging approval rating, or to give him something to talk about when he calls his mother this weekend.

Lookie here, mama, I got me a Purple Heart!

[hgc]

Haven't people gone over this already? :boggled:


I wish it were more clear. I have heard this president and his supporters continually emphasize his role as "commander-in-chief" in regard to his prerogatives in determining all manner of policy under the "national security" rubric -- ever expanding and all-encompassing to the imaginitive political theorist of the national security state.