Bob Dole saluting Bush's casket - Politics aside, stirring moment

[packman]

v

I have no love of either Bush or Dole, but this is just one human to human respect

[DinahMoeHum]

1. One serviceman saluting a fallen fellow serviceman

[DownriverDem]

24. Wow.

Unbelievable. Bob Dole is such a hero himself. He is a republican, like Bush, that does not exist anymore.

[olegramps]

100. Sorry, but I remember him trashing Kerry at the Rebukian Convention. No use for him.

[samnsara]

2. i still have my Role Hemp bumpersticker on my water heater ;)..

..I never disliked him..just his politics. I burst out in tears when I watched that on tv..

[pazzyanne]

75. So did I.

What it took for Bob Dole to show respect for George HW Bush at that moment is respect at it's highest level. Very moving.

[Norbert]

78. I teared up as well

Very moving.

[DashOneBravo]

3. He saluted with his left

Because his right arm was severely wounded by machine gun fire. He was wounded while fighting the Germans. He was in the 10th Mountain Division.

[EffieBlack]

8. I remember Al Franken, way back when he was "just" a comedian, taking off after folks who criticized

Dole for being "too old."

(Paraphrasing) "A Dutch reporter asked me, (Mimicking a Dutch accent) 'Is Bob Dole really running for president? He's so OLD!'

"I said, 'Really? He didn't seem too old when he was saving your sorry Dutch asses. How long did it take the Nazis to roll through Holland? An hour?'"

[renate]

11. good for him!

Obviously I disagreed with Bob Dole about just about everything, but damn. What a story of heroism. I hadn't known that he got his injury while saving another soldier.

And this today... it was incredibly moving. It was separate from politics. One serviceman honoring another.

[marble falls]

26. Al Franken has never been a bully not even in his comedy. He's done a lot visiting troops even ...

before his election. I not only wish Franken will run for office soon, but I wish more people were more like Franken in how they treated other people.

[George II]

32. I loved Franken as a comedian, loved him more as a Senator. Maybe......?

"How long did it take the Nazis to roll through Holland? An hour?"

[dubyadiprecession]

56. The Dutch army was getting slaughtered in the blitzkrieg.

The brave men there fought and died with what little they had. Even if it were as little as an hour, it was an hour too long.

[Catherine Vincent]

71. Yep, it was at one of those Correspondence dinners

I also remember when he mocked Phil Graham on his accent. I was rotflmao. I have it on video somewhere.

[EffieBlack]

72. Exactly!

I saw it and never forgot it.

[CentralMass]

77. Here is the link.

From the 1996 WH Correspondents Dinner.

[RedSpartan]

85. The Bob Dole comment is at 9:00

Followed by his Phil Graham impression.

[CentralMass]

86. +1

[calimary]

99. Good one! I miss Al Franken. A LOT.

I hope he returns to the political scene - and SOON! He still has so much to contribute.

And yes, it’s very fair to cut Bob Dole some slack. He’s certainly earned it.

[lostnfound]

4. Yep it was. Insisted on standing for it. Nt

[2naSalit]

5. K&R

My last remaining parent is in similar condition, this was touching because of what it means to them in particular but for those of us who recall what this country is about.

[proud patriot]

6. Moving

[handmade34]

7. oh my...

that is real...

[11cents]

9. He did the same for the late Senator Inouye.

Then someone found an amazing photo of the two together in the hospital after they were wounded. Not sure if this is the same one. Dole is front right, Inouye to the left.

]

[GulfCoast66]

10. Good god. They were kids. There always kids.

[dflprincess]

29. They were kids.

I think I was about 40 when I looked at picture of my dad in his uniform (the formal portrait they'd take so their mothers would have a nice photo, just in case) and thought "You were just a baby!".

[maddiemom]

91. My dad was in his early to mid-twenties, when he served.

He was known as the "Old Man." (Wow, I just remembered that he would have been One Hundred next month!)

[Hekate]

50. Those were heroes. Both men became US Senators and continued to serve the nation...

I just knew Sen. Inouye as a dignified middle aged man already in office when he spoke at my high school graduation -- I never saw a photo of him as this young man until now.

[Doreen]

76. The kid on the front left looks like he is 14.

OMG, just babies.

[Calista241]

84. That is an amazing picture. Thank you for posting.

[sarge43]

12. One warrior to another. They were there on St Crispin's Day

[bronxiteforever]

19. +1 Beautiful.

[sarge43]

44. Thank you.

[erronis]

13. Shows us all that it is not just black and white, good and bad

Bob Dole was my senator when I was a anti-vietnam protestor. He was still a real person, unlike those in that party now.

[Gore1FL]

20. I remember liking Dole, and especially Kemp as people.

I voted against them because I disagreed with them on a lot of issues. I never once questioned their patriotism or humanity.

Hard to believe that in 20 years neither "patriotism" nor "humanity" are words I would use to describe any politician in the GOP.

[Ilsa]

14. Bless his heart.

He made such an effort to pay his final respects.

[dlk]

15. They Put Country First

[keithbvadu2]

16. Cadet Bone Spurs also salutes the military members he respects.

Cadet Bone Spurs also salutes the military members he respects.

[AZ8theist]

27. I forgot about that picture..

Doturd is such a COMPLETE MOTHERFUCKING MORON.

How the fuck did my country elect such a fucking imbecile????????????????????????????

[TheBlackAdder]

45. There's a lot of stupid out there.

.



.

[Calista241]

62. I'm not sure I'd call them stupid. That family has made millions selling a wooden tube

that sounds like a duck when you blow air through it. At least 2 of the people in that picture have MBA's.

I might call them misguided, but not stupid.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

66. Who's the guy WITHOUT the beard ?

[Calista241]

83. I think he's the oldest brother. He's not a part of the business if i recall correctly.

[colorado_ufo]

104. I once saw a picture of them ALL without beards, in their "natural habitat."

They were all "yuppies" who were willing to go the length and play the part in order to make the dough.

[BootinUp]

79. Lol. Nt

[Beartracks]

73. wtf Trump?? n/t

[Mrs. Overall]

17. K & R

Very moving.

[paleotn]

18. Back in the day....

We didn't have to agree with them and many times we did not. But for the most part, they were decent human beings.

One of my favorites from my college days. The pen shoved in the neck bit had me rolling on the floor.

https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/republican-debate-cold-open/2868064

[efhmc]

21. What exactly ever happened to decent Republicans.

As much as I hated their politics, I never hated them as humans. I can no longer say that.

[snort]

23. The party tended toward Authoritarianism.

Easier to take over.

[calimary]

103. There aren't any more. I can't identify a single one.

I'd actually like to be wrong about that. But I can't think of a single name. Maybe Bob Dole, but that's about it.

[dalton99a]

22. Kick

[Stinky The Clown]

25. Indeed.

[backtoblue]

28. K&R nt

[erpowers]

30. The Effort It Took

For me it is the effort it took for him to perform the salute. He really did not have to go through that to give that salute. It makes me think that he really respected President Bush. I do not think you go through that much trouble to salute a person you do not respect.

[Polybius]

52. They went at it big-time in 1988

Bush played very dirty in that primary. Dole is the better man though, and should have won then.

[UncleTomsEvilBrother]

31. Optics...optics.

This was all done for optics and the narrative. If it were a natural moment, I guess I would've been saying "moved" and "beautiful".

Bush and Dole were both pretty bad as far as politics go. I feel sorry for Dole because he has limited mobility. I feel sorry for the Bush family because they have lost a loved one.

Other than that, this Dole act made me uncomfortable.

[Kittycow]

36. I think it was because Bush signed the ADA .

Bob Dole fought the GOP and big monied interests for decades, IIRC, to stop discrimination against disabled people.

And they're still doing it as recently as now. GOP is currently removing some protections and also refused to ratify an international treaty to protect the disabled in 2012.

That's why I think Sen Dole went through that great big thing to salute him.

[EffieBlack]

42. Wow.

[Hekate]

53. Petty...petty

[Ciaphas Cain]

57. It's an honorable gesture

It's considered to just be polite for a veteran to stand and salute the casket of another veteran if he's able. He was supposed to do what he did.

[John Fante]

80. Ugh. Just ugh.

[RedSpartan]

88. Dude. I'm as big a cynic as you'll find. But no. Just no.

[BannonsLiver]

94. Of FFS give it a rest

[UncleTomsEvilBrother]

95. I'm so glad the elections in '18 taught me one thing...

...your faux frustration with political comments do absolutely nothing towards moving the needle towards in a positive direction.

I never insulted the deceased President and actually empathized for the disabled Senator.

I just find it appalling that Dole was wheeled out there for that photo op and a narrative towards idolatry. The current Presidency has made me more cognizant than ever that these ceremonial occasions are only meant to cover up the bad political decisions these people make and the impact that they have on my life.
I don't always have the economic privilege to "give it a rest."

[BannonsLiver]

96. You'll be alright.

Rub some dirt on it.

[UncleTomsEvilBrother]

97. LOL!!!!

Just read your stuff. Seems that you already have done rubbing. Be Blessed, Beloved.

[BannonsLiver]

98. LOL

It’s a figure of speech for people whining about things that don’t matter. But that you went right for the third grade humor says a lot. We’ve already learned you’re triggered over people in wheelchairs. What else?

[Honeycombe8]

33. Oh, my. That is so moving. He will put his frailty on display in order to salute his fellow soldier.

[MustLoveBeagles]

60. +1000

[George II]

34. When I first saw this today, one of my thoughts was Bush and Dole were defeated by Clinton.

[Polybius]

54. Yup, he defeated not one but two WWII heroes

That wasn't easy. Clinton was very popular, other that a short stint from late '93 to early '95.

[elmac]

35. I will always believe that the WWII generation was the greatest generation. nt

[Haggis for Breakfast]

39. I fear for the younger generation.

Should they ever be called upon as The Greatest Generation was, to answer the call with selfless heed, they would utterly fail.

They think sacrifice is being told to turn off your cell phone for the duration of a doctor's appointment or a movie.

[EffieBlack]

41. I started worrying in college

When the student union restricted beer sales and students staged a protest, singing: "All we are saying, is give beer a chance."

I knew then we were screwed.

[elmac]

47. The WWII generation was forged by the great depression

a decade of lost hope, mass suffering, a total collapse of a society in which they believed in. It wasn't a fluke, there wasn't anything special about the individual, it was the perfect storm that prepared them for another perfect storm to come. I hope the younger generation will never experience such events but only time will tell.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

55. I concur. My folks often spoke about the Depression.

It sounds soul-crushing. Bread lines. Soup kitchens. Rationing coupons. Invasive hunger. And yet, the very programs that FDR put in place to pull the country out of the suffering are under attack today by people who never lived through those hard times or have any appreciation of the abject poverty that people survived and the sacrifices they had to make to do so.

Sadly, the younger generation WILL experience such events as climate change creates unimaginable tragedy, deprivation and hardship. And they are not prepared for that.

[Moebym]

59. Oh, brother...not this again.

If I had a dime for each time I've seen someone from an older generation accuse those of my generation of being lazy and entitled, I'd be set for life.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

63. It's unfortunate that you took this personally.

I don't know what "generation" you feel you represent, but I am basing my observations on my personal, first-hand experiences with people much younger than myself. Seeing is believing and from what I have seen, given my experiences with hardship and sacrifice, I stand by what I said. Does that apply to ALL younger than me ? No, but I have witnessed such selfishness, self-centered, self-absorbed young folks that cannot conceive of what people born in harder times survived, that I doubt that most of them could muster up the inner strength to cope.

Some people complain. Some people double down and endure. It's up to each of us to rise above our circumstances.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

65. P/S If I had 10 cents for every dime that I EARNED, I'd be set for life, too.

[DashOneBravo]

67. I use this point

6,951 US military members have been killed since 9/11. Ten’s of thousands have been wounded.

That’s an all volunteer force.

[JI7]

69. nothing to fear. the "greatest generation" supported Reagan, W Bush, Trump etc

for President.

while the younger ones supported the democrats in huge numbers.

[sarge43]

93. Are you referring to these young men and women?

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10141992571

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210267694

Anthony Borges: Shot five times holding the classroom door shut to protect his teacher and fellow students.

No one generation has a corner on courage or that last full measure of devotion.

[TheCowsCameHome]

37. My goodness, what a moving tribute.

I think I have something in my eye...

[Haggis for Breakfast]

38. The Greatest Generation.

My Dad's generation. When people understood that you could disagree without losing respect for one another. Or then race to twitter to spew vulgarities for cheap political gain from imbeciles . . .

[True Dough]

40. Dole is 95, needs a wheelchair, still stands while aided to salute his fallen fellow veteran

Trump skips a Memorial Day service because it rained, got five deferments from serving in the military as a young man.

Trump took a jab at John McCain for being "captured."

Who are the honorable individuals here?

[TomSlick]

43. Now THAT was a meaningful salute!

Not the mockery performed by Cadet Bone Spurs.

[sellitman]

46. Never liked his politics but.....

despite his stiff personality while stumping for President he was actually a real funny guy with a great wit.

And so it seems much honor.

I salute Mr Dole.

[GulfCoast66]

48. He used self deprecating humor. That is the key for me.

Don’t like most of his politics. Although he was instrumental for the ADA. And people of good intent can actually disagree on the proper role of government. I never doubted he supported what he thought was best for his country. Good god, he gave enough for it. More than most. Way more than me.

But watch the video again. Before he is attempting to stand. Watch him building up his breaths, obviously preparing for something that would take a supreme effort. This was not easy for him and may well be the last time he ever stands in public. Our current president could not even manage a 1/5 mile walk over.

But even in the early and mid 90’s Dole was an anachronism in the GOP. The rot had already set in. It has totally taken over now.

[Polybius]

49. Out of every Repub to have gotten the Presidential nomination, he's the most honorable since Ford

Easily more that Reagan, Bush Sr., Bush Jr., McCain, Romney, and Trump. If a Republican had to be elected, it should have been him over the above mentioned.

[bigtree]

51. he was making amends for the bad political blood between the two

...the rest is sort of pablum for stuff I'm certain I didn't support when Bush was alive.

[MustLoveBeagles]

58. Wow

I disagree with Bob Dole's politics but still like and respect him.

[CaptainTruth]

61. Wow. I'm floored. In tears. This isn't politics, it's humanity.

[Glimmer of Hope]

64. The effort Dole made to make this touching gesture of respect is

Striking compared to No.1 who can't expose his hair to a few rain drops or cross the street to Arlington simply acknowledge those who gave all. Damn.

[yellowdogintexas]

68. He also stood to pay respects to Senator Edward Kennedy

and Senator Inoyue

[Catherine Vincent]

70. Wow!

Very touching.

[orleans]

74. reading through these posts

i find the majority of them to be warm, sympathetic, kind, and understanding. many people are touched or moved by the video.

and here's me--negative nelly who can't seem to get around my cynical & negative attitude toward republicans and the moral, ethical, and political differences i have with them.

apparently i have lost my heart

[Scarsdale]

81. I am with you.

Years ago I read "Senator for sale" about Dole. He poured thru voting rolls in Kansas, made life miserable for anyone who voted (D), searched their tax papers. One man who was a critic was put in prison, and each time he came up for parole, his papers disappeared. He was a (D) So spare me the
love and respect" for a man who used plenty of dirty tricks to elevate himself. GHW was no respectable family man, he cheated on "love of his life" Barbara, and came close to divorcing her for Jennifer Fitzgerald. When competing with Bill Clinton, he approved exposing the womanizing, but Clinton refused to allow his aides to mention Fitzgerald, and other women.

[Scarsdale]

82. It annnoys me when the gop

tries to gain respect, after living lives of complete selfishness. McConnell will be next, everyone telling what a great politician he was. Yeah, right. Dole was given a condo in Florida by the Archer Daniels Midland company, for passing laws friendly to them and their business. Read the book.

[sarah FAILIN]

87. I had no idea how poor his health is now

It seems like he was recently interviewed for something related to his share of the corruption in the Trump administration and didn't seem nearly this frail.

Touching salute.

[sl8]

89. Bob Dole's final mission

From https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/bob-doles-final-mission/2018/06/18/93962908-6fff-11e8-afd5-778aca903bbe_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.e2bb53d7796a

Bob Dole’s final mission


Air Force veteran James Howerton, left, reacts as Navy veteran Leon Brooks of Nevada — with son Jerry — greets former senator Bob Dole at the National World War II Memorial in Washington. (Cheryl Diaz Meyer for The Washington Post)

By Steve Hendrix June 18

Each Saturday, before Bob Dole sets off on his latest vocation, he has cornflakes, a little sugar on top, and a bottle of chocolate Boost.

It takes less time to get dressed now that the 94-year-old finally allows a nurse to help him, but it remains a rough half-hour on a body racked by injury and age. The blue oxford has to be maneuvered over the dead right arm and the shoulder that was blown away on an Italian hillside. The pressed khakis over the scarred thigh. A pair of North Face running shoes, the likes of which his artillery-blasted hands have been unable to tie since 1945.

Then comes the hard part — getting there. On this particular June Saturday, the Lincoln Town Car with the Kansas plates is unavailable, so Nathanial Lohn, the former Army medic who serves as Dole’s nurse, helps the nonagenarian into Lohn’s Honda Insight. It’s tight, but good enough for the 20-minute drive to a monument the former senator all but built himself.


There, from a handicapped parking spot, he eases into the wheelchair as the greetings begin — “Oh my gosh, Bob Dole!”— finally rolling into his place in the shade just outside the main entrance to the National World War II Memorial.

...

More at link.

[bdamomma]

90. quite moving.

at least Mr. Dole can salute properly.

[maddiemom]

92. I was reminded of Dick Cheney...

attending Obama's inauguration in a wheelchair so that he was unable to stand. Allegedly he'd pull ed a muscle in his back, moving a heavy box (and obviously hadn't been as worried about his bad heart, as he usually was)...

[calimary]

102. I don't believe for a moment he really needed that wheelchair.

It was one last way to get a little attention (preferably to draw some AWAY from the new inauguree) and maybe sympathy.

[cynatnite]

101. I have never liked Dole at all, but this one moment is indelible...

They didn't like each other all that much, but there was always respect from what I've read.