Jenna Bush: "It's Not Even A Practical Question" To Ask Why I'm Not In Iraq

[LynneSin]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/10/11/jenna-bush-its-not-eve_n_68043.html

Jenna Bush: "It's Not Even A Practical Question" To Ask Why I'm Not In Iraq
Time | October 11, 2007 11:23 AM


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The following Q&A With Jenna Bush is from Time Magazine's weekly 10 Questions feature where readers submit questions online.

Below is a question from Donald Pence, San Francisco about Jenna Bush service in Iraq.

If the war in Iraq is so noble, why aren't you and your sister serving our country there?

Jenna Bush: I understand that point, but there are many ways to serve our country, and I think my skills are better suited for teaching and representing the U.S. in Latin America through unicef. I respect the men and women of our country who are over there fighting. It is an unbelievably selfless thing to do. But if people really thought about it, they would know it's not even a practical question.

[librarycard]

1. ...nor why her dad wasn't in Vietnam, nor Cheney, nor Rush, nor

rethug ad infinitum.

[SpiralHawk]

12. "Smirk, smirk, smirk" - Commander AWOL

"Like father, like daughter-smirk smirk smirk" - Commander AWOL

[Captain Hilts]

19. Nor Newt, nor McConnell, nor Lott, nor Gramm, nor Buchanan [though he's against the war], nt

[stellanoir]

2. ergo. . .

It would be highly impractical for anyone else to be over there.

Why should anyone be sullying their beautiful minds trifling over there?

[Jim__]

3. there are many ways to serve our country ...

... and I chose one that doesn't involve putting my ass on the line.

[Cass]

4. Oh, its practical to ask this question.

Elvis managed to do it.

What is the history of Elvis Presley's military career?
Elvis Aron Presley entered the United States Army at Memphis, Tennessee, on March 24, 1958, and then spent three days at the Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, Reception Station. He left active duty at Fort Dix, New Jersey, on March 5, 1960, and received his discharge from the Army Reserve on March 23, 1964.

During his active military career Mr. Presley served as a member of two different armor battalions. Between March 28 and September 17, 1958, he belonged to Company A, 2d Medium Tank Battalion, 37th Armor, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. During this assignment he completed basic and advanced military training.

Mr. Presley's overseas service took place in Germany from October 1, 1958, until March 2, 1960, as a member of the 1st Medium Tank Battalion, 32d Armor. For the first five days of that period he belonged to Company D of the battalion, and thereafter to the battalion's Headquarters Company at Friedberg.

While in Germany Mr. Presley wore the shoulder sleeve insignia of the 3d Armored Division.
http://www.army.mil/CMH/faq/elvis.htm

Seems like no one in that family wastes an opportunity to speak condescendingly to us little people. "But if people really thought about it, they would know it's not even a practical question."

[LynneSin]

6. Joe Biden's kid is getting ready to ship off at the beginning of 2008

You'd think if Dad didn't have the pull to get Jr. out of Iraq then at least the fact that Beau Biden was just elected Attorney General here in our state of Delaware might give Beau a free pass. But Beau will be shipped off. Mind you, he's part of the JAG but still - I wouldn't want my ass in Iraq

[Doremus]

26. Jimmy Stewart, Henry Fonda, Glenn Ford, Robert Montgomery

Ed McMahan, Gene Autry, and many, many other famous people interrupted their careers to fight for their country in WWII. Even Raygun had more balls than the draft dodging, chicken hearted pukes who prefer to send other people's children into war.

I hate spoiled children of privilege who think their lives are more precious than anyone else's.

[Captain Hilts]

28. Tom Landry, Victor Mature, Doug Fairbanks, jr, Don Adams, James Garner, Tony Randall...

Public officials had children killed:

Step son of Gen. George C. Marshall
Son of presidential aide Harry Hopkins.
Son of Joe Kennedy

[martymar64]

58. Charles Durning survived the Malmedy massacre

at the Battle of the Bulge.

[Clark2008]

41. Al Gore served, as well.

That's why they call Tennessee "The Volunteer State."

:)

[Zywiec]

5. Actually I think it makes sense

The reason Prince Harry wasn't allowed to go to Iraq was because everyone around him would become a giant target. I certainly wouldn't want to serve anywhere near someone like that. Basically they would have to be surrounded by the Secret Service 24/7. How would that work?

[LynneSin]

7. True - but the difference is Harry fought hard to try and go to Iraq

because he was a soldier and that's what they are suppose to do.

I'd have more respect if at least she tried to serve and was rejected because of being a first daughter vs. not even trying at all

[Captain Hilts]

29. The royals make a point of doing their bit. QEII was a truck mechanic. nt

[poiuytsister]

68. She isn't going to be the first daughter forever.

She will be ready to go in a year (yay!)

[Left Is Write]

69. She will always be a "president's daughter" even when her father's

trainwreck of a "presidency" is over.

[MilesColtrane]

61. Sons of royals and presidents have served in combat since....well, forever.

I imagine it would work the same way it always has.

[truebrit71]

8. .."Don't be stupid...I'm RICH...fighting wars is for poor people..."

...she has "skills"?....other than getting falling down drunk?

Who knew...:shrug:

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

9. "My skills are better suited for teaching and representing the U.S." You unskilled schmoos in the

military understand that, right? :batseyes: MKJ

[lonestarnot]

10. Too busy being a drunk, chip off the old blockhead.

[Captain Hilts]

17. This is unusual behavior for college-age kids? nt

[havocmom]

20. Outta college and allegedly a grown up

Or is she gonna be doing those youthful stupid stunts well into her 40s like her old man?

[Captain Hilts]

22. They seem to have done some growing up.

ps. 75% of all beer is consumed by people under the age of 35, so their behavior is actually normal.

[lonestarnot]

32. I leave the bushitler ass sucking to someone else, but thanks though MookieWilson.

[Captain Hilts]

34. It's not fair to go after someone's kids. Even these jerks. It's not about kissing Bush's ass.

[lonestarnot]

35. Who's fair?

Not me.

[havocmom]

40. What's also not fair is all the under 35 people in Iraq so Jenna's class can stay rich

Shouldn't THOSE 'kids' be home chuggin with Jenna?

[renie408]

42. What has that got to do with her?

Bitch about her father all you want. Should Chelsea have gone to Kosovo?

[havocmom]

44. When the twins joined the campaign back in 04, THEY made themselves fair game

Sorry, Jenna is a living example of the class struggle going poorly for all but the very very rich. She put herself in the public arena and she can take the lumps too.

[Captain Hilts]

48. Do you think they really wanted to campaign? That it was their choice? nt

[havocmom]

52. Hey, them or their family, they took the stage. We get to criticize them

It is not like they were shackled and dragged to the podium.

I keep remembering that charming pic of Jenna sticking her tongue out at the press from the limo... like a two year old. I suppose all college aged kids do that? No, actually they don't.

She is a pampered, spoiled product of her class and an extremely dysfunctional clan. She involves herself in public appearances. Why, now, she is allowing herself to be used as a diversion.

She participates, she is fair game for all the truths we care to speak about her.

[Captain Hilts]

47. Jenna didn't send them to Iraq. Julie Nixon didn't order the bombing of Hanoi...nt

[havocmom]

53. Jenna is in the class which is enriched by the war.

Jenna promotes her father and his criminal pResidency.

Jenna is not some innocent bystander.

[Kazak]

63. Fair?

Is it fair that our National Guard is hamstringed in Iraq? Instead of, well, guarding the nation?

(Or, any number of other examples I could think of...)

[lonestarnot]

54. There is not one fucking member of the bushitler tribe that I would give $.02 and a gumdrop for, so

your admonishments are of no use on me. Sorry Mookie Wilson. It's the piglicons that pick on kids (12 and just out of a coma) not me. She has earned her own piglicon attitude from me.

[graywarrior]

11. It's not even a question, it's a request.

No, it's an order--"get your ass to Iraq!"

[LSK]

13. Im sure 99% of the troops have better skills to serve the country

:grr:

[The Stranger]

25. That's great, but the question is who gets to be shot at and killed for her daddy's war crime.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

75. No, that's not true.

The proportion of soldiers who join up because they don't have any employable skills, and it's the only decent job they can get, is quite high.

[spanone]

14. ms jenna knows that no one of 'means' actually soils themselves with combat duty

that is for the peasants

[Captain Hilts]

15. True, but it IS practical to ask why no one in the WH or their kids are fighting in the war. nt

[book_worm]

16. OK, Jenna what about all your cousins and your husband to be, the guy who loves the outdoors?

Why aren't they serving?

[Captain Hilts]

18. Now that's a good question. nt

[nightrider767]

21. Hey, let's be fair

None of us choose our dad's. I would guess that based on odds, she hates her fathers 'new world order" as much as any one of us.

[Captain Hilts]

24. That's exactly right. nt

[AnotherGreenWorld]

46. I really doubt that.

[nightrider767]

49. I'm only guessing of course

But assuming she doesn't want to start a Bush family range war, I'm thinking she's fairly restricted in what she can say. If she doesn't want to participate in the war, who can blame her? Neither do I.

Even Bush senior, from everything he's said and actually not said, as well as from his gestures and body language, I think he believes this war was a mistake from day one. ANother guess

Course just as likely as you alluded to, she may be a big fan....

[Yupster]

57. I agree

It's an all-volunteer army, and she has the same right to volunteer or not volunteer as anyone else without me criticizing her for her choice.

[Major Hogwash]

23. Of course not, honey. You have to be patriotic to do that sort of thing.

Instead of being a selfish, money-grubbing, spoiled, little worthless shit like you've turned out to be.

[renie408]

43. I take it you are posting from the Green Zone? n/t

[Major Hogwash]

64. No, but making that type of assumption is humorous to me.

Yet defending little Jenna Bush is gonna be a tall order that you can't possibly win with me.

[flordehinojos]

27. bush sleeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaze answer. she has got the bush sleeaze right down to a tee!

[renie408]

30. There must be something wrong with me because I don't have a problem with her answer.

I think that protecting whales is a noble thing to do. I don't work on a Greenpeace boat. I support that cause in the way that is best suited to me. By discussing it with people I know and making contributions to the people that do serve on the boats.

I don't expect the children of the people who persecuted this war to be soldiers in Iraq. It seems petty and silly to even get cranked up about that. It seems like the kind of thing that Rush would say.

[LynneSin]

31. It's the snooty way she says it

Pure Bush.

Had she said something like "I would like to do something for the war but my presense in Iraq might endanger troops" I'd let her slide (btw - that's what happened with Prince Harry when he wanted to serve in Iraq).

[Kajsa]

33. She did say that.

In her interview on 20/20, Jenna said that her serving
in the war " would put others in danger".

I watched the interview.

That's an honest assessment of her military( or lack of ) skills,
and the top prize target she would be for the opposition.

[renie408]

36. You managed to get 'snooty' out of a simple written statement?

Look, I am as anti-Bush as the next person, but it takes away from REAL issues to attack stuff like this. It sinks 'us' as low as 'them'.

[Kajsa]

38. Hear, hear Renie!

This DOES remind me of something Rush would pounce on.

We are better than that.

:thumbsup:

[Akoto]

37. I agree that it would not be practical to have her there.

She's the daughter of the President. That makes her a prime target. Any unit she was placed with would be subjected at all times to the possibility of additional threats. The same thought was given when Prince Harry was to deploy to Iraq.

As well, I have to agree that there are many other ways to serve our country. She is not her father, so I'll not attack her for the existence of the war. One should not feel obligated to go simply because he or she is of age. I certainly don't, though that might've been different if I agreed with it in the first place.

[Coexist]

39. "because you know I have no good answer" she went on to say.

"wait a minute, I have to pee."

[Kajsa]

45. But she did have a good answer.

Just like Prince Harry, she would be THE Number One target for
the opposition. Anyone within firing range of her would be
targeted also.

She said that and we know it.

Fer crying out loud, let's put this incessant Jenna bashing to rest!

It's what Freepers do.

eom- I don't want to bump this anymore.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

50. Well, since she wants to make money from her "associated with Bush daddy" fame,

then she should deal with all the not so great stuff that comes with it.

She is an adult, she's made the choice to cash in on her name. MKJ

[MilesColtrane]

62. What you call a good answer, I call a bullshit excuse.

She should tell the truth, whatever it is.

Either she's against the war and not speaking out about it, or...

She's for the war, but would find enlisting inconvenient , or...

She's for the war, but afraid of getting wounded or killed.


The impractical excuse doesn't wash.


President John Tyler's son, David Gardiner Tyler, fought in Civil War for the Confederate Army.

President Zachary Taylor's son, Richard Taylor was a Confederate general in the Civil War

President Abraham Lincoln's son, Robert Todd Lincoln, served in the Civil War.

President Ulysses S. Grant's son, Frederick Dent Grant, fought in civil war alongside his father. He went to West Point, graduated in 1871, was in the military until 1881. He fought in the Bannock War in 1878, and in the fight against Victorio in New Mexico. In 1898, he went back into the army, and served as colonel in the Spanish-American War. He fought in the Philippine-American war for three years, and was in the army until his death in 1912.

President Rutherford B. Hayes' son, Webb Hayes, served during the Spanish-American war, was wounded during the crossing of the San Juan River and the assault on San Juan Hill, and again in the invasion of Puerto Rico. He was awarded Medal of Honor for actions in the Philippines. He also served in WW1.

President Theodore Roosevelt's son, Theodore Roosevelt, Jr, served in WWI as a major. He led his battalion in combat. All the Roosevelt sons served in the military. Teddy Jr. served in WWII, led troops during D-Day landings, and died of heart attack one month after Utah Beach landing.
President Theodore Roosevelt's son, Kermit Roosevelt, served in WWI and WWII with the British Army and the US Army.

President Theodore Roosevelt's son, Archibald Roosevelt, served in WWI and was wounded and discharged with full disability. He tried to join the Army again for WWII, but was turned down due to his age (48) and disability. He pleaded with FDR to intervene, which he did. He was given a commission as a Lt. Colonel, and commanded the 162nd Infantry. He was wounded again, and earned the Silver Star during combat in the Pacific Theater. He is the only American ever to be classified as 100% disabled twice, and the only serviceman retired on full disability from both world wars.

President Theodore Roosevelt's son, Quentin Roosevelt, fought with the Army Air Service. He was shot down behind German lines in France. The Germans buried him with full battlefield honors.

President William H. Taft's son, Robert A. Taft, wanted to serve, but was rejected by army for poor eyesight.

President William H. Taft's son, Charles Phelps Taft II, dropped out of Yale in order to serve in the US Army during WWI.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's son, James Roosevelt, was 2nd in command of the 2nd Raider Battalion of the Marine Raiders during WWII. He retired as Brigadier General, and earned the Navy Cross and Silver Star.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's son, Elliott Roosevelt, was an Army photo reconnaissance pilot during WWII, and played a key role in D-Day landings.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's son, John Aspinwall Roosevelt, served in the Navy from 1941-1946 during WWII. He received the Bronze Star.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower's son, John Eisenhower, served in the Army during WWII and the Korean War. He attained rank of Brigadier General.

President Jimmy Carter's son, Jack Carter, enlisted in the Navy at his father's suggestion. He served in Vietnam on a salvage ship.

[tabasco]

66. Great post!

Thanks!

[robertpaulsen]

51. Well Jenna, I have thought about it. How is it impractical?

I guess we know where you inherited your ARROGANCE from! Disgusting.

[Dave From Canada]

56. It absolutely is impractical.

[robertpaulsen]

65. Uh, no, that's a cop-out defense for a chickenhawk. n/t

[Dave From Canada]

55. Technically, that type of question can be posed to anyone on any topic. For example.

If educating children in Africa is so noble (which I'm sure most people would agree), why aren't you doing it? I know I think teaching children in Africa is pretty noble, however, I'm not there teaching children. It's a stupid, meaningless question. If both twins were serving in Iraq, it wouldn't make the war any more just. They can't be held responsible for the actions of their father.

[LynneSin]

59. True but.....

George Bush isn't waging a war on educating children in Africa.

It would be no different than asking the Gore kids what are they doing to help stop global warning. Hell Al Gore III at least was busted driving a Prius.

[B Calm]

60. I can picture her posing with nude POW's...

[bridgit]

67. Read Here: "I can't be jeopardizing my life of wealth & future dealings."

[Ilsa]

70. I hear there is an opening for payroll clerks at our base in Afghanistan.

Alot of people with English degrees are under-employed, Jenna.

[Swamp Rat]

71. "War is for poor, dirty people, not rich kids like me!"

[usaftmo]

72. Hey be nice to her...

she used the effort to pull the silver spoon out of her mouth...stay off the booze long enough to not speak like thish...and said there's no way she's going to physically help her dad with a modern-day Vietnam!

:sarcasm:

[CJCRANE]

73. "It is an unbelievably selfless thing to do".

Most of the troops are there because it's their job to do what they're told.

However, it would be a "selfless" act for Jenna to go to Iraq and support the mission if she truly believes in it.

[Monk06]

74. Faw Shaw !!!! Ask someone who cares. Like Duh !!!!!!! (Apologies to Moon Unit Zappa)

[Donald Ian Rankin]

76. Jenna Bush is absolutely right, and DU is absolutely wrong

Jenna Bush going to Iraq would place everyone around her in massive danger, and would be a spectacularly stupid idea for all concerned.

Moreover, since the US doesn't have conscription, there's no moral imperative on her whatsoever to do so. Saying that she shouldn't have the same choice as everyone else is foolish.

DUers saying that she should be made to go to Iraq are just as contemptible as the conservatives who were saying in 2000 that those who opposed war with Saddam should be made to go and live under his regime, because they're proposing exactly the same fallacy.

I think that she's handled this absurd attack on her quite well, all things considered. "Not even a practical question" is absolutely right.