Is there a war on? Really? Oh, two? Two different countries? How many casualties? Wow

[omega minimo]

When are they coming home? All of 'em. How distanced are we from their reality?

Bad enough we have a front porch altercation and toxic megamedia focusing attention away from vital legistlative and national health care issues:
When do we remind ourselves of the troops in harm's way and subjected to Excrement In Broadcasting, courtesy of Armed Forces Radio?

The Gates matter is important on many levels and worthy of attention. And the toxic media cabal will manipulate our President into dancing their jig and whoops, there it is!! Distraction du jour.

May all the troops come home safe and sound and find some peace of mind while they are in country.

May those who gave their lives finally be witnessed and welcomed home with dignity and recognition.

May the veterans and the walking (or not) wounded find the support and care they need and deserve from the nation that they served.

May they know that we think of them and hold them in our hearts and will go out to support them next time, by questioning the next illegitimate and undeclared war on another nation.

Whether they like it or not. :evilgrin: :cry: :loveya: :patriot:

[JeffR]

1. 2nd rec

Wish I'd been the first.

I don't like the reference to the President dancing a jig. It detracts from the very important point you're making here.

[omega minimo]

2. Thank you for that, JeffR

And I don't like it, either. It is an apt analogy.... I have time to edit if you want to work it through with me...

I don't like the fact that he has been manipulated so successfully by the insane megamedia cabal -- or that people come here responding to that same source of insanity and consternation. I don't judge them but it IS possible to turn it off. Some of the concerns seem to be Buying Into The Notion that these guys are somehow the nation's COMMON reference point. They're not. And the people most upset aren't giving themselves the right to OPT OUT!!

"Excrement In Broadcasting" -- you heard it here first, folks. Pure coinage, right at the source. And he's a bloody waste of time.

If there's some offense in the dancing their jig reference, let's straighten it out. It's part of what bothered me today, thinking about him having to spend time on distractions, about manipulated short attention spans and made me think about the troops.

On another level, I'm concerned that our President is being manipulated to a degree much more offensive than any simplistic imagery could convey.

:pals:

[JeffR]

4. Thank you for a not surprisingly thoughtful response.

I guess my discomfort stems from the idea that the President strikes me as able to seize briefly on the fleeting contingencies of his (or any) presidency and turn them to advantage.

I've felt more than once a sense of disappointment with some specimen of naked political calculation the Administration has resorted to. but I think based on obsessive attention paid that this sort of thing is the sort of thing the President is profoundly adept at capitalizing on. The time expended on this crud is unfortunate, but nonetheless there may be something coming out of all this that may, in the end, be good, distraction though it may be from pressing matters under the spotlight.

I guess I feel a little more optimistic than you do. Not saying I don't feel great cause for worry, but this man has the right stuff to handle both exigencies and long-term strategies. I might not agree with his handling of either or both sometimes, but...

[omega minimo]

5. We may agree

on the fact he -- if anyone -- has the capability to handle the toxic megamedia circus and it's a shame that he has to.

That may be why he was hired-- erm- elected.

"The time expended on this crud is unfortunate, but nonetheless there may be something coming out of all this that may, in the end, be good, distraction though it may be from pressing matters under the spotlight."

That's a very Buddhist perspective and the truth will out.

"Not saying I don't feel great cause for worry, but this man has the right stuff to handle both exigencies and long-term strategies."

He does. And he has come in at a time that the whole rigged game is completely insane. He could have tried to be Jack Kennedy and he gets to be corporate dog and pony show guy.

I wish him and the nation the best.

[SammyWinstonJack]

19. The insane megamedia cabal manipulated millions into voting for corporate candidate Obama, when

other candidates were clearly a better choice for the majority of Americans.

[Flaneur]

3. Who knew?

[leftstreet]

6. The antiwar movement is dead

And it's seriously doubtful that the Republicans have the balls to revive it.

[timeforpeace]

10. It was alive and well until January 20, 2009

[SammyWinstonJack]

20. +1

:thumbsup:

[JohnnyLib2]

7. Pleased to recommend this one.

So much chaff, so little wheat is posted these days. :thumbsup:

[omega minimo]

8. Much obliged, JohnnyLib2

:toast:

[GA_ArmyVet]

9. Interesting that you say that,

I was talking with a Commander a few weeks ago. I don't remember exactly how conversation started, but he made the comment that our training budget had to be cut because the country was at war. I responded that understood on the training budget, but that the County was not at war, the US Military is at war, the rest of the country is at the Mall shopping or at home watching American Idol.
One the problems with a professional all volunteer Military is that the rest of the country is not emotionally invested in whatever war is currently being fought. Yes they are some die hard protesters, but by and large in this country, the prevailing attitude is "if it ain't happening to me and mine, I don't really care". We have not become Isolationist as a country, but as individuals it sometimes appears we have. Of course this apathetic attitude helps promulgate wars since leaders are more likely to risk lives of people who volunteered to serve. Hell, I have seen it on here, people here don't care about the soldiers because the volunteered. I volunteered several times during my 22 Years, of service, and not once did I do it because I wanted to go kill things, or because, I was some mentally deranged, violence loving lunatic as many people believe all soldiers are. I did it to pay off bills, to see the world, and well, here is the crazy part, I felt I owed my country for the opportunities we have here. Ok, so I will get off my soapbox now.

I was not and am not in favor of a draft, but if the rest of the country does not feel the pain of a conflict, it will soon be forgotten. Perhaps, rationing, or other daily reminder, to spread the pain would awaken those who are sleeping and arouse them to the point that they scream to finish the damn thing and come home.

Ok, sorry for running on, I get a little emotional on this issue.

[omega minimo]

11. There are many things that have changed since Gulf War I in our society

including media consolidation/censorship and the glamorization of soldiering via those hi tech, sexy recruiting campaigns.

"Yes they are some die hard protesters, but by and large in this country, the prevailing attitude is "if it ain't happening to me and mine, I don't really care". "

Many of the "die hard protestors" are families and soldiers affected by Gulf War II.

One of my big concerns,
on top of the obvious,
during 2003 protests,
was the effect on troops who after-the-fact would realize
(as we knew then)
or maybe never understand and live in denial
(either way sucks)
how and how much they had been lied into war.

PTSD was gonna be bad enough, here kid, have an extra dose of mindf**k.

"I was not and am not in favor of a draft, but if the rest of the country does not feel the pain of a conflict, it will soon be forgotten. Perhaps, rationing, or other daily reminder, to spread the pain would awaken those who are sleeping and arouse them to the point that they scream to finish the damn thing and come home. "

There are many reasons, some mentioned above, that people are sleepwalking.

With all due respect and understanding each situation is unique, in general the responsibility for these wars is shared by those who join up to have the benefits. For a long time those commercials were selling the glamor and advancement available while the US was not at war. People bought into that lie, that this was about education and seeing the world. No, it's about war and for decades, it's been about illegal and undeclared war.

We don't need rationing, we need universal training in marketing and media tactics that bamboozle the nation. That informed populace one of the Founders used to talk about.

[omega minimo]

12. Journalist embedded with brigade in Iraq

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6153126

[Obamanaut]

13. My first 'rec' in a week. Damn, this was a good post! nt

[omega minimo]

14. Much obliged, Obamanaut

btw, Yours is one of the Top Du Screen Names IMHO

Please check this out also.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6153126

[hfojvt]

15. Heath A. McMillin Canandaigua, NY 07-27-03

I have acutally been wearing my button lately. And tomorrow is the 6th anniversary of his death.

http://www.militarycity.com/valor/256760.html

[omega minimo]

16. Dear hfojvt

:cry:

"His bravery in action, his commitment to freedom and democracy and his loyalty to his country will forever be his legacy,” she said."

[omega minimo]

17. kicking for the ones not coming home

:cry:

[omega minimo]

21. Honoring Heath A. McMillin -- 6 years gone.

[Obamanaut]

18. Kixk for the Monday group. Good posts in this thread. nt