The Call To Serve in Iraq: Are Bush grandkids fair game?

[Obamarama]

Okay, I have calmed down and apologize for anything unbecoming I said toward the moderator who locked two previous threads on this. If you've just stumbled across this thread and have no idea what I'm talking about, don't ask! :-)

The initial thread that got locked dealt with what I believe is an important question: should all the various Bush grandchildren (Bush 41 & Babs' grand-spawn), assuming they are old enough to serve, be challenged on why they are NOT serving?

Without posting any specific information about said grandchildren (to keep thread from getting locked), what do YOU think? I think they should grab a gun and go support the family business.

Talk amongst yourselves...(nicely)

[LoKnLoD]

1. Usually

Usually the rich never serve, except in rare cases. They don't have too. Can we send Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie to Iraq? Pretty please....

[Gato Moteado]

7. that's the point......the rich never serve.....

and what's worse is that it is rich criminals (i.e. bushco) that create the wars.

what good would paris hilton do in iraq? get serious.

let's get back to the point here. bush ( a puppet for the military industrial complex and the oil industry) signs whatever necessary and reads his scripts to the american public in order to wage a war for his daddy's buddies. bush and the repukes don't have to sacrifice anything because they get the poor to do their fighting. let's start looking at all the able bodied (yet mentally challenged, no doubt) spawn in the sleazy bush family. let's start demanding that bush (and the rest of the scuzzy repub politicians) answer questions on why their offspring are not doing their patriotic duty and "defending america from terror", etc in iraq.

[stanwyck]

15. some of the rich serve

Kerry's family was wealthy. So are the Kennedys. (Joe was killed in WWII and John was wounded). Gore went to Viet Nam.

[Gato Moteado]

19. they're the exceptions

some wealthy folks actually do serve, but they're almosty always democrats.

[ollie79]

11. yeah

The Rich suck! Jimmy Stewart's son died in Vietnam, right? Other than that I can't think of anybody, well Bush's dad, but everybody served in WWII, rich and poor.

[movie_girl99]

2. i'd be willing to wager that most repubs in house and senate

don't have kids of age that are serving. Hell their dad's didn't why should they??? I'm sure they're all tucked away in cushy schools or jobs.

[atreides1]

3. I Agree

All those of age should be required to enlist and volunteer for service in Iraq or Afghanistan.

But I also believe in mandatory military service like they have in some European countries.

[Goldmund]

4. It's not their fault.

But they should be treated like everyone else: either declare opposition to the war, or if you're going to support it -- put your money where your mouth is.

[brainshrub]

5. I think they should be left alone.

Jenna & Barbara are typical upper-class young adults. I've got nothing against them.

Paris Hilton is a worthier political target than the Bush twins.

ON EDIT: My only critism of the Bush twins is the same that I have for all young Republicans: Enlist now if you think the Iraqi war is worth fighting.

[MostlyLurks]

12. I don't understand the distinction.

Why is Paris worthier politically than Jenna, Babs, and those who shall not be named? Loathe Hilton as much as I do, at least she's not political in her celebrity - I don't think she has ever said one way or the other what she thinks re: the war or the administration, so why subject her to a grilling when the Bush twins (and some of Bush's nieces and nephews) have publicly supported the administration?

Seems to me that lambasting someone like Hilton for a position they've never taken makes little sense, but maybe I'm missing something.

And I would strongly disagree with the assertion that "Jenna & Barbara are typical upper-class young adults". No, they're the service-age children of a man who has openly and decisively called for America's sons and daughters to serve the country in the military. Bush made no distinction between college-educated and not, man or woman, etc. when he urged kids to serve. So, them first into the pool, I say.

Mostly.

On Edit: added snarky reference.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MostlyLurks]

16. Gee Thanks.

I believe this post constitutes a violation of DU rules. DEAR GOD, someone please lock this thread so I don't have to be subjected to such meanness anymore. Woe is me!

[Obamarama]

18. Oh, thanks alot......

Go ahead...get THIS thread locked too! :-)

[MostlyLurks]

20. I didn't get your original thread locked -

I only *helped* get several of the subsequent threads locked. ;)

Mostly

[Obamarama]

17. So why are you bothering to take part in it??

By the way, that's what the "Hide Thread" option is all about. Perhaps you'd like to avail yourself to that option.

Thanks so much for your valuable contribution to this discussion.

[MostlyLurks]

21. What I Couldn't Understand...

Was whether it was the entire *thread* that was pointless, or only my particular little branch of it.

Mostly

[MostlyLurks]

26. Just So's Ever-body Knows...

Not that anybody cares or is listening.

I did not go running to a mod to get the post deleted. That appears to have happened by happy coincidence.

Mostly

[brainshrub]

24. I was using Paris as an example

of someone not worth paying attention to. I could have used J-lo or PeeWee Herman.

[MostlyLurks]

27. OK, but I still don't get it.

Not that it's at all important, but I don't see how any celeb, marginal or otherwise, makes a better political argument.

Mostly

[Nite Owl]

6. Missed the previous threads

so to keep it short: YES

So should little Barbara and Jenna. If they believe that what this administration is doing is right and necessary they should be signing up.

[Caution]

8. They have a right to be left alone.

No reason not to ask Bush why they aren't serving, but there is no reason to harass them. The sins of the father should not be visited on the son.

[Dhalgren]

9. All American kids should have to go, or American parents

should have to stop this insane murder! If American parents are going to sit by and ignore what is being done in our name, then all of our children should be forced to go. If we don't want our kids to go, we should stop sending anyone's kids. Just my opinion...

[onecent]

10. I agree with you totally! We can't sit and pick and choose who

should go to war "just because they are rich --- beautiful --- and actually if you think about it that only takes care of about 15% of the people. They should not be exempt.

If it WAS A JUST WAR then it would probably be easier to see this.

[Fescue4u]

13. Its up to them as adults (assuming they are adults)

While I don't believe that grandkids of a past president have much say in National policy, they are certainly eligible to join the military if they wish.

Having said that, short of a draft, a past president, president, or even a regular parent really cannot force anyone to join.

[Patty Diana]

22. Well time for these 206,000 to enlist___calling Fonda a Traitor

What's your reaction to Fonda speaking out?
She's a traitor 51%
I don't care what she says 28%
She's a patriot 20%
How seriously do you take Fonda?
Not at all 72%
Very 16%
Somewhat 12%
Total Votes: 406,647
Note on Poll Results
http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20050725091609990026&ncid=NWS00010000000001

[KurtNYC]

23. I think this is a counter-productive angle

If you disagree with the war then NO ONE should go.

This would be like vegans telling other people to eat beef.

It seems reactively partisan and therefore insincere.

[Obamarama]

28. I disagree....

If merely disagreeing with the war would stop people from going ("If you disagree with the war then NO ONE should go") not one soldier would have ever set foot in Iraq. You're dealing with hypotheticals. The war in Iraq is not hypothetical.

I don't think any of the military-aged Bush spawn should be FORCED to go. On the other hand, if they support this war being waged by their father and their uncle, then they owe the American people an explaination as to why they don't have their asses over there taking the heat.

I might add that ANY military-eligible person who supports the war but is not taking up arms owes us a damned good explaination as well. I just think the Bush spawn, especially Jenna and Barbara, have a greater obligation to explain themselves.

[stanwyck]

33. You're right. However

when I hear the Young Republicans start their bombastic macho warmongering talk....I really wish they were instantly transported to boot camp at Parris Island and then shipped off to Iraq.
Not very charitable, I know.
But it's what I'm thinking.

[Zorra]

25. Talk amongst yourselves...(nicely)? WTF? n/t

[MostlyLurks]

29. You'd have to have seen the original post...

and all those that were subsequently locked. OP is making reference to abiding by the DU rules in order to ensure the thread is not locked.

Mostly.

[pecwae]

30. If there were a draft

they should be called as well as anyone else. If they are in support of war they should be willing to put their lives on the line for their ideals, no matter who they are.

[leftofthedial]

31. wealthy repukes have other priorities

[texanwitch]

32. I remember reading that in WWII FDR's sons were in the military

in combat, just had a different name.

[rocktivity]

34. I don't expect anyone to voluntarily serve

under such a miserable failure of a commander-in-chief.

If there's a draft and Bush kids weasel out of it, rest assured I'll scream bloodly murder. But until then, I would not deprive anyone of the right or ability to make up their own minds about joining the Bush military--as long as they've got all the facts.

:patriot:
rocknation