VIDEO- Cheney drops purple heart

[liveoaktx]

ooopppppps!

[jean]

1. hmmm - he does not salute the recipient, shakes his hand.

[Hand]

7. He's a civvie; they don't salute...

Plus, ahem... I see no reason why Crashcart Dickbrain would know how, anyway (nudge nudge, wink wink).

Here's a salute for Crashcart, however.

[leftchick]

11. how come the aWol** asshole always salutes?

??

[louis-t]

15. I HATE his snappy, I'm-so-important, salute.

What an ass.

[jean]

19. "A Senseless Salute" ...'a boy soldier salute,' 'playing soldier'

originally in the NYT, ... it's posted here:

http://www.veteransforpeace.org/A_senseless_salute_041403.htm

Soon after Ronald Reagan assumed his presidency, something
new appeared with his image on the television screen. When
given a salute by uniformed military personnel, Mr. Reagan
would return it, shooting his right hand up to his bare
head, his smile suggesting that this was something he liked
to do. This unnecessary and unseemly habit was adopted by
Mr. Reagan's successors, including Bill Clinton and
especially George W. Bush, who steps off his plane and
cocks a jaunty salute.

This gesture is of course quite wrong: such a salute has
always required the wearing of a uniform. But there is more
to this than a decline in military manners. There is
something puerile in the Reagan (and now Bush) salute. It
is the joyful gesture of someone who likes playing soldier.
It also represents an exaggeration of the president's
military role.


snip ...

But about 20 years ago the militarization of the image of
the presidency began. It started with Mr. Reagan, who had
no record of military service and who spent World War II in
Hollywood (something that he tried on occasion to obscure).
There were his fervent, sentimental and sometimes tearful
expressions when meeting or speaking to American soldiers,
sailors and airmen. There was, too, his easy and
self-satisfying willingness to employ the armed forces of
the United States in rapid and spectacular military
operations against minuscule targets and "enemies" like
Grenada, Nicaragua and Libya. President Bush, too, enjoys
immersing himself in the warm bath of jubilant approbation
at large gatherings of soldiers.

snip ...

When the Roman republic gave way to empire, the new supreme
ruler, Augustus chose to name himself not "rex," king, but
"imperator," from which our words emperor and empire
derive, even though its original meaning was more like
commander in chief. Thereafter Roman emperors came to
depend increasingly on their military. Will our future
presidents? Let us doubt it. And yet . . .

[Hand]

17. It's an informal gesture.

A lot of other presidents have done a sort of casual salute to the Marine guard when alighting from Marine One (the presidential helicopter). However, they don't salute on formal military ceremonies such as wreath layings or awarding decorations.

At least they're not supposed to. Chimpy would probably do that stupid frat-boy asshole salute of his anyway, and the troops would be disgusted.

Here's a salute to the AWOL Chimp.

[Why Syzygy]

20. He's the so-called "Commander in Chief"

elected by a so-called "election".

[Why Syzygy]

23. That's because he IS NOT MILITARY!

He hides in bunkers. Lurker. What a sorry ass.

[PatrioticLeftie]

2. Symbolic

Of his actual concern of the troops

[MiniMandaRuth]

3. Notice his fumbling while trying to get the pin on.

Notice his lack of shock as he drops the pin. His lack of respect.

Notice how quickly he moves away from the soldier, and then reluctantly shakes his hand.

[Fridays Child]

4. It was burning his hands, like holy water on a vampire.

He had no right to be touching that medal.

[TomPainesBones]

5. That was just a sad, awkward mess

I feel bad for the soldier.

[leftchick]

12. I do too

That poor guy must have been so uncomfortable. :(

[Why Syzygy]

21. Gawd YES!

CHENEY pinning a Purple Heart? It respresnts service with honor.
Something chaingang will never experience.

[patrice]

6. I'd feel sorry for him for being so wrong if so many innocent people

weren't suffering and dieing because of him.

Hey, I just noticed, feeling sorry for such an incredibly rich man is a new experience for me. I think I'd yell him anyway, like an ill-trained dog, if I met him somehow.

[rzemanfl]

8. It didn't have any wires attached to it. He's not used to that. n/t

[lady lib]

9. Props to the soldier for remaining at attention during the fumble.

n/t

[blue neen]

13. I noticed that, too.

That soldier was standing there showing respect for Cheney--someone who does not deserve that soldier's respect. Cheney does not deserve ANYONE'S respect.

[lady lib]

14. Excellent point. n/t

[cornfedyank]

10. five deferments.." i had better things to do.".... karma

on edit : i meant five fucking deferments.
nuff said. he does not deserve to be around brave men.

[wolfgirl]

16. He looked awfully nervous.

Maybe being surrounded by real heroes who know the truth about what we are doing in Iraq got him a bit antsy. What a schmuck!

[zulchzulu]

18. Does he even know what it is?

To him, it's a trinket some poor kid got for being a sucker and joining the military...I'd make him swallow the darn thing just to see him do what the Good Lord will reward all of humanity with soon.

[LynnTheDem]

22. Cheney passing out PURPLE HEART BANDAIDS!!!

The troops he's giving them to are STANDING! That means they only had mere SCRATCHES! Probably hardly bled!

PURPLE HEART BANDAIDS!!!

MFing rightwingnut bastards.