Gibbs, Eyes Glistening, Describes Dover AFB: "It's Hard Not To Be Overwhelmed"

[kpete]

Gibbs, Eyes Glistening, Describes Dover AFB: "It's Hard Not To Be Overwhelmed"
Christina Bellantoni | October 29, 2009, 11:02AM



Eyes glistening, Gibbs told reporters during a gaggle in his West Wing office he'd never had such an experience.

"You get a real sense of gravity when you see the faces of those there to grieve for a loved one," Gibbs said after TPMDC asked him about his own reaction during the surprise visit.

"These were very recent deaths," he continued. "You can see the genuine anguish on their faces. It's hard not to be overwhelmed by what you see."

...............

"Last night was not about soliciting advice on a resource request or a path forward in Afghanistan," Gibbs said, but instead was about offering prayers and "sincere, deepest sympathies."

more:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/gibbs-describes-his-experience-last-night-at-dover-afb.php?ref=fpblg

[Buzz Clik]

1. It never seemed to impact Shrub one way or another.

:shrug:

[BrklynLiberal]

3. Sociopaths have no heart.

[bigtree]

4. he was joyus

[LynneSin]

37. Shrub couldn't bother to travel the 2 hours to get to Dover and do that

:grr:

I just think Bush has something against Dover. Had he left the classroom the first time he was told that a plan hit one of the WTC buildings, DAFB could have been called to intercept other planes off course.

[goclark]

2. Did GW ever go?

Didn't he refuse to let the caskets be seen?

So sad

[pipi_k]

5. I just saw a replay of it...not sure I could have lasted there without sobbing n/t

[RKP5637]

6. Often war is out of sight out of mind. Many are not impacted by war and they just blindly

wave the flag wanting more and more war. So sad. That was one reason the draft was good, all participated for the most part. I get so tired of people that stand up and shout for war but often they have never participated and know little of the grief others have had to bear.

[ChicagoSuz219]

8. Are you talking about Cheney...

...& his FIVE deferments?

[RKP5637]

11. Yes, he for one certainly fits! The damn war monger! And is still going on for more war.

Who needs hell when you've got Cheney. I wish ALL of American would one day wake up. And to many he's a hero. What sickness.

[ChicagoSuz219]

14. For 8 years, I prayed for GWB's good health...

...the thought of a Pres. Cheney was just too f'n scary!!

[RKP5637]

18. Isn't that the truth. Same here. If Cheney had replaced Bush we would be in Iran today.

I always thought of Cheney as Dr. Strangelove. I also thought if anyone could/would usher in WW III it was him. The way he wraps himself in the flag all of the time as if he were the only patriot ever in the US.

[ChicagoSuz219]

40. If only I believed he was a patriot...

...I really truly - in my heart of hearts - believe he's only in it for the money/power from Blackwater, etc. - that whole military-industrial complex b.s. We have a war-based economy &, for a long time, he ran it. (Didn't you look behind the curtain?)

On the other hand, I also really believe GWB believes everything he says. He only knows what they told him. Too bad, he's such a dumbass.

The only way I got thru the last 8 years was to watch West Wing & pretend that Bartlet was my President. (I wish I could say I was making that up!)

Thank God, we have a President that's smarter than anyone in the room... :-)

[AllentownJake]

7. Let that moment sink in Mr. President

before you make your final decision on your actions in Afghanistan.

[RKP5637]

12. It's Vietnam all over again to me! n/t

[JohnnyLib2]

20. Yes, tragically so.

[Barack_America]

15. Jake, please watch the video.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x395680

Neither one of us are happy with the politician we campaigned for, but we worked for a good man. The video shows that.

No matter what, this decision will not be easy for him.

[AllentownJake]

16. The empire is broke

If he wants to be the Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev of the United States fine by me. Just don't aske me to smile while he's doing it.

[Mari333]

9. well if he doesnt want to cry over dead soldiers than stop sending them to bullshit wars

he will go home to the safety of his mansion and forget about it. the USA has to save face, you know.

[SammyWinstonJack]

10. Well said.

:thumbsup:

[closeupready]

13. Exactly right. Color me so unimpressed with him.

n/t

[jaxx]

19. What a cold calculating remark.

It's easy being an armchair general for some. Make it all black and white and push the agenda. Nevermind the troops.

[TwilightGardener]

26. Very simple minds on DU. Intellectually lazy--just pick a position

that will make you popular with the in-crowd here and trumpet it for all it's worth, so that you can pile up the atta-girls and rec's and +1's. All other inconvenient facts and realities and nuances swept aside, because if you trouble your spotless and pure mind with them, you'll have to concede that not everything is as clear-cut or as simple as you want it to be. Or, you counter those facts and realities with unproven assertions: Obama didn't immediately end the war = He's held captive by the MIC, he's just another Bush. We haven't had a terror attack in a few years = Those groups don't exist now and pose no threat, never existed, invention of CIA, we're just there for the pipeline, etc. Critical thought is hard, making shit up is easy.

[jaxx]

27. Thank gawd I've never given a rats ass about the in crowd.

It's like those people who can't go to the bathroom alone....group pee.

[Mari333]

28. sorry I have a son in the military and I have a right to be an armchair general

those assholes in DC dont.

[TwilightGardener]

29. I have a husband in the military, and I won't even try to be an armchair general.

I just try to understand as much as I can about the situation without trying to simplify it to fit my own interests.

[Mari333]

31. I dont buy into propaganda

no matter how many stories about fake tears are being touted.

[TwilightGardener]

33. I don't categorize everything I don't want to hear as propaganda.

And I don't assume that it's impossible for a President, even ones we didn't like, to shed genuine tears over fallen and wounded troops.

[Mari333]

36. Sorry, its just a huge political commercial to me.

[TwilightGardener]

39. Well, we'll have to disagree on that. Hope your son stays safe.

[jaxx]

32. I wish your husband that same speedy safe trip home.

You are brave.

[TwilightGardener]

34. Thanks! He's not deployed now, he's been home--so no bravery here!

But he is unfortunately "ripe for the picking" by this time next year--trying not to worry about it, though.

[jaxx]

35. I still think you are brave.

And I'm glad he's home too!!

[TwilightGardener]

38. Aw, that's nice of you--thanks.

[jaxx]

30. I think the assholes left office in Jan.

You don't need to be sorry, but you do need to know this isn't dubya bush and just maybe he does care about your son and the other troops. I post with a soldier just back from Iraq and he said the soldiers in the ME are pro getting the job done....and not just militarily.

I wish your son a speedy safe trip home. Along with all the troops.

Personally I hate war and the killing. But I don't have the country's safety to worry about.

[rwork]

17. Remember shrub saying

"I have to get on with my life". bush and cheney try to imagine they are in the same league as Truman or Isenhower or Kennedy, making the tough decisions for the country.

When in truth they fabricated the reasons to go to war never considering the meat grinder, the loss of life, the terrible agonising injuries, the families devastated.

[kenny blankenship]

21. Don't be overwhelmed asshole, and don't think you can con us with your empty gestures

END THIS WAR NOW.

[liberalmuse]

41. Despicable.

It would be nice if a President could pull out of an 8 year war to YOUR satisfaction, but the reality is, you have to fucking THINK about it first. Why don't you dump your shitload of outrage where it belongs, huh? Don't fucking criticize MY President. America doesn't deserve Obama-bunch of fucking lazy ass whiners. What did YOU DO today to stop this fucking war. Oh yeah, you WHINED ON DU. FUCK THIS SHIT. I'm sick of it. I'd like to see you do better. I'd like to see you take on all the responsibilities Obama has and not crack and go huddling in a corner crying for your mother. This is fucking shamelss. I do not need to read this garbage on a liberal site.

[JohnnyLib2]

22. I wish this thread didn't have the former admin. in it somehow.

They are unworthy.

[Nikki Stone1]

23. It's taken this long for them to do this?

unrec

[JohnnyLib2]

24. I understand the feeling, BUT--

having him out of the White House bubble sure gets my vote.

[kenny blankenship]

25. They're doing it now b/c they want to send more GIs over there soon, to come back the same way

Standing on a tarmac and having yourself photographed giving a little salute will make it "OK". New product roll-out. Message: I care.

"Last night was not about soliciting advice on a resource request or a path forward in Afghanistan," Gibbs said, but instead was about offering prayers and "sincere, deepest sympathies."

Last night was a fucking Photo-op. LOOK AT THE PICTURES PEOPLE! That's what they're there for after all. And while you're looking, notice how GOOD they are. Do they look like they were taken with a telephoto lens through a chain link fence? Fuck no! They're perfect. Obama didn't "step outside the WH bubble" last night. He took it with him to make a PHOTO-OP! And why would the White House stage manage this supposedly very private, prayerful moment as a publicity stunt? He has a NEW AND IMPROVED war to sell and he has to strike the right pose as its spokesman.