Thomas Oliphant of The Boston Globe on Broken promises to veterans:
NATURALLY, the political world’s pulse quickened last week when John Kerry flew back here for a vote on a veterans’ health care issue, only to be sandbagged by the Republican Senate leadership, which postponed the vote just long enough for him to miss it. What was missing from the brief dust-up was a discussion of the issue that produced Kerry’s change in plans and the Republicans’ childish maneuvering — befitting a political culture that loves the politics of anything and ignores the substance of almost everything.
Some of my childish Republican friends may find this sort of thing amusing, but I certainly do not. It is indicative of a trend of late among beltway conservatives who “had other priorities” when they were called to serve by their Uncle Sam (I’m not endorsing conscription, just making a point).
Support for the troops does not include attempting to play scheduling games in order to prevent one of the few active duty military veterans left in Congress from voting on a key bill related to the growing health care needs of men and women who answered their government’s call for service. Not surprisingly, this telling attitude is the ultimate result of the apathy of group of obnoxious armchair warriors who willfully and childishly confuse catchphrases like “support the troops” or “opposition to war is treason” with actual, real substantive SUPPORT. Banners, bumper stickers and flags on cars don’t translate to meaningful support. Rah-rah, boom sis bah. That’s cheerleading. This is not a high school football game.
Show me the fucking money. Stop telling WWII vets that they are going to have to pay for the medication they need to deal with their service related injuries. Stop ignoring the tens of thousands of sick Gulf War veterans or telling them its all in their heads. Stop saying that criticism of unnecessary, involuntary extensions on active duty is a “disservice” to those being sent abroad to fight liberalesque interventionist wars. Stop pretending that sooner or later “we’re going to find the WMD” in order to blind yourselves to the growing death toll. The tons and tons and tons of nerve gas we were promised aren’t there. Acknowledge this. Atone for it. People died for it. Stop pretending you can convert the entire world over to democracy while sitting in your comfortable chair, tapping away on your keyboard and fantasizing about Ann Coulter.
Stop fucking cheerleading for a minute and actually help out here. I want you to fix this shit, you nasty frigging civilian scumbags. That’s an order.