Cheney’s ‘gratitude’ only goes so far

August 19, 2005

I know I mentioned this the other day, but I’m still annoyed.

Dick Cheney spoke to the 73rd National Convention of the Military Order of the Purple Heart last night and delivered his usual spiel trying to connect the attacks of 9/11 with the war in Iraq. But before he did that, Cheney spoke glowingly about those who were injured in the line of duty.

“Members of [the Military Order of the Purple Heart] come from all regions of the country, and from every walk of life, but you share a distinction that all citizens recognize and respect: The medal you wear is the oldest decoration in the American armed forces, created by General George Washington and originally named the Badge of Military Merit. The Purple Heart is the only award that comes not through any recommendation or approval, but as a matter of right to those wounded in combat. It is also known as ‘the medal that no one ever tries to earn.’

“But all of you did earn it. And in so doing you took your place among the men and women who suffered most to protect this nation. You put your life on the line for the United States of America. You bled in freedom’s cause, and you have the nation’s gratitude.”

And the Bush gang will honor your sacrifice, just so long as

* you don’t run for president against them, or they’ll be forced to destroy you and leak word that your military service drove you to mental illness;

* run for the Senate as a Dem in Georgia, or they’ll be forced to equate you with Osama bin Laden;

* or win the Dem nomination for president, or they’ll be forced to make your Purple Heart a punch line to a sad joke.

Cheney concluded that Purple Heart recipients deserve thanks for “placing duty and honor above self-interest.” Amazingly, he said it with a straight face.

or to have a cross honoring your death laid in Crawford. Bush’s buddies will just run it over as a way to show their support for the war. Ugh.

  • My home base of Springfield Missouri was the recipient of the speech that The Carpetbagger is referring to.

    Here are a couple of gems from the speech.

    “Bit by bit, through diplomacy and by force, with our allies and partners, we are acting to shrink the area in which the terrorists can safely operate.”

    Really, does he think that the people in London would agree with this?

    “In this difficult and necessary cause we have lost some of our finest Americans. That loss is irreplaceable, and no one can take away the sorrow that has come to the families of the fallen.”

    Cindy Sheehan would like an answer as to what noble cause her son died for.

    For anyone that has the stomach to read more of this drivel you can read the full text of the speech in our local rag.
    Text of Cheney’s remarks

  • Thy hypocrisy truly is staggering. But these folks have no sense of shame or embarrassment. But as long as the media does not call them for what they are on things like this, they get away with it.

    Cheney is insane (although it may be in the evil genius vein, absent most of the genius).

    And the president, Old Shifty, is nothing more than a spoiled rotten 10 year old in a 50+ year old body.

  • Lying.
    Lying.Fucking.
    Lying.Fucking.Bastards.
    Lying.Fucking.Bastards.Lying.
    Lying.Fucking.Bastards.Lying.Fucking.
    Lying.Fucking.Bastards.Lying.Fucking.Bastards.
    Lying.Fucking.Bastards.Lying.Fucking.Bastards.Lying.
    Lying.Fucking.Bastards.Lying.Fucking.Bastards.Lying.Fucking.
    Lying.Fucking.Bastards.Lying.Fucking.Bastards.Lying.Fucking.Bastards.
    Lying.Fucking.Bastards.Lying.Fucking.Bastards.Lying.Fucking.
    Lying.Fucking.Bastards.Lying.Fucking.Bastards.Lying.
    Lying.Fucking.Bastards.Lying.Fucking.Bastards.
    Lying.Fucking.Bastards.Lying.Fucking.
    Lying.Fucking.Bastards.Lying.
    Lying.Fucking.Bastards.
    Lying.Fucking.Bastards.
    Lying.Fucking.
    Lying.

    They start out by Lying — they end by Lying — and in between they are nothing but Fucking Bastards. As my mother, God rest her, used to say, “Hell is too good for them.”

  • Analytical Liberal – I notice that your comments are in the shape of an arrow. Should we make the logical assumption that it’s pointing towards the White House?

  • A.L.–pardon my poor taste, but I thought the pictoral aspect of your post was a “metaphor” representing Michelle Malkin’s private parts.

  • Mark, very perceptive!

    bubba, I guess that is called “thinking outside the box”!!

  • Cheney gratitude only goes as far as how you can help him in either what you give to him or how much mileage he can get by using you.

  • “Creepy Dick” will be happy to know that the Department of Defense will soon deploy four more divisions of troops. These soldiers will not be designated for service in Iraq. Instead, they will be trained in a critical new military occupational specialty (MOS) 00B — Presidential Speech Audience Member. Nicknamed “Props,” these troops will be trained to attend and listen to Bush’s speeches. Trainees who jeer, barf or throw things during simulated speeches during training exercises will be “washed out.” Individuals passing out during speeches will be eligible for a Purple Heart. Five speeches earn the Medal of Honor.

  • It is hard to know where to begin when it comes to Dick Cheney. Just when I think he has surely reached the zenith of his ability to tell lies and utter statements that are incredibly ironic or inconsistent without meaningful challenges or consequences, he takes his game to yet another level. It is as if the public has come to believe that a man with a perpetual dour look who speaks in flat tones out of the side of his mouth can only be telling the truth; afterall he looks so serious. When I watch Cheney in action or read about his remarks, I feel as though I am participating in a “Twilight Zone” episode. Is it simply my naivte that keeps me from being able to fathom the “values” system that underlies the behavior of such a man?

  • Much better theater if Cleland and Kerry had made the trip,too Oh…wait..a…minute…were there any democrats in the audience, or on the stage, or asked to speak? Or was this another private event pretending to be a public event?

  • No doubt, it was more government of half the people, by half the people, for half the people…all conducted by the VPOHOTUS: Vice President of Half of the United States. Not to be confused with POHOTUS, who also favors such “invitation only” events.

    Almost makes the rest of us feel like this isn’t our country any more, as little as they want to communicate with us.

  • Did anyone ask Cheney how many purple hearts he had earned or
    how may did GWB earn?
    The current group of White House occupants knows nothing about sacrifice and honor. They want to send other people’s children out to die in dishonorable causes and then claim no responsibility for their actions.
    If George Orwell were alive today he would see how prophetic he was
    if he could see how people like Cheney and Bush operate and manipulate the truth.

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