Certainly not. I think GeeDubya is a mediocrity with delusions of Leadership. I’m also quite sure that the Bushiviks have very strong and sincere feelings about 9/11, and they exploited it shamelessly. The two aren’t necessarily contradictory.
Merciful heavens! I suggested that an alternative explanation was feasible at least twice! “It’s possible…maybe not…could be…”
(bats big, brown, bi-partisan eyes…)
I mean, I really don’t have much respect for the guy, no getting around that, but where did I say “sociopath”? Besides, public displays of piety and lofty sentiment are not the actions of a sociopath so much as a Pharisee.
Yeah! We should do a lot more to help the disaster victims than just lowering the flag! After all, the affected nations are just breaking down our door to get our aid :rolleyes:
Fortunately it’s also untrue, though that doesn’t stop any number of people from saying “India is refusing help!”
My understanding is that India is refusing help that comes from singular nations but is accepting help that comes from folks like the UN - non-singular bodies. There’s probably a lot more in the way of nuance and explanation to it, but that’s a fairly accurate (for the level of explanation) summary as I know it.
My understanding is that India lost relatively few citizens and suffered relatively minor damage and was perfectly capable of looking after the situation itself without the need for assistance by either the UN or the US.
I think that points are being muddled in this thread. I (and I suspect the OP) have no trouble with the president or the US government displaying sympathy for the families and nations devistated by the tsunami. But lowering flags at half staff, IMO, is the inappropriate way to do it.
National flag lowering is generally reserved for deceased military personnel, public officials, heads of state, etc. – not unfortunate civilians caught in natural disasters, regardless of how many of them were killed. I’m sorry that this sounds elitist, but you have to belong to that somewhat “exclusive” club to get flags lowered.
Does a lowly grunt GI qualify? If circumstances warrant it, yes. Do hundreds of thousands of tsunami victims? I’m sorry, but no.
I’m a purist about such things. Ceremonial distinctions like this matter to me, and when you start making exceptions they tend to lose all meaning.
I’d be very curious to see a complete list of “half staff victims” from the past. Maybe I’m full of baloney and they lower the flags for every White House janitor that dies on the job, but I doubt it.
Chefguy, you are a fucking stupid prick. As a conservative (Republican,what-have-you), I thank those fellow Dopers on the left side of politics who have also indicated you are a fucking stupid prick.
NEWSFLASH: Bush drinks cup of tea! What a bastard! Maybe he just killed a kitten! Chefguy, as a Doper, surely you can do better. Here’s a test for you: you don’t have to like George W. Bush, but figure out something he could do that wouldn’t make him evil in your eyes, and get back to us, yeah? There’s a good chap. As a general rule, I respect my liberal-left opponents on these boards, but I must say, you are shooting large holes in that with your pathetic carry-on.
Bush insists on nominating John Kerry to fill VP position, citing need for unity in times of peril. Threatens to commit seppuku in Rose Garden if Kerry refused confirmation.
Rereading the guidelines for flag lowering posted ealier in this thread, I see that a “lowly grunt GI” would probably not qualify for the honor. So be it.
I think if you read that list of guidelines it is apparent the sort of individual that is intended to be honored by flag-lowering, and natural disaster victims do not qualify.
It has been pointed out that the president is empowered to make exceptions, and has done so for individuals like Eleanor Roosevelt. I think anyone can see it’s too far a stretch from her to the tsunami victims.
You know, shit like this is what causes people to ignore what liberals say when Bush (or other Republicans) does actual bad stuff. For fucks sake, let’s get our shit together and stop crying wolf all the time. You’re making us look bad.
My rolleyes wasn’t directed at India or the U.S. but those of us whining “but the U.S. should do more than show our sympathy” when India hasn’t even decided if they need our help or not. Of course India wasn’t the only country effected, but still…
Chefguy, I normally respect you and enjoy your posts, but in this thread you’re way out of line.
I’m drastically opposed to Bush on most issues, but in this respect he is doing everything right.
You may not know it, but after 9/11, Ireland declared a national day of mourning for the victims.
All Irish flags were at half mast, as were the flags of all other countries’ embassies. Almost all businesses were shut (by suggestion of the government - 99% of them took the suggestion up). Do you have any idea what kind of economic impact that has on a country? Even the pubs were shut. In Ireland.
The entire country stopped what it was doing. Memorial services were held at the cathedrals and the churches, the mosque, and the synagogues. The TV coverage was dedicated to the tragedy.
All this for a huge tragedy in a foreign country that only killed a handful of Ireland’s nationals. And here you are berating Bush for a single, laudable gesture? You’re just plain wrong, my man.
