# I pit Bush for accepting the Purple Heart **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 24, 2007, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443 "2007-04-24T13:00:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/161 "2007-04-25T02:43:23Z")
[QUOTE=Una Persson] The thread is about idiots. Sheryl Crow is an idiot for urging that people use a single square of toilet paper. > **[BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Crow calls for limit on loo paper](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6583067.stm?ls)** > > Singer Sheryl Crow says the amount of toilet paper we use should be limited to help the environment. This means that Sheryl Crow likely leaves skidmarks. Like Bush has on the honour of America. Q.E.D. [/QUOTE] Okay, Bush leaves skidmarks on the honor of America, the veteran doesn’t care and likes him anyway and wants to give him a medal. The vet is taking heat for it, too. So, basically the shit has hit the fan. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/162 "2007-04-25T02:55:45Z")
[QUOTE=Wile E] Okay, Bush leaves skidmarks on the honor of America, the veteran doesn’t care and likes him anyway and wants to give him a medal. The vet is taking heat for it, too. So, basically the shit has hit the fan. [/QUOTE] Yes, it’s a rich tapestry. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/163 "2007-04-25T05:30:04Z")
Okay how about an analogy (that I’m sure everyone will rip to pieces) 🙂 I’m 5’3"; 55 years old; and have multiple sclerosis (still ambulatory - work a fulltime job, etc but it is still debilitating). Let’s suppose, despite all those deficiencies, I somehow think I could be a professional basketball player. I pester the shit out of the Boston Celtics or (if I were rich) I offer them a huge sum of money. Anyway, they take me on for whatever crazy reason. Given my limitations, I’d be really rotten at basketball and so every time I’m on the court (or even on the bench) the crowd boos, calls me names, swears at me and generally treats me like shit. (and rightfully so). Now for some other crazy reason, Bill Russell or Larry Bird decide to present me with one of their Most Valuable Player trophies for all the ad hominem attacks and abuse I have suffered concerning my basketball abilities. What would you think of me if I accepted it? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/164 "2007-04-25T05:43:53Z")
I’d rewrite, so that by a series of amazing coincidences, you are the only player left to go in in the last seconds of the Big Game, which you win with a three pointer. _Teen Wolf Meister_? No. _Wolf Meister of London_? No… ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/165 "2007-04-25T06:36:25Z")
One of the stipulations for receiving the Purple Heart is that individuals who are wounded as a result of their own negligence are not eligible. For that reason alone, the president does not qualify. Further, if he accepts the Purple Heart, is that an admission that he considers himself at war with the majority of the citizens who now oppose him? After all, the wounds must be _combat_ wounds. I suggest that it is, instead, my countrymen who have been scarred and emotionally battered – not by Republicans or Democrats, Conservatives or Liberals as such, but by a comparatively small group of determined, arrogant and greedy men and their blindingly ignorant and maleable stooges. I suspect that most of my countrymen would turn the award down out of respect for those who had legitimately earned it. Of course, if you are a child playing at being a soldier, you might borrow someone’s medals and pretend. You shouldn’t do that after you’ve grown up – although it’s natural to treasure family honors. > [@Scylla](#): > > In this manner I think he’s shown a quality of dignity and civility that’s sadly lacking from the left. Cooked intelligence. War of aggression. Abu Ghraib. Guantanamo. Formerly secret torture camps. 3,333 American troops dead. A hundred thousand other human beings lost? ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/166 "2007-04-25T06:47:53Z")
But, **wolf\_meister** , you can’t expect Celtics fans to have much respect for your accepting the award when 1. You actually have a controlling interest in the team. 2. Every year for the last seven years – including this one – the award has been made by you and named after you. You would be presenting yourself with the “Wolf\_Meister Award for Most Valuable Player.” 3. Someone else on the team scored more points and had only one leg. ---
**Author:** ![Mellivora\_capensis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mellivora\_capensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mellivora_capensis)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/167 "2007-04-25T09:23:04Z")
[QUOTE=Zoe] … A hundred thousand other human beings lost? [/QUOTE] That’ll teach 'em for going walkabout without a GPS. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/168 "2007-04-25T12:57:08Z")
I think he’s worthy of at least _three_ Purple Hearts. I mean, come on you bunch of Bush-bashers, take an unbiased look (as **Scylla’s** obviously and commendably doing) at some of his rather awesome accomplishments: > [@George S. McGovern](#): > > \*\*…In the war of my youth, World War II, I volunteered for military service at the age of 19 and flew 35 combat missions, winning the Distinguished Flying Cross as the pilot of a B-24 bomber. By contrast, in the war of his youth, the Vietnam War, Cheney got five deferments and has never seen a day of combat - a record matched by President Bush. > > Cheney charged that today’s Democrats don’t appreciate the terrorist danger when they move to end U.S. involvement in the Iraq war. The fact is that Bush and Cheney misled the public when they implied that Iraq was involved in the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Iraq had nothing to do with the attacks. That was the work of Osama bin Laden and his Al Qaeda team. Cheney and Bush blew the effort to trap Bin Laden in Afghanistan by their sluggish and inept response after the 9/11 attacks. > > They then foolishly sent U.S. forces into Iraq against the advice and experience of such knowledgeable men as former President George H.W. Bush, his secretary of State, James A. Baker III, and his national security advisor, Brent Scowcroft. > > Just as the Bush administration mistakenly asserted Iraq’s involvement in the 9/11 attacks, it also falsely contended that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. When former Ambassador Joseph Wilson exploded the myth that Iraq attempted to obtain nuclear materials from Niger, Cheney’s top aide and other Bush officials leaked to the media that Wilson’s wife was a CIA agent (knowingly revealing the identity of a covert agent is illegal). > > \ > > The war in Iraq has greatly increased the terrorist danger. There was little or no terrorism, insurgency or civil war in Iraq before Bush and Cheney took us into war there five years ago. Now Iraq has become a breeding ground of terrorism, a bloody insurgency against our troops and a civil war. > > Beyond the deaths of more than 3,100 young Americans and an estimated 600,000 Iraqis, we have spent nearly $500 billion on the war, which has dragged on longer than World War II.\*\* How any of you are able to argue agaisnt those facts, is really beyond me. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/169 "2007-04-25T13:00:05Z")
PS-Forgot the all-important, “[linky please](http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-mcgovern24apr24,0,5504223.story?coll=la-news-comment-opinions)” ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/170 "2007-04-25T13:05:45Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > AS YOU KNOW PERFECTLY WELL not one single person here is disputing his right to do with his personal property whatever he pleases. > [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > I have no problem insulting this mentally defective veteran by the way. He’s an anti-American piece of shit. Fuck him. > [@Revenant Threshold](#): > > I think i’ll take the other position and say the guy giving the medal is a moron. One of the true joys of my life is watching you folks make fools of yourselves. [QUOTE=Zoe] One of the stipulations for receiving the Purple Heart is that individuals who are wounded as a result of their own negligence are not eligible. For that reason alone, the president does not qualify. [/quote] Nobody, including the veteran, is claiming that Bush is eligible for the official Purple Heart, anymore than you have to be eligible to keep a Purple Heart awarded to a relative as a keepsake. As you mention here - > [@](#): > > although it’s natural to treasure family honors. OK, I am wrong, **Diogenes** and the other idiots are claiming this, but they are liars and dolts who would say that Bush is pretending to be a Ph.D. in meteorology if he said that the weather was nice in DC today. > [@](#): > > **Shodan** : In this manner I think he’s shown a quality of dignity and civility that’s sadly lacking from the left. It looks to me very like you are attributing this quote to me. Could you please provide a cite? Thanks. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/171 "2007-04-25T13:16:40Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] One of the true joys of my life is watching you folks make fools of yourselves. [/QUOTE] How was my quote foolish? I gave my reasoning behind him being a moron. What was wrong with it? ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/172 "2007-04-25T13:16:45Z")
PSS-I also forgot to mention the always unbiased, thoughtful and proper, **Señor Shodan** , as yet another example of proper perspective. My only excuse is that it’s only slightly past 3:00 PM here in Madrid and as we all know, that’s about the time we Spaniards wake-up. Only to have breakfast and have a siesta immediately afterwards of course. Thus I offer **Señor Shodan** , my deepest apologies for not mentioning him before along with that other paragon of objectivity, **Señor Scylla**. Would we were all like them. On second thought, nope, not at all. Pheeew! Scary thought there for a sec… ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/173 "2007-04-25T13:51:30Z")
[QUOTE=Revenant Threshold] How was my quote foolish? I gave my reasoning behind him being a moron. What was wrong with it? [/QUOTE] **Sampiro** ’s statement was foolish. I offered yours as an example of someone doing exactly what the dear fellow had denied. > [@RedFury](#): > > Pheeew! Scary thought there for a sec… Yes, encountering thought for the first time, as you have done, is frightening. But no apology is necessary. Reading the SDMB with folks like you taking time out from your busy schedule of trolling, embarassing yourself in public, dog masturbation, and golf, is entertainment rather in the spirit of a [trip to Bedlam](http://www.eastlondonhistory.com/bedlam.htm) during Victorian England - a chance for a cheap laugh at those whose problems are worse than my own. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/174 "2007-04-25T13:57:48Z")
Many years ago I participated in a refit of a yacht, which ended up costing almost 3/4 of a million dollars. It was a frustrating experience for the owner, who patiently, almost on a daily basis reviewed the work to ensure that his desires were being met. Quite a few times, work had to be ripped out and done over, with a lot of grumbling amongst the crew. The owner did his best however to raise the morale with numerous pizzas and beer after each week. Finally, he organized an evening wrap up party with huge steaks and drink. Never had I come across such a patient and generous person. I decided to show my appreciation by gifting him a $30 glossy book on all the interesting spots on the way of his planned Alaskan cruise. Had he refused, (he may have already owned the book) I would have been devastated. So I understand this soldier. I understand that Bush feels gratitude for the empathy. No sane person can make a case that this episode means anything more than an appreciative connection between two people. Why the hell can’t some of you leave it at that? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/175 "2007-04-25T14:02:12Z")
[QUOTE=The Flying Dutchman] Why the hell can’t some of you leave it at that? [/QUOTE] If some people had to die in battle to qualify for their glossy book, I think you would understand. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/176 "2007-04-25T14:03:02Z")
Really? **Red** , this dog masturbation thingy…is that some Yurpeen thing like stinky cheese and bidets? ---
**Author:** ![Orual](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orual](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orual)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/177 "2007-04-25T14:10:31Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] **Sampiro** ’s statement was foolish. I offered yours as an example of someone doing exactly what the dear fellow had denied. Yes, encountering thought for the first time, as you have done, is frightening. [/QUOTE] I’m sorry, but calling someone a moron is in no way equivalent “disputing [someone’s] right to do with his personal property whatever he pleases”. Your inability to comprehend the difference only makes you look foolish. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/178 "2007-04-25T14:21:45Z")
[QUOTE=The Flying Dutchman] …No sane person can make a case that this episode means anything more than an appreciative connection between two people. Why the hell can’t some of you leave it at that? [/QUOTE] Aw goddam contrary! As friend **Jackelope** points out above, the Bushiviks decided to bump this up a notch, publicity wise. Presumably to glean whatever advantage might be available. Did you miss that? Allow me. > [@](#): > > …Thomas said he drew up a citation and he and his wife signed it before dropping it and the medal off with Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock, to forward to President Bush. > > “Congressman Carter called me last week and said the President was very moved by it, and would like us to present it in person,” Thomas said… ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/179 "2007-04-25T14:28:45Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] [QUOTE=Scylla] You’re putting words in Thomas’ mouth when your saying that he’s giving it because people are disagreeing with Bush. He specifically said it was because of “verbal attacks” not disagreement. [/QUOTE] Remember, a Purple Heart doesn’t get awarded unless the injuries come from an enemy of the US? Do you believe that anyone who verbally attacks the President is an enemy of the US? [/QUOTE] And, BTW, **Scylla** , do you believe that Bush is meaningfully “injured” by verbal attacks? (I warn you up front that I will interpret a “yes” answer as a stipulation that Bush is unfit for office. “If you can’t stand the heat…”) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443/180 "2007-04-25T14:34:01Z")
The President has self-esteem issues. As well he might. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bush-for-accepting-the-purple-heart/401443.md?page=10)