# McGovern sez Cheney is a wuss **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 24, 2007, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcgovern-sez-cheney-is-a-wuss/401525 "2007-04-24T22:41:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcgovern-sez-cheney-is-a-wuss/401525/1 "2007-04-24T22:41:46Z")
From today’s [Los Angeles Times](http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-mcgovern24apr24,1,4495915.story?coll=la-news-comment): > [@](#): > > 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. And from later in the article: > [@](#): > > We, of course, already know that when Cheney endorses a war, he exempts himself from participation. On second thought, maybe it’s wise to keep Cheney off the battlefield — he might end up shooting his comrades rather than the enemy. What’s next? Jimmy Carter challenging George W. Bush to a fistfight? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcgovern-sez-cheney-is-a-wuss/401525/2 "2007-04-24T22:46:26Z")
He’s right. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcgovern-sez-cheney-is-a-wuss/401525/3 "2007-04-24T23:03:13Z")
[QUOTE=Pochacco] What’s next? Jimmy Carter challenging George W. Bush to a fistfight? [/QUOTE] I’d pay a dollar to see that! 🆒🆒🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcgovern-sez-cheney-is-a-wuss/401525/4 "2007-04-24T23:07:38Z")
[QUOTE=Pochacco] What’s next? Jimmy Carter challenging George W. Bush to a fistfight? [/QUOTE] Cheney is a wuss. He tries to make up for his lack of manhood by shooting friends in the face and then making them apologize for it, but he’s fooling nobody. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcgovern-sez-cheney-is-a-wuss/401525/5 "2007-04-24T23:42:51Z")
Wow, avoided war through deferments? Bush and Cheney both? Damn good thing there hasn’t been a recent President that sent troops into harms way after taking any deferments. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcgovern-sez-cheney-is-a-wuss/401525/6 "2007-04-24T23:51:05Z")
[QUOTE=duffer] Damn good thing there hasn’t been a recent President that sent troops into harms way after taking any deferments. [/QUOTE] Even better that there hasn’t been another recent VP who built himself a ‘bat cave’ cuz he was scared of the big mean terrorists. ---
**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 24, 2007, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcgovern-sez-cheney-is-a-wuss/401525/7 "2007-04-24T23:59:14Z")
Wow, Cheney is taking some major stick today. He called Harry Reid’s withdrawal plan “defeatism”, and[Reid shot right back](http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070424/ts_nm/iraq_usa_funding_dc_7): > [@](#): > > Reid, a Nevada Democrat, responded, **“I’m not going to get into a name-calling match with somebody that has 9 percent approval ratings.” Then he called Cheney "the administration’s chief attack dog**." I am really starting to like Harry Reid. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcgovern-sez-cheney-is-a-wuss/401525/8 "2007-04-25T00:22:53Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] Wow, Cheney is taking some major stick today. He called Harry Reid’s withdrawal plan “defeatism”, and[Reid shot right back](http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070424/ts_nm/iraq_usa_funding_dc_7):I am really starting to like Harry Reid. [/QUOTE] Now that they’re in charge, maybe the Democrats will rediscover those things chafing their inner thighs. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![E72521](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dbc845/32.png) [@E72521](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E72521)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcgovern-sez-cheney-is-a-wuss/401525/9 "2007-04-25T01:38:57Z")
[QUOTE=duffer] Wow, avoided war through deferments? Bush and Cheney both? Damn good thing there hasn’t been a recent President that sent troops into harms way after taking any deferments. [/QUOTE] I think the record McGovern was referring to was their combined number of days in combat. Regarding a certain recent CIC, how many of those troops were harmed or killed? Was there a well thought strategy? What was the outcome? In the end, was it morally just? You really don’t need any combat experience to lead a nation in war, do you? You just need to be smarter than your enemy. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcgovern-sez-cheney-is-a-wuss/401525/10 "2007-04-25T02:08:46Z")
> [@](#): > > You really don’t need any combat experience to lead a nation in war, do you? You just need to be smarter than your enemy. Bush don’t stand a chance, do he? ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcgovern-sez-cheney-is-a-wuss/401525/11 "2007-04-25T02:51:47Z")
But how do we _know_ that McGovern flew those combat missions? He _could_ be just making it up! And he probably nominated himself for the DFC! In other words, we have yet to hear from the **B-24 Veterans for Truth**. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcgovern-sez-cheney-is-a-wuss/401525/12 "2007-04-25T06:04:29Z")
[QUOTE=LouisB] Bush don’t stand a chance, do he? [/QUOTE] dunno. I think he’s done a bang-up job as President Lowest Common Denominator, don’t you? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcgovern-sez-cheney-is-a-wuss/401525/13 "2007-04-25T13:04:49Z")
More of the chickenhawk argument. I have no use for this, as I have said many times. And frankly, I would have expected better of Senator McGovern, a man who I respect personally, despite our political differences. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcgovern-sez-cheney-is-a-wuss/401525/14 "2007-04-25T13:08:36Z")
[QUOTE=duffer] Damn good thing there hasn’t been a recent President that sent troops into harms way after taking any deferments. [/QUOTE] CLINTON GOT A BLOWJOB! putz. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcgovern-sez-cheney-is-a-wuss/401525/15 "2007-04-25T14:01:49Z")
[QUOTE=EddyTeddyFreddy] dunno. I think he’s done a bang-up job as President Lowest Common Denominator, don’t you? [/QUOTE] None lower; so far, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcgovern-sez-cheney-is-a-wuss/401525/16 "2007-04-25T14:07:17Z")
[QUOTE=E72521] You really don’t need any combat experience to lead a nation in war, do you? You just need to be smarter than your enemy. [/QUOTE] I believe that at some point you must be in the right. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcgovern-sez-cheney-is-a-wuss/401525/17 "2007-04-25T14:49:31Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Moto] More of the chickenhawk argument. I have no use for this, as I have said many times. And frankly, I would have expected better of Senator McGovern, a man who I respect personally, despite our political differences. [/QUOTE] You’re right. I hate the term "chickenhawk. " A better description would be “chickenshit.” The two of them have been compensating for making excuses when their country called them by starting a war that has no apparent end. You would think the fact that they’d started planning it in February 2005 would mean they would have had some sort of strategy. If Cheney’s approval rating is 9%, it’s still higher than he deserves. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcgovern-sez-cheney-is-a-wuss/401525/18 "2007-04-25T15:13:16Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Moto] More of the chickenhawk argument. I have no use for this, as I have said many times. And frankly, I would have expected better of Senator McGovern, a man who I respect personally, despite our political differences. [/QUOTE] The Dems need to do a few things, include win votes, and sound-bites like this are what win votes. As long as they are consistent with the Dems’ political and moral objectives, what’s wrong? Part of what makes the “chickenhawk” argument telling is that these men are sending others to fight an immoral and unwinnable war, when they wouldn’t go to war themselves. Yes, Clinton got out of military service too, and yes, he sent the troops into military action, but he had sound moral reasons for sending troops into the Balkans, and the action had achievable goals. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcgovern-sez-cheney-is-a-wuss/401525/19 "2007-04-25T15:26:49Z")
[QUOTE=Giles] The Dems need to do a few things, include win votes, and sound-bites like this are what win votes. As long as they are consistent with the Dems’ political and moral objectives, what’s wrong? Part of what makes the “chickenhawk” argument telling is that these men are sending others to fight an immoral and unwinnable war, when they wouldn’t go to war themselves. Yes, Clinton got out of military service too, and yes, he sent the troops into military action, but he had sound moral reasons for sending troops into the Balkans, and the action had achievable goals. [/QUOTE] And Clinton ducked Vietnam because he quite rightly had moral objections to it. Bush and Cheney just chickened out. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcgovern-sez-cheney-is-a-wuss/401525/20 "2007-04-25T15:33:28Z")
[QUOTE=Giles] Part of what makes the “chickenhawk” argument telling is that these men are sending others to fight an immoral and unwinnable war, when they wouldn’t go to war themselves. [/QUOTE] Umm…part of what makes the “chickenhawk” argument telling is that it’s 100% accurate. -Joe [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcgovern-sez-cheney-is-a-wuss/401525.md?page=2)