Head pats + t-shirts ≠ atonement
November 10, 2007 12:32 AM Subscribe
This post was deleted for the following reason: what? this is one photograph, we had our obligatory poke at GWB yesterday. -- jessamyn
It looked sad for everyone.
posted by parmanparman at 12:46 AM on November 10, 2007
posted by parmanparman at 12:46 AM on November 10, 2007
Wow. I don't have anything to say other than I would like to hear more about this visit. Is this a first for Bush? At least off of the top of my head I can't recall ever seeing photos of any President in the company of seriously disfigured veterans but I may be wrong. Have other Presidents done this type of photo session?
posted by well_balanced at 12:47 AM on November 10, 2007
posted by well_balanced at 12:47 AM on November 10, 2007
It looked sad for everyone.
It's very sad to see these disfigured vets. Their situation, and of course the situation for so, so many Iraqis is so very sad. That said, I don't think Bush looked particularly sad. Nor in fact did the vets (with perhaps 1 or 2 exceptions) look especially sad. But I reckon a president wouldn't want to appear too sad in a photo-op like this. Whether he's inwardly sad or not, it would be his job to do the American version of 'stiff upper lip'.
Also, I too am curious as to the questions raised above by well_balanced.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 12:57 AM on November 10, 2007
It's very sad to see these disfigured vets. Their situation, and of course the situation for so, so many Iraqis is so very sad. That said, I don't think Bush looked particularly sad. Nor in fact did the vets (with perhaps 1 or 2 exceptions) look especially sad. But I reckon a president wouldn't want to appear too sad in a photo-op like this. Whether he's inwardly sad or not, it would be his job to do the American version of 'stiff upper lip'.
Also, I too am curious as to the questions raised above by well_balanced.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 12:57 AM on November 10, 2007
.
posted by lalochezia at 1:07 AM on November 10, 2007
posted by lalochezia at 1:07 AM on November 10, 2007
You can almost see the thoughts that pass through GWB's mind as he moves among the horribly disfigured soldiers....
"Hmmm...I wonder what Laura is cooking up tonight. Something Mexican, maybe. That reminds me, Calderon is coming up for Thanksgiving. Heh. What a card that guy is....can't shine a candle to Foxy though...."
Incredible evil is incredibly banal.
posted by Avenger at 1:13 AM on November 10, 2007 [3 favorites]
"Hmmm...I wonder what Laura is cooking up tonight. Something Mexican, maybe. That reminds me, Calderon is coming up for Thanksgiving. Heh. What a card that guy is....can't shine a candle to Foxy though...."
Incredible evil is incredibly banal.
posted by Avenger at 1:13 AM on November 10, 2007 [3 favorites]
That's proper Army brainwashing right there. No one in their right mind would greet him in that situation. I get angry on the Veterens' behalf just looking at these pictures.
posted by spiderskull at 1:22 AM on November 10, 2007
posted by spiderskull at 1:22 AM on November 10, 2007
Aw, Jesus.
I hate it when he does the benevolent head patting. I want to kick him in the balls.
(these people deserve so, so much better.)
posted by hadjiboy at 1:29 AM on November 10, 2007 [3 favorites]
I hate it when he does the benevolent head patting. I want to kick him in the balls.
(these people deserve so, so much better.)
posted by hadjiboy at 1:29 AM on November 10, 2007 [3 favorites]
Wow, I guess the good news is that improved medical techniques are saving more lives on the battlefield than ever before, and that all wounded veterans are provided with the best care and rehabilitation possible so that they can go on to lead full, meaningful lives.
Unless this was all a meaningless photo opp, which it probably was, because all the pictures did was make me cry.
posted by KokuRyu at 1:31 AM on November 10, 2007
Unless this was all a meaningless photo opp, which it probably was, because all the pictures did was make me cry.
posted by KokuRyu at 1:31 AM on November 10, 2007
That...kinda makes me want to cry.
Incredible evil is incredibly banal.
It would be nice to think that. That he's so Evil and detached he's thinkin' about dinner. I'd like it if he were a comic book super villain, too...for all he's done to us. The horrible truth is probably that he sometimes sits in that office with his head in his heads and says "What the fuck am I doing?". 'Cause that means he's human...but he keeps right on going.
posted by Roman Graves at 1:34 AM on November 10, 2007 [1 favorite]
Incredible evil is incredibly banal.
It would be nice to think that. That he's so Evil and detached he's thinkin' about dinner. I'd like it if he were a comic book super villain, too...for all he's done to us. The horrible truth is probably that he sometimes sits in that office with his head in his heads and says "What the fuck am I doing?". 'Cause that means he's human...but he keeps right on going.
posted by Roman Graves at 1:34 AM on November 10, 2007 [1 favorite]
The horrible truth is probably that he sometimes sits in that office with his head in his heads and says "What the fuck am I doing?".
Nope, anyone with any sense of remorse wouldn't have protracted this thing to the extent that it has been. I don't think George Bush is evil, stupid maybe, but I feel he doesn't know how to connect with people. At least not the type of people shown in those photographs for sure.
posted by hadjiboy at 2:09 AM on November 10, 2007
Nope, anyone with any sense of remorse wouldn't have protracted this thing to the extent that it has been. I don't think George Bush is evil, stupid maybe, but I feel he doesn't know how to connect with people. At least not the type of people shown in those photographs for sure.
posted by hadjiboy at 2:09 AM on November 10, 2007
good photography.. but.. this post is not going to go well.
posted by Dillonlikescookies at 2:14 AM on November 10, 2007
posted by Dillonlikescookies at 2:14 AM on November 10, 2007
This makes me so angry.
These guys this way because of him, his lies and ridiculous ideology.
If it were me, I'd spit in his dumb fucking face.
posted by mattoxic at 2:30 AM on November 10, 2007
These guys this way because of him, his lies and ridiculous ideology.
If it were me, I'd spit in his dumb fucking face.
posted by mattoxic at 2:30 AM on November 10, 2007
Oh man, dont send me to hell, but Sgt Gallegin in the last few photos looks like Lord Voldemort.
Poor fucker.
Repeat after me. War. Is. Hell.
posted by wilful at 2:44 AM on November 10, 2007
Poor fucker.
Repeat after me. War. Is. Hell.
posted by wilful at 2:44 AM on November 10, 2007
These guys this way because of him, his lies and ridiculous ideology.
You are giving Shrub way too much credit. No way he could have done all of this on his own. The neo-cons, Dick Cheney, Joe Lieberman, Ward and Mersheimer's so-called Israel Lobby, and bunch of other like-minded bastards played a major role in getting America to invade Iraq. It takes a village, you know.
These cancers will remain when Bush is gone and they will continue to exert evil influence on American foreign policy.
I wonder how the photos of Hillary visiting the soldiers she sends into Iran will come out?
posted by three blind mice at 2:46 AM on November 10, 2007 [1 favorite]
You are giving Shrub way too much credit. No way he could have done all of this on his own. The neo-cons, Dick Cheney, Joe Lieberman, Ward and Mersheimer's so-called Israel Lobby, and bunch of other like-minded bastards played a major role in getting America to invade Iraq. It takes a village, you know.
These cancers will remain when Bush is gone and they will continue to exert evil influence on American foreign policy.
I wonder how the photos of Hillary visiting the soldiers she sends into Iran will come out?
posted by three blind mice at 2:46 AM on November 10, 2007 [1 favorite]
What amazes me is that he wasn't physically assaulted. I personally know three Iraq vets, none seriously wounded, and they lothe Bush. I can't even imagine how much more a person who was maimed in Bush's War would dispise the man. And those condesending headpats, like he thinks they're dogs or something, fuck....
I'm amazed he got out alive, honest to god.
posted by sotonohito at 3:10 AM on November 10, 2007
I'm amazed he got out alive, honest to god.
posted by sotonohito at 3:10 AM on November 10, 2007
"Mr. President, come closer. I need to tell you something."
"Yes brave soldier. What is it?"
"Fuck you, you son of a bitch."
"Uhh..."
posted by chillmost at 3:24 AM on November 10, 2007
"Yes brave soldier. What is it?"
"Fuck you, you son of a bitch."
"Uhh..."
posted by chillmost at 3:24 AM on November 10, 2007
...and all he got was that lousy t-shirt.
posted by slimepuppy at 3:51 AM on November 10, 2007 [2 favorites]
posted by slimepuppy at 3:51 AM on November 10, 2007 [2 favorites]
sotonohito: "What amazes me is that he wasn't physically assaulted. "
The President's staff is well known to remove anyone who isn't right in with the party line from these photo ops. It would be good if the President was allowed to be exposed to a different opinion, but it's not likely.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 4:16 AM on November 10, 2007
The President's staff is well known to remove anyone who isn't right in with the party line from these photo ops. It would be good if the President was allowed to be exposed to a different opinion, but it's not likely.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 4:16 AM on November 10, 2007
Bush's eyes....evident in his eyes since 2001...fear , just so much fucking fear in his face...profoundly unprepared for any of this, obviously not evil, just a stupid ill-equipped man.
I believe those sitting with their head in their hands are his wife and his parents. The shame must be overwhelming.
Can you imagine your kid making decisions like this...inescapable heartbreak.
posted by greenskpr at 4:17 AM on November 10, 2007
I believe those sitting with their head in their hands are his wife and his parents. The shame must be overwhelming.
Can you imagine your kid making decisions like this...inescapable heartbreak.
posted by greenskpr at 4:17 AM on November 10, 2007
The horrible truth is probably that he sometimes sits in that office with his head in his heads and says "What the fuck am I doing?".
I seriously doubt it. No one with any self-doubt would have driven the country over a cliff the way he has, with unrelenting determination.
As for these photos, that's his robot double. It's incapable of looking sad.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 4:23 AM on November 10, 2007
I seriously doubt it. No one with any self-doubt would have driven the country over a cliff the way he has, with unrelenting determination.
As for these photos, that's his robot double. It's incapable of looking sad.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 4:23 AM on November 10, 2007
Was it worth it?
Is it ever worth it?
and at what point do people say "no more"?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:33 AM on November 10, 2007
Is it ever worth it?
and at what point do people say "no more"?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:33 AM on November 10, 2007
Who wants to bet that not two hours later, Bush was in the limo making cripple jokes with Cheney via speakerphone?
(Outrage fatigue, indeed...)
posted by spoobnooble at 5:04 AM on November 10, 2007
(Outrage fatigue, indeed...)
posted by spoobnooble at 5:04 AM on November 10, 2007
Picture Link + Editorial ≠ Good Post
I'm with you on the Editorial claim, but I think the number of photos at the end of the link make this a perfectly acceptable post. Definitely some rich stuff to react to here.
What gets me more than anything is not so much Bush and his unnecessary war, and the fact that he bears ultimate responsibility for their horrible wounds, it's that when his turn came to serve, he took the rich boy's way out. He doesn't deserve to be in the same room with these men.
posted by psmealey at 5:18 AM on November 10, 2007
I'm with you on the Editorial claim, but I think the number of photos at the end of the link make this a perfectly acceptable post. Definitely some rich stuff to react to here.
What gets me more than anything is not so much Bush and his unnecessary war, and the fact that he bears ultimate responsibility for their horrible wounds, it's that when his turn came to serve, he took the rich boy's way out. He doesn't deserve to be in the same room with these men.
posted by psmealey at 5:18 AM on November 10, 2007
What amazes me is that he wasn't physically assaulted. I personally know three Iraq vets, none seriously wounded, and they lothe Bush. I can't even imagine how much more a person who was maimed in Bush's War would dispise the man. And those condesending headpats, like he thinks they're dogs or something, fuck....
One thing about people is that if they make a sacrifice for something, they are more likely to believe in it, or believe in it more strongly. So for vets that were wounded or damaged like this, they are more likely to believe strongly that they were doing something right. Maybe more likely then for troops who just had an awful time but came back with all their body parts, I'm not sure.
Either way, the only troops that would get into a session with the president like this would be the ones who whole-heartedly believed in the war and the president.
posted by delmoi at 5:19 AM on November 10, 2007
One thing about people is that if they make a sacrifice for something, they are more likely to believe in it, or believe in it more strongly. So for vets that were wounded or damaged like this, they are more likely to believe strongly that they were doing something right. Maybe more likely then for troops who just had an awful time but came back with all their body parts, I'm not sure.
Either way, the only troops that would get into a session with the president like this would be the ones who whole-heartedly believed in the war and the president.
posted by delmoi at 5:19 AM on November 10, 2007
Just another sign that GWB is a malignant narcissist. Absolutely no capacity for empathy, remorse, or understanding that his actions are wrong. Hopefully he will spend time in the big house before the Bush family flees to their new ranch in Paraguay.
posted by tarantula at 5:28 AM on November 10, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by tarantula at 5:28 AM on November 10, 2007 [1 favorite]
The Ground Truth is a documentary that takes a look at the cost of war on soldiers. It's mainly focused on the psychological damage, but includes a fair amount on physical costs. It's very much focused on how soldiers experience war both during the conflict and after the fighting starts.
posted by ahughey at 5:32 AM on November 10, 2007
posted by ahughey at 5:32 AM on November 10, 2007
*
posted by fleetmouse at 5:55 AM on November 10, 2007
posted by fleetmouse at 5:55 AM on November 10, 2007
This visit by Bush is about the Veteran's Administration, not the war in Iraq.
Since the Walter Reed debacle, the gov't has been pumping hundreds of millions into VA hospitals and rehab programs. An acquaintance of mine recently took a position as a psychiatrist treating Iraq vets with PTSD at a VA hospital in Tennesee. According to him the VA has so many open positions right now they could only fill them if they hired EVERY SINGLE psych MD/PhD student currently enrolled in the US.
This visit is sending a message to one of the core Republican demos -- that they're the party that's willing to do what it takes to care for veterans when they come back broken. It has nothing to do what happened in 2003, and everything to do with what will happen in 2008.
posted by xthlc at 6:00 AM on November 10, 2007
Since the Walter Reed debacle, the gov't has been pumping hundreds of millions into VA hospitals and rehab programs. An acquaintance of mine recently took a position as a psychiatrist treating Iraq vets with PTSD at a VA hospital in Tennesee. According to him the VA has so many open positions right now they could only fill them if they hired EVERY SINGLE psych MD/PhD student currently enrolled in the US.
This visit is sending a message to one of the core Republican demos -- that they're the party that's willing to do what it takes to care for veterans when they come back broken. It has nothing to do what happened in 2003, and everything to do with what will happen in 2008.
posted by xthlc at 6:00 AM on November 10, 2007
Grotesque.
No, not the maimed soldiers. Bush's shamelessness.
posted by Rykey at 6:10 AM on November 10, 2007
No, not the maimed soldiers. Bush's shamelessness.
posted by Rykey at 6:10 AM on November 10, 2007
Those are some tough pictures. The editorializing was unnecessary; the pictures stand on their own.
Of course, different people will take different messages away from it. The urge to place blame when you see such things is very very strong, and where you place the blame can be radically varied.
posted by Bovine Love at 6:14 AM on November 10, 2007
Of course, different people will take different messages away from it. The urge to place blame when you see such things is very very strong, and where you place the blame can be radically varied.
posted by Bovine Love at 6:14 AM on November 10, 2007
The urge to place blame when you see such things is very very strong, and where you place the blame can be radically varied.Sure. At least, in that it can be placed rightly or wrongly.
posted by Flunkie at 6:31 AM on November 10, 2007
My COUNTRY went to IRAQ and all it got was HORRIBLY_DISFIGURED
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 6:39 AM on November 10, 2007
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 6:39 AM on November 10, 2007
""Get well soon," the Prince said. And the heroic soldier replied "Yes sir, I will"."
posted by Pope Guilty at 6:48 AM on November 10, 2007
posted by Pope Guilty at 6:48 AM on November 10, 2007
Similar yet less graphic article in the NY Times today, about how Bush visits with families of dead soldiers, or at least the ones that won't say anything mean...
Something is going on here. It looks like someone in Bush's PR department decided maybe all the neglect of poor children, Katrina victims, Parkinson's sufferers, old people, young people, middle-aged people, veterans, the environment, the Constitution, etc. etc. needed some counteraction. I can't imagine how they thought this would work.
posted by fungible at 6:55 AM on November 10, 2007
Something is going on here. It looks like someone in Bush's PR department decided maybe all the neglect of poor children, Katrina victims, Parkinson's sufferers, old people, young people, middle-aged people, veterans, the environment, the Constitution, etc. etc. needed some counteraction. I can't imagine how they thought this would work.
posted by fungible at 6:55 AM on November 10, 2007
Lots of projecting going on in this thread.
posted by Cyrano at 7:01 AM on November 10, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by Cyrano at 7:01 AM on November 10, 2007 [1 favorite]
Projectile vomiting, perhaps. Seven years of being lied to will do that to you.
posted by fungible at 7:31 AM on November 10, 2007
posted by fungible at 7:31 AM on November 10, 2007
More about the privately-funded Center for the Intrepid, which opened in San Antonio on January 29, 2007. (This photo gallery shows McCain and Hillary — surrounded by wounded veterans — attending the ceremonies.)
You can donate to the Center at http://www.fallenheroesfund.org/.
Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have. — H. Jackson Browne, Jr.
posted by cenoxo at 7:33 AM on November 10, 2007
You can donate to the Center at http://www.fallenheroesfund.org/.
Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have. — H. Jackson Browne, Jr.
posted by cenoxo at 7:33 AM on November 10, 2007
I see no trace of sadness in those pictures. I see only discomfort and fear.
posted by inconsequentialist at 7:36 AM on November 10, 2007
posted by inconsequentialist at 7:36 AM on November 10, 2007
Just another sign that GWB is a malignant narcissist. Absolutely no capacity for empathy, remorse, or understanding that his actions are wrong.
I agree. He would have been much better off not ever visiting with injured soldiers from Iraq. I am sure that would have earned him a free pass from Metafilter.
You are a loser for not having done X, but you just wait until you actually do X, then we are really going to let you have it!
posted by flarbuse at 7:46 AM on November 10, 2007
I agree. He would have been much better off not ever visiting with injured soldiers from Iraq. I am sure that would have earned him a free pass from Metafilter.
You are a loser for not having done X, but you just wait until you actually do X, then we are really going to let you have it!
posted by flarbuse at 7:46 AM on November 10, 2007
But mummy, the peasants are so smelly and ugly, must I be here?
posted by psmealey at 7:46 AM on November 10, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by psmealey at 7:46 AM on November 10, 2007 [1 favorite]
xthlc writes "According to him the VA has so many open positions right now they could only fill them if they hired EVERY SINGLE psych MD/PhD student currently enrolled in the US."
I work at a VA hospital. There is a lot of open research space. Most of it is empty because research funding to benefit veterans is extremely hard to come by these days. Most of the military budget is going to Iraq. The money we are supposed to have is currently tied up in budgeting committees. They have approved one of the grants, but they have no idea when they will actually have money to give us.
The lab space I use is on the same floor as the rehab wing. I see people every day struggling to re-learn how to walk, how to take care of themselves. I don't go in to the rehab area, but I pass people using the hallways as exercise areas. It is heartbreaking to see the nurses working with a 20-something, tottering down the hall at an old man's pace with three people helping keep him upright, encouraging him at how fast he is going and how well he is doing. It makes me feel guilty to be whole.
I haven't words to describe my loathing for the current chicken-hawk administration. Filled with people who demand sacrifice from others but unwilling to do the same themselves. My brother is due to be sent to Iraq for his second tour. I keep hoping he comes back safe. The reality is that if these people have their way, every healthy member of the armed forces will just be sent back in again until all are broken. They only hold enough in reserve for the next country we will invade on false pretenses.
posted by caution live frogs at 7:54 AM on November 10, 2007 [6 favorites]
I work at a VA hospital. There is a lot of open research space. Most of it is empty because research funding to benefit veterans is extremely hard to come by these days. Most of the military budget is going to Iraq. The money we are supposed to have is currently tied up in budgeting committees. They have approved one of the grants, but they have no idea when they will actually have money to give us.
The lab space I use is on the same floor as the rehab wing. I see people every day struggling to re-learn how to walk, how to take care of themselves. I don't go in to the rehab area, but I pass people using the hallways as exercise areas. It is heartbreaking to see the nurses working with a 20-something, tottering down the hall at an old man's pace with three people helping keep him upright, encouraging him at how fast he is going and how well he is doing. It makes me feel guilty to be whole.
I haven't words to describe my loathing for the current chicken-hawk administration. Filled with people who demand sacrifice from others but unwilling to do the same themselves. My brother is due to be sent to Iraq for his second tour. I keep hoping he comes back safe. The reality is that if these people have their way, every healthy member of the armed forces will just be sent back in again until all are broken. They only hold enough in reserve for the next country we will invade on false pretenses.
posted by caution live frogs at 7:54 AM on November 10, 2007 [6 favorites]
You are giving Shrub way too much credit. No way he could have done all of this on his own.
True. He needed an entire elected government structure, and a people unwilling to rise up and demand better.
posted by Hildegarde at 8:03 AM on November 10, 2007
True. He needed an entire elected government structure, and a people unwilling to rise up and demand better.
posted by Hildegarde at 8:03 AM on November 10, 2007
They only hold enough in reserve for the next country we will invade on false pretenses.
I didn't think we even had that many left.
posted by Bookhouse at 8:09 AM on November 10, 2007
I didn't think we even had that many left.
posted by Bookhouse at 8:09 AM on November 10, 2007
flarbuse said: You are a loser for not having done X, but you just wait until you actually do X, then we are really going to let you have it!
flarbuse, it's more about too little, too late. If GWB had been acknowledging the real consequences of his actions all along, and had truly shown care and concern for the soldiers all along, then maybe this photo-op wouldn't be so maddening.
posted by amyms at 8:13 AM on November 10, 2007
flarbuse, it's more about too little, too late. If GWB had been acknowledging the real consequences of his actions all along, and had truly shown care and concern for the soldiers all along, then maybe this photo-op wouldn't be so maddening.
posted by amyms at 8:13 AM on November 10, 2007
delmoi: "
One thing about people is that if they make a sacrifice for something, they are more likely to believe in it, or believe in it more strongly. So for vets that were wounded or damaged like this, they are more likely to believe strongly that they were doing something right. Maybe more likely then for troops who just had an awful time but came back with all their body parts, I'm not sure. "
Yeah, I think delmoi probably has the right of it. Granted, I'm not a vet, but it would make sense to me that folks horribly maimed like that would need to believe it was for some purpose. I couldn't imagine the terrible depression that would set in if one was both horribly maimed and cognizant of the fact that it was, in the end, all for nothing.
posted by lazaruslong at 8:17 AM on November 10, 2007
One thing about people is that if they make a sacrifice for something, they are more likely to believe in it, or believe in it more strongly. So for vets that were wounded or damaged like this, they are more likely to believe strongly that they were doing something right. Maybe more likely then for troops who just had an awful time but came back with all their body parts, I'm not sure. "
Yeah, I think delmoi probably has the right of it. Granted, I'm not a vet, but it would make sense to me that folks horribly maimed like that would need to believe it was for some purpose. I couldn't imagine the terrible depression that would set in if one was both horribly maimed and cognizant of the fact that it was, in the end, all for nothing.
posted by lazaruslong at 8:17 AM on November 10, 2007
You are a loser for not having done X, but you just wait until you actually do X, then we are really going to let you have it!
This is not the contradiction you are making it out to be. It is, in fact, the inevitable situation that comes about when you do something so outrageous as wage an unnecessary war.
Yes, if you do something that repugnant and arrogant, you are a loser if you don't visit injured troops (you're insensitive to the suffering you've caused), but you are equally a loser if you do (you're exploiting the soldiers to make yourself look sensitive).
One of the many things to think about before acting so irresponsibly as a leader.
posted by Rykey at 8:22 AM on November 10, 2007
This is not the contradiction you are making it out to be. It is, in fact, the inevitable situation that comes about when you do something so outrageous as wage an unnecessary war.
Yes, if you do something that repugnant and arrogant, you are a loser if you don't visit injured troops (you're insensitive to the suffering you've caused), but you are equally a loser if you do (you're exploiting the soldiers to make yourself look sensitive).
One of the many things to think about before acting so irresponsibly as a leader.
posted by Rykey at 8:22 AM on November 10, 2007
« Older Way to make a "boldly go" joke, NPR. | Now, Listen! Ninjatune podcasts... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by 517 at 12:36 AM on November 10, 2007