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Leadership?

Ovid on 2003-11-10T17:55:38

Bush demonstrates leadership:

Unlike Presidents Reagan, Bush I and Clinton, who all attended memorial ceremonies for troops killed in overseas terrorist attacks, Bush II declines to be present at services for soldiers who have died in Iraq. The pictures wouldn't be helpful.

This "compassionate conservative" has worked hard to send our soldiers to their deaths and he can't be bothered to attend their funerals? Of course, this should come as no surprise to us. Despite his campaign rhetoric about treating our veterans with respect, how has the Bush administration and the Republican controlled congress really treated our veterans?

  • The VA has 20,000 fewer employees than in 1996
  • Since 1995, VA hospital enrollment has increased by 1.7 million
  • Another 600,000 will enroll this year
  • New $250.00 enrollment fees have been imposed
  • Outreach programs are being scaled down
  • Many vets will have to wait up to 10 months for treatments
  • Some VA clinics and hospitals cannot afford to admit new patients
  • Almost a million veteran disability claims are still pending

I can't say I'm happy about us being over there, but damn it, our veterans deserve more than this. These are men and women who are dying for us. Our troops deserve our support. Too bad Bush isn't willing to give it.

Lincoln and Civil War Casualties

chromatic on 2003-11-10T20:03:35

Do you think Abraham Lincoln attended 360,000 Union funerals? That's only 72,000 a year or some 200 per day. Assuming no travel time and four hours of sleep per night, Lincoln could have spent six minutes at each funeral.

Now that's leadership.

Re:Lincoln and Civil War Casualties

Ovid on 2003-11-10T21:01:33

Er, I'm not sure what your point is. My point is that Bush is attending none of the funerals. Not one. That's pretty sad. You would think that, as Commander in Chief, he would at least make a show of sympathy.

Re:Lincoln and Civil War Casualties

chromatic on 2003-11-11T00:05:38

If he held (or attended) a service for all casualties, I could see him being lambasted for a largely symbolic gesture.

If he attended services for several, but not all, casualties, I could see him being criticized for not showing enough sympathy, especially as more soldiers are killed and wounded.

If he attended services for all casualties, I could see him being ridiculed for spending all of his time attending funerals.

I'm of the opinion that doing what he can do for every family equally (pretty much what he's doing now — sending letters of sympathy) is reasonable.

If one of my relatives were killed in duty, I'm not sure how I would feel. Still, it's pretty obvious that there's no way Bush can win with some people.

Re:Lincoln and Civil War Casualties

jdporter on 2003-11-10T23:40:45

One funeral per Civil War soldier killed? Not according to my history book.

Anyway, Lincoln did attend a post-battle solemnity (honoring how many thousands of American dead at one go?) at Gettysburg.

Gave a right nice speech, too.

Bush?

pudge on 2003-11-11T16:30:28

Why do you blame Bush for loss of VA employees since 1996? Clinton was President for the majority of the years since 1996. Also, the President has little to do with that sort of thing, Congress usually directs it.

As to new fees and less outreach, that doesn't bother me too much, in principle. What does bother me is the delays, and even refusal of treatment for some, etc. I am not sure who is primarily to blame for that. Again, Congress does this sort of thing, primarily.

But as to funerals, yeah, Bush can't win. I agree he should attend some funerals, but I disagree entirely that this is indicative of lack of support for veterans. I think you're missing the larger issue, which is the Bush administration's tendency to hide. Whether it is about the economy, or homeland security, or war, or whatever, the Bush administration does not like to deal with, in public, things that might make the public feel like everything isn't perfect. I think that's the real issue.

Re:Bush?

Ovid on 2003-11-11T17:20:25

I didn't mean to sound like I was blaming Bush for the VA cuts that happened before he took office. However, he has continued to support the VA cuts. I think that if he truly cared about the vets and wanted to support them, he could easily kick up a fuss about how Congress is treating them and people would listen. Today is Veteran's day here in the US. It would be a great day to hear him talk about that. That might actually demonstrate a bit of leadership (if his handlers let him).

I do completely agree with you about the Bush administration hiding things. Just reading the White House Web site's robots.txt file makes me wonder.