Rush, the Troops, and MSNBC

[desertvixen]

Warning: Post contains politics. 


Because I had MSNBC on at work yesterday, and they were talking about this ALL DAY, I have to get this off my chest:

The Congress has got to have more important things to do than to condemn PAID POLITICAL ADS.  It’s childish.  I don’t feel it was right for Congress to come out with an anti-MoveOn.org resolution.  It’s not any righter to come out with an anti-Rush one.  They’re in Washington to conduct our business, not to pull these stunts.

Also, the Rush thing is pissing me off.  I realize he's an inflated ego shock jock, and you know something?  He's good at his job.  He's good at pissing people who disagree with him off, and he's good at making people who already agree with him nod their heads in agreement, and he gets paid for it. 

I am offended at his "phony soldiers" remark.  A person's service is not diminished by their political viewpoint.  A person can disagree with the way things are going as far as Iraq, and still serve honorably.  It's not like we can just jump ship because we're not agreeing.  Whether we just haven't had a chance to not reenlist, or whether we have changed our minds about whether or not our participation in this is worth the sacrifice we and our families make, we only get a chance to vote with our feet every four or five years,

Some people reenlist because they want to – because they believe in their job, and believe that they make a difference.

Some people reenlist because they don’t feel they have any other choice or option – too many years in service towards retirement, they feel the benefits outweigh the price. 

I can understand why – it’s a scary world out there.  In the Army, while you have to worry about getting killed in the line of duty, you have health insurance.  You have benefits to take care of your family (in part) if you make the ultimate sacrifice.  You don’t have to worry about being downsized, or let go. 

For most people, I think it’s a combination.  Families play a big part in the decision, as well – especially for dual military couples.  The Army demands a lot, and families demand a lot.  It’s certainly the biggest factor in why I will not reenlist – I want to make my family my first priority, and the Army makes that very difficult.  It’s hard enough sending my husband and staying home with our daughter, who is too little to understand why her daddy isn’t home, but not too little to suffer from not seeing him for nine months.  And we’re lucky.  He’s only going to be gone for nine months, not twelve, and not fifteen.

I also find it offensive that someone who skated out of going to Vietnam can sit behind his microphone and call men and women who may not have believed in Iraq, but who believed in their duty to their country, and their brothers and sisters in arms and went anyway.  Maybe he was referring to specific “phony soldiers” but you know what?  Maybe he should have made that point a little clearer. He's not exactly a newbie at this sort of thing.

I am more offended that he feels it’s okay to call someone a “valiant combat veteran” and then compare him to a suicide bomber.  I am offended that he appears to think that the only reason a soldier or veteran would disagree with his viewpoint is because he was lied to by the Left.  Now some of his supporters are trying to characterize his remarks as an "unfortunate choice of words".  Yes, it's so unfortunate when people say what they really mean.

If Rush is an example of “supporting the troops”, never mind. 

That’s my opinion.  He has a right to his.  I have a right to mine.  Trust me, the two shall never meet.

Also, could talking heads (Joe Scarborough, I am looking at you) please quit acting like all the Democrats have to do is stop approving money for the war and everything will be better?  It’s not that simple.  You can’t just turn off the tap.  It costs money to have people there just existing.  It costs money to bring them home.  Not to mention, how is the right going to paint the idea that the Democrats want to cut off the money?  Their spin machine is good enough, we don’t have to help them with it.

DV

Comments

[cynthia1960.livejournal.com]

thank you!

[desert-vixen.livejournal.com]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the rant!

DV

[gi-janearng.livejournal.com]

Ha, this stuck out at me: You don’t have to worry about being downsized, or let go.

Had it still been Clinton in office, we might have had to worry.

[desert-vixen.livejournal.com]

The GWOT pretty much puts paid to that, I think.

Not to mention, enough people are getting out because of the deployment related stresses that the people who want to stay are having it made worth their while.

DV

[joykins1.livejournal.com]

Right on!

At this point whatever Congress does our troops will take the brunt of it. Time to stop posturing and start being as intelligent as possible.

[desert-vixen.livejournal.com]

We'll keep our fingers crossed for that one...

DV

[filkferengi]

Your comments about health insurance remind me of Miles talking about how his mom wildcatted through wormholes for a pension.

Also, enthusiastic agreement about conducting business, not pulling stunts!