15 Comments so far

1. chasbass.blogs.com March 19th, 2007 3:04 pm

   Outstanding article Ms. Kelley and yes I too read your book. Powerful read. What are we to say at this juncture? being a veteran, I know all too well our Infantry Credo: “Lead, follow or get the hell out of the way!” Notice, Bush Jr., chose not to follow his fathers foot prints, Bush Jr. chose not lead and set an example when his moment had arrived during Nam he deliberately missed his physical knowing he would be grounded and continues not to get the hell out of the way. All 3, George Jr. has violated, why would his daughters/relatives do differently. Carlos Pasqual-Rivera,U.S. Veteran 79′

2. John Sullivan March 19th, 2007 4:14 pm

   Joining in the destruction of an innocent nation is hardly showing a good example. There should be no Americans in Iraq who have not been invited by the Iraqi people. But of course, the issue is hypocrisy.

3. srelf March 19th, 2007 4:16 pm

   Excellent point. I thank the L.A. Times for printing this article, even at this time of chaos for them.
   Others have also brought up the point that almost NO children of Congress are in the war. Shame on them all.

4. clyde paige March 19th, 2007 5:16 pm

   All of the Bush’s except the old man are coward’s especially George W.who got daddy to run him ahead of 500 other’s to get into the Air national Guard then didn’t finish his enlistment because he was so scared he would have to go to war.Coward’s always let someone else do their fighting,remember Dick Cheney had other priorities instead of serving this country yet he lied to send other’s Son’s and Daughter’s into an illegal war.Bush /Cheney should be impeached and tried as the war criminal’s they are. If the Democrat’s had any gut’s they would be impeaching them now.

5. Ronald White March 19th, 2007 8:17 pm

   Excellent question but let’s take it one logical step further. ” Since then, no one in his large family has seen fit to follow his sterling example of service and patriotism.”

   Then it’s time for all Americans to follow the ” sterling ” example of the present Bush . Why are all of the progressive journalists writing insightful , truthful but pathetically optimist essays on their firm resolve to push a transigent Congress to bring troops home
   For those who are thinking of enlistment, ” Just Say No ”
   For those enlisted , Americans and especially journalists can write ” We approve of your decision to desert “and create funds to pay defence attorneys.

   Sounds pretty rash but Ehren Watada’s defiance was rash and so far he’s the only one that has scored a minor victory.

   Everybody else is talking so nicely and it’s not working . What are Americans going to do- wait another five years and twenty thousands dead for Congress to debate the unwinnable occupation like the Vietnam occupation

6. BillN March 19th, 2007 9:13 pm

   George HW Bush may have been weeping because he thinks if Jeb had won that election, he would have been president instead of W, and one million lives might have been spared.

7. JH March 20th, 2007 12:58 am

   I have been saying for ages that Barbara and Jenna should be there. It sets a fine example for the rest of the country to follow. If W had to put his daughters in the line of fire, peace might be at hand.

8. Lobo Gris March 20th, 2007 6:20 am

   I’ve said it before but if you want to end all wars in this country all that has to be done is for a law to be passed that institutes an instant draft of all military age relatives of all lawmakers into a combat arms branch of the Marines or Army with guaranteed deployment into the combat zone anytime the U.S. enters into armed combat.

   As long as we have a system that allows our lawmakers to insulate themselves from the effects of the wars they start, and in fact profit from it we will continue to have needless wars of choice.

   Lobo Gris

9. Danny March 20th, 2007 1:12 pm

   Why not pass a law stating, that if congress authorizes war they all go and go to lead on the front lines—Ceasar went-Alexander went-Napoleon went–why not them—Can even include kids of age—-Believe me–such a law will spare many lives–Also whatever health insurence congress authorizes for itself should be available to all—Who is serving whom?

10. happygael March 20th, 2007 3:01 pm

    I served in WW2 as an infantry man. I remember the Roosevelt family’s service. One of them (Franklin Jr.) had a enlisted man kicked off a plane so he could bring home a pet Boxer Pup with him Elliot was comfortably sensconced in a rear echelon unit soewhere. John was the only one whose service put him in Harm’s way.
    Harry Truman’s daughter was noticably absent from The Korean war. None of JFK’s family was involved during the Vietnamese conflict. Needless to say Slick Willy and his family avoided service. So what are yo upeople yelling about. As far as the movie stars go Where are Sean Penn and the rest of his buddies? Are the looking for a middle east Anti-Aircraft weapon to sit on and be photograhed?

11. BigNoseKate March 21st, 2007 1:35 am

    “As far as the movie stars go Where are Sean Penn and the rest of his buddies? Are the looking for a middle east Anti-Aircraft weapon to sit on and be photograhed?”

    Sean Penn and the rest of his buddies OPPOSE the war, or haven’t you been paying attention? At would be hypocritical of them to enlist.
    BNK

12. Chuck Cliff March 21st, 2007 2:54 am

    Exactly, BNK!

    And if it still OK to bash Clinton with “Slick Willy”, then it certainly is in order to remind Happygael that “Warlord Codpiece” was AWOL at the time.

13. damien March 24th, 2007 10:24 pm

    I think your article was great, but it got me to thinking .Who is right? those who won’t be caught up in a combat zone (Bush’s) or those who are risking life and limb for a phony, lied up deal as the “Iraq war”created by a man that doesn’t comprehend right from wrong.

14. SFisher March 25th, 2007 2:26 am

    Leave it to Kitty Kelley.

    The George W. Bush incubus turns America into a rogue state facing Cold War II and publicly disgraces his own father to tears.

    W and Laura have visited hospitals, namely Walter Reed, only long enough to have their pictures snapped, always with a fast exit strategy. Walter Reed’s deplorable conditions prove how much time Bush, Laura, Cheney, et al have spent supporting the troops. Now Cheney has the audacity to scream that the House is “undermining the troops”, a dastardly stab at perpetuating his ill-conceived war. These people have no consideration for our troops at all, only offering up America’s resources as fodder for their own corruption. While Anna Nicole makes headlines for weeks, few have heard of Lt. Watada and his courageous deed which brought George W. Bush’s Iraq war about face with THE TRUTH.

    “At many stages in the advance of humanity, this conflict between the men who possess more than they have earned and the men who have earned more than they possess is the central condition of progress. In our day it appears as the struggle of freemen to gain and hold the right of self-government as against the special interests, who twist the methods of free government into machinery for defeating the popular will. At every stage, and under all circumstances, the essence of the struggle is to equalize opportunity, destroy privilege, and give to the life and citizenship of every individual the highest possible value both to himself and to the commonwealth.”

    From “New Nationalism”, a speech by Theodore Roosevelt, 1910.

15. bnpacasuveza December 12th, 2007 10:23 am

    titzivihiwyxu…

    exxywocoraxa…

Join the discussion:

You must be logged in to post a comment. If you haven't registered yet, click here to register. (It's quick, easy and free. And we won't give your email address to anyone.)