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Neither Here Nor There
3/26/04

The Joke's On Us

I apologize for any grammatical errors in this piece.
I'm limiting myself to thirty minutes to write the
whole thing, editing and all. I'm mad. I want that to
come across.

Did you catch George W. Bush's performance this week at
the Radio and Television Correspondents Dinner?

Traditionally, this dinner has been a place for the
President to poke fun at himself, his staff and his
presidency. Past Presidents have cracked jokes about
partisan politics, their legislative rivals and
personal indiscretions. It's always been a
good-natured, and usually benignly funny, affair. But
this week George W. Bush poked fun at the fact that no
one has found any evidence of weapons of mass
destruction in Iraq.

With a slide show montage of himself looking behind
pieces of furniture in the Oval Office, George W. Bush
provided the narration, "Those weapons have got to be
here somewhere. Nope, no weapons under there. Maybe
over here." The audience laughed. But not many people
are laughing now.

The most polarizing president our country has ever seen
did it again.

You see, what George Bush did was not only poke fun at
himself, he poked fun at the fact that his railroading
of the Constitutional process, his obliteration of the
usefulness of the United Nations, his unilateral "with
us or against us" cowboy bullshit has sent almost 600
United States servicemen and women to their deaths in a
country we invaded for the specific reason of the
threat from weapons of mass destruction. Don't be
fooled by the Colin Powell/Donald Rumsfeld news
conferences we've been getting hammered over the head
with, those "Saddam was a bad man, we're better off"
speeches. I agree that we're better off. But we weren't
told that war was our only option because Saddam was a
bad guy. Again and again, our President told us that we
had to go to war to deal with the imminent threat of
Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction. There is
a very big difference between these two lines of
thinking. And for the President to now find humor in
the fact that his number one cause for war turned out
to be built on lies and faulty/doctored intelligence is
insulting and demeaning to the American people.

Imagine if, just a few months after September 11th,
when we were still counting the lost and learning the
names of the dead, Bush had cracked the same jokes,
only this time saying, "Hmm, no al Qaeda under there.
No Osama bin Laden behind this cabinet." Imagine the
outrage.

You done imagining? Good. Now tell me what the
difference is between my little made up quote and what
he actually said the other night. I can't find it, and
I fail to see the humor.

And for a President who has, at best, a questionable
record when it comes to fulfilling his own military
obligations, to joke about an ongoing campaign that has
left hundreds of soldiers dead and hundreds more broken
and shattered, is beyond offensive.

I'll stay away from the bleeding heart liberal
argument, that of soldiers' families losing sons,
daughters, wives, husbands, mothers and fathers. There
is an element of truth to that. But in reality, the men
and women of our armed services signed up for their
jobs willingly. They knew that there was a strong
possibility that they would be put in harm's way. That
being said, there are right and wrong reasons for
having to step into a battle zone. We're in Iraq for
the wrong reasons. People are dying. Our President is
laughing. And there's nothing funny about that.

Please read on. The following people have died as part
of the war in Iraq. They were not in on the joke.

Jesse A. Givens
Sean C. Reynolds
Jason L. Diebler
Marlin T. Rockhold
Brian K. Van Dusen
Hans N. Gukeisen
Richard P. Carl
Cedric E. Bruns
Matthew R. Smith
Jakub Henryk Kowalik
Jose Franci Gonzalez Rodriguez
Nicholas Brian Kleiboeker
Patrick Lee Griffin Jr.
David T. Nutt
William L. Payne
Rashid Sahib
Douglas Jose Marenco-Reyes
Dominic R. Baragona
Andrew David La Mont
Timothy Louis Ryan
Jason William Moore
Aaron Dean White
Kirk Allen Straseskie
William T. Latham
Nathaniel A. Caldwell
David Evans Jr.
Mathew E. Schram
Brett J. Petriken
Kenneth A. Nalley
Jeremiah D. Smith
Jonathan W. Lambert
Keman L. Mitchell
Thomas F. Broomhead
Michael B. Quinn
Jose Amancio Perez III
Kenneth R. Bradley
Zachariah W. Long
Kyle A. Griffin
Michael T. Gleason
Atanasio Haro Marin Jr.
Branden F. Oberleitner
Travis L. Burkhardt
David Sisung
Doyle W. Bollinger Jr.
Jesse M. Halling
Michael E. Dooley
Gavin L. Neighbor
John K. Klinesmith Jr.
Andrew R. Pokorny
Ryan R. Cox
Shawn Pahnke
Joseph D. Suell
Michael L. Tosto
Robert L. Frantz
Michael R. Deuel
Paul T. Nakamura
Orenthial J. Smith
Cedric L. Lennon
Andrew Chris
Gregory E. MacDonald
Richard P. Orengo
Cory A. Hubbell
Timothy M. Conneway
Joshua McIntosh
Tomas Sotelo Jr.
Gladimir Philippe
Kevin Ott
Christopher D. Coffin
Travis J. Bradach-Nall
Corey L. Small
Edward J. Herrgott
David B. Parson
Jeffrey M. Wershow
Chad L. Keith
Barry Sanford Sr.
Craig A. Boling
Robert L. McKinley
Dan H. Gabrielson
Melissa Valles
Roger D. Rowe
Jason Andrew Tetrault
Christian C. Schulz
Joshua M. Neusche
Paul J. Cassidy
Jaror C. Puello-Coronado
Michael T. Crockett
Cory Ryan Geurin
Ramon Reyes Torres
David J. Moreno
Mason Douglas Whetstone
Joel L. Bertoldie
Jonathan D. Rozier
Jason D. Jordan
Justin W. Garvey
Christopher R. Willoughby
David A. Scott
Mark A. Bibby
Jon P. Fettig
Brett T. Christian
Joshua T. Byers
Raheen Tyson Heighter
Evan Asa Ashcraft
Hector R. Perez
Juan M. Serrano
Jonathan P. Barnes
Wilfredo Perez Jr.
Daniel K. Methvin
John Marshall Cheatham
Heath A. McMillin
William J. Maher III
Nathaniel Hart Jr.
Leif E. Nott
Michael J. Deutsch
James I. Lambert III
Justin W. Hebert
David L. Loyd
Farao K. Letufuga
Ronald D. Allen Jr.
Zeferino E. Colunga
Brian R. Hellerman
Kyle C. Gilbert
Leonard D. Simmons
Duane E. Longstreth
Matthew D. Bush
David M. Kirchhoff
Brandon Ramsey
Floyd G. Knighten Jr.
Levi B. Kinchen
David S. Perry
Craig S. Ivory
Richard S. Eaton Jr.
Daniel R. Parker
Timothy R. Brown Jr.
Taft V. Williams
Steven W. White
Eric R. Hull
Kenneth W. Harris Jr.
Bobby C. Franklin
Kylan A. Jones-Huffman
Michael Scott Adams
Stephen M. Scott
Vorn J. Mack
Pablo Manzano
Darryl T. Dent
Rafael L. Navea
Gregory A. Belanger
Anthony L. Sherman
Mark A. Lawton
Sean K. Cataudella
Jarrett B. Thompson
Joseph Camara
Charles T. Caldwell
Cameron B. Sarno
Christopher A. Sisson
Bruce E. Brown
Ryan G. Carlock
Joseph E. Robsky Jr.
Henry Ybarra III
Kevin N. Morehead
William M. Bennett
Trevor A. Blumberg
Kevin C. Kimmerly
Alyssa R. Peterson
Anthony O. Thompson
Richard Arriaga
James C. Wright
Brian R. Faunce
Frederick L. Miller Jr.
Lunsford B. Brown II
David T. Friedrich
Paul J. Sturino
Michael Andrade
Robert E. Rooney
Kyle G. Thomas
Robert L. Lucero
Christopher E. Cutchall
Darrin K. Potter
Andrew Joseph Baddick
Dustin K. McGaugh
James D. Blankenbecler
Analaura Esparza Gutierrez
Simeon Hunte
Tamarra J. Ramos
Charles M. Sims
James H. Pirtle
Spencer T. Karol
Richard Torres
Kerry D. Scott
Joseph C. Norquist
Christopher W. Swisher
Sean A. Silva
James E. Powell
Stephen E. Wyatt
Donald L. Wheeler
Douglas J. Weismantle
Jose Casanova
Benjamin L. Freeman
Kim S. Orlando
Joseph P. Bellavia
Sean R. Grilley
Michael L. Williams
David R. Bernstein
John D. Hart
Paul J. Johnson
Paul J. Bueche
Jason M. Ward
John P. Johnson
John R. Teal
Michael S. Hancock
Artimus D. Brassfield
Jose L. Mora
Steven Acosta
Charles H. Buehring
Joseph R. Guerrera
Jamie L. Huggins
Rachel K. Bosveld
Aubrey D. Bell
Jonathan I. Falaniko
Michael Paul Barrera
Isaac Campoy
Algernon Adams
Todd J. Bryant
Linda C. Jimenez
Joshua C. Hurley
Maurice J. Johnson
Benjamin J. Colgan
Paul F. Fisher
Keelan L. Moss
Ross A. Pennanen
Ernest G. Bucklew
Joel Perez
Frances M. Vega
Darius T. Jennings
Steven D. Conover
Brian H. Penisten
Paul A. Velazquez
Joe N. Wilson
Daniel A. Bader
Anthony D. Dagostino
Karina S. Lau
Brian D. Slavenas
Bruce A. Smith
Rayshawn S. Johnson
Francisco Martinez
Robert T. Benson
Jose A. Rivera
James R. Wolf
James A. Chance III
Sharon T. Swartworth
Kyran E. Kennedy
Paul M. Neff II
Scott C. Rose
Benedict J. Smith
Cornell W. Gilmore I
Morgan D. Kennon
Mark D. Vasquez
Gary L. Collins
Kurt R. Frosheiser
Ryan C. Young
Nicholas A. Tomko
Marlon P. Jackson
Genaro Acosta
Robert A. Wise
Nathan J. Bailey
Joseph Minucci II
Jacob S. Fletcher
Irving Medina
Scott M. Tyrrell
Jeremiah J. DiGiovanni
Ryan T. Baker
William D. Dusenbery
Eugene A. Uhl III
John R. Sullivan
Damian L. Heidelberg
Richard W. Hafer
Joey D. Whitener
Sheldon R. Hawk Eagle
Michael D. Acklin II
Warren S. Hansen
Kelly Bolor
John W. Russell
Erik C. Kesterson
Scott A. Saboe
Pierre E. Piche
Jeremy L. Wolfe
Timothy L. Hayslett
James A. Shull
Alexander S. Coulter
Nathan S. Dalley
Dale A. Panchot
George A. Wood
Joseph L. Lister
Gary B. Coleman
Damian S. Bushart
Robert D. Roberts
Jerry L. Wilson
Rel A. Ravago IV
Eddie E. Menyweather
Darrell L. Smith
Christopher G. Nason
David J. Goldberg
Thomas Sweet II
Ariel Rico
Aaron J. Sissel
Stephen A. Bertolino
Uday Singh
Raphael S. Davis
Clarence E. Boone
Arron R. Clark
Ray J. Hutchinson
Jason G. Wright
Steven H. Bridges
Joseph M. Blickenstaff
Christopher J. Rivera Wesley
Aaron T. Reese
Todd M. Bates
Richard A. Burdick
Jerrick M. Petty
Marshall L. Edgerton
Jeffrey F. Braun
Jarrod W. Black
Rian C. Ferguson
Kimberly A. Voelz
Kenneth C. Souslin
Nathan W. Nakis
Christopher J. Holland
Glenn R. Allison
Charles E. Bush Jr.
Edward M. Saltz
Stuart W. Moore
Eric F. Cooke
Christopher J. Splinter
Christopher F. Soelzer
Benjamin W. Biskie
Michael E. Yashinski
Thomas W. Christensen
Stephen C. Hattamer
Charles G. Haight
Michael G. Mihalakis
Michael J. Sutter
Rey D. Cuervo
Curt E. Jordan Jr.
Ernesto M. Blanco
Justin W. Pollard
Dennis A. Corral
Solomon C. Bangayan
Marc S. Seiden
Kimberly N. Hampton
Eric T. Paliwoda
Luke P. Frist
Jesse D. Mizener
Michael A. Diraimondo
Nathaniel H. Johnson
Christopher A. Golby
Philip A. Johnson Jr.
Ian D. Manuel
Aaron A. Weaver
Craig Davis
Jeffrey C. Walker
Gregory B. Hicks
Ricky L. Crockett
Keicia M. Hines
Kelly L. Hornbeck
Roland L. Castro
Larry E. Polley Jr.
Cody J. Orr
Edmond L. Randle
Gabriel T. Palacios
James D. Parker
Luis A. Moreno
Michael T. Blaise
Brian D. Hazelgrove
Ervin Dervishi
Jason K. Chappell
William R. Sturges Jr.
Randy S. Rosenberg
Keith L. Smette
Kenneth W. Hendrickson
Christopher Bunda
Adam G. Mooney
Patrick D. Dorff
Matthew J. August
James T. Hoffman
Sean G. Landrus
Travis A. Moothart
Luke S. James
Lester O. Kinney II
Cory R. Mracek
Eliu A. Miersandoval
Juan C. Cabral Banuelos
Holly J. McGeogh
Roger C. Turner Jr.
Armando Soriano
Seth J. Dvorin
Joshua L. Knowles
Jude C. Mariano
Richard P. Ramey
Thomas D. Robbins
Elijah Tai Wah Wong
Patrick S. Tainsh
William C. Ramirez
Eric U. Ramirez
Bryan N. Spry
Nichole M. Frye
Michael M. Merila
Christopher Taylor
Jeffrey C. Graham
Roger G. Ling
Henry A. Bacon
Stephen M. Wells
Matthew C. Laskowski
Michael R. Woodliff
Michael J. Gray
Gussie M. Jones
Matthew G. Milczark
Edward W. Brabazon
Richard S. Gottfried
Bert E. Hoyer
Christopher K. Hill
Joe L. Dunigan Jr.
Ernest Harold Sutphin
John F. Kurth
Jason C. Ford
Jocelyn L. Carrasquillo
Clint D. Ferrin
Daniel J. Londono
Joel K. Brattain
William J. Normandy
Michael R. Adams
Thomas R. Thigpen Sr.
Tracy L. Laramore
Ivory L. Phipps
Andrew D. Brownfield
Brandon Smith
Ricky Morris Jr.
Doron Chan
David M. Vicente

You think about that list, and you think about Bush's
laughing, smirking performance the other night. You
think about all of that when you head into the voting
booth this November.

More later
Sullivan