My favorite thing about conservatives must be that there are no mental gymnastics they won't do to avoid admitting they're wrong. Even when it involves opposing what they claim to support. Atrios points me to an Editor and Publisher piece about emails it has recieved regarding Lee Pitts, the journalist who helped frame the question the soldier asked Donald Rumsfeld about the armor. You know what I'm talking about. Here are some of the excerpts. While I don't take this to be representative of mainstream conservatives in this country, I'm still waiting for the outrage of those on the right who disagree with them:
Joe M. Richardson: "The duped soldier should be put at the very front of the action, no armor. The cooperating sergeant's career should be over and maybe become MIA. Pitts and all his cronies should be executed as traitors. We are fighting a war, the debate is over, you’re either for us or against us, there is no middle ground. I say start executing the leftists in our country, soon."
We support the troops! Except for those who want to defend themselves. And those commanding officers who want to protect their soldiers' constitutional rights.
Peter Minoc, Vallejo, Calif.: "I would hate to think how World War II would turn out if our military had a media like the one today. There were so many friendly-fire deaths to ill-equipped units that led to soldiers dying, but the media of that time knew what the stakes were. The media today has this suicidal belief that their press credentials will protect them from the Islamic fascists. This belief is so strong that you are willing to lower the morale of the people fighting for your right to attack this administration. Stop being the damn story and just report the news!"
Well, to answer your question, Peter, perhaps WWII would have turned such that there were fewer friendly-fire deaths and fewer ill-equipped units. Apparently, you're against that. That goddamn liberal media, trying to save the lives of our soldiers. How unpatriotic.
Wade Hampton, Phoenix, Ariz.: "That was a well orchestrated con job by Pitts. Sure you’re going to get some cheering, a good portion of our military are indeed liberals who voted for Kerry. Plus the military always needs or wants something. If they made a one-man tank suit they would all want one, although I doubt Kerry would have approved the funding. What the media has done is insure that military personnel probably won't be given the opportunity to ask questions in this manner again."
Those goddamned liberals in the military! How did they get in there? And those damned soldiers, always complaining, always wanting the best equipment. Why don't they just quit their whining? Real men didn't cry when I was a kid.
Tom Fish, Arroyo Grande, Calif.: "I'm sure that most of the GI's in Iraq can think for themselves. Reporter stepped over the line."
Tom, I bet they can think for themselves. Apparently, though, you don't think so, because you assume that if the soldier asked the question, he must have been coerced; and you don't take into the consideration the obvious fact that he had to choose whether to ask the question or not. Try thinking for yourself instead of parroting Limbaugh, why don't you?
This stuff is truly dispicable. I'm waiting for one good, honest conservative out there to condemn Rumsfeld for not giving the soldiers the armor they need, and to condemn your right-wing friends for playing politics with our men and women in uniform. Just one. I'm waiting. I know you're out there. Don't disappoint me.
-- Michael
Taking and admitting mistakes is professional, the real meaning is you get and accept to learn new stuff.
Posted by: uv dectors | July 19, 2011 at 12:29 AM