Here’s a little of Bill Maher’s stand up where he does the tired old “only I really support the troops because I want to send them home” shtick. Liberals have a really odd attitude towards the military. They’re sort of this abstraction as it seems most don’t even know anyone in the military, and they alternate characterize the military men ad brutal thugs or have this really patronizing attitude that they’re dumb babies in need of rescuing.
Anyway, I sometimes wonder if our troops over in Iraq and Afghanistan say lots of patronizing things about douchebag liberals.
“You know, if people really supported Bill Maher, they’d make sure he never went on TV so he wouldn’t publicly embarrass himself. If we just put him in front of a broken camera and had someone every so often walk by, pat him on the head and say, ‘You’re very smart and clever!’ he’d be much happier.”
Sorry, Frank, lying goes against my religious beliefs.
Sure – he supports the troops.
He just doesn’t support anything they do, the principles they’ve dedicated their lives to, the missions they’ve risked their lives and limbs for, or their determination to preserve and defend our country and our freedom.
Other than those minor quibbles he fully supports them.
well, I, for one, support* Bill Maher.
*-Statement of support is in accordance with my support of Constitutional free speech rights and is not intended as encouragement or endorsement of nor delight in any leftist, socialist, moronic, or merely iconoclastic thoughts spoken, written ,expressed, or implied by, nor inferred of Bill Maher whether on television, radio, internet, or crayoned on bathroom stalls where they would get better ratings than his other venues.
In a similar vein, I’ve always wanted to get a bumper sticker that said:
I support the President. I just don’t support his policies.
Makes as much sense as what the left always says…
This is consistent with the views of the left. They also believe that the best way to support the middle class is to make sure they’re fired and sent home from work. Their best idea to support small business is to put them out of business. Etc., etc.
Maher also supports the 911 families and the Steve Irwin family, too. I am surprised he doesn’t have an hour on pmsnbc. We should support Maher by following Frank’s suggestion, and doing it Iran. I am sure they would like him there.
Good thinkin’, Stormy. Give him a show on msnbc and he’ll never be heard from again.
To DamnCat:
When “the troops” begin deciding “WHAT THEY DO”, then you might have a point, idiot.
Maher’s criticism, as intelligent people know, is directed at the civilian leadership (the President, Congress, and the American people) who keep sending them or allowing them to be sent, on idiotic crusades that are intended to do nothing but support corporate globalization.
Didn’t we just have a post about this? Liberals thrive off the belief that everyone is a victim of something. In Maher’s mind, his comments support the troops, because everyone in uniform is a victim of an unjust war. His beliefs blind him from some very simple facts. From my perspective since I’m currently on active duty:
1) I make more money (net and gross) than most of my friends who have degrees.
2) The Military pays for my mortgage. I don’t know of any other job short of Congressman that does that.
3) My health care has its disadvantages, and advantages (like being completely free).
4) I can’t think of any other place where you can work for 4 years and get your education and housing paid for.
5) My children and spouse can also use my education benefits.
6) Every single person wearing a uniform has either signed up or reenlisted since 9-11, knowing that to do so will probably get you sent to Iraq or Afghanistan.
7) American citizens will do outlandish things for you to show their gratitude. (Upgrade you to first class on planes, pay for your dinner, show up at the Dallas airport at 6 in the morning to welcome you off a plane from overseas.) This is why I don’t ever stop anywhere if I’m in uniform.
There are a few negatives, but I blame that more on bureaucracy than anything else. Compared to the treatment some of my family received coming back from the first Gulf War, and Vietnam, I have absolutely nothing to complain about.
I support the military, am in the military and have done a tour of duty in afghanistan, however I believe the lives, minds and bodies of our armed forces should not be unwisley committed to action. We lost the initiative in aghanistan due to the untimely and perhaps unwise foray into Iraq. Untimely because there was no credible evidence of WMD to justify the invasion. What is not mentioned, though a verifiable fact, is that Saddams govt was making deals with France and Russia for Iraqi Oil. As US energy security and national security are essentially the same, the timing for the invasion seems suspect. It is possible to support the troops and not support what the govt asks of them. They will go to hell if told to, and come back for seconds….for that they deserve better political judgement than history has often shown. For starters…before ever committing to a war overseas…have an objective that is identifiable and achievable…what end state determines that we have accomplished our mission. Though I suppose there willbe comments to this post to suggest that we should kick whoevers ass needs kicking and damn the consequences….that it is fine to be mired (again) to a now decade long counter insurgency which still has a fuzzy objective. I dont expect much as a servieman except that my life and that of my troops is not squandered. I am not left wing, I just wish that hard questions get answered before the battle, to ensure that the battle gets won….
Even a show business douchebag has a better grip on military reality than you. Maher’s point was not in any way that only he supports the troops, but that phalanxes of right-wing douchebags like you slather yourselves in fake patriotism disguised as “support for the troops.” Sadly we just wrapped up eight years of being accused of “not supporting the troops” whenever Bush/Cheney were criticized. Either way the right made troop support meaningless—-you support the troops by saying that you do, and fail to support them by saying anything else. His point that we treat the troops like second class citizens in almost every way was totally lost on you. Maybe you are the one who is infantilized.
[Maybe you’re a paranoid nut who imagined a lot of things, though. A lot of people need invisible ninjas to fight to feel important, so that’s another possibility. -Ed.]
Frank, your wrong. People can support the troops without supporting the wars their involved in. “Progressive’s” hope for the well-being and safe return of our troops just like “conservatives”. We, on the other hand feel that a war such as Iraq was unnecessary. If our young soldiers are going to give the “ultimate sacrifice” for their country, us “progressive’s” wan’t to make damn sure it’s for a good cause.
Most people who signed up for the military after 9-11 thought they were signing up to defend America against future terror attacks and for revenge against the people responsible for that terrible day. Most were probably shocked when they heard that they’d be invading Iraq, especially when they already knew the conspirators were from Afghanistan
In closing, I think that most people are pretty happy that we again, as American’s, have a President who is the smartest guy in the room. A President who we can trust. A guy who will use common sense to solve the issues. A man who isn’t a warmonger, or doesn’t believe that this is “god’s will”. I know I sleep better at night now.
Rob
[Are you serious with that last paragraph? That’s pretty unbelievable anyone still thinks that; that’s quite a lot of Kool Aid to guzzle. -Ed.]
#8 EC
The troops did make a decision by enlisting. We have a complete volunteer military and have had one since we stopped the draft in the 70’s. Even the practice of stop-loss was ended a couple of years ago. Politics involved in conflicts is up to the people and politician to decide, not troops. You can’t have an effective military if the soldiers vote on the politics of a conflict. As long as the orders don’t violate the Geneva, Hague conventions or the law of war, we follow orders, Period! Neither Afghanistan nor Iraq violated either. That has been upheld in our courts and even in foreign courts when dealing with Military deserters.
#10 D-Edwards
I respectively disagree on a few points. First, if we only focused on Al-Qaeda you miss the larger threat. Undeniably we didn’t take the threat of Al Qaeda seriously as we should have until 9-11, hence the wording for the war on terror vs. The War on Al Qaeda. Saddam had for years been a threat to everyone. He attempted assassination of presidents Bush, Clinton, and LTC Oliver North. He supported terrorist organizations in Palestine, Treated Abu Al Zakari in a state run hospital in Baghdad, Ignored almost every aspect of the armistice signed by him after the 1991 gulf war. He had missiles that fired over 20km, developed planes that were remote controlled, fired on our planes on a weekly basis in the No Fly Zone. Any one of these actions should have gotten an invasion years ago. If Bush wanted oil he could have got it the same way the French, The Germans, and the UN got it saving us Billions of dollars, lives, and time. (See UN Food For Oil Scandal). You can’t stabilize a region if you constantly have a major player who purposely throws monkey wrenches in the process.
Objectives are fine, but as anything you will constantly adapt to the situation (MET-TC). We removed Saddam re-established a functioning government, and are now in the process of getting out. Afghanistan the situation is completely different, so we can’t compare the two. We have the same goals but the time line is going to be different. By the end of next year we will have more combat troops in Bosnia than we do in Iraq. (Which by the way started back in the 90’s and we still aren’t out of). President Obama has to deal with the reality of the situation. We leave Afghanistan the way it is now; we open the door for future attacks. He stands and fights, Afghanistan can be stable for the first time since the soviets invaded. This is why he has completely backtracked from his promises on the campaign trail.
Posts 9 and 10, thank you both for your service and taking time to comment. You are each fine examples of why we support and are proud of the men and women who defend us.
Other thoughts aside, I just wonder how Maher’s act would go over on a military base, especially one in a country where active hostilities are occurring. And also if he would have the nerve to do that routine in front of the troops he supports.
OIFvet, point number 6, along with the courage and discipline displayed after is why it’s hard to find adequate words to give voice to our admiration. Hopefully a meal or a cold beer offered is enough to let you know that person is proud of you. Fears for you (And your family). And is always quick to take offense when hearing what seems to be someone disparaging you.
I guess what throws us off is when we see both pride and heartbreak displayed in such angry fashion by so many on the left.
War sucks, but the only thing worse than war is a culture not willing to stand up and fight one when it needs to. Senator Obama and the rest of the left have stated for years that Iraq was a distraction and we should focus on Afghanistan the “Just War”. Now Iraq is closing down and we can turn our attention to Afghanistan, the majority on the left don’t want to fight that either? I have no problem with people having a problem with War only on the principal. It’s a free country. But let’s not act like that the Al Qaeda, The Taliban, or Saddam didn’t and don’t still have aspirations to cause mass amounts of causalities of American Citizens. The only reason they haven’t, or weren’t able to in Saddam’s case is because of the men and women in Law enforcement, Intelligence and our troops kicking butt overseas. The only reason we can comfortably sit here and discuss the positives and negatives of the Violence of war is because other people go forth and commit violence in order to stop other people committing violence against us. With that I say thanks to #9 & #10
Rob, do you actually believe the crap you spilled in that last paragraph?
Do you remember when liberals harped about Bush’s pathetic polls? Just sayin’.
“Smarts” don’t do much for you when you’re chaining America to a pile of debt or golfing as Iranians are massacred in the streets or pretending you never opposed the surge in Iraq or, my, I’ve lost count by now.
You are a crazy person.
Ignorant American! It’s not God’s will, it’s the State’s will!
I know I sleep better at night now.
I thought pot made one hungry? I wouldn’t know; I’m not a crazy pothead.
Frank, tell someone to make WordPress formatting easier to use!
OIFVet, d-edwards, thanks for your service. May God bless you both and the same to your brothers-in-arms.
I just wanted to say I support Bill Maher’s local Fire Department.
If Maher’s house should ever catch fire, they should get the day off.
I am still unsure if history will show Iraq to be worth its blood,treasure, and political price named Obama. We need our soldiers here we are under siege from without and within. The wolves our circling our divided and bankrupt circled wagons. I think we should:
-Instantly start closing our foreign bases especially Euro/Japan. The western world will be much better off with stronger independent allies then with fickle dependent ones.
-start opening new bases here in the US. To say nothing of the jobs that would be created by building a dozens of new bases.
– Cap federal taxes at a flat 10% sales tax.
-States take entirely over education, health-care, welfare etc.. to do as they please with the local taxes available to pay for them. Turn all non-defense/foreign policy over to the states.
-Disband all federal unions and keep them state local.
Fascism is the problem and Federalism is the answer. Federal government by the constitution is to be the umpire between states no the empire.