Congressman implies Bush is amused by soldier deaths

[Fash]

Leader Boehner Calls on Democratic Rep. Stark to Retract Statement, Apologize to American Troops and their Families
Thu Oct 18 2007 14:11:42 ET

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 18, 2007
CONTACTS: Brian Kennedy, Kevin Smith, Steve Forde Ð (202) 225-4000

WASHINGTON, D.C. House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today issued the following statement regarding remarks made on the House floor by Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) during the debate on the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP):

"Our troops in Iraq are fighting against al-Qaeda and other radical jihadists hellbent on killing the people we are sent here to represent. Congressman Stark's statement dishonors not only the Commander-in-Chief, but the thousands of courageous men and women of America's armed forces who believe in their mission and are putting their lives on the line for our freedom and security. Congressman Stark should retract his statement and apologize to the House, our Commander-in-Chief, and the families of our soldiers and commanders fighting terror overseas."

During debate on the SCHIP children's health care legislation today, Rep. Stark stated: "You don't have money to fund the war or children. But you're going to spend it to blow up innocent people if we can get enough kids to grow old enough for you to send to Iraq to get their heads blown off for the President's amusement."

SCHIP can be debated.. the take I heard was that it raised the maximum qualifying income level to a point considered wealthy by the AMT bill (Alternative Minimum Tax), which is kind of... fucked.

Regardless, what this representative said is pretty disgusting. No wonder their approval level is 11%... They have the priorities and class of Brittany Spears.

[Funkmasterr]

wow.. just.. wow.

[Nick]

Can we please avoid another BOO HOO THE POOR SOLDIERS thread?

[Funkmasterr]

Can we please avoid another BOO HOO THE POOR SOLDIERS thread?

No one made it into that, and I doubt anyone was planning on it. That isn't to say your attitude towards U.S. soldiers doesn't make me sick to my stomach.

But the point (that I was making at least) is that it is fucking sickening that some dipshit would really imply that Bush is amused by soldiers dying.

[Nick]

I think you're getting a little bit overly emotional about a throwaway remark by someone you don't know.

[Fash]

I think you're getting a little bit overly emotional about a throwaway remark by someone you don't know.

I think you're being a little bit overly dismissive about a derisive remark that you agree with.

Much like Sparta, everyone is held responsible for the words that come out of their mouths. One remark can be the end of a career, and it's possible this guy has seen his last term solely because of this remark.

[Nick]

Why though?

It's not like Bush actually gives a flying fuck about soldiers deaths, otherwise he wouldn't have started such a ridiculously pointless war?

What exactly is it that's so "outrageous"?

[Funkmasterr]

That is your opinion, you cannot say for sure whether he truly cares or not.

However, there is a difference between saying he doesn't care, and saying it amuses him, like he is some kind of sick man playing a game of chess with his soldiers because death, dying, and gore give him a hardon. That is absolutely absurd and is over the line, and I know if you take a step back you can see and maybe even agree with that.

[Nick]

Well in honesty, I couldn't really give a shit. I already think far worse things about George Bush than this little quip.

[Bagar-]

I think you're getting a little bit overly emotional about a throwaway remark by someone you don't know.

I think you're being a little bit overly dismissive about a derisive remark that you agree with.

Much like Sparta, everyone is held responsible for the words that come out of their mouths. One remark can be the end of a career, and it's possible this guy has seen his last term solely because of this remark.

The comparison between the U.S and Sparta is hilarious.


TONIGHT WE DINE IN...iraq?

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

I think you're getting a little bit overly emotional about a throwaway remark by someone you don't know.

I think you're being a little bit overly dismissive about a derisive remark that you agree with.

Much like Sparta, everyone is held responsible for the words that come out of their mouths. One remark can be the end of a career, and it's possible this guy has seen his last term solely because of this remark.

The comparison between the U.S and Sparta is hilarious.


TONIGHT WE DINE IN...iraq?

Hilarious, but very poinant.

[Kaldaur]

This guy sounds like someone who is just tired of war. We just got done watching an Alderman getting angry last week about a stupid interview, dropping Fucks and Shits like they're nobody's business. Yet now, when a Congressman gets upset about the war and runs his mouth, we're condemning him? Maybe amusement wasn't the right word, or maybe it is. What else can it be to invade a country like Iraq? The neohawks can ramp their war machine, and talk about "dangers to America", yet it's our kids that go off to fight and die for their causes. What are they dying for now, except to try and salvage Dubya's legacy?

[Funkmasterr]

This guy sounds like someone who is just tired of war. We just got done watching an Alderman getting angry last week about a stupid interview, dropping Fucks and Shits like they're nobody's business. Yet now, when a Congressman gets upset about the war and runs his mouth, we're condemning him? Maybe amusement wasn't the right word, or maybe it is. What else can it be to invade a country like Iraq? The neohawks can ramp their war machine, and talk about "dangers to America", yet it's our kids that go off to fight and die for their causes. What are they dying for now, except to try and salvage Dubya's legacy?

If you really believe what you just typed, you are beyond reasoning, so I won't make much of an effort.

There is no excuse for what the guy said, so don't try making them. Your implications that Bush is doing this for his amusement because your feeble mind can't think of any other reason is so fucking dangerously ridiculous I can't even believe you would admit it to anyone.

[Bagar-]

Yeah. I like how in one situation, it's awesome that a congressman can express his open, honest opinion, and by doing so, disregard the false "robotic" stance that most of them put on. However, in this situation, he's lambasted for his opinions, because they aren't what you guys agree with. Are the situations different? Yes. Is it still relevant? Yes. The overall consensus was that the congressman from new york (i'm referring to "get the fuck out my office" guy) was practically a national hero for saying what he felt needed to be said. This man is doing the same, and you're blasting him, because you don't agree with him. And yet you get angry and defensive when people blast you because they don't agree with you.

I'm not saying what he said was RIGHT. I'm just pointing out the irony. My brother is a marine over in Iraq right now, and he'd love this man for what he just said, because it's exactly how my brother and most of his unit feel. But yeah, support the soldiers, and by de facto, the president, right?

[Kilmoll the Sexy]

Every time your scrawny ass even brings up the US soldiers who have no choices, it makes me want to heart punch you.

[Kaldaur]

Tone down the rhetoric, Funk. Your homies aren't here to give you cred.
Like I said, amusement may have been the wrong word. All I see is a Congressman who is red-in-the-face pissed about the war, and he used the only pulpit available to him to say it. It's no different than Bush going out and giving a press conference about his reasons to support the war.
The Congressman obviously needs a better speech writer, but his message is one that resonates with a lot of people right now, and that is that this war certainly served no purpose other than to fuck things up. Whether you were on board with the "WMDs" reason, or the "making the Middle East safer" reason, or "bringing democracy" reason, or "fighting terrorism" reason, it doesn't matter. This war is a clusterfuck, and supporting it at this point is lunacy. This Congressman is angry, and justifiably so.

[Animale]

The phrase "President's amusement" does not mean that they go to entertain him, but instead go at his command. If he'd said "for the President's entertainment" then, yeah - he'd have something to answer to. But in this setting the word amusement doesn't mean entertainment but is instead a showing of the office's power over the person. If he DID want it for entertainment he could, in essence. It was a very light dig at the President, I'm surprised how much hullabaloo it has brought up.

Animale

[Acies]

If you really believe what you just typed, you are beyond reasoning, so I won't make much of an effort.

There is no excuse for what the guy said, so don't try making them. Your implications that Bush is doing this for his amusement because your feeble mind can't think of any other reason is so fucking dangerously ridiculous I can't even believe you would admit it to anyone.

I have a question for you Funk. Why exactly did we go over there in the first place? What possible validation can there be for continuing this war outside of money for a select few?

Oh, and if I have to hear one more "Getting a dictator out of power" comment then I am going to fucking stab the shit out of a voodoo doll of said people. Pick up a book a read up how many dictators we had a hand in lifting to power in the past before you start proselytizing about how good and wonderful our government is and how Saddam was evil and had to go down. We collectively crap out bigger monsters than he was.

You know, considering that there is nothing for our country to gain from this yet still our brothers die in Iraq, I find it sort of hard to believe that George Bush has any reverence for the life of Americans. Given how much needless American deaths have taken place over there, would it not be more likely he is either laughing or completely apathic? Which one is realistically worse?

[*~*stragi*~*]

SCHIP can be debated.. the take I heard was that it raised the maximum qualifying income level to a point considered wealthy by the AMT bill (Alternative Minimum Tax), which is kind of... fucked.

what's that mean

[Fash]

SCHIP can be debated.. the take I heard was that it raised the maximum qualifying income level to a point considered wealthy by the AMT bill (Alternative Minimum Tax), which is kind of... fucked.

what's that mean

I will explain to the best of my ability... SCHIP is a health insurance act for 'low-income' families with kids who cannot afford insurance... There is a maximum income requirement, so that people who can afford it are not abusing the system by taking what they can buy themselves.

The Alternative Minimum Tax was created to target high-income households that were eligible for so many tax benefits and loopholes that they were paying little or no taxes despite being able to afford them.

The new SCHIP bill would have raised the maximum income requirement so that people considered 'high-income' by the AMT bill would be eligible for this health insurance subsidy...

Call it a problem with AMT not being adjusted with inflation, or call it a problem with SCHIP having lax requirements... it's a problem at face-value, regardless...

[*~*stragi*~*]

okay can i be mad at rich people because of it

[Xyun]

Our troops in Iraq are fighting against al-Qaeda and other radical jihadists hellbent on killing the people we are sent here to represent. Congressman Stark's statement dishonors not only the Commander-in-Chief, but the thousands of courageous men and women of America's armed forces who believe in their mission and are putting their lives on the line for our freedom and security. Congressman Stark should retract his statement and apologize to the House, our Commander-in-Chief, and the families of our soldiers and commanders fighting terror overseas.

ROFL. This is the fucking republican mantra. WHY THE FUCK should anyone apologize to Bush for anything they say about him? What the fuck has this country become? It is BUSH that owes the apology. Sadly, the gutless democrats fall for this trap every fucking time. OH NOS, someone criticized the most incompetent president in the nation's history and they owe Him an apology.. booo hoo hoo. Since when is the president a fucking deity?

The best part is it gets the right wing riled up like an audience of the ole Jerry Springer show. You fucking cowards have proven that emotions (namely fear and hate) dictate your decisions. Logic and tolerance are out the fucking window. And even as the results of those incorrect decisions come full circle and bitch slap you in the fucking face you cling to them as if admitting you were wrong is worse than actually being fucking wrong. That is the fucking JOKE that the right wing has become. and i must admit, it is a funny fucking joke.

By the way, I whole-heartedly agree with the congressman. If there is no reasonable or logical explanations for Bush's decisions, the only remaining explanation is amusement, whereby his fantasies (and his buddies' wallets) are fulfilled.

[Deward]

I am pretty sure SCHIP would have only raised the maximum income to $60,000 or maybe $80,000 in a family with 4 kids. That is a healthy income in the midwest but it doesn't mean squat in the big cities.