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Born at the Crest of the Empire

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Picture of the Day - 2
















All they have left is stagecraft.

(U.S. House Minority leader John Boehner (R-OH) wipes tears from his face as he listens to fellow rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX) speak about his time as a prisoner during the Vietnam war, following a Republican conference meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington February 13, 2007. Before the House began debate on an Iraq war resolution Tuesday, Johnson said 34 years ago when he was a prisoner of war, opposition to the conflict from within America hurt the morale of troops on the ground in Vietnam, just as the current resolution may hurt the morale of troops currently in Iraq. REUTERS/Jason Reed)

posted by mikevotes at 11:07 AM

6 Comments:

  • U.S. House Minority leader John Boehner (R-OH) displays his softer side while listening to Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX) recall his Vietnam War experience. Moments later he was seen snatching a benefit check from blind soldier and toppling the wheelchair of a paraplegic Marine, both of whom had reproached him for suggesting US servicemen were not capable of understand the role of debate in a functioning democracy.

    By Blogger -epm, at 1:23 PM  

  • I didn't really want to say this on the front page of this post because it's disrespectful to a man who served his country, but how does a POW know how the morale in the US camps was playing out?

    I'm trying to ask this seriously, not snarky, but isn't this guy just using his former POW status to make a point that Boehner wouldn't have credibility on?

    Mike

    By Blogger mikevotes, at 2:06 PM  

  • No. I know what you mean. With no disrespect intended, I also feel that McCain is proffered as a Vietnam expert to a degree that exceeds his actual experience.

    Frankly, I think a lot of the 30+ year old remembrances are subject to the affects of nostalgia and repeated myth -- like the non-existent spitting on returning troops -- to the point where they more legend that history. Especially when people are recounting experiences to which they were not party to at the time.

    But, all that aside, Boehner's still a prick.

    By Blogger -epm, at 2:24 PM  

  • I'm always a little tentative to tread too far into this.

    But, my point, which I think you caught in your last line, is that this moment came out of a Republican meeting Boehner lead figuring out how to manage the appearance of this debate.

    This was solely intended as a strategy by the Republican leadership to use this guys status as their political prop.

    Mike

    By Blogger mikevotes, at 3:10 PM  

  • Part of the Republican strategy to do everything and anything they can to sabotage actual debate on Iraq. They continue, at the highest levels, to paint debate, and the very process of democracy, as being traitorous.

    It can't be said enough; Boehner's a prick. Sorry. Couldn't help myself

    By Blogger -epm, at 10:11 PM  

  • I'm not sharing the surprise at the GOP plan. It's a little shocking to see it in plain print, but the effort to deflect discussion away from the reality in Iraq stretches back into the 2004 campaign.

    That whole Dems support terrorists because they don't agree with Iraq policy is just another flavor of the same thing.

    Mike

    By Blogger mikevotes, at 10:15 PM  

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