Fair Equation

email this story
read comments (17)
post a comment

"The decision to go to war should be a simple decision. It should be based on whether or not a President is willing to send his own son to war. If he isn't, how can he send the sons of others?" -- former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura, speaking on CNN within the last 24 hours. The thinking here is too simplistic to be called truly wise or perceptive, but I respect it. You can't be too thread-county in your moral-political evaluations. You have to be willing to listen to Jesse Ventura-type guys, and give them their just due.

Joys of the Ride<< previous | next >>Button Pages

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on April 5, 2008 at 7:39 PM

comment #1

Titus Pullo says ...

I saw this interview and Jesse mis-stated some facts, but it's good to see someone like him vocalize the bottom line on this whole war situation. To wit: If you aren't willing to go yourself, or you aren't willing to see your son or daughter shipped of to fight that war, then maybe, just maybe, you should give it some more thought.

The Romans weren't willing to fight their wars in the end either.

This country is filled w/ conservatives who think patriotism means shaking your fist at the Hollywood liberal on yer teevee and maybe putting a bumper sticker on yer car. 1942 this ain't.

PS Mgmax....you haven't replied to me regarding this very subject on that other thread. You didn't run out and enlist on my account did ya?

Posted by Titus Pullo at April 5, 2008 8:01 PM

comment #2

Walter Sobchak says ...

President Bush should be ashamed he didn't send any of his sons to fight in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Posted by Walter Sobchak at April 5, 2008 8:08 PM

comment #3

mutinyco says ...

McCain's son is apparently a Marine in Iraq...

Posted by mutinyco at April 5, 2008 8:16 PM

comment #4

hiviper says ...

hey Sobchak, last time I checked, there are women in our army

Posted by hiviper at April 5, 2008 8:24 PM

comment #5

dangovich says ...

But the president has sacrificed much for this war! Dick Cheney said W carries the biggest burden. And Laura Bush said no one suffers more than her husband when it comes to the war. Even more than the soldiers and their loved ones.

Posted by dangovich at April 5, 2008 8:47 PM

comment #6

Josh Massey says ...

Did I miss when Jenna and Barbara tried to enlist, and George turned them away? I wasn't aware parents could arbitrarily "send" their offspring to war without said offspring's permission.

Posted by Josh Massey at April 5, 2008 8:52 PM

comment #7

lazarus says ...

I'm behind Ventura 100%, and loved his time in office in Minnesota, but every time I hear or read anything he says, my first reaction is to put "Lemme tell ya something, Mean Gene--" before it.

Posted by lazarus at April 5, 2008 9:13 PM

comment #8

hiviper says ...

With Bush & co., there will be no guilt. The reasons are as follows:
1) Fundamentalist Christian belief
2) Monetary - Cheney, Rummy and their interests in contractors that CLEANED UP over this war.
3) "He tried to kill my dad"

Posted by hiviper at April 5, 2008 9:15 PM

comment #9

D.Z. says ...

Josh: "I wasn't aware parents could arbitrarily "send" their offspring to war without said offspring's permission."

Do illegal extended tours count for anything?

Posted by D.Z. at April 5, 2008 10:16 PM

comment #10

le corbeau says ...

Titus, do you really believe that people are ducking you if they don't answer your nonsense within an hour-- on Saturday night? That doesn't speak well for your social life...

Anyway, this whole conversation is pointless since, of course, had we practiced this policy from our beginning, the childless General Washington would have been compelled to surrender. And then we would not have a president but a king, and we would go to war at his pleasure, regardless of the occupation of the fruit of his loins.

Posted by le corbeau at April 6, 2008 7:55 AM

comment #11

K. Bowen says ...

You all do know that John McCain has a son serving in Iraq and another that may go?

I wonder if this is the last time we'll see Jeff quote a professional wrestler.

Posted by K. Bowen at April 6, 2008 8:27 AM

comment #12

Titus Pullo says ...

Funny how you still don't address the meat of what I was saying in the other thread Mgmax, why aren't you super duper patriotic patriots enlisting en masse? You make snide remarks about everything else, but don't address the issue...strange. Could it be that my psych profile of you was spot on? To wit:
Lack of self esteem can be paralyzing to the human psyche, and if you are someone who bases his world view and philosophy on patriotism, honor, sacrifice and love of country, and yet cannot find it within yourselves to step forward and meet the standards of that worldview, then reality becomes the enemy.

Posted by Titus Pullo at April 6, 2008 11:41 AM

comment #13

le corbeau says ...

What sort of dimwit thinks something sneered at once improves with a second posting?

Posted by le corbeau at April 6, 2008 4:03 PM

comment #14

huisache says ...

"Jesse Ventura-type"? Would that be a self promoting loon with pretensions of competence based on his dim awareness that he has something between his legs that he thinks is significant?

Just curious

Posted by huisache at April 6, 2008 7:16 PM

comment #15

Ogami Itto says ...

President Bush should be ashamed he didn't send any of his sons to fight in Iraq or Afghanistan.

No, (former) President Bush should be ashamed for not sending his son Dubya to Viet Nam.

Anyway, this whole conversation is pointless since, of course, had we practiced this policy from our beginning, the childless General Washington would have been compelled to surrender.

Maybe he could've sent one of the biracial sons whom he fathered with the African American women he owned?

Posted by Ogami Itto at April 7, 2008 10:51 AM

comment #16