More evidence of the disconnect between the rich and the rest of us

One of Bill O'Reilly's latest stupid statements is that he's quit covering bombings in Iraq because it doesn't "mean" anything.

O'Reilly is his own punchline, but that statement says something more. This attitude is a symptom of a much larger problem.


When asked on CNN whether the fact that none of his five sons has served in the military might be brought up later in the campaign, surge supporter, serious chickenhawk, and GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney said:


"Each of my five sons gave two years of their life to the service of their church, and I consider that service to be laudable. But I very highly value those who serve in the military. But it is a volunteer military and I hope that we keep it that way."

Okay.

I don't judge the man because none of his kids went into the army. The army isn't for everyone. Besides, parents can't necessarily take all the blame for what their adult children choose to do.

I have a REAL problem with equating spending two years trying to convert people to Mormonism to military service to one's nation. Surely he's not trying to actually say that.

The message I got was "this war is great, so long as my precious boys don't have to go."

So long as people in these sorts of positions never have to confront the reality of bombs in Iraq, that SOMEONE'S child is dying as a result, this will continue. And, of course, the easiest way to pretend that it isn't happening is to stay tuned to Faux News and then your little applecart stays upright.

And isn't that just like these neocons? Not a one, with less than a handful of exceptions, served in the military, and most of them are old enough to have been drafted. I can't understand how these guys can buy a horribly stupid military theory, convert it into a disaster of a war, cheerlead for it, and then say that what happens there doesn't "mean" anything.

This disingenuous talking head politician has so little integrity that he has no problem just opening his mouth and telling people what they want to hear so that he can be King. He can't decide if he's for or against abortion or gay marriage (and I don't buy his excuses that he's thought about these issues and come to Jesus -- unless by "Jesus" he means his pollster). This man will say and do anything to try to get elected president (I have the same criticism of Hillary Clinton, BTW, so don't go there - I'll deal with her later).

I think what bothers me the most is that while these cancers metastisize on our journalism and political process, people continue to die in Iraq.

Surely we can do better than this.

Surely.