Candidate wounded in Iraq: Bush offers 'shallow slogans'

[almaty 19]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- An Illinois congressional candidate who lost both her legs during combat in Iraq said Saturday that President Bush has no real strategy for securing the war-ravaged nation, just political talk designed to appeal to voters.

"Instead of a plan or a strategy, we get shallow slogans like 'Mission Accomplished' and 'Stay the Course,"' former Army Capt. Tammy Duckworth said in the Democrats' weekly radio address. "Those slogans are calculated to win an election. But they won't help us accomplish our mission in Iraq."

Duckworth's address served as a response to the president's weekly radio talk and gave the Democratic Party a chance to showcase one of its strongest candidates as it seeks to regain control of the House in November's elections.

Duckworth, who copiloted a Black Hawk helicopter that crashed while under a rocket grenade attack almost two years ago, also criticized Bush and others in his administration for accusing anyone who challenges the president's policies of "cutting and running."

"Well, I didn't cut and run, Mr. President. Like so many others, I proudly fought and sacrificed," Duckworth said. "My helicopter was shot down long after you proclaimed 'mission accomplished."'

At a GOP fund-raiser Thursday in Alabama, Bush said, "The party of FDR and the party of Harry Truman has become the party of cut and run."

Duckworth is seeking the suburban Chicago seat being vacated by conservative Republican Rep. Henry Hyde. She is running against Illinois state Sen. Peter Roskam, the man Hyde has endorsed.

In her address, Duckworth, now a major in the Illinois National Guard, also lashed out at the GOP-led Congress for refusing to do its job of holding the Bush administration accountable for its flawed Iraq policy.

"We need a Congress that will ask the tough questions and work together for solutions rather than attacking the patriotism of those who disagree," she said. "It is time to encourage Iraqi leaders to take control of their own county and make the tough choices that will stop the civil war and stabilize the country."

[I'm Gone 60]

How the hell can she be a major in the national guard with no legs? I would think having legs would be a requirement for being in the national guard.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

How the hell can she be a major in the national guard with no legs? I would think having legs would be a requirement for being in the national guard.

...wrong post...

Edited October 1, 2006 by ET-US2004

[I'm Gone 60]

How the hell can she be a major in the national guard with no legs? I would think having legs would be a requirement for being in the national guard.

...wrong post...

I think you replied to the wrong thread. Shouldn't this be the reply to the firing Rumsfield thread?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

How the hell can she be a major in the national guard with no legs? I would think having legs would be a requirement for being in the national guard.

...wrong post...

I think you replied to the wrong thread. Shouldn't this be the reply to the firing Rumsfield thread?

I did and I noticed and corrected. No clue how that happened...

[I'm Gone 60]

How the hell can she be a major in the national guard with no legs? I would think having legs would be a requirement for being in the national guard.

...wrong post...

How the hell did you do that? LOL

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

How the hell can she be a major in the national guard with no legs? I would think having legs would be a requirement for being in the national guard.

...wrong post...

How the hell did you do that? LOL

The edit funtion.

[Joel Halfwassen 0]

Actually there are many guard AND active duty who are minus limbs. You can't join up sans arms and legs, but once you are in then you are in. And just because you MIGHT have a physical limitation doesn't mean that you don't have valuable experiance.

Joel

[I'm Gone 60]

Actually there are many guard AND active duty who are minus limbs. You can't join up sans arms and legs, but once you are in then you are in. And just because you MIGHT have a physical limitation doesn't mean that you don't have valuable experiance.

Sorry, but I thought the national guard was to protect and assist states when the sh*t hit the fan and wouldn't there be fitness standards like military and police have.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Actually there are many guard AND active duty who are minus limbs. You can't join up sans arms and legs, but once you are in then you are in. And just because you MIGHT have a physical limitation doesn't mean that you don't have valuable experiance.

Sorry, but I thought the national guard was to protect and assist states when the sh*t hit the fan and wouldn't there be fitness standards like military and police have.

Fitness standards like the police? I'm sure a gal sans legs could outrun some cops I've seen that do have legs. You know how them donuts make 'em somewhat soggy in the mid-section.

[Joel Halfwassen 0]

Actually there are many guard AND active duty who are minus limbs. You can't join up sans arms and legs, but once you are in then you are in. And just because you MIGHT have a physical limitation doesn't mean that you don't have valuable experiance.

Sorry, but I thought the national guard was to protect and assist states when the sh*t hit the fan and wouldn't there be fitness standards like military and police have.

I don't know what her job entails, but I would imagine that as an officer she is an administrator. When was the last time and administrator had to move from his/her desk?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Duckworth, who copiloted a Black Hawk helicopter that crashed while under a rocket grenade attack almost two years ago, also criticized Bush and others in his administration for accusing anyone who challenges the president's policies of "cutting and running."

"Well, I didn't cut and run, Mr. President. Like so many others, I proudly fought and sacrificed," Duckworth said. "My helicopter was shot down long after you proclaimed 'mission accomplished."'

F#ckin Aye! Let's see Rove try and tarnish her military record.

[I'm Gone 60]

Duckworth, who copiloted a Black Hawk helicopter that crashed while under a rocket grenade attack almost two years ago, also criticized Bush and others in his administration for accusing anyone who challenges the president's policies of "cutting and running."

"Well, I didn't cut and run, Mr. President. Like so many others, I proudly fought and sacrificed," Duckworth said. "My helicopter was shot down long after you proclaimed 'mission accomplished."'

F#ckin Aye! Let's see Rove try and tarnish her military record.

Anythings possible.

Max Cleland was defeated while running for a second term in 2002 by Representative Saxby Chambliss. Voters were perhaps influenced by Chambliss ads which featured Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein, ads that Cleland's supporters claim questioned his patriotism.

[Cassie 8]

Actually there are many guard AND active duty who are minus limbs. You can't join up sans arms and legs, but once you are in then you are in. And just because you MIGHT have a physical limitation doesn't mean that you don't have valuable experiance.

Sorry, but I thought the national guard was to protect and assist states when the sh*t hit the fan and wouldn't there be fitness standards like military and police have.

Have you seen the technologies now being used in prosthetics these days? The current Amazing Race show is featuring a team where the female is missing a leg, and she runs triathalons using a special "running" leg.

Oh, and as of this week's episode, her team is in first.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Duckworth, who copiloted a Black Hawk helicopter that crashed while under a rocket grenade attack almost two years ago, also criticized Bush and others in his administration for accusing anyone who challenges the president's policies of "cutting and running."

"Well, I didn't cut and run, Mr. President. Like so many others, I proudly fought and sacrificed," Duckworth said. "My helicopter was shot down long after you proclaimed 'mission accomplished."'

F#ckin Aye! Let's see Rove try and tarnish her military record.

Anythings possible.

Max Cleland was defeated while running for a second term in 2002 by Representative Saxby Chambliss. Voters were perhaps influenced by Chambliss ads which featured Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein, ads that Cleland's supporters claim questioned his patriotism.

Fear is a powerful drug... just need some vocal guru to cleanse the American people's psyche.