Nice paraphrase.

The Vietnam war DID turn soldiers into rapists and baby killers, just not all or even the majority of them. My Lai is only the most publicized instance, many veterans have their own personal horror stories.

Just as Abu Ghraib turned ordinary soldiers into torturers.

flip it, strip it, flip it, flop it, drop it, pop it, say whatever you want. Bush was cowering in a frickin backwater united states watering hole when the bullets were flying and the soldiers were dying.

...how do I feel about his tossing the medals? I laud his courage. The medals were awarded to him, they are his to do with what he wishes. I can think of no more powerful symbolic gesture....

The guy won the medals defending his brothers fer crissake...who gives a rats pointed a** what he did with them after that?

The only medal Bush ever wore on his chest was a pledge pin..... legacy, no doubt .

IMO, a man's patriotism isn't defined by how vigorously he falls into lock step with his countries leaders, its the effectiveness with which he expresses his dissension.

When war heros throw their medals in the garbage I consider that a pretty effective delivery of the message.

Your not SUPPOSED to like it. Its SUPPOSED to ruffle Righty's feathers.........

Now go ahead...explain to me how a decorated combat hero is a traitor and a privileged draft dodger is a patriot.

Explain it to my cousin whose Dad was drafted and died during the v war.