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Not enough celebs for troops GORDON DILLOW Register columnist GLDillow*aol.com Hollywood celebrities often claim that while they detest the Bush administration and the war in Iraq, they still "support the troops." But the sad fact is that you could rake the Oscars and the Emmys and the Grammys with grapeshot from a cannon and probably not hit a celebrity who actually cares enough about the men and women in uniform to do anything for them.
But then there are celebs like comedian Dennis Miller.
Miller is the former "Saturday Night Live" star turned political commentator and talk show host. You may have seen him on HBO or Fox News or heard his syndicated radio show on KLRA, or remember his stint as the "color" guy on "Monday Night Football." Although left-leaning on social issues, when it comes to fighting the war against terrorism Miller is to the right of Dick Cheney which may make him the loneliest guy to live and breathe air in Hollywood.
In any event, Miller was in Orange County one night last week for a party. But it wasn't some big celebrity party.
Instead, it was just a little going-away party for a relatively small group of U.S. Marines and Navy sailors.
Or at least it started out little. You see, in recent years Errol and Naomi Payne of Dana Point have routinely hosted groups of Marines from Camp Pendleton at their home for Thanksgiving and Christmas. One of the Paynes' family friends is Marine Capt. Warren Cook, 31, commander of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment.
So when the Paynes heard that Lima Company would soon be deploying overseas as part of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit which means they could wind up almost anywhere they wanted to throw them a going-away party. But their house wasn't big enough to hold the entire company.
So the Paynes contacted their friends Bo and Dick Marconi, who run the Marconi Automotive Museum in Tustin it's a 16,000-square foot showroom stocked with classic Mustangs and million dollar Ferraris for help with the party, and the Marconis contacted some other influential friends and contacts (too many to list here). And the thing just grew and grew.
You should understand that, while a number of outstanding Orange County groups host events for military people coming and going from overseas, the usual pre-deployment going-away party for most Marines these days is still just a barbeque at the beach with some beers in ice-filled plastic garbage cans.
But what the 300 Marines of Lima Company and attached units and their wives and girlfriends got this time was a lavish bash at the auto museum with great food, an appearance by some Playboy models "It reminds them of what they're fighting for," joked Capt. Cook -- and a stand-up routine donated by the aforementioned Dennis Miller.
And the Marines loved it.
Miller's humor is a little hard to reproduce in print. He's known for wry, seemingly stream-of-consciousness rants peppered with obscure references.
For example, I'm not sure a lot of the Marines got it when, in talking about drilling for oil in Alaska, Miller said he would stick a pipe into that state and "suck it drier than Noel Coward's memoirs" and in fact, I'm not sure I really got it, either. On the other hand, he got big laughs when he described a plan by the French government to discourage fast-food consumption as an effort to "raise healthier cowards."
But it was when he got serious that Miller really hit the mark. Unlike some celebrities say, for example, Rosie O'Donnell, who probably would have advised the Marines to go AWOL to Canada Miller told those Marines exactly what they and other young people in uniform need to hear from rich and powerful celebrities.
"The most important people in this culture are people like you," Miller told them. "You're the best and brightest of us, and you're protecting us against madmen, fighting the most savage enemy we've ever fought. Not a day goes by that I don't pray for you. ... I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
"It's important to hear things like that," Lance Cpl. Mike Passarella, 21, of Philadelphia, who has already served one tour in Iraq, told me later. "It makes us feel good that people at that level support us."
As for the party itself, Mike said, "It's the best going-away party I've ever had."
Now, Dennis Miller obviously isn't the only showbiz celebrity who goes out of his way to help the troops. Singer Wayne Newton, country star Toby Keith and some others also devote a lot of their time to entertaining military personnel and in fairness, even arch-liberal comedian Al Franken performs at USO shows. But there aren't enough of them.
True, we may never again see the likes of the late, legendary Bob Hope, who devoted much of his life and career to entertaining U.S. troops in war zones. But in the meantime, Americans in uniform and perhaps America in general could use a hundred more Dennis Millers.
And at least one less Rosie O'Donnell.
Gordon Dillow served as an Army sergeant in Vietnam and has several times been an embedded reporter with Marine infantry units in Iraq. Contact him at 714-796-7953 or GLDillow*aol.com
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Why should they, and be associated with the likes of Dennis Miller and a cadre of Party first fascist?
Supporting out troups is not a duty of anyone, but is a privilege that the Administration shouldn't be trying to use as a support cry for Bush's war and that is exactly what will happen if they come to those gatherings.
Bush's war is a disgusting invasion of American moral principles and so is anyone that pumps it as an accouterment for supporting the troups.
In spite of the BS from the Administration that these guys volunteered for Bush's war, they did not. These troups volunteers either (1) to police their home states in case of natural disaster (most of them did, then, instead of being there to do the work they volunteered for in Louisianna, Bush had them in Iraq when they were needed after Kitrina) or (2) to defend and protect the U.S. in "time of a need".
Bush's war in Iraq was never "needed to protect the U.S". It was based on a pack of lies. It violates every historiucal position of the United States, and it violates that principle of the Constitution that requirees that Congress alone may declare war (all Congress did in this case was to authorize the man that later declared himself later to be "the decider" to, as he promised at the time, to use force only as a last resort to clear WMDs and Al Qaeda from IRAQ). That is not a declaration of war. Moreover, there were no WMDS or links to Al Qaeda in Iraq for the militaary to remove, except within the lies and fictions of the Administrtion. Any military involvement authorized by Cogress in Iraq ended with the assurance that there are no WMDs there and when there was no Al qaeda there (as was the case until much later". Why weren't the troups removed?
If you want those "stars" showing up, arrange that every activity for which you lament the absence of Hollywood stars for the support of the troups to be adervitised as not a statement for the support of Bush's war and arrange to openly, frequently, amd loudly, proclaim, throughout that activity, that it is not a support statement for Bush's war and you will see those stars showing up. They support our troups, but can not be expected to support, Bush's War, a waw of aggression and occupation.
So long as you position events, supposedly or effectively, or that can be claimed or manipulated to represent support for Bush's war, why would any person that respects the Constitution and loves the freedoms the Constitution provides to the people, want to help advertise the fascism of Bush?
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"Why should they, and be associated with the likes of Dennis Miller and a cadre of Party first fascist?
Supporting out troups is not a duty of anyone, but is a privilege that the Administration shouldn't be trying to use as a support cry for Bush's war and that is exactly what will happen if they come to those gatherings.
Bush's war is a disgusting invasion of American moral principles and so is anyone that pumps it as an accouterment for supporting the troups."
Why don't you STFU? You are the most ill-tempered, mean spirited, Party first, hate spewing individual I have ever had the displeasure of reading. (Yes, I could change the channel.)
You are talking about OUR young American children fighting for their lives and all you can propagandize about is your hate filled rhetoric about Bush.
You're beyond pathetic attempting to disguise your contempt for America and Americans by citing and re-citing your love for the Constitution. It may be difficult for you to wrap your tiny bitter mind around but you do not hold the definitive opinion on the Constitution and you're far from the only one trying to uphold it.
That's what makes this country great -- dissenting opinions, not just yours.
I don't support Bush or the war, but I certainly support our troops.
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quote:Originally posted by Sunnyside: "Why should they, and be associated with the likes of Dennis Miller and a cadre of Party first fascist?
Supporting out troups is not a duty of anyone, but is a privilege that the Administration shouldn't be trying to use as a support cry for Bush's war and that is exactly what will happen if they come to those gatherings.
Bush's war is a disgusting invasion of American moral principles and so is anyone that pumps it as an accouterment for supporting the troups."
Why don't you STFU? You are the most ill-tempered, mean spirited, Party first, hate spewing individual I have ever had the displeasure of reading. (Yes, I could change the channel.)
You are talking about OUR young American children fighting for their lives and all you can propagandize about is your hate filled rhetoric about Bush.
You're beyond pathetic attempting to disguise your contempt for America and Americans by citing and re-citing your love for the Constitution. It may be difficult for you to wrap your tiny bitter mind around but you do not hold the definitive opinion on the Constitution and you're far from the only one trying to uphold it.
That's what makes this country great -- dissenting opinions, not just yours.
I don't support Bush or the war, but I certainly support our troops.
I did not speak or suggest speaking against the troops. That is from out of the dregs of you blackend bigotry.
You sir, are a disgusting, name calling, insulting, narrow minded, war monger and Party line puppet.
I will not be accused of failure to support the troops because I tell the truth about Bush's War.
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try not to let bdgee bother you. What you said about him is very accurate. What he writes is very hurtful especially to someone like me who has family member's in Iraq risking their lives for this great country. And I see you were called a puppet too. Haha nice! All of us whether republican or just someone with a differing opinion has been called that. Congrats bdgee for being who you are. Your posts will lead to growing support of the GOP.
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"I will not be accused of failure to support the troops because I tell the truth about Bush's War. "
Well then maybe you should re-read the thread title and try to reconcile that with your rabid response. Its about supporting the troops, not another forum for your repetitious rantings.
I've read your manical self righteous diatribes for months now...get over yourself. How dare you chronically insinuate your opinions as bonafide interpretations of others' intended meanings and beliefs when they post. And, if you don't like name calling, then you may need to re-assess your own posts. You appear to be one man totally without insight.
If I've incited your ire then my job is done.
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What I say is very true. What you and the rest of the bushies want said is what is hurtful. Were it not for your worship of dubya, your relatives would not be in Iraq, being forced to wage a war that damages America, risking their lives, not for America, but for the glory of the neocons and oil.
No, my efforts will not bring help to what now claims to be the GOP. Your post and other idiocies like them have alrewdy eroded what support the lies and treachery of the Bush Administration had fooled into voting with them.
Bye bye.......like always, here comes the pendulum, ready or not.
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LMAO...Sunnyside? Save the time it takes to respond to this poster on this subject...haven't you heard/read...He/She is always right? No one's opinion could possibly be just that...an opinion...and you will most definitely be WRONG in your opinion... Kinda like I prefer chocolate and you prefer vanilla...I'm right and you are wrong...period! Isn't that the way it's suppose to work? LOL... Don't frustrate yourself...It's like trying to move a mountain...with your bare hands...It ain't happenin'! Just enjoy your vanilla!
quote:Originally posted by Sunnyside: "Why should they, and be associated with the likes of Dennis Miller and a cadre of Party first fascist?
Supporting out troups is not a duty of anyone, but is a privilege that the Administration shouldn't be trying to use as a support cry for Bush's war and that is exactly what will happen if they come to those gatherings.
Bush's war is a disgusting invasion of American moral principles and so is anyone that pumps it as an accouterment for supporting the troups."
Why don't you STFU? You are the most ill-tempered, mean spirited, Party first, hate spewing individual I have ever had the displeasure of reading. (Yes, I could change the channel.)
You are talking about OUR young American children fighting for their lives and all you can propagandize about is your hate filled rhetoric about Bush.
You're beyond pathetic attempting to disguise your contempt for America and Americans by citing and re-citing your love for the Constitution. It may be difficult for you to wrap your tiny bitter mind around but you do not hold the definitive opinion on the Constitution and you're far from the only one trying to uphold it.
That's what makes this country great -- dissenting opinions, not just yours.
I don't support Bush or the war, but I certainly support our troops.
-------------------- #1 Rule: Protect your capital! #2 Rule: Never fall for the BS on the boards!
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Bdgee, You and your "If's" there has got to be some reason for not doing something. Like your reason for not talking to our representatives...Remember. Now in this instance another excuse for why people should not support our troops, although you and others will say they support them, there is always a reason not to do it , bottom line you and some others have never supported the troops, just talk the talk. This is not Bush's War it is our war, we might agree with him or disagree with him, but it is our war. What politics you want to wrap into everything and name call to try and make some point does not add any credibility to anything you say. These troops were going to Iraq as many others will and anything positive we can give them to help take there mind off of what they will face, is nothing but good. This is about our troops and supporting them, and not about how we feel about the war and politics, good or bad.
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No Bdgee, it is you that are insisting that anyone showing support for the troops is, in essence, showing support for Bush.
No one has suggested any support of the war, just support of the troops fighting it. Thus, the thread title "Few stars shine for our troops" unless I missed the "in support of Bush's war" part.
Personally, I don't give a rat's ass who said it, but: "Not a day goes by that I don't pray for you. ... I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Prayers and appreciation bdgee.
And another thing, for someone that is such a staunch supporter of your interpretation of the Constitution granting everyone the right to say anything, to anyone, at any time, you certainly don't permit freedom of anyone's speech on Allstocks.
I think that instead of your shrieking and rudeness toward those that differ in opinion from you, you should say "thanks for sharing" in support of the Constitution.
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Bdgee, it's our war. Again like always you are twisting things, the same way you twist the constitution to try and fit your "Truths".
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Again, twisting, twisting, twisting. Whatever that cheap-suits your needs, huh bdgee? Whatever floats your glass-bottom boat... Whatever that gets you from point "a" to point "b"dgee... Whatever ...oh, whatever.
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Bdgee, it might not be Your War. However for so many of us and families who have sons, daugters, husbands and wifes in Iraq, we worry about these soldiers. No matter how you try to spin it, it is most definitely OUR War!
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you know...i dont like bush myself but thats a diff story.
id like to know for those who support the IRAQ war...this aside from soldiers...if this war in iraq is sooooooooooo important to america, if it is sooooo important to our national security then why dont they back a draft to send every swinging di** over there to squash it?
see? its not that important..well at least in the beginning. now we got a whole mess on our hands...and believe me from writing this right now from baghdad...this war will never end. these people dont care about some big great democracy..they have no idea how or what that is. all they know is sunni, and shia...thats it. thats how they view everything. in villages and towns they have billboards of al sadr everywhere like we have stop signs all over. lots of tribal issues.....
for example...we go in and say to a tribal leader of a town say of 25,000. we go there and say he man...hey this is how the U.S. wants things to be done...and he tells us..."well this is how we have done it for thousands of years why must we change?" do you think the troops really care about changing this? i personally feel bad because we are imposing what the administration wants on people who dont want it. a beacon of freedom? more like a beacon of disaster.
hell i love helping kids and people over here though...to see their eyes light up when you hand out candy and soccer balls. sure its political for the pictures, but you really do feel good seeing such depression go away into instant pleasure. mothers begging for help for their kids and then making them happy...its awesome..it really is. you can still make good out of this country. in my opinion its what the individual soldier does on his own in the populous to help. because from the high up..to even higher up it all gets political..it all gets watered down to what looks good for the papers. decisions made by officers based on what it would look like on their OER (officer career report, like a report card) and not for what is 100% right at the time or for the troops or locals.
hey but what do i know? im just a grunt on the ground seeing this sh** day to day. if i wrote a daily report...sent it up through the channels to be put in something public..there would be so much editing it would be unidentifiable by me. there are many bad guys here as well. 2 different types. 1 are the REAL insurgents..the ones who will do whatever it takes to kill americans. did you know that the sunni insurgents believe if you kill one shia you go to heaven, and you kill 10 shia muslim you become a prince? thats how brainwashed they are.
oh 2nd type of insurgents are the ones who do it to put food on the table. so many locals with no money or job..even though they might want the americans here to help rid the country of insurgents they still put an IED in the road to make money so he can provide food for his family or send his son to jordan or egypt to go to college. they can make up to 500 bucks instant for planting an IED that hits a humvee. 500 dollars american is some serious....serious cash flow for them.
there is so much on the ground level i wish people could learn. fox news, cnn and all the other media outlets just show you what their camera guys in iraq see....and guess what. the reporters see only what the government wants them to see...how do i know? for one its common sense, and two..well you know the rest.
you know all the military here on the ground are suckin..well not all...lets say junior officers and enlisted. 95% do NOT want to be in iraq...they despise being here, they HATE this war. those guys you see on TV saying good things about iraq? those are the career soldiers who wouldnt dare tell any truths because that would ruin their promotion.
anyone seen the statistics on the divorce rate for the army and marine corp? it should be measured on a biblical scale. why is it so high? well look at this...i signed up for 4 years...army infantry. now when i ETS (get out of the army) I will have spent 3 out of those 4 years deployed. did i get it stuck to me? you bet i did! and they ask me to keep on thinking about re-enlisting!!!!! yeah thats exactly what i want to put a wife and kids through if i had them. of course i understand the risks, and so would a wife..but 3 out of 4 is insane. i went from basic to korea, from korea to iraq, from iraq to colorado, and from colorado to iraq. now they are talking about extending us...rumor as of now. so...that would mean out of what i SIGNED UP for...3.5 years deployed out of 4 year contract. i got buddies here on their 3rd, 4th tour!
anyway...sorry to rant! just thought id share what a lot of guys see here, and what a lot of guys are going through. also you know what? here is a plus...you get to kick some ass! now that is some good sh** right there buddy. nothing like rockin the trigger on some sunnis!
-------------------- It isn't so much that liberals are ignorant. It's just that they know so many things that aren't so.
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quote:Originally posted by bdgee: It's Bush's War.
You left out Dick!!!
Remember....these are our elected officials until Jan. 08. So we have to work with what we have...
Thanks for everyones posts..Cool thread. A real American Tustle...lol
I support our troops to stay, I support our troops to come home alive or dead.. I support our troops when the sun comes up and when the sun goes down. I support our troops in the morning and I support our troop in the evening. They are the men and women representing our country. I support them and stand beside them by the gleem of the light above.
God bless our US Troops !
-------------------- Bill Gates, Donald Trump and James Dean, Willie Nelson, John Lennon and Neil McCoy
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quote:Originally posted by bdgee: It's Bush's War.
You left out Dick!!!
Remember....these are our elected officials until Jan. 08. So we have to work with what we have...
Thanks for everyones posts..Cool thread. A real American Tustle...lol
I support our troops to stay, I support our troops to come home alive or dead.. I support our troops when the sun comes up and when the sun goes down. I support our troops in the morning and I support our troop in the evening. They are the men and women representing our country. I support them and stand beside them by the gleem of the light above.
God bless our US Troops !
No, I didn't leave out Dickie Boy. TRying to push off the blame from dubya to Diclie Boy ignores two facts.
1) Dubya picked Dickey Boy and no one else is to blame for that.
2) All dubya has to do to shut up Dickey Boy is close off the Administration funds to pay for Dickey Boy's office, travel, and staff and stop listening that that fool, then. like magic, Dead Eye Dick becomes the president of the senate and nothing more, a position he almost always (unless there will be live coverage on TV) deligates to be peopled by some designated and actually elected senator.
"I support our troops to stay, I support our troops to come home alive or dead.. I support our troops when the sun comes up and when the sun goes down. I support our troops in the morning and I support our troop in the evening. They are the men and women representing our country. I support them and stand beside them by the gleem of the light above.
God bless our US Troops !"
YES! Me too.
But I will not buy into the idiot fringe of the far rightwing war mongering republican Party liners dictating to me and the Nation that we are required to support any effort they want, particularly their twisted efforts to construe support of the troops, to be backing of the Fascist in Chief.
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quote:Originally posted by Hannibull: anyone, please define "supporting the troops" when you're against war. TIA
I've got a better idea. Define it without requiring agreeing to Bush's war. It sure isn't playing follow the leader to the tune of the RNC propaganda.
You separate anything you want done from any form of acquiescence with the war in Iraq, then there isn't a problem. But when you demand participartion in anything that even partially accedes to Bush's War in Iraq, it ceases to be support for the troops and becomes Administration propagana.
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quote:Originally posted by Hannibull: anyone, please define "supporting the troops" when you're against war. TIA
Once the government puts our troops on the ground it is our duty to make sure they have whatever they need to complete the mission. Financial and moral support are something we are obligated to provide no matter what our political outlook.
You can oppose the war, that's your right.
But always remember our military personnel have no option but to go where they are told and once the decision is made for them, we must support their role in the operation.
If your against the war, let your elected officals know that, their the ones who sent our bravest into battle and their the ones who will make the decision to bring them home.
Until that time comes we as Americans must be in the foxhole with our troops.
-------------------- Let's Go METS!!!
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well as a soldier i feel exploited by the current administration...i dont like being paraded around under his agenda. bush says so much about supporting our troops its more of a punchline to him nowadays.
this coming from a man who fled the nam fight by joining the air national guard and not ever coming to work...not like clinton was any better either.
-------------------- It isn't so much that liberals are ignorant. It's just that they know so many things that aren't so.
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quote:Originally posted by CashCowMoo: well as a soldier i feel exploited by the current administration...i dont like being paraded around under his agenda. bush says so much about supporting our troops its more of a punchline to him nowadays.
this coming from a man who fled the nam fight by joining the air national guard and not ever coming to work...not like clinton was any better either.
I understand how you feel. Just want you to know we all thank you for your service and you should have the best equipment and resources available. Let us know what your not getting so we can contact our rep's and turn up the heat.
Seems like the politics of this operation are turning towards you guys getting out of Iraq. Were praying for you.
-------------------- Let's Go METS!!!
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Posted by Hannibull, anyone, please define "supporting the troops" when you're against war. _________________________________________________
To each person this might have a little different meaning. To me it means to help give them a little extra strength literally and figuratively, try and make their day a little better. There are so many ways to do this and each soldier might have one that makes his or her day a little better. One of these examples is under this topic, it is not suppose to be an interrogation process to have performers for our troops. For many soldiers this entertainer just showing up made many soldiers have a little better day and made them feel that some do care about them as human beings. For the guys in a combat zone, packages are great, letters are great from adults and kids, keeping there jobs when employers find out they might deploy and also having a job when they come home is also another plus. Entertainers that go to Iraq is also another great plus, even though every soldier does not get to go to the show, soldiers of past wars sure appreciated Bob Hope. I can go on and on, but this is enough for now. Soldiers and veterans of Iraq can tell you many more things, that make their day just a little bit better and it has nothing to do with supporting or not supporting the war.
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