Colbert thanks the troops for sacrificing … again
November 22nd, 2011 | Flightlines Obama Administration Politics Video | Posted by David Larter
A screen grab from a video of the Nov. 17 episode of Colbert Report. Stephen Colbert takes time out to "honor the troops." // colbertnation.com
Stephen Colbert has always taken time to cheer up and support the troops, even traveling to Baghdad, donning a universal camouflage pattern suit and declaring victory in the Iraq War in 2009.
And last week he did it again, only this time he had some very pointed criticism for those in Congress who have supported cutting Tricare benefits for veterans as a way of reducing America’s debt burden. During his regular segment “The Word,” Colbert called on the nation’s “1 percent” to sacrifice more for the good of the country.
“Everybody’s talking about it,” Colbert said. “There is a tiny minority of Americans who could be doing a lot more for our nation. A minority who live a lifestyle that the 99 percent could not imagine. You know who I’m talking about. I’m talking about military veterans.”
After lampooning the supercommittee for failing to agree on anything except creating savings by cutting Tricare, he turned his guns on the bipartisan leaders of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs committees for supporting the cuts.
“Congress is sending our troops a clear message. That message: that we can take for granted that service members are willing to give up more than the rest of us.”
Colbert offered thinly veiled criticism for those who pay lip service to “honoring the sacrifice” of service members while still asking veterans to give up benefits. “No one honors their sacrifice more than I, and I’ll prove it,” he said, turning with great ceremony toward the camera as if to address service members in TV Land. “I honor your sacrifice,” he said as he flashed “Honoring in progress” in red, white and blue on the screen.
You can see the whole video here.
Tags: Colbert Report, humor, Super committee, tricare
Swagger, pistols and cockpit experience
August 17th, 2011 | Air Force Flightlines Obama Administration Politics | Posted by Scott Fontaine
One* of the men who wants to be your next commander-in-chief is touting his Air Force experience.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry has been stumping across Iowa lately. He proudly presents his conservative bona fides: He loves guns (and packs heat while jogging). He really doesn’t like same-sex marriage. He likes pardoning death-row criminals even less.
He also likes to tell voters about his military service: He earned a commission in the Air Force, became a C-130 pilot and left four years later as a captain.**
That experience provides one reason why Perry wants to unseat President Barack Obama next November.
“One of the powerful reasons that I’m running for the presidency of the United States is to make sure that every young man and woman who puts on the uniform of this country respects highly the president of the United States,” Perry said during an Iowa speech, according to the Houston Chronicle.
* — And before the angry emails come pouring in: Yes, I’m aware that Ron Paul served in the Air Force too. But this ain’t his first time seeking the nomination.
** — Presidential trivia time: Perry or Paul could become the first person to serve in the active-duty Air Force and later became commander-in-chief. Ronald Reagan served in the Army Air Forces, and George W. Bush served in the Air National Guard.
Tags: air force, politics, rick perry, ron paul
Libya: 100 days on
June 27th, 2011 | Libya Obama Administration Royal Air Force | Posted by David Larter
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany. An Airman stands inside a C-130J Super Hercules here before loading cargo in support of Operation Unified Protector over Libya. // Senior Airman Nathanael Callon
Today is the 100-day mark for operations over Libya and all is not well in the coalition.
Initially tasked with enforcing a UN resolution to protect civilians threatened by Moammar Gadhafi’s regime, the international coalition is beginning to crack under the strain of a mission that seemingly has no end in sight.
Here in the U.S. there is a tense debate over the legality of the operation since the Obama administration has not sought Congressional approval for the operation, which some argue violates the 1973 War Powers Resolution. Most, however, support the goal of regime change in Libya.
In Britain, who along with France is in the lead, the war is dividing military and civilian leadership. The head of the Royal Navy said June 14 that the operation was straining the sea service, and the Royal Air Force is also warning of the strain the operation is placing on its people and planes. The war has already cost the island nation about $400 million in a time when austerity measures have poured protesters into the streets of London.
What do you think, should the NATO alliance hold together and oust Gadhafi or is it time to cut our losses and pull back from the air raids?