That's Why He's Called Dick.

MayorBob.

Posted to Diary on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 04:09:47 PM EST. RSS.

The reason this story is being filed in my diary is that I will not practice a scintilla of objectivity with this one. As is often the case whenever the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) hold their convention, they invite a high ranking member of the executive branch of the government to deliver a few words. So it was to be this year as they invited Vice President Dick Cheney to be the guest speaker at the convention set to take place in Las Vegas from 9 to 12 August. They'll just have to soldier alone without hearing the words of inspiration one of this nation's biggest chicken hawks has to offer them as the DAV has yanked their invite to Cheney.

The deal breaker came due to security considerations for Cheney. They had been through this once before, in 2004, and perhaps someone high up in the DAV should have recalled. Part of the deal when you have Dick "I Have No Military Experience" Cheney in the house to talk about military matters is that the hall gets locked down tighter than a gnat's ass. The Dickster's staff informed the DAV that all the members had to be in lockdown in the hall at least two hours before his speech, couldn't leave for any reason and should remain in place until "Armchair Warrior" Dick finished his remarks.

DAV executive director David Gorman noted the requirements were a bit too much in that the hall has no restrooms in it. Cheney's office confirmed those were the arrangements and the DAV disinvited Cheney to speak. Another DAV spokesperson said "it was a huge imposition on our delegates" many of whom are getting along in years, nursing war wounds (which Cheney would know nothing about), with some in wheelchairs. Cheney's office had imposed the same restrictions when he gave an address back in 2004. After the invitation was rescinded, Cheney's office said the two hour waiting period was "a recommendation, not a requirement" and Cheney would "never let us do anything that didn't help facilitate the needs of our veterans." He visits wounded veterans in Walter Reed Army Medical Center and invites some of them to practice fly fishing around his backyard pool.

Our war leader president, George Bush, was invited before Cheney but he declined even though he has yet to address the DAV. He has delivered addresses to the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion in the past, but he's had a troubled record when it comes to sensitivity to veterans concerns. Treatment of returning wounded vets at Walter Reed Medical Center hit a low point under his administration. At a time when veterans were being mass produced in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Bush administration was cutting the VA's budget. Recently, Bush said he had made the ultimate sacrifice in tribute to the veterans who are losing life and limb overseas by giving up his golf game. Yes, truly Bush and Cheney care about our nation's veterans. As well they should because they've created so many of them.