Removing the Gag!!!

After 18 years the gag has been removed from the media when it comes to soldiers remains returning to the states. The gag was imposed back in 1991 by George Herbert Walker Bush. His official reasoning was that he was doing it out of respect for the families of the deceased soldiers however it is believed that his true motivation was out of embarrassment. Bear with me as I work from memory but I believe that during a Presidential address back in 1991 as President Bush spoke about the Persian war while one network split screened the caskets being removed form a plane at Dover airbase.

Many feel that the ban was a way to remove the human cost from war. President Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates felt uncomfortable about the ban and has left it up to the families to decide if their loved ones can be photographed.

So I do have something in common with old Johnny McCain.

I am a child of the 80’s, and was it ever a great time to be a child. I mean yes there was Presidents Reagan and Bush (1) but that didn’t matter much to me. There were music videos and boy bands and men dressing like women making great music. One of those great music makers was El DeBarge of the DeBarge family. He like so many others from large groups stepped out on his own and didn’t do bad. One of my favorite songs from him (which years later turned into my break up song) “Turn the Page” from his second solo project “Gemini”.

I thought it was a dead on choice for when I needed to get over and move on. Well it seems that the song works for John McCain as well. Who knew? I mean honestly, if you had asked me if John McCain was a El DeBarge fan I would have said “Does he think that is one of his gardeners?”

But McCain has decided that he is going to turn the page on talking about economics. It seems it’s a sore subject with him and as he has plainly stated in the past, not his best subject.

I am not even going to get into the fact that the idea of someone running on a platform of relating to “Joe six-pack” (whoever the fuck that is) who is looking for answers and help being turned the page on.

No I am going to talk about character, I am going to speak on the hero and all I have heard about Johnny Boys days as a POW. Now I have never been in the armed service so I have nothing but respect for those who chose that route. These are some great folks. I have an ex who was a Sgt. Major in the army and for about a year I lived in an army town.

All the John McCain POW stories I have heard is how he was broken and bruised and even when the opportunity to leave came up he said “Not without my daughter!!” (Sorry old Sally Field reference.) Now you’re running for President of the United States and when the going gets tough, when the economy you claimed was so strong is collapsing around us like a forgotten temple around Indiana Jones, you want to turn the page?

Well I will tell you what. Let’s do that Senator McCain. If we can turn the page on the economy then let’s turn the page on the Iraq war. STOP!!! FINI!!!!! DONE!!!!! Bring everyone home right now. I am sure the American public is tired of our kids our parents out brothers and sisters dying to liberate a country that has asked us to Get Out like five times already. But NO, can’t do that. One year or one hundred, cause this is something you like, this is something you can get your mind and hands around.

Well Senator McCain, I can’t wait for November 4th to come. Hopefully we will be able to “Turn the page “on you. And trust me, on that day I will not be playing El Debarge in your honor!