Sixty-two. As of today, August 22, 2005, that's the number of American military personnel killed in Iraq since president George W. Bush went on vacation on August 2nd.
On August 1st, the day before he left on the longest vacation of any U.S. president in at least 36 years, seven other Americans were killed.
Sixty-nine of America's Finest -- dead. 18 of them in just one day, August 3rd. Did you hear Bush say much about the tremendous loss of these soldiers?
Nah, me neither.
69 brave Americans dead. That's over 3 per day. Now multiply the pain and sorrow of those deaths by the number of mothers, fathers, siblings, children, friends and other loved ones left behind. And all for the lies of a silver-spoon coward and his bastard administration.
1,868 of America's sons and daughters -- 13 of those from Idaho -- put themselves in harm's way, giving up their future, and everything that future might have been.
They did so based upon the lies of their Commander in Chief, a liar and coward who himself ran away when called to serve his country during the Vietnam War. A liar and coward who sent our military to Iraq without enough troops, enough armor, and without a plan to get out. That makes "Dubya" a coward, a liar, and a fool.
Today, George W. Bush came to Idaho.
I am an Idahoan, born and raised. For more than 40 years, this has been my home. President Bush, allow me to say this in a way that a thug like you can most easily understand:
Mr. President, get the hell out of my state.
Get out, Mr. Bush. Get your lying, cowardly road show out of Idaho and never, ever come back. By your very presence you sully the memories of those honorable men and women from Idaho who left their lives and futures back in the sands of Iraq. You insult the conscientious men, women and children of our great state with your mewling about "staying the course" and your galling lectures on how our "sons and daughters died for a noble cause." There is no question that our fallen troops are noble -- how could they be otherwise? But it was your lies, Mr. Bush -- your lies and cowardice and venality that begat their deaths. You lied -- and they died.
Leave Idaho, Mr. Bush. Go spend the rest of your "recreation" at your pretend ranch in Crawford, Texas. There's a woman camped out near there by the name of Cindy Sheehan -- maybe you've heard of her? Her son, Casey, was one of the soldiers killed in Iraq, sent there by your lies. She wants to speak with you, Mr. Bush. She wants the truth from you about why you sent her 24-year-old son to die. Was it for al-Qaida, who were never in Iraq until after we invaded? Was it for oil? For empire? For your sick, twisted relationship with your father -- your ruthless need to prove yourself better than him, no matter how many lives it cost? Mrs. Sheehan demands the truth, Mr. Bush, she demands you tell her why you sent her son to his death in the desolation become Iraq.
But you can't do that, can you, Mr. Bush? You are far, far too great a coward to face a grief-stricken, middle-age woman, aren't you? Because you'll be unable to foist your lies on her. She won't let you. Cindy Sheehan will reach out and wrap her fingers around that small, black, oily cancer you call a soul and she will not let go until you tell her the truth. And that would destroy you.
Get out of Idaho, Mr. Bush. Get out of my beloved state, and never come back. In time, the strong Gem State winds will blow away the stench of your visit. The cleansing rain will wash away the slime of your cowardice, and the bright Idaho sun will disinfect the residue of the lies you'll leave behind. Remove your minions and yourself from our borders immediately, and let Idaho mourn her honored dead in peace, remembering her fallen servicemen and women free of your wretched shadow.
Until today, Mr. President, you'd never been to Idaho. Well, now you've been. Don't let the "Welcome to Idaho" sign hit you on the way out. In conclusion, Mr. Bush, let me reiterate -- emphatically, sincerely, and from the bottom of my heart...
Get the hell out of my state.
(Crossposted at 43rd State Blues: Democracy for Idaho)