Monday, March 19, 2007

Ouch.

BarbinMD over at Kos gives a brilliant breakdown of White House quotes over the past four years, coupled with the casualtyfatality figures at the time.

Edit: Casualty figures are much higher. Fatality figures are the ones listed here.

3 comments:

Gonzo said...

What is so "brilliant" about this? It's the presidents job to put out supportive, positive statements in time of war. I could make the same style of snarky post using the casualties of WW2 versus Roosevelt quotes, WW1 versus Wilson, etc, etc.

Would I be brilliant or pithy doind so? Not exactly.

Garrett said...

Ok, Roosevelt sounds like a good example. Go for it.

Gonzo said...

I tried but I can't do it with accuracy.

There were 295,000 US fatalities during the war but I can't find day-by-day counts except for exceptional battles.

However, these quotes seem strangely similar, don't they?

"No realistic American can expect from a dictator’s peace international generosity, or return of true independence, or world disarmament, or freedom of expression, or freedom of religion -- or even good business. Such a peace would bring no security for us or for our neighbors. Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Jan, 1941

"Give us strength, too -- strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces." - Jun, 1944

"As I stand here today, having taken the solemn oath of office in the presence of my fellow countrymen--in the presence of our God-- I know that it is America's purpose that we shall not fail.

In the days and in the years that are to come we shall work for a just and honorable peace, a durable peace, as today we work and fight for total victory in war. " - Inaugural speech, 1945.

I expect to hear nothing more that a deafening silence Garrett, having exquisitely proved my point.