I'm not understanding the stance taken today by Hannity or Limbaugh on this story. Seems they focused on how wrong the reporter was in getting Spc. Thomas Jerry Wilson to ask Rumsfeld a tough question.
I frankly don't get what the reporter hulabaloo is about or why fellow conservatives are focused on it. The bigger question is the question posed by Wilson. What can be done to ensure that our soldiers are better protected and how quickly can it be done? That should be the focus in my view.
I'm shaking my head at my political compadres who are making hay about what the reporter did. I think they're just as guilty as those in the MSM who seem more focused on Rumsfeld being embarrassed than on the gist of Wilson's questions.
UPDATE: Reverend Sensing has his take on things and so does Chris Missick, who was there.
MORE: Roscoe provides some relevant historical perspective but more importantly (in my less than selfish view), he tends to agree with me on the importance of Wilson's question:
...it now turns out that the question was planted by an embedded reporter. That doesn't mean that it is an illegitimate or a bad question, but its something how these guys have no problem making themselves part of the story.
It is something... but the focus needs to remain on the question(s) asked and the answers our soldiers are looking for.
AND MORE: From In the Agora, an apparent great mind:
As a conservative, I've been embarrassed by the five-alarm reaction by Rush Limbaugh and some fool who substituted for Glenn Beck today over that armor question asked by a soldier to DefSec Rumsfeld.
The fact that some embed reporter suggested the question to one of the members of the Tennessee Army National Guard seems to have conservative talk radio in a melt down.
Honestly who cares? The question is legit, and not even Limbaugh is fighting that aspect, so who cares if Rummy heard it from a soldier, a reporter, parent, or a member of the National Honor Society during take a student to Fallujah Day.
What is the difference between the soldier getting the idea from a reporter or a friend who might email him with a suggestion or the soldier thinking of the question after reading a newspaper report from the front lines?
Conservatives seem to have a problem with the way the question was asked. They are running up and down the sidelines throwing their red flags asking for a do over.
It's good to know I beat PunchTheBag to the... umm... punch on this one. Heh.
The real questions here are:
1) Why, 2 years into the war, isn't everything armored? If the supplier couldn't do it, they should have made Detroit do it--and spare us a month or two of SUV's, and
2) who thought it was going to be a godd idea to have Uncle Grumpy play Oprah with the troops?
Posted by: Tony Iovino | Friday, December 10, 2004 at 06:05 PM
My short take on this:
1. The reported crossed a line of journalistic ethics. He's supposed to report, not make, the news.
2. The soldier had every right to ask the question. And it's been asked before--since early 2003.
3. Rumsfeld was honest in his answer. His mistake was in allowing the media into this meeting in the first place, as that is apparently atypical.
4. Our soldiers are not running around Iraq in unarmored vehicles. Go to http://www.2slick.blogspot.com/ and http://www.blackfive.net/main/ for more on that.
Posted by: Jeff H | Saturday, December 11, 2004 at 04:58 PM
The reporter wouldn't have had to plant the question if Rumsfeld, who loves the press when he's getting great reviews, had had the cojones to face the reporters themselves.
Rick, I agree with you. Anyone making hay about the reporter is trying to change the subject from the underlying issue - why have the troops been sent into harm's way without proper equipment?
As an investment guy with liberal views, I am amazed the two Bush cabinet members who retained their jobs were Rumsfeld and Snow when, without question, the two biggest areas of "concern" in the first term were Iraq and the economy.
Heh.
Posted by: robert | Saturday, December 11, 2004 at 06:18 PM
Robert,
I think Rumsfeld has a healthy set of nads...
As evidenced by his willingness to answer unscreened questions from the troops...
I think his avoidance of the media can be explained by the actions of the reporter who fed his questions to Rumsfeld through the soldier...
The media cares little about the gist of the story, and cares more about trying to embarrass this administration...
If I were Rumsfeld or Bush or Rice or anyone else in this administration, I too would avoid the media, who are merely mouthpieces for the opposition party...
Posted by: Rick | Sunday, December 12, 2004 at 10:41 AM
Rick,
That's the media's role. To be the voice of the opposition, to question the powers that be (particularly with the official opposition still chasing its tail). If you recall, there was a relentless assault on the Clinton White House by Maureen Dowd who has been equally ruthless on the current administration. Don't kid yourself, the media cares way more about a scoop than about the policies.
Regarding the reporter's tactics, I guess it's the chicken and the egg. Would the media be less "creative" if this administration weren't as secretive and held press conferences at the same rate as previous ones? We'll never know. All I know is, Clinton held more press conferences during the second term (amid a perfect storm of negative media) than Bush did in the first term when the media was still gushing about the success of the straight-talkin' Texan. Since the "Mission Accomplished" went sour and the beheadings started, Rumsfeld has been a whole lot less visible than he was in the backslapping early days of the war.
Nads? More like nada.
Heh.
Posted by: robert | Sunday, December 12, 2004 at 01:48 PM
Don't have time to say much at the moment, but I wanted to let y'all know that there is some good material on this matter at the current home page of Soldiers for the Truth:
www.sftt.org
Thanks!
Posted by: Aakash | Monday, December 13, 2004 at 04:22 AM
The reporter in question did not give my BROTHER the query in question. We had discussed the issue at length before he left for Iraq. The reporters editor buried the comment that the question was my brothers alone, in the last section of the paper. My family unanimously voted for Bush and support the war effort 100%. It has hurt us to see some of the things people say about my brother. Some have even stooped so low as to call him a coward. My family has a history of serving in the military, and we are damned proud of Thomas for standing up and speaking HIS mind. He is actually home now after spending a year in Iraq, and is looking forward to moving on with his life. To those who supported his position, during this time, we THANK YOU!
Posted by: Lyndon Wilson | Wednesday, February 22, 2006 at 12:27 AM
Lyndon,
I'm honored that you stopped by... thanks for posting... and I'm glad your brother is home safe and sound...
Posted by: Rick | Saturday, February 25, 2006 at 01:27 PM
I was Wilson's commander in OIF III and I can assure you that it was his own question. He and I discussed several questions and I told him it was his 15 minutes of fame (little did I know) and he could ask whatever he felt like he needed to. I defended him to my superiors and I would do so again. I was shocked by the amount of lies and half-truths proclaimed by both sides.
I am back in Iraq again as a civil affairs team leader and the way we are being used is a sad waste of our talent and abilities. Keep up the good work, I just found your page.
Posted by: Dale Bradley | Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 10:27 AM
i hate this man with such a passion! he hurts me even when i must speak to him on the phone on tuesday and thursday! why does he do it? better yet how?!
you people think hes so great well i have some news for you...i think you should read this if you get the chance...my sister bethany wrote thi for me and i cry eery time i read it!
I haven't seen you...It's been a while...
It's the day I've broken the law
and you gave me a smile.
Your face, so beautiful
like an angel sent from eternity
this is your story...
My little angel
you're so hurt and confused.
You look up at me
What am I to do?
I call for help just as you've been doing
but no one hears and you're still alone.
Three years down your lonely battle
your lonely road.
You're still holding on
your face is tired and worn.
Your smile, faded and frowned.
Your soul is finally looking down...
Given up.
Baby, hold on, I'm coming to save you.
Give me time
I'm still trying
after being shot down.
I'm still fighting.
Still trying.
Keeping my heart set
and never giving up.
I'm here for you.
Telepathize your pain
give me proof.
Is it rain on your cheeks?
Is it paint on your arms?
Is it an upside down smile?
upon those beautiful cheeks...
that once gleamed upon moonlight
giving it purpose to come out at night
The day the angels
and trees, birds, and
bees were all in a line
the perfect sister was born.
The world could wait no longer
but the goddess hadn't perfected
her life on earth.
They were "tweaking" this
angels future environment
and just as she was
sent home...the string broke.
She was sent to live
in a hell on earth
Her only peace was
found with the
lovely brunette who birthed
this beautiful angel...
Your little house of peace...
disappeared when SATAN came home
that night
Now all that's left is
the rain, the paint, and mirror reflections.
But dear angel, I swear
I will be there one day
our lives will join, we can be together again
The sister blood, love, the
only heart that will ever
fit with mine, yours,
dear angel, will complete
my dreams and we can
sing and dance together.
This world will aline
with the angels cry.
Dedicated to Megan LouAnne Wilson, my sister, my best friend.
I miss you and hope one day you will find your way back home and you can read this.
when you rea this im sure youll cry or get a pang in your heart thinking you should do something...but it will never happen because you people are true cowards!
i hate everyone who says hes a great man!
hes not! he hurts his own childern and he just doesnt care!!!
Posted by: megan louanne wilson | Friday, July 17, 2009 at 03:53 AM
hmm...once again i get on here and see that you people have said nothing to the last post i made. hmm...COWARDS!
he asks me why we are not close and i say its because he hits me so hard it pushes me away. he asks why i will not call him dad but insist on calling him sir i say its because i have never had him as a father just as a superior officer and i am not a grunt!
Posted by: megan wilson | Saturday, September 05, 2009 at 11:23 AM
well...im at school...im a bit free at the moment so i decided to leave a comment.
lately i have been speaking with my moms attorneys and i have found out that they really are tring to get me home to my mothers house. i just wish it would go faster. this is so hard to deal with. i just dont know what to do anymore. it really hurts. im so afraid because i know now that since my moms attorneys have sent in the petition and the courts have it that it will not be long before my faters attorney gets it and shows it to my father himself...this is going to be very hard to deal with. i am going to get the living dhit beat out of me when my dad finds out and thats all i can physically think about...i just hope that he will relize that it is better for me to be living with my mom and stepdad. im so much happier there and im actually SAFE there. someone please help me and my little brother. we need to get out of the hell hes calls home.
Posted by: megan wilson | Tuesday, September 08, 2009 at 01:11 PM
Dear Megan:
We don't know who you are. You can sign in any way you want and accuse anyone you want of anything you want. Doesn't make it true.
If you really are in danger, then your Mom and stepdad need to make it a police matter. If they don't, then what are we, a bunch of strangers, supposed to do when we don't even know if you're for real or a troll just trying to besmirch someone's reputation? That happens way too often.
Posted by: Mommynator | Tuesday, September 08, 2009 at 03:08 PM
As to the original post, my son spent almost his whole first deployment up-armoring every last vehicle that passed through Camp Victory. He ended up fabricating new door hinges and such because of the extra weight, and repairing trannys and other parts of the vehicles that weren't designed to hold that much weight.
It took time. It did get done. Too bad the lying, treasonous MSM couldn't get their story straight.
Posted by: Mommynator | Tuesday, September 08, 2009 at 03:10 PM
my name is Megan LouAnne Wilson the daughter of Thomas Jerry Wilson and Regina Dawn Baines. The truth of the matter is that i am abused by my father. i do understand that you are just people who think he is a worderful man and maybe even a hero, but i absolutly asure you that you are terriably mistaken. i come to this site to try to get his story straight.
why is it that they say that hes such a hero when in actuallity all he did was read from a peice of paper what a reporter wrote. He has explained that to my little brother and i a lot.
if i have affended you in any way i am sorry. i just wish that there is some way to make the court process to go faster. my mother and step father are working on getting me home every single day. i just want it to go faster.
Posted by: megan wilson | Thursday, September 10, 2009 at 11:54 AM
you people are stupid!!!!
Posted by: pamela honarvar | Thursday, September 24, 2009 at 11:34 AM
Dear Mommynator:
I'd just like to say, that no one asked for your oppinion, and seeing that it is a "free country", I thank you for your input, but you don't know what you're talking about. A teenage girl finally finds a way to get her pain recognized and you shoot her down. I have been here, I know Jerry Wilson and he is satan in disguise. You don't know him, so don't put your input in someplace it isn't wanted, or in this case beneficial to this broken girl.
Posted by: Bethany Baines [Megan's sister] | Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 07:00 PM
Well. its once again megan wilson the doughter of jerry wilson. and well. im happy because im finally living with my mom and wonderful stepdad and step sisters. the only 'problem is that my little brothers still unsafe with my sperm donor and his "wife". but we will NEVER give up on him. my stepdaddy always told me that hed never give up and that hed have me home soon. he didnt lie...he never has lied to me unlike my sperm donor. its pretty sad when my stepfather loves me more than my blood family member....well i guess ill get used to it. im happy with it. i already call my stepdad daddy. i love it.
Posted by: magan wilson | Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 07:01 PM
I'm wondering why you folks are coming here and venting? Why air dirty laundry publicly like this?
Color me curious.
Posted by: Rick | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 05:48 AM
Airing dirty laundry publicly...and then attacking people for adding thier 2 cents.
Facebook people, Facebook.
Posted by: tim aka The Godless Heathen | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 08:29 AM
Please note that "megan" can't even spell her name the same way twice - and appears as "magan".
Yes. I'm supposed to believe her.
Bethany - you're as much a stranger here as "magan". Why should we believe you? The internets are ripe for people who lie and can lie.
I'm entitled to my opinion and I can write whatever I like as well.
Get a grip, get a life and get yourselves out of whatever mess you believe yourself to be in.
And grow up. You sound like you're 12 years old and still in junior high school with all your drama and tattling.
Posted by: Mommynator | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 09:51 AM
Megan is awesome.
Posted by: Megan's Mom's Neighbor's Cousin | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 12:32 PM
True Story:
During my first tour we had a high ranking Army officer come talk to us about the "fine job" we were doing. He asked us about our equipment, supplies, fire trucks and capabilities. We were coached ahead of time with a very firm hand to be yes-men. We fell in line, smiled and lied.
It was all retarded dog-and-pony show military bull. Speaking my mind was not an option. I wanted to tell him our trucks are broke, another unit stole our humvees, we cannot respond to downed aircraft and we are all rolling the dice letting anything land here because our fire department is currently in name only.
These weren't complaints, these were facts that were hidden because to say anything other than "yes" is frowned upon. Most of us got out after that tour due to the mismanagement and over all politics.
I am glad this guy got to ask a straight forward question. We'd love to just shut up and do our jobs if only they'd give us the tools.
No, not all vehicles are armored and yes they all should be. To say other wise is ignorant until it's your son or daughter on that highway just waiting for the road side bomb.
Posted by: Megan's Mom's Neighbor's Cousin | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 12:39 PM
A little insight into this mans true character and situation since exiting his military service. Also, check his military records from his first service in the USAF.
http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/former-tenncare-employee-suspected-forging-e-mails-custody-battle-arrested
http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/case-ends-former-tenncare-worker-charged-custody-battle
Megan is safe now and I will keep praying for her, her brother, and her mother.
Posted by: USAF Roommate | Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 12:41 PM