Does not Sen. Webb underline the difference between patriotism and the alternative? This is a former Reagan Secretary of Navy, responding to a rather lackluster (admittedly, I only heard outtakes on Al Franken, but boy did he sound listless) State of the Union, which (given the man) we couldn't take seriously. [It always pissed me off when people talked about some "great" speech Bush had as if he wrote it or something -- actions speak louder than words.] After a nod to his state, he expressed basic principles that a majority of the nation clearly shares, and surely should share. Besides things like the contrast between the well-off and regular worker (putting in perspective improvements in the economy that favor certain groups). And, h/t TPM, this statement:
Like so many other Americans, today and throughout our history, we serve and have served, not for political reasons, but because we love our country. On the political issues — those matters of war and peace, and in some cases of life and death — we trusted the judgment of our national leaders. We hoped that they would be right, that they would measure with accuracy the value of our lives against the enormity of the national interest that might call upon us to go into harm‘s way
The fact his son is "in country" only added force. Best policy: watch the spoof version (with an amusing "Democratic Response" with sparring Hillary and Barack comments) and Webb's response. Save you the time. I also watched the rest of the Iraq veteran's testimony ... and reserved Kayla William's book. KW, though she only mentioned it in passing, has a husband who had a head injury -- the telltale injury of this war. When people like she says veterans have to demand their benefits, including those injured in action, well that is more striking than any B.S. our President says.
And, more worth our time, for sure.