The Art of Politics

Andy Looney

Time for Andy to wear a sweater that ties in the back...

Andy Rooney has lately taken his cantankerous cynicism to a new level - from his all out offensive on Mel Gibson's Passion, to his latest polemic on Iraq, Rooney has crossed the line between charming crank and bitter sociopath.

Rooney claims it's "disingenuous" for Americans to idolize American troops in Iraq as heroes to encourage them. Now, I'm pretty sure Rooney hasn't been at risk of taking a bullet for his country lately, so you have to wonder - is there a prescription not being filled here?

He then rolls on to proclaim that the suicide of 23 servicemen in Iraq indicates just how awful and unhappy the troops are. That comes out to 13.5 per 100,000 troops. Sure seems high - except that the rate for the entire Army was 10.9 - a questionable difference, and that compares with 15.7 in 1993. What was so depressing about soldiering in 1993?

Not satisifed with the morbid task of politicizing US troop suicides, he now bestows on them victimhood - "...we should not bestow the mantle of heroism on all of them for simply being where we sent them. Most are victims, not heroes." Thanks Andy, that'll sure get the spirits of our armed forces up.

Andy's like an empty beer can. It once held something good that you enjoyed, but now it's spent, and serves no useful purpose but to emit the occassional stale odor.

Posted by MEC2 at April 12, 2004 10:40 PM