Bush Supporters Beware - Angry Veterans Will Confront You!

[JFN1]

Okay, I've got to tell you what happened. I'm still pumped up on adrenaline, and I'm not exactly writing this at my best, so please excuse my sloppiness, and I may not have all of the language that was used, but I'll try to be as accurate as I can. And this all happened fast - a minute or two at the most.

So I'm at the grocery store with my wife a bit ago, we're putting the groceries in the car, making small talk about the ridiculous heat and humidity. There's a guy, maybe in his mid-fifties, in the slot next to us with an elderly lady sitting in the front seat, while he was putting groceries into their/his van. I'm going to call this guy 'grocery guy' so we can keep the players straight.

A truck pulls up next to grocery guy's van, into the disabled parking spot. A man gets out of the truck, a blue Chevy S-10, and starts to walk toward the store (after this was all over, I noticed his left leg was dragging the pavement when he walked away, like he couldn't pick it all the way up from the ground). So grocery guy, I guess to the old lady in the front seat, says, not loud, but enough volume to easily carry in the high humidity, "Humph! He doesn't look disabled to me."

The guy who had parked in the disabled spot and walked toward the store, without bothering anyone, stopped in his tracks. He turned slowly, then walked toward grocery guy.

"Excuse me?" said the disabled guy. "Did you say something to me?"

The man pretended he didn't hear him, kept unloading groceries, fussing with bags, making himself appear to be busy. And I know he heard the guy, because my wife and I both heard him, and we were another car over.

Finally grocery guy turns toward the man and says, "I don't know why you're in that spot - you don't look disabled, and I couldn't find a spot for my mother today because people like you who take spots they don't need." Grocery guy puffs his chest out when he finishes his little speech - I thought he was trying to look tough or something.

The disabled guy's face turns instantly angry, and he speaks loudly - not shouting, mind you, but authoritatively. "And what does a disabled person look like, sir?"

Grocery guy didn't answer right away, so the disabled guy kept going.

"I just got back from Iraq about two months ago, and I'm still in physical therapy." He pulled his shirt up and exposed a series of red and pink marks and pits (scars? burns?) running across his stomach, up toward his chest, and around his back. "Do I look disabled enough to you now?"

Grocery guy looks sheepish for a moment, as my wife and I stared at this young man, stunned.

The veteran pulled his shirt back down, and steps closer to grocery guy. You can feel something building in the air, and my wife and I stood there, waiting for it, not sure what to do.

The veteran points at grocery guy's van. "I see you support the President." My wife and I looked where the veteran was pointing and saw the 'W04' sticker on the back glass of grocery guy's van. "So I have you to thank for these." He gestured to his upper body, his voice beginning to rise a bit more. "And now you want to give me a hard time for going to get some milk?"

Grocery guy is scared now. He grabs his cell phone and unexpectedly screams - I mean screams - at the veteran, "I'm calling the cops!"

The veteran responded, rather calmly, "Go ahead - call them."

"I will - and I'm going to tell them you're threatening me!" Grocery guy flips his phone open and starts pressing buttons.

At this point, I lose it myself. I hobble around the back of grocery guy's van, shaking and instantly outraged, and say, "That's a good idea, sir. Call the cops. I've been here the whole time, and if anyone is acting threatening, it is YOU! So call them - or I will, if you won't."

I looked over at the veteran and told him, "I'm a veteran too, and I'll not let this Bushie tell any lies about you - I've got your back."

Seeing he was not going to be able to bully his way out of it, grocery guy put his phone on his clip, slammed the van doors closed, got into the driver's seat, and pulled away.

The veteran looked at me, gave me a nod, turned, and limped into the store, holding his head high.

My wife and I thanked him for his service as he walked away. We both wanted to speak with him, I don't know, to comfort him somehow, but we could both tell it would not be welcome, so we let him go on his way. This young man is in such pain, it is utterly heartbreaking.

I am really proud of this young man, this veteran, this kid - disabled in the line of duty. I'll tell you, he handled it much better than I would of, in his shoes. I'm disabled, too, and I don't take one ounce of shit about it from anyone - no one should have to.

And I'll tell you one more thing - if this is any indication of how our soldiers feel once they've come home from Bush's war, Bush supporters may just get more than an earful about their support for President Psycho...

[bluerum]

1. Thanks for the post - good job - and good luck. eom

[lse7581011]

2. Good Going!

To both of you! My congrats! K & R!

[VP505]

3. Veterans Disabled or Not

confronting a Bushie ::thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[JFN1]

4. I try not to be confrontational with anyone

but this guy just had it coming. And it's not like he was parked in the hinterlands or something - he was ONE SLOT over from the disabled parking!! To give this guy a hard time speaks of a man who believes he is simply ENTITLED...

[Quantess]

6. I hear you....

Someimes ya just gotta vent the rage on someone who desrves it!;-)

[JFN1]

12. Yes, I vented a bit of rage, and it was good

But I swear, when I stepped up, I wasn't thinking about punishing this Bush lover, I wanted only to protect this veteran from another rabid Bushie, who seemed to be pushing all of the wrong buttons on this veteran. And I didn't want the veteran to hurt grocery guy, either - not because grocery guy couldn't use some hurting, but because if the veteran were accused of threats, or was even driven to violence, I didn't want him to pay for that. He wasn't bothering anyone - grocery guy picked the fight with him.

The veteran, this kid, is screwed physically for life, thanks in great part to people like grocery guy - and I just think Bush supporters have done our veterans and soldiers enough harm already...

[WileEcoyote]

34. 9 out of every 10 republican males

Is a pussy. They will never watch your back in a fight either.

Just like the college republicans. It used to be a little different, but not since Limbaugh started on talk radio. they look up to Limbaugh because they are exactly the same type of coward he is. Ditto Dick Cheney.

Remember those soft bellied kids who sat in the back of the class in school? They were shy types usually but would pick on kids smaller than them or tease/sexually harass the girls?

Yeah well THAT is your average republican male these days.

[PoconoPragmatist]

41. Yup. When I Think Of Republican Males, I'm Forcibly Reminded Of Ferengi!! n/t

[comtec]

68. Take that back!

That's an insult of all of Ferrenginar!
Rule of acquisition number 208, The law, is still the law.
Ferengi are of questionable ethics, but at least theirs are written down, clearly for all to see ;)

[Quantess]

69. You meant, "...9 out of every 10 republican males..."

never get any p***y.
We're probably both correct.:rofl:

edit: unless they get a prostitute!

[Blue Fire]

124. I would think even prostitutes have higher standards.

[PurpleChez]

78. I always get a kick out of the CRs who say

that they can do more to help the war at home than by enlisting. I'm sure it helps the troops so much to know that their over here, driving around in oversized jeeps, plastered with North Face stickers, dressed up like phoney puka-shell-wearing hippie wannabes, on their way to the next Dave Matthews Cover Band show.

[PoconoPragmatist]

40. Bush Supporters Should Be Truthful....

Their yellow ribbons should say...

"Support My Tax Cut - Screw The Troops!"

Ours ought to say

"Support The Troops - BRING THEM HOME!!"

[Desert Liberal]

120. You know, I had a black ribbon magnet

that said EXACTLY that. I can't prove it, but I know this guy with Bush/NRA/Repuke stickers all over his big-ass 4x4 stole it...
Just goes to show ya the type we deal with every day...

[Quantess]

66. I can't even imagine how upset I would have been, to be there, in your shoes.

First time I looked at this thread, I read it really quickly, (because I didn't want to anyone to walk in and catch me goofing off on the internet, LOL!) and I missed some important details.

Oh, man, would I be angered and unhinged!

My only consolation I can offer is that those Bush-lovers (who are probably also obnoxious to their neighbors), are backward, ignorant, self-centered, and, they either have dementia, or, have always been mentally challenged. You are fortunate to not be like the ignorant "grocery guy".

Thank you for serving our country.

:patriot: :hug:

[PoconoPragmatist]

39. Of Course He's Entitled!! He's A Bushie!! n/t

[bjobotts]

71. Thank you for standing up. Makes me sad for the ones whose handicaps aren't visible

There's a huge number with deep psychological and personality disorders coming back from Iraq. Many who were in the guard and thought they would only be used to "defend" their country not be part of a pre-emptive war strike and occupation policemen. I attend a group where one young man cries about the people he feels he has murdered...at close range. It hurts to watch him deal with this.
Bush "forces" these young men and women to fight and get wounded and even die...then talks about how brave they are for their sacrifices, the whole time doing nothing to protect them or remove them from harm's way, holding them hostage to get more funding for the war profiteers while denying funding for increased medical care when they return home.

[lame54]

115. i'm glad he made it home

it's not right that a young man should be scarred for no logical reason
but i'm glad he made it home
these soldiers were not so lucky

http://youtube.com/watch?v=tMACzBomDK4

[G_j]

5. thank you

for taking the time to share this
almost brought tears to my eyes

[Auntie Bush]

11. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for sharing and serving our country. n/t

[BeHereNow]

7. Great writing, great post.

God damn the bushbots and their infinite ignorance.
BHN

[number6]

8. thanx, good post

:applause:

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. Good for you!

But I tell you what pisses me off about this - most Americans get more upset over a parking place at the grocery store than the deaths in Iraq. If the grocery guy spent as much time upset about the war as he did about a parking space, we may not still be over there.

[PoconoPragmatist]

43. But...

See, the war does not negatively impact HIM...so grocery guy does not give a shit...as long as it is always someone ELSE making the sacrifices!!

[bdamomma]

97. invasion/soldiers dying =no priority, parking space = priority

real sick thinking, until something truly affects these people all they will be is ignorant and full of empty slogans.

[K8-EEE]

10. Great post.....and a story I think is playing out in lots of ways all over

This is why the GOP candidates can't face youtube....can't face an audience that's not totally handpicked, loyalty-oathed, fixed.

Do they really think they can paint all Bush critics as "radical leftists," "surrender monkeys" etc?? To the 25% knuckledragging freepers and the corporate media, maybe -- but people are SO not buying it. The people we see at anti-war protests now quite literally represent ALL OF AMERICA.

[JFN1]

13. Good point

I also wonder what this signifies for the future. Was this an isolated event, or is there another pressure building out there? There's a whole lot of military families out there, too.

[janetle]

99. Support our troops!

Who are the folks who are really supporting our troops? It is us. All of those people with American flags and magnets stuck on their cars along with the "support our president" stickers??? I don't think so.

This was a wonderful post and a great story. I hope it spreads far and wide to show the country what frauds the right wingers are.

[Stinky The Clown]

14. Good for the vet. Good for you.

I'm glad you don't take shit from people. That's kinda been a problem for lefties over the years and decades. Being unwilling to engage until its too late.

I'm not advocating pointless confrontation,a nd I'm not saying confrontation is the best way. But sometimes it needs to happen.

[JFN1]

15. Well put.

Thank you.

[PoconoPragmatist]

44. Sometimes Ya Need To Be Offensive To Offensive People!!

That's one of life's great lessons I learned from a friend I will call "Flower-Spinner."

I call him this, because I never knew his real name. I was living, at the time, in Austin, Texas, and this guy routinely would set up shop on a corner of Sixth Street right outside a theater venue called Esther's follies. He sold flowers...and, as a means of getting attention, he would spin the flowers in his hand. He even taught me how to do it, and, though I never got as good as he was, I did become fairly accomplished.

Now, I am a transgender person, and, at the time, I also used to do a lot of "open stage" theatre, mostly comedy. This was how I got to know Flower-Spinner...because he was always there on show nights.

Anyway, we developed a friendship, and we routinely talked up to half an hour before showtimes. One night, we were talking...and a bunch of religious zealot wingnuts came up on us, and started harassing me about being transgendered, and telling me how I was hellbound if I did not change my ways, and accept THEIR God, etc, etc.

I was in a pretty good screaming match with them when finally, Flower-Spinner, who'd heard enough, told the wingnuts that HE needed to be saved! As one, they all whipped around to face Flower-Spinner, and asked him why.

Flower-Spinner told them, "Well, see, I used to be a controtionist, but then my wife made me quit sucking my own dick." As one, the wingnuts, completely shocked...spluttered, turned, AND WALKED OFF to go bother other people! I thanked Flower-spinner for coming to my defense. He said, "think nothing of it, hun...sometimes, you just have to be offensive to offensive people!"

I never forgot this!

Be well, Flower-Spinner, I miss you!!

[hobbit709]

81. Max Nofziger-later a city council member

And it sounds like a variation of Winston Churchill's statement one time. "There are certain types that you must step on their toes until they apologize"

[PoconoPragmatist]

92. Hey, Cool!

Was that really Max Nofzinger?!? Way too cool, I'd heard of him before. Never knew he was my Flower-Spinner, though!

God, he was such a likeable guy, he really was. If you're ever in contact with him, you tell him I still remember that...and still appreciate it to this day.

[Raksha]

16. "So I have you to thank for these."

THAT was the so-called "threat." THE TRUTH was the threat! We all know how terrified the BushBots are of the truth, how they will run like hell whenever any truth appears over the horizon. But this was a stealth attack...this time the truth ambushed him and there was no way Grocery Guy could escape. NOT that he didn't ask for it, of course.

What a wonderful story--I wish I had been there to see it!

[SaveAmerica]

18. I know, he's a cut and runner!! buck bock!! chicken!!

He's a pell meller, and worse of all he's a tattle tale; "Officer, (sniff) he stood up to my crap, and I don't know what to do now, whimper, WWBD?"

Let's hope tonight as he closes his eyes to sleep he hears over and over and over "I have YOU to thank for these then. I have you to thank, you to thank...".

[PurpleChez]

28. SOMEONE deserves to have some wicked nightmares out of all of this.

Cheney and Bush first and foremost, of course...the dead from Iraq, Afghanistan, New Orleans. But these freeptards who don't just support the troops but, rather, LOVE THE WAR, they deserve some hellish nightmares too. But I bet they ain't havin' 'em.

[PoconoPragmatist]

45. Indeed.

and let's hope that something like that finally penetrates his thick skull and armor-plated heart, and causes a heart change in this man, and he finally comes to see the truth, and quits drinking the Kool-Aid. but I would not hold my breath!

[shance]

17. Im proud of you JFN1 for teaching Mr. Bush supporter that there are more of us

who will protect each other from cowardly bullies like him, who run scared and call for help when someone confronts them with a situation they created in the first place.

[glitch]

19. For some reason this story reminded me of a haunting photograph from WWII

by Henri Cartier Bresson, a Belgian village confronts a collaborator.

(from his obituary http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/3536742.stm)

[SpiralHawk]

20. "Well, um, we really didn't mean anything." - Chickenhawk Republicons

"But we do think Commander AWOL Bush and Dickie 'Five Military Deferments" Cheney are the, um, a, most brilliant military leaders, um, the USA has ever had. Rush "Anal Pimple Military Wimpout" Limbaugh told us, so it must, um, a, be true or something."

- Republicon Chickenhawks

[Judi Lynn]

21. So glad to read your expressive post, and glad you were there when this happened.

Having an official witness, and a bona fide vet, to boot, put a wonderful, civilized framework around the incident, whereas without someone there, the young vet may have felt compelled to either smack the freeper idiot or bite his tongue and leave with the idiot feeling he had won simply by not having been beaten within an inch of his life.

Thanks to your communication skill, the story came through perfectly clearly, to the point it seems like something we all could very well have witnessed in our own neighborhoods. Few of us could have had the credentials to back the guy up to the degree you did, however.

[peace13]

22. Great job!

Monkeyman would be so proud of you. Thanks for taking the stand. Peace, Kim

[Missy Vixen]

23. Thank you for your service and for defending this young man n/t

[KatyaR]

24. I ask myself this at least a dozen times a day--

WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?????? :mad: :mad: :mad:

Good on you, JFN--I'm proud of you. I can't believe anyone would have the guts to say something like that and then turn chickenshit and threaten to call the cops.

That young man was very eloquent--I hope he does okay. Maybe you'll get to see him again at the grocery and can check up on him.

[Aviation Pro]

25. Out-fucking-standing.....

....oh, the surge to retribution (peaceful I hope) is mounting.

[The Wizard]

26. I've been confronted by similar morans

When they say I don't look disabled I ask how long they've been practicing medicine and that practicing medicine without the proper credentials in this state is an indictable offense. Haven't had anyone come back at that one yet.
On a couple of occasions I confronted some young republicans and asked why they weren't in Iraq. When they came back with lame excuses I just told them they weren't in Iraq because they were punks, and I offered to kick the crap out of all of them. They didn't take up the offer. And I'm old and 100% disabled. Maybe the cane scared them.

[PurpleChez]

27. I'm proud of BOTH of you!

I don't even think half of these people know what they mean when they say things or paste on bumperstickers supporting the war and the pResident. I don't think there is any intellect behind it, just a reflexive action, a vague idea that in order to be a good american you have to do these things -- support the war and george bush. Yesterday I was driving to Atlanta and saw a billboard I actually thought had been taken down (rather, trees had mercifully obscured much of it). It went up a year or two ago, when Jack Murtha first became so vocal in his criticism of the war. It says something to the effect of "Mr. Murtha: Democrats cut and run, Marines don't." The first time I saw it I thought, How could anyone have the nerve to tell Murtha what Marines do and don't do. Now I realize that there isn't even that level of thought behind it. Instead there is a childlike, obsessive, reflexive need to perpetuate the illusion that George W Bush* remains The Greatest President Ever and that the war is the best thing America has done since we whupped Hitler. It's almost an article of religious faith...these people NEED for the war to be wonderful. They don't just support it, they love it, they fetish it. Sure, people are dying, but it means that a strong America is on the march. Sorry...I'm just rambling...mad props to you for standing up for yourself and another vet.

I wonder if military people are still overwhelmingly GOP voters, like they so inexplicably were a few years ago.

[Submariner]

29. Great job JFN1

I only wish I was there to brow beat grocery punk. Thanks for jumping into the fray and covering the vets six.

[JFN1]

30. We'll be keeping our eyes out for him

We didn't even get his name...and we sure don't want to invade his space like a couple of mother hens...but we both sure do hope we run into him again...

Thanks to everyone for their support - DU, and all of you, are the best!!

[Judi Lynn]

64. Undoubtedly he'll remember you were there. It probably kept it from seeming a cold, lonely moment.

He knows he has an ally now, and that had to make a big difference that day.

[HughMoran]

31. Great job recounting that inspiring story

Bushco & the Republicans have way overplayed their hand at this point. Time for them to just STFU.

[B Calm]

32. I got hotter than hell a week ago with a dude who said to me

why don't you move the fuck out of his country after I openly put down Bush and the lies he said to send us into war. I told the little SOB that he was talking to a Vietnam veteran. I told him to get his head out of his ass and wake the fuck up! He backed down!!

I'm afraid all these Iraqi veterans coming home will live short lives. They might all not have visual injuries, but they all have been subjected to months of poisoning breathing the Iraqi air.

[file83]

63. LOL - I just read your name "B Calm" and juxtaposed that to your story...

:rofl:

I'm glad you didn't remain "calm", but actually spoke up and set that SOB in their place. :thumbsup:

I hope that depleted uranium doesn't cause to many of our guys/gals problems, but I'm afraid you are right. That is pure poison.

[Marnieworld]

111. I think that we will be experiencing an aftermath for many years to come

Because of all of the backdoor drafts and stop loss crap that the military is subjecting the soliders to there will be more PTSD than ever before. The unique brain injury, the signature injury of this war will be hard to recognize as "disabled" but will be. Add the criminal inadequate healthcare returning Vets are receiving and we have a recipe for disaster.

I imagine that there will be many suicides and or homicides from these neglected Vets, abused by all of these successive tours without end. The human mind is not supposed to experience the type of sustained psychic horror that our soliders are subjected to, endless stress of no actual battlefront (it's everywhere at all times) and people will crack. Then there are the contractors as well who are even more isolated and with no support system or safety net of even a shitty Vets organization. They are still human beings caught up in that nightmare bringing it home in their heads. Just a complete FUBAR that we will all pay the price for many years.

[B Calm]

119. If a road side bomb don't maim them, depleted uranium will.

[Enthusiast]

33. Cheney's disabled, got five deferments! nt

[eppur_se_muova]

35. Let us note -- RIGHTEOUSLY angry veterans.

It is one thing to have someone angry at you. Some people get angry as a habit, or over nothing. But when someone is angry at you and THEY ARE IN THE RIGHT, the only course of action you should contemplate is backing down and eating your words.

[Longhorn]

36. I don't know how you could have told it any better!

You brought tears to my eyes! I'm grateful for people like you and I'm grateful for people like that young veteran. It's wrong for people who are not qualified to park in a handicap spot but grocery guy didn't get his facts straight before he shot off his mouth, something typical of Bushies. And then when he is confronted with his mistake, he refuses to apologize and admit his mistake, another trait of that ilk. Is it possible he's sitting at home now regretting his actions? No, sadly, it's not. But I hope the young veteran feels a little stronger knowing there are people like you around.

Thank you! :yourock:

[PoconoPragmatist]

47. Parking

Now...having watched my dad struggle with nerve damage the last five years of his life, the result of a near-fatal head-on car crash that nearly required the Jaws of Life...I, too, get annoyed, and even might say something...when people who apparently do not deserve handicapped spots park in them...because, as I said, I watched my dad, truly handicapped, struggle sometimes, when he could not get a handicapped spot.

However...at the point at which this guy would have shown me his wounds, I would have profusely apologized, and thanked him for his service. Although, according to the telling of the story, the guy was limping and dragging his left leg in the first place, so that is an example where I'd not have said a word, because he obviously DID appear disabled. Maybe no bone was showing, and maybe he wasn't in a wheelchair, but he obviously needed and deserved the spot.

[fudge stripe cookays]

56. I'm so sorry about your dad.

I hate these holier than thou types who tell me I don't look disabled. I have MS, and in the Texan heat, i literally melt outside.

I can go outside and be shaking within minutes. If I have to go on a long grocery run, I can barely walk by the time I come out. Anyone who confronts me gets an earful. I cannot imagine the anger this vet must have been feeling.

[PoconoPragmatist]

94. Don't Be

He's well out of it now...he passed in 1999. But it was maddening to watch my dad have to struggle because of idiots who took handicapped spots and didn't need them.

I saw some folks borrow another person's placard so that they could park in those spots, when they did not need to...and others who were just like..."Well, I'm only going to be in there a few minutes..."

If ya don't belong in handicapped, move your ass out!

And grocery guy...I presume HE was driving...could always have dropped off the elderly woman (I assume his mom) near the entrance...parked the car, then met up with her...and done the reverse on the way out of the store. I did this plenty of times with my dad....even when HE was driving. He would stop near the entrance, often, if handicapped was not available, and I would then go park the car...and go get it when we were done, and pick him up at the entrance to the store.

[Heathen57]

72. I have been told that

I am 'too young' to have a handicap permit when I pull into a space.

All it usually takes is for me to get out with my cane and limp over to them (nerve damage throughout my entire body along with fybromalgia) and they shut up. Most of the time the person either offers an embarrassed apology or just slink off.

Only once have I had trouble and when my son got out of the van to see what was going on, they took off.

You can't always see the handicap. I applaud the OP's stand with the Vet and I hope that if it happens here, I can do the same.

[Hepburn]

89. So true....

...some times some very severe and life threatening handicaps are NOT visible. My late husband had Congestive Heart failure and could not walk far distances. He was a strapping 6' 3-1/2" tall and broad shouldered, slim, and looked healthy. And the remarks that were made??? Disgusting...and some times they did not stop when they saw him remove his portable oxygen from the car and wheel it with him as he slowly walked to where he had to go.

People can be TOTAL assholes. They seem to assume that the ONLY handicaps which qualify for handicapped parking are visible orthopedic problems.

[proud patriot]

37. Good For him , and You

:patriot:

[KeepItReal]

38. Good lookin out for him!! KUDOS!

Sincerely,
K.I.R.

[lonestarnot]

42. Now that's what I'm talk'n bout! May be for peace, but no pacifist here either.

Vet plates with a handicap dealy bob on vet's truck?

[JFN1]

48. I don't know about his plates

I never thought to look, nor did my wife. We were both so shaken by it all...and as I've read through the comments, I keep seeing a recurring theme from fellow posters who see it too, and I find myself a bit maudlin about it. How did We the People, come to this...?

[lonestarnot]

49. Oh, don't tell me you didn't know that even one's socks are political.

[Faygo Kid]

46. God damn George W. Bush. God damn him to hell.

Bloodless piece of shit. We will never make it to November 2008 and an election. Never. We have got to impeach the SOB now (yes, I know who his mother is).

[NOLALady]

50. Thank You, Thank You! eom

[ooglymoogly]

51. great reality check post....big kn

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

52. Typical Repugnantcon coward

Gets confronted on what an asshole he is, and cries and whines about it.

[Senator]

67. And is eager to criminally abuse the law...

...by lying to the police, in order to retaliate.

Sadder still, he likely spent the ride home telling himself that the only reason he didn't call the cops was that "2 of them" were going to lie about him. And by the time he's home, he really remembers it that way.

The beauty of "faith-based reasoning."

===

[The Wizard]

91. You're being redundant

using asshole and Republican to identify the same person.

[ladym55]

53. Glad you were there!

I have noticed that Repugs are by nature bullies. They can't leave it alone. They HAVE to be obnoxious jerks.

And of course they are ALL cowards. You go get shot up for me! I support the troops! (Of course, I won't do ANYTHING to make sure they have the right armor, the right support, follow-up when they get home ... I won't care!!!) :grr:

[Vidar]

54. Wello done. Thank you.

[AwakeAtLast]

55. My husband would have done the same

Mind you, he is not disabled in the way that he needs a special parking spot, but he does get disability pay from loss of hearing and headaches from mortar concussions. Even a year later, he still needs strong meds for the worst ones.

There are tears in my eyes from the amount of sheer composure this young man showed. Thanks for posting! :hi:

[fudge stripe cookays]

57. Thanks for posting.

What a powerful story. Good for him, and good for you.

[Rex]

58. Grocery guy typical repuke scum - judge others based on outside

quick scan of anyone and everyone. I hope his blood pressure went sky high! To bad we have to waste groceries on people like grocery guy.

[PoconoPragmatist]

95. Fuck That...

Too bad we gotta waste OXYGEN on an asshole like that!!

[SeattleGirl]

59. Kudos to that young man, and to you, sir!

:patriot:

[orleans]

60. "I see you support the President." "So I have you to thank for these."

very powerful!

kickin & recommending.

(and you told the story very well--now copy it and send it to the local paper.)

[Major Hogwash]

61. A lot of grocery store parking lot incidents like this are taking place these days.

I've seen something just like or very similar to the same type of incident you described a few times here myself.

Sometimes the guy that parks in the disabled spot is an older Marine whose disability is not so obvious and then there's some "parking lot wannabe monitor" hanging around who mouths off at the wrong guy.

I've even seen some arguments take place in the middle of Home Depot!
No telling how that started, but there they were, arguing over the Iraq War and who had the right to bitch about it. The civilians are usually the ones that don't think the soldiers have earned the right to complain yet . . . even after they have pulled 3 or 4 tours. It's unreal. And 9 times out of 10, the civilian arguing like a General never served, but man does he ever sound gung ho for all of about 5 minutes.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

62. This part makes me furious...

"The veteran points at grocery guy's van. "I see you support the President." My wife and I looked where the veteran was pointing and saw the 'W04' sticker on the back glass of grocery guy's van. "So I have you to thank for these." He gestured to his upper body, his voice beginning to rise a bit more. "And now you want to give me a hard time for going to get some milk?"

Grocery guy is scared now. He grabs his cell phone and unexpectedly screams - I mean screams - at the veteran, "I'm calling the cops!"

The veteran responded, rather calmly, "Go ahead - call them." "

I hope you follow up with this. Send the report to your newspaper, congressional rep, veterans' adm., everyone. I knew there were some obnoxious people who still bare 'W' or Bush/Cheney stickers on their cars. There's probably a similar story behind many of them.

Hopefully the two of them gave some thought to tearing that thing off the car.

[nadinbrzezinski]

65. We all have our stories about these idiots

well done

:patriot:

[NanceGreggs]

70. Oh, man, that is one GREAT story ...

... and you've written it with enough passion and outrage to make us all feel like we were there, watching it unfold.

Thanks SO MUCH for sharing this - and for your dead-on insight into the consequences that the Bushies are going to have to face when Johnny Comes Marching Home ...

:patriot: :applause:

[bdamomma]

98. I hope alot more ignorant people hear it from these Vets.

and there will be many many more Vets coming back, and hopefully putting these people in their place.

[flyarm]

73. Thank you!!!!!!!!! but be careful with these * nut cases!,,but thx for sticking up for the vet! eom

[democrank]

74. Thanks for taking a stand.

Hope that young vet finds peace.

[Limelight]

75. You Got Served!

What was served you ask? Chickenhawk ala douchebag. I damn sure wouldn't eat it, but it's nice to know that jackass in the van with the "W" sticker got smoked like a Christmas goose!

Lord, I almost wanna vomit every time I see people in this day and age still driving around with those stupid as W stickers on their car. It's like, "You're kidding, right? You're actually still proud to have the world know you support that moron?!"

Having been disabled all my life I can honestly say I think that soldier is in a much tougher position that I ever was. Sure I struggled like he's doing now, but i've had a lifetime to get used to it and learn how to overcome it (in a lot of ways people who saw me in the beginning never thought I would). Hard to imagine what it would be like to just have that kind of loss of who you were just thrust upon you. I can tell you one thing, I damn sure feel that soldier's reason for saying something to that asshole. Sometimes I walk around and people stare like they don't have the slightest bit of common courtesy and I just wanna do what dude did. Turn around like "What the f*ck are you looking at?"

And as for grocery guy, you can just tell he's a Republican, can't you? Always gotta lot of bullsh*t to say, but you stand up to his ass and smack him in the face with the facts they wanna run to the teacher (or the nearest biased news organization who won't strain their little brains by asking hard questions) and tell them you're being mean. Of course dude was also probably having a hard day. Taking care of elderly parents is hard for anyone and some people can't help but lash out when they feel strained and under pressure. I feel for his struggle (you can just tell I'm a Democrat, can't you? :P ), but struggle doesn't give you the right to be an asshole. Moreover if you got the balls to go popping off at the mouth, talking shit to somebody you don't know don't don't act like a punk when that person decides they ain't scared of you.

That's a straight up bitch move.

[malaise]

76. Great post

K & R

[Blue Gardener]

77. I'm surprised Grocery Guy Didn't whine to Mommy

Mommeeeee! These people are picking on meeeeeeeeee! Waaaaaah! He sounds like the type who would expect his elderly mother to stick up for him.

[shaniqua6392]

79. God bless you both.

I am so glad you were there for him to show your support.

[ForeignSpectator]

80. "So I have you to thank for these"

Great post! Don't worry about your writing. The way you told it, I am shaking from reading it. I was actually waiting for the cops to come so they would set grocery guy straight, too.

In fact so many traits of right-wingers in this story : not staying out of other people's business when it would be appropriate, making shameless comments, not knowing what talking about and still doing it, not admitting to obvious mistakes, lying, cowardice, not to mention sheer stupidity, etc etc etc

So despicable but they support the troops alright...

[GenDem]

82. Amazingly powerful story

And you told it so well. I felt the tears welling up in my eyes as I read.

Thanks for sharing!

[porphyrian]

83. B...but hippies spit on vets and repubelicans support our troops... - n/t

[blogslut]

84. I hope his momma glared at him all the way home

And into the night, through dinner and while they're watching Leno. And may the scars of that veteran haunt his dreams for years to come.

[Mad_Dem_X]

85. Wonderful post!

My heart goes out to that young man - good for him for standing up to that Bushbot, and good for you for having his back!

[marions ghost]

86. Keeping the world safe

from handicapped parking lot offenders...of which I'm sure there are thousands upon thousands :eyes:

And to do that unnecessary vigilante job, you would risk offending ANY disabled person? How humiliating for the soldier and any others like him whose handicap is not immediately visible.

Good example of what is tragically wrong with this country. It's dog-eat-dog in Bushworld.

:thumbsup: to you JFN1

[dragon82a]

87. f* BUSHIES

I am a disabled Vet too. most of these "I support the Troops" Bushites are total scum. They mouth platitudes and its all meaningless rhetoric.

[Summer93]

88. Thank you

Thank you for putting into perspective the issue with disabled and parking.

[qb]

90. Thank you from another vet.

Well done.

[unhappycamper]

93. Thanks Brother.

Welcome home & thanks for speaking out. :thumbsup:

k&r

[bdamomma]

96. great post, and it will be the Vets who really tell those who are

really ignorant and not informed of the facts about this invasion and the consequences. great post.

[NuttyFluffers]

100. that story made me smile. you deserve a smilie!

:patriot: :yourock:

[underpants]

101. Excellent post

:patriot:

[liam_laddie]

102. Beautiful story, beautifully told.

K&R too. Thanks as well to The Wizard and all the disabled, vets and others, who provide needed perspective for all of us. Doubt that the "asshole right" will get it, tho.' :toast:

[riona]

103. A decent human being would have apologized

to the vet. Apparently grocery guy was more worried about his own skin than the thousands lost and wounded in Iraq. Or, perhaps, rather than face a living example of war's brutality, he decided walk away from the confrontation guilt free by making himself the victim. What a pitiful creature.

[redqueen]

105. Yup... an apology would have been the least he could do. n/t

[Marnieworld]

112. A decent human being would have removed the W04 sticker from his car by now

Those are the types of people who just can't admit when they were wrong in judgement, made a mistake. He stuck to his guns and couldn't adjust in the parking lot and in life. It seems very typical of the desperate 25% who still support the president and the war.

[codepinkdc]

104. Wow! That's so perfect!

Ha! What a great story! I don't think those Bush supporters know half of what they are supporting, they just blindly follow what the president says and take everything at face value, much like that couple in the parking lot did. Hopefully that little incident woke them up a bit!

[Raster]

106. Proud to recommend and tears to my eyes!

Thank you! The ONLY thing the bush*/cheney* bullies--and make no mistake, that is what they are--understand is someone standing up to their chickenhawk asses. And it's going to have to be ordinary, regular people that do the standing up. Our elected representatives certainly won't.

Wake up America!:kick:143!

[Bentcorner]

107. Best post I've ever read on DU!

Thanks for sticking up for the vet and thanks for posting this.

[Catherine Vincent]

108. What a wuss.

He was all big and bad and when the vet revealed his scars, he got all upset because a vet embarrassed him! What a way to support the troops, idiot!

On a side note, I park at the handicap spaces at our park and ride lots and I get some looks. I am sure they say that about me but I don't care. If someone ever says that to me, I'll gladly tell them they can suffer with my gout.

[DUlover2909]

109. Bushies are *ussies

[Hawkowl]

110. Tears

Post brings tears to my eyes. Good on you for sticking together. That is all we have to fight these fascists. If we all stick together it will be enough.

[Cheap_Trick]

113. Bushies ARE entitled

to my foot up their ass.

[yardwork]

114. Your post took my breath away. Thank you.

Thank you for your service to our country. Thank you for standing up for this young man, wounded in the line of service. Thank you for reporting it here. Thank you.

And I hope that Bush-supporter is ashamed of himself.

[zulchzulu]

116. My experience with Bushies is that they are as cowardly and rude as their leader

Thanks for your story...it boggles the mind what these sheeple are capable of.

[dae]

117. Thank you, for sharing such an emotional encounter and

for giving aid to the veteran. Don't Bushies make you want to :puke:? I just hope his mother slapped the crap out of him when she got him home.:grr:

[The Count]

118. "so I have you to thank for these" True - and throw in the election thieves.

It makes me sad - and angry to see that this veteran - and most people still think bush was actually (re)elected. hey, Johns - are you going to do something about this tragedy? I am talking to you, the schmucks I voted for in 2004 - and who allow this big lie to go unchallenged, you a*holes! :banghead: :argh:

[Desert Liberal]

121. Thank you so much for posting this

My eyes welled when you described that poor man's injuries...and for one of our vets to have to deal with such nonsense from ANYONE is reprehensible. I would NEVER pick a fight with anyone (what's the point?), but Brother, I got your back, his, and everyone else's who needs it. This is sick. Look at our lovely nation and what it has become. I just can't stand it. I want MY America back. Right now. No more Bushit. No more. How can we stand it? :cry:

[19jet54]

122. Veterans scare Chicken-Hawks!

Kudos for covering his back! I am a Vet from Vietnam to Iraq 1, my oldest boy for Afghanistan & my youngest with 2 tours in Fallujah Iraq. The calling the cops, even without you, would have been a big mistake because most cops are Vets too, and recognize 'sissy boy' manipulation tactics when they hear it; that's their job - motives mean everything to them.

Regarding the Bush sticker and confrontation, I don't know about you but I served to protect the Constitution for everyone, even if they disagree with me on most issues. We are all American & the enemy are those who would try and destroy our country, foreign or domestic. I have had enough of the partisanship, in-fighting and divisions - life is about respect to our friends, enemies and everyone in between. Don't get me wrong, stand up and be counted, but do not forget the Vets wounds were caused by the enemy, not by grocery guy! If you believe they were, then you buy into the auto accident being your fault in Greece because you rented the cab & it wound not have been there if but for you? I believe Bush is wrong in almost every way, but I also believe he thinks he is doing the right thing. Vote him out of office and keep his kind away for a very long time - that is the American way!

"Not self, but Country!" - US Navy Motto

[NoSheep]

123. I am having "a most ambitious fantasy".....and oh happy day!

When the brave people who have been in Iraq finally come home to their country that is slipping away from all of us every day...they won't be afraid to stand up to this crap. Many will demand our government listen to the people. They were told they are fighting for us over there and I think they will fight for us here as well. Maybe the fools in Washington will listen to them for a change and we'll get some shit DONE about all this fascism we have in our country now.

:bounce:

[YDogg]

125. Thank you.

Thank you for standing with this vet against this bushbot.
:thumbsup:

[Blue Fire]

126. Thank you, JFN1!

These dimwit bushies seem to think it only takes empty lip service and backing this illegitimate war - launched on the lies of an illegitimate and illiterate president - with magnetic ribbons and bumper stickers to support our troops. You, sir, have proven otherwise.:applause:

I doubt it, but perhaps grocery guy learned just a small lesson in what compromises true American patriotism from a couple of real patriots.:patriot: :patriot: