Chickenhawk in Springfield

Dick Cheney talks at Purple Heart recipients today in Springfield. Paul Begala reminds us why this is offensive:

On Thursday, Dick Cheney, who said he had "other priorities" in the Vietnam era, and so helped himself to five draft deferments, will address the 73rd Convention of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. I do not think he will express remorse for the callousness with which he explained his cowardice. Nor do I expect him to apologize for the shocking, mocking Republicans who, at their New York Convention a year ago, sported Band-Aids with tiny purple hearts to mock the blood shed by John Kerry and so many other heroes in that misbegotten war.

No, Mr. Cheney, surrounded by body guards who would gladly give their life for him, will no doubt wrap himself in the flag. A flag Larry Chad Northern wrapped around his axle on Prairie Chapel Road.

Larry Chad Northern is the right-wing nut who police say ran his pickup truck over hundreds of crosses bearing the names of heroic Americans killed in Iraq, along with dozens of American flags. This happened outside Dubya's ranch in Crawford, Texas where Cindy Sheehan is waiting for Dubya to explain for what noble cause her alter boy Eagle Scout son lost his life.

America can do better than George W. Bush and Dick Cheney.