Slog

News & Arts

Line Out

Music & the City
at Night

« Women, Gays Apparently Ruining Sci… | Why Does This Annoy Me?: Part One i… »

Monday, October 12, 2009

2008 Stolen Presidency

Posted by Charles Mudede on Mon, Oct 12, 2009 at 1:43 PM

This man? He is at one with the content (core, meaning, substance) of the Bush years:

(CNN) — Richard Strandlof said he survived the 9/11 attacks on the Pentagon. He said he survived again when a roadside bomb went off in Iraq, killing four fellow Marines. He'd point to his head and tell people he had a metal plate, collateral damage from the explosion.

None of it was true. On Friday, the FBI arrested him on the rare charge of "stolen valor."

Strandlof, 32, was held "for false claims about receipt of military decorations or medals," an FBI news release said. Charges had been filed in Denver, Colorado, the week before, the bureau said.

"The penalty for his crime is up to one year incarceration and a $100,000 fine," it said.

Before his deception was revealed, crowds ate up his story. He canvassed Colorado appearing at the sides of politicians. Inspiring and seemingly authentic, he spoke on behalf of veterans at the state Capitol.

He formed a group called the Colorado Veterans Alliance.

The whole thing was a lie...

The of whole of Bush's presidency was the same as his claims. Strandlof was only being honest to his times.

Comments (6) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

He should have said he had a Freedom Medal. GWB was handing those out like candy.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on October 12, 2009 at 1:57 PM

Careful, Charles. Claims of a stolen election and false military claims will get you identified as a conspiracy theorist. Right along with Dan Rather's claims of a dodgy military service record. The Stranger wouldn't want to throw their lot in with those who believe that actual torture absent due process is one mark of totalitarianism, now would they.

Got to be sure it is all even handed in politics. They call Obama a Hitler-like figure, but the others called Bush a Hitler-like figure. He said / she said. Just politics. Nothing to see here.

Move along kids, just politics. People who see a difference are "conspiracy theorists." And we have padded rooms waiting for those sorts.

Posted by Rain Monkey

on October 12, 2009 at 2:03 PM

it is amazing how many people think they have to make up POW status or the liketobe real men.... There is a website devoted to calling these creeps out
http://www.pownetwork.org/phonies/links_…

Posted by ruthw on October 12, 2009 at 2:08 PM

Dick Whitman would be proud.

Posted by laterite on October 12, 2009 at 2:23 PM

Charles,
The deceit of one man doesn't debunk an entire presidency including W's. The name Larry Lawrence mean anything to you? He was Pres. Clinton's ambassador to Switzerland who fabricated his history as a merchant marine and requested to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Former US Marine, Jimmy Massey alleged US war atrocities in Iraq in 2003. He wrote a book about it. It was later debunked by a St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter.

There are creeps like Strandlof, Lawrence and Massey in every administration. The comparison to "the whole of Bush's presidency" doesn't have a leg to stand on. His crime is an insult not just to Bush but to the genuine vets and current soldiers serving in Iraq & Afghanistan.

Strandlof should be tried, convicted and jailed.

Posted by lark on October 12, 2009 at 6:38 PM

"None of it was true."

Yeah, if money is what you want (and of course "to bring happiness to people, to remind them not to hate, but to love" - Rosenblatt), you have to selectively lie about your life.

Posted by dnt trust me on October 12, 2009 at 8:10 PM