Bush’s absence from the funeral of a DC National Gaurdsmen who served and was killed in Iraq isn’t really such a big deal. I mean, he is the president after all, and one would assume that he’s probably pretty busy most of the time.

However, Bush is the head of the DC National Gaurd, the way state governers are the head of state Gaurds, one would expect that he might at least send flowers or a letter or make a phone call to the bereaved family. So far, he has not.

This seemingly small oversight speaks volumes when combined with Bush’s attempts to limit imminent danger pay, family separation allowances, and veterans’ health benefits (among other anti-military policies). The White House has backed off of many of these plans when they became politically risky. But that’s not the point — Bush has repeatedly slighted the troops he has put in harm’s way, in both large ways and now in small ways. This isn’t right.