<p>Seeing that footage of John Kerry reminded me of why I felt I had no other choice than to vote for George Bush (which gave me no great pleasure, I assure you). Everything about the demeanor of the man rubs me the wrong way. And I’m sure I’m not the only one who reacts to him this way. </p>
<p>Having said that, however, I find I can’t imagine that anyone would be persuaded to vote for the republican candidate in Tuesday’s election just because Kerry made a slip of the tongue. Americans simply aren’t that stupid, and the Republicans know it. They are simply beating this tired horse in the hopes that it distracts people from the Foley scandal.</p>
<p>The inside scoop on the “smart-bomb” operation. Not only were there two women in that famous picture, it seems that the one at the far right (!) of the pic with the cute grin and her fatigue hat pulled low over her eyes was the instigator. Her proud papa interviewed:</p>
<p>I don’t think Kerry can understand why anyone would join the military other than either to advance their own ambitions (such as how it’d benefit one planning a career in politics) or because it was their last resort. He fails to understand that some people enter the military out of genuine patriotism as many did after 9/11 and as many did during WWII and other times. It seems to be beyond his comprehension which is why he continually puts his foot in his mouth on the subject.</p>
<p>"“Unless you were there, you’ve got nothing to say.”</p>
<p>When did you finish your tour of Iraq and what division did you serve with?"</p>
<p>GEE Citation, </p>
<p>Weren’t you quoting a Vietnam story? I didn’t realize we were at war in Iraq in 1971, was that some sort of covert operation? </p>
<p>Are you a vietnam vet? Or did you pull a Kerry and instead of apologizing right away…:)</p>
<p>As far as the Iraq situations…read the paper, check the internet news. There’s 7 (three have confessed) on trial RIGHT NOW for what I would consider less than honorable behavor, a disgrace to the military and I believe actually the military is trying them. So is the military WRONG? or MISTAKEN? to seek prison terms for some and life for others? If in your mind this war crime never occurred, HOW COULD THE MILITARY BE SO WRONG? Are the confessions lies?</p>
<p>Sure, there are always bad apples, and the military does a very good job of dealing with them–some times too good, as a few soldiers and marines have learned when they found themselves on trial (and acquitted) for actions during actual combat.</p>
<p>Quite a bit different from what Jon Carry claimed back in 1971–that the atrocities he and his Winter Soldier buddies described were systemic, deliberate, widespread, and orchestrated by officers throughout the ranks.</p>
<p>“orchestrated by officers throughout the ranks.”</p>
<p>Mi Lai comes to mind almost immediately drive. </p>
<p>And I agree things were not as widespread as anybody says, however they weren’t then and aren’t now all choirboys on tour. </p>
<p>Pat Tillman’s situation comes to mind in the current situation, who do you think changed the story? </p>
<p>While I have great respect for those who served or are serving our county. I have less for the so called leaders of our military. Doing the right thing or saying the right thing has been replaced by “if I hunker down, I won’t be forced to retire.” These are the people responsible for the lives of our country’s young men and women. If they’re so worried about keeping their stars and saying the right thing, how in hell can they do the right thing for our servicemen and women?</p>
<p>But sjmom, were the soldiers insulted by what Kerry meant to (and did, by my reading) say, or by what they were told he said by, for example, Fox “News”?:
I’m not surprised at the troops’ humorous response to what they thought Kerry meant. I am surprised (although perhaps I shouldn’t be) at those who can - with a straight face - continue to complain about a “liberal” media when this flap has been reported, repeatedly and without comment, as Kerry saying what Fox News “reported” he said. (I don’t mean to pick on Fox; pretty much all of the media has been in lockstep on this.)</p>
<p>As I said before: who is using the troops, here? Who is cynically manipulating their feelings about America and how they are perceived by the folks back home? Is it the guy who flubbed his punchline, or those who would use our respect and protective feelings towards our men and women in Iraq as a crass political tool to try to squeeze a few votes out of the next election? I hope that all of the soldiers in that picture return from Iraq alive, whole, and healthy. I salute their service. And I have nothing but contempt for the crass operatives here who use them for rank political gain. And that category includes, at this point, the President of the United States. If there was any need for a graphical illustration of the moral bankruptcy of the Bush Administration, it has been its cynical and manipulative response to this flap.</p>
<p>It’s a stale issue but I agree with UCLAri about the Trent Lott affair. And Lott’s event isn’t really comparable to that of John Kerry. The Lott remarks were capitalized upon by the White House, which helped to further fuel the press interest. Remember, ONE WEEK went by without much comment on Lott’s remarks. I remember clearly watching Gwen Ifill on PBS commenting on the matter several days later, and her statement noted the fact that the story really hadn’t made national news at that time. The White House saw the subsequent fermenting controversy and used it to fuel a ‘dump Lott’ sentiment in the Senate so that Bush’s man Bill Freist would replace Lott. Not every political dispute is orchestrated by the press. My guess is that Lott was much more upset with the White House than with the press. Sure, the press loves a fight, but I suspect that more often than not, they don’t have a bet on the outcome.</p>
<p>Kluge, the troops were clearly responding to what Kerry actually said. As far as the media goes, they just showed the actual tape. Only Kerry knows what he MEANT to say.</p>
<p>sjmom - have you seen a tape of the entire intro to Kerry’s speech? All I’ve seen is the 14 seconds taken out of context. Unsoccer-mom says that Pat Buchanan, after seeing the entire tape, stated that it was clear when you heard the entire intro that Kerry was referring to Bush. But “the entire tape” doesn’t appear to be available, while the 14 seconds are plastered all over the place. Why do you suppose that is?</p>
That is utter nonsense. Most of the media began by circulating the meme put out by Kerry’s handlers that he had inadvertantly omitted seven words from his prepared “joke.” </p>
<p>Kluge, those troops can and do see nearly any of the media outlets that you and I can. And you know what…they’re every bit as smart as you and I, and are free to come up with their own opinions, which may or may not differ from the ones at which we arrive. This condescension toward the troops really should end. They’re smart enough, to quote Heather’s dad, to know that the best way to deal with a “preening peacock” is to “reply to him with humor.” At least we can agree on that part, right?</p>
<p>I’m sure this will be ignored but here goes. The reason our public figures are such soul-less lunkheads is because they have to watch every word for slips unto headlines. Wouldn’t the public dialogue be better served if these stiffs didn’t have to certify every sylllable that passes their lying lips before a cigarsmoke quality control board backroom of the mind? It’s pathetic. How long would any of us last in the trigger-happy public eye?</p>
<p>Driver, I have nothing but respect and admiration for our troops - specifically including the poster-artists. But did they see anything but the carefully edited 14 seconds of the speech? Did they hear the lines which immediately preceded it, and made it clear that Kerry was talking about George Bush, even with the flubbed line? I haven’t. Have you?</p>
<p>I’m not being condescending towards anyone - and I’m not using them, either. The right is using the troops for political gain, plain and simple. Our troops deserve to be treated with more respect than that. I’m still waiting for the right to come to the table on that bit of simple honor.</p>
<p>maybe newer forms of information dissemination will replace the pencil and pad instigators. still, it’s an open question whether the public, which you, Driver, view with high regard for its intuitive accuracy regarding character, are truly willing to embrace real human beings as leaders, ones who curse and spill and lust while genuinely wishing to serve.</p>
<p>Hmmmm… but yet you are so positive that they must exist. Even Kerry and his re-write of the speech doesn’t claim that taken in context it was clear what he said. Instead, he maintains that he left out a word (in one re-write) and 7 words (in another re-write). The point is that the press bought into this sham of an alibi and now just refers to it as a flubbed joke rather than what it probably is - a Freudian slip.</p>