Posted on 08/29/2004 8:13:05 PM PDT by oldtimer2
It seems Sen. John Kerry made a strategic error in so strongly emphasizing his Vietnam service in his convention speech accepting the Democratic Party presidential nomination.
(Excerpt) Read more at insider.washingtontimes.com ...
No (as a newbie, I don't know what I can get away with) Sheet!
great article. especially the part about the south vietnamese who now live in the US. How the heck can kerry be about even with W? Besides the media, who is pumping his numbers up?
With all due respect, I stand corrected. "You don't say!"
An interesting one I heard today. Perhaps it's not a contradiction, but it certainly seems unbelievable.
Most men who receive three purple hearts from war injuries USUALLY sustain some permanent damage. He seems to have escaped that.
Outstanding article. I think the Swift Boat Vets next commercial is focusing on Kerry's activities after he came home. Why he chose to bring up Vietnam is certainly a mystery.
Hopefully this latest emphasis will put Bush ahead for good.
I have always felt that despite how we were treated what the Vietnamese suffered was much harder. They lost their country, their friends and relatives in addition to their faith that we would be there for them.
What amazes me are the one that come to this country and are doing extremely well. I think the reason is that they joined others in their extended family and maintained a good support system and go on with their lives.
God bless them.
The next ad out Tuesday is said to focus on medals again. So said O'Neill on Barbara Simpson tonight.
Where are my manners. Welcome to Free Republic!
Ya think?
He HAS to run on being a Veteran. He hasn't accomplished a damn thing since he was in the Navy.
The more this debate goes on, the more we will remember that the Communists were the aggressors in Vietnam. The U.S. was helping South Vietnam defend itself against a Soviet-backed invasion by North Vietnam.
Of course the political Left -- including John Kerry (and the Clintons, let's not forget) -- sided with the Communist enemy then and still side with them now.
As this article reminds us, the biggest victims of John Kerry's lies were the South Vietnamese. Millions died or were forced into slavery from which they have not yet been freed.
We usually find out what we can get away with the old fashioned way... either mentoring by a wise old FReeper, or getting slapped around when we misstep.
The author's name is ironic, huh?
IF he accomplished anything there other than medal-production.
He's done well at marrying for bucks. He also earned a drowning hamster medal with three little teensy gold stars. OK, it's not a real medal, but he deserves the thanks of rodent lovers.
What he forgot was that Al Gore had "invented the Internet". Thanks to Al great masses of us are now able to get and spread the TRUTH.
He called the war and the people fighting it immoral, then bragged he fought there valorously and honorably.
To be properly nuanced, he actually argued for the dishonor of his own conduct before he argued that he fought honorably.
They are overplaying this particular hand, which is less important than what he did after the medals, in the grand scheme of things. I hope it doesn't backfire.
They need to discredit Kerry further and the medals question is getting stale, IMHO.
Then again, maybe they have something so damning that the press and lib spin machine will lose every last ounce of credibility (which they may only have with the whackjobs on the Left), where even the most strident Kerry supporters will be afraid to admit they are voting for Kerry.
Welcome to FR. Damn -- we're getting a lot of good new people these days! (And yeah, you can swear from time to time.)
"YA THINK?"
what a dope
That was my thought too. Move onto the issues that are verifiable through the congressional record. MSM can't argue with that...although, I'm sure they'll try.
Maybe he will switch the subject to his muffin/cookie shop that he once owned.
Have you seen the TV miniseries, "Band of Brothers." It's just amazing. I ask, because there's a powerful scene (one of many) in a hospital with a guy who's managed to rack up three purple hearts for relatively minor injuries. Anyway, this soldier has a buddy who basically just points to a deeply suffering soldier next to him (suffering with a gunshot through the throat) and says, "That guy only gets one."
I think of that scene when I think of Kerry, and all the guys who are dead or messed up for life who just have one purple heart.
"Kerry seems to always have been a man full of contradictions."
I'll give him this. He's full of something!
Bump.
Richard Gere springs to mind here...
Bush best stay out of the way. He really needs to say something like this is between the Vets and Kerry. Needs to combat the media perception that Karl Rove and he are behind these ads.
45% of Americans would vote for Stalin, because he's left of center.
Did he accomplish ANYTHING while he was IN the Navy, except getting dimples in his ass, and some medals he practically stole?
I agree. I think they should take a closer look at his ribbons...#;-)
I think we should be careful about critcizing veterans who sustained injuries without dying or coming close to it. Kerry lied and exploited his record; that's what's wrong with what he did, not that he wasn't hurt bad enough. I know you're not meaning to indict all such vets, just Kerry, but if you carry that reasoning to its logical conclusion, one could get that impression.
Permanent damage? Like being dead, perhaps?
Or maybe a limp? An obvious Bob Dole like injury?
How about some wicked scars? How about any scars?
Difficulty in playing sports? Snowboarding? Surfing? Polo?
Anything?
I'm sorry, but I'm with you. The vast, overwhelming majority of people with three Purple Hearts are either visibily wounded or dead. A smaller number may have at least some scars to show for it. The number that amassed three in a few weeks, and has nothing physical to show for it, is probably a fraction of 1 percent.
Why are they not shifting to the post-war activity? I also thought they were going to wait until after the convention was over to release a new ad. Did he comment on this at all?
I really don't want them to overshadow W and his message. I support the swifties but W needs time to undo all the lies the left has been spreading about him for the last two years and he needs to discuss his plans for a second term. I think they should let up this week IMHO/
Exactly right. I mentioned this to friends & family only a month ago and they weren't convinced. Brit Hume today said that the Swiftees' story is not going away, they have "money pouring over the transom" from internet donations and will not be intimidated. He also acknowledges the "new media" effect and seems comfortable with it in general.
Remember that Tommy Franks won three purple hearts. Maybe he has some serious damage, but I haven't noticed it. Either way, I don't think he's the douchebag Kerry is (am I allowed to use that word?). So again, the issue is more that Kerry lied and exploited his service than the fact, in itself, that he wasn't hurt bad enough.
You're 100% right. I'd never criticize anyone for being merely wounded lightly, just like I'd never criticize someone who went into combat but escaped wounds. That wouldn't make any sense. I think I can criticize someone who sought out 1-2 purple hearts that probably weren't deserved, so he could get an early exit from combat and pass off the risks to someone else. I've never been deployed to a combat zone, so maybe I shouldn't comment too strongly, but I don't think that's something I would do or someting I should respect in others.
I also agree (see post #38) UNLESS the ad is the Adm. saying he didn't deserve the first purple heart. I think too many people have ignored that one.
seems spot on to me......*smile
Garret Morris: "Lord and Lady Douchebag!" Yes, it fits Mr. and Mrs. Lurch to a T.
LOL great picture, well said, and botox didn't do the trick.
I think the Swift Boat Vets next commercial is focusing on Kerry's activities after he came home.
The number that amassed three in a few weeks, and has nothing physical to show for it, is probably a fraction of 1 percent.
Let's not forget that he's still carrying around rice shrapnel in his posterior!
Yes, but Gen. Franks left his head on the chopping block for the full tour. Even (and I'm in no way, shape or form alleging this) if he scammed the system to rack up medals the same way Kerry appears to have, he fulfilled both the letter and the spirit of his commitment.
"Why are they not shifting to the post-war activity? I also thought they were going to wait until after the convention was over to release a new ad. Did he comment on this at all?"
Enemy of my enemy, my friend.
But we all need to remember one thing, the SBVfT do not give a tinker's dam about Bush or the GOP, this is personal, they have waited decades to nail Kerry's sorry arse, and they will do it their own way, in their own time, not GW's or the GOP's desires and schedule.
ping
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.