"Other than Honorable" rally cancelled

SwiftVet Forum ^

[sdkhaki]

From "Navy Chief" at the SwiftVet forum...

The information I posted about a former SECNAV and Kerry's Discharge was pulled at my request because I jumped the gun.

You couldn't believe the powerplay behind the scenes at this moment regarding this story.

You can call me many things (and probably will) -- I don't care.

This isn't my call anymore on how/where/when/why this story will come out.

I've been told/asked/cajoled whatever you wish to call it -- to stand down.

So, this Chief will STAND DOWN (for now).

That's all I have to say on the matter. If you want me to personally apologize to everyone -- so be it.

[sdkhaki]

As someone said in a related thread yesterday...all sizzle, no steak.

As much as I believe the underlying story is true, it's pretty damned irresponsible for Navy Chief to jump the gun on this story, giving the lamestream media yet another reason to pass off the Swifties as kooks.

If true, the story can't stay buried forever, but it doesn't look like any announcement will be coming in time for the election.

[swilhelm73]

Well, if Kerry was dishonorably discharged some number of people have seen the forms or participated in the hearings...right?

So I would like to believe the Swiftees thought they had one of these people ready to come forward and they backed down at the last minute.

Lord knows, unlike the Leftists, conservatives do have their responsibilities seriously, and not just as an opportunity to advance narrow partisan interest.

Still, if someone did have rock solid evidence of this, considering that Kerry is trying to become the commander in chief, they have a greater responsibility to come forward, whatever the threat Kerryites have made...

[pissant]

My guess is the Bush camp requested the stand down. Don't want to it be seen as "october suprise" and get ignorant swing voters to think "dirty tricks". Just a hunch, but Pissant's hunches are usually pretty solid.

[donnab]

I dont believe Navy Chief would "jump the gun" without some good facts behind it. I do believe that Kerryites are muscling people into not talking and people that would come out are being harassed into silence. Ive seen it with the airing of the Stolen Honor video. This is just one of the dangerous aspects of a Kerry presidency whose new campaign motto should be "Silence is golden...and Ill use all my gold to keep you silent."

[Interesting Times]

My guess is the Bush camp requested the stand down. Don't want to it be seen as "october suprise" and get ignorant swing voters to think "dirty tricks". Just a hunch, but Pissant's hunches are usually pretty solid.

Let me nip this particular hunch in the bud.

The request came from the Swift Vets leadership, not from the Bush campaign. NavyChief's information hasn't been nailed down to their satisfaction, and they would like him to desist from rousing the masses with claims he may not be able to completely back up.

[Nick Danger]

Now hear this

A new thread on this subject provides an opportunity to head off all the speculation.

1) Navy Chief was speaking on his own.

2) Navy Chief is not an official spokesperson for SwiftVets and POWs for Truth.

3) At no time did SwiftVets and POWs for Truth authorize a rally to be held tomorrow in DC.

4) When it became apparent that a large snowball was headed down the hill with the SwiftVets name on it, I alerted the SwiftVets PTB. Yes, me. I did it.

5) A member of the SwiftVets steering committee then called Navy Chief and asked him to stand down.

6) No member of the Bush Administratioon, the Bush campaign, the GOP, or any other outide organization had anything to do with the decision to stand down.

7) End of story.

[Cicero]

I believe this story is true, but still needs to be nailed down. In particular, those who know may be reluctant to put themselves on the record.

It's just astounding that the media can pretend to ignore kerry's refusal to release his records.

Kerry even came out and admitted it by accident the other day in response to what was meant to be a softball question, but the interviewer refused to follow up.

[Cicero]

Thanks for the heads up.

[Ed_in_NJ]

The fact that he's hiding 'anything' is enough for me: I don't care if its insubordination, being gay, having a nervous breakdown, peeing his bed or anything else -- if he runs on his 'service record' he should be prepared to release his Service Record.

[CyberCowboy777]

some sanity....

[LibWhacker]

Darn it! They better not spike this until after the election! (Or I'll stomp my widdle feet.)

I'm still trying to figure out which SecNavy it could be?

Paul H. Nitze................................. 29 Nov 1963 - 30 Jun 1967
Charles F. Baird (acting)................ 1 Jul 1967 - 31 Aug 1967
Paul R. Ignatius...............................1 Sep 19 - 24 Jan 1969
John H. Chafee...............................31 Jan 1969 - 4 May 1972
John W. Warner.............................4 May 1972 - 8 Apr 1974
J. William Middendorf....................8 Apr 1974 - 20 Jan 1977
W. Graham Claytor, Jr...................14 Feb 1977 - 24 Aug 1979
Edward Hidalgo..............................24 Oct 1979 - 20 Jan 1981
John Lehman..................................5 Feb 1981 - 10 Apr 1987
James H. Webb............................. 1 May 1987 - 23 Feb 1988
William L. Ball............................... 28 Mar 1988 - 15 May 1989
Henry L. Garrett III........................15 May 1989 - 26 Jun 1992
Daniel Howard (Acting)..................26 Jun 1992 - 7 July 1992
Sean O'Keefe.................................2 Oct 1992 - 20 Jan 1993
ADM Frank B. Kelso, II (Acting).. 2 Jan 1993 - 21 Jul 1993
John H. Dalton...............................22 Jul 1993 - 16 Nov 1998
Richard Danzig...............................16 Nov 1998 - 20 Jan 2001
Robert B. Pirie, Jr.(acting)...............20 Jan 2001 - 24 May 2001
Gordon R. England.........................24 May 2001 to present

I'm thinking it has to be someone who served under a Republican. Chafee's dead. Warner served under Ford. He would know. It all happened about that time, too.

Under Ronald Reagan and Bush the Elder we have Lehman, Webb, Ball and Garrett. Gotta be one of those five. Half tempted to call them myself (if I could get their number).

[Quixotical]

You sound authoritative. How do you know it wasn't a request by the Bush Admin.? It seems very plausible that the swifties are working in concert with the powers that be. I mean come on, their PRIMARY objective is to defeat kerry not necessarily drag up a bunch of crap (true as it may be). The crap is merely a means to an end, that end being that he does not get elected commander in chief. I think the bush admin is smart enough not to kick a hornets nest when Bush is clearly running several points ahead and the Swifties being the patriots that they are, are willing to "stand down" if it comes from the top.

[rocklobster11]

It is J. William Middendorf....................8 Apr 1974 - 20 Jan 1977

Check out conservativevoice.blogspot.com

[Interesting Times]

Nick Danger and I operate the Swift Vets and POWs for Truth website at SwiftVets.com, and are in regular contact with the Swift Vets leadership. See also his post #6 on this thread.

[Snoopers-868th]

Wouldn't you guess the Dems or DU's keep an eye on the Swift web-page. And we all know the pressure and influence they have when they want their way.

[Snoopers-868th]

OK -- THE END!

[Cosmo]

I think even if Bush's people didn't step in, some of the smarter Swiftvets realized that this rally could very well have an undesired effect.

[LibWhacker]

WOW! That explains a lot, thanks. FR is amazing.

"The author is a retired former Navy lawyer and he references the former personal lawyer to then Secretary of the Navy J. William Middendorf."

So, continuing in my wildly speculative ways, the pressure must be coming from Middendorf himself, who serverd under Carter, and who is letting his former personal lawyer know that, if the man dares to spill the beans, he'll gut him and have him disbarred. Makes it all the more tempting to call the other NavySecs.

[AGreatPer]

It's kinda late for this kind of info to come out now. Yes, it could have a negative effect. If it was out during the middle of the week it could have had an effect on Sunday talking heads. Not now. Too late.

[Saratogamema]

This red person in a blue state prays that at the right possible time Kerry's past will become an obstacle to his future. God Bless Navy Chief and all vets, soldiers, and their families for all they have done and continue to do for us. I pray that November 2nd gives us all cause for celebration with a solid Bush win. God Bless!