Kerry To Sign The 180?

captainsquarters ^ | March 20, 2005 | Captain Ed

[swilhelm73]

Mickey Kaus and Instapundit both point to a Philadelphia Inquirer analysis of John Kerry's political activities since his loss in last year's elections, which suggests that the Senator may request the complete release of his military records at last:

For Kerry, indignities abound. He trails Hillary Rodham Clinton in every 2008 survey. The other day, he was assailed by Clinton aide Ann Lewis for running "an inconsistent campaign." Indeed, in focus groups conducted this winter by Democratic strategists, he was still seen as indecisive; one participant said, "He's the guy that holds up the line at McDonald's." And he's been dogged by bloggers who want him to authorize the release of all his military records, to clear up questions raised in 2004. He told NBC on Jan. 30 that he would sign military form SF-180 to do so, but he hasn't yet. Most of the heat has come from conservatives, but Democratic blogger Mickey Kaus also is on the case, urging party brethren to "remove this increasingly pathetic figure from our national stage." (The word in Washington is that Kerry will sign the form soon.)

Mickey asks what will happen if nothing interesting develops from the release, but that would wind up outraging his supporters even further. Just as his leftover $15 million left them wondering if that money could have made the difference in Ohio, a release of squeaky-clean records will cause Democrats to wonder why Kerry blocked their release throughout his entire campaign and caused such controversy over their contents.

No, this is a smart move by Kerry, one of the few he's made. He will sign off on the release three years ahead of the start of the primary season, plenty of time for whatever bad news in the file to be assimilated and then discounted by the true believers. The problem with releasing them a year ago was the proximity of a release to the primary vote, and then after that to the general election. It wouldn't have been an issue at all, of course, if Terry McAuliffe hadn't made the mistake of accusing George Bush of desertion during his service and continuing to use that smear for months afterward. That made a complete release by Kerry impossible.

My best analysis, furthered by sources which I cannot name, is that Kerry's file contains a less-than-honorable discharge from the 1971-72 period that his later 1978 discharge overrode. With three years between a revelation such as that and any voting, Kerry could eventually sell voters on the idea that the times in which that discharge occurred reflected the deep divisions in America, etc etc. If he runs to Hillary Clinton's left, which appears inevitable unless he changes his name to Joe Lieberman, that could convince the International ANSWER/MoveOn crowd of his viability -- but they'll be the only ones. They might well get him either to the top of the ticket, but if he couldn't beat Bush, there's no way in Hell he could beat any other Republican candidate in 2008.

Assuming, of course, that Kerry really signs the 180 and isn't just trying to blow the issue off again.

[Echo Talon]

Kerry is so pathetic! Do we need to start mailing him Sf180's again?

[Chena]

I'll believe it when I see it. :)

[Fenris6]

I hope Kerry wins the nom in 08.

[Young Werther]

Yeah..squeaky clean! He's got poo poo undies and there's no gettin' away from the stench!

{and yes the Young Frankenstein allusion is purposeful as are his shorts}

[The Mayor]

ping

[TomGuy]

He won't sign it....

Not unless he can run them through Dan's fax to sanitize them. They contain something that he doesn't want the public to see. Otherwise, he would have signed the form in '04. Unless he can restrict their distribution, he won't, he can't politically afford to release them.

Remember how he nuanced around with Russert, both in April of '04 and in February of '05. He tried to imply that he had 'released all the documents he had received.' That didn't mean he had received all the documents; just that he had released those that he had received. He tried to play word games, and Russet won't take him to task.

[AZ_Cowboy]

You see, this way if he does they can dump it out there beneath the furor over Terri Schiavo and nobody will even notice.

I wouldn't hold my breath on his doing it, either.

[andyk]

My best analysis, furthered by sources which I cannot name, is that Kerry's file contains a less-than-honorable discharge from the 1971-72 period

I think there's a fair amount of evidence to reach that conclusion. Why on earth would he not sign the form (like President Bush did) if there was nothing negative to be released? Surely he didn't have a sudden, and isolated attack of principles.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Whoever in the US Senate that gave Hanoi Kerry
a Top Secret Clearance HAS seen all his military records.

The FBI, since 9/11, does non military clearances.

His most recent one who have been in the spring/summer of '04
when he won the dims's nomination against President Bush.

NO ONE gets a Top Secret Clearance WITHOUT agreeing to have all your records released.

OR pass a FULL FBI check when someone
runs for the highest elected
office in th ecountry.

Does the DC crowd think "We the People" are stupid?

[Darkwolf377]

I hope he signs it and NOTHING incriminating is found. Then we will all see how stupid and obstinate he is, holding back the records purely because someone was demanding he release them, and NO ONE tells JFK what to do! And also, the stage will be set for him to go up against HRC. I love seeing Demrats eat their young, I do, I do.

[Darkwolf377]

Obviously I meant "their own" and not "their young." :)

[BykrBayb]

Does the DC crowd think "We the People" are stupid?

Yes, they do. And why shouldn't they? Do we have his records yet? Do we know a sure-fire way to get them?

Excuse my negativitiy tonight. Don't be surprised if it lasts awhile.

[glock rocks]

As James Taranto referred to kerry in Wall Street Journal, Best of the Web today:

The haughty, French-looking Massachusetts Democrat, who by the way promised 50 days ago to release his military records.

[MeekOneGOP]

---

From the article:

My best analysis, furthered by sources which I cannot name, is that Kerry's file contains a less-than-honorable discharge from the 1971-72 period that his later 1978 discharge overrode. With three years between a revelation such as that and any voting, Kerry could eventually sell voters on the idea that the times in which that discharge occurred reflected the deep divisions in America, etc etc. If he runs to Hillary Clinton's left, which appears inevitable unless he changes his name to Joe Lieberman, that could convince the International ANSWER/MoveOn crowd of his viability -- but they'll be the only ones. They might well get him either to the top of the ticket, but if he couldn't beat Bush, there's no way in Hell he could beat any other Republican candidate in 2008.

---

[smoothsailing]

Kerry can do a 180, but he will never sign a 180.

[ride the whirlwind]

...the Senator may request the complete release of his military records at last

His idea of complete and my idea of complete are probably strangers to eachother.

[JDoutrider]

"remove this increasingly pathetic figure from our national stage."

Trust us, whatever it takes, we will make it so...

[Raffus]

I don't refute your argument about Kerry's background info. The elites in Washington must think we are idiots. Kerry is God awful scum that should be removed from public office. PERIOD.

[KJC1]

I'm with you. The records NEED to be released.

He came too close for comfort to winning the presidency, and he remains a senator.

Count me in as a definite NON-"move on" FReeper!