Hanoi John

http://www.donbendell.com/ ^

[Maria S]

The following were letters to the editor in today’s Amarillo Globe News. As you can see, Terry McAuliffe and Michael Moore have succeeded, at least a little bit! If you go to the website I’ve posted, you can write replies to the Globe News…I wish you’d join me in refuting some of this absolute garbage! (As you can see, only ONE of the letters is from an Amarilloan! Our wonderful paper is owned by some company in Georgia, I think, so they include letters from all over the country.)

Thanks, MS


http://www.amarillo.com/stories/022004/opi_response.shtml

Editorial Draws Combative Response: Kerry and Bush: no comparison


February 20, 2004

When I saw your Feb. 10 editorial, my mouth utterly dropped open. Comparing John Kerry's and George W. Bush's military records is laughable.
Kerry actually fought in Vietnam; Bush hid in his father's friend's office. His records have been scrubbed just as his records were sealed. Please tell me you know that his records were sealed. If you don't, you have no business writing such an editorial.
Clinton protested the Vietnam War. So did Kerry when he came home. I protested the Vietnam War and the Iraq War. Poor old W. didn't have the guts to go to war or protest it. Instead he went AWOL from the National Guard.
It's time for George to find out what it's like to pay for his lies, and his ignorance. His smirking face on "Meet the Press" turned my stomach. "I was honorably discharged" was all he could say. He never answered anything. He responded to every question with the same answer like a good boy - with what he had memorized.
It is funny no one ever remembers seeing him at meetings for the National Guard. Daddy bought him out of that mess, like he did everything else.
Paulyne Taylor
Amarillo



Editorial on military issue misleading

Your Feb. 10 editorial is enormously misleading, implying that John Kerry has made an issue of President Bush's service. Below is a quotation from a recent AP story on the question:
"Kerry said Tuesday he had nothing further to say about Bush's record. 'I just don't have any comment on it,' Kerry told reporters between campaign stops in Tennessee and Virginia. 'It's not an issue that I chose to create. It's not my record that's at issue and I don't have any questions about it.' "
It is the press, not Kerry, that has pursued the question. You have an obligation to point that out to your readers.
Daniel Garber Princeton, N.J.



If you make a promise, keep it

The author of your Feb. 10 editorial, "Military service debate not a battle worth fighting," ignores the entire thrust of the question about President Bush's service in the Texas National Guard. That question concerns whether he deserted, not whether National Guard service is admirable or commendable.
By miscasting the words of presidential hopeful Sen. John Kerry, you commit a dangerous sophistry: You suggest that his opinion about the admissibility or relevance of military service in campaigning is at all related to his opinion about the admissibility and relevance of shirked commitments.
I think Bush's potential failure to honor his promise of military service is infinitely more relevant and damning than Bill Clinton's choosing not to make such a promise.
Benjamin Sagan
Orange, Calif.



Don't send others to do what you wouldn't

With reference to your Feb. 10 editorial, the issue is not that Bush "only" served in the National Guard. The issue is the fact that he seems to have been AWOL during that service (regardless of payroll records, no one can remember him, which is highly unusual among those who have served together).
Many joined the Guard to make certain they would not see combat in Vietnam.
Many young men from wealthy, politically connected families were able to get their names at the top of the Guard list (Democrats included).
What is a bit hard for many of us to stomach is our troops being sent to die by a man who obviously was not willing to do the same - and possibly did not even bother to fulfill the commitment he made to save himself from that fate.
Richelle Krause
Seattle, Wash.

[SAMWolf]

I predict if he gets the nomination his veterans shtick will blow up in his face, with veterans protests following him around the nation

I'm hoping the Vets can stop him from even getting the nomination but I don't think that will happen. I sure hope Veteran protests follow him around if he does get the nomination.

[cookcounty]

bump.

[cookcounty]

"de oppresso liber" bump.

[kabar]

Tens of thousands of motorcyclists come to DC every year as part of Rolling Thunder. This year the event will he held on May 30. In 2003, there were 300,000 participants. The mission of Rolling Thunder is as follows:

Rolling Thunder;, Inc.'s major function is to publicize the POW-MIA issue. To educate the public of the fact that many American prisoners of war were left behind after all past wars. To help correct the past and to protect the future veterans from being left behind should they become prisoners of war-missing in action. We are committed to helping American veterans from all wars.

Rolling Thunder, Inc. National is NOT connected with or an affiliate of any other organization or political party and we do not raise funds for profit.

We are a non-profit organization, which operates under the guidelines of the Federal Government for a non-profit organization as defined by section 501C(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Assuming Kerry gets the nomination, Rolling Thunder will be faced with a decision on whether they should speak out about Kerry, who as noted here, has not been a strong supporter of the POW/MIA efforts. Officially, Rolling Thunder will not want to jeopardize their tax free status, but I can think of no better venue to show the veterans opposition to Kerry and his "band of brothers."

The President of RT is Artie "Dictator"; Muller Tel (908) 369-5439, Fax (908) 369-2072 E-mail: president@rollingthunder1.com

the website is: http://www.rollingthunder1.com/index.html

[SAMWolf]

I'd sure like to see Rolling Thunder say something, Kerry has worked against their goals.

[Balata]

The AWOL label needs to be hung around Kerry's neck when it comes to the POW/MIA issue.

[snippy_about_it]

Medals do not make a man. Morals do.

Amen.

Great graphic find Sam!!! Bravo!

[DMZFrank]

I served has a tank commander on and M48A3 tank on the DMZ in Vietnam. I killed enemy soldiers with the cupola mounted Browning M2 50 caliber machine gun that it was equipped with. My gunner killed enemy soldiers with 90 mm canister rounds from the main gun. I don't care what John Kerry says, I am not a war criminal, nor is my gunner for having done so.

I will never vote for a man who has so calumnied his comrades in arms, seemingly for political gain.

[#3Fan]

Good graphic, says it all.

[Professional Engineer]

Thanks for the ping Snippy.