[Steel and Fire and Stone]

Odd that in four months such a huge per centage of the "men" came away with exact same stories. Also find it odd that they just happen to remember that Gardner was the odd man out. In the AF at another time, we always knew who the "chicken...." were.

Agreed, but I'm not sure if this Gardner guy is on the level. He might be trying a little too hard to bias the public against Kerry, either because of his politics, or for personal reasons.

This is an interesting situation for a couple of reasons:

• The guy they "couldn't find" just happened to be the only guy who didn't back Kerry.
• The "uniformity" of opinion AND enthusiastic backing by the nine guys who served with him seems wierd. I'd have been lucky to have half the guys who worked for me on active duty even remember me, let alone remember me fondly or with a grudge. Even if half thought I'd make a "great President", I'd be lucky to get more than a couple to run around with me all over the country to campaign. Did Ike have that kind of support?! Has anyone? Something's not right.

Regardless, though I've never served with Kerry, I know all I need to know about him because:

• Kerry bailed out of combat after 4 months, on account of three "wounds" that cost him no time in an infirmary, aid station, or hospital
• Kerry married into money not once, but twice, and always dated women of means; i.e. he's never had to earn a living or pull his own weight.
• Kerry was a leftist before and after serving on Active duty. Leftist believe the ends justifies the means, something that Kerry puts into action during his campaign daily.
• Kerry was quite obviously thinking "big" from the day he entered service, i.e. getting his ticket punched, taking movies (!!) re-creating battles (in a combat zone?!!) after the fact, etc.; he was an opportunist.
• Kerry supported a President who turned the White House into a whore house, and who in fact lied under oath
• Kerry's unrelenting, dishonest criticism of a wartime President; i.e. he's quite willing to give aid and comfort to the enemy, and in fact, thinks that there is no "enemy", just criminals.

As a Navy Commander (05), I measured people based on character. Dishonest people can get you killed, i.e. you figure them out pretty quickly. Everything runs in a time-compressed state in a war-fighting Navy. You don't have time to mess around, or give guys the "benefit of doubt". Kerry has failed the character test by large margins, something that should matter to any veteran, voter or Patriotic American who values honor. His actions have proven him to a man wholly without character, untrustworthy, without a backbone or the selfless courage it takes to be a leader.

SFS

[thegreatbeast]

You wrote, "Even if half thought I'd make a "great President", I'd be lucky to get more than a couple to run around with me all over the country to campaign." Actually I think there are attractions for your mates to share the spotlight in support the Hero. They are strenuously trying to get this Band of Brothers crap off the ground. In this scenario they are all basking in the reflected glory, presumably they all have a share. Like Joe Kennedy back in '60, Mrs. Heinz or the campaign is picking up all the checks for the travel, the meals and the lodging with the understanding that the Lincoln bedroom could be at the end of this. Yeah, this is very easy to put together, Commander.

[NeonKnight]

...so I take it that means your voting for him?

[cynicom]

Personally, I find Kerry to be a too "calculating" person".

If one goes back to his college days, when he boasted about being president someday, from that point on his entire life seems to have been contrived with that goal in mind.

With a "handler" like Ted Kennedy, I find no redeeming social value in Kerry.

[lepton]

bookmark bump 33

[twigs]

Excellent analysis. I think situations are never so black-and-white as we might like to think. I, too, am somewhat sceptical of Gardner for reasons some of which you mention. But then I too find the other 9 just a little too convenient. Thanks for shining some light with good thinking on a murky subject.