Max Cleland Turned Away From Bush Ranch

[GulliverSwift]

Former Georgia Senator Max Cleland, left, and former Green Beret Lt. Jim Rassmann, center, approach a Secret Service Agent, right, on station at the check point to the entrance of President Bush (news - web sites)'s ranch Wednesday Aug. 25, 2004 in Crawford, Texas. Cleland tried to deliver a letter protesting ads challenging John Kerry (news - web sites)'s Vietnam service to President Bush at his Texas ranch Wednesday, but the Secret Service stopped Cleland short of his goal. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

[Corin Stormhands]

You know, I'm thinkin' maybe the Swift Boat vets should stage a delivery of blank 180 forms to all the Kerry "residences"...

[Graymatter]

How did Kerry keep getting elected to the Senate with such bad judgment? Sending a guy in a wheelchair to fight your battles. That's lower than whale droppings.

[GulliverSwift]

Eight months into his tour of duty in Vietnam, Roever was burned beyond recognition when a phosphorous grenade he was poised to throw exploded in his hand. The ordeal left him hospitalized for fourteen months, where he underwent fifteen major surgeries. His survival and life are miraculous.

So, did he receive three purple hearts?

[nutmeg]

The senators signing the letter included Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, Ernest "Fritz" Hollings of South Carolina, Tom Harkin of Iowa, Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Tom Carper of Delaware and Jon Corzine and Frank Lautenberg, both of New Jersey.

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent Rhode Island ping list.

[handy]

Now this is what a political smear looks like.

[TASMANIANRED]

Cleland will be claiming he got his injuries because Bush drug him behind a truck..

[atomicpossum]

Max Cleland Turned Away From Bush Ranch

Should read:

Kerry Kampaign Exploits Handicapped for Political Theater

[Shortwave]

How does a drunk murderer from the same state keep getting elected? It a Masshole thing. We wouldn't understand.

[FesterUSMC]

Why you don't sleep through basic training

[ken5050]

Lookee here who didn't sign..Daschle..the Dem leader..who also served on the military..guess the SDak poling numbers must not be good..and no one told "Deeply Saddened" that a leader is at the front of his troops..

[webheart]

By not greeting them and inviting them in for a chat they managed to give them a forum to spew their false accusations.

Last I heard, the President lives at the White House in Washington, D.C., like most Presidents. If they were looking for him, they might have tried there.

[Dad2Angels]

The Presidents camp did exactly the right thing. IMHO

In not accepting the letter they simply are saying ' this was addressed by the Presidents statement the other day that ALL such ads should be stopped'.

If they had accepted the letter, even if it was to stick it to the kerry camp, it would be akin to saying the issue deserved more consideration and action on the Presidents part.

[dixiechick2]

Max has suffered so much already. Only Kerry would ask him to step into the fray to shield his own sorry butt.

I know we don't care what they are saying at DU, but they think that this move means Kerry is a "real fighter." (BARF) And they are talking about the photo-op of Cleland and Rassman being turned away as being great political fodder making Bush look like a tyrant and having no respect for veterans.

[creepycrawly]

I actually expected him to do something like that. Bush has a knack for killing 'em with kindness. He then could have come out and said, "We had a great conversation. As I've said many times, I believe Sen. Kerry served with distinction and I again call on him in joining me to put a stop to all 527 ads."

[Dog Gone]

A Texas state official and Vietnam veteran, Jerry Patterson, offered to accept the letter and offered Cleland one of his own supporting Bush. Cleland left without any exchange taking place.

So Cleland refused to trade letters? Ha ha. It was SOOOOO important a letter had that he delivered it in person, but not important enough to actually take one back in exchange. Okiedokie...

[nutmeg]

RI FReepers: See #50 above for link to story (and list of senators who signed Cleland's letter to President Bush).

[rocksblues]

That was my first thought also. The Dem's have no shame, nothing is to low if they can use it to achieve their agenda.

[mlbford2]

If I was Bush, I would have spooked the cattle and stampeded the press and Cleland convoy.

[TommyDale]

Another desperate Democratic political stunt. The public is getting wise, and the Demo internal polling numbers indicate they are in deep doo-doo!

[Banjoguy]

I watched the farce...Max spouted one smear after another, calling GB names and attempting to make him responsible for the whole ad campaign which is being run and financed by the Swifties. I feel he is beneath contempt. His paraplegic condition doesn't give him special rights. Rassmunn said that the Swifties are liars.

Whoever characterized this as a cheap political stunt is entirely correct.