BRINKLEY: NAVY PROBE COULD DOOM KERRY CAMPAIGN

NewsMax ^ | 9/5/04

[areafiftyone]

Sen. John Kerry's campaign biographer Douglas Brinkley said Sunday that if an ongoing Navy investigation into Kerry's military decorations turns up evidence of "purposeful" deception, it could spell doom for the top Democrat's White House bid.

Praising reporter Thomas Lipscomb, who broke news of the Navy investigation on Friday, Brinkley told WABC Radio's Steve Malzberg, "Journalists are going to have to see whether there's a discrepancy on [the citations posted to Kerry's] web site - whether there's something wrong that's said there or not."

"If so," said the "Tour of Duty" author, "Kerry would have to fix it immediately - and it does raise some questions as to why that would happen."

"Is it sloppiness, is it purposeful intent, is there an easy explanation for it?" Brinkley wondered.

He said that while questions raised by the Swiftboat Veterans for Truth about Kerry's war record have been very damaging, "so far they haven't been lethal." But Brinkley predicted that a discrepancy with Kerry's medals could seriously escalate his political problems.

Asked if inconsistencies uncovered by the Navy probe could be the "death knell" for Kerry's campaign, Brinkley told Malzberg, "It could."

In the next breath he hastened to add, however, "Right now it's unclear. So we have to just wait to see what all this adds up to."

The presidential historian called on Kerry to authorize the release of his full military file, saying, "Clearly some of these military records should be made available to the press."

[Scott from the Left Coast]

I don't know about legally -- I know Eagleburger was removed as Veep candidate by McGovern after the convention. But it is for all practical purposes too late...it would create party chaos -- the party would start coming apart, it would be a disintegrated mess and Hillary wouldn't be geared up to campaign. Even under the very best and most favorable circumstances, with Hillary all geared up having gone through primaries with a staff, Bush would still eat her up and spit her out. She'd have no chance, being such a divisive figure against a President with approval ratings over 50.

Kerry will do a Mondale -- take one for the team and keep the Party together to try again in '08. Heck, by doing that he'll get 40% of the vote or a little more and carry a handful of states. But mostly, he'll be playing the good soldier and keeping the party intact. That other way, they spin off into many factions.

[LowNslow]

Me thinks Mr. Brinkley is now setting stage to protect his image as a "historian".

But how can he make the claim since he acknowledges the Navy's support in documenting his book?

[cookcounty]

"Brinkley's doing a "what did I know and when did I know it?" and effectively exonerating himself."

Yes, it looks to me like Brinkley is trying to extricate himself from the coming collapse.

[farmfriend]

I agree. Hillary is not going to step in this year. 08 should be interesting. The Republicans need to come up with a strong person to run.

[sirchtruth]

In other words, Brinkley already has a pretty good idea what this probe will uncover.

If the words of another famous poster here:

EggsAckley!

[des]

right on time.

[boxerblues]

Perhaps Brinkley could tell Kerry to put his Bruno Magli shoes silver shoes on, click them together three times and say "I wish I was home in Kansas" Theres no place like terahzahs multi million dollar homes

[Carry_Okie]

Isn't it too late for the Democrats to switch horses, or donkeys?

I don't think so.

[kabar]

I know Eagleburger....

Thomas Eagleton, former US senator form Missouri.

[Salvey]

Eagleton

[SheLion]

And FnKerry brought it ALL on himself! hehe!

That's what happens when you put a trained monkey up to run for President. Never know where they have been......

[christie]

.
Is O'Reilly going to apologize to the Swift Boat Vet when the probe shows Kerry committed fraud to acquire his purple hearts?

Check out the John F. Kerry Timeline. Email it to your friends.
.

[Chieftain]

One of the BIG reasons that Kerry has tanked in the polls is because of the Swiftees killer ads!

You can bet the DemocRAT 'smear the Swiftees' campaign will be kicked up to a whole new level now.

Support for the Swiftees is crucial right now, so they can get these ads on the air on REGULAR TV in battleground states.

FReepers are key in getting the word out about the righteousness of the SBVFT by exposing Kerry's FRAUD.

These Swiftee window stickers get the word out to the driving public, display public support for the SBVFT, as well as displaying the website address!

Swiftee window sticker thread - get yours! Freep mail for details.

[Henchster]

Here's my post from another thread:

I've had this bet with FReeper Ironclad for OVER a YEAR, $100 that Hillary ends up on the ballot Nov 2. I've also picked Wednesday, September 29th at 11:30am EST as the go time. Here is the calendar of events that will allow the "transition:"

1) This week, RNC convention and very Presidential speech net Bush a 10 point lead in some polls.

2) Sep 5-15. Kerry continues to flip-flop, and get caught in more lies about his Vietnam "service."

3) Sep 15-28. Media covers Kerry implosion 24/7. Dems panic, launch "Torricelli Switch" trial balloon.

4) Sep 28. Kerry, under pressure from every side, drops out for X reason. (X = health, family, ?whatever dumb thing Kerry thinks of?)

5) Sep 29. Hillary "drafted" by Dems, makes droaning "Ya know" speech. Liberal media go nuts, 24/7 Hillary love fest begins.

6) Month of Oct. Hillary gets clobbered by Bush in debates - liberal media still oozes over her "Strong performances."

7) Nov 2. Hillary wins by narrow margin as liberal precincts around the country report record turnout - 150-200% in some cases.

Be afraid, be VERY afraid.

73 posted on 08/31/2004 2:01:44 PM PDT by Henchster

Notice that #1 and #2 have already happened/are happening now. When it is found out that Kerry was first dishonorably discharged, pardoned by Carter, and re-applied for honorable discharge, even Dan Rather will be calling for him to step aside.

And it just so happens that, thanks to DraftHillary.org, she's already registered in all 50 states.

[ASA Vet]

I think Hillary has had her day.

I agree with your assessment.
She, however, doesn't think she's had her day so will continue her attempted climb to the throne.

She's already purchased her crown. (She wants to be king.)

[mrtysmm]

"....Hillary comes on her white horse..."

Is it possible that the sympathy vote for Bill and his medical problems could help bolster Hilly's claim to the DNC nomination? Maybe I'm just paranoid.....but it's worth a thought.

[dennisw]

Well it's certainly sloppiness on your part Mr. Brinkley. You didn't bother to require access to all his military records, you took his word for everything......

Douglas Brinkley is a big time media star historian who took over from Steven Ambrose. My bet is Brinkley's young and enthusiastic (frivolous liberals) staff did much of the work on this book and didn't bother to verify anything. They were in awe of Kerry the "war hero".

CNN.com - Historian Stephen Ambrose dies - Oct. 13, 2002
... The author succumbed after a battle with lung cancer, said Doug Brinkley, a close
family friend and director of the Eisenhower Center for American Studies at ...
www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/books/10/13/ambrose.death/ - 33k - Cached - Similar pages

[areafiftyone]

I don't think we do but some Freepers have downloaded stuff that was on there and then taken off by the Kerry campaign.

[dennisw]

Me thinks Mr. Brinkley is now setting stage to protect his image as a "historian"......

EXACTLY!!

[boxerblues]

when the SBV first hit kerry was cleaning up his website and there are a few who screencaptured it. It may take a while but FReepers have it.