Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Brinkley Jumping Ship?
Power Line ^ | 9/5/04 | John H. Hinderaker

Posted on 09/05/2004 4:18:53 PM PDT by CT

Douglas Brinkley, author of the John Kerry biography Tour of Duty, was on Steve Malzberg's radio show today. He called on John Kerry to release his military records, saying: "Clearly some of these military records should be made available to the press."

Brinkley also said that if the Navy investigation reveals deception in connection with Kerry's medals, it "could be" the "death knell" for Kerry's campaign. Professing uncertainty about what to make about the Swift Boat Vets' claims, Brinkley said:

Right now it's unclear. So we have to just wait to see what all this adds up to.

While the piece linked to above provides only brief excerpts from the Brinkley interview, it sounds like he is trying to distance himself from Kerry, and has less than full confidence in Kerry's honesty. Considering that Brinkley's book has been termed a hagiography, and that until now he has been an unabashed advocate for Kerry, that's a striking development.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: brinkley; dougbrinkley; douglasbrinkley; form180; kerry; militaryrecord; sbv; sf180
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-115 next last
To: dr_who_2
I think some day a political scientist will write the Clinton rules. Two of the key Clinton rules are

1) They only work for Clinton.

2) Only Clinton benefits.

81 posted on 09/05/2004 7:00:17 PM PDT by Honestfreedom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: CT

Brinkley is playing CYA BIGTIME!

He's had access to Kerry's records and KNOWS EXACTLY how they differ from the info that "was" posted on Kerry's website.


82 posted on 09/05/2004 7:00:32 PM PDT by G Larry (Support John Thune!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GOPJ

Brinkley was not just a political lackey like Cahill and Devine and all the rest who have no place else to go but to try ride out the storm on this sinking ship. He was the "historian" who brought an air of credibility to the whole game. He was different than your typical spin doctor like a John Hurley who has no real credibility at all.

Now that Brinkley is gone it shows that there something in the Navy stuff that is going to unravel. He's going over the hill fast. He would stay around if there were nothing to this issue.


83 posted on 09/05/2004 7:02:50 PM PDT by TheExploited (R-Illinois)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 80 | View Replies]

To: CT
"Clearly some of these military records should be made available to the press."

THE PRESS???? Why not just post them on the Internet for the public to read, copy and evaluate?

I don't need the press to filter information for me!
84 posted on 09/05/2004 7:07:20 PM PDT by leprechaun9
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CT
Looks like the issue of who 'holds the keys' to Kerry's records is no longer in dispute. Time for Kerry to come clean.

Hillary will release the dirt in October.

85 posted on 09/05/2004 7:08:46 PM PDT by NeoCaveman (For vitriol press one, for name-calling press two, for personal attacks press three...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ProudVet77
I've signed my 180 and I designated who will get it.

ProudVet;

Am I correct in stating that also one defines which specific records are to be release (it isn't a blanket release form)?

86 posted on 09/05/2004 7:13:10 PM PDT by Diddley (Kerry: Please get some humanity!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: ALOHA RONNIE

Thanks for the ping!


87 posted on 09/05/2004 7:31:28 PM PDT by Alamo-Girl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: kellynla

Add to all this that Kerry has 3 or 4 bronze stars on his basic Vietnam Service medal. My medal has no bronze stars since I was only in country 6+ months. You get a bronze star on the service medal if you term of service happens to overlap a 2nd designated campaign (or 3rd or 4th). There is always a campaign and they last many monthse. Kerry having 3 or 4 in a 4 month stint is virtually a fantacie. They really have nothing to do with valor or gallentry per say, but only the status of being "in country" during a particular term.

Of course Kerry didn't figure that you would know that and probably thought you might even confuse those bronze stars with a "Bronze Star" with V for valor. Sort of like piling on with his other medals to creat a sort of Audie Murphey fog.


88 posted on 09/05/2004 7:55:26 PM PDT by scannell
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: TheExploited
He would have then been lumped in with such noted historian as the blagarist Doris Kearns Goodwin as someone who has no credibility at all.

That's what I'm thinking. The left's grip on the flow of information is out of their control and threatens to ruin them. The internet and bloggers have taken down more than one historian when they pump out propaganda (I'm thinking of Bellesiles, the anti-gun "historian" that wrote a best-selling book on the supposed lack of guns in America's history), and I think Brinkley is well aware of that.

89 posted on 09/05/2004 7:59:38 PM PDT by randog (What the....?!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: daviscupper

"... Brinkley is a Yale Professor and he must be taking a lot of "hits" from his colleagues for shoddy research. Professors' have egos beyond anything remotely human..."

I taught college temporarily for a year, so you gave me a good laugh here. Yes, the egos are pretty large indeed in academia.

-- Joe


90 posted on 09/05/2004 8:02:30 PM PDT by Joe Republc
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: dubyaismypresident
Hillary will release the dirt in October.

I'm looking for 29-30 September.

She needs a week of "crisis for Democracy", and a weekend away with Bill, her soulmate, to help her as she struggles with the "difficult choice she must make for America".

91 posted on 09/05/2004 8:02:51 PM PDT by Jim Noble (Hillary becomes the RAT candidate on October 9. You saw it here first.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 85 | View Replies]

To: Restorer
"A strong inclination not to go down with the ship does not equate to integrity."

exactly...this is his reputation at stake....plus face time and future earnings.

92 posted on 09/05/2004 8:12:38 PM PDT by Katya (Homo Nosce Te Ipsum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: scannell

Well Kerry knows he lied, his crew mates know he lied, his C.O. knows he lied and now we all know he lied...
By the time the Navy gets through going over his military records, he'll be lucky if he still has his "firewatch" ribbon! LMAO


93 posted on 09/05/2004 8:14:56 PM PDT by kellynla (U.S.M.C. 1/5 1st Mar Div. Nam 69&70 Semper Fi http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnkerry.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 88 | View Replies]

To: bust

Yup, I agree. Ambush. I said that weeks and weeks ago.


94 posted on 09/05/2004 8:16:29 PM PDT by 7.62 x 51mm (• Veni • Vidi • Vino • Visa • "I came, I saw, I drank wine, I shopped")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: bust

Kerry has been in DC a long time and has connections.


95 posted on 09/05/2004 8:18:49 PM PDT by dalebert
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: CT

Could be a set up. Sounds like a Clinton and Clinton scheme to me.


96 posted on 09/05/2004 8:20:09 PM PDT by ladyinred (John Kerry reporting for "SPITBALL" duty!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bust
Why does this thing smell? Could this be a set-up where Kerry releases his records and they find nothing? Maybe I'm just being paranoid.

If there was nothing to be found in Kerry's records surely they would have been released before now.

Think about it. With the Swift Boat controversy out for month now calling Kerry's record into question, why wouldn't he release his records if there was no problem?

How many points down in the polls would Kerry have to be and how high on the NYT Best Sellers list would "Unfit for Command" have to be for Kerry to decide to vindicate himself with his record?

97 posted on 09/05/2004 8:20:24 PM PDT by Jorge
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: demkicker

You are right. If Hildybeast comes in now, she gets hit with all the mud from the Dems being weak on terrorism. I don't think the Clintons are that stupid.


98 posted on 09/05/2004 8:22:38 PM PDT by Luke21 (Christ is wonderful)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: CT

His reputation as an author is on the line. Kerry lied, people careers died !


99 posted on 09/05/2004 8:25:10 PM PDT by John Lenin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CyberAnt
"The Navy is already investigating Kerry's claim to a "V" on his Silver Star .. which the Navy says was never awarded on a Silver Star."

Oh great, a " Boorda V."

Someone please tell John we prefer he not get despondent and end it all. He still has a job in the Senate for 4 years.

100 posted on 09/05/2004 8:28:41 PM PDT by cookcounty (Watch the self-immolation of John Zippo Kerry live on national TV!!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-115 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson