Posted on 10/31/2006 3:54:12 PM PST by MikeA
WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 31, 2006 — For weeks, Republicans on the campaign trail have been looking for something — anything — to talk about other than the record of the Republican Congress and the way the Bush administration has conducted the war in Iraq.
Monday, they got their wish. While stumping for local Democrats in California, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., addressed students at Pasadena City College and made a comment about education and the war in Iraq that lent itself to much controversy.
"You know education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. And if you don't, you get stuck in Iraq," he said.
It was a rhetorical gift for the embattled Republican Party which is eager to run against Kerry again. The White House unusually notified the media ahead of time that the president would address the issue in remarks at today's campaign rally in Georgia.
Election Fodder
The Kerry kerfuffle is a prototype of controversies of the new media age. "Thanks to the Internet, all life is on the record now," observed journalism professor Jeff Jarvis of CUNY. "Everything a politician says and does is public and the world can see in a second … that's life now."
After Kerry's remarks were mentioned on the Web sites of local newspapers, including the Whittier Daily News, the video popped up on YouTube and conservative blogs like Newsbusters.org, and then talk radio seized on them.
Though, as opposed to 2004, it didn't take Kerry weeks to respond to attacks against him. Shortly before noon, Tuesday, Kerry, a Vietnam veteran, responded, insisting in a statement that he had not belittled the intelligence of soldiers serving in Iraq, but rather, that of "the president who got us stuck there."
But it may have been too late, the train had left the station.
"I believe Sen. Kerry owes an apology to many thousands of Americans serving in Iraq, who answered their country's call," said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., campaigning in Indiana.
Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh said, "It tells us what John Kerry himself and the Democratic Party think about the troops and the U.S. military."
By the time Kerry got to a microphone in Seattle this afternoon to explain what he called a botched joke about the president, hundreds of thousands, if not millions of Americans, had already heard about this new issue and Republican candidates were talking about it.
"It disgusts me that a bunch of these Republican hacks who have never worn the uniform of our country are willing to lie about those who did," Kerry added.
What's unclear is if Kerry's comments will help rally Republican voters or help their party portray Democrats as against the troops to score victories next Tuesday. A Democratic congressman told ABC News, Tuesday, "I guess Kerry wasn't content blowing 2004, now he wants to blow 2006, too."
I'll be truthful, I was planning on sitting out the election. But now that Kerry has reminded me of what a bunch of shitheads the leftists in the country really are, I'm going to go out and vote for every Republican there on the ballot; even the ones I've never heard of before.
Only question: How did ROVE get him to say that??????
NY Times | Bob Herbert | Posted February 16, 2006
It's time for Dick Cheney to step down -- for the sake of the country and for the sake of the Bush administration.
Mr. Cheney's bumbling conduct at the upscale Armstrong Ranch in South Texas seemed hilarious at first. But when we learned that Harry Whittington had suffered a mild heart attack after being shot by the vice president in a hunting accident, it became clear that a more sober assessment of the fiasco at the ranch and, inevitably, Mr. Cheney's controversial and even bizarre behavior as vice president was in order.
Yes, and has since reiterated that he would do it again.
Kerry tries to have it both ways.
Especially when a public servant gives a public speech in a public building.
-PJ
Considering the recent revelations of Ted Kennedy's attempt to aid Yuri Andropov back during the Reagan administration and J F'n Kerry's actions while a serving reserve officer, I'd say he nailed it.
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Exactly. The Andropov issue nailed Kennedy, that putrid drunken traitor. And yes, your CO did nail it. They are our enemy above all other -- America's enemy within. They are communists and will do anything to anyone to gain power over the people and wealth of this country.
That is their agenda, their only agenda.
Nancy Pelosi may have blown out her overly streched facial skin, just yelling "Noooooo!". :) Has anyone seen a photo or video of her shot since JFK inserted his feet into his mouth?
That's JF'nK alright. Plus stupid incompetent boob.
But then again, he represents his party well.
Republicans should be out there loudly demanding Kerry's resignation. If for no other reason but to keep this going to election day. I love it when a plan comes together :<)
Someone really should get a collection together. We need to send him one really big fruit basket for his efforts.
What do you mean? I expect since yesterday, it *is* a vomitorium.
FYI...another credit to Newsbusters for moving the story..
Good job! Vote for Allen for Senate if you'd be so kind! And thank you for coming to your senses. Get others you know out to vote GOP too!
One more reason every Democrat should be forced to take a position on Kerry's statement.
Call the closest one to you and ask.
Thanks for your service, and God Bless your son.
ABC to Kerry: Shut up!
Elect GOP. It'll drive the MSM nuts. They're going broke as it is.
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