Countering Kerry's Orwellian History: FReeper Review of To Set the Record Straight

Original FReeper review | 01/16/2008 | Fedora

[ozzymandus]

Any updates on the kerry-Pickens wager?

[Fedora]

Definitely, there’s a doublespeak going on there. If a left-winger speaks out, it’s “whistle-blowing”, according to Kerry. But if a Kerry critic does it, it’s “swiftboating”.

[Fedora]

Last I heard on that was back in November or so. Maybe others have more updated info? (Ping to Interesting Times on that one.)

[Rick.Donaldson]

I’m beginning to think that leftism in all it’s forms and adherents is possibly more of a threat and danger to America and the West than Islamofascism/Nazism.

I am not sure that's completely accurate. Here's why I think this.

Islamofascism is based on a religion. Therefore it's "protected" to some extent under our own laws. Nazism is an extreme political point of view, mainly fascist in its own right, but was pulled from many different idealisms - but whatever "Nazism" was, it was certainly conspiratorial, and definitely terrorist. Nazism was Socialist in its beginning and totalitarian in its "finality".

Leftism is a combination of many things, including, but especially Socialism. Thing is, we can certainly, at least in America fight against Socialism in the ballot box (still). Those who say America has gone Socialist are wrong in that respect. Leftism is about - according to a leftist -- giving power to the people, which in and of itself isn't bad. But, by this what they mean is "democracy" with the majority ruling the minority, and they want us Conservatives to be seen as the "Nazis" and "fascists" because it makes them appear "better than the rest of us.

The truth is that Nazism, and "Leftism" is more fascist than Conservatism - and there's plenty of evidence, from the ACLU, to Unions and their behaviors, to Greenpeace and their backers. There's a massive movement in this country to indoctrinate children in schools against "guns" for instance - a battle I've personally fought and at times won, against schools locally and groups like "Hand Guns, Inc" and other Brady-like groups out to destroy gun rights.

Socialism can be argued is an economic system (it is) rather than a political system - but it turns violently usually - into Communism eventually. Or simply Fascism. Either way, it becomes a totalitarian political system, complete with "State enemies". So -- on one point you're correct, Leftism has many 'forms and adherents', but not all of them are as dangerous as people who want to completely destroy any semblance of Western Civilization, and place us all under Sharia law (however it is spelled... I'm sorry, I'm not all here today and my brain isn't working as well as it should today).

Any group that proposes that Socialism, or socialist tendencies in government are good - are quite simply wrong.

When I was in HS I had to write a paper on Socialism and "prove it was a good system". I fought tooth and nail on that, and the subject was forced on me individually. So, I wrote the paper and quoted Marx, and many other proponents of Socialism and proved it was a "good system", then on the last few pages of the forty page paper, I ripped it to shreds with all its failures, and conversions to Communism, Nazism and so forth. I got an A+ on the paper - and a scathing attack from the teacher on my stance. I told the teacher I would debate him publicly on the subject any time. That debate never came to pass and my grade stood.

I'm far from an "expert" on the subject, but I'm sufficiently well read on many subjects including various political systems - and "Leftism" (which was a good term for it) is more to me of a sickness that this country suffers than a political system.

[Interesting Times]

Pickens asked for Kerry to provide some documentation, including his missing military records and his personal Vietnam diary. All quiet on the Kerry front since then...

[Fedora]

Thanks for the update!

[SJSAMPLE]

Just saw her about four nights ago on CNN, right after he endorsed Osama Obama.

[calcowgirl]

Great review! Now I know I have to read it!

[secretagent]

Navy investigators likewise found that the VVAW used fake witnesses and failed to cooperate with investigators or provide corroborating details.

As I remember, the Navy CIS has stated that they have no record of any investigation of the witnesses in Kerry's "Winter Soldier Investigation. The story that they did stems from only from the hazy memory of historian Guenter Lewy, with no supporting documentation.

[The Right Stuff]

Excellent review. I have this book and have started reading it - as someone who grew up in the mid ‘70s there is a LOT of stuff that I didn’t know. It really makes you MAD! Is Dellum related to Ron Dellum, and wasn’t he outed as a closet Communist?

[The Right Stuff]

oops, Dellinger must be a different guy. So many commies, so little time!

[Fedora]

The source is Lewy's America in Vietnam, 317. Not sure why his summary of the report would be considered "hazy"--most professional historians I know are pretty careful with that type of detail, and Lewy's account of the Army's investigation holds up against a check with the National Archives--if you have more information on that I would be interested. I have not seen the Navy CIS statement you refer to and would like to see the direct quote in context if it's available.

[Fedora]

LOL, yeah, there’s David Dellinger and there’s Ron Dellums, two different “Del”s :-)

[Fedora]

It’s worth reading! I can only touch on the broad picture in a review, but the details are fascinating. Being reminded of some of Kerry’s tactics will make you mad all over again.

[zot]

Excellent review. Thanks. I didn't know that some of the documents referenced in To Set The Record Straight are being removed from the internet and library databases. I hope they are being preserved somewhere else, where the enemy can't get to them.

[christie]

Thanks for the review, Fedora. I wish everyone would read this book. So much history. So many dots connected.

[Fedora]

I noticed that mainly with some recent online articles dealing with Iraq-related stuff—stuff relating to Haditha, Massey, Durbin, Murtha etc. I would guess that some of that might be libel/lawsuit-related. What struck me was that in some cases it was even being removed from the Wayback Machine. But in enough cases the originals were still around on FR or other news-clipping sites, or I had clipped them myself when they were originally posted, so I could document what was removed.

[Fedora]

Yes, it fills in a lot of gaps in the record that future historians will need to attend to. Crucial reading for future histories of Vietnam and the 2004 campaign, IMO.

[Richard Axtell]

NOTE and REMEMBER all the instances of attempted censorship and historical revisionism committed during the 2004 campaign. Now, do you have even the slightest doubt as to what truth-tellers and exposers of Hillary’s true crimes will face in 2008? Freepers, our time is coming to rise to action... I have no doubt.

[zot]

I’m glad that you and others are preserving original material that otherwise would go down the memory hole.

For sure, Dan Rather and the RATs wish they had removed the counterfeit National Guard memos from the CBS website before the FReepers found them.

And I’m sure there will be need to do that sort of thing during this election year.