Posted on 01/24/2008 3:33:47 PM PST by shoptalk
Redefine swiftboating and claim $1 million!
Swiftboating: Exposing the lies, deceit and fraud of self-glorifying public officials or candidates for public office who exaggerate their military service by lying about feats of heroism or combat wounds.
If, after reading the above word and its definition, you know its incorrect - boy, do I have an opportunity for you.
Simultaneously, you can re-define this term, vindicate Massachusetts Senator John F. Kerry and lay claim to a cool one million bucks. Right away, Ill push aside criticism over what is, after all, old news. To what purpose does re-hashing the 2004 Presidential election serve? No purpose whatsoever; its Senator Kerry who cant move on. In doing so, he misunderstands the word swiftboating, seeking to rewrite its definition in exactly the same way that he sought to redefine himself in pursuit of the Presidency and the duties of Commander in Chief.
A speech of his on November 5, 2007 triggered a remarkable series of events for, in mulling a future presidential bid, he remarked that the Swift Vets & POWs for Truth wouldnt dare to repeat their assertions that he was unfit to serve as CIC.
The Senator revealed hes compiled a dossier on his war record critics, the Swifties. We have put together a documented portfolio that frankly puts their lies in such a total light of absurdity and indecency, that should they ever rear their ugly heads again, we have every single T crossed and I dotted, and I welcome that in a sense said the Senator. He went on, I hate to see the term become a negative term in American politics, it is what it is
That sort of unequivocal, unambiguous statement failed to generate a reaction from the Swifties because they stood down as an organization in January 2005. But it didnt escape the notice of one of their contributors, Oklahoman Thomas Boone Pickens.
The day after Senator Kerrys speech, T. Boone Pickens gave one of his own with a zinger - at a dinner celebrating the 40th anniversary of The American Spectator magazine. Perhaps recalling Senator Kerrys 2006 boast that, Im prepared to kick (Swiftie) ass from one end of America to the other, Mr. Pickens issued a challenge: $1 million to anyone who can disprove even a single charge made by the Swifties during the 2004 Presidential election campaign. What followed is nothing short of amazing as Senator Kerry himself stepped forward on November 16th to claim the loot.
His proof? Well, nothing so far.
In answering Mr. Pickens, Senator Kerry wrote, While I am prepared to show they lied on allegation after allegation, you have generously offered to pay one million dollars for just one thing that can be proven false. I am prepared to prove the lie beyond any reasonable doubt., then continued without pause, I would request that your check be made payable to the Paralyzed Veterans of America
Im trying to think of the appropriate word to describe someone who has over-stepped the boundaries of accepted behavior with no shame. Something like effrontery, but amped tenfold.
Mr. Pickens had expressed to assembled journalists and friends of The American Spectator that the Swifties were unfairly maligned. Their ads were documented and truthful. Apart from Mr. Pickens substantial prior donations, one million additional dollars now underscored his belief that John Kerry was and is unfit for command. That Senator Kerry himself would accept the challenge and request Mr. Pickens write out a check - without the small detail involving proof is, well, unsurprisingly characteristic of John Kerry.
Senator Kerry has failed to provide anything to date that would undermine the truth of the ads that the Swifties ran during 2004. Nothing prevents any of us from discrediting their claims; the challenge was not issued exclusively to John Kerry. I would, however, encourage haste, for there are packs of journalists, pundits and politicians who tried to shout down the creepy, lying Swifties. Back then, the stakes were merely electing a Commander in Chief. In 2008, if you drag a million-dollar bill through a television studio you never know what you'll find, so be quick about it.
Full disclosure at this late juncture: I have no interest in pursuing the million dollar fools errand. John Kerry is a man whose honor wasnt besmirched as much as his dishonor was revealed. Even if you believe otherwise, I will still recommend Scott Swetts brand new book, To Set the Record Straight - How Swift Boat Veterans, POWs and the New Media Defeated John Kerry, so youll have transcripts of the ads the SwiftVets developed and how they were documented. Everything you need to know about the Swifties claims is here with sources cited. Knocking them down or punching holes in them is another matter thats your task (for which youll be rewarded).
Mr. Swetts book offers a front row seat to history - a unique insight into how a remarkable group of 254 men bypassed mainstream media and took their message, unfiltered and unapologetic, to American voters. If youre a rabid partisan in fevered search of the million bucks, chances are, youll hold your nose while reading, but like the little girl on Christmas morning, there just has to be a pony somewhere in this pile of manure, right?
Swiftboating is simply the rat party mantra for exposing the full truth of one of their own who has money and power but can’t buy all the mouths stating the facts.
Maybe we've been going about this all wrong...
August 5, 2004 WASHINGTON - Republican Sen. John McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam, called an ad criticizing John Kerrys military service dishonest and dishonorable and urged the White House on Thursday to condemn it as well.
The White House declined.
Thank you, Mr. President for doing the right thing.
Good graphics devolve. Can’t beat these for depicting Kerry.
Any money I can get from Jane Fonda is going to the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial.
Regards,
TS
Thank you for pinging I.T.
Any time.
Any day now I expect PBS to come out with a new DVD of sKerry’s heroics in battle (does anyone do ‘Nam reinactments?) and use it for fund raising telethons.
LOL the finger of God!
Sistine Chapel Ping
Lol, yeah that was a good one.
You be the ‘poster’ tonight and I’ll be the ‘thanker’!!
Did your bonus check ever come? lol.
:>)
Oh goodness, what have I done?
Are you and devolve the same person?
Best laugh of the day Syncro! No, you mentioned ‘hand of God and it brought to mind this graphic I had once made with the ‘Eye of God’ constellation that I put the reaching hands on.
.
I’m the same person
Whoever that may or may not be
12 minutes to the De-Bait on MSNBC
The wikis have the liberal version of swiftboating as the primary definition:
Swiftboating is American political jargon that is used (primarily) as a strong pejorative description of some kind of attack that the speaker considers unfair or untruefor example, an ad hominem attack or a smear campaign.
Someone needs to insert in the Wikipedia entry that there is a $1,000,000 reward to prove that their definition is true.
The real definition should be: "exposing the lies, deceit and fraud of self-glorifying public officials or candidates for office who exaggerate their military service by lying about their feats of heroism and combat wounds." at least until someone claims the $1,000,000 reward.
How can you choose??? So many to pick from, lol.
Is that the mission where he got his magic CIA hat? (I forget the details).
Yes indeed.
It's also the mission where Kerry either fought courageously against the Khmer Rouge or delivered weapons to them, depending on which version of his story you like best.
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