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Redefine “swiftboating” and claim $1 million!
The South Brunswick (NJ) Post ^ | Thursday, January 24, 2008 | Keith Rasmussen

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 it’s 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, I’ll push aside criticism over what is, after all, old news. To what purpose does re-hashing the 2004 Presidential election serve? No purpose whatsoever; it’s Senator Kerry who can’t 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 wouldn’t dare to repeat their assertions that he was unfit to serve as CIC.

The Senator revealed he’s 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 didn’t escape the notice of one of their contributors, Oklahoman Thomas Boone Pickens.

The day after Senator Kerry’s 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 Kerry’s 2006 boast that, “I’m 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…”

I’m 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 fool’s errand. John Kerry is a man whose honor wasn’t besmirched as much as his dishonor was revealed. Even if you believe otherwise, I will still recommend Scott Swett’s brand new book, To Set the Record Straight - How Swift Boat Veterans, POWs and the New Media Defeated John Kerry, so you’ll 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 – that’s your task (for which you’ll be rewarded).

Mr. Swett’s 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 you’re a rabid partisan in fevered search of the million bucks, chances are, you’ll 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?


TOPICS: Editorial; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: johnkerry; johnmccain; mccain; pickens; swiftboat; swiftvets
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To: shoptalk

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.


21 posted on 01/24/2008 4:40:00 PM PST by Neoliberalnot ((Hallmarks of Liberalism: Ingratitude and Envy))
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To: Syncro
Let's ask the authors if there isn't at least one little thing that wasn't true and if they can come up with one for us, we can split the money!

Maybe we've been going about this all wrong...

22 posted on 01/24/2008 4:41:17 PM PST by Interesting Times (ABCNNBCBS -- yesterday's news.)
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To: shoptalk; Pride in the USA; Stillwaters
Great article. I will never forget or forgive this...

August 5, 2004 WASHINGTON - Republican Sen. John McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam, called an ad criticizing John Kerry’s 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.

23 posted on 01/24/2008 4:42:01 PM PST by lonevoice (It's always "Apologize to a Muslim Hour"...somewhere)
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To: devolve

Good graphics devolve. Can’t beat these for depicting Kerry.


24 posted on 01/24/2008 4:43:26 PM PST by potlatch ("Kindness is more important than wisdom, the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom" - Rubin)
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To: The Right Stuff
You should charge Jane Fonda for your blood pressure medication!

Any money I can get from Jane Fonda is going to the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial.

Regards,

TS

25 posted on 01/24/2008 4:44:15 PM PST by The Shrew (www.ToSetTheRecordStraight.com/www.swiftvets.com/www.wintersoldier.com-The Truth Shall Set YOU Free!)
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To: Interesting Times

Thank you for pinging I.T.


26 posted on 01/24/2008 4:44:23 PM PST by potlatch ("Kindness is more important than wisdom, the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom" - Rubin)
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To: wastedyears
Swiftboating; to Swiftboat: to tell the truth about a Democrat who lies about their past or current events.
27 posted on 01/24/2008 4:44:37 PM PST by gridlock (Proud Romney Supporter since January 20, 2008)
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To: potlatch

Any time.


28 posted on 01/24/2008 5:01:00 PM PST by Interesting Times (ABCNNBCBS -- yesterday's news.)
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To: Interesting Times

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.


29 posted on 01/24/2008 5:06:43 PM PST by editor-surveyor (Turning the general election into a second Democrat primary is not a winning strategy.)
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To: potlatch


Kerry left a paper trail -

And even his dumb "diary"

Here's one of your classics:


30 posted on 01/24/2008 5:07:23 PM PST by devolve (---- - Hey Boone! - My bonus check is late again! -)
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To: devolve; potlatch

LOL the finger of God!

Sistine Chapel Ping


31 posted on 01/24/2008 5:14:29 PM PST by Syncro
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To: devolve

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.


32 posted on 01/24/2008 5:14:44 PM PST by potlatch ("Kindness is more important than wisdom, the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom" - Rubin)
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To: Interesting Times

:>)


33 posted on 01/24/2008 5:15:36 PM PST by Syncro
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To: Syncro; devolve
This is the "God's Eye" gif, with the hands reaching, that I made for devolve long ago. Very pretty and a total topic change as to Kerry!!!


34 posted on 01/24/2008 5:29:32 PM PST by potlatch ("Kindness is more important than wisdom, the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom" - Rubin)
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To: potlatch

Oh goodness, what have I done?

Are you and devolve the same person?


35 posted on 01/24/2008 5:36:06 PM PST by Syncro
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To: Syncro; devolve
[Are you and devolve the same person?]
I sure hope not...
LOLOLOLOLOL

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.

36 posted on 01/24/2008 5:41:24 PM PST by potlatch ("Kindness is more important than wisdom, the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom" - Rubin)
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To: potlatch

.

I’m the same person

Whoever that may or may not be

12 minutes to the De-Bait on MSNBC


37 posted on 01/24/2008 5:48:25 PM PST by devolve (---- - Hey Boone! - My bonus check is late again! -)
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To: shoptalk
Repeat a lie often enough and the people will believe it. Joseph Goebbels

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 untrue—for 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.

38 posted on 01/24/2008 6:19:24 PM PST by missnry (The truth will set you free ... and drive liberals Crazy!)
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To: Interesting Times
That was one of my favorites.

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).

39 posted on 01/24/2008 6:20:50 PM PST by calcowgirl ("Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink." P. J. O'Rourke)
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To: calcowgirl
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.

40 posted on 01/24/2008 6:36:58 PM PST by Interesting Times (ABCNNBCBS -- yesterday's news.)
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