Military Record May Gain Role in 2004 Presidential Race (Blairifying Clinton and the military)

Washington Post ^ | May 25, 2003; Page A04 | Lois Romano

[onyx]

OMG! THIS book makes Kerry radio-active! KEEP THIS HANDY!

I'm bookmarking this thread just to keep your post handy!

[onyx]

The book cover shows John Kerry, author. The link goes to an article about Bob Kerry, the former US senator from your neighbor, Nebraska.

[Irene Adler]

"What makes you think Algor has a high IQ? The guy is a double college dropout. The height of his IQ is media spin. Based on his Forrest Gump speech patterns and his inability to tell the truth, I would bet that he barely hits double digits."

Algore sounds like an over-educated dope to me, too. I'll bet his dad's employees always told him he was smart. Rich and priveleged kids get that, sometimes. I would guess that the media hype over algore being brainy was like the media hype over his supposedly being a macho man (remember the rat convention "kiss" and the mag. cover? cack!): a response to focus group results showing he came across as dumb-sounding, effeminate, and generally weird. Then the press was recruited to play up the brainy and macho angles to neutralize his actual disadvantages in those two areas.

I think he's an overrated dunce.

[Liz]

The one and only version that's acceptable to Americans.

[gunnedah]

Kerry showed what he thought of the military and this country when he dumped those medals at the Vietnam Memorial.He is a two faced liberal and uses anything that fits the moment.

[Liz]

Kerry is a worthless know-nothing liberal opportunist.

[Wolverine]

Scroll down, John F. Kerry is at the bottom of the page.

[Timesink]

Stating that Clinton avoided the draft is a gross understatement. Clinton is on record as saying he loathed the military.

Colonel Robert Patterson, the carrier of the "football" during the Clinton White House and author of "Dereliction of Duty," was on C-SPAN2 yesterday, and said that the entire time he worked there, every time he ended up alone with Al Gore (like both of them were in an elevator or something), he'd say "Good morning Mr. Vice-President" or whatever, and Gore IGNORED HIM. Every single time. His hatred for anyone in a military uniform was that intense.

It's been documented time and time and time again. Almost everyone in the Clinton White House despised the military, treated them not just with disdain but outright hostility whenever any of them were in the White House, etc.

It is a testament to the honor of our armed forces that not only did they not openly rebel against that Administration (either through playing the PR game or through machinations that would have led to a constitutional crisis), you never even heard about it at all except in occasional books and articles by civilians. I don't recall a single soldier ever publicly saying a word about it while Clinton was in office.

[motherof 3]

"cushy National Guard duty"---you are trained and may be called up at anytime for 6 years. If you are now fighting in Iraq how is it any more "cushy" to be from a National Guard unit than a regular army unit. As for the past, how would President Bush ever know that his unit would not be called? No one knew how long the war would last and who was getting called up. Clinton was not going to take the chance. Clinton was not going to basic training, he was not going to fly a plane, and he was not going to monthly meeting. That is a big difference.

[USMCVet]

Hi Mother of 3-

I knew when I was writing that response that there'd be some unhappiness from my current National Guard comrades, but I reiterate, during the Vietnam War, the National Guard was a relatively safe way to avoid what the rest of us went through.

Some units were called up for duty and ended up going over with us...and they did fine. Most of them stayed home, kept the home fires burning, didn't risk very much and got to wear uniforms every once in a while. (For the Bush zealots out there, F-102s were about the last aircraft we needed over there: we needed F-4/A-4/F105 drivers to replace all those brave souls that did risk all they had for us and lost).

If I seem a bit bitter, I am: the kids I knew over there were the best of us and the names on the Wall are real people with real faces to me. We could have used the help of all those healthy specimens that found all sorts of innovative ways of leaving us to our duty alone.

I don't ask for much, any more than any of us asked for anything when we got back. We didn't get parades and we didn't get honors, we just got back on hospital planes and chartered flights to airports late at night.

Don't ask me to admire the men that could have joined us but chose to stay home: we could have used their help.

[AmericanVictory]

Kerry has stated categorically on repeated occassions that we cannnot seek oil independence for this nation. That alone demonstrates a lack of leadership. At least Bush has made feeble attempts, albeit bound by the oil-culture strait jacket.

[Dstorm]

My Father (Navy), Two brothers (USMC -- US Army ASA) all served in country. I was to young to serve (enlisted US Army 1976) and felt remorse and a sense of not fully measuring up to my brother’s service for years.
They, and other Vietnam Vets told me, that I would have to be crazy for wanting to go, if I didn't have to. That feeling pushed me into volunteering for Desert Shield/Storm and Somalia, (volunteering!! now that’s crazy) your comments bring back that feeling that my service still doesn’t measure up to my brother’s.
I guess for me on this issue, I contrast the character of those who wore the uniform and took the risk (however slight) of being injured or killed in the service of their country, with those cowards like Clinton who took no risk at all.

[USMCVet]

Hi Dstorm -

My comments about the impressions I had from the Vietnam War in no way diminish your service as a veteran of Desert Shield/Desert Storm: you and your compatriots fought, taking the same risks that all of us took!

I was out cheering you guys when you got back..

The other Vietnam Vets that spoke to you were right when they warned you about volunteering - we had some lousy experiences over there and when we got back - so it didn't seem like something that we would recommend, particularly to our younger brothers. (One of my brothers joined the Army after I got back from Vietnam and he was wounded over there too). Luckily - and thanks to a great President, Ron Reagan - the American people came back to supporting our servicepeople and when it came time for you to fight, you were supported the way it should be.

Thanks for volunteering and joining the traditions of honor and sacrifice American fighting men have set before us since our country was founded...You're one of us!