Posted on 09/05/2004 4:18:53 PM PDT by CT
Douglas Brinkley, author of the John Kerry biography Tour of Duty, was on Steve Malzberg's radio show today. He called on John Kerry to release his military records, saying: "Clearly some of these military records should be made available to the press."
Brinkley also said that if the Navy investigation reveals deception in connection with Kerry's medals, it "could be" the "death knell" for Kerry's campaign. Professing uncertainty about what to make about the Swift Boat Vets' claims, Brinkley said:
Right now it's unclear. So we have to just wait to see what all this adds up to.
While the piece linked to above provides only brief excerpts from the Brinkley interview, it sounds like he is trying to distance himself from Kerry, and has less than full confidence in Kerry's honesty. Considering that Brinkley's book has been termed a hagiography, and that until now he has been an unabashed advocate for Kerry, that's a striking development.
Why does this thing smell? Could this be a set-up where Kerry releases his records and they find nothing? Maybe I'm just being paranoid.
What it says for sure is that Brinkley has some integrity. He might come out later in support of Kerry, but the fact that he didn't join the attack on the SBVT right off the bat gives him credibility to me. He wants more evidence.
I guess Kerry's pet biographer really does want to have a career and reputation after the loser flames out.
I think is says that Brinkley cares about his own reputation for honesty. His name is on Kerry's book. He doesn't want to go down with Kerry if that should happen. I don't know how partisan the guy is. He might care a lot more about his writing career than he does about Kerry's political career.
A strong inclination not to go down with the ship does not equate to integrity.
Maybe the Democrat establishment thought they had perfected what they had done to get Clinton elected and that they could use a similar "technique" with Kerry. Amazing.
Brinkley was supposedly writing an article that was designed to clear up the Cambodia fiasco. Was that ever released? Maybe he realized that he was being thrown over the side of the swift boat. He would have then been lumped in with such noted historian as the blagarist Doris Kearns Goodwin as someone who has no credibility at all. He probably has wised up and decided that he should not sell his credibiliy down the Mekong River.
IIRC there was something recently about Kerry having signed a Form 180 years ago, which means Kerry already has all his documents. Could it be possible that all these documents will be altered and then released to try to prove Kerry's statements. And .. then what will the military do in response .. when the originals they hold show different information. Hmmmm? This could get very interesting.
The Navy is already investigating Kerry's claim to a "V" on his Silver Star .. which the Navy says was never awarded on a Silver Star.
Yeah, that's a good point. LOL! But it doesn't rule it out either.
Perhaps he can see that Kerry is on the loose wig, and the days are numbered--less than the about 60 until e day.
Yeah, you might be more right than I am.
Exactly.
No, I don't think you are. That's a valid point that very well should be considered.
I think you are. Brinkley is a Yale Professor and he must be taking a lot of "hits" from his colleagues for shoddy research. Professors' have egos beyond anything remotely human and they like to think of themselves as above reproach. I think the obvious duplicity on the part of Kerry is beginning to take its toll. He has probably been the butt of numerous jokes on campus from his colleagues. The whispers in the faculty lounge could be eating his insides out.
I'm starting to really think that Kerry won't make it to Election Day. The Dems/libs want Bush out too bad to let their current nominee keep going in a mortally wounded state. I hear the trampling of the Hildebeast underbrush...
Except that I propose that a person with integrity would not have written a hagiographic biography of such slime to begin with.
His jumping ship and distancing self from his own work just shows that he won't even stand behind himself.
I don't have a lot of respect for Mr. Brinkley.
Any word on when the results of the Navy investigation are due?
Dear Mrs. Clinton,
I've been an author of many books. If at any time in the near future you should need any help, I would be proud to assist you.
Sincerely,
Douglas Brinkley
I wonder if that's it. He had this song and dance ready to go, and they capitulated.
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