VetsforBush.NET Prepares Stand-Down, Reflects on Free Republic

http://www.vetsforbush.net/vetsforbush2000.html ^

[mindwest]

Thanks to the community at Free Republic as we prepare to 'stand down' the 2004 (therefore, last) edition of www.VetsforBush.NET. Forgive us a little toot on our horn, but there is real credit that needs to be given, as well as some 'morals to the story.'

First, we offer great thanks to those who gave our efforts insight and inspiration but prefer no public credit. You know who you are.

Second, enormous thanks to J.W. "Wild Bill" Stealey, LtCol/USAF (ret), who is a legend in the online industry. Patriot, gentleman, businessman, classmate. His listserv, news release, content and moral support were invaluable in driving from 13SEP04 to 3NOV04 to over 700,000 hits from around the world.

Thanks further to the substantive work of Steve Sherman, former Special Forces officer whose mobilization of the SF community and in-depth study of the real history of the Vietnam War continues to play a major role in understanding America's history and security needs.

Third, much overdue thanks to two gentlemen who helped VetsforBush.NET to become a reality four years ago. Neither gentleman played any role in 2004, since they are prohibited from partisan activity, but in 2000 they lent enormous energy to projecting the Bush Campaign into the Veterans, POW and military communities. We were first at the "Internet front line" for Bush/Cheney. I hope they don't mind the mention:

-- John C. Truesdell, a true officer and gentleman, who has been laboring hard in the Pentagon to strengthen America in trying times. In 2000, he birthed this project in Northern Virginia and saw it through to the first Bush/Cheney election.

-- Chip Beck, now working overseas, whose editorial, cartooning and other talents were a keystone of the effort in 2000. Never afraid of controversy, Chip made sure the POW issue was heard loud and clear.

We are extremely grateful for the many contributions of Free Republic 'netizens' and others including our troops around the world.

We were a small fish in a big pond, but we are reminded of the line Spencer Tracy used in a movie when he saw Katherine Hepburn across a lawn: "There ain't much on her, but what there is, is choice!" Our voice was heard and we helped to mobilize Veterans in a greater cause. We thank Free Republic for projecting that voice to a community who really care about America.

Some thoughts for the future:

-- There is a profound disconnect between the media elites in New York, Washington and Los Angeles and the vast map of Bush voters whose voice might otherwise be lost if not for New Media. The marvelous heavy hitters in whose shadows we stand were the Swift Vets & POWs for Truth, the folks at "Stolen Honor" and others. We were not a 527, and except for some bucks from Wild Bill and a few from me, we took no money, cost nothing to the Campaign (from whom we were totally separate), yet shared a voice in our Democracy.

-- We call for serious discussion at high levels about a strategy to ensure a free, responsible press with roots in the vast population of voters who won this election, not just those at various chic addresses in Manhattan, K Street, and Beverly Hills. Our name says it plainly -- VetsforBush.NET is partisan and openly so. But we protest those whose partisanship is disguised in journalistic "lamb's clothing" ... CBS with its fraudulent documents and bungled "October surprise," CNN and its line-up of Clinton flacks, New York Times, Hollywood hobnobbers and others disingenuous about their Liberal bias.

-- We think the moral of the story is this: Even in the most contentious fray, Seek the Truth. We can look for comity in our governance, compassion in our politics, on the foundation of facts essential to enlightened self-government. Yes, let the healing begin -- even the 'polite fictions' by which governance proceeds (like telling Aunt Tilda every Thanksgiving how good her dressing is). But Democracy depends ultimately on not kidding ourselves. In his brilliant book "The Image: A Guide to Pseudo-Events in America" Daniel Boorstin warned about how media images can be made more vivid than reality itself. The Communist "special services" excelled at manipulating those images, including during the Vietnam War. Begin with the truth. Let's let by-gones be by-gones as long as we have looked at them honestly ... and they become truly by-gones.

Finally, none of this would matter if Veterans before us, plus service men and women in the field today, were not willing to give the last full measure of devotion for our Nation.

We salute them.

Over and out, www.VetsforBush.NET

MINDWEST Strategic Communications www.mindwest.NET

[shawngf]

Thanks for the help guys- you once again served your country with pride and valor. Thank you.

[bannie]

Any of you wonderful men single and want a fat, old conservative wife?

:D

[Taiwan Bocks]

Thank you for your sacrifice and for providing role models for my young sons. May the Lord bless you.

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

ping

[LegalEagle61]

Thanks for helping us to re-elect the president, you were a major part of that and I salute you!

[ArmyBratCutie]

God bless each and every one of ya'll
My Daddy served two tours in VietNam.. he retired and only lived 18 months afterwards... He would have really loved to have been a part of this campaign to make Kerry face his past ... I miss my Daddy every single day of my life...
Thank you for your service to our country....

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

You have mail

[Angelwood]

Thanks for serving our country so well once again.

[trapman]

Thanks guys! We couldn't have done it without you.

[empressword]

Thank You! God Bless all you True American Heroes!!!

[Leo Carpathian]

But we protest those whose partisanship is disguised in journalistic "lamb's clothing" ... CBS with its fraudulent documents and bungled "October surprise," CNN and its line-up of Clinton flacks, New York Times, Hollywood hobnobbers and others disingenuous about their Liberal bias.

How about class law suit against the CBS and forgers of the official documents? Freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom to lie, make up stories and trying to affect elections with falshoods. If the Rathers are not taken to responsibility, it will only get worse. MSM, CNN are free to spread lies and misinformation, world sees that, and then they hate us. The bias and "reporting" was worse than communist Pravda.

We salut you, God bless you and thanks for standing up for truth and decency!

Freeper Leo

[GoLightly]

Some time, some day, years from now, some researchers will want to try to look back to our history, things that you have been part of. I'm sure they will look at newspapers of the times, history books that were printed near to the history made, but the good ones will do further research.

The Library of Congress is working on a project of getting first person accounts of events. Take a moment & have others you know do the same.

http://www.loc.gov/folklife/vets//sights.html

[Bellflower]

I am so thankful to the LORD that he raised up you Vets in this country to fight one of the very most important battles of our time. You fought valiantly and held your ground through thick and thin. He used you to repair the dam. If the dam had not been repaired in time a flood of wickedness would have overtaken this country for a long time. I do not think we can be fully aware of all that we were spared from. We owe you so much and thank you from the bottoms of our hearts for fullfilling your duty to protect and defend this great country. Well done faithful soldiers.

[austinaero]

Oh,,,,don't go!!! We hardly got a chance to know ya!

[eureka!]

Thanks for your service, again.

John, mega ping for deserved thanks please...

[SERKIT]

There may be more work to do. We need to get Kerry out of the Senate based on UCMJ, activities in 1971, missed commitments in the late '70's, LTOD changed to HD in 1985, and further funny business in 1991. He has to be roundly discredited and kicked out of the Senate.

[Just mythoughts]

Time to correct the liberal history books, our children have the RIGHT to be told the truth about Vietnam.

They got a taste of in by witnessing JFKerry's political campaign, trying to reenact Vietnam upon our military serving in Iraq.

[blackie]

Congratulations ~ good job ~ you make a difference!

[spodefly]

BTTT