John Kerry Belittles U.S. Troops? by Skywalken

Thanks for the link, dreamtrove. First I'd heard of that. If the predator had killed who they set out to, I'm sure we would've seen wall-to-wall media coverage.

While I'm here I might as well throw my two cents around (based on a what I've seen and read). I'll do it a la Rumsfeld.

Did John Kerry make a bonehead statement? Sure.

Did he say what he meant to say? No.

Has he apologized? Yes.

Seems pretty simple to me. I have found the side discussion about the demographic make-up of our armed forces informative. And I do find it funny that many strong Bush partisans we haven't seen in a while came out of the woodwork for this thread. No wonder the Republican party has no trouble winning elections if this is all it takes to fire up your base.

When they write up the 2006 elections, one of the weakest showings will be Angelides running for governor. How crappy a candidate do you have to be to be so far behind in a solidly blue state against a Republican governor? And then, on top of all that, John Kerry makes a gaffe in a speech supporting you. Talk about unlucky.

And it's nice to see PCC in the news. I took classes there during the summers of my undergraduate career when I was back home. Although, at the time, it felt like high school with ashtrays.

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 9:55 AM

STORYMARK

Quote:
Originally posted by imaleaf:
Quote:
Originally posted by Eric:
Nice try conservatards. What he's saying is that if you're uneducated and not independently wealthy your options are severely limited, and you're much more likely to end up fighting a rich man's war.

If that is what he was trying to say then he should have said that. AH but alas he did not say that.

~~River: Bible's broken.~~

And Bush said he was constantly looking for ways to harm Americans.

The "Let's take things literally" game can be played both ways.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 10:01 AM

Some people have noted that political aids usually distribute the transcript of a speech before the actual address - or immediately afterwards. This helps the reporters so they aren't forced to take shorthand of the speech - they can focus more closely on supporter/opposition reactions to the speech - thus dispatching copy to the editors desk in a timely fashion.

There is some buzz that the Kerry transcript was released the next day and the text of the speech may have been sanitized.

Who knows.

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 10:03 AM

IMALEAF

Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark:
The "Let's take things literally" game can be played both ways.

I agree but I am not trying to change what Kerry said I just take it as is. Truth is I would been easier on Kerry if instead of standing on his soap box he just said he was sorry for any misunderstanding and for any feeling he may have hurt. Instead he blamed everyone else. Way to step up!

~~River: Bible's broken.~~

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 10:24 AM

Quote:
that his message was that there was disproportionate weight we shift to our soldiers for little reward, and how their lives are at stake for our governments missteps.
Quote:

Re: R9

Well thats a true statement, foot soldiers bear the burden of all wars. 3000 men drown during a training exercise for the D day invasion of Normandy. General Patton warned Eisenhower and Bradley about the weakness along the military lines near the Ardennes - they ignored him and look at the result - 81,000 American casualties, including 23,554 captured and 19,000 killed. American foot soldiers got slaughtered or literally froze to death from lack of winter woollen clothing - which the quartermaster had in storehouses in Washington DC.

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 10:54 AM

America loves a winner!

Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark:
Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:

I took no 'beating' on the MJ Fox thread. But keep thinking that, if it helps ya sleep better at night.

You took no "beating" because as soon as your parroted talking points were shot down, you took your usual cowards-way-out, and dissapeared from the thread.

Classic AURaptor SOP.

You took no beating 'cause you ran.

Ran ? How many damn times must I explain the same damn thing over and over again before brick head Dims can finally understand a simple point? I guess the number is more than 3 or 4, huh? I can only destroy someone's arguemnt so many times before the thrill is gone. My points were my own, so who else did you see/ hear 'parroting' them?

People love a happy ending. So every episode, I will explain once again that I don't like people. And then Mal will shoot someone. Someone we like. And their puppy. - Joss

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 11:03 AM

America loves a winner!

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:

What amazes me is the need for some folks to try to equate everything as being exactly equal. Kerry's comments = Rush's comments. Sorry, but the 2 are light years apart.
Well yeah, Kerry was being dumb, and Limbo was being malicious.
You're right; they are different.

We agree, how weird is that?

No, Kerry was being malicious and dumb while Limbaugh was just spot on right.

Quote:

Quote:
I took no 'beating' on the MJ Fox thread.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Good one, always ready with the funny you are!

Who's laughing now Chrisisall

Anything to add some joy in a fellow Browncoats life.

People love a happy ending. So every episode, I will explain once again that I don't like people. And then Mal will shoot someone. Someone we like. And their puppy. - Joss

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 11:16 AM

MISBEHAVEN

Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:

Ran ?

Well, I think it was more like you crawled away like an itty bitty bug.

Quote:
How many damn times must I explain the same damn thing over and over again before brick head Dims can finally understand a simple point?

When your points are that nonsensically constructed, then it's going to take a few times.

Quote:
I can only destroy someone's arguemnt so many times before the thrill is gone.

You really need to see a professional about these grand delusions you're having. It's unhealthy.

Quote:
My points were my own,

Indeed they were, because they sure as hell didn't make sense to anyone else.

It never got weird enough for me.
-Hunter S. Thompson

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 11:17 AM

FELLOWTRAVELER

Quote:
Originally posted by Hero:

Why not? Rush stood by his remarks, but apologized for those who mistook what he said.

Okay, let's get the easy part outta' the way:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/apology

Quote:
apology: a written or spoken expression of one's regret, remorse, or sorrow for having insulted, failed, injured, or wronged another.

Now, let's examine what Limbaugh has actually said:

Quote:
"Okay, I need to apologize, I was wrong because I speculated either he didn't take his medication or he was acting"

THEN:

Quote:
"I stand by what I said. I take back none of what I said. I wouldn’t rephrase it any differently. It is what I believe; it is what I think. It is what I have found to be true."

Your an educated guy, Hero. Can you really not see the contradiction in these statements? You can't have it both ways. Either he was wrong and is sorry or he stands by statement. Now, on to Kerry.

Quote:
Kerry launched an attack. Why? Because he's haunted by the failure to make a timely reply to the Swift-boat Vets in '06. His lesson now, a timely reply does not require an attack. I think an apology to the troops followed by an attack on the policy would have been more effective.

Instead he tried to run from both what he said and from his own role in the policy he is against. He can't escape both, which is why he really lost in 2004 and now in 2008 as well.

First, Kerry comment was one in a series of half a dozen where he was calling the President an idiot. In context, this is very clear and although both Limbaugh and AU claim Kerry was calling the military "losers", that word is found nowhere in the speech. So, both are making shit up, which is par for the course.

But, let's assume for a moment that yours and AU's (Limbaugh's) interpretation of Kerry's comments are correct. So what? Are the enlisted ranks of the US military largely populated with college graduates? The answer is unequivocally no. It is amusing, to me, that you Republicans are so against being PC, unless you are discussing the military. What is so wrong with calling a spade a spade?

What is even more amusing is how often I have heard friends of mine (both Republicans and Democrats) use a similar agrument to motivate their own children to study. And while I don't have kids, I would most certainly do the same.

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 11:27 AM

Powerline:

Democratic candidates are fleeing John Kerry like the plague. His appearances in Minnesota and Pennsylavania have been canceled. Tennessee's Harold Ford has called on Kerry to apologize. In Montana, Democratic Senate candidate Jon Tester says:

"Senator Kerry's remarks were poorly worded and just plain stupid. He owes out troops and their families an apology."

Seems the nuance of the speech went over the heads of a few democrats too.

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 11:41 AM

CAUSAL

Quote:
Originally posted by citizen:
You're just taking his words out of context, if you haven't heard every word he's ever said you can't possibly understand what he means.

What, someone had to say it.

Rush, you pussy, you said what you said, time to appologiseheh heh heh...

If we're going to apply this standard, we may have to renounce an awful lot of the Bush bashing that's gone on around here...

________________________________________________________________________
Grand High Poobah of the Mythical Land of Iowa, and Keeper of State Secrets

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 11:42 AM

MISBEHAVEN

*Edit* Hey, SergeantX. I should apologize in advance for the rant.

At first, I thought you were applying some AURpator/Hero logic, and I went off.

Quote:
Originally posted by SergeantX:
The most important thing is that this incident proves, beyond any doubt, that Bush has actually been a great leader for the last two years. Wow, who'd a thunk it?

How does Kerry making a foolish remark prove, beyond a doubt, that Bush is a great leader?

Let's just take a look at some of your glorious leader's accomplishments:

Emergency (mis)Management: They completely failed to manage the first large-scale emergency since 9/11. Despite all their big talk and hundreds of billions of dollars spent on homeland security over the past four years, this administration proved itself stunningly incompetent when faced with an actual emergency. (Katrina Relief Funds Squandered)

Fiscal (mis)Management: America is broke. No wait, we're worse than broke. In less than five years these borrow and spend-thrifts have nearly doubled our national debt, to a stunning $8.2 trillion. These are not your father's Republicans who treated public dollars as though they were an endangered species. These Republicans waste money in ways and in quantities that make those old tax and spend liberals would never dream of doing.

Katrina relief (or the lack thereof): Eleven thousand spanking new mobile homes sinking into the Arkansas mud. Seems no one in the administration knew there were federal and state laws prohibiting trailers in flood zones. Oops. That little mistake cost you $850 million -- and counting.

Medicare Drug Program: This $50 billion white elephant debuted by trampling many of those it was supposed to save. The mess forced states to step in and try to save its own citizens from being killed by the administration's poorly planned and executed attempt to privatize huge hunks of the federal health safety net.

Afghanistan: Good managers know that in order to pocket the gains of a project, you have to finish it. This administration started out fine in Afghanistan. They had the Taliban and al Queda on the run and Osama bin Laden trapped in a box canyon. Then they were distracted by a nearby shiney object -- Iraq. We are now $75 billion out of pocket in Afghanistan and its sitting president still rules only within the confines of the nation's capital. Tribal warlords, the growing remnants of the Taliban and al Qaeda call the shots in the rest of the county.

Iraq: This ill-begotten war was supposed to only cost us $65 billion. It has now cost us over $300 billion and continues to suck $6 billion a month out of our futures. Meanwhile the three warring tribes Bush "liberated" are using our money and soldiers' lives to partition the country. The Shiites and Kurds are carving out the prime cuts while treating the once-dominant Sunnis the same way the Israelis treat the Palestinians, forcing them onto Iraq's version of Death Valley. Meanwhile Iran is increasingly calling the shots in the Shiite region as mullahs loyal to Iran take charge.

Iran: The administration not only jinxed its Afghanistan operations by attacking Iraq, but also provided Iran both the rationale for and time to move toward nuclear weapons. The Bush administration's neocons' threats to attack Syria next only provided more support for religious conservatives within Iran who argued U.S. intentions in the Middle East were clear, and that only the deterrent that comes with nuclear weapons could protect them.

North Korea: Also add to all the above the example North Korea set for Iran. Clearly once a country possesses nukes, the U.S. drops the veiled threats and wants to talk.

Social Programs: It's easier to get affordable -- even free -- American-style medical care, paid for with American dollars, if you are an illegal immigrant or the victim of a Pakistani earthquake, than if you live and pay taxes in the good old U.S.A. Nearly 50 million Americans can't afford medical insurance. Nevertheless the administration has proposed a budget that will cut $40 billion from domestic social programs, including health care for the working poor. The administration is quick to say that those services will be replaced by its "faith-based" programs.

The Military: Overused and over-deployed.

With military budgets gutted by the spiraling costs of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the administration has requested funding for fewer National Guard troops in fiscal 2007 -- 17,000 fewer. Which boggles the sane mind since, if it weren't for reserve/National Guard, the administration would not have had enough troops to rotate forces in and out of Iraq and Afghanistan. Nearly 40 percent of the troops sent to those two countries were from the reserve and National Guard.

The Environment: Here's a little pop quiz: What happens if all the coral in the world's oceans dies? Answer: Coral is the first rung on the food-chain ladder; so when it goes, everything else in the ocean dies. And if the oceans die, we die.

The coral in the world's oceans are dying (called "bleaching") at an alarming and accelerating rate. Global warming is the culprit. Nevertheless, this administration continues as the world's leading global warming denier. Why? Because they seem to feel it's more cost effective to be dead than to force reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

Trade: We are approaching a $1 trillion annual trade deficit, most of it with Asia, $220 billion with just China -- just last year.

Energy: Record high energy prices. Record energy company profits. Dick Cheney's energy task force meetings remain secret. Need I say more?

Human Rights: America now runs secret prisons and a secret judicial system that would give Kafka fits. And the U.S. has joined the list of nations that tortures prisioners of war. (We have pictures!)

I could go on for another 1,000 words listing the stunning incompetence of the Bush administration and its GOP sycophants in Congress. But what's the use? I doubt you'd get it.

And, hey. Don't bother George W. Bush with any of this. While seldom right, he is never in doubt. Doubt is Bush's enemy. Worry? How can he worry when he has no doubts?

Me? Well, I worry about all the above. But in particular, I worry about Bush.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said it best, "The louder he spoke of his honor, the faster we counted our spoons." And no administration in U.S. history has spoken louder, or as often, of its honor.

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 11:46 AM

America loves a winner!

Quote:
First, Kerry comment was one in a series of half a dozen where he was calling the President an idiot. In context, this is very clear and although both Limbaugh and AU claim Kerry was calling the military "losers", that word is found nowhere in the speech. So, both are making shit up, which is par for the course.

FT, please, stop exaggerating. I didn't quote Kerry with him saying those in the military were 'losers', but it was clearly implied. There's no 'making shit up' here, it's just my conclusion based on Kerry's OWN WORDS. THAT is par for the course. I didn't make anything up.

And btw, it isn't just evil Republicans are saying about Kerry. Here's what some key Democrats are saying.....

* "He has already cost us one election. The guy just needs to keep his mouth shut until after the election," a top Democratic strategist said Tuesday.

* Added Senate candidate Harold Ford Jr. of Tennessee, "Whatever the intent, Sen. Kerry was wrong to say what he said. He needs to apologize to our troops."
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/11/01/kerry
s_stuck_in_iraq_remark_ignites_firefight_with_bush_gop/

" What Sen. Kerry said was inappropriate” - Hillary Clinton

People love a happy ending. So every episode, I will explain once again that I don't like people. And then Mal will shoot someone. Someone we like. And their puppy. - Joss

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 11:49 AM

CITIZEN

Quote:
Originally posted by Causal:
If we're going to apply this standard, we may have to renounce an awful lot of the Bush bashing that's gone on around here...

Don't be silly. We have to have double standards you see, defend the guy, for arguments sake, you listen to everyday on the radio, and attack the guy on the otherside.

Come on, what's the point in looking at a situation based on merit rather than political association? If we decide things based on political association we don't have to think for ourselves, which hurts and is no fun at all.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 11:56 AM

Ah, I see you caught the tongue in SergeantX's cheek.

Making this response superfluous.

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 12:02 PM

MISBEHAVEN

Quote:
Originally posted by SoupCatcher:
Ah, I see you caught the tongue in SergeantX's cheek.

Making this response superfluous.

Yeah, but just a little late. I guess I heard one too many Republican pundits making that same ridiculous argument on the news. Oh well, my post will give AURaptor and Hero something to stew over.

It never got weird enough for me.
-Hunter S. Thompson

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 12:15 PM

America loves a winner!

A reminder. This is what Kerry SAID:

"Education -- if you make the most of it and you study hard and you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq."

Kerry is addrssing a group of college students, telling them that if they don't do well in school ( make the most of education and study hard ), you get stuck in Iraq. Giving Kerry the benefit of a doubt, that he's referring to President Bush, then it should also be remembered.

1968 - He earns a B.A. in History from Yale Universty
1968 - He joins the Texas Air National Guard, where he pilots the F102.
1974 - He enters Harvard Business School, where he earns a MBA. ( Bush is the only US President to serve while holding a Masters of Business Adminisration )

Bush wans't tops of his class, and everyone knows that. He was an average student, as was John Kerry . But Bush's IQ tests from his military career and his grades puts him on par with or higher than John F Kerry.

John Kerry can claim he was talking about Bush, but Bush is, by every objective standard, smarter than Kerry in regards to formal education, so it's a lame ass attempt at a joke. Even if you buy his ridiculous excuse.

Seems even the Democrats are running from Kerry and his statements. He's being told to apologize and has had campaign rally after campaign rally tell him ' no thanks' and cancel his appearance.

Stoopid troops in Irak send Carry a messig:

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 12:26 PM

RUE

I have a vote and I'm not afraid to use it!

Citizen,

"If we decide things based on political association we don't have to think for ourselves, which hurts and is no fun at all."

I'm still giggling over this. THANKS! That was a wonderful jolt of humour in an otherwise busy, but at the same time strangely boring, day.

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 12:33 PM

CHARLES

Why is no one reacting to George Bush calling our soldiers cowards?

A direct quote from his speech yesterday:

"It's hard to plan and plot attacks against America if you're on the run, and that's exactly what our brave professionals are doing."

OUR BRAVE PROFESSIONALS ARE ON THE RUN?!

Doesn't sound very presidential to me.

Link: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/10/20061031-11.html#

You'll find it about halfway down... a little more than that.

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 12:47 PM

RUE

I have a vote and I'm not afraid to use it!

"Enter Steve Schmidt, Matt Dowd and several other veterans of the Bush-Cheney reelection race. Focused on winning each news cycle, that campaign team rebuilt Schwarzenegger's image day by day."

Now this is an interesting tactic. Kerry should take a lesson. It's not enough to apologize, no matter how sincerely meant or well spoken. B/c that's the last thing people will remember. "At the end of the day" - literally - you have to do something else. And if you have nothing postive then go negative - lie, attack, whatever it takes. THAT'S what you want to be remembered for.

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 12:47 PM

KANEMAN

"It's hard to plan and plot attacks against America if you're on the run, and that's exactly what our brave professionals are doing."

He means they have the enemy on the run. He's just doing it in Bush speak. You must know what he is saying.

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 12:58 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:

1968 - He earns a B.A. in History from Yale Universty

1974 - He enters Harvard Business School, where he earns a MBA.

If my daddy was rich, I coulda bought those too, what's your point?

Enquiring Chrisisall

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 1:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:
" What Sen. Kerry said was inappropriate” - Hillary Clinton

Tuwhubbawho?

AURaptor, you're actually citing Hillary Clinton approvingly?

Somewhere, a Republican angel just lost its wings.

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 1:14 PM

CAUSAL

Quote:
Originally posted by citizen:
Don't be silly. We have to have double standards you see, defend the guy, for arguments sake, you listen to everyday on the radio, and attack the guy on the otherside.

Come on, what's the point in looking at a situation based on merit rather than political association? If we decide things based on political association we don't have to think for ourselves, which hurts and is no fun at all.

Hah!

________________________________________________________________________
Grand High Poobah of the Mythical Land of Iowa, and Keeper of State Secrets

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 1:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by SoupCatcher:

Somewhere, a Republican angel just lost its wings.

Funniest line ALL YEAR!!!!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHChrisisall

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 2:08 PM

CHARLES

Quote:
Originally posted by kaneman:
"It's hard to plan and plot attacks against America if you're on the run, and that's exactly what our brave professionals are doing."

He means they have the enemy on the run. He's just doing it in Bush speak. You must know what he is saying.

Oh yes I do know what Bush is saying. I'm taking him word for word from what his statement said, and he's calling the troops cowards. Bush is clearly saying here that our brave professionals are on the run.

I wonder how the troops in Iraq would feel knowing THAT? The Commander-in-Chief that sent them over there thinks that they're on the run... WOW! That's respect for ya!

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 2:22 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Charles:
"It's hard to plan and plot attacks against America if you're on the run, and that's exactly what our brave professionals are doing."

Oh yes I do know what Bush is saying. I'm taking him word for word from what his statement said, and he's calling the troops cowards. Bush is clearly saying here that our brave professionals are on the run.

Wait- how can he say that? That's ridiculous, the reports I hear have some of our troops getting picked off here and there individually, but they're by no means 'on the run' from anybody!
Is Bush intentionally trying to make America feel bad (or worse) for our troops to gain some sort of political support?
What a cad!

Disgusted Chrisisall

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 2:34 PM

Quote:
originally posted by auraptor:

LOL

Quote:
Soup

AURaptor, you're actually citing Hillary Clinton approvingly?

lol. Soup: auraptor doesn't work for the GOP, he works for the evil thing. The evil thing supports hillary. or is hillary. I'm not sure which.

Anyway, bush-is-clinton includes hillary, so this logically follows:

Hillary '08

Re-re-elect George W. Bush

No votes necessary, void where prohibited

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 2:39 PM

An exchange I had with a friend of mine (who has an MBA) went like this:

Chris: Bush is a moron
Me: He has an MBA, there must be something there
Chris: A trained monkey could get an MBA
Me: Sure, it's not that difficult a degree, but he can't be a total numbskull.
Chris: I'm being literal, not metaphorical. An actual trained monkey could get an actual MBA

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 2:43 PM

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!!!!!

*choke*Chrisisall(not with the MBA)

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 2:43 PM

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!!!!!

*choke*Chrisisall(not with the MBA)
The one with the evil double-post.

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 2:44 PM

America loves a winner!

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:

1968 - He earns a B.A. in History from Yale Universty

1974 - He enters Harvard Business School, where he earns a MBA.
If my daddy was rich, I coulda bought those too, what's your point?

Enquiring Chrisisall

So, let me get this straight. You're saying that bothHarvard and Yale, two of the oldest, most expensive, and elite universities in the USA are so strapped for cash that they'd blindly admit the son of a wealthy politician, and then allow him to exit their campi with diplomas ? Even an elite MBA program ?

So, I guess anyone who attends those schools is guaranteed a diploma , as long as their daddy pays for it all.

Sorta exactly the same as John Kerry, huh?

Hmmm...

People love a happy ending. So every episode, I will explain once again that I don't like people. And then Mal will shoot someone. Someone we like. And their puppy. - Joss

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 2:49 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:

So, let me get this straight. You're saying that bothHarvard and Yale, two of the oldest, most expensive, and elite universities in the USA are so strapped for cash that they'd blindly admit the son of a wealthy politician, and then allow him to exit their campi with diplomas ? Even an elite MBA program ?

The schools are not 'strapped for cash', they do, however, remain highly respectful of those who make donations and/or are friends of the institutions of higher learning, especially from positions of influence.

Like you don't know this Chrisisall

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 3:13 PM

America loves a winner!

I didn't approvingly or disapprovingly offer up Hillary Clinton's quote. It was merely a statement of fact.

Seems some are so caught off guard by what she said, they're confused by the relevence of her comment. A high ranking Left wing Senator has called Kerry on his own words. Not Rush Limbaugh, not Neal Boortz, not Sean Hannity, but Hillary Clinton.

Vast Right-wing Raptor

People love a happy ending. So every episode, I will explain once again that I don't like people. And then Mal will shoot someone. Someone we like. And their puppy. - Joss

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 3:31 PM

America loves a winner!

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:

So, let me get this straight. You're saying that bothHarvard and Yale, two of the oldest, most expensive, and elite universities in the USA are so strapped for cash that they'd blindly admit the son of a wealthy politician, and then allow him to exit their campi with diplomas ? Even an elite MBA program ?

The schools are not 'strapped for cash', they do, however, remain highly respectful of those who make donations and/or are friends of the institutions of higher learning, especially from positions of influence.

Like you don't know this Chrisisall

So, is it only sons of GOP politicians, and never the case with Democrats ? Wouldn't JFKerry be the recipient of the same treatment as GW Bush ? If so, then Kerry's attempted jab at W's intelligence seems to encompass himself into the same catagory as W.

So, where's the joke again?

People love a happy ending. So every episode, I will explain once again that I don't like people. And then Mal will shoot someone. Someone we like. And their puppy. - Joss

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 3:42 PM

CARTOON

Just last week, the Heritage Foundation reported the following...

The current findings show that the demographic characteristics of volunteers have continued to show signs of higher, not lower, quality. Quality is a difficult concept to apply to soldiers, or to human beings in any context, and it should be understood here in context. Regardless of the standards used to screen applicants, the average quality of the people accepted into any organization can be assessed only by using measurable criteria, which surely fail to account for intangible characteristics. In the military, it is especially questionable to claim that measurable characteristics accurately reflect what really matters: courage, honor, integrity, loyalty, and leadership.

Those who have been so quick to suggest that today’s wartime recruits represent lesser quality, lower standards, or lower class should be expected make an airtight case. Instead, they have cited selective evidence, which is balanced by a much clearer set of evidence showing improving troop quality.

Indeed, in many criteria, each year shows advancement, not decline, in measurable qualities of new enlistees. For example, it is commonly claimed that the military relies on recruits from poorer neighborhoods because the wealthy will not risk death in war. This claim has been advanced without any rigorous evidence. Our review of Pentagon enlistee data shows that the only group that is lowering its participation in the military is the poor. The percentage of recruits from the poorest American neighborhoods (with one-fifth of the U.S. population) declined from 18 percent in 1999 to 14.6 percent in 2003, 14.1 percent in 2004, and 13.7 percent in 2005.

This report updates the previous Heritage Foundation report, with data on all U.S. recruits during 2004 and 2005. We introduce the term “wartime recruits” to identify volunteer enlistees in all branches during 2003, 2004, and 2005. Like the previous report,[3] the analysis considers the following characteristics:

Household income,
Level of education,
Race/ethnicity, and
Regional/rural origin.
In summary, the additional years of recruit data (2004–2005) support the previous finding that U.S. military recruits are more similar than dissimilar to the American youth population. The slight differences are that wartime U.S. military enlistees are better educated, wealthier, and more rural on average than their civilian peers.

Recruits have a higher percentage of high school graduates and representation from Southern and rural areas. No evidence indicates exploitation of racial minorities (either by race or by race-weighted ZIP code areas). Finally, the distribution of household income of recruits is noticeably higher than that of the entire youth population.

Demographic evidence discredits the argument that a draft is necessary to enforce representation from racial and socioeconomic groups. Additionally, three of the four branches of the armed forces met their recruiting goals in fiscal year 2005, and Army reenlistments are the highest in the past five years. A draft is not necessary to increase the size of the active-duty forces. Our analysis using Pentagon data on wartime volunteers effectively shatters the case for reinstating the draft.

To see the full (much lengthier) report: http://www.heritage.org/Research/NationalSecurity/cda06-09.cfm

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 4:45 PM

Cartoon,

Thanks for the info. I suspect this can be concluded logically by any thinking human. After all, there are educational requirements, and rigorous physicial and pysch tests to become a soldier. There are no such requirements to become a random citizen, or a politician. Kerry is an idiot.

otoh, I do feel that this story was brought into heavy focus primarily not as an election year stunt, but to hide a story that everyone in govt. wanted to hide. It was the GOP who pushed for surveillance drones in the combat zone, and it was the democrats who pushed to arm those drones. Without these not so brilliant military decisions being made by politicians back in washington, this wouldn't have happened.

So here it is again, the real top story of the day which the Kerrygate story buried:

Robot attacks school, kills 83

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1061375

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 4:57 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:
Quote:

Originally posted by chrisisall:
Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:

So, let me get this straight. You're saying that bothHarvard and Yale, two of the oldest, most expensive, and elite universities in the USA are so strapped for cash that they'd blindly admit the son of a wealthy politician, and then allow him to exit their campi with diplomas ? Even an elite MBA program ?

The schools are not 'strapped for cash', they do, however, remain highly respectful of those who make donations and/or are friends of the institutions of higher learning, especially from positions of influence.

Like you don't know this Chrisisall

So, is it only sons of GOP politicians, and never the case with Democrats ? Wouldn't JFKerry be the recipient of the same treatment as GW Bush ? If so, then Kerry's attempted jab at W's intelligence seems to encompass himself into the same catagory as W.

I'm just going to butt in here. People on this board, esp. now, myself included, around high irritation season, ie. election time, get all worked up, argumentative, and bash each other more than the rest of the time, in this troll country forum of ours.

Here's what I see:

1. Kerry is an idiot
2. So is Bush
3. They both went to college
4. Many other idiots also went to college
5. All of you know this, and don't really have a serious disagreement.

I also want to clear up one thing:

Colleges often admit one (1) child of an alum in what is called a 'legacy' program. This isn't unique. Having "Yale families" out there, especially powerful ones, is good for the college.

W. was a screw up. So much so that Yale didn't welcome any more Bush children. Bush Sr., who thought the younger JEB was the star kid, was very ticked off. I suspect he was kicking himself for having caved to George's whining to giving the legacy spot to him. This seems to have been pretty much life long bad blood between dad and w.

Kerry went to yale and under performed bush, ie, he's an even bigger screw up. I don't think either one of these guys merits any respect at all.

The whole game in politics is divide and conquer, and the people in power want us attacking one another, and defending these losers, which is exactly what they have us doing.

Your fate is not wrapped up in Bush and Kerry, and your ego should not be either.

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 5:38 PM

In no particular order.

Another story that was buried was the Bush administration changing our proud tradition of, "No man left behind," to "One man left behind." ( http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/11/01/on-iraqi-orders-bush-abandons-am
erica-soldier-to-al-sadrs-militia/ )

I'm not surprised Hillary Clinton was trying to gain points at the expense of John Kerry. That's just a preview of what will happen during the Presidential campaign.

Here's a piece of commentary, from Jane Hamsher over at firedoglake, that I found appropriate:

Quote:
excerpted from http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/11/01/ned-lamont-kicks-gop-bullies-in-
the-nads/
Meanwhile, Tony Snow was just on The Factor saying that John Kerry's apology was "sufficient."

Translation: We polled the tits off this pig and we were getting hammered. We wanted people to hear "Democrats hate our troops" and all they were hearing was "Iraq is a fucking mess."

But thanks to everyone who ignored that fact and gave us a leg up by spinning it for the GOP. We owe you one.

* edited to add another firedoglake link. Man, I love that community.

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 6:45 PM

John Murtha:

"I want to make it clear I am not suggesting a retreat, nor handing the enemy a victory," Murtha declared in a hastily-arranged press conference. "However, I have come, sadly and slowly, to the conclusion that our current deployment of John Kerry in the campaign is creating more 'insurgent voters' than it is turning towards us. Therefore, I suggest, at the earliest feasible moment, that we withdraw John Kerry from the theater of political battle and redeploy him to nearby Okinawa."

Rep. Murtha's remarks immediately drew fire from Kerry partisans and various left-wing bloggers, who urged "staying the course" and keeping Kerry in the field "until the battle is won."[/]

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 6:48 PM

SKYWALKEN

Here is a video response to Lurch Kerry from a soldier "stuck in Iraq".

http://www.ApologizeJohnKerry.com

Soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 34th Infantry Division

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 8:27 PM

VETERAN

Don't squat with your spurs on.

Anyone see how The Daily Show dealt with this?
"Kerry is losing elections he's not even in."

Then they plug a CD of Kerry's "Botched Jokes."

Use clips of Rumsfeld telling a soldier "...you go to war with the army you have, not the army you want..." to show how Republicans are just better at humor.

What a riot.

But seriously I'm amazed at how easily the news got hijacked this week and we all fell for it. 104 servicemen were killed in Iraq last month and we're arguing about something a politican who's not even running for office said.

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Thursday, November 2, 2006 3:03 AM

America loves a winner!

Quote:
Originally posted by MalBadLatin:
John Murtha:

"I want to make it clear I am not suggesting a retreat, nor handing the enemy a victory," Murtha declared in a hastily-arranged press conference. "However, I have come, sadly and slowly, to the conclusion that our current deployment of John Kerry in the campaign is creating more 'insurgent voters' than it is turning towards us. Therefore, I suggest, at the earliest feasible moment, that we withdraw John Kerry from the theater of political battle and redeploy him to nearby Okinawa."

Rep. Murtha's remarks immediately drew fire from Kerry partisans and various left-wing bloggers, who urged "staying the course" and keeping Kerry in the field "until the battle is won."[/]

Now that's comedy !!

People love a happy ending. So every episode, I will explain once again that I don't like people. And then Mal will shoot someone. Someone we like. And their puppy. - Joss

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

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Thursday, November 2, 2006 6:10 AM