John Kerry: Unfit For Command

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten

If you disagree with me, then what part about that you disagree?

1. The Bush team isn't sponsoring the SwiftVets, so I fail to see how you can criticize the Bushies for a strategy they aren't actually using.

Of course they're not "sponsoring" them - that would create financial accountability, donation restrictions, etc. They're just "coordinating" the same way the RNC and Reagan and Bush I campaigns "coordinated" with the Christian Coalition and other groups. Soft money groups always have less constraints than candidate campaign organizations, and they also fall under "soft money" contribution rules.

2. I fail to see how the SwiftVets charges are mudslinging. They're all veterans of the same unit as Kerry. They've brought up charges they aren't outlandish, one of which has already proven true. If questions about Kerry's service record in Vietnam (the centerpiece of his campaign) can't be raised by his former comrades (used by Kerry himself in his political ads), then who exactly can question Kerry without it being considered "mudslinging"?

Of course, they're all just apolitical, scrupulously honest guys who've been saying the same thing consistently since the events took place. They're not partisan, helped and financially promoted by partisan operatives, and nothing they say now contradicts what they said or conspicuously failed to bother saying at the time.

I guess allegations about Bush and those Mexican houseboys wouldn't be mudslinging either.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
At least Bush has opened up his military records. Why won't Kerry do the same?

There's no dispute as to Kerry's presence or time of service. Kerry's primary records are available (and have no doubt been obtained many times) under the Freedom of Information Act. What Bush "opened" were payroll and medical records, which aren't at issue with Kerry.

i.e. Kerry didn't fail to report for a physical and thereby get bumped from flight status, and Kerry's physical whereabouts for nearly a year weren't in question.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat

Kerry's physical whereabouts for nearly a year weren't in question.

Simply his whereabouts for Xmas eve 1968, for which he played the part of a martyr for political gain/relevancy.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Originally posted by Pekka
I think they both suck.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Ogie Oglethorpe


Simply his whereabouts for Xmas eve 1968, for which he played the part of a martyr for political gain/relevancy.

I don't think his boat's nav logs are in his personal records. They are, however, in the Navy's records or the National Archives, and he has no control over them, just like the flight logs and squadron AAR's that showed conclusively that LBJ's Silver Star citation was fraudulent.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

You're not implying that Kerry like LBJ has received fraudulent medals are you?

[Ned]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
If Bush were completely incompetent we would've had a civil war on our hands a long time ago.

If Bush were completely incompetent, he would have withdrawn from Iraq leaving Iraq to its fate. The chaos that resulted would have made the post-Soviet Afghanistan look like a well ordered children's zoo by comparison.

The only people calling for withdrawal are the far left.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Ogie Oglethorpe
You're not implying that Kerry like LBJ has received fraudulent medals are you?

I'm implying Kerry isn't the one who has control over the relevant records.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Ned


If Bush were completely incompetent, he would have withdrawn from Iraq leaving Iraq to its fate. The chaos that resulted would have made the post-Soviet Afghanistan look like a well ordered children's zoo by comparison.

The only people calling for withdrawal are the far left.

Most of us are calling for the sitution to not be continued to be handled half-assedly, and perhaps a little less fattening of Halliburton.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by SpencerH


Isnt there a technical term for southerners supporting yankees?

Yes, there is, but in theory, Johnny-boy is a good ol' boy, so I'm only half scalawag.

Then again, sacrifices must be made.

[Pekka]

Ned, Only far everything calls the military not to be strengthened more so they can have the necessary tools to get the job done and come back home celebrating victory. Slow burning != victory. And even jackass like me knows it .

[Kuciwalker]

Ned sighting!

[Ned]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat


Most of us are calling for the sitution to not be continued to be handled half-assedly, and perhaps a little less fattening of Halliburton.

To your and Kerry's credit, the moderate left has been calling for MORE troops, not less.

[Ned]

BTW, a major reason the mainstream media are NOT covering the charges of Kerry's fellow servicemen is that the Bush campaign has not endorsed those charges in anyway whatsoever. It would be very difficult for Bush to now endorse the charges given McCain public condemnation. Bush needs McCain more than he needs the Swiftboat Veterans.

[Ned]

To be honest with you, MtG, I cringe when I think of turning a hot war over to a Democrat, especially an Vietnam anti-war type like Kerry. I think back to the way Johnson handled Vietnam: More and more troops and no strategy for victory.