And what I don’t understand is…why? Since he just sucks rocks as a leader, functioning as a kind of reverse Midas, where everything he touches turns to shit, what the hell are they so fond of him for? is it as simple as the fact that he has an ® next to his name? Is it really the “I’d like to have a beer with him” factor? What is the REAL reason that those who love him, love him? Since they are forced to be in total denial in order to sustain this affection, what is it?? It is utterly bizarre and inexplicable.
He’s also criticized the Swiftvets’ ads and said that Kerry is absolutely fit to be Commander in Chief. But, unfortunately, he’s endorsed Bush so I don’t think we’ll get much direct help from him. Maybe some of the interviews of him saying those things could be used in ads.
That is not correct. I never said that he was “doing what he was supposed to be doing”, I said that it was completely understandable and, as it happened, completely irrelevant. “Perfect 10”? Not hardly. But nobody scored a “Perfect 10” that day. Not the air traffic controllers, not the military, not the intelligence services, and not the President. If you would like me to concede that there was room for improvement, I’ll be glad to, with one condition. All you have to do is tell me what he could have done to stop it from happening during those seven minutes.
I don’t consider this being an apologist, by the way. It’s more like reality versus fantasy. Reality: It didn’t matter. Fantasy: It would have mattered somehow, though I’m unable to figure out how.
You are still an Airman and they are letting you fly their aircraft? Don’t you have to be like a second lieutenant before they let you fly their (my, speaking as a taxpayer) expensive airplanes?
Are modern planes really so fly-by-wire that you can do it while basically crippled? If not, who do you think you are, Chuck Yeager?
No, I’m not a pilot. I am enlisted aircrew, AFSC 1A351, which has the job title of Airborne Communications and Electronics Specialist, and with the specific training I received for my particular weapons platform my job title is now Electronic Communications Systems Specialist.
In other words, I fly in the back end and operate radio and television equipment.
I have to disagree. I keep hearing about the millions of evangelical Christians who supposedly stayed home on election day in 2000 - the ones Republicans are counting on to turn out in force this time and make it a relative landslide for Bush. A story like this might not turn them into instant Kerry supporters, but it sure would dampen their enthusiasm for the (possible) hypocrite, and turnout is real important when it’s this close. This is what I’d call fighting fire with fire.
The Boston Globe has weighed in on this issue again. The “juciest” quote:
The only new thing seems to be this:
Does anyone know the date of Bush’s discharge from ANG? If it happened before the aforementioned 60-day period ended, then the matter is moot. If not, the howls of “AWOL!” shall soon recommence.
[thoroughly gratuitous slam] I was recently reminded by Molly Ivan’s Who Let the Dogs In? that Fearless leader enrolled in Harvard Law only after the University of Texas turned him down. Add your own punch line. [/tgs]
Nicholas Kristoff in the Times today (no link, i read news where the ink comes off on my fingers) has found someone who was in Alabama when Bush was supposed to be there, and who even looked for him. This guy was single, and figured that since Bush was single they could have some fun. Never found him.
I wonder what would have happened to him if his daddy weren’t a big shot? Facing, it, Bushies, your hero is a lying coward.
I find it interesting that the Mainstream Media ignored the Swiftboat thing for months, ignoring the fact that 254 of Kerry’s fellow swiftees feel him unfit for command, including his entire living chain of command. Seventeen affidavits? Not good enough. You see, the mainstream media only deals in cold, hard fact. No tabloid journalism stuff for us.
And of course, when they did investigate, what did they investigate? Whether the swiftees were pawns of the Bush administration. The fact that John O’Neill has given campaign donations to Republicans means he’s totally discredited, of course. And even then, the broadcast networks largely ignored the story.
But now we have two new sources against Bush. One is a book by the ever-so-accurate Kitty Kelly, who claims that GW Bush did cocaine. Her sole source - an ex-wife of a Bush brother whos marriage ended in a nasty divorce. Good thing the mainstream media won’t go anywhere near her, huh? Oh, wait… The Today Show is doing a three-part series on the book next week…
Then there’s Ben Barnes, who now alleges that he helped Bush get into the guard. Of course, the Mainstream Media will notice that, A) Barnes has already given sworn testimony that he had nothing to do with it, and B) Barnes is a Co-Chair of the Kerry campaign and one of the top contributers to the Kerry campaign. So of course he’s completely tainted and no reputable journalist in the Mainstream Media would give him network access, right? Oh, wait… He scored an interview with Dan Rather on 60 Minutes, and above-the-fold articles in newspapers all over the place.
Nothing to see here, folks. No media bias at all. Move along…
I guess bias is really in the eyes of the beholder. To me, it is media bias that the following two stories are treated even roughly the same as if they are equivalent:
(1) The fact that the current President obviously went into the National Guard to avoid serving in Vietnam (and even said as much) and has produced zero evidence and no credible witnesses saying that he fulfilled all of that commitment. His Vice President and Defense Secretary both avoided the war. Yet, all three are hawks who seem to have no qualms about ordering others into harm’s way for a combination of half-baked ideological reasons sold with deception and cherry-picking of evidence, and which has undoubtably at least so far led to a diminishment rather than enhancement of our security.
(2) The fact that his challenger served with distinction in Vietnam and was awarded 3 medals and was lauded by those who served under his command, including a Republican who credits Kerry with saving his life. But, a few veterans with obvious axes to grind now claim that Kerry may not have been truthful about the facts that led to his receiving those medals even though most of them did not have much contact with him and at least one who did sang a different tune at the time in their reports on him.
Well, I don’t see any cite here from Factcheck.org so I’ll post what they have to say about this:
There is a bunch of stuff in there both for Bush and against him, and I’ve found this site pretty fair and non-partisan for the most part. The bottom line is, there is nothing new here that contradicts what we already knew about this. I think this is a mistake for the Democrats to have this ad out (yes, I know its not directly associated with the Democrats but with Moveon.org…just like the Swift Boat guys aren’t directly associated with the Republicans)…it looks like a defensive move to counter the Swift Boat ads being run. Lame. Kerry (and friends) should be running ads defining his record as a Senator and why he is fit to be the next president, not dredging up this bullshit thats already been hashed out and examined several times before…including in the LAST presidential election.
Why Mr Stone! I must say, that for an inveterate Seeker of The Truth[sup]®[/sup] such as yourself, you disappoint me, Sir. For surely you agree that we must get to the very bottom of this issue before we let it go?
I mean, come on! Enough with the modesty already. As you may or may not know, I’ve watched with awe your scrupulous work on behalf of the search for The Truth[sup]®[/sup] on the matter of the Swift Boat etc. etc. Vs Kerry, and let me tell you, I was, and am, impressed! So I say, here and now, that such talent cannot, I repeat, cannot, be set aside in The Fight Against Ignorace[sup]®[/sup]. In fact, should that other, newly recovered paragon of virtue and sincerity, Mr Scylla, wish to join forces with you in this effort, well…magnificent! Why with the two of you by his side, Sherlock Holmes would have never left home. Not so good for Sir Doyle, but that’s another matter entirely.
It is in that vein, and with all due candor and respect, that I offer the following extracts from this article for perusal at your earliest convenience:
Now see, I need that bolded part explained to me a bit better. 'cause what I gather at first glance puts quite a damper on Mr Bush’s otherwise impeccable reputation. Namely that while Mr Bush was in Alabana – no doubt tending to very important matters – his absence may have imperiled the whole Gulf Coast of the US of A, for as I am sure you’re well aware no one knew at the time, exactly when the Viet Cong might decide to launch a critical air offensive on America. A fact proven by the very fact that Mr Bush’s unit kept two fighter jets ready for take off at all times. Yes, I realize that this might be too wide a charge to place on his already overburdened shoulders, but the fact of the matter is the the US was at war during this perilous period! At war, Sir. Ponder that if you will, and then ponder this: while Senator Kerry was sunning himself on a dingy in some slinky river in 'nam, Mr Bush, depended upon to operate one of the most expensive, deadly and accurate weapons on the US arsenal, was, apparently, MIA.
A depressing thought I am sure we’d all agree, for even the slightest chink in Mr Bush’s armour would tarnish his almost superhuman status amongst us mere mortals. And that simply can’t be. I mean, this story is flat-out wrong. Just has to be, right Sam?
I am almost willing to put forth that is simply more lies from the filthy liberal media. But that wouldn’t be prudent. Nope, nope, it wouldn’t be. Not before you can assure me that such is the case.
See, I trust you, Mr Stone. And this is no time to quit. This can’t be. No it can’t. Say it ain’t so, Sam…please.
Thanks in advance for taking this matter into consideration. Await for your reply with heart aflutter.
PS-I like these “®” thingamagingies. Hope they don’t detract from the overall ungency of my message.
Whoa, slow down there, Dostoyevsky. If the Dems turn up a poor fitness report on Bush, I’d love to read it. We have a second-hand memo that mentions a bad evaluation, but that could be for a lot of things. It would depend on the nature of the evaluation.
Bush has partly inoculated himself from these types of attacks though, by admitting that he was a screw-up when he was young, enjoyed a few too many cocktails, and eventually had to straighten up and fly right. If the evaluation turns up something egregious, that’ll make me think less of him. Sure.
