JFK: Defending the Indefensible

[LA_Renter]

I hear you CONHCO. I would say right now the GOP will build a monument to John Kerry if he bails them out of this election. It’s too bad in my opinion. I have never seen the GOP in worse shape than it is right now. I’m a libertarian and this GOP basically has become the antithesis of everything I believe in. I looked at John Kerry’s speech on Youtube, he was clearly taking a jab at the Pres, not the troops. Even if you think he did take a shot at the troops, think this thing through. What politician in their right mind would take a pot shot at our Armed Forces during a time hostilities? The reason everyone is discussing this on basically every blog on the web is because we live in a “soundbite” political world. The Kerry gaff is the perfect soundbite to be taken out of context. It was concise and clear. When I first heard it I went WTF? Most people will not dig deeper to see what really happened. If you are a democrat well then Life ain’t fair. This whole thing makes my stomach feel a little queezy. We are facing some serious and I mean serious challenges in this country. To have a major political debate be reduced into a soundbite gaff taken out of context doesn’t speak well of our current state of mind as a country. IMHO

[no_such_reality]

Let’s face fact, speaking as an Orange County Republican, if your biggest concern is whether John Kerry said our military lacked education and opportunity and hence ended up in Iraq (a comment about opportunity in the country) or merely bumbled a joke on the President’s handling of Iraq, IMHO you aren’t paying attention for the last five years.

This “issue” is nothing more than a distraction from our current administration mis-handling of many things. The current administration is not conservative, they’re religious fundamentalists.

They have increased our debt. They have increased our spending. They have increased Government interference with the States. They have pared away your freedoms in the name of “security”.

[LA_Renter]

no_such_reality

Good Post!

[JES]

“They have pared away your freedoms in the name of “security”.”

And in the process we have stopped numerous terrorist attacks and put ourselves in a position to hopefully stop future attacks. Heaven forbid the government have the ability to wiretap suspected terrorists or look at their email. I mean, these guys really should have the same rights we have, even if they are planning to kill a million Americans, right?

ZK – We’re you crying when you wrote that reply to jg? Just wondering since it was such an emotional, hate filled response.

If Kerry’s remarks were not directed at the troops, then why has he appologized to them? Why has every Democratic leader come out and insisted that he appologize?

[Anonymous]

Who served and who didn’t?

Served:

* Richard Gephardt: Air National Guard, 1965-71.
* David Bonior: Staff Sgt., Air Force 1968-72.
* Tom Daschle: 1st Lt., Air Force SAC 1969-72.
* Al Gore: enlisted Aug. 1969; sent to Vietnam Jan.
1971 as an army journalist in 20th Engineer Brigade.
* Bob Kerrey: Lt. j.g. Navy 1966-69; Medal of Honor, Vietnam.
* Daniel Inouye: Army 1943-’47; Medal of Honor, WWII.
* John Kerry: Lt., Navy 1966-70; Silver Star, Bronze
Star with Combat V Purple Hearts.
* John Edwards: did not serve.
* Charles Rangel: Staff Sgt., Army 1948-52; Bronze Star, Korea.
* Max Cleland: Captain, Army 1965-68; Silver Star & Bronze Star, Vietnam.
* Ted Kennedy: Army, 1951-1953.

and on and on …

Didn’t:

* Dennis Hastert: did not serve.
* Tom Delay: did not serve.
* House Whiip Roy Blunt: did not serve.
* Bill Frist: did not serve.
* Rudy Giuliani: did not serve.
* George Pataki: did not serve.
* Mitch McConnell: did not serve.
* Rick Santorum: did not serve.
* Trent Lott: did not serve.
* Dick Cheney: did not serve. Had “other priorities.”
Several deferments, the last for wife’s pregnancy.
* John Ashcroft: did not serve. Seven deferments to teach business.
* Jeb Bush: did not serve.
* Karl Rove: did not serve.
* Saxby Chambliss: did not serve. “Bad knee.” The man who attacked Max Cleland’s patriotism

and on and on …

Sean Hannity: did not serve.
* Rush Limbaugh: did not serve (4-F with a ‘pilonidal
cyst.’)
* Bill O’Reilly: did not serve.
* Michael Savage: did not serve.
* George Will: did not serve.
* Chris Matthews: did not serve.
* Paul Gigot: did not serve.
* Bill Bennett: did not serve.
* Pat Buchanan: did not serve.
* Bill Kristol: did not serve.
* Kenneth Starr: did not serve.
* Michael Medved: did not serve.

and on and on and on …

[zk]

JES,

I asked him some questions. Questions he hasn’t answered, but to which the answers are pretty obvious.

He calls us wild-eyed, and I ask him if he has any ideas of his own, and I’m the emotional one. Get a grip.

[JES]

Give me a break. You chose a sample that would back up your own point…

[blahblahblah]

JES, read the link I posted a few hours ago. Kerry apologized for botching the joke, not for insulting servicemen. No politician as self-serving as John Kerry would ever insult the military, especially not immediately before a crucial election.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15512797/

Now go turn on your telescreen! The Two Minutes Hate is about to start! Death to Emmanuel Goldstein! BB! BB! BB!

[JES]

ZK – Much of what would be conveyed very well in a conversation is lost in a blog. Reading between the lines, sensing sarcasm etc. are all very difficult. I have a few friends who are very liberal and I joke with them all the time, ride them about the issues etc. On this board comments seem to always be taken at their face value, when in fact many of us are trying to be funny while at the same time making our points. JG excels at this!

[Anonymous]

Don’t like the sample. Give me YOUR data. Data rules here, correct?

Oh, wait, there is McCain, right? Get another point and you might just get a “straight” line.

[Anonymous]

Good post kristin. The thing that still has me perplexed is why do so many military people still support Bush? He had no credentials prior to election, and since being President he has boched practically everything relating to the military.

Groupthink is the only thing that comes to mind. Military members are taught to be sheeple be design.

[Anonymous]

The troops have every right to voice support for this administration. The alternative, to think you have been sent on a mission by leaders who have never sacrificed based on lies is just too much to ask anyone to bear. People join the military because they love this country, and it is our nation’s (and everybody who lives in it) responsibility to not abuse this. Who cares about John Kerry? It’s Bush that owes this nation and its troops an apology. An apology that the troops will never ask for, as they are too busy facing the grim reality of our failed Iraq policy.

[PD]

kristinejm, that is some list. Hunting down every Democrat who served and every Republican who did not is really something. How about a complete list instead of one you cherry picked?

Deadzone, nice insult to military folks.

How do military people feel about serving under Bush? Based on the people I know, most of them like it a thousand times better than serving under Bill Clinton (please note that these are people that I know and do not represent all military personnel). I say most because I do know one officer who admits to being a Democrat.

I think military service is an excellent experience and should be encouraged. In fact, I am a fan of conscription (that will set the chickens squawking). Further, I think military service should be a requirement for the office of President of the United States. Anyone who is Commander in Chief of our armed forces should have experience serving.

[no_such_reality]

Heaven forbid the government have the ability to wiretap suspected terrorists or look at their email.

They always could wiretap suspected terrorists, they just needed to follow well established processes to make sure they weren’t abusing their power.

Now they can do it without review, without information and it is illegal for anybody detained under the patriot act to even talk about it. It isn’t about security, it’s about hubris and administrative arm of the government not wanting to have to justify their actions to another part of the government.

It is the dismantling of the checks and balances the founding fathers installed in our government to prevent the government from abusing it’s citizens.

The government can put you away with no charges. That’s not right.

[Anonymous]

More complete list:

Sorry. I forgot Duke Cunningham.

[Author]

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