Not Fit For Command

“Having heard a lot of talk radio last Friday I have to say this whole thing has been a good thing. Not only because some things are coming into the light but some things are being clarified both to sKerry’s woe and credit.

Did anyone actually hear the official Whitehouse comment? Something to the tune of “We have never and will never question sKerry’s service and they do not condone these types of ads.”.

I do think the left needs to quit their crying and whining though. We conservatives have had all the F9/11 bullchit jammed down our throats for a few months now. Now it’s the left’s turn. So sit down, shut the phuck up and eat your shlt like good boys and girls.”

“I guess cowboy boots is one reason to vote for Bush I had not considered.”

“Bush's phoney Texass accent is another good reason, Geo.”

“He'd be even better if he wore his gun outside his pants for all the honest world to feel.”

“I'm still waiting to hear a good reason to vote for Kerry, other than "He's not Bush". There doesn't seem to be any.”

“Vote for Kerry: He's not Dukakis?”

“Kerry hasn't fallen off a bike.”

“But the dust that Pancho bit down south ended up in Lefty's mouth ---”

“How can I read the book when I refuse to put any money in thier coffers? Are libraries carrying this yet? If so, is it in fiction or non-fiction?

When others used this same reason for not seeing F9/11 they were derided as being close minded, hopeless partisans who were unfit to comment on the contents of the movie.”

“It always does, Tilt. It always does.”

“Well, that's certainly a general indictment. I don't think I did. Who do you mean?”

“Saddam needs your prayers it's true
But save a few for Osama too
He only did what he had to do
And now he's growing old

All the federales say
They could have had him any day
They only let him go so long
Out of kindness I suppose”

“Dat's the one ---”

“"When others used this same reason for not seeing F9/11 they were derided as being close minded, hopeless partisans who were unfit to comment on the contents of the movie."

No HPM, he's afraid of the truth. At least that's what I always got from the Moore crowd.”

“I asked if the book is in libraries yet, and where should I look for it, fiction or non-fiction?”

“How about friction?”

“You praise Clinton, and I'm sure his new wonderful book. You Praise Moore and his movie. And you ask a stupid question like that?”

“NoProb!

I've been thinking about your post.

I could list off a whole bunch of issues, but I don't think that is what a presidential campaign is all about. Presidents need help from Congress for dramatic policy changes. Kerry is likely to have at least one house against him. So, most things he promises are unlikely to happen.

Specifics are meaningless. General directions are important. Kerry is more left of center. Bush is more right of center.

Presidents do control a large institution. So, it's good to see how a candidate manipulates the conventions, party apparatus, campaign cash.

Kerry has been very impressive. He ran a tidy convention. He makes few mistakes in his public speeches and appearances. His campaign team seems well-organized and cohesive. He's taken some good, calculated risks - mortgaging his house, adding some fire to his convention speech. He's shown that he can compromise - he picked a rival for VP.

So, he's shown that he is a professional and can run something very large and maintain his sanity.

Kerry has also been judicious in his use of what I'll call campaign artillery. There has been much to criticize Bush about recently in terms of the war. I'll bet that privately Kerry is very much against this war. It would be easy to pull the Howard Dean and start ranting about the whole thing. But he hasn't. He's maintained his cool. Either he's waiting for just the right time. Or he realizes that he'll have to run the darn thing himself in a few months and will need the credibility on the war to do it.

I tend to think that Bush is really just a human pinata at this point. The war and economy will not get better in three months. Whenever Kerry wants to destroy Bush, he can. He just doesn't want to jeopardize his own presidency to do it.”

“Some info on the co author of the book
...sounds like a real fun guy to have around....”

“What a nice guy. Thanks for posting that, Mtn.”

“I'm sure Harvard is very proud. Now you know why I won't buy his propagandist book!”

“This book is coming off a bit sketchy but as I said, they have a side of the story to tell and they should be able to tell it. Even if half of the book is spun this leaves half the book showing sKerry to be the liar that he is. The more sKerry opens his mouth the more he will hang himself. Do you know where you were on Christmas eve of ’68? “Um, we’ll have an answer for you later.”.

I do think however that we on the right should concentrate on the true reason this bag of shlt is unfit to command which is his record. That is plenty to go on.”

“Yeah – Dishonest attacks on decorated veterans are real classy campaign tactics.

Sure they should be free to tell their story – just as Bush should be free to denounce the ad – or endorse it with his silence. It’s very telling about the relative character of the candidates.

I do hope Kerry’s lawyers go after these guys after the election.”

“Liars and crooks, oh my!”

“Campaign tactics? It was the SB vets, not Bush. Get over it. And the Bush administration DID denounce it. You probably skipped over all those reports, right? I think it’s hilarious for sKerry to use lawyers to try to block the group. What a phucking whiner. You didn’t see Bush trying this type of backdoor defense with F9/11 or with BowelMovementOn.org’s attacks.

He and all of the left should shut the phuck up and take their lumps and quit crying.”

“Look who's cryin'”

“No crying here Mark. Only laughing and giggling. After months of Bush taking his lumps from all sides and sucking it up and pushing on finally some threw a turd back at the left and they are all offended and up in arms. How could I cry when every time sKerry opens his mouth another glaring lie comes out exposing him for what he is? Hell, I’m absolutely giddy here. Nothing more fun than a squirming liberal! :)”

“Ok wise guy, the proof will be in the pudding.

These anti-Kerry guys are a bunch of paid liars, just watch.”

“Swiftboat Veterans For A Big Paycheck. Let's tell it like it is.”

“I heard that Sandy Berger was exonerated, by the way.

When these "swifties" are found out I wonder if the media will make as much of it as they did when they were calling Kerry a liar.

Once a "liberal" has been falsely smeared, where does he or she go to get their reputation back when the real liars are exposed?”

“The answer to that is no.

When anyone on either side is smeared and later cleared the "clearing" is usually given close to zero press.”

“Nigal - The Bush administration DID NOT denounce the ad. I didn't skip over anything. You're either misinformed or lying.

According to everything I've read, Bush had his campaign communications director to say that they have never questioned Kerry’s service and Scott McClellan to speak against 527 groups. It’s the same pattern Bush has followed his entire political career. He lets his surrogates do his dirty work and then when the flack comes in, he hides behind his people like a total #&%!$.

If you find this stuff funny, your soul is poisoned.”

“Book on Kerry gets surprise makeover

Shoppers at Barnes & Noble.com looking for a controversial new book on Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kerry got a surprise yesterday, when someone gained access to the site's computer system and altered the book's cover and title.

The book "Unfit to Command" alleges that Kerry has made false assertions about his actions as a Navy lieutenant during the Vietnam War.

Since its publication last week, the book has been one of the top-selling titles at Barnes & Noble.com.

But yesterday shoppers found that the book's cover had been altered. The photo of an older Kerry was replaced with one of Kerry as a young man in Vietnam, surrounded by comrades. And the title was changed to "Fit to Command."

"At this point, we cannot explain how it may have happened," said Mary Ellen Keating, a spokeswoman for Barnes & Noble. "Barnes & Noble.com did not change the title of this book on its website."

As of Monday afternoon, the original book cover was once again on display at the site.”

“"Nigal - The Bush administration DID NOT denounce the ad.”

Here V, print this out, take it home and have you wife read it to you and explain it to you because you obviously can’t read English…

"We have not questioned Kerry's service in Vietnam," spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters. He also called for an end to the campaign finance reform loophole that helps fund these attacks ads, a number of which have targeted the president.

(See, this means the Bush admin doesn’t question his service to the country)

"We have called for an immediate cessation of these ads and hope John Kerry will, too," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.

(And here they are saying that these ads should stop)

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/08/05/politics/main634123.shtml

“He lets his surrogates do his dirty work and then when the flack comes in, he hides behind his people like a total #&%!$.”

Silly silly little man! Why is having his spokesman give their official reaction? He IS a spokesman after all. Why the hell should Bush take the time to defend sKerry? You’re just reaching here and lookin’ stupid in the process.

“If you find this stuff funny, your soul is poisoned."

Having truth (to any degree) come out is not a bad thing. If sKerry is innocent I’ll be the first one to say so. If he is guilty, I’ll be the first one to jump on with both feet and make you liberals look stupid. 8) And where were you and your boy sKerry when BowelMovementOn.org was running ads comparing Bush to Hitler?

Like I said, sit down, shut the phuck up and take your turn at eating shlt. Would you like salt with that?”

“MoveOn did not run ads comparing Bush to Hitler.”

“However, the Bush/Cheney web site DID runs ads with Dean, Kerry and others morphing into Hitler.”

“"Kerry's not fit for command if for no other reason than he wants the U.S. subservient to the UN."
-- Mutt
07:28:40 AM
08/06/04



From the NY Times:

"...an Iraqi government has replaced the American occupation authority, and American commanders are saying that their actions will be decided by that government."


So you're saying that Allawi is a better choice?


BTW - Kerry explicitly stated: ""Let there be no mistake: I will never hesitate to use force when it is required. Any attack will be met with a swift and certain response. I will never give any nation or international institution a veto over our national security."”

“That's just the standard line that has been regurgitated since the '80s, Rev.”

“Shame on the Swift Boat Veterans for Bush

By JIM RASSMANN
August 10, 2004; Page A10 Wall Street Journal

I came to know Lt. John Kerry during the spring of 1969. He and his swift boat crew assisted in inserting our Special Forces team and our Chinese Nung soldiers into operational sites in the Cau Mau Peninsula of South Vietnam. I worked with him on many operations and saw firsthand his leadership, courage and decision-making ability under fire.

On March 13, 1969, John Kerry's courage and leadership saved my life.

While returning from a SEA LORDS operation along the Bay Hap River, a mine detonated under another swift boat. Machine-gun fire erupted from both banks of the river, and a second explosion followed moments later. The second blast blew me off John's swift boat, PCF-94, throwing me into the river. Fearing that the other boats would run me over, I swam to the bottom of the river and stayed there as long as I could hold my breath.

When I surfaced, all the swift boats had left, and I was alone taking fire from both banks. To avoid the incoming fire, I repeatedly swam under water as long as I could hold my breath, attempting to make it to the north bank of the river. I thought I would die right there. The odds were against me avoiding the incoming fire and, even if I made it out of the river, I thought I'd be captured and executed. Kerry must have seen me in the water and directed his driver, Del Sandusky, to turn the boat around. Kerry's boat ran up to me in the water, bow on, and I was able to climb up a cargo net to the lip of the deck. But, because I was nearly upside down, I couldn't make it over the edge of the deck. This left me hanging out in the open, a perfect target. John, already wounded by the explosion that threw me off his boat, came out onto the bow, exposing himself to the fire directed at us from the jungle, and pulled me aboard.

For his actions that day, I recommended John for the Silver Star, our country's third highest award for bravery under fire. I learned only this past January that the Navy awarded John the Bronze Star with Combat V for his valor. The citation for this award, signed by the Commander of U.S. Naval Forces, Vietnam, Vice Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, read, "Lieutenant (junior grade) Kerry's calmness, professionalism and great personal courage under fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service." To this day I am grateful to John Kerry for saving my life. And to this day I still believe that he deserved the Silver Star for his courage.

It has been many years since I served in Vietnam. I returned home, got married, and spent many years as a deputy sheriff for Los Angeles County. I retired in 1989 as a lieutenant. It has been a long time since I left Vietnam, but I think often of the men who did not come home with us.

I am neither a politician nor an organizer. I am a retired police officer with a passion for orchids. Until January of this year, the only public presentations I made were about my orchid hobby. But in this presidential election, I had to speak out; I had to tell the American people about John Kerry, about his wisdom and courage, about his vision and leadership. I would trust John Kerry with my life, and I would entrust John Kerry with the well-being of our country.

Nobody asked me to join John's campaign. Why would they? I am a Republican, and for more than 30 years I have largely voted for Republicans. I volunteered for his campaign because I have seen John Kerry in the worst of conditions. I know his character. I've witnessed his bravery and leadership under fire. And I truly know he will be a great commander in chief.

Now, 35 years after the fact, some Republican-financed Swift Boat Veterans for Bush are suddenly lying about John Kerry's service in Vietnam; they are calling him a traitor because he spoke out against the Nixon administration's failed policies in Vietnam. Some of these Republican-sponsored veterans are the same ones who spoke out against John at the behest of the Nixon administration in 1971. But this time their attacks are more vicious, their lies cut deep and are directed not just at John Kerry, but at me and each of his crewmates as well. This hate-filled ad asserts that I was not under fire; it questions my words and Navy records. This smear campaign has been launched by people without decency, people who don't understand the bond of those who serve in combat.

As John McCain noted, the television ad aired by these veterans is "dishonest and dishonorable." Sen. McCain called on President Bush to condemn the Swift Boat Veterans for Bush ad. Regrettably, the president has ignored Sen. McCain's advice.

Does this strategy of attacking combat Vietnam veterans sound familiar? In 2000, a similar Republican smear campaign was launched against Sen. McCain. In fact, the very same communications group, Spaeth Communications, that placed ads against John McCain in 2000 is involved in these vicious attacks against John Kerry. Texas Republican donors with close ties to George W. Bush and Karl Rove crafted this "dishonest and dishonorable" ad. Their new charges are false; their stories are fabricated, made up by people who did not serve with Kerry in Vietnam. They insult and defame all of us who served in Vietnam.

But when the noise and fog of their distortions and lies have cleared, a man who volunteered to serve his country, a man who showed up for duty when his country called, a man to whom the United States Navy awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts, will stand tall and proud. Ultimately, the American people will judge these Swift Boat Veterans for Bush and their accusations. Americans are tired of smear campaigns against those who volunteered to wear the uniform. Swift Boat Veterans for Bush should hang their heads in shame.


Mr. Rassmann, a retired lieutenant with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, served with the U.S. Army 5th Special Forces Group in Vietnam 1968-69.


<sub>Corrections & Amplifications:

This commentary misstated the name of a group of Vietnam veterans; the correct name is the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.</sub>”

“Why should a group of vererans who like Kerry be considered more credible that another group who dislike him?”

“Follow the money”

“You mean Kerry paid his guys? I guess that's possible. Never thought of that.”

“Why should a group of vererans who like Kerry be considered more credible that another group who dislike him?"
NoProb
12:48:01 PM
08/11/04


Maybe because they were actually there, on the boat, with Kerry. Maybe we should believe the guy who was getting shot at, instead of people from boats that didn't come back for the guy.”

“From some dude on another forum: (Botox = Kerry)

The people he has with him at the convention that he calls his "Band of Brothers" were only with Botox for at the most 3 or 4 weeks. None of them had any idea of the things Botox was writing and submitting on his after action reports. He lied about an incident involving killing a family in a san pan and later submitted it as a group of VC getting ready to fire on him and his crew. The incident where he save Rassman was a little misleading too. There were 3 other boats around him while he was in the water within 10 to 15 yards of him. Botox DID NOT come back into enemy fire with bullets whizzing all around him and pluck him out of the water while the other boats shagged the scene, it didn't happen that way. Botox also has said on numerous occasions that his government ORDERED him to be in Cambodia on Christmas 1968. It is now proven that it is an outright lie. It's beyond dipute.
As for the 10 guys that support him, there are 63 guys that participated in that book who all have sworn affidavits and back their claims with FACTS and paperwork. They are well researched and simply writing an op-ed piece in the paper ain't gonna cut it. The Botox people revert back to classic Klinton era politics and attack the people who bring the message or write it, they NEVER address the arguments being made. The same thing is going on here. None of the things this book or the ads states are being questions, just the men who brought it up.
If that stuff isn't enough, why doesn't Botox release his war journal that would clear all of this stuff up? He has kept it secret since he came home. He could simply turn it loose and it should vindicate him and make the others look like a bunch of fools, why doesn't he do it? Why doesn't he allow the book he wrote in 1970 to be re-printed? The one called the "The New Soldier" http://ice.he.net/~freepnet/kerry/index.php?topic=NewSoldier where he had a bunch of hippies with an upside down flag re-enacting the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima on the cover and the book is filled with statements from people who aren't even vets or didn;t serve and they completely trash the military and call the army genocidal killers and all that kind of trash. There have been people offer to print and distribut it FREE, all he has to do is give the OK and make the manuscript available. Why won't he do it? It's just a book that he wrote, what's the harm? Conviently the DNC and friends of Botox went out and bought up as many existing copies of the book that they could find because they didn;t want it being found and shown on TV. They know what would happen if the actual TRUTH becomes known about what kind of man Botox REALLY is.”

“Yes they did V. They had two such ads on their web site that was submitted through a contest. They were taken down only after the RNC raised hell about it.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,107426,00.html”

“So how many of you folks passing judgment on Kerry were anywhere near any kind of swift boat during Vietnam?

I'm seeing a lot of experts on something they know nothing about.

I was not there, so I'm going on what the guys who were on his boat say. Battle actions are sometimes a tad exaggerated, but usually there's some level of truth to them.

But the fact is, none of us know for sure, and we are all entitled to believe what we will. But the folks who unleashed this crap on the public do not seem to have very much credibility, just as the folks at capitolhillblue.com have no credibility in reporting that Bush is a whacko druggie.

You know what the bottom line is in both cases? It may be true, but I don't see any evidence.”

“So they were entries in a contest, produced by others, that weren't even selected? Wow Nigal.”