If Kerry is a pathological liar, what does that make Bush, or Cheney, or Rumsfeld, or–my god, the list is people who misled (or maybe just made mistakes) on Iraq is endless!!!

If Kerry is a pathological liar, what does that make Bush, or Cheney, or Rumsfeld, or–my god, the list is people who misled (or maybe just made mistakes) on Iraq is endless!!!

I actually have respect for those who opposed Vietnam and Iraq on principle, from the beginning, or after what at least can be defended as a true and natural process that changed their viewpoint.

Kerry does not get that benefit of doubt. Since he was in college, everything he did in his life was a planned and staged event to try to become President, not due to any great vision for the country, but just because he wanted to be President.

Other than Nixon, I cannot think of a modern politician less suited to hold higher office than John Kerry.

Enough said. I am not going to change anyone's mind on him, nor is my opinion of him going to change either (outside some incredible new evidence showing his entire life in a new light).

I actually have respect for those who opposed Vietnam and Iraq on principle, from the beginning, or after what at least can be defended as a true and natural process that changed their viewpoint.

Kerry does not get that benefit of doubt. Since he was in college, everything he did in his life was a planned and staged event to try to become President, not due to any great vision for the country, but just because he wanted to be President.

Other than Nixon, I cannot think of a modern politician less suited to hold higher office than John Kerry.

Enough said. I am not going to change anyone's mind on him, nor is my opinion of him going to change either (outside some incredible new evidence showing his entire life in a new light).

For God's sake!!

Do you really think we ought to consider an opinion piece by a fellow of the right wing American Enterprise Institute solid evidence?

Factually, the worst that can be said of Kerry is that he confused the end of December with the beginning of February.

And did he exaggerate? Sure!

But aren't you also exaggerating, Austin Roth?

For God's sake!!

Do you really think we ought to consider an opinion piece by a fellow of the right wing American Enterprise Institute solid evidence?

Factually, the worst that can be said of Kerry is that he confused the end of December with the beginning of February.

And did he exaggerate? Sure!

But aren't you also exaggerating, Austin Roth?

McCain is scared that the foundation of his campaign will be exposed as weak. General Clark has never once failed to acknowledge and honor McCain for his service, The man would never dishonor the service of anyone who has worn the uniform. However, as honorable as McCain's service was it did not give him any experience at the executive level, and he has never been involved in defense strategy or policy making. If he is running on the idea that his war service proves that he would be a better Commander in Chief than Barack Obama then we have the duty to examine the relevancy of that service to the duties of the office which he seeks.

Lost in this mess has been the fact that the most decorated General since Eisenhower has had his integrity called in to question by a bunch of political hacks who aren't fit to shine the General's shoes. All as a diversionary tactic to take the focus off of their guys weakness. That is a disgrace that should not go unnoticed.

McCain is scared that the foundation of his campaign will be exposed as weak. General Clark has never once failed to acknowledge and honor McCain for his service, The man would never dishonor the service of anyone who has worn the uniform. However, as honorable as McCain's service was it did not give him any experience at the executive level, and he has never been involved in defense strategy or policy making. If he is running on the idea that his war service proves that he would be a better Commander in Chief than Barack Obama then we have the duty to examine the relevancy of that service to the duties of the office which he seeks.

Lost in this mess has been the fact that the most decorated General since Eisenhower has had his integrity called in to question by a bunch of political hacks who aren't fit to shine the General's shoes. All as a diversionary tactic to take the focus off of their guys weakness. That is a disgrace that should not go unnoticed.

There is absolutely no confusion that on Christmas, 1968, he was not in Cambodia, as he stated in writing, on the floor of Congress, and on numerous other occasions.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A...

The only reason the press even gives him any benefit of doubt is because they agree with his politics, particularly on the Vietnam and Iraq war.

He also lied about throwing his medals over the White House wall, then tried to use lawyerly weasel words to deny the impression he had left about that incident.

There is so much 'confusion' between what he has stated happened while he served, and what others remember, that given the number of provable lies and misrepresentations in his life, I give him no credence on just about any subject.

He is not, IMO opinion, a 'patriot and war hero', but rather an opportunist, a liar, and a disgrace to the uniform he wore, and wore under false pretenses.

In short, he is scum.

There is absolutely no confusion that on Christmas, 1968, he was not in Cambodia, as he stated in writing, on the floor of Congress, and on numerous other occasions.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A...

The only reason the press even gives him any benefit of doubt is because they agree with his politics, particularly on the Vietnam and Iraq war.

He also lied about throwing his medals over the White House wall, then tried to use lawyerly weasel words to deny the impression he had left about that incident.

There is so much 'confusion' between what he has stated happened while he served, and what others remember, that given the number of provable lies and misrepresentations in his life, I give him no credence on just about any subject.

He is not, IMO opinion, a 'patriot and war hero', but rather an opportunist, a liar, and a disgrace to the uniform he wore, and wore under false pretenses.

In short, he is scum.

A search reveals only vague evidence AND a lot of political attacks.

The only thing on your side is that Kerry hasn't released his persoanl logs and records. Cosidering how the Swiftboaters have twisted and/or ignored the evidence and testimony that exonerates Kerry, I can't say I blame him .

There is also a lot of confusion about Cambodian/Vietnamese waters, Cambodia.proper, and where the nonexistent border signppsts were. .

I will grant that there is an IF about this one, and only one, allegation, but to jump on board with the Swiftboaters and their political motivation on the bases of an IF is a matter of political choice, not a neutral analysis.

A search reveals only vague evidence AND a lot of political attacks.

The only thing on your side is that Kerry hasn't released his persoanl logs and records. Cosidering how the Swiftboaters have twisted and/or ignored the evidence and testimony that exonerates Kerry, I can't say I blame him .

There is also a lot of confusion about Cambodian/Vietnamese waters, Cambodia.proper, and where the nonexistent border signppsts were. .

I will grant that there is an IF about this one, and only one, allegation, but to jump on board with the Swiftboaters and their political motivation on the bases of an IF is a matter of political choice, not a neutral analysis.

Kerry in Cambodia. Need I say more?

Kerry in Cambodia. Need I say more?

I repeat. McCain can be proud of his war record.
That's one asset he has been touting since forever, and he has every right to.
One asset is not an automatic pass to the WH.

Obama, likewise, has assets He, likewise does not get an automatic pass to the WH. In fact, he is being raked over the coals to get there.

There is nothing sacred about Obama, and there is nothing sacred about McCain.
Welcome to the elections, Lobbing false 'I'm so offneded' pleas will not help McCain. In fact, they fly in the face of the stoic hero image he is trying to project.
A whining stoic hero?

I repeat. McCain can be proud of his war record.
That's one asset he has been touting since forever, and he has every right to.
One asset is not an automatic pass to the WH.

Obama, likewise, has assets He, likewise does not get an automatic pass to the WH. In fact, he is being raked over the coals to get there.

There is nothing sacred about Obama, and there is nothing sacred about McCain.
Welcome to the elections, Lobbing false 'I'm so offneded' pleas will not help McCain. In fact, they fly in the face of the stoic hero image he is trying to project.
A whining stoic hero?

I finally found out who this “Aravosis” is (some blogger at Americablog) in a Leonard Pitts column. And, of course, we condemn his remarks. But the following from the same Pitts columns is relevant to the discussion (And keep in mind, his criticism is not of Clark, but rather of Aravosis and his ilk–Democrat or Republican):

“Indeed, if you were making a movie out of this, you'd call it “Swift Boat II: The Revenge,” after the equally bizarre, equally shameful and equally crude 2004 attacks on John Kerry, another senator who was regarded as a war hero.

Kerry was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for braving enemy fire while wounded to rescue a Special Forces officer. But that heroism was slimed (Kerry was never under fire, they claim) by people working for the re-election of a president who served in the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War and a vice president who dodged service altogether. Delegates at the GOP convention even mocked Kerry's wounds, sporting bandages bearing purple hearts.

Some may feel McCain is simply the gander being served a sauce first tasted by the goose. But it seems to me something has gone haywire in a nation that forgets how to revere the service of military men and women, political expediencies and affiliations be damned, a nation where a Max Cleland can leave three limbs in Vietnam yet have his patriotism questioned or a John Murtha can serve as a Marine for 37 years yet be called a coward.

I make no case for sainthood for those or any other military personnel. I make no case that military service exempts you from criticism, however vigorous and sharp. No, the case I make is for simple respect.

We pin flags to our lapels, tack ribbons to our bumpers, and yes, some of us do so in earnestness. But for many of us, I think these are simply props, a means to display what we are supposed to feel, but, as children of a shallow, glittery time, are no longer able to. After all, feeling implies reverence.

And reverence doesn't live here anymore. “

As a footnote, Democratic Senator and war hero, triple amputee Max Cleland certainly wans't “swiftboated” by Democrats! And, remember who “swiftboated” McCain–even before swiftboating became fashionable:

As Rudi says “The origins of the McCain smear predate Kerry and Clark and come from the far Right fringe. A man named Sampley made the same claims about McCain in 2000, and Sampley isn't a Progressive.”

I finally found out who this “Aravosis” is (some blogger at Americablog) in a Leonard Pitts column. And, of course, we condemn his remarks. But the following from the same Pitts columns is relevant to the discussion (And keep in mind, his criticism is not of Clark, but rather of Aravosis and his ilk–Democrat or Republican):

“Indeed, if you were making a movie out of this, you'd call it “Swift Boat II: The Revenge,” after the equally bizarre, equally shameful and equally crude 2004 attacks on John Kerry, another senator who was regarded as a war hero.

Kerry was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for braving enemy fire while wounded to rescue a Special Forces officer. But that heroism was slimed (Kerry was never under fire, they claim) by people working for the re-election of a president who served in the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War and a vice president who dodged service altogether. Delegates at the GOP convention even mocked Kerry's wounds, sporting bandages bearing purple hearts.

Some may feel McCain is simply the gander being served a sauce first tasted by the goose. But it seems to me something has gone haywire in a nation that forgets how to revere the service of military men and women, political expediencies and affiliations be damned, a nation where a Max Cleland can leave three limbs in Vietnam yet have his patriotism questioned or a John Murtha can serve as a Marine for 37 years yet be called a coward.

I make no case for sainthood for those or any other military personnel. I make no case that military service exempts you from criticism, however vigorous and sharp. No, the case I make is for simple respect.

We pin flags to our lapels, tack ribbons to our bumpers, and yes, some of us do so in earnestness. But for many of us, I think these are simply props, a means to display what we are supposed to feel, but, as children of a shallow, glittery time, are no longer able to. After all, feeling implies reverence.

And reverence doesn't live here anymore. “

As a footnote, Democratic Senator and war hero, triple amputee Max Cleland certainly wans't “swiftboated” by Democrats! And, remember who “swiftboated” McCain–even before swiftboating became fashionable:

As Rudi says “The origins of the McCain smear predate Kerry and Clark and come from the far Right fringe. A man named Sampley made the same claims about McCain in 2000, and Sampley isn't a Progressive.”