I find it a lot more difficult to believe that 225 men are lying as opposed to the 8 or so who support Kerry. I mean it's common sense. 225 is an awful lot of people. If there was nothing to the Swift Boat Vets' side of the story, you'd think that at least some of them would come forward and say that they have been unfairly represented by their organization...but it hasn't happened. As for those 8 that supposedly support Kerry...well, let's just say it's a lot easier to make promises to those 8 in exchange for their support than it is to try and buy off the whole Swift Boat organization. Not necessarily saying that that's what happened, but the sheer ratio of against Kerry/for Kerry (225/8) makes that scenario highly possible.
According to this study, it looks like the Swiftboat vets are putting a dent in Kerry's swing-vote supporters. "The ad planted doubts in the minds of 27 percent of independent voters who planned to vote for Kerry or leaned pro-Kerry. After seeing it, they were no longer sure they'd back him, the study found." As for Kerry's 8 supporters, looks like they won't back him on everything after all. One of the anti-Kerry vets, John O'Neill, wrote the best seller "Unfit for Command," which lambastes Kerry as a cowardly liar and says his claim to have spent Christmas 1968 on a covert mission to Cambodia was a lie. The Kerry camp is now hedging on that claim, which Kerry once told the Senate was "seared" into his memory ever since President Richard Nixon falsely claimed there were no U.S. troops in Cambodia. In fact, Nixon wasn't yet president. The Democrat's team yesterday held a press conference of pro-Kerry vets, but none of his crewmates was able to validate his Christmas-in-Cambodia claim. http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/27075.htm
Well, I guess turnabout mudslinging is fair play. Finally, the Truth About Bush's Military Service Record . . . In his annual evaluation report, Bush's two supervising officers, Lieutenant Colonel William D. Harris Jr. and Lieutenant Colonel Jerry B. Killian, made it clear that Bush had "not been observed at" his Texas unit "during the period of report" -- the twelve month period from May 1972 through the end of April 1973. . . . . . "In short, for the several hundred thousand dollars we tax payers spent on getting [Bush] trained as a fighter jock, he repaid us with sixty-eight days of active duty. And God only knows if and when he ever flew on those days," concludes a military source. "I've spent more time cleaning up latrines than he did flying." . . . Bush's Military Record Reveals Grounding and Absence for Two Full Years . . . "With two years left in his six-year obligation to the Texas Air National Guard, 1st Lt. George W. Bush was mysteriously suspended from flight - and never again reported for a single day of duty." . . . . . ."The crucial evidence – a Flight Inquiry Board– that would reveal the true reasons for Bush's suspension, as well as the punishment that was recommended, is missing from the records released so far. If no such Board was convened, this raises further questions of extraordinary favoritism." . . . . . ."Contrary to Bush's emphatic statements and several published reports,*Bush never actually reported in person for the last two years of his service – in direct violation of two separate written orders. Moreover, the lack of punishment for this misconduct represents the crowning achievement of a military career distinguished only by favoritism." . . . ..."Competition for the few openings in the National Guard was intense, and there was a waiting list of 100,000 nationally at the time. Bush took the Air Force officer and pilot qualification tests on January 17, 1968. He scored 25%, the lowest possible passing grade on the pilot aptitude portion. On his application form, he listed his "background qualifications" as "none." But despite the waiting list, his low score and his lack of qualifications, Bush was given a highly-coveted spot and was sworn in on May 27 for a six-year commitment." . . . . . ."Bush and his father have adamantly denied that he received preferential treatment, despite the fact that his father was then a U.S. Representative from Texas. But the Speaker of the House in Texas at the time, Ben Barnes,*admitted under oath last year that he had received a request from a longtime Bush family friend, Sidney Adger of Houston, to help Bush get into the [Texas] Air National Guard." . . . . . ."after he completed only six weeks of basic airman training, Bush received a commission as a second lieutenant in the Texas Air National Guard. This was by means of a 'special appointment' by the commanding officer of his squadron, with the approval of a panel of three senior officers. This 2nd Lt. commission was extraordinary, since it normally required eight full semesters of college ROTC courses or eighteen months of military service or completion of Air Force officer training school. "
Geez Red, stop worrying. Mean ol' Mr. Bush isn't going to go after your stash if he's re-elected. :hihi: :hihi: :hihi:
ok fine everyone is a deserter, or a war criminal and a liar. why does kerry like affirmative action? ? increased minimum wage? raising taxes on the rich, who already pay all the bills? waging a more sensitive war on terror? waiting for "allies" to approve before taking military action? what about that stuff?
Well Red, you almost had me convinced. Then I remembered, Bush isn't the one who gives a salute every freakin' time he gives a speech. Bush didn't testify before Congress accusing his fellow soldiers of being criminals. Bush doesn't say he is ashamed of his military sevice (or proud of it) depending on what group he is addressing. Bush didn't make military service the corner stone of his qualification to be president. John Kerry brought this all on himself. One question. If the Swiftboat Vets wanted to harm Kerry by telling these lies, why didn't they wait a couple of months to come out with their accusations so Kerry wouldn't have time to defend himself before the election? Seems to me like they aren't the ones who are afraid for the truth to come out. Kerry has plenty of time to make his case. So far, hasn't done so.
This is stuff we'd all like to hear, Martin...the problem is, Mr. Kerry won't talk about any of that stuff. And the reason he won't talk about any of that stuff is that he doesn't have a plan. And for people like Red, who think that Kerry isn't making his war record the centerpiece of his campaign, I'll just say this: if that's truly the case, then what is all this saluting and "John Kerry, reporting for duty" crap in his acceptance speech at the convention? Why is it that he never misses an opportunity to tell anyone who'll listen that he was in 'Nam? Sure sounds like he's trying to make as big a deal of his service as he can to me.
Martin, you already know the answer to those questions. Kerry can't win on the issues. His whole platform is a rip-off of socialist ideals. The disillusionment with the situation in Iraq that many Americans have is the only chance he has.
