Politics: J'accuse!

[bilmore]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
Another reason I'm happy to have Tivo. I haven't seen an ad for anything in months. Unless someoen's hawking something on the Daily Show, I'm not going to see it.

You could live in a state with .04 electoral votes, and then you never see anything like an ad, ever.

[Ty, Nee Slothrop]

Originally posted by bilmore
At least with Bush, you know what he's going to be the day after tomorrow.

A compassionate conservative who is opposed to nation-building? A uniter, not a divider?

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Ty, Nee Slothrop
A compassionate conservative who is opposed to nation-building? A uniter, not a divider?

STP and change that stupid avatar, the other one was grandfathered believe me you'll catch shit for that and if not then I'm going back to the bowtie instruction

[Say_hello_for_me]

Along the lines of what I recently posted here, Nightline tonight is going to show the face of every American soldier killed in combat in Iraq, along with their names and hometowns. Ted Koppel will read their names. He was quoted as saying the most important job of the press is to ensure people understand the costs of doing our nation's business.

THe response has been that the media has ignored doing this for Afghanistan and other warzones. Hey, if they want to start doing it for all dead servicemen, maybe once a year or once a month or something, I'm all in favor. Still, it does seem a little bit political.

Anyhow, if we could just get him to start showing the casualties from the war on drugs, he'd never have to think of another topic again. Christ, we could have a War On Drugs news network if they were up for it.

But hey, he's echoing one of my statements about the responsibilities of the media. Maybe they do read this board.

Hello

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by bilmore
But, by far, my biggest gripe about Kerry is that, after being THE MOST LIBERAL politician (well, except for Wellstone, maybe) for years, he's running as if he's a moderate. He's not. If he thinks that the people want a liberal, and if he plans on governing like a liberal once he wins, he should run as one. If he tries to be a moderate only for the election, he's subverting the idea of an election. At least with Bush, you know what he's going to be the day after tomorrow. You may not like it, but you can vote based on that accurate knowledge. Kerry comes off as knowing his stands wouldn't win an election, but being egotistical enough to think that he knows what we need more so than do the voters.

Do you remember Bush's campaign in 2000. Uniter, not a divider. Humble foreign policy? Moderate conservative? Not much true there. Yes, now we know what Bush will be tomorrow and the day after. But, Bush has governed not as the candidate he ran for election as. [If that makes any sense.]

S_A_M

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by bilmore
You're in a mood, huh?

Call me crazy. I find the efforts to deride and belittle the military service of a highly decorated veteran disgusting. Not to mention hypocritical when coming from this crowd.


Although I suppose Kerry should be faulted for not being wounded badly enough to make today's Repubs feel that he really earned his Purple Heart.


I can only imagine the outcry if a Repub's military service were attacked in the same way (assuming any prominent Repubs had military service to speak of). Or if the Dem candidate had spent the war in a state "air national guard".

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
STP and change that stupid avatar, the other one was grandfathered believe me you'll catch shit for that and if not then I'm going back to the bowtie instruction

What the hell is that, a flourescent prancing llama?

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Clinton's conduct in evading eligibility through the draft through political connections, deft timing of student deferments, and ultimately registration after it no longer placed him in peril is well below both Kerry, who served, and Bush, who joined the reserves as was completely acceptable as an alternative at the time.

Horseshit. Student deferments were entirely legitimate, and di not require "political connections" to utilize.

In stark contrast to getting a post with the domestic Guard. You think Bush moved up the waiting list because the commaders were his coke-buddies, and not because of Daddy's connections?

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by sgtclub
This is directed at Ty:

Have you read Woodward's book yet? It seems to dismantle the "Bush Lied" mantra in its entirety. Thoughts?

I've ordered the book. Richard Cohen had a recent WaPo column based on that book, along the same lines: "Holy Shit! Bush actually believes what he says, and thinks he is in a war of good vs. evil that he must fight no matter the cost!"

What I don't understand is how a DCIA who told Bush that it was a "slam-dunk" that Iraq had WMD is still employed. I think it must be a political calculation that to fire any senior official would make it look like meaningful errors had been made -- which could hurt Bush's political position heading towards the election.

Or else, Bush just likes him and doesn't believe in firing people for making serious mistakes on which he risks his Presidency. But that is just too stupid.

S_A_M

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
Horseshit. Student deferments were entirely legitimate, and di not require "political connections" to utilize.

In stark contrast to getting a post with the domestic Guard. You think Bush moved up the waiting list because the commaders were his coke-buddies, and not because of Daddy's connections?

Slave! Slave! Where for art thou, and your quote?

[Not Me]

Originally posted by Say_hello_for_me
THe response has been that the media has ignored doing this for Afghanistan and other warzones. Hey, if they want to start doing it for all dead servicemen, maybe once a year or once a month or something, I'm all in favor. Still, it does seem a little bit political.

I agree that if they don't do it for those lost in Afghanistan, then it is political.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
Call me crazy. I find the efforts to deride and belittle the military service of a highly decorated veteran disgusting. Not to mention hypocritical when coming from this crowd.

Help me out here, Sidd. What are the attacks on his service? The alleged atrocities (or the dodge thereof)? Or are you calling the attacks on his ungenuine throwing of medals and ribbons an attack on his military service, as opposed to an attack on the honesty of his war protesting and political tactics of the time?

[Not Me]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
What the hell is that, a flourescent prancing llama?

I believe the correct term is "chartreuse sloth"

[Ty, Nee Slothrop]

Originally posted by sgtclub
This is directed at Ty:

Have you read Woodward's book yet? It seems to dismantle the "Bush Lied" mantra in its entirety. Thoughts?

Quite the opposite. I'm most of the way through it.

On WMD:

• On Friday, September 6, Franks and Rumsfeld briefed the president and the NSC on the latest war planning. . . . General Franks had something important to add. "Mr. President," he said, "we've been looking for Scud missiles and other weapons of mass destruction for ten years and haven't found any yet, so I can't tell you that I know that there are any specific weapons anywhere. I haven't seen Scud one."

Plan of Attack 173

• [On Saturday, September 7,] Blair and Bush took questions from reporters. They said they were committed to ending Saddam's threat one and for all. How or when went unanswered. Bush asserted unequivocally, "Saddam Hussein possesses weapons of mass destruction."

Plan of Attack 178

On diplomacy, the book makes it crystal clear that Bush had already decided to go to war during the whole last round of diplomacy.

[bilmore]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
Call me crazy. I find the efforts to deride and belittle the military service of a highly decorated veteran disgusting. Not to mention hypocritical when comig from this crowd.

"This crowd"? The posters? What was your MOS?

I doubt the subject would even be raised had Kerry not decided to make it his prime qualification. That was a dangerous choice, given his history. It still may pay off, net/net, but it appears no one's going to concede something out of it.