Politics: Onward from New Hampshire

[Not Me]

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
I don't have all the details of what was "produced" at the news conference,

It was a copy of his pay records showing he was paid. It was apparantly from microfiched records and hard to read the dates.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Sexual Harassment Panda
I blame Bush. I mean, what kind of example does he set, not showing up to fulfill his National Guard obligation? The kids saw that, they figured, Hey, the President of the United States was late for work and got away with it, why should I be where I'm supposed to be? I ask you, what kind of example for your kids is #43? I'm outraged. I need to call some radio talk show and rant.

This is all well and good, but for the kids to fall into Ty's Gerri Blank exception i'm afraid they, not you, must blame Bush.

[The Larry Davis Experience]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
i hope the Dems spend time on this, you won't gain one vote.

Sadly, I agree. There are so many better things to hit him on, this just looks petty.

On the other hand, if the strategy is just to apply some pressure and then move on to the next Bush shortcoming (spending, jobs, Iraq transition, proliferation by Pakistan) it might make sense. We are still eight months from from the election here. I think the goal should be to keep an air of vulnerability around GWB until the nominee is settled.

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
your shining star was a flat out draft dodger and he was elected twice. you new guy, the war hero, threw his medals in the reflecting pool, but they weren't really his medals. i hope the Dems spend time on this, you won't gain one vote. People who vote on security issues know what they see when they look at Kerry and Bush.
Agian, take the money you are planning on putting ito the Presidential campaign and go make some senate races competitive.

If you and your ilk put your money where your mouth is and start supporting Ds for open senate seats, I might follow suit. Otherwise, it seems unlike that that many senate seats will change sides given the extensive pork that is ladled out, and a change in the presidency seems like the only hope.

[Not Me]

Originally posted by ltl/fb
Otherwise, it seems unlike that that many senate seats will change sides

Those awful new campaign finance laws, which squelch free speech, certainly make it easier for incumbents to keep their seats.

[Say_hello_for_me]

Originally posted by ltl/fb
If you and your ilk put your money where your mouth is and start supporting Ds for open senate seats, I might follow suit. Otherwise, it seems unlike that that many senate seats will change sides given the extensive pork that is ladled out, and a change in the presidency seems like the only hope.

If I see a good Dem for the Illinois seat, I'll do it. It going to be very sad seeing Fitzpatrick leave, what with that which is happening at the hands of his hand-picked U.S. attorney in the Northern district of Illinois. But Illinois is solidly Democratic until more of their leaders are indicted, and I'd just as soon see a good Democratic senator before the state is thrown into even more turmoil than the present. Find someone who can work with Bush (e.g., someone who will endorse the upcoming asbestos bill for the sake of the many Illinois companies it will help preserve), and I'll do it.

Plus, if Feinstein is running, I'll throw some money her way too. She's cool for a Democrat. But she's surely not at risk.

What are the swing votes we can find where we can all stomach the D contenders?

[SlaveNoMore]

I like it so much, I'm going make it my signature:

"We do not need to divide America over who served and how."

-John Kerry in 1992

[Atticus Grinch]

Originally posted by Not Me
I hope you are joking about feeling sorry for the kids simply because of their income level. Their income level has nothing to do with their actions.

We have a word for when a poster attempts to make a joke that was already made more subtly --- and better --- by the post to which it is an attempted witty response.

We do not yet have a descriptor for when you don't even bother to be funny with it. I propose "struck out lookin'."

[Not Me]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
a joke that was already made

However funny you thought you were, you weren't.

You are just mad because you know I correctly charcterized you. And because you still cannot come up with a single valid argument as to why polygamy and gay marriage should be treated differently under either equal protection or substantive due process.

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by Not Me
It was a copy of his pay records showing he was paid. It was apparantly from microfiched records and hard to read the dates.

Well, the Cohen column shows the presumptive value of NG pay records back then (i.e. Cohen got paid for lots of training in 1969-70 that he didn't do).

Anyway, I don't think that the Democratic candidates should say a peep about this (but perhaps just carefully not extinguish the issue if asked). I'm just glad others are going at him about it -- and glad that the Bush campaign undoubtedly wishes that they had dealt with the issue in 2000 instead of ducking it then. (Unless its all true.)

Anyway -- They've got to have records of who was in the Alabama NG unit with Bush back then. They could resolve the issue by finding a guy from the unit who flew with him, or on the same day. (Unless they're worrried about the results.)

S_A_M

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
your shining star was a flat out draft dodger and he was elected twice. you new guy, the war hero, threw his medals in the reflecting pool, but they weren't really his medals. i hope the Dems spend time on this, you won't gain one vote.

While your guy was snorting coke, driving drunk, probably dodging his NG service obligation, and later pretending none of the above matters because now he's a born-again tough guy.

Now, you wanna talk about it?

All of the points you mention cost Clinton votes, and will probably cost Kerry votes. Why shouldn't the Bush issues cost him votes? (If only by depressing his base.) There aren't many votes to spare in 2004 -- and you know it -- which is why you're pissed.

S_A_M

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
While your guy was snorting coke, driving drunk, probably dodging his NG service obligation, and later pretending none of the above matters because now he's a born-again tough guy.
S_A_M

But he had it together enough to fly jet fighters.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
But he had it together enough to fly jet fighters.

So he claims. The records McClennan held up don't prove he flew the planes.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
So he claims. The records McClennan held up don't prove he flew the planes.

yesterday one of you said that all the selection of Bush as a pilot proved was that he had clear vision, good coordination, good reflexes, etc.

My point is solely that is inconsistant with SaM's portrayal of a drunk coke head. The occasional night out sure, but not the chronic. Again, I am only looking for baby steps from you guys.

Or do you deny he was taught/selected/cleared to fly fighters?

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski


Or do you deny he was taught/selected/cleared to fly fighters?

I'm playing around. The whole issue is a joke. But so was Clinton's lie about Lewinsky (albeit under oath). Bush at least did something, unlike Clinton, when it came to Vietnam. Sure, he took the easy way out, using connections presumably.

So what's the issue now? Not that he went into the national guard but maybe that he didn't show up for part of his duty, despite saying/claiming that he did. So, if it's true, why did he get an honorable discharge? Clearly whoever was in charge wasn't too worried about his not showing up. So why is it an issue now--just because he says he did show up? Or because McAulliffe wants us all to remember that Bill Clinton was a real draft dodger? I don't get it.