Senator Kerry Responds to Pickens’ Moving the Goalposts
Last Friday, Senator Kerry responded to an offer made by T. Boone Pickens to give one million dollars to anyone who could disprove any of the charges made by the SBVT group against him by taking him up on his bet. Mr. Pickens responded by trying to retroactively change the terms of his original offer to limit its scope and impose additional conditions.
Below is the text of a letter Senator Kerry sent to Mr. Pickens this afternoon in reply.
Dear Mr. Pickens,
Thank you for your response to my acceptance of your challenge.
I’m grateful that you are prepared to make good on your word and fulfill the offer you made publicly at the American Spectator Dinner in Washington, D.C. on November 6th.
I must remind you, however, that this was and is your “challenge,” not mine. You are, after all, the one who said explicitly at the dinner — in a way that was calculated to challenge any naysayer — that you would give one million dollars “to anyone who could show that anything the SBVT said was false.” (RedState.Com) These were your words — and nowhere did you ever suggest, as you are now trying to, that your challenge referred specifically and exclusively to any advertising by the SBVT.
As you know, the lies of the SBVT were not confined just to their ads; they were a constant barrage of television, radio, Internet, speeches, and forums in which — significantly bankrolled by you — they launched and repeated lie after lie. Your challenge expressly stood behind all of their allegations.
It is disturbing that in reaffirming the challenge you issued, your parsing and backtracking seems eerily reminiscent of the entire approach of the SBVT — say one thing, put out an allegation, then duck and weave, hedge and bob when your words catch up with you. I want to believe that this was not your intent because I am told that you are a man of your word, not “all hat and no cattle.”
Honor and duty, which you purport to defend, demand that you not selectively back away from your original challenge. Your offer clearly said — boldly, unequivocally — to an audience of your friends and supporters — that you would give “a million dollars to anyone who could prove wrong anything the Swiftboat Veterans charged about Kerry.” (AmericanThinker.com) In my letter, that is the offer which I accepted.
I was interested to read in your response that you don’t want to see the SBVT “maligned,” and that you aim “to prevent this important part of American history from being unfairly portrayed.” I accepted your offer precisely because I want to prevent the honorable records of the courageous men who served with me from being maligned by the repeated lies of this organization. I want to see the word “Swiftboat” restored to its original meaning — synonymous with honorable service to country, not political lies aimed to distort and divide. I would hope that your interests should also be in protecting the record of all those who served our country.
As I’ve said to you before, I am prepared to prove the lie and marshal all the evidence, the question is whether you are prepared to fulfill your obligation — no variations, no back pedaling, no retreat, no new bets, no changing the subject.
The only thing remaining now is to set the date for our meeting in an appropriate forum, after which I look forward to you keeping your word and writing a check for one million dollars payable to the Paralyzed Veterans of America so that we can put your money to good work for veterans who have returned home from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Sincerely,
John F. Kerry
United States Senator
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Great1 Does this now mean we Americans get to see why Lt. Kerry was discharged from the Navy? Like pursuant to Jimma Carter’s general amnesty? So much better than facing a court’s marital, don’t you agree?
The most nauseating aspect of this recent SBVT slander is how easily Republicans can put Democrats on the defensive about their military service. The hypocrisy inherent in besmirching a real war veteran to draw attention away from members of the Bush administration who had “other priorities” in the Vietnam years seems too obvious to mention. But here we are, once again, years after the 2004 elections, and it’s the Democrats forced to answer to what appear to be one lie after another. Put an end to this disgusting paragraph in this dismal chapter of American history and take T. Boone Pickens to court, if that is at all possible.
Publius Americanus: I can tell you have never served and don’t know a thing about discharges and how they work.
Now please go back to freeperville and slurp up on your uneducated and unsourced hogwash.
EXCELLENT response, Senator Kerry!
How dare he and the SBVT be so brazen as to brag like that in public. Take them to the woodshed, Senator!
Mr. Publius, what the hell are you talking about? State some facts, or please, go away. All the lies and innuendo from the wingers is really getting old.
Excellent letter from the Senator. Mr. Pickens should just write a check and slink away silently. It really would be in his best interest.
I see John Kerry making unsubstantiated accusations during the course of his employment and a United States Senator.
Nothing new here.
I see John Kerry failing to come up with one single rebuttal to any of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth’s accusations.
Nothing new there, either.
If SENATOR John Kerry cannot answer these 250 plus decorated veterans while under the protection of being able to liable anyone, anytime and anywhere due to his couching ALL responses from the civil suit protected confines of his elected office, what makes anyone think MISTER John Kerry would walk away from that sanctuary, and answer the Swift boat Veterans For Truth as a US CITIZEN, who could be tried for perjury, as can ANY MEMBER OF OUR ARMED FORCES.
How about it, Mister Kerry? Do you have the COURAGE of your convictions to answer these Veterans on a level playing field?
They do.
Set aside your congressional protections from prosecution, THEN answer the questions.
Just release the records Senator. I dare you.
http://www.conjur.com/politics/SwiftboatLiars.html
‘nuff said
FWB: I see you making unsubstantiated accusations about John Kerry.
Scratching head, I seem to think there are a few civil suits out there for certain Republican politicos, now let me see let me think if I can name them, oh yes, Cheney, Libby,etc. Would you like me to go on?
I’d like to see you weasels speak to John Kerry face to face, I know who would come out a winner in that meet up.
Oh and level playing, please, since when do you guys ever play on a level playing field, go back to your Limbaugh and Faux News buddies. Don’t let the door hit on the way out.
I can tell you have never served and don’t know a thing about discharges and how they work.
Well, fedup, having served in the military myself I have direct knowledge and I’d very much like to see what any and all of Sen Kerry’s discharges say.
Why won’t Sen Kerry just sign the DD180 and be done with it?
Hmm, seems like some freepers have been directed to come over here with the talking point of the day. Won’t do you any good, I’m afraid. Senator Kerry is showing this liar, all you liars, up for just what you are.
Against his clear-eyed, direct statements of truth, Pickens and the whole Swift Liar pack of cowards, are being exposed as pathetic and empty slanderers.
FWB—I can assure you Senator Kerry won’t have a problem rebutting the accusations made by those 250 plus decorated veterans. Actually, only a few of them made accusations. The remainder of them seemed to be along for the ride.
With the exception of February 28, 1969, along the Dong Cung Canal, that is—none of those 250 plus were along for the ride that day. That’s time & place the future Senator earned the Silver Star.
I know, because I was along for the ride, and not a one of those 250 plus was anywhere to be seen. Strangely enough, that didn’t stop some (not all of the 250 plus) from making accusations about that incident that have no basis in fact.
It doesn’t take courage to answer the accusations and the false statements made by those few about that day—just the ability to read.
Can you read, FWB? It doesn’t take courage, does it?
Getting off a Swift Boat on the Dong Cung Canal and running after an armed enemy, well, THAT took courage. Not knowing what he was going to face when he turned down a path to go after that armed enemy, but going there anyway, THAT took courage.
But reading a portion of that literary masterpiece, Unfit for Command, and then matching it up with the documents it uses to make accusations about various aspects of that day along that canal, that does NOT take courage.
Can you read, FWB? I know you can type, but can you read? That’s the only ability you’ll need to understand the rebuttal Senator Kerry makes.
In one hand you have Unfit for Command. In the other hand you have Navy documents regarding that incident—then you read. No courage is necessary, and certainly no liable is even possible. For that matter, one doesn’t even need to speak, argue, or debate—just read.
And as this holiday weekend is upon us, be thankful FWB—thankful that your connection to that day is just what you’ll read.
Doug Reese
Well, “BFM"… IF you had in fact served in the military as you claim to have done in your BS comment, THEN you would know that there is NO such thing as as “DD180” in the first place. There IS such as thing as a Standard Form 180, aka SF-180. A form which, by the way, Kerry signed years ago and the proof of that is easily available on the web for anybody who bothers to look for it. But since you obviously don’t know the difference between a SF-180 and a non-existant “DD180” then it’s pretty obvious that you’re not interested in actual facts or doing any intelligent information gathering anyway, so maybe you should just go back to whatever wingnut website told you to go spread this crap and tell them you screwed up your cover story because you were too stupid to get the details right. BZZZT! But thank you for playing!
Anyone that is still trying to trash Senator Kerry on this issue is just another card carrying Right Wing Nut that watches Fox News and drools over the likes of Sean Hannity. I’m sure they listen to Rush as well.
John Kerry is a Patriot!
Sen. Kerry, this is a fantastic letter, possibly my favorite of all your letters so far. Bravo! Despite the SBVT’s bizarre efforts to obscure the truth, the truth will prevail. It always does.
Thank you for your integrity, and for your long-term, unrelenting efforts to bring the truth to the American people, on this matter, on BCCI, on the Bush administration, and many other fronts.
Funny, how the low rent Freepers who claim to love
the military don’t get how ironic it is that the Navy
awarded John w/ 3 purple hearts, a bronze star, and
a silver star for his actions in combat but somehow
Kerry got these by fraud. Please
BTW In 2004 I met the man Kerry pulled from
the water in Vietnam while wounded .... he is
a republican and a cop.
just fully release ALL your records senator, thats all that has ever been asked of you, the ball is in YOUR court
Bully for you!
Did anybody notice that Senator Kerry is not denying everything SBVT is saying, he is only indicating *some* things are not true.
As a Vietnam era vet i supported John Kerry in the last election. We all know the SBVT really did affect
that election. That was a shame after knowing that all the Neo-cons never served. Sure George Bush took
a photo op in that test plane with his little jump suit on. How many times during his tenure as Pres has he done that?? Remember “Mission Accomplished”??
When he boarded the air craft carrier with his little
Navy jump suit on?? How about all the times the guy
has spoken to our service members in his fatigues
or bomber jacket. What an ass!!! Then there is the
SBVT backing this fool as President and slandering Mr. Kerry. GO GET ‘EM JOHN!!!!
I still beleive Kerrys’ discharge to be of dubious nature. I beleive the reason he refuses to disclose his full military records, “ despite claims here to the contrary “, is because he was discharged under less than honorable conditions. All he would have to do to put everything to rest, is to fully disclose his military records. Full disclosure was demanded of a sitting president, need we demand less from a man who betrayed his fellows and admited before a senate committee to having committed war crimes?
Forrester is this a promise: “All he would have to do to put everything to rest, is to fully disclose his military records.”
Records here: http://news.findlaw.com/legalnews/lit/election2004/docs.html
Babble on all you want, Reese, but so far neither Kerry - or you, for that matter, have been able to prove one single falsehood in any of the Swiftboat Veterans For Truth ads!
If you coulda you woulda, but you can’t so you won’t....not for a million dollars!
I look down the list of sycophant ramblings here, and there’s not one shred of evidence any of the SBVT ads were misleading in any way, and Kerry’s had over 3 YEARS to try to refute them.
Kerry can’t do it. That must mean they didn’t lie.
I love how the right-wing loonies can’t seem to get past this obsession with Sen. Kerry. They are the lowest of the low. Senator, though I hope it appeases them, I doubt anything you do will. Funny how if you ask them about GWB and the transgressions he’s committed during his presidency, they play dumb. It fits.
FWB, the fact that the Senator hasn’t refuted the SBVT ads does NOT mean that they were true. Not the way that our legal system is! As a public figure, Kerry has a much tougher time of proving slander than a private citizen does. I’m no lawyer, and frankly I don’t understand why there’s one rule for those well known and another one for ordinary people. Seems to me that if one’s reputation is hurt by lies, it should not matter whether one is well known or not.
I wish the Senator the best of luck on this - he is certainly going to need it!
FWB: Doug Reese was THERE. Were you? I don’t believe for a minute that any amount of proof (it’s there, in the naval records, in the mountain of readily available information that Senator Kerry has provided) or truth (eyewitnesses who were actually there, Senator Warner’s remarks on the floor of the Senate, etc.) would convince you because the fact is that you don’t want either proof or truth, you want to keep yelling and smearing.
You don’t matter. The millions of people who do know who John Kerry is and the pride of his service to this country in combat and in Congress and in citizenship matter.
Sorry, chum, but your Heroes of McCarthyism have already been refuted
http://swiftvets.eriposte.com
FWB: You seem to think that because Kerry has not refuted accusations against him, they must be true. By the same logic, SBVT have been accused of lying for over three years and still haven’t proven their claims. Therefore, they must be false.
The question is, who do you think should have the burden of proof? The accuser or the accused? In this case, Sen. Kerry has voluntarily taken it upon himself to demonstrate that SBVT lied, so that one’s put to rest. It’s all about to unfold.
It is funny watching everyone here.
No really cares what the ‘truth’ is, everyone just wants to line up on one side or the other.
It will be a great day when we stop letting that happen and start looking at the facts and the truth.
Mike, a lot of people still care about the truth. When Fox shows a clip of a guy praising Kerry and another clip of him 10 years later playing along with the Swift Liars, I’d say that person has demonstrated he’s a liar, whether for political or monetary gain. Also, I’ve seen claims to the effect that Chicken Pickens knows for sure that the lies are facts. How is that possible if what he knows is based on a band of liars? He never served in Vietnam.
Why do the liars and their supporters continue to ignore the volume of documents (that anyone can find via a google search) debunking their claims?
BFM, DiveCon, FWB and the rest:
Neither Kerry nor anyone else has disproved a single charge of the Slow Boaters? My my, where have you been for the past three years? For instance:
http://homepage.mac.com/chinesemac/kerry_medals/truth.html
Amazing how little effort the Slow Boaters put into finding out the “truth,” wouldn’t you say? After all, how much of that $27 million did they spend on actual research? Millions on ad buys. $50K for O’Neill’s “media training.” $130K+ for a trip to Disney World.
And how much to hire a professional researcher to go down and research the records? I dunno, I see a couple of thou reimbursed to a couple of chatroom regulars who apparently couldn’t find a single new document related to Kerry’s military service (no, it wasn’t an SBVTer who found the Feb. 28 spot report), and who evidently weren’t able to read a military document judging by the bad information one of them very publicly put out.
And no, hiring a PI to call people and try to get them to dish dirt on Kerry does not qualify as “research.”
Instead, the Slow Boaters and their followers blame Kerry for not doing their homework for them. They insist it’s his fault they have not been able to prove a single outrageous charge they’ve made.
And what is it exactly they think the Senator has not released? After action reports, personnel casualty reports, medal citations, medal recommendations? All available at the military archives or through FOIA requests unless classified.
And by the way, you could have answered your own questions about Kerry’s discharged if you’d bothered to actually read the documents you already had. Here’s a note from somebody who did back in 2004, and who actually bothered to look at the original BUPERS regulation adopted in 1977, all of which verify Kerry’s honorable discharge status:
http://beldar.blogs.com/beldarblog/2004/10/rumor_mill_buzz.html#c2609419
Lazy, lazy.
Forrester said: “Full disclosure was demanded of a sitting president...”
It might have been demanded, but he did not sign an SF 180 or otherwise authorize full unrestricted and independent access to his records.
The very foundation of our nation is undermined when salacious gossip and malicious lies are taken for the truth. Those who do so should be fully responsible for the evil they do. If a political candidate lies, that candidate should be jerked from an election. We dishonor truth and the high standards of conduct which should be the order of the day for our nation and our politicians. Regardless of party, cast your vote for truth in politics by never voting for an untruthful politician!
John Kerry lost the election because of his positions on the disaster in Iraq - not because of SBVT.
Which sitting president provided his military records? NOT the one currently in the WH - the chickenhawk and his cronies....so WHO?
To OH, I am not at all sure that John Kerry lost the election. There were many problems with voting in Ohio,
not enough voting machines in Democratic areas, no paper trails on electronic voting machines,people disenfranchised in various ways. This also took place in Florida again.
John Kerry is right to continue challeging these Swift Boat Liars. He is doing the right thing to stop Right Wing Smear Tactics!
FWB—Forgive my babbling, but . . . . . . . “If I coulda I woulda”? Really? Tell you what, I will show you at least two false statements in Unfit for Command—regarding the Silver Star incident. And I am talking about statements that can clearly be shown to be false, in black-and-white. . . . If I am unable to follow through, I will donate $1,000 to your favorite charity. However, if I am able to do so, you will post an apology to Senator Kerry and myself for the disrepect you have shown here. . . . . . . I look forward to your reply ---- Doug Reese
Senator Kerry, or anyone else that has an interest in truth, (aside from the Swifter Boaters who are so blinded by hatred and ideology, that truth is only an Orwellian concept,) should make every attempt to get this story some news coverage. In fact a lot of news coverage, as much as the original attacks received. Lets see if they cover the offer of disproving the SBVT. There must be someone out there that can push this as a story. It needs to be done so the next Swiftboat attack won’t do as much damage as this one did to a real American hero, and as the elections get closer you can bet there will be more.
Not a single thing has been disproven? These people have been living in Bushland too long, a bizarre place where fiction is fact. Perhaps they don’t remember that Nightline sent a correspondent to the village where the firefight took place and the Vietnamese there describe the action exactly as did John Kerry. I guess these people who have access to right wing propaganda know better than the people who were there, but hey, why let facts get in the way of right wing reality.The great Jon Stewart said it best, “Reality has a liberal bias.” Fictional facts, on the other hand, are necessary for the right wing to
Do it John ! Nail him! Nail him!
Folks, Kerry signed the SF-180 in 2005 allowing release of all his military records (service and medical) directly to news outlets. See e.g. http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/06/07/kerry_allows_navy_release_of_military_medical_records/
As for the comical claims that no one has refuted any SVFT claims, back in 2004 Ted Koppel (who’s pretty conservative, incidentally) pointed out numerous errors on a Nightline broadcast, and the best the “Swiftboat” spokesweasel could do was to sputter about how ABC ought to look into these *other* claims, not just the ones they’d just proved false.
I’m personally not a huge John Kerry fan, but as a Navy veteran myself I can’t stand to see *anybody* in our military publicly slandered. Those of you doing it for political reasons should be deeply ashamed. As George W Bush himself said, John Kerry served honorably.
This reminds me of a bet I foolishly made, but paid off. I bet that the current Univ. of Tennessee basketball coach never coached the Wisconsin team. I lost that bet. The Univ. of Wisconsin has a campus at Milwaukee where Pearl did coach. I would have considered that “Milwaukee” and not Wisconsin (thinking Madison), but that’s how it goes. I would have thought Mr. Pickens was smarter than to make such a sloppy wager, but then I guess he never figured Kerry would get the transcript and take the bet word-for-word. Even if the SBVT is correct on the advertised points, the bet is essentially indefensible and the Paralysed Vets should be in for some greatly improved MREs.
Reese...if that’s who you really are...what makes you think I give a ratsazz what you’ve done or where you’ve been, or how far you can shove your head up “liveshot’s” bum?
This is about Kerry vs Pickens, Kerry against the US of A, Kerry vs 250 decorated veterans who served in the same arena at the same time, Kerry vs all the vets he slimed with his fabricated tales of atrocities, Kerry against Nixon sending him to Cambodia for Christmas (may you were rolling the ganja on that trip, eh?), Kerry vs our allies, and on and on and on.
You are as interesting to me as shoveling my dog’s poo, and you are not going to be successful deflecting demands that Kerry - not you, not Ted Koeppel or Rosie, Not Babs or Whoopsie or even the latest conquest of the international playboy whose feet you kiss with such relish, are going to be able to answer for Lurch.
Let Kerry himself address ALL the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth’s ads with EVIDENCE that those heroes will accept, and in a forum where Kerry explicitly relinquishes his constitutional right to lie through his teeth in the course of his congressional duties.
This forum is meaningless. Kerry can say anything he wants and so can anyone working for him with no fear of recrimination as long as it’s part of his official duties - at least that’s what his current alter ego John “pinky” Murtha is claiming to get away from a lawsuit from a Marine he slandered - that he can say anything, anytime, about anyone, and no one can touch him because he’s a US congressman.
Murtha learned that from Kerry. The only thing he didn’t learn was setting up a sham like this and leaving the country so he doesn’t have to be available for questions.
That, and bragging about marrying rich broads during debates, using abortion for birth control...LMAO, what a guy, eh?
I hope you’re getting paid well, you’re going need new knees by the time Kerry’s done with you.
Where’s FWB?
Waiting to hear from you regarding Doug Reese’ Challenge.
Kudos Doug for standing up for the truth.
Looks like that’s where he is, Rob, stopping by to drop another load (of words, I mean, of course) which clearly show what an honorable, believable, respectable individual he is. After all, it’s obvious that he’s only after the truth, and that none of this stuff is personal with him and Doug and especially not with him and Kerry, right? Right. And I’m the king of Siam. Which would only make sense, since FWB has always been de queen of denial.
FWB: Way to show your true colors! LOL! Clearly, you need to get out more and try to have a life of your own because you’ve been stewing in your mindless hatred for way too long and it’s showing just a little bit.
FWB: The challenge wasn’t Pickens to Kerry, and it wasn’t about the ads. It was Pickens to ANYONE. . . . . My challenge was to you, and it was a simple one. . . . Thanks for your reply. I expected you wouldn’t accept it, and you didn’t disappoint me. Good thing for you, as someone who thinks those 250 vets served in the same area at the same time as Kerry knows precious little about this subject—Doug Reese—(PS. You might try to act like an adult if you reply further)
The central point is that Mr. Pickens laid down a challenge, Mr. Kerry offered to take him up on it and Mr. Pickens than added conditions, codicils, requirements, specifications, . . . etc., If I remember playground litigation, this makes Mr. Pickens a welsher, and, therefore, the loser. The cash is now incidental and all of this talk is unnecessary.
I can see little difference between T Boone Pickens and FWB except the size of the wallet. Both have plenty to say about another’s service. For sure in T. Boone Pickens case he is just another chickenhawk running his mouth about a man who served. Of course Pickens never caught a whiff himself. Based on FWB maturity level and comments it seems he hasn’t caught a whiff either.
FWB, You can get your chance because the recruiting offices are open. There’s a dandy war going on and wonderful opportunity for you. If we could attach your lips to a trigger we would have a superhero killing machine.
As I’ve read through the posts above, I have noticed with great alarm a rabid intellect possessed by one FWB. Remember FWB, denial of the truth can cause any sort of malady. I fear for your health if you continue to get all worked up over what is essentially a matter already resolved: The Honorable Senator John Kerry served our nation honorably in a war that has proven to be not our finest hour. He was awarded recognition for his feats of courage, and his service was politicized in the last presidential election cycle. FWB, for your own health, get over it! -Kevo
Don’t waste your breath, Mr. Reese.
Looks like FWB is more interested in rats ‘azzes’, the Senator’s ‘bum’ and his dog’s ‘poo’ than the truth. His apparent anal fixation may be a signal of some underlying issues that will not allow for logical discussion, as evidenced in the many asinine references in his last comment. I do believe that two butt references in one post might be coincidental, but three is much less likely, and I think it’s unreasonable to expect any sort of rational discourse with someone who has such a condition.
So, I think you’re safe in either hanging onto your 1K, buying some really prime weed and a case of good chardonnay as everyone knows all us libs do with our spare cash, or donating it yourself.
It appears the truth from eye witnesses means little to this guy, Doug. Because he has unsubstantiated, right wing, Limbaughesque (speaking of anal) talking points and petty name calling on his side, and apparently, some pretty fascinating dog crap.
And all you have are facts.
Thanks to BSdetector for your clarification on the non-existant “DD-180”. I was about to call my brother (whose 20+ years of service must apparently now be called into question since his 2004 Kerry vote) to find out why I couldn’t find anything about it on the Google, but I guess now I’ll just call to wish him a Happy Thanksgiving and interrogate him on his service record sometime after the holidays!
Happy Thanksgiving to all here.
Dear Senator Kerry,
Why didn’t you stick up for yourself vis a vis the attacks from Swift Boat Veterans prior to the 2004 election? Doing it now is a little late, don’t you think?
Kerry posted all of the relevant facts on his 2004 election website. The facts refuted the SBVT completely. The Navy released the records and all medals were earned. There are none so blind as those who will not see:
http://swiftvets.eriposte.com/
Pickens has clearly slimed on his words. This is typical of a bunch of liars that should have been forcefully challenged from day one. At last Kerry has responded, and as I thought...Pickens renegs and slithers out of it by adding his ‘extras’ as he goes along, hoping he’ll get out of this.
Nowhere does anyone get off with the Pickens cowardly attempts at changing the rules. Especially since he clearly stated the rules and invited the challenge.
This is a despicable bunch and Pickens and Co.must be called out on this. Bravo Kerry!
Does President Bush get a pass on his Cut & Run policy ?
Panel Report on 60 Minutes
2-2-1972-Subject: Flight Qualifications specifically Bath & Bush .
5-4-1972 -Subject: Annual Flight Examination, order to take physical .
5-19-1972-Subject: Discussion with 1st Lt. Bush, phone call from Bush talked about his getting his flight physical.
8-1-1972-Subject: Bush suspension of flight status recommendation that we fill this
critical billet with a more seasoned pilot from a list of qualified Vietnam pilots
that have rotated .
9-5-72-Subject: Suspension from flying status, retroactive to 8-1-72. Reason - failure to accomplish medical examination signed - Bobby W. Hodges.
9-29-72-Subject: Officer will comply with paragraph 2-10, AFM 35-13, authority: Para 2-29m, AFM 35-13.
8-18-73-Subject: Memo; Retired Gen. Staudt has obviously pressured Hodges about Lt. Bush
rating, Gen Staudt is pushing to sugar coat it.. (
1-6-73-Subject: Lt. Bush’s dental examination; looks like Lt. Bush had time to take his dental examination but not time to take his flight physical!
Why no board of inquiry and no court martial???
Did Lt. Bush run the Texas National Guard ?????
On 9-28-04 On the O’Reilly program Bill ask Pres. Bush about his NG service and Pres. Bush said and I quote “ I did exactly what my commanders told me to do “
What about his physical ????
I have all of the exhibits from the Thornburg Report to substantiate the above and a copy of the tape of the O’Reilly program.
Dear Sen. Kerry,
Where was this part of you when you ran for president??
To “question” medals awarded, questions all medals awarded. I.E., if these medals were obtained fraudulently, then all medals awarded is, in question, aren’t they? What the “Swift Boat” jerkoff proves is that there are some personal enemies of Mr. Kerry, certainly O’Neil, who got his clock cleaned by Kerry in his televised debates in the ‘70’s. No big deal, since it should be impossible to sell the Viet Nam war anyway. However, these same liars say that Kerry spoke as if speaking for all viet nam veterans when he spoke to the Senate. As I showed a neighbot of mine, who made that claim to me, after showing him a transcript of the speech, Kerry, specifically disavowed in the speech, that he spoke for all the vets, or a majority of them. Listen or read the speech and you will see how brilliantly Mr. Kerry put it. The same speech could be used for the crooked, immoral, evil war and occupation now ongoing in Iraq. Unfortunately. a lie repeated in public, enough times, will convince most anyone. Repetition is education, after all. To understand how malicious slander is, imagine moving to a new home, after anyone has labeled you a child molester to your new neighbors without your knowledge. No one is going to tell you about the slander. Likely, they’ll believe it. Then, suppose you learn of the lie? What do you say, I’m not a child molester? Pickens is, apparently, like most in the investment community (a most “honorable” group, like Milken, Ken Lay, slime CEO’s, on and on, that always seem to end up on the “Conservative” (which means, let me keep everything I’ve earned (stolen, often)) it’s up to you suckers to contribute to the community. Wake up! We’ve all been suckered, these types are “privatizing, piratizing, sacking the Treasury and Social Security etc. It’s all the same. anyone who can get between them and their bowl, is in serious danger of getting bitten. Bushcrap was put in by a half billion in direct contributions and so-called independent expenditures. Do you think those “contributors” were doing so because of his wit, his acute analysis of anything, his demonstrated willingness to do for the public, his demonstrated integrity, selflessness, sense of responsibility? Apparently, those, maybe Pickens, is hearing some rumbling like they had been taken by the lies, and he feels the need to cover himself.
Dear Publius Americanus (first poster),
Former President Carter’s name is not “Jimma.” Perhaps you should re-check your facts on other issues as well.
Absurdum infinitum. This whole thread is a joke, right? What makes anyone think that someone as dishonorable as Pickens (and SBVT/lies) would ever honor the bet? As far as that goes, Pickens should have already written a check to Ted Koppel. The fact has already been concusively proven the real goal of this insidious attack/tactic is/was to distract from any discussion of Bush’s cowardly shirking of his own duty. These bums don’t care about the ‘truth’; thieves who help steal elections only care about using any nasty political ploy regardless of the ethics & morality (or rather lack of) involved. BTW, FWB, those initials don’t happen to stand for ‘(F)reakin’ Walker Bush, do they?
I wrote a comment saying Pickens would welch on the payment because he never paid Ted Koppel who gave proof, but they woudn’t post it.
Say FWB, that ‘B’ doesn’t happen to stand for Bush, does it?
Oh, dear. While I’m pleased that Senator Kerry has finally called these folks on their lies, distortions and inattention to facts, I was unnerved to find that the good Senator intends to give the proceeds of the challenge to the Paralyzed Veterans of America. That group uses a rather large percentage of its donations for fundraising expenses. (Please see the link at http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=4295
I only know this because my mother used to contribute to them and I was dismayed to discover that her donations weren’t doing what she intended them to do.
To those of you speaking above about discharges. Let us look at the circumstances under which George cushy pilot job he never fulfilled the requirements for Bush was discharged, all of it. Lets look at him not showing up in New England for duty after his daddy got him a job helping to campaign. Lets look at Darth 6 deferments or so Cheney’s record of doging the draft. Lets hope the SBVT has not slandered the honor of all the brave Swiftboaters who DID unlike the SBVT serve with honor. Lets look at the connection between the lard ass Karl Rove and the Swift boat liers. Hell there is more, much more to uncover regarding these narrow minded swift boat pus_ies.
Will
This is amazing. After a lovely Thanksgiving...time spent with family in an atmosphere of love, respect, and gratitude for all the good in our lives (despite the current world situation)...I return here in the hope that others are as grateful for all Senator Kerry does for our country as I am.
What I just read above really saddens me. The hateful remarks of some...expressed toward John Kerry and his life of service...are despicable.
I was raised to follow the “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all” rule. I know there are people out there who may not agree with the Senator’s choices in life...but the stuff here is ‘below the belt.’ Don’t they have any self-respect at all? The stuff written here says A LOT about who these people are, and says nothing about Senator Kerry.
To all my fellow Kerry supporters here...you fought a valiant battle. But these guys defeated themselves...all on their own...by their hatefulness.
Sean Hannity And FOX News Help T. Boone Pickens Renege On Swift Boat Challenge
While I was on my near-perfect Florida vacation this week, Swift Boat backer T. Boone Pickens appeared on Hannity & Colmes to defend his reneging on an offer of $1 million to anyone who could disprove anything the so-called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth alleged about John Kerry. As it happened, Senator Kerry, himself, took up Pickens’ challenge, and asked that the money be donated to Paralyzed Veterans of America. But suddenly, Pickens claimed there were conditions to his challenge (that, coincidentally, Kerry had not met) even though two conservatives in attendance reported otherwise. With video.
Continue reading »
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=5334
I think John Kerry should up the ante and file a multi million dollar breach of contract suit and a multi million dollar slander and defamation of character suit against Pickens & Hannity & FOX NOISE.
Make them pay. Prove your point in court and make all future would-be slanderers ruining Democracy in America think long and hard before carrying on campaigns of smear and lies. The challenge is on tape and constitutes a contract. The slander and defamation is on tape and is easily proven. The damages from the slander are easily proven. John Kerry should move this challenge to a Court room. Fight this battle not simply to clear his own name but to end such foolishness once and for all. It amazes me that politicians permit such slander and do not sue the slanderer until they bleed.
There’s not a lot to add to this other than it being completely sickening. Kerry doesn’t want the money for himself, he said to give it to charity. But no, not in the Bush America, where the rich are held unaccountable, and they only get richer. Pickens is a disgrace of an American, and a disgrace of a human being.
Hopefully this insanity will blow over in ‘08 when a Dem takes the White House.
LANCE,
With you all the way on this one. You said, “The damages from the slander are easily proven.” I’m not a lawyer, but (if there is a provable, winnable case) I’d love to see this in court.
Hey FWB: You must have been absent for reading classes in school. I know this is hard for you to get your brain around, but Senator Kerry is proposing to Mr. Pickens just what you want - he’s going to answer those 250 vets of which you speak, hopefully in court if Mr. Pickens continues his backing down from his challenge. Amazing how bullies back down when challenged, isn’t it FWB. So get ready to look, along with Mr. Pickens, like a purveyor of lies. As they say down on the farm, “If the shoe fits, wear it.” And in your case it fits very snuggly.
FWB and all these other chickenhawk Moonies will be smearing Iraq and Afghanistan vets as well eventually. It shows how little they care about the people who died for their right to speak.