Thanks for this video.  I watched it earlier.  Maybe some folks from the earlier thread will actually watch it and know that he was talking about Bush’s failed policies. 
Clearly, he was not disrespecting the troops.
Senator Kerry is a man of his word, and his explanation is not only good enough, it’s the real truth about Bush’s failed policies that people need to hear!

Dear Senator Kerry;
  You don’t need to apologize for your service to our country. You don’ t need to apologize for speaking out against a failed policy. The only people who need to apologize are the people who want to stay the course. Oh, I forgot, George Bush never said that. My brother served in Vietnam . I ‘m proud of his service and yours. Thank you for speaking up for true Americans. Keep up the good work and I hope to vote for you again in 2008.

Thank you for speaking up.
Roger Goppelt
A taxpayer
” I remember Vietnam”

It’s pretty obvious “Mike” doesn’t really know what the Senator said.

Doesn’t Mike owe John Kerry an apology for being ill-informed?

Ask John Kerry to call his Democratic Generals who have served this country so proudly and ask them how they feel. I for one am a college graduate, served my country and now work hard to take care of my family and grow our economy. John Kerry should be ashamed. He is doing our party an injustice by making those comments.  By the way, I AM a democrat!!!!!!

Edited by moderator. As stated above the comment box,  please be respectful of the opinions of others, and keep in mind that children may be reading this site.

FROM DAILYKOS

The John Kerry nonsense
by kos
Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 02:31:16 PM PST
Man, there are times when this stuff is more ridiculous than anything a fiction writer or satirist could ever dream up.

So John Kerry mangles a sentence in a public appearance, and the right-wing smear machine and its traditional media enablers are apoplectic. I mean, John Kerry is a, um, junior senator not running for reelection! And he’s, um, a war hero who hates the troops! And um, we hate him because he’s John Kerry!

Trust me, I haven’t been shy to pile on Kerry when warranted, but what a load of bullshit this is. And showing that he has learned from his Swiftboating days, Kerry hit back hard:

“If anyone thinks a veteran would criticize the more than 140,000 heroes serving in Iraq and not the president who got us stuck there, they’re crazy. This is the classic G.O.P. playbook.  I’m sick and tired of these despicable Republican attacks that always seem to come from those who never can be found to serve in war, but love to attack those who did.

I’m not going to be lectured by a stuffed suit White House mouthpiece standing behind a podium, or doughy Rush Limbaugh, who no doubt today will take a break from belittling Michael J. Fox’s Parkinson’s disease to start lying about me just as they have lied about Iraq . It disgusts me that these Republican hacks, who have never worn the uniform of our country lie and distort so blatantly and carelessly about those who have.

The people who owe our troops an apology are George W. Bush and Dick Cheney who misled America into war and have given us a Katrina foreign policy that has betrayed our ideals, killed and maimed our soldiers, and widened the terrorist threat instead of defeating it. These Republicans are afraid to debate veterans who live and breathe the concerns of our troops, not the empty slogans of an Administration that sent our brave troops to war without body armor.

Bottom line, these Republicans want to debate straw men because they’re afraid to debate real men. And this time it won’t work because we’re going to stay in their face with the truth and deny them even a sliver of light for their distortions. No Democrat will be bullied by an administration that has a cut and run policy in Afghanistan and a stand still and lose strategy in Iraq .”

Kerry has nothing to apologize for. The people who have turned their backs on the troops do. And even though this ridiculousness will lead the evening news, fact is, we should embrace the opportunity to remind Americans how Republicans rally to the “troops” defense only when it suits their own cynical political ends.

Like John McCain, who said indignantly today:

“I go out to Walter Reed quite often and see these brave young soldiers who have served and sacrificed so much. Many of them have lost limbs, as you know. And it’s a very sad thing to see. But at the same time it’s very uplifting.

Sure. Uplifting. Except he said this at a campaign appearance with Pete Roskam, who is running against Democrat Tammy Duckworth—an Iraq war vet who lost both her legs in combat.

I don’t think he intended to be ironic.

Kerry responded perfectly. Perhaps not in a way that the DC wise men would approve, those Gang of 500 fools who have enabled this administration’s disasters at home and abroad.

Perhaps not in a way that will appease the 101st Fighting Keyboardists and their acolytes who would rather talk tough than actually show genuine courage by enlisting in the armed forces.

And sure, not in a way that will appease Republicans hoping to find anything to desperately detract from their crappy policies, crappy candidates, and lie- and hate-filled campaigns.

Yeah, those people won’t be happy with Kerry’s response.

But in this case, Kerry responded the right way. Not by bowing to the full blast of the right wing noise machine, but by standing up to it on behalf of our troops, our nation, and the truth.

Update: From a comment in a different thread by cecil vortex:

One surprise: just heard Tweety say flat out that reading the full transcript it’s clear that Kerry was insulting the president, not the troops. Dick Armey was on at the time and essentially agreed and laughed about how funny it was that the GOP was feigning mock outrage. Ha ha. Ha ha. Funny funny GOP.

If Republicans want to debate who supports the troops more, let’s have that debate. I’d love to talk about nothing else than Iraq for the next week.

And for the rest of you who think this is the end of the world—stop being afraid of your own shadow. Just stop it. Fight or get out of the kitchen. It will get hotter than even this.

Thank you, Senator Kerry, for standing up for your beliefs and refusing to back down in face of the lies and distortion of the Republican attack machine. Anyone who takes the time to inform themselves of your beliefs knows that you would never disrespect our soldiers. But this administration deserves no respect whatsoever. It’s about time someone stood up and called their Iraq policy the sham that it is. Again, thank you Senator Kerry. Keep fighting for us.

Anyone who honestly thinks that John Kerry, a person known for his integrity and vocal support of our troops, would actually “insult our military” is either supremely ignorant or has a political agenda to smear a good, honest leader.

I agree with Mr. Kerry—the way the Bush administration is using this non-story amounts to abuse of our troops. They are out there fighting and giving their lives because they made a commitment to do so. That’s brave and heroic. Bush’s lies and manipulation and the way he hides behind the troops to try to deflect criticism of his asinine policies is—as Kerry aptly put it—“despicable.”

John Kerry is a much-needed voice of truth. It is Mr. Bush who owes Mr. Kerry and the rest of the world an apology—for his lies, for shirking his responsibility, and for putting his greed and hunger for power over the safety and welfare of not just our own military but also that of thousands of Iraqis. It truly is a horrible, reprehensible shame on our country.

Thank you, Mr. Kerry, for speaking out today—even though you shouldn’t have had to.

Durimg the 2004 campaign with almost 3,000 Americans blown to bits, our illustrious leader made this statement, or something very close to it - “I don’t know where Osama Bin Laden is, and I don’t care?” Well thats obvious because he decided to get this country bogged down in a civil war in Iraq rathe then capture the maniac who actually attacked us.
I think Kerry was warning college students that if we stay in Iraq the draft is inevitable. His remark I’m pretty sure was in its proper context - “stay in school or lose your college deferment”.
Are the Republicans so desperate that they are trying to glom onto this? Gimme a break. I got a newsflash for you Karl -straight out of CSI Miami - “We Can’t Get Fooled Again.” And by the war WHERE IS BIN LADEN? I know where he is. Sitting somewhere in the hills of Pakistan thanking Allah for George Bush - and the Neo Cons. The best friends a terrorist ever had.

GV and others:
Yes we have all misspoken, but sometimes it’s better just to take the high road and apologize.  How many political scandals have been created not because of the original act, but in a botched repair job afterwards.

Thank you John Kerry.
Fighting back against Bush & Company is fighting for America.

Tom Tripp

I believe that Sen. Kerry’s original comments were meant to be a well deserved blast at Bush, but it came across the wrong way to many people.  I’m afraid that this misinterpretation may hurt some of the democratic candidates that Sen. Kerry has worked so hard to promote and I think he should apologize for the way this comment came across and try to do as much damage control as possible at this critical time before next Tuesday’s election.

Joyce:

As we have written repeatedly, the comments Senator Kerry made were at the President. NOT at the troops.

And please, before you say Democrats are soft on terrorists, there are more terrorists AND Al Qaeda in Iraq now that Bush has us IN Iraq than before.

Its the President who insults our troops by risking THEIR lives without having an exit strategy—or even thinking harder about other means of dealing with terrorirsts WITHOUT having to send our troops in without enough support.

If you believe what the President says about his respect for the troops, then why would you let a man who continues to lead our soldiers into battle without a clear-cut case for being there stay in command? If any general did that to his troops, would he be at his command for long?

THAT is the real tragedy behind this distraction you’re participating in against John Kerry. Have you thought about the over 100 Americans who died in the last two days? Or is this alleged insult, which really DID NOT HAPPEN, more important to you?

Think about it.

AND FOR ALL OF YOU WHO THINK THIS IS GOING TO STEM THE TIDE FOR THE MIDTERMS, SEE THE KOS ARTICLE ABOVE:

It’s still about the war.

Go ahead John Kerry! But Kerry should repeat more clearly what he said. Repeat, Repeat REPEAT:

George W. Bush takes pride in his “C” grade point average. American students must become better, smarter students.

George Bush and the Republican criticize Affirmative Action programs, but George Bush was a recipient of a special kind of affirmative “legacy” action in getting admitted into Yale U.

George Bush came into the office of President with little or no foreign policy experience and too little experience traveling or studying abroad, American education students must become better at learning other languages and cultures.

George Bush’s administration can be faulted on a lack of intelligence before 9-11-2006.

Now some Bush administration officials are claiming that things are getting better in Iraq. State of denial.

The Bush cabinet is a group of arm-chair generals sending other Americans and Americans’ children to an unnecessary war in Iraq!

The lesson or moral is: if George Bush had done better in school, had studied abroad, had learned more about other cultures, had used the intelligence of experts who disagreed with his ideology, perhaps America would not be stuck in the sand in Iraq!

George Bush is a failure at war!

Norse:
Dear Senator,

You should apoligize for your comment, even if it was supposed to be directed at President Bush. Calling a man intellectually lazy, isn’t a very tasteful joke. Didn’t you mother ever tell you “If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

PS

@ Mike

I can think of worse Presidents than Bush, trust me.

Thank you Senator Kerry for speaking truth to power. They can spin all they want, because in the end it is this pResident and this republican congress who has made a disaster out of this war in Iraq.

They have nothing to run on and so they attack. Guess all the hate fliers they mailed about Dems in the last weeks didn’t work. They are the one’s who should be ashamed.

Fe
Thanks for posting the Kos things - I just read them.

It seems there was a time when Bush entertained an audience at a fundraiser by looking for WMDs under desks and tables.  That certainly was a “joke,” I hope - not meant to diss our troops.

I’m wondering if no one thinks people join the military because of the poor job market, lack of educational opportunities and relaxed standards - but we’re not allowed to think about that - are we.

We would never see the Bush twins serving or that kid of Martin’s.

George W. Bush made better grades at Yale than John Kerry, but that’s not what today is all about.

It’s about bitterness. John Kerry is a bitter, bitter man.

Maybe he slipped in his speech. I’d like to give him a pass.

But his response at his press conference later in the day, attacking President Bush and Rush Limbaugh.

Shameful. Very shameful.

I was proud to vote for you in 2004 but after your education comment it will be very difficult to ever vote for you again.

“If you had any pride at all you would at the very least apologize and at the most, step down from the senate.
You are truely reprehensible.”
~~Posted by Kevin | October 31, 2006 8:01 PM

Yes, Kevin.  John Kerry should step down from the Senate for stepping on a joke.  And then the man who really knows how to mangle a line (you know, GWB) can… well, what do you think he should do?

Mr. Kerry,
I am writing this note with disappointment and urgency. I read the comments that you made at a California college recently. I must state that I am of neither party in belief, but an independent. I am conservative on some issues and liberal on others. I feel that many in this great country are just like me. What struck me most about your comment and those of many other politicians is that the negativity is being taken to a whole new level. In a society where one of the political platforms is violence in children, what precedence does your negativity set for our younger generations? Our children and grandchildren are watching you, roll playing you. You should be apologizing to the youth of this country as well as the military.
They volunteer to be where they are, and that is never a decision to be taken lightly or of a uneducated mind.  My parents and in-laws are all vets like you, and whether or not they agree with President Bush, never would that comment have come from them. Many people may not agree with this war, but never should we speak of our men and women in uniform that way. Without them we would not have such freedoms as the one that let’s you make a bad joke.  Maybe this was a joke “gone bad” and aimed at our president, and if so, do you not think that you should be setting an example and taking the “high road?” As for your agreement or lack there of with our current president and administration, he was elected by the people and whether or not the people feel he has lived up to his word will show in the next election. I truly believe that there are much more positive and articulate ways to express your opinions and disappointment in our current administration. Take the high road and start showing the future presidents, senators, representatives, etc. that there is a better way. Start being a positive role model!! This country needs more of those now than it ever has.
Those of us that are registered voters are capable of learning the facts and voting in the way we see fit. We do not need to turn on the radio or TV and see someone telling us how to vote, or speaking at us like we are to uneducated to think and make that decision on our own. We want to see civil debates that present your platforms and important issues, we do not want to be bombarded with negative propaganda, and we do not want it thrown at our youth!
I personally challenge you to apologize to the youth and military personnel by all means possible.  And I challenge you, President Bush and all of those running for office or campaigning for another, to present positive campaigns, leaving your personal opinions at home. We are intelligent enough to form our own!

Thanks Bailout Kerry. I too am a Brown Water Sailor. The difference is that I still serve after 20+ years, you chose to sell out to politics after getting scared once.

Please, retract your statement about the military and commend us and make amends! We are very highly intelligent. I challenge YOU to man a AEGIS Class Warship and try to operate it. I don’t think you can. You can’t even keep your mouth shut when in front of the world.

Hell, you couldn’t man a machine gun mount correctly during your Swift Boat days in accordance to your ex-boat crew.

You were a disease to the United States Military Services during your active duty time, you were a disease to us during your anti-war compaign days (listening to too much Jefferson Airplane were ya?) and you are still a disease.

I BEG you to come to the Norfolk-Hampton Roads Area for a “Grip and Grin Session” and get a real taste of what the United States Military thinks of your disgusting service to your fellow servicemen and fellow citizens past, present and future!

If you can’t recant your most recent statement, shut up now and save the current brave and willing military some grace. A Mea Culpa by your spin doctors is not enough!

You had your 15 minutes of fame. Shut down your stupidity now.

Signed-
Neither a Republican nor a Democrat.. just a honorable military serving service member-

“I was proud to vote for you in 2004 but after your education comment it will be very difficult to ever vote for you again.”
~~Posted by Tom | October 31, 2006 8:03 PM

Since telling a joke correctly seems to be the main criteria for voting, I wonder if we could persuade Jon Stewart to coach all our legislators.  Hmmmm

HOORAA   kERRY!!
I T’S ABOUT TIME SOMEONE GAVE THESE DISPICABLE REPUBLICAN’S SOME OF WHAT THEY PASS OUT EVERY DAY.

cHEANEY LIKES TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT TO DO TO THEMSELVES, BUT HE CAN’T STAND ANYONE THAT DOES NOT AGREE WITH HIM.
ON READING THIS, I NOTICED i STARTED CHENEYS NAME WITH A SMALL C. I AM NOT WRONG. HE IS AFTER ALL A VERY SMALL MAN!!!

THESE PEOPLE CAN’T STAND LOSING. WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IF, THEY LOSE THE ELECTION?
WILL OUR COUNTRY SURVIVE? WILL OUR FREEDOMS BECOME EXTINCT? bUSH COULD IF HE WISHED, DECLARE A NATIONAL EMERGENCY, INSTALL MARSHAL LAW, DISBAND THE CONSTITUTION, AND BECOME KING. JUST WHAT WE NEED ANOTHER KING GEORGE!

did he or did he not make the comment in california, that people who cannot navigate the ducational system end up in Iraq?

sandman:

No he did NOT make that statement. He made it about the PRESIDENT. Not the troops.

And when you all go back to Malkin’s site, tell her she still, as always, needs to get her facts straight. She rarely EVER does.

Senator Kerry got it right.

The Republicans are using this as a diversion.  And boy do they need it!

Forget about Mark Foley for awhile, we can attack a veteran for not supporting the troops.

Forget about the fact that America has violated the Geneva Conventions and water-boards prisoners.  What’s a “little dunk” per Dick Cheney when you can tell Americans about John Kerry questioning soldiers?

Forget about the Signing Statements that undermine the legitimacy of our system of government and defy checks and balances!  Who cares when you can point a finger at John Kerry!

Forget about rendition and taking people to third world countries for torture!

Forget about Katrina, we have Kerry!

Forget about FISA courts!  Who remembers Valerie Plame?  Forget about Abramoff, Ney, Cunningham, DeLay and the rest!  We have Senator Kerry who misread a line in his speech!

Forget about the phoney reporter in the White House Press Pool…what’s his name?  Jeff Gannon?  We can forget about him because we have John Kerry!

Forget about the deficits, the rewriting of the global warming reports by the lawyer turned Exxon employee!  Forget about the cronies appointed to regulatory positions, forget about the Mexico City Policy, because John Kerry flubbed a joke.

But Americans aren’t forgetting! 

And Senator Kerry isn’t apologizing for a missed line.  Not when we have thousands of Americans who shall not be returning to America from Iraq!  Not when we have many more thousands who will never be made whole again.  And not when we have a President sitting in power, who isn’t being held responsible for the horrible mangling of public policy, the abuse of the Constitution, and the bankrupting of our nation!

Thank you Senator Kerry for speaking truth to power!

We know that you support our soldiers.  The first thing about supporting soldiers is not sending them to be in harm’s way on the basis of lies and distortion!

We are here for you and urge to to Kerry on!

Robert Freedland
John Kerry for President 2008

Just when we had some decent momentum!
PLEASE APOLOGIZE!

I’ve been reading some of these comments with disbelief. I just checked icasualties.org and I saw 103 US deaths in Iraq this month, and you want an apology for a misspoken joke? I can’t believe it.

There was a soldier in my town who lost a leg and the use of his arm while serving in Fallujah in Iraq. He came home and actually lost medical coverage for 7 weeks because this Administration’s incompetence and bungling left him with a hole in his medical coverage. And you want an apology for a misquote?

John Kerry has stood up in Congress for better funding of the TriCare system, he has stood up for getting our troops more body armor and for trying to get them an actual plan to to deal with the situation in Iraq as it exists, not as it the Bush Administration imagines it exists. He has stood up for our troops and for a sane policy in Iraq.  He is doing his job as a US Senator.

I wish I could say that our President was doing his job. The deaths go on, the Administration can’t agree on what do about Iraq, they can’t deal with the Iraqi government and they won’t agree to any oversight hearings so the American people can figure out what is really going on in Iraq.

And some people want an apology for a misquote? Some Americans have the wrong priorities. I’m proud of Sen. Kerry for not backing down to these people. I am also proud of everything he has done to actually support our troops. Wish I could day the same about the President.

I agree with oncall. This kerfluffle has brought all the attention right where it needs to be—on the failed policies of this adminstration. Yes, it’s about Iraq and torture and lies and the betrayal of our troops by THIS President.

oncall, you are EXACTLY right. I just hope certain Dems don’t screw up and blow this opportunity.

Dear senator Kerry,
    Being a Viet Nam veteran, I don’t think you meant to say what it sounded like, when speaking to the students.  It did however sound like you were slamming the troops.  How about apologizing to the troops if they felt offended, and repeat your argument concerning the chicken hawks.

John,

Speaking as a ‘04 Kerry contributer and a passionate Democrat:

Please. Shut. Up.

Personally, I’m enjoying this peek into the minds of rightwingers.  I guess I’ve missed it since leaving Rural Red for Less Rural Red. 

I mean, what matters? The War Iraq II, the Constitution, Torture Bill, War in Afghanistan, Social Security, Healthcare, Jobs, Deficit, lack of alternative energy R&D… etc. etc. etc. none of that seems to get a rise out of the rightwingers.

But John Kerry stepping on a joke line, that matters.
Fascinating, as always.

I want everyone to know in the land of politics that george bush is a political thug who does not know how to lead.The word “leader” should be an insult to the American people.what a waste.Thank you john kerry.Good luck!!!!

Editing is out in full force tonight, nice guys, You still won’t ever get a vote from me OR my entire family. All my family members support the republicans and guess what, we have several in the military.

also:

MH,
I also have SEVERAL CLOSE friends and relatives in the armed services.
Also I do plan on joining the military after I graduate college. I love people who just speak garbage, like all democrats.

Edited for language.  Please be respectful of other posters.

“At least some of the democrats are actually feeling very bad about his comments even if he is not man enough to atleast say that he made a mistake!”

Doug:

Are there some republicans who feel bad right now because the President isn’t man enough to admit he made a mistake about sending 2,814 Americans to their death in Iraq?

“It takes a bigger man to apologize than it does to make a stupid mistake in the first place.”

He certainly isn’t in the White House.

“God, please do not let our sons and daughters lives be left in the balance and controlled by such a person…Amen! “

I only wish that prayer were prayed earlier—like around December of 2000 when the SUpreme Court elected Bush to the Presidency.

Posted by Doug | October 31, 2006 8:32 PM

As quoted from a CNN article—-“Sen. John Kerry is the subject of fierce criticism after telling college students they’d get “stuck in Iraq” if they didn’t study hard.”

Senator Kerry..I hate politics and especially when a politician wants to play hard ball with terminology with an offensive nature intended for the President and not keeping in mind others that it may effect.

It’s bad enough I have to tolerate politicians who claim they support the government but instead have their own agenda.

As a veteran, I’m appauled at your statement to even fathom that the troops in Iraq are less educated…you may have not said it like that but with all due respect Senator it must be nice to be a postion where you can shoot off your mouth and and not think twice.

You were once a soldier and what were you taught on active duty “..to support and defend the constitution and follow the orders of the leaders appointed over you…”...well, Senator, why don’t part of the solution and not the problem.

If I remember, in the 2004 election it was Kerry who got all the lawyers he could to go after the absentee ballot, mostly service men, disenfrancise is the word that cans to mind, my son has an I.Q. of 145 way smarter then Kerry, he is in Iraq because he feels he is helping, millions of young men an woman have died so he can run his mouth.

Edited for language.  Please be respectful.

There is no “JOKE LINE” when you are standing in front of a bank of cameras and video machines you simpletons! Everything you say will be used for AND against you!

When in the public eye you choose you words very carefully! Apparently Mr. Kerry forgot to remember that. Now it’s up to his hired henchmen of spin doctors to repair the damage that has been caused.

As a service member, we are briefed repeatedly to the point of drill and file about our words when we visit a foriegn country. Anything we do and say can be taken the wrong way with a purpose.

Once again, spin doctors are saying that this was all a joke? Guess again people! This Kerry speech was no flippant joke. If it was, I don’t want him leading MY country!

Posted by Dick Cheney | October 31, 2006 8:34 PM

Just like Lynn did to Wolf Blitzer? Wolf Blitzer a communist?

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!

Mr Kerry,
You DO owe the troops an apology.  Every one of our fine service members on duty today are VOLUNTEERS, not some puppets of the Bush Administration.  In case you have forgotten, the purpose of the military is to “kill people and break things” (Ret AF Gen John Jumper).  Most people join for “love of country”, not for some personal agenda.  If you have difference with President Bush, I have no problem with that, however, DO NOT use the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen as some sort of made up leverage to suppport your position.  I guarantee that what small support you may have had from military members was greatly deminished by your remarks, and rightly so.  No matter what your staff or supporters try to say as to the real meaning of your statement, YOU are the one that needs to make a sincere apology to the military and veterans.  President Bush did not make the comments, YOU did, so get off it already.  Take some responsibility for yourself…I’m confident that the Navy requires that of its modern “academically challenged” officers.

Best of luck to you as you either dig yourself deeper or show yourself as humble on this one.

Regards,
JD Davis, USAF Retired

JD Davis, right on man. Well said.

“Once again, spin doctors are saying that this was all a joke? Guess again people! This Kerry speech was no flippant joke. If it was, I don’t want him leading MY country!”

How about Ann Coulter saying it was a joke to put rat poison in a Supreme Court Justice’s creme brulee, OR the President of the US looking for WMDs under his desk in a video?

THESE are the people whose jokes you need to be aware of and shame on them for it. They blatantly lied to lead us into war and continue to do so while dishonoring those who HAVE served.

Another day, another wasted day in the lives of those men and women who DO serve a Commander in Chief who has done NOTHING to deserve their trust OR respect.

The statement by Senator Kerry is clearly a joke directed at Bush who got us stuck in Iraq.

And even if Senator Kerry didn’t make that as clear as some “intellects” need it to be, why isn’t he cut the same slack that Bush has been when he mis-spoke no less than several hundreds of times (ie: every time he opens his mouth) over his years in office?

Apparently Kerry is though of as more literate and intelligent than our President.  The conservatives should be careful about pointing out Kerry’s mis-speak because it only shines a light on Bush’s inability to communicate at all.

“Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.”  -George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004

“Well, as I say, we haven’t heard much from him. And I wouldn’t necessarily say he’s at the center of any command structure. And, again, I don’t know where he is. I—I’ll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about him.” - George W. Bush, on the subject of Osama bin Ladin, Washington, D.C., Mar 13, 2002

TayTay

The US military does not keep records on military voting.

However

The Army times reported a 78% vote for republicans in the US Army.

Now, if we go back to 2000, we can look at the organized campaign to throw out military votes(absentee ballots) because of their heavy conservative bend.

6 of one half-a-dozen of another right?

Dick Cheney:

Only 25 percenters believe that Bush earned good grades.  Case in point:

And so, we’re strongly committed to corn-based ethanol produced in America. Yet you’ve got to recognize there are limits to how much corn can be used for ethanol. I mean, after all, we got to eat some. And animals have got to eat.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/04/25/national/w100149D92.DTL

People who attest to Bush’s intellect will continue voting Republican.

I’m a Viet vet who was outraged by Kerry’s actions in 1971 while he was still on active duty—-his comments about soldiers in Iraq show he hasn’t changed much.

Copping an excuse that he made a “failed joke” is just another example of his manipulative, preppy gamesmanship.

With brain trusts like “Dissapointed in Sen. Kerry” it is no wonder the Republicans are trailing in every poll on both the subject of Iraq and the 2006 midterm elections.

Sen. Kerry,
This isn’t the first time, nor the second time that you have besmirched American Troops. Out of respect for our men and women in uniform I ask that you resign from the Armed Services Committee immediately and appologize to these heroes and their families.

You are not fit to be a United States Senator but that is up to the people in your home state to determine. God help them.

Mr. Kerry, will you please get your bumbling self off the National stage and shut the hell up.

We are about to take back the Congress and maybe the Senate, after you choked on the last election - Please don’t make us choke on another election because you want to grandstand and place yourself in the media spotlight with a fight right before the election.

You are like the Energizer Bunny - a loser who keeps on losing for us. Please just stop.

-signed.
One of your supporters in ‘04 who spent time and energy campaigning for you, and now is asking you to step out of the spotlight before you do our party and our nation any more damage.

Posted by ProSense | October 31, 2006 8:48 PM

Thank you for that laugh.  I had completely forgotten about the “we got to eat some” quote.

Seriously, with GWB in the house, John Kerry as a comedian… well, poor guy just doesn’t stand a chance. @;-)

I was about to vote for the Dems, until Mr. Kerry came along and stuck his foot in his mouth.  The fact that he made the comment was bad enough, but was really sealed the deal for me is that he won’t swallow his pride and apologize to the people that deserve the apology.

What I see in these posts is that Dems still hate Bush, while Republicans that were about to vote for Dems have been pulled back from the precipice.

Ironically, the comment made Kerry look, well, uneducated.

Hey Bay Area Fan,
Why don’t you quote my ENTIRE post and work with it. Nope. Can’t, can you. Just a snippet of it. Oh so typical.

Spin Doctor in disguise you are… I stated my case, you helped solidify it by your post.

You like so many others only choose to pick and grab what will work for you and your chosen deity no matter how flawed.

Like I said… neither Left or right… just a Vet who still serves.

The situation is very complicated here. Here we have a president who doesn’t care about our troops and keep attacking on Democrats. On the other side the today’s remarks of the senator Kerry.
To my opinion, I think senator you should appologize to our troops. Clear all the differences between our troops and your comments. We support you.

‘Nite, Gracie.  @;-)
Sending virtual pizza and Monty Python dvds to the moderators, it’s going to be a long one.

Catherine Dickson

Ah, John Kerry is not on the Armed Services Committee.  What are you talking about?

You can find out who serves on what committees at this site:  http://www.senate.gov/general/

Then click on Committee Assignments. 

It’s a free country. You can yell at anyone you want. It’s more effective if it’s based on fact though.

>>>Laurie Mann:

I think the only people whom Senator Kerry insulted in his speech were the Republicans.

He spoke fairly realistically to students - given the mess our economy is in, some of them will have no choice but to join the armed services and take their chances over where they’d be deployed. The Republicans, once again, are doing their damnedest to shoot the messenger.

How about some fair and balanced news on this blog….

INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 31 /U.S. Newswire/—The National Commander of The American Legion called on Sen. John Kerry to apologize for suggesting that American troops in Iraq are uneducated.

“As a constituent of Senator Kerry’s I am disappointed. As leader of The American Legion, I am outraged,” said National Commander Paul A. Morin. “A generation ago, Sen. Kerry slandered his comrades in Vietnam by saying that they were rapists and murderers. It wasn’t true then and his warped view of today’s heroes isn’t true now.”

While addressing a group of college students at a campaign rally in Pasadena, CA., Monday, Kerry suggested that they receive an education or “if you don’t, you’ll get stuck in Iraq.”

“While The American Legion shares the senator’s appreciation for education, the troops in Iraq represent the most sophisticated, technologically superior military that the world has ever seen,” Morin said. “I think there is a thing or two that they could teach most college professors and campus elitists about the way the world works.

“And while we are on the topic of education, why doesn’t the senator and his comrades in Congress improve the GI Bill so all of today’s military members - reserves and guard included - can achieve the educational aspirations that the senator so highly values?” Morin said. “The senator’s false and outrageous attack was over-the-top and he should apologize now.”

Ann R.:

With good reason they trail—after the misappropriations for no-bid contracts in Iraq, the Abramoff scandals, payoffs for political favors, Tom Delay, Mark Foley, the Dubai port scandal, the growing Iraq insurgency, the lack of adequate support in the event of an emergency, a nuclear North Korea, a nuclear Iran, and then there’s Katrina…

Oh and yes, we’re getting close to equalling the number of those Americans killed on September 11 with those Americans killed in Iraq.

So for all the Michael Savages and Rush Limbaughs of this thread please note we are chuckling at your feeble attempts to glorify this non-event by John Kerry into a phenomenon of major proportions.

Can’t happen, babes, not when the American people have been failed in national security by Republicans, made to cower in fear instead of face the real culprits of terrorism, and have been bamboozled out of their tax dollars while the republican men’s country clubbers go golfing in the Scottish highlands with lobbyists and special interest contractors.

And for all you trolls, thanks for giving us the space and opportunity to reiterate every one of Bush’s and the republican party’s failings—-again and again and again. Couldn’t happen to a nicer group.

You know your party almost had me conviced but are Kerry’s remarks I’ve seen the light. You Dims hate our troops and want us to run from Bin Lauden who has called Iraq the front line of the war on terror. Thanks for reminding me of why we are there.

ABC has a quote up from a democratic congressman where he says “Kerry botched 2004 for us and now he’s done the same for 2006,thanks John!” I believe he is right.

Senator Kerry:

I wouldn’t be turning my back on Nancy Pelosi any time soon.

[Edited.  Thanx.]

“Get and education or esle you will end up in the Middle Of Iraq”. What kind of idiot are you? My Husband has a college degree MR.Kerry and he is proudly serving on Active Duty in The Middle East as I am typing this comment.
Mind boggling how all of you politicians jump the fences when it is election time.
Frankly, I think every single one of you are dirty. You all have your hand in someone elses pocket. George W Bush may not be a rocket scientist, but he is respectful of educated/Non-educated Americans.
We are at war and you make a comment about the very people that will defend your pathetic butt when North Korea fianally suceeds on the next nuclear test.The very people you are supposed to stand up for you have degraded.
Food for thought Mr.Heinz-Kerry….Elections are in one week and if there is a"God” in heaven.You will not get re-elected for ANYTHING.
STAND UP AMERICANS. NO MORE REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS! It is time we end thier puppet show. BUCK THE SYSTEM AND VOTE INDEPENDANT.

PROUD OF MY COLLEGE EDUCATED ARMY SOLDIER!

I am a retired Marine Col.  You need to resign NOW for the good of this country, given your recent statements on who goes to Iraq to protect this country.

Kerry,

I gave a similar speech to my kids…but in my speech I told them….
If you don’t have what it takes, if you don’t have the skills, smarts, bravery, dedication, and sacrifice to serve your country as a U.S. soldier, then you had better study hard and get good grades so you can become a businessman or a professional.  Otherwise you will wind up a flunky working for the US Govt, leeching off the US taxpayer…never doing an honest days work, never accomplishing anything, never contributing to your society

[Edited.  Thanx.]

MM

I will try and help.  The running gag is that Mr. Bush is an elitist monkey who got through school with daddies money, and with bad grades.

What we have here is called a double entendre.  Or something with 2 meanings and through implication creates a joke.

The implication is that only stupid people goto Iraq, and joke is that bush is stupid and is stuck in iraq just like all the stupid people(poor people) who did not have the knowledge or money to goto college and become a platonic vision of a just man.

I buy Kerry’s explanation, and I find it shameful that Bush would promulgate what is obviously a lie. I saw this same thing happen back in 2004, with the same bloggers and others intentionally misunderstanding various statements and reports.

Note, however, that I recommend voting against almost all Dem candidates due to their stance on illegal immigration.

Vietnam Vet:

Thank you for your service.  Sen. Kerry is not on the Armed Services Committee.  Perhaps you could look things up. 

Or did you just mis-speak?  I wonder who is putting out this particular talking point. It’s odd to have two people or more quoting the same error.

The conservative desperation is showing and they are only hurting their cause.

Coming here is not going to change what is going to happen on November 7th.  Americans have woken up and won’t take the neocon lies anymore.

John Kerry was clearly baiting Bush. His words had nothing to do with our military troops.  And those who still criticize him for his 1971 testimony should remember that he was QUOTING words spoken by other heroic veterans, men who served in Vietnam. 

Distortion of the truth is neither patriotic or honorable. You can lie. You can defame. You can come here and spread as much manure as you like but you cannot make your lies into truth.

You may all forget that everything we do is witnessed on a higher plane. No matter what you believe in, be it Christianity, Judism, Islam or Karma, the truth will out in the end and we will be held to account for our lies. 

So for the operatives here who are attacking a good man and honorable veteran in your desperation, you should hang your heads in shame.

For those of you who are buying into this swill: do your homework. It’s easy to follow like sheep.

And everyone thought Bush was a bumbling idiot! What a gift right before the election!

Re: Posted by rachel | October 31, 2006 9:06 PM

Who else should he release them to? He already released them to at least two newspapers - who wrote that there was nothing significant that wasn’t released during the election, except the Yale grades.

Just to be clear - There is no chain of custody procedure for release of a living person’s military records to a certified neutral authority.  And no one should be expected to turn their records over to smear merchants who have already lied repeatedly. A neutral authority is appropriate, and newspapers are the best we have in today’s system. And Kerry has already done that, a long time ago.

“If you don’t have what it takes, if you don’t have the skills, smarts, bravery, dedication, and sacrifice to serve your country as a U.S. soldier, then you had better study hard and get good grades so you can become a businessman or a professional. Otherwise you will wind up a flunky working for the US Govt, leeching off the US taxpayer…never doing an honest days work, never accomplishing anything, never contributing to your society.”

Joyce:

Are you talking about the President or the republican party-either or both?

Jacob…so let me see if I understand you correctly…through “implication” Kerry is insulting the troops!!  Wow, the second derivative of his comment is even an insult.  He is more of an idiot than I thought!! 

Oh, by the way, if I recall correctly President Bush had a better GPA at Yale than Senator Kerry!

TayTay:

There is a lot of mis-speaking going on around here by the right-wing operatives who have been driven here in droves by their low poll numbers.

They are hanging on a straw because they want to distract the public from the issue at hand: America does not support the war in Iraq.

They are also counterproductive because they are keeping Iraq front and center in the media.

The Chickenhawks in Washington are afraid of losing their seats to veterans that John Kerry has been campaigning for.  They are scared enough to attack Michael J. Fox for his disease, so what we have seen today does not surprise me.

They aren’t going down fighting: they are going down lying as usual.

Once again you have disgraced yourself, Senator.

I am a registered Democrat.  But today’s Democrats cannot be trusted with our national security.  I will be rethinking my votes.

RESIGN, MR. KERRY.  SHAME ON YOU!

Good Evening folks

I am appalled by Senator Kerry’s elitist insinuation that only the uneducated wind up in Iraq or believe in the mission. My daughter is on a full 4 yr academic, (not need-based or military) scholarship (tuition and room and board) at a prestigious university. She voluntarily joined ROTC.

Sometimes I wonder what the Eastern elites would do if the backbone of this country just refused to enlist, regardless of the incentives. Would the sons and daughters of the elites fight and die to defend the sacred ground of Martha’s Vineyard and dear old Harvard and Yale? Or would they just catch the next plane to Switzerland?
His comments illustrate the disdain and condescension that the LEADERHIP and SPOKESPERSONS of the Democratic Party have for the mainstream morality of this country. As a result, this party has blown elections in 2000 and 2004 and is aiming to squander golden opportunities in 2006 and 2008.  With these attitudes, the Democratic leadership has replaced the mantra, “It’s the economy, stupid” with “It’s about character and morality, stupid”. The result is many voters are holding their noses and voting Republican.

“It’s too late to diffuse this. By his refusing to apologize after the American Legion asked for it this morning it turned this into an issue that isn’t going to go away.”

No, if he apologized, it would look bad for Kerry for a half day of a news cycle and then the media would move on to other things. There’s no substance to this because Kerry clearly just had a gaff. What continues the gaff is his refusal to apologize. He needs to apologize thoroughly for the impression that he was maligning our troops, reaffirming his longstanding support of the troops as a veteran, and then get the hell away from the cameras.

Shame, shame on you, Mr. Kerry and then to blame the Bush Administration for YOUR remarks.  I am a democrat, but you will NEVER get my vote or that of my family. 
My son served in Iraq.  He was extremely insulted by your remarks.  He did NOT get bad grades in school. 
What a terrible thing to say about the men and women serving our country.  You should know better. 
It scares me to see that there are people who think you were right to attack our servicemen.  What is this world coming to.

Lee:

No better than the President who NOW wants to re-package his same old “Stay the Course” strategy in Iraq?

Please go ahead and continue showing, along with the other fine Malkinistas present here today on this blog—how much your support of this President grinds our troops much further into the ground than anything ANYONE could say.

And the American people KNOW it.

MR. Kerry,
  I am a Soldier from your state. I graduated from Nauset Regional High School in North Eastham, Mass on the Honor Roll. I scored a 93 on my ASVAB test to join the Army, and I am quite sure I could have gone to most any college of my choosing.
  Today’s generation of Soldiers, Sailors, Coast Guardsmen, Marines and Airmen are the absolute best and brightest that we have ever had in the 231 year history of our armed forces.
  I personally joined the Army because I wanted to serve my country, and see the world. I chose the Airborne because we are a cut above the rest. Since joining the Army I have attended college, and currently have a 3.8 GPA. No, that isn’t perfect, but I’ll put my IQ up against yours any day.
  Luckily I received my absentee ballot in the mail today. I’m going to vote entirely Republican because I am sick to death of people like you and John Murtha poking shots at my comrades in arms.
  Sir, you need to resign. That is the best service that you can do for the people of this nation, and your state.
  All the Way, Sir!

MAKE THE FOLLOWING RIGHTFUL ACCUSATIONS

  THE PRESIDENT DIRECTLY CREATED HUNDREDS OF THOUSAND OF TERRORISTS WHEN HE DISBANDED THE IRAQI SECURITY FORCES WHO INSTANTLY WENT TO WORK FOR THE TERRORISTS. THEY GET PAID PER US SOLDIER THEY KILL OR WOUND. THINK ABOUT THAT. THIS PRESIDENT AND HIS REPUBLICAN PARTY OWES THIS COUNTRY AN APOLOGY FOR THE LIVES OF OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN KILLED SINCE THAT DECISION.

(PLEASE MAKE A MOUNTAIN OUT OF THAT DESICION)

WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND MAKES A DECISION LIKE THAT WITH OUT CONSIDERING THE FOLLOWING:
1. HOW MANY OF OUR TROOPS WILL DIE BECAUSE OF THAT DECISION.
2. HOW LONG WAS IT GOING TO TAKE TO BUILD AN ARMY OF HALF A MILLION OR SO
3. HOW MUCH WAS IT GOING TO COST.

THIS IS BEYOND INCOMPETENCE, BEYOND MISMANAGEMENT, THIS IS BEYOND ARROGANCE, THIS IS CLOSE TO TREASON.

NOW THEY KEEP LYING TO US THAT WE ARE WINNING
WELL, LETS LOOK AT THE NUMBERS.

    MAKE A GIANT BILL BOARD

ON THEIR STAND UP STAND DOWN POLICY:
0 US SOLDIER IS YET TO STAND DOWN, 0

ON THEIR STAY THE CAUSE POLICY:
101+ KILLED IN OCTOBER ALONE
2,800+ KILLED
20,000+ WOUNDED
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS NEW AL QEADA RECRUITS.
650,000+ IRAQI CIVILIANS KILLED
IRAQ IS ON THE VERGE OF A CIVIL WAR
WE HAVE MILITIAS EVERY WHERE THAT WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DISARM, BUT THEY KILL OUR TROOPS AT WILL, EVERY DAY.
ALL THESE HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS BECAUSE OF STAY THE CAUSE POLICY OF THE REPUBLICANS.

MR. PRESIDENT, REPUBLICANS, IF THAT IS YOUR WINNING STRATEGY AND YOU THINK YOU WILL FOOL US AGAIN, THINK AGAIN.

THEY LABEL US CONSTANTLY THAT WE HAVE NO PLAN, BUT FOLKS, THAT IS REALLY THEIR PLAN, “NO PLAN”
HERE’S ANOTHER POLICY THEY INVENTED
“CUT AND RUN”
WE HAD OSAMA BIN LADEN AND THE TALIBAN CORNERED IN AFGANISTAN, BUT THE PRESIDENT CUT AND RAN TO IRAQ AND ALLOWED THEM TO RE-GROUP AND
NOW THEY ARE MAKING A COME BACK. THEY HAVE A SAFE HEAVEN IN PAKISTAN WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN PLANNING OTHER ATTACKS. THE LAST BRITISH PLOTTERS RECEIVED THEIR TRAINING IN PAKISTAN, NOT IRAQ.  REMEMBER WE WERE PROMISED OSAMA BIN LADIN DEAD OR ALIVE.
MR PRESIDENT, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO RE-FOCUS ON THE WAR ON TERROR.
YOU CAN NOT BLAME IT ON FAULTY INTELLIGENCE ANYMORE MR PRESIDENT. YOU HAVE MADE IT PERFECTLY CLEAR THAT KNOWING WHAT YOU KNOW NOW, YOU STILL WOULD HAVE EMBARKED ON IRAQ AND STAYED YOUR CAUSE. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

YES MR. PRESIDENT, YOUR “ARROGANT” POLICIES HAVE LED TO THE DEATH OF THOUSANDS OF OUR HONORABLE MEN AND WOMEN.

SIMPLE PLAN FOR IRAQ:
IMPLEMENT STAND UP STAND DOWN.
TRAIN WHAT THEY NEED AND REDUCE OUR TROOPS.
MAINTAIN ENOUGH TROOPS TO FIGHT THE TERRORISTS.
REMOVE OUR TROOPS FROM THE STREETS WHERE THEY ARE TARGETS AND LET THE IRAQIS DO THE PATROL.

DOMESTIC ISSUES: SHOW WHO THE REPUBLICANS REALLY REPRESENT.

REPUBLICANS           DEMOCRATS
BIG OIL                     THE PEOPLE
PHARMACEUTICALS       THE PEOPLE
THE RICH                   THE PEOPLE
CORRUPTIONS
AND COVER UPS           THE PEOPLE
RIGHT WING IDEALIST     THE PEOPLE

PLEASE, MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF THIS AND DO NOT LET THEM STEAL ANY MOMENTUM FROM YOU.

Hey Dyno Mutt,

Try to stay focused again! Oh that is right you can’t!
JOHN KERRY MADE A DUMBASS COMMENT!!!

....but the President!

....but the President!

Rude Awakening,

Your comment was very rude.  Shouldn’t the White House be tending to something called Iraq, and not blasting people who aren’t even up for election this year? 

Bush doesn’t want to talk about Iraq, so it’s all

But, Kerry said ...

But Kerry said ....

I’m truly amazed how Kerry’s mangled joke is the story of the day, when our guys are dying in Iraq in large part due to gross incompetence by this administration.

ANOTHER GOOD DIARY FROM KOS:

Reality check on the Kerry “incident”: No more running. Period.
by GoodDamon
Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 05:44:43 PM PST
First time diarist, so be gentle.

I logged onto DailyKos today, and what did I see? Kerry misspoke, and got wrongfully attacked for it. But he seems to be a different Kerry than the one we saw in 2004. This one doesn’t mince words. This one fights back. This one is the verbal tiger we wanted him to be in 2004. This one has stopped listening to consultants and started listening to us.

GoodDamon’s diary :: ::
And a bunch of Democrats suddenly want him to stay quiet and just take it as the media, Bush, Republicans, and everyone else uses him and us as a verbal punching bag for the next week. Why? Because he might misspeak again.

To use a common internet colloquialism: OH NOES!

Did this strategy work in 2000 for Gore, when he systematically rid himself of all spitfire and passion in order to make himself palatable to the DLC crowd? No.

Did this strategy work in 2002 for Democratic candidates campaigning for Congress and the Senate, listening once again to the blandification experts working at the DLC? No.

Did this strategy work in 2004 for John Kerry himself, the DLC candidate of choice, when he carefully avoided attacking the Swift Boaters and anyone else who decided to punish him for having the temerity to be both a hero and a Democrat? No.

No. No more of that DLC bullshit. If we collapse because someone flubs a goddamn joke, then we’re beating ourselves. We can’t afford to look like cowards in a battle of words right now. Six years should have proven that to all of us.

Staying quiet is the DLC strategy. It doesn’t work. It’s time to stop listening to Republicans and so-called “centrists” telling us we need to be more spineless, more wishy-washy, more Republican-lite in order to win elections.

They. Are. Lying.

Listen, the MSM is already reporting Kerry’s angry response to Tony Snow and the rest of the “right-wing nutjobs.” If he just quietly shut up, what would they report on? Well, they’d repeat Snow’s smears and Limbaugh’s lies, because if Kerry doesn’t have the spine to respond, then those smears and lies must have a grain of truth, right?

Wrong, of course, but if he shuts up, what else will they say?

So no more running. Period. When they lie, twist our words, or pretend to get their panties in a twist over a flubbed joke, we go after them, and we go after them hard. No apologies. No snivelling. We set the tone and subject of the debate, and we stop playing their game.

No more DLC cowardice.

Jaybrams:

Not if other Dems back Kerry up. Anyone who has paid attention to his recent speeches knew what he meant by that line - it was all about Bush’s failures in Iraq.

Personally, I think people ought to be thinking awfully hard about what’s going on in Iraq as they vote this election.  Kerry has just given you a nice lead-in to talk about it.

Kerry was not criticizing the soldeirs in Iraq; he was criticizing the Bush administration and their Republican cronies who will not debate issues, but rather attack and blame others to further their own delusionary and corrupt agenda, one of which, is to have our young men die in Iraq for a meaningless war, and corporate profit.

Kerry’s remarks about if you don’t study hard, you will end up in Iraq reminds me of the Vietnam War era. Back then, if you did not attend college, you were immediately drafted and sent to Vietnam. That is a simple fact. I was there. Many of my friends who didn’t attend college were immediately drafted and within six months after boot camp were shipped off to Vietnam to fight a meaningless war just like the war in Iraq today. We just don’t have a military draft today, but it’s coming if you have bothered to read the Republican agenda on the current draft being debated in Congress. The Republicans won’t even mention the idea of a military draft before the November election.

Kerry telling students that if you don’t study hard, you may end up in Iraq, is a clear and concise message to our young people about the corruption, deception, delusionary and insane policies of the Bush Administration. If you cannot understand what Kerry is telling you, then you have missed the whole point of his speech.

I guess my wife and I are two of the “idiots” you refer to in your response. Nice after-the-fact excuses, but my first impression was you were saying the same thing that was said about Vietnam-era draftees: not smart enough to stay in school and get a draft deferment.

But I should expect this from you. You’re still an SDS member, only you just cut your hair and put on a suit a few years back.

Hope this ends your Presidential aspirations. Everyone was sick of you after 2004 anyway.

“I was a precinct leader for JK 2 years ago and gave a significant amount of money to that effort. Not only did JK blow that election, he’s now on his way to blowing this one - even though he’s not on the ballot. thanks a lot. obviously, ego trumps common sense.”

I drove out of state several weekends to work for JK and I feel exactly the same way. He failed us the last election (remember all those millions in campaign money he hadn’t spent before the end of the election - after he pulled advertising out of Missouri and other swing states citing lack of funds?)

I worked very hard for Mr. Kerry, but this incident is really cementing for me what a self centered, bumbling official he is. He does NOT know when to put a lid on it and just win a victory. He found a way to insert himself in a national fight that is a BIG loser for us.

I’m very dissapointed in him.

What’s the old saying?

If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

Mr. Kerry, you should stop digging and try to get yourself out of this hole you put yourself in.

Be a man, apologize.

VRWC:

“HMMM didn’t polls say Dems were winning in 2000,2002,2004, and now again in 2006?”

Nope. Does it bother you that the republicans are facing a referendum on the president and his party this time around? Or are you conveniently forgetting that fact too?

Also remember, in 2000, it was a tightly contested election, boiling down to one state—Florida.

In 2002, it was 9-11.

In 2004 it was a Democratic challenger bringing an election to the wire against an incumbent president during wartime.

But this time, 2006, the wool has been pulled off the taxpayer’s eyes. After Katrina, after Dubai, after an Iraq war that never ends, its ALL ABOUT BUSH.

And thank you for giving me the ooprtunity to explain that fact to lurkers to this blog.

SFNathan:

I’m very happy that Senator Kerry is fighting the slime machine and just wish other Democrats had such strong words for President Bush. 

If you are not part of the solution…well, you know.

I’m proud of Senator Kerry. He owes no apology. Anyone who watches the video should be able to realize that the Senator is talking about Bush. If not, perhaps you should give him the benefit of the doubt. He’s voted for legislation over and over and over again to help veterans and he’s worked his butt off to elect veterans running in the midterms. 

If you truly are a Democrat, you should cut the senator a little slack and put your efforts where they will do the most good, say fighting back at the Bush slime machine? First they attacked Michael J. Fox, then John Kerry.  What are you waiting for, for them to come for you?

TayTay, I understand that Bush derangment syndrome is rampant among those of your ilk but others of us understand that this administration didn’t lie about anything. Have you not read any of the filed reports or are you depending upon Journalists to tell you how to think with a single cherry picked line? If you really read the translations from AQ, or the real reports that have come from Iraqi Generals and translated documents you would know that the WMD was shipped out of Iraq in the months of lead up to the war. Have you ever heard of the Bekaa Valley? People like you are now joining our enemies in their fight against our troops.

John Kerry has lost the 2006 election. The Dems admitted when they hired 4000 lawyers in 20 states to contest the elections even before we vote.

“No idea if you are who you say you are, but you’re way out of line acting like this is going to blow the election. It got Iraq at the front burner, which if people are thinking about Iraq, they’re going to vote Dem.”

No, this did not get Iraq on the front burner. It got “Kerry / Bush in a war of words over disrespecting the troops” on the front burner. Why do you think Drudge, Fox and all the conservative media are blaring the Kerry / Bush fight as their lead story?

A fight between Bush and Kerry over a Kerry botched joke that can be interpreted as disrespecting American Troops is not the spin we Democrats want going into our last week.

John Kerry needs to apologize to the troops for making the impression that he was slighting them, to get this story off the front pages and get the media back to the tidal wave coming towards the Republicans.

Try to focus Dyna…

But Bush said…
we should focus on Bush…

Nik, yes the polls did say that. You don’t seem to understand that maybe in the cities and the people around you think the way you do….the majority of Americans don’t.

No, this did not get Iraq on the front burner. It got “Kerry / Bush in a war of words over disrespecting the troops” on the front burner. Why do you think Drudge, Fox and all the conservative media are blaring the Kerry / Bush fight as their lead story?

SF Nathan:

Because no other news about Iraq is doing anything politically for them. In fact, its a huge millstone and they know its tied tightly around the White House and the Republican rubber-stamp congress.

Talk about not seeing the forest for the trees, you are not seeing the leaves for the bark!

If you really are a Democrat—as they say in “Training Day”—“Man up!!!”

Such vitriol.  And all aimed at a man who has supported the troops, spoken out for peace, and who is an honest man.

Where is the rage at the man who avoided service, began an illegal war, and who condones torture?  All the damage to our kids is coming from him, not John Kerry.

Using the troops fighting and dying in Irag, Afghanistan and those serving all over the globe to bait the Rebublicans into a fit was in itself irresponsible. Leave us out of it. If you two want to bash and bait one another, do so on your own turf. Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen deserve better.

SFC Gary Kiser
US ARMY (Ret)

VRWC:

You mean, this majority?

“From the WSJ:

President Bush is getting a bit more credit from voters for positive economic news, but there is little sign the modest bump is benefiting fellow Republicans in a midterm election campaign dominated by voters’ anxieties about Iraq.

A week before Election Day, the new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll shows the president receiving improved marks for handling the economy, an issue Republicans are increasingly emphasizing in their 11th-hour attempts to hold their congressional majorities. Amid rising stock values and falling gas prices, Mr. Bush essentially breaks even on the issue with 46% of voters approving his economic stewardship and 48% disapproving. That is up from 39% approval and 56% disapproval in June.

Yet raging violence in Baghdad in recent weeks has further darkened Americans’ mood about Iraq—the issue voters call most important to their election decision-making. The result: voters want Democrats rather than Republicans to control Congress by a 15-point margin, 52% to 37%. That gap matches the record for the question in Journal/NBC polls, set earlier in October.

But among the 37% who say the war has been worthwhile, seven in 10 want Republicans in charge on Capitol Hill. Among all voters, 61% say they feel “less confident” the war will end successfully, while just 27% feel “more confident” about the outcome.”

DAP:

I am also a life-long Massachusetts resident and I am proud of John Kerry for standing up to this Administration and trying to get them to be accountable for their lies and incompetence in this war.

I am so glad that we in Massachusetts are so ably represented in the Senate by someone who is not afraid to speak truth to power and call the President to task for his deceitful dealings on Iraq. I just wish there were more like him in the Senate.

I know who stands with the troops and who understands their needs. That’s why I’ve voted for Kerry all these times. He is a true public servant, not someone in it for the money, like so many in the current government.

My Husband is a Chief Master Sgt in the Air National Guard-4 tours Viet Nam- Desert Storm, Operation Freedom. You get the picture.

He is asmart man, 35 years military and Gov employee. He believes and serves to protect you. I hope and pray you do not become his Commander In Chief. He has a lot of education and continues to further it to achieve his goals. He would serve you proud no matter who is in office because he took the oath to do so.

Not only is he smart-he is Proud of his Country and serves with great pride because he wants to. Not because he is not smart.

Then we look towards my son-in-law who signed up in the Army Guard at the age of 25. Not some high school kid trying to get out of trouble. Someone who belives and wants to serve his country. He is now almost 27 and doing great, wants to go overseas to help and protect.  911 brought out a lot of educated men and woman who serve because they are afraid of what would happen if they don’t help the USA.

What the Iraq people and the evil people must be thinking of your remark. If we can’t get along with each other then they have the upper hand still.

Thanks for giving the evil ones something to discuss..

I will not VOTE for you now…I am a member of Family Support, I support my military man and his entire military family…young or old. We are the smart ones…The family who stands by and supports.
John Kerry you need to get some more education….don’t joke about the military. To us it is life or death. Not a funny joke…

Does it need to be that those that evidently have no clue, perpetuate this notion that what is right about our country should be construed as wrong? Our economy is in great shape, including mine as a working stiff that doesn’t need a union to speak for me, and a job that I now have ownership in that is also a multi-million dollar company. Do you all feel the need to have someone or an entity to run your life into the ground as they have for so many years? Please, you have it in you to take the ball and run with it!! You can be far more than you are! It’s you’re money, rather than mine, and you CAN do well.

Thank you

You are an embaressment for the Democrats. I voted for you! My son had acedemic and athletic scholarships for college he opted to be a MARINE! It’s not the 60’s if you can’t cut it you are gone!Who do you think you are making the statements you did? He is getting ready for his SECOND tour of duty and you call him an idot! Look in the mirror! I want an appology! Personally! You have my email! I am in upstate NY feel free to call or come personally and appologize!

SFNathan:

You know what, that excuse is lame.

You know if you were so behind John Kerry in ‘04 no matter what amount of money or work you did for the campaign, you would be behind him today.

Go whine someplace else, you don’t know John Kerry one bit, and maybe because you didn’t your lack of knowledge about him hindered his campaign instead of giving it a boost.

You sound like a whining little child, ME, ME, ME.

GROW UP.

SFNathan

This is a false fight. You don’t back down from a bully, it only encourages them and makes them think that you are weak. The current Republican Party doesn’t care about an apology. This would not ‘go away’ if Sen. Kerry apologized. The Republicans would then just take it to the next level and demand some other idiotic concession.

These people don’t care about the actual argument. They care about bashing Democrats, whether it’s on the merits or on some fantasy thing they made up. (Which this is.)

Democrats are fighting back. That is what the Repub attack machine really can’t stand. Well, they should get used to it. I am glad Sen. Kerry is not backing down. Maybe there is hope that this will put the spotlight for this election back where it belongs: on Iraq and our role there and on our brave troops who are fighting there. That’s an argument we should be having.

Thank You Thank You Thank You
John You brought us back to life.

John Kerry:  I’m a proud Democrat from Massachusetts who feels you have really hurt your party at a critical time before the election.  Our troops and the war itself should never be the subject of a joke.  You owe everyone a big apology.

Mr. Kerry should be ashamed of himself for his crass remarks about education and the military if nothing else. If the gentleman misspoke because he is so tired (campaigning so vigorously) then perhaps he isn’t the person he wants us to think he is, to count on when the chips are down. I’m ashamed of him, and goodness, whether one is a Bush critic or not, he was out of line. I wonder if he is talking about my kids in the military, college educated before going in the service, or if he is talking about himself. He has a pretty convenient memory or lack thereof about his own military service.

SFNathan:

The people who are using these remarks by Senate Kerry to create the false argument that he doesn’t support the troops will not be pacified by an apology. They don’t have arguments on the merit, they don’t ‘play nice’ and say, ‘oh, that’s okay, we understand’ or anything like that. They don’t care about the actual issues, they only care about bashing people.

Republicans rip things out of context, like George Allen did to Jom Webb’s book, then put a spin on it and try and make Dems apologize for some made-up thing. Republicans run negative ads based on appeals to racism and they never, ever apologize for them.

These are actual bad things done by Republicans, not false accusations such as the ones being leveled against Sen. Kerry. These people don’t care about an apology. All they want is to bash Dems for speaking out against Bush and his harmful policies. That’s all that matters to them. There is no reasonable end to one of these attacks. These are not reasonable people. They have an agenda.

I WAS going to go to sleep but there is just SO much entertainment here I feel gravitated to refresh and read every couple of seconds. Kind of like watching a train wreck in slow motion….

Ummm… Karen typed- ” There is so much ignorance in this thread—people coming here because they were told to by an email.”

Now Ms. Karen, how would you know by statement that posters come here by e-mail request?  Are you being a little distraught? Maybe a little over zealous? Maybe a little jumpy? Afraid that there are free thinkers out there that know how to use a web search engine to find this web site on thier own? Are you scared that someone other than a Democratic Lemming could find this web site after your golden boy opened his mouth and put not only his foot but his party’s platform into it?

Thanks Karen for showing the true colors of a Democrat…

I found this place by looking for a way to E-Mail Mr. Kerry directly my displeasures over his recent idiotic comments but you have now re-affirmed my origional thoughts about the blantent apparent insecurities that the Democratic Party has.

Thanks.

Being a fence pole sitter right now, people like you and Mr. Kerry are doing nothing to sway my vote.

Good Job!

21+ Year Vet

Fe, you missed the key words in that faux pollBarring a dramatic event  this is a dramctic event. I lie to pollsters I tell them I vote Dem, it’s a conspiracy Republicans invented a few years back. It’s great to watch the results the dy after. Popcorn anyone?

“You know if you were so behind John Kerry in ‘04 no matter what amount of money or work you did for the campaign, you would be behind him today.”

um… I did work very hard for Kerry in ‘04. I am a life long Democrat, and your statement here is pretty ridiculous.

Democratic leaders don’t get my support endlessly or without my thinking about them. I worked very hard driving out of California to Reno for many weekends, putting tons of my personal time and money into that campaign.

I lost respect for Kerry when I read that he had millions of dollars in his campaign account that had not been spent before the end of the campaign. That was after Kerry pulled advertising out of Missouri and other states in the weeks before the election citing lack of funds.

Today, Kerry’s bumbling joke that has landed him on the lead of all the news programs, and his extending the bad story by refusing to defuse the discussion with an apology for mispeaking, confirms for me that he is a loose cannon that is bad for Democrats.

I think he’s hurting the party - but I was a strong supporter of his before. That’s the truth, whether you want to accept it or not.

Posted by SFNathan | October 31, 2006 10:04 PM

Nathan—why don’t you go spend some time over at Freeperville, attacking the real enemy.

Frankly, I am sick of this Kerry has to apologize crap.  Or Kerry has to apologize more crap.  Or Kerry has to apologize to me personally crap.  Or to me and my family need an apology.  Or my dog needs an apology.

You want an apology?  Go ask Bush for one.  Or Cheney.  Or Doug Feith.  Or William Kristol.  Or any of the other asshat neocons who lied their way through the run up to the war.

John Kerry should apologize for stepping on a line in a speech.  Jesus, if that were the criteria for apologizing, Bush would be on air non-stop.

Memo to everyone here demanding various forms of an apology:  Kerry was talking about the President, not the troops.  End of story.

And Nathan, if you honestly believe that Kerry apologizing would have EVER put an end to what the right wing smear machine is doing now, you are not paying attention.

They are going after Kerry because he is the most effective fundraiser for Democrats this cycle.  They are trying to shut down his ability to raise money for GOTV, the ONLY place they think they have an advantage.

Here’s an idea:  how about if every democrat here makes a committment to take five democrats to the polls next week, because changing the Congress to a dmocratic majority is the ONLy way we are going to help the troops.  The Democrats are the only ones who ever have.

How dare you! How can you call yourself a “Soldier”. You too were a soldier who served time in a war and stood next to men who fought and died for their country! So if your statement is true then you too are an uneducated soldier who rides on the coat tail of your wifes money!
  You are a loose cannon, firing your weapon of words on innocent lives as if the troops of our country are fighting in vain! How can you stand from a podium and speak down to the American soldiers who are fighting or have fought and died in Iraq. All this, to give you the right to stand where you are today. Just remember that you have made it this far not on the KERRY name but the HEINZ money!
  I should be thanking you for giving us Republicans the upper hand in the victory to come!
At what point did you decide to hide behind a podium, and spout out words of such harsh criticizm? Soliders and Patriots have been offended by your actions! I know that my conscience would get the best of me if I offended that many people.   
  You can’t take back the words that have been spoken, but you could apologize for the simple fact that there are families who have husbands, wives, and children overseas fighting in a war that you thought would be a great joke in a educational setting!
  Just think about this…. You are in the limelight all the time and on more than a few occasions you have offended the people of this country, You should step out of your political position and give the opportunity to someone who has a foot to stand on you a burned one too many bridges with the american public as a whole!

SFNathan:

We Democrats should cower no more! 

The senator stated clearly in his press conference that he supports the troops and always has. His words were taken out of context. He could have phrased it differently, but he’s still far more eloquent than most politicians. Kerry does happen to be more closely scrutinized than most public figures, by both Republicans and by Democrats (like you) who wait to eagerly pounce on any imperfect turn of the phrase. Bush gets a free “Foot out of Mouth” card, but not Kerry. No that would be too egalitarian, wouldn’t it?

I’d prefer to see bona-fide Democrats spending their efforts attacking Bush on his statements and policies, but you are entitled to your free speech (while we still have it), and if you prefer to direct it at a fellow Democrat, I can only say that I feel sorry for you.

I believe that we need to be strong and that an apology where NONE is due is both spineless and weak. I don’t know about you, but I’m NOT afraid of the slime merchants. We don’t need to placate anyone. We need to stand up and speak out about the disinformation that is being spread.  If there are any members of the military who have swallowed Bush’s lie, it is our duty, our PATRIOTIC duty, not to feed that lie with a false apology but to give them the TRUTH! Their honorable service for our country deserves nothing less.

I’m proud of Senator Kerry because he didn’t cave in and apologize.  Why should he apologize when he never said anything against the troops?  Instead he came out blasting with both barrels. Good for him. Kerry speaks for me and I’ll have his back until the last shot is fired.

VRWC:

Pretty good delusional stuff yuo have going there. I am starting my own popcorn popper myself on November 7th.

Dynamic Dems:  Kerry failed to keep his eye on the ball (the upcoming election) and gave a self-serving speech with a smug joke about the troops.  He offended a lot of people and, whether he intended to offend anyone or not, he needs to apologize for saying something that could be interpreted as a criticism of our troops.  The situation needs to be defused immediately or it will be front page news for the next week, taking down dozens of excellent Democratic candidates in the process.

Truesox, I think that Kerry is right—the days of Democrats allowing right-wing smearmeisters to twist their words are over. Sure, Kerry flubbed a line. But it’s still clear what he meant. There’s no reason at all for him to give in and let the Republicans define his words the way they want. He didn’t make a joke about the troops, he made a joke about George Bush. If George Bush can’t take that, too bad.

FROM HUFFPO:

Greg Saunders

10.31.2006

Wah! (9 comments )

Jeez, this Republican crybaby crap over John Kerry’s comments is just pathetic. It’s amazing to me that the GOP has a reputation for toughness when they throw temper tantrums over meaningless ****. Watching the President of the United States use his bully pulpit to shed crocodile tears is just embarrassing. Maybe the Democrats should just go silent in this last week before the election, lest we bruise the feelings of those delicate little flowers in the Republican party.

As far as the substance of Kerry’s remarks, I don’t give a damn what he said. The only reason this is getting any play at all is because the media and right-wing are desperate to turn Democratic momentum on its head. If the GOP can get people to spend the last week of the election obsessing over the smug jerk from Taxachussets, then they might change a few independent minds. Moreover, the media love, love, love the “Democrats are a house divided” storyline and will jump on any Democrat who says something like “I disagree with Sen. Kerry’s remarks”.

We’ve seen this exact same scenario unfold countless times in response to similarly “controversial” remarks by Howard Dean, Al Gore, and others. If Republicans were so concerned about civility, why would they support racist ads like the ones accusing Democrats of wanting to murder black babies? The GOP sickening and deliberate attempts to distract voters from the real issues in this race shows how little respect they have for voters. The American people aren’t stupid. They’re tired of the GOP’s manufactured outrage machine.

Wow—talk about a firestorm.

Like Dynamic Dems says above—“Kerry speaks for me and I’ll have his back until the last shot is fired.”

He owes no apology—it’s Bush who needs to apologize to the American public and the troops - and it had better be in a prime time address.