SHAME
SHAME
SHAME

Even if your comment was a botched George Bush joke, do you, Senator Kerry, really believe that his so called failed policy in Iraq is something to laugh at?  I don’t believe the policy is failing as bad as you want.  And most Americans don’t believe that making fun of a policy that has put our troops in harms way is fodder for yuks.

You’re disgraceful.  You’re chief of staff needs to be fired for not stopping you from saying what you said yesterday and now today.

Disgraceful; you’re an utter failure.

Regards
Jason M.
MI

To Ben Harris:

If anyone wonders what John Kerry’s beliefs really are, they should look at his record: how he’s fought for benefits and respect for our troops, how he’s spoken out again and again as this Administration has used and misused and abused our troops, how he’s attended funerals for service members in Massachusetts (when is George Bush going to attend a funeral for even one of the soldiers he’s sacrificed?), and how he has always, always, always been on the side of the troops. Look at his record and judge the truth for yourself, rather than listen to right-wing spin.

Response to the dishonest attacks on John Kerry at Liberal Values:

http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=527

It is a shame that these people prefer to avoid discussion of the issues by spreading such information as to what Kerry actually believes.

Thanks for the new thread Dick!

New recipe:

One can opener
One can of whoopass

Open

TY

I am SO glad Sen. Kerry did not take the shameless GOP distortions of his remarks lying down.  Only an idiot would think he could insult our troops.  It was obvious to anyone but a cretin that
he meant BUSH was “stuck” in Iraq, not our brave, betrayed-by-Bush soldiers.

Sen. Kerry did not hide behind deferments or National Guard service in the 1960s as Cheney and Bush and others of their sorry ilk were!  How dare these mealy-mouthed hypocrites attack a genuine hero like Sen. Kerry?  And shame on the dupes who are insulting him in these blogs and asking for an apology.  He spoke the truth about the liar and coward Bush.

I am sad to see that an otherwise good man, Sen. McCain, fell victim to the lying spin given to Sen. Kerry’s remarks.  I hate to think that John McCain purposely misinterpreted the remarks.  I hope he simply misunderstood, but he has no business calling for an apology.  Sen. Kerry has every right to be proud of himself.

Sen. Kerry is so far the superior candidate for our nation that it is absurd for anyone to doubt it!  And now that the truth is finally coming out (2 years too late!) about the cheating in Ohio and elsewhere, via Diebold and other methods, more Americans realize that Bush and Co. stole 2004 as surely as they stole 2000!

Look- A Rabbit
By: John Cole   October 31, 2006 at 2:21 pm
See- you just have to vote Republican now:

—-
John Kerry said what?!

By Michelle Malkin · October 31, 2006 12:32 AM

***10/31 7:35am updated with more reax below…

...909am update San Gabriel Valley Tribune/Pasadena Star News reports on the Angelides campaign event at Pasadena City College where Kerry trashed the troops…”Kerry then told the students that if they were able to navigate the education system, they could get comfortable jobs – “If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq,” he said to a mixture of laughter and gasps.”***
—-

A general rule of thumb regarding controversies like this is to count how many posts Michelle Malkin has about the issue, and to note that there is a positive correlation to how trivial the matter is and how many posts she has about it. At my last count, she had four on her site, two on her spin-off site Hot Air (who I still think ripped their name off from me). That would tell me that this issue would be somewhere between Cindy Sheehan and crescent-shaped 9/11 memorials and Terri Schaivo in importance, but the possibility is there for a new record.

Predictably, lamentably, the right-wing blogosphere is grievously insulted and has put the grass-roots outrage machine in high gear. Expect record levels of umbrage from all corners.

I wish Kerry had not made the remark (even though he was trying to insult the President and not the troops), but I do find it a little amusing that the people who are ‘upset’ about this remark managed (if my memory is correct) to remain completely silent about this:

I am sure we all remember the Bush supporters wearing fake purple heart stickers at the 2004 RNC to mock Kerry’s service. Additionally, I note that Malkin and company have not yet moved to condemn the treatment Vietnam war hero Jim Webb is getting at the hands of Red State, where he has been compared to John Mark Karr and today called a pervert.

Of course, the ‘libertarian’ reaction is predictably ‘nuanced.’ Well, no, it really isn’t:

—-
JOHN KERRY —a gift that keeps on giving. Unfortunately, it’s a gift for the Republicans. . . .

Kerry’s suggestion that the troops in Iraq are dumb failures is not only reprehensible, but false on the facts. In other words, a typical Kerry performance, just in time for the elections. Democrats must be wondering what they were thinking to nominate him in 2004, and why he won’t go away now.
——

Glenn then links to numerous outraged (OUTRAGED) folks alternately condemning Kerry and demanding an apology. A snide observer (and I am one), might wryly note that Glenn thinks the mainstream media always drops the ball, paying too much attention to trivial issues rather than issues of importance, and that is why the blogosphere is so important- to provide real reporting. I guess Glenn is right- who needs the mainstream media when you have tons of bloggers who can treat elections like games and horse races?

Again, I wish Kerry had not made the remark (or phrased it better), but really, it changes nothing.

The Republican party has no plan for Iraq other than rhetorical shifts, their policies are not constructed or implemented to actually accomplish anything but rather to maintain Congressional power, and we all will be better off if the GOP is swept out of power.

The Republicans are corrupt, morally bankrupt, have no ideas, no principles, and are hoping upon hope that this latest distraction will help to stop the bleeding. Unfortunately, the bleeding they care about is at the polls and not the bleeding in Iraq.

Dear Mrs Brown,

I have never, ever heard John Kerry put down our troops.  I *have* heard him speak out many times against an Administration that belittles and dishonors their service by denying their benefits, cutting their pay, refusing to provide proper equipment, and most of all, putting them in harm’s way without a plan. The Republicans would like you to believe that Kerry’s criticisms of George Bush’s cluelessness are somehow a slam on the troops. The truth is that John Kerry has always been on the side of the troops and will be until his dying day.

In 1971, our troops were murderers per John Kerry.  Now they are just ignorant.  I guess he’s mellowing out a bit in his old age.

Thank you for the timely reminder of why we should all be grateful Mr. Kerry is not our Commander-in-Chief!  I think few Americans felt as though they were watching a future president when Mr. Kerry went off on his rant this afternoon.  Great timing!!!

To all the right-wing trolls that are coming here and pretending to be righteously outraged:

Don’t bother.  Just don’t even bother.  Your game isn’t fooling anyone.

Kerry threw down the gauntlet today.  You don’t like the remarks he made in the press conference?  It makes you uncomfortable that he’s striking back against this stuff instead of taking it lying down?  Well, maybe you should send a note to FOX news and your Republican friends in Washington telling them that they brought this upon themselves.  THEY attempted to make an issue of “dark humor” about Bush, and if that hadn’t happened, this press conference ripping them to pieces wouldn’t have happened.

I take John Kerry as a whole and not a sound bite.  He has been a great asset to our country.  For those who will grasp anthing to attack him I am ashamed.  I support our troops as he does, but not the people who put them there.  Our military and their families should be proud of their service but should be greatly upset about what sent them to Iraq.  I hope John Kerry and others will keep the truth coming about this war.

NoisyDemocrat:
Obviously you did not hear Sen. Kerry tell the students that if they didn’t study they would end up in Iraq.  Joke or no, it is an insult to our troops.

Of course, you probably think it was a slam on Bush.  That’s what you get for thinking instead of listening.

FROM DAILYKOS:

Who Got Us Stuck in Iraq? Tony Snow Insinuates Soldiers
by beatstreet
Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 01:21:44 PM PST

Kerry joked about a person whom he didn’t mention by name, who had gotten us stuck in Iraq, and the entire corporate-owned media concluded he was talking about the soldiers. This article proves how anyone who comes to this conclusion (Snow, McCain, and Boehner) owes the soldiers an apology.

beatstreet’s diary :: ::
It was one thing to attack Kerry for his service in Vietnam; it was one thing for Bush to bury his own combat-dodging record, but for the repubicans to ax-murder the reputation of a decorated war veteran by hacking apart his unwavering commitment those wearing the American uniform is irreprehensible.

The latest White House reputation massacre for power stems from comments Kerry made at Pasadena City College, where he told students in a round-about way that Bush has gotten us stuck in Iraq.

No surprise there. More than 70 percent of Americans have acknowledged this obvious problem. What is astonishing is that not one single “unbiased” news agency clarified that Kerry’s comments were clearly directed at George W. Bush.

Here are Kerry’s comments:

‘‘You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.’‘

Anybody beside me know which combat-dodging failure he’s talking about?

That anyone in their rational mind could conclude that Kerry was talking about the soldiers is disgraceful. To do so, one would have to believe that the US soldiers responsible for our strategic errors, and those errors rest only on the heads of the generals and Bush. This is a backhanded way of dodging responsibility for Iraq.

As long as we’re distorting facts, let me say that this looks like the beginning of a long-term strategy to distort history and ensure that future generations blame the Iraq War on the US soldiers. Why doesn’t a reporter ask Tony Snow if this is the intention of the Bush Administration?

This mirrors a pattern of republican behavior: They blame the Democrats for Mark Foley’s behavior; they blame the Democrats for North Korea’s testing of a nuclear bomb, and now they blame the US soldiers for Iraq. When will we learn that anything these Republicans do is always somebody else’s fault?

This time it isn’t going to work. The American people know who got us stuck in Iraq. It damn sure wasn’t the soldiers. They loose their lives every day trusting that their sacrifice is a step toward the conclusion of this war, but not even Bill O’Reilly is willing to say that Iraq is anything but a stalemate right now. 

So it’s the soldiers’ fault, President Bush? Why should we blame the soldiers for not sending enough troops? Why is it their fault that “stay the course” hasn’t worked for three years? If anything, the Bush Administration should apologize for trying to deflect responsibility for our stuck situation in Iraq to the US soldiers.

This is going to backfire big time against not only Bush but also John McCain and House Majority John “Little” Boner, who jumped out and sucker-punched Kerry after Snow kicked him in the balls. McCain has fallen a long way over the last couple of years. He must be as desperate for power as Bush. This will be remembered in 2008.

Somebody ought to find out who this reporter is who asked this question. Who is this reporter working for? I guarantee the White House planted this reporter. This has Faux News written all over it. I guarantee that the question was a setup because White House spokesman Tony Snow knew it was coming.

Here is an excerpt from the Times:

“The White House spokesman was clearly ready, consulting his notes to read a fuller account of Kerry’s statement and unleashing a sharp attack.”

Here’s Faux News giving us “fair and balanced:”

“A half-mocking Snow told reporters at the daily White House briefing that Kerry’s comments are EMBLEMATIC OF HIS DISDAIN for the military.”

What? Aren’t you going to renounce Snow for LYING? You’re going to let him get away with this self-interested, slanderous lie? Kerry ought to challenge Snow to fist-to-fist combat for slandering him so egregiously.

Senator Kerry - You are a mean-spirited, sore-loser, so-liberal-you-are-a-communist idiot.  You owe the military an apology.  They defend your sorry ass every single day.

It’s funny to see all the misspellings and grammatical errors in the posts written by republicans.

Just can’t handle the truth, can you, republicans?  The issue here is GEORGE BUSH’S LIES and DICK CHENEY’S LIES that led us into this illegal and unbelievably expensive war and the fact that we’ll BE THERE FOR YEARS thanks to Bush et al.

Thank you, Senator Kerry, for speaking the truth.  The truth is poison to republicans.

The Senator should say the following: “I botched a joke about the president - but the president has botched a war.” And Senator Kerry should say only that about it. Everyone else should say at every opportunity between now and next Tuesday: “John Kerry botched a joke about the president - but the president has botched a war.” Circulate it throughout the land, it’s a winner.

My son is an army captain serving in Iraq.  He is a distinguished military graduate from a top military school.  This means he is not dumb or stupid.  He serves with outstanding officers, NCO’s, and junior enlisted men.  (Because he is in a combat unit there are no women serving with him).  The responsibilties that he carries on his shoulder are far more than most people carry in this country.  To say that he is stupid is an insult not only to our son and all the soldiers that he serves with, but to us as his parents.  John Kerry says that it was a botched joke.  I read what he was supposed to say….it still is an insult.  I will not vote for a Democrat in this election.  Way to go John Kerry! You just handed more votes to the Republicans in this election. Keep on putting your foot in your mouth so that the Republicans will win!  Better yet, go to a room, lock the door, and put duct tape over your mouth.  I’ll be waiting for an apologize from you on this evenings news.

Lets not let this uproar get out of control. Here is John Kerry’s apology:” I apologize to our troops and to the American people for having supported the resolution allowing the most ill prepared,  poorly read, and maliciously intended President in the history of this country, to take us to a war that had no basis in fact or reality. As for our college students study hard, read and learn from your history so that when you become President a tragic error of this magnitude will never again occur.

Don McAllister:
I was actually going to vote for a few democrats this time. Thanks for remaining me that my party of JFK has turned into the party of arrogant SOBs. The only one who is trying to spin your disgraceful comments is you.

Posted by Don McAllister | October 31, 2006 4:37 PM

Don:

were you really? You would be doing so because you either didn’t like the way the Iraq War has been going, figured out that having some balance in the House and Senate was going to preserve the Constitution from further deterioration by an all-republican Congress, or that you no longer believed that the President was doing a heckuva job—nor that the republicans could keep us safe—vis-a-vis Katrina.

But please, to use John Kerry’s remarks as a basis to not consider voting democrats is HIGHLY suspect and completely disingenuous.

Please tell Michelle Malkin her desperate attempt to send you here to blame John Kerry for the ills of the world won’t protect her president from the justifiable wrath formed from six years of actual experience of the waste of space and oxygen this Administration has become.

So what if John Kerry made a stupid remarks. Your president and the republican party has flushed our country down the toilet!!!!!

I believe there are more Americans who are voting candidate than party. The way parties view citizens is insulting to our intelligence. Do you believe that if the comments made regarding the troops were made by a Republican that the Dems wouldn’t be all over it? While parties are busy poking each others eyes out Americans are looking for real answers on which to base their votes. The mudslinging is absurd. To pull out our troops to look like the good guys with no real answers as to how to resolve issues in Iraq is not going to bring votes to the the Dems. Your are exploiting the war to get votes, just as you are exploiting Michael J. Fox, instead of providing real solutions and for that you do owe an apology to our troops. I don’t believe for a minute that Clinton did all that he could do nor heed the warnings that a large scale terrorist attack would take place. If Bush is solely responsible for the attacks then where was Congress and what were they doing to prepare for an attack. Stop the mudslinging and get real with the American people. We are voting for a President and Congressional leaders not the board of the WWF.

Let’s have the discussion of who really supports the troops. 

Okay, Senator Kerry forgot mis-spoke and didn’t make it clear that he was blasting Bush for getting us into Iraq, but how many times has Bush mis-spoke and gotten a free pass. Does anyone remember when Bush said that the terrorists aren’t going to stop trying to find ways to destroy America and then added, “And neither are we?”

FACT: John Kerry has supported the troops in the Senate where it counts. He’s voted for amendmendment after amendment to increase benefits and to help our troops and returning veterans only to have these bills shot down by Republican Chickenhawks.

Let’s have a real debate, not on one mis-spoken statement, but let’s examine the entire Senate record since 2004 and take an honest look at the votes. 

Senator Kerry puts his deeds out in front.  He doesn’t just pay lip service to our military: he actually works to see that they are treated fairly. Which is more important, working for our vets or a botched statement in one of a hundred speeches?  Remember , John Kerry has been stumping non-stop and leading fundraising efforts for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans running for office.  This is far more important than one mis-speak.

People must think John Kerry has nearly achieved perfection because he isn’t allowed a single mis-speak while the President of the United States and leader of the free world does it on a daily basis with impunity.

A wise old man once told me, “Son, don’t worry about it; if they’re out there shooting at you, then you must be doing something right.”

By that token, the wave of repetitive pugnacious posts by putatively independent people coming here this morning to vent their stage-directed spleens surely must mean that Mr. Kerry is doing something rather right indeed.

Apparently, the reich-wing sympathizers out there in blogoland are upset that their side is gettingly heavily busted on its bullspin from every side these days, so they’re blustering away in blowback mode in order to make themselves feel better. They’re sad as hell and they’re not gonna fake it anymore.

Well, as a wise young girl once told me, “Nanny nanny boo boo.” Your side can Bush it out, but you can’t take it. Somebody calls you on your dreck collection and you get a collective case of the screeching fantods in response. Tsk, tsk. Too bad, so sad.

But as for those trying to debunk the distortions and debate actual issues with the under-the-bridge crowd, here’s something else that a wise middle-aged fellow once told me, too: 

“Never waste your time trying to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time, and it annoys the pig.”

just my $.02; YMMV,
Otter

I still think whether it what a joke toward President Bush or not it was uncalled for. Our troops are doing everything they can to help keep our nation free from terrorism. Please think before you speak.

Poor Bushie probably wants an apology after it was explained to him that the joke was aimed at him.

How very amusing.

Fe:  Of course these people weren’t considering voting Democratic.  It’s a very common blog-trolling technique, pretending to be on your side (or almost on your side) but feigning outrage and whining about how whatever issue has turned them against the party forever and ever and ever.

There is one reason you don’t see many with a logical defense of Senator Kerry’s statement.  It does not exist.  Whether he was calling our military dumb, or the POTUS dumb, it’s namecalling none the less.  It was a potshot and and his response today was a classic case of trying to remove the speck in his own eye, when he had an entire tree, with branches, leaves and all, sticking out of his own eye.  An apology will be demanded, but will make no difference.  There aren’t a whole lot of people in this country who can trust him.  He’s been party to treason since he returned from Vietnam.  It is morally distasteful to slander for political gain, or loss, as his latest statements have begun.  Hopefully Congress and the Senate are not controlled by Democrats after this years elections.  I don’t think I could stomach Senator Kerry being awarded yet another Purple Heart for shooting himself in the foot this week.

Mr. Kerry,
Not that I think you will ever read this or if you do, pay much attention to it but here I go anyways.

My son is stationed in Southern Baghdad.  He was validictorian of his HS class and was on the dean’s honor list at Stanford, when HE choose to join the ALL volunteer Army.  Not as a officer although he most certainly could of , but as a grunt.  I certainly do not agree with your veiled reference to the poor or un-educated being the only people to man this countries Army.  What does that say about yourself or other Democrat’s who are now riding the Veteran band wagon?  Are you saying that the soldier’s of the Vietnam era were smarter and therefore better?

Am I neither a Republican nor Democrat any longer, I guess you may call me an athesist when it comes to the current polictial climate.  But I am most certainly an American.  For you or any candidate to so casually make remarks about the men and women who are serving America, right or wrong, on a battlefield in a foreign land is a disgrace.

Don’t attack the White House, the Congess or the soldiers, don’t condemn the Republican’s for their policy in Iraq, support the men and women who are being shot at daily.  Support my son who choose to be where he is at, choose to follow others into battle who like yourself served their country in what was then (Vietnam) and is now an unpopular conflict (Iraq).  When you stump against Iraq, you are standing on my son’s back.  As well as the 140,000 other American there.  But most sadly, for you, the 2,800 American who have died their.

RESIGN YOU HYPOCRITE

you should be ashamed of yourself for demoralizing and undermining the american troops in iraq

What a lousy human being you are John Kerry.
You’re arrogance is astonishing;  how big of an ego do you have?

As a loyal Republican I would encourage you to keep speaking for the Democratic party.  You are the best asset we have.

I am sure the Navy would love it if you started telling everyone you served in the Army.

Mr. Kerry,
I can not believe your comments.  I have many friends who have children in the military.  They are some of the best this nation has to offer! I am very proud of anyone who is in the military.  How can you even say such a thing?  You are a disgrace to the democratic party!

Even I am amazed the democrats are finding a way to “flip flop” their way out of this one. Good luck even getting your power back when you are dumb enough to have leaders like Kerry, Clinton, and the rhyming reverends! God Bless our Troops!

PS. Just for the democrats here… Try to focus on the subject.

Senator Kerry you are an embarrasment as an American.  During the Campaign in 2004 you said you had a plan for Iraq, a plan for victory.  Why haven’t you shared it?  Have all of our soldiers died while waiting for you to enlighten us all as to what we should do?  These soldiers blood is on your hands Senator.  You need not look farther than into a mirror to see what is wrong with this country.  I served 20 years in the Air Force and I am a very proud Veteran.  You owe me an apology.  All the disgusting vile attacks that you and your Left wingers spew is only making the enemy stronger.  Is that so hard to grasp?

Senator Kerry,

Your supporters will not stand by idly while the neocons try to swift boat you again.

Americans are getting stuck in Iraq.

Young people are turning to the military when the economic conditions prevent them from finding needed employment.

The military is turning to drop-outs as well as patriotic young people in filling its ranks.  The quagmire in Iraq is slowing recruitment for the military and the National Guard.

If you have made a verbal gaffe, you are not far from the mark.  Nobody has died.  Nobody has lost their arms, legs, eyes or their lives.

Political campaigns require candidates who can take a blow, stand up and keep going.  America needs you to stay in the race, keep talking truth to power, and returning our nation to the values that made us great and once made us the envy of all of the nations of the world.

Rendition, Torture, loss of Habeas Corpus, outing of CIA agents, corrupt relationships with lobbyists, fraud in contracting, and dragging our nation into a war on false pretenses demands your continue efforts on behalf of all of us.

Nobody in America can carry the ball better than you.  Nobody in America has the experience, wisdom, and passion that this pursuit demands.

Keep on Coming John!

Robert Freedland
John Kerry for President 2008

Kerry, you have shamed our troops, shamed our country, and shamed your democratic party. I wasn’t 100% sure how I was going to vote until today. You made it easy to vote Republican. Your party is equally disgraceful for not having the courage to stand up to you and demand an apology.

You’re pathetic!  You believe I am an idiot for serving in the US Army.  I have invested my master degree in working for the peace that we had in 1990, met with world leaders far beyond your abilities to arrange, volunteered for mission work with my Church, and now proudly serve along side of my brothers and sisters who practice the art of combat arms.  As a volunteer who has trained under a couple of service branches, I have always stepped up to the plate when needed.  I am working with many intelligent men and women who are risking their lives to restore the US.  I am doing this with a broad memory of the depletion of our capabilities that you helped to put on us in the 1990’s.  I remember getting ready to go back to Iraq in 1997, but Clinton coward out.  That is when we lost track of Iraq’s weapons capabilities.  I fully remember the horrific limitations that your party put on us when you controlled the Congress in 1983—While in Beirut we were not allowed to have our weapons loaded and could only have one magazine clip with 20 rounds of ammunition.  We lost 247 Marines, sailors, and soldiers on October 23, 1983 when the sentries couldn’t load and fire their weapons in time to stop the suicide bombers.  This was because of your party’s control over the military.  I challenge you to a debate any time and any place!  Better yet, resign you shameless tick.

I am a seventeen year old young lady in high school. I keep a close eye and ear on my government’s actions, and with this recent speech by Mr. Kerry I would have to say that I am PROUD. I am proud to see a man stand, say something he means, and not try to back out when a few people don’t like it. I saw many truths in his speech. In fact, my stepfather happens to be a very strong minded Republican and I have seen these traits in him. (Especially when it comes to being a fanatic Rush Limbaugh listener!) At times I am disgusted by actions of not only my stepfather, but also by our Republican representatives. I only hope that maybe Mr. Kerry’s speech can open the eyes of others to see what is happening to with government’s ethics and strategies. I also hope that it possible for us to get a grasp on our view of the war in Iraq and what we are truly there to do.
                  Sincerely,
                        Heather R. Simons

Senator Kerry,

Not only is your “attempt at humor” unbelievably insulting to our troops in Iraq, but your attempt to call it a “botched joke” is an insult to EVERYBODY!

It’s one thing to put your foot in your mouth and say something embarrassing - I know, I do it far to often myself, and that is part of the reason that I don’t try to be a representative in my government.  But it is insulting to think that we, the American people, are stupid enough to believe that you didn’t mean to say that students need to study so they don’t end up with no other choice than the military!

You are doing yourself more harm by continuing to make excuses.

Senator Kerry,

I hope that you will take to EVERY single outlet you can with the context of your comments (including Fox News!). I also hope that members of the Democratic Party have the courage to stand with you and fight back at the twisting of these comments into campaign fodder. Isn’t it sad that this is what Republicans want to talk about…. and even sadder that many Democrats stand for it?

I understand that this was a botched joke. But even with the mistake, let’s look at the facts: the educated middle classes and those who rank above them on the economic scale are NOT those who are losing their lives in this war that was based on a lie. The working class and poor are losing people (and I speak as someone with working class roots whose father is a Vietnam Veteran)...  This is not a commentary on intelligence, but rather on financial means.

So, in that regard, even the botched statement is true in a way: if you can (afford to) study, you won’t wind up in Iraq… If you can (afford to study/go to college), you’re less likely to be recruited in the first place. Does it mean no educated people serve? Of course not! But look at the averages… and consider who is suffering. By and large, it’s not the Ivy Leaguers.

Of course I understand that this is not what you said… but wouldn’t it be nice if people actually considered truths instead of twisting reality.

Please stand your ground and be heard no matter what. That is the sort of leader America needs.

Stephanie in California

The sound you hear is the air coming out of the senator’s prsidential aspirations in 08.  Forget about Fox News, even Gen. Wes Clark (another veteran by the way) is jumping on Kerry.

RESIGN NOW

Nuff Said - He sinks his own ship each time he speaks… now he is double talking and turing HIS own words around.  He KNOWS what he said, and he meant it!!

“Then he said: “You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.”

And Eileen your suggested word(s) don’t even fit into the sentence:  “he meant BUSH was “stuck” in Iraq”.  Please, really!

Mr. Kerry.  I am the mother of two well educated young men who joined after September 11th because you just can’t let these things happen to our Freedom and that of the World.  We are proud of our young people who serve. 

I am so very angry and sad for you.  Don’t do this to our young people!

Your service is O-V-E-R.  Retire.

WAY TO GO KERRY!
Nice to see so many of the 59m idiots are still around and can sort of type / comment on a blog, too.
Let us hope they will soon move to Iraq once they have freed it from tyranny and democratized it, the the REAL AMERICANS can continue to live in this country.

I was so proud of John Kerry today! He gives voice to the anger that I and so many others around the world feel in regards to how our president and his cronies have utterly destroyed America’s reputation and moral authority in the world.

Those who call Mr. Kerry a liar—prove it or stop your childish name calling. Those who say they are ashamed of him, you have an odd value system that causes you to feel ashamed of a faithful, astute public servant who has more integrity than most other politicians combined.

Mr. Kerry’s commitment to truth, dedication to serving America, and willingness to stand for his beliefs no matter what, as well as his true compassion for the oppressed and his commitment to social justice—these are the qualities that have made me a supporter of him.

These are the qualities that made me realize that I had been, up to that point (2003), supporting a party that neither reflected my own values nor displayed anything I could admire or respect. All my life, Democrats had been vilified, much as some Republicans on this thread are trying to do today. But when I looked beyond the noisy propaganda, what I found were true heroes. In Mr. Kerry, I found a politician I could respect and admire.

He’s why I became a Democrat, and I am proud of that and proud of him. I live in a red state and don’t have the honor of being his constituent, but John Kerry speaks for me.

Thank you, Mr. Kerry.

Senator,

I think most intelligent people recognize that you simply botched a joke.  Lord knows, our president is the ultimate butcher of the English language. 

As a lifelong Democrat who desperately wants new leadership, I ask for one thing… please shut up.  Just go away until after the election.  We have what will probably be the best chance of taking back the house that we will have in a generation.  You have given the other side ammunition, and made yourself a motivator to get the other side to the polls.

I do not for a minute think that John Kerry disparaged our military. I find him thoughtful and intelligent and one of the few who is truly concerned for the people who were sent to fight this war. The fact that he is finally articulating what so many of us feel is encouraging. ‘Support our Troops’ seems to mean support for a failed policy. It breaks my heart to hear of the death and injury of so many of our citizens with no coherent plan to end this mess. I support the military men and women who are in Iraq enough to vote for people who don’t think honoring deaths means more of the same.

As a life long democrat would you please just go away? you ran a terrible campaign two years ago and now you have given the GOP a great opportunity to latch on to something stupid you said just a week before the election.
Maybe you should have said, “if you’re an idiot, you can always get elected to the U.S. Senate”

PLEASE GIVE ALL OF US DEMOCRATS A BREAK AND JUST GO AWAY!

I am the mother of two United States Marines—by the way—both college educated, Mr. Kerry, and I am outraged at your thoughtless remarks.  My sons are fighting for the freedom that you and your socialite wife enjoy every day.  Your remarks are typical of big-mouth liberals who are all talk and no action.  You disgust me.

John, John, John, this should wrap it up for your career?

Can you sell Heinz?

Senator Kerry spoke the long overdue truth-
And he spoke with a passion and assertivness that I only wish he’d used against the “swift-boat” fools years ago.-
  Lori Piestewa lost her life- because serving in the military was her best option for providing for her children-  It’s about time the truth as ugly as it may be, was spoken and acknowledged by America- 

Thank you Senator Kerry for taking a stand, and pulling back the curtain on the false ‘wizzards’ controlling this nation-
Those who use our sons and daughters like plastic pawns- faceless numbers,  little more than names on a page- and Not the flesh and blood loved ones, who can no longer wipe the tears from the cheeks of those who mourn the emptyness left behind by their needless deaths-

Hooray - ‘bout time you showed your cojones Senator!  Dean was right after all - you have to stand up to these organized cretins who listen to Limbaugh, Hannity, and Savage all day.  These far-right Republicans are not above disgracing every soldier in and out of uniform to score political points, and they demonstrate it every day.  It’s all part of Rove’s plan of dividing the country and mucking his way to 51 percent.  We’ve got’em on the ropes for once - don’t let up!

What is this crap, did the RNC send out a mass email calling on its 101st Keyboardist Brigade to all claim that their children were personally insulted?

I support the military men and women who are in Iraq enough to vote for people who don’t think honoring deaths means more of the same.

I think that statement says it best.

Senator Kerry is a true patriot.

Senator Kerry:  Isn’t it time you got over not being president???  I am so sick of hearing the arrogant, elitist,  self-aggrandized comments by you.  My gosh either GO AWAY or try to work toward unity between the parties in the US, the 60’s are over!

Mr. Senator learn something from Barak at the very least!

Senator Kerry, stand fast.  Most of these “responders” are RNC hacks instructed to clutter your blog with the distortions dictated to them by their “leader”.  You are a true leader.  Don’t back down, tell it like it is!  Give ‘em Hell John!!!

If Kerry had spoken like this during his campaign, he would be President Kerry; unfortunately he’s way too much a “gentleman”.

Republicans STILL lie through their teeth about John Kerry.

The treasonous cowardly traitor to the US Constitution is the man now occupying the White House.

If there are ever real investigations of this administration dozens of Bush’s people will be indicted, and convicted.

Bush and Cheney are politically and morally corrupt crooks and liars…and will be remembered as such, along with the likes of Bin Laden, by history as long as there is a human history. 

Hundreds of thousands of innocents are dead because of Bush/Cheney’s actions: May the Good Lord have mercy on their “souls”.

Mr. Kerry,

You are an arrogant SOB who has a disdain for the United States Military (by your actions after you came back from Vietnam and again now). Your comments about education level are a) not true and b) could not be construed to be any sort of “joke” aimed at President Bush. You didn’t even mention the president or the Iraq policy in that section of your comments…

I know that our military (and the American public) are both smart enough to discern your real meaning which is why I am not worried about losing the House or Senate. Democrats will hamstring our military and create another Vietnam and Americans will not do that a week from today.

I fully support Senator Kerry’s right to free speech.  For years now there has been anger and antagonism toward the expression of any sort of opposition to the government’s decisions and policies.  If you agree with the war in Iraq, you are free to say so because of what servicemen and women have sacrificed for the American peopel to enjoy that freedom.  Is that right only to be exercised when people speak in support of the Administration?  It is a dark day for the American ethic when any person who dares speak out publicly against policy is deemed a traitor to the country, and a disgrace to the uniform, when the ideas of free speech and expression are what our uniformed officers have fought and died for.  I, for one, will not applaud the president for sending our men and women to this war and then not having the money, plan, or support to give them the protection they deserve for their courage in fighting for our country.  Our troops deserve better than what this president has given them.  I can say that and much worse if I so choose, because my country supports that right.  The same for Senator Kerry and the same for everyone on this page that disagrees with Senator Kerry.  We trek into dangerous ground when we are so afraid of differing opinions that we must shout them down before they can be heard.

what a slap in the face to the men and women still risking their lives daily that you can once more shoot off your ugly and traitorous mouth.

I’d rather have a man of intent and determination leading us than a coward in the senate blabbing sensationalisms.

crawl back under your rock already.

proud career & OIF Vet Army Wife

It is of continuous amazement how low you politicians stoop for the sake of selfish political party gain. If you have something to say to the White House then point your comments directly to the White House - do not hide behind backhanded playground insults (especially when the group you are truly insulting are truly selfless patriots of this country).

You should feel very ashamed as person, let alone a US Senator.

As a veteran of the armed services and now a military wife, I am alarmed and disgusted to hear what you, John Kerry, has said about the people that risk their lives to keep this nation safe.  When I say this nation, I mean my family, my friends, YOUR family and friends, and disgracefuls like you. No matter what you say about it being a slip up, YOU OWE A PUBLIC APOLOGY TO ALL THE TROOPS!!!

You should have kept your mouth shut.  You screwed us in 2004 already; now you may be costing us in 2006.  What the hell were you thinking?  Keep the focus on Bush.  That was idiotic, and now you have made yourself a focus of attention.  Great.  This may cost us a couple of races.

SHUT your MOUTH.  You had your chance and blew it because you cannot speak English like a human being.  Just SHUT UP.  And don’t even think of running for President ever again.

JUST SHUT UP BEFORE YOU HURT OR ALREADY HURT THE PARTY IT IS NOT ABOUT YOU. I VOTED FOR YOU BUT WON’T DO IT AGAIN. SHUT YOUR BIG MOUTH

Can none of these people read? I thas been made very clear, despite all the noise created by the right wingers, that this was directed towards George Bush, not the troops.

There’s so many people willing to discuss this misinformation being spread about Kerry. Why are they so unwilling to discuss Kerry’s actual positions?

I don’t see much point in going round and round with this particular thrash. The people that were told to come here and vent their spleens without letting themselves be troubled by minor little details like facts, and logic, and effective use of grammar and punctuation, etc. will continue to think and believe whatever it is that they want to think and believe.

One rather interesting point of fact, though, is irrelevant to anything that Senator Kerry did say yesterday but can still be applied to what he is incorrectly accused of saying:

The overall level of intelligence and education of our volunteer military has been on the decline for several years now, and the professional officers’ class and the civilian directors of our armed forces have not only acknowledged this but have actually encouraged it.

As casualties have mounted, troop burnout has skyrocketed, and recruitment levels have dropped precipitously, the military services have repeatedly lowered their entrance requirements.

Five years ago you couldn’t serve in our country’s armed forces without meeting certain standards of education and intelligence and mental fitness for duty. Today those standards have been relaxed so many times that they are practically meaningless.

John Kerry certainly does not believe that only stupid and/or uneducated people end up in the armed forces. That’s a canard argument, and it smacks of a desperate right-wing attempt to turn back the tides of history that are sweeping them off their own beaches.

But the people in charge of this country’s armed forces clearly do believe that stupid and/or uneducated people are perfectly well-suited to military service. Otherwise, they would be holding to their previous standards rather than abandoning them.

The people in the Pentagon and in the White House that are actively encouraging this systematic dumbing-down of our country’s volunteer military services are the ones who should be targeted for all of this righteous spleen-venting, not Senator Kerry.

So why not try directing your disparaging remarks to them instead? Speak for yourselves, not for your handlers. Call your Congressmen (or Congresswomen), fax your Senators, send smoke signals to your state legislators, whatever it takes.

Tell them that you want *all* the brave men and women who serve in this country’s armed forces to have full access to adequate education, health care, pension, and death/disability benefits for themselves and their dependents.

Even as we are still at war abroad, the people in charge over in Washington have been systematically dismantling all those things, incrementally taking away entitlements for military members that had been in place for many years, and that is what is *really* offensive and insulting to the troops.

point your anger where it really belongs,
Otter

Mr Kerry,

I am ashamed to call myself a Democrat.  Be a man, own up to the comment you made.  You might have meant to say something different, but you didn’t! We have listened to the comments word for word so please don’t try to hide behind what you “thought” you said.

My husband with several college degrees is active duty military and sees that side of the world on a monthly basis.  Maybe you should visit them more often and you would see the caliber of the men and women who make up our military.

Before you open your mouth again, maybe you should visit Dover AFB as the hearses leave here daily with the bodies of our great heroes !! Those who died for your Freedom of Speech! 

You are a disgrace to our Country! Remember when you point the finger at someone else you always have four pointing back at you!!!!

Mr. Kerry,

If, perhaps, your remark made to the California students was not meant to deride our troops, then it was certainly a very stupid attempt to wheedle the students you were speaking to. That the words you used in this attempt to charm were definitely directed toward our troops is to your shame and you DO owe them an apology.

I hope this blunder does not reveal your true attitude toward those who are over there fighting, but anyone who knows anything about the english language understands that your statement points to the troops only. THEY are the ones who are in Iraq instead of in school “navigating the education system”.  To say that you meant to target the current administration is just simply a lie from a man who does not have the guts to own up to what he so stupidly said.

Mr. Kerry, your lies are always so darn transparent. Why do you dig holes deeper and deeper? When will you learn? Just say the truth, apologize and go on.

Don’t you Swift Boat people have anything better to do?

...

...

Oh, never mind, you don’t.  Your “elders” have been obsessed with John Kerry since the 1970s, and now the new generation is inheriting the obsession.  He is your purpose for existence.

If he’s truly so worthless, perhaps you should reevaluate your own purpose.

Senator Kerry,

When is the democratic representatives going to learn to speak like the republicans ... in effective soundbites that go directly to the heart of the matter.

What you should have said today was…. “Yes, I will say I am sorry as soon as the President says he is sorry for lieing to the American people and our soldiers.”

There has been no American president in our history that has directly lied the American public for the reason for invading another country ... and the deaths that have followed because of it ... and been allowed to get away with it.  Nixon (covering up for burglarizing a hotel room) or Clinton (lieing about a sexual relationship) are ABSOLUTELY NOTHING compared to this ... and yet Bush is still allowed to keep posturizine about “patriotic” duties and everyone is afraid to do what needs to be done - impeachment proceedings.  THAT is the TRUE disgrace.

About 3/4 of these responses are from Republican neocon robots who are just trying to pretend like they supported Kerry before, “but now he’s gone to far”.

The only way I’m gonna get mad at Kerry is if he buckles and apoligizes.  These rightwing gung-ho nutjobs don’t deserve an apology from a decorated war hero.j

They are sooo stupid that they’ll vote against their own interests (heck yeah lets cut taxes for the filthy rich!!!
I’m an idiot!!!) just cuz they hate gay people.  Which is strange cuz most of these dumb rubes are getting screwed you-know-where by that large Elephant.

Even if Kerry meant his insult towards President Bush….it still shows how horribly immature this man really is!  His response was even worse!  He is acting like a school boy that hasn’t gotten his way!  It is so embarrassing to think what other countries think of us.  I’m pretty certain there are other countries that Mr. Kerry would probably be facing a death sentence about now for the disrespect he has shown our troops and their leader, President Bush.  He insults President Bush….he insults the troops!

Where was all this outrage when George said that when we look back on the events in Iraq will be seen as “just a comma” in the history books?

What an insult to every person that has served in the military?

I am NOT an RNC staffer nor will I ever be one.  I personally am one concerned citizen taking the oppotunity to express my outrage at such an insensitive joke in an attempt at boosting John Kerry’s image and destroying my President’s

john kerry wasnt talking about the troops and you all know it. it is people like yourselves who hang on every word that comes out of rush limbaughs mouth that have created the problem in iraq. you voted the current idiot-president into office.  you owe the troops an apology.

Senator,

I’m sure your comments are being blown out of proportion.  Simply do something the President would or could never do.  Make a statement of apology to the troops.  Better yet, call a press conference to do the same.  Short and sweet.  You’re sorry if your words hurt or disrespected the soldiers.  Then drop it.  They’re using this.  Do what the President would never do.  Accept responsibility ... and say you’re sorry. 

m.w.

Finally! 

You made me proud, if two years too late.

I am glad that you are calling it like it is.

You are, at last, calling them shameful, failed, incompetent, deceitful, and liars.  The only thing missing is that you did not use specific names and epithets.  Call George Bush a coward, spoiled little brat, an ignorant, an incompetent. Call the Vicepresident also a coward, and a thief, and a war criminal.

If you would have done this two years ago, we would be calling you today, and proudly, our Commander in Chief.

But it is never too late if the deed is good.

We really need this guts now.

Thanks, even if late.

P.

Let ME be crystal clear Mr. Kerry. NO ONE BUT YOU OWES OUR SERVICE MEMBERS AN APOLOGY!! The President, OUR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF didn’t say it, YOU DID!!! I guess you still can’t get over the election huh?
I didn’t find your remark funny AT ALL at a time we are AT WAR. Our troops need POSITIVE endorsement now, Not your STUPID attempts at trying to be funny!  Are you aware that you MUST be at LEAST a High School Diploma Graduate to enlist in ANY branch of the military (NOT AS IT WAS WHEN YOU SERVED).  I served 12 years in the U.S. Army and finished my term as a Recruiter and had the fortune of enlisting MANY fine AND educated individuals.  Let me give you a little advice, “Make Sure Brain Is In Gear BEFORE engaging MOUTH”. If you can’t follow that SIMPLE rule, SHUT YOUR PIE-HOLE!!!
I WILL ACCEPT NOTHING SHORT OF A PUBLIC APOLIGY NOW!!!

YAY! Thank you so much, Senator Kerry!

Because of you and your comment, my party will remain as the majority party for at least two more years. I thought we Republicans were going to suffer enormous losses but you gave us a much-needed boost for us to stay in power.

Keep up the good work, Senator! With Democrats like you, the GOP doesn’t need friends.

I got a sense of redundancy reading through the messages.  I think I can speak for both sides of the aisle when I say, “Please, please, please, Senator Kerry, keep on talking, keep it up, keep it up, keep it up.  Our side needs you now like it never has before.”

Kerry should just say very clearly he misspoke and he’s sorry for the way the comment came out, and that he realizes it sounded like a complete insult to our nation’s soldiers.  But that he didn’t mean it like that.  As for this “no apology to anyone” tactic, there’s a saying when you’re in a hole stop digging.

Senator Kerry -

I totally buy that you botched a bad joke - but why in the world would you leave something like that in your remarks anyway?  It would have sounded stupid even if you’d gotten it right and if you didn’t realize that - well, I seriously question your judgment.

Now, instead of exhibiting righteous indignation that your comments are being purposely misunderstood and used against you by the Republicans - turn it around and talk about the economic draft at work in this country which DOES account for the disparity of poor to rich, and high school to college educated in the service.

Debra
Gulf Shores, AL

Posted by Craig | October 31, 2006 5:34 PM

So how does GW make you feel?

My two friends and I all served, and we are not offended by these remarks by Senator Kerry.  It is obvious when the remarks are seen in context that it was another joke in a string of jokes about Bush.  Bush and the modern Republican Party are what is offensive to us.  We swore to defend the United States, and what we were made to defend, was the Republican Party’s political stranglehold.

I LOVE all the republicans (i was gonna call them trolls) who have posted here as “former democrats” or as patriots on this site to annoy people who might agree with Kerry or do not support this illegal and immoral war.

I would be most of those posts are from 2 or 3 people.

George W. Bush (who deserves NO respect from anyone) is a draft-dodging, coke-head idiot who sent troops to fight a war with—NOT ENOUGH EQUIPMENT, NOT ENOUGH MEN and worst of all—- predicated on a bunch of lies about WMDs.

His policies and inability to articulate a rational thought have made our government and our country the laughing stock of the world.  There is no doubt that at some point we are going to have to run with our tail between our legs from Iraq—not because our troops are fighting the valiant fight—but because people, rather morons, like Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and that completely inept Sec’y of State, Princess Ferragamo have completely mismanaged the war and screwed it up.

How any person can support the lies, distortions and fear-mongering that is tossed at us from the Bush-Nazi regime is beyond my comprehension

Thank you Senator Kerry for finally standing up to the worst regime in US history.

Senator Kerry,

You stated “I’m not going to be lectured by a stuffed suit White House mouthpiece standing behind a podium.”

Well I am not - I am an ARMY veteran who recent your remarks. You do OWE ALL OF US an apology Senator. If you are half the man you claim to be, stand up and confess your own mistakes and stop blaming other for your short comings.

As I understand it you voted to support the war back in 2003, so if my education serves me right, you are just as liable as the other guy for the war in Iraq.

If Kerry meant to say Bush why didn’t he say Bush? I can’t believe all of you people are defending what he said.  I have voted for Democrats in almost every national election since 76 and this guy has loser written all over him. Even Democratic strategists are saying he should shut up.  Good Grief! Is he surrounded by idiots? It reminds me of when he was standing at the convention and he gives that idiotic salute and talked about reporting for duty.  CHECK OUT THE NEWS PEOPLE! the GOP are enjoying this to no end! Where is John Edwards?

Posted by loud pundit | October 31, 2006 5:40 PM

absolutely.

John Kerry’s Senate record and Presidential aspirations are a much BIGGER joke than that distasteful comment about our troops.

Two words for Mr. Kerry:

Buh. Bye.

Just so I’m clear on this—you said:  “...Bottom line, these Republicans want to debate straw men because they’re afraid to debate real men. “

And your definition of “real men” would be .... politicians such as yourself?  With a laundry list of complaints but a virtually empty list of solutions?  And really REALLY bad speech writers?

Yeah, Mr. Democrat liberal, you’re a real man alright, if you define real men as control freaks who don’t believe in personal responsibility, accountability, or the Greater Good. 

America didn’t fall for it whan you ran for president, and they’re not falling for it now. 

Buh.
Bye.

John Kerry, many Americans now a days question should we continue with the war in Iraq, but WE do not question the loyalty, bravery or dedication our out troupes.  Did you forget that many of our troops serving in Iraq are graduates from the top Military Academies in our country?  Do you question their academic achievement?  And our enlisted men and women serving in Iraq, are you questioning there intelligence?  Any apology from you at this point, I am afraid, will fall on death ears.

Mr. Kerry,  Your comments have deeply saddened me.  I am a daughter, granddaughter, great granddaughter, neice, and cousin of career military men.  They are all well-educated and informed and chose this life despite other opportunities presented to them.  Your speech was a slap in the face to them, their fellow servicemen and women,  and their families.  When did it become dishonorable to serve one’s country?  When did it become acceptable for politicians to disparage the very people that they voted to send overseas?  I am not a Bush lover or a great supporter of the war, but your words wounded me.  I would have thought that someone who experienced the shameful reception that our Vietnam vets received upon coming home would be more sensitive in his choice of words.

You, Mr. Kerry, are the one who owes the Republican party and the troops an apology.  You are a disgrace to America and its people.  You are just sore because you did not win the presidential election.  And you feel safe saying these nasty comments because there is no way to know how you would have handled all that has happened because you are not in the position to do so.  And there is a reason you were not given the chance to be the president of our country.  That reason is because we, the majority of the people of America, did not vote for you.  If you want to gain respect, your actions are the wrong way of going about it.
Making humorless jokes and poking fun at a very serious situation is immature and makes me thankful that you are not the leader of our country. Please, please do us a favor and accept your loss and step down from your Republican-bashing soapbox.

This is either the same few people posting repeatedly with different names, or it’s a concerted blogspam effort.

It needs to be countered, though, whichever it is.

Kerry is right on target.  If you can’t see that the comment
(1) was part of a list of Bush jokes,
(2) was definitely a jab at him for not “doing his homework” before going into Iraq,
(3) was possibly dark humor like “you can do everything wrong in life but still become president and royally screw up at least two countries,”

...then I have little choice but to pity you for blind robotic partisanship.

No wonder Kerry was so angry in his press conference.  It’s bound to get to you to listen to this sort of craven, deliberate bullcrap nonstop.  He’d had it with it.

After the conference, you guys are losing this in the media, so you take it to the official johnkerry.com blog?  This is why the Republicans are going to lose next week.

Dear Senator Kerry,

I made my post above before I read all that has been said about you. Some is on target and some of it is just trash, but the bottom line, as I stated above, is that you must apologize, not to the President, not to Republicans, but to the troups. Books have been written about armies fighting the previous war when they should be fighting the present one. Now is not the time for you to gird your loins for the battle you should have fought in 2004. It is not your fight this time. I accept that you misspoke, but none-the-less, what you said was hurtful to those to whom we all owe a debt of gratitude. The President may be compounding the damage for political benefit, but now is not the time to take him on. Let me repeat, this it is not your fight. You should not be the focus of attention. Let it go. Please let it go in the only way you can: Apologize!

Sincerely yours,
Jay

John Kerry should say, “I will apologize for screwing up a joke meant for the President, IF the President will apologize for screwing up the war in Iraq and making our troops pay the price for the President’s mistakes.

John Kerry owes no one an apology because he is absolutely correct.The troops on the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan are those most likely the least important to this administration.It is the same in every war.Those with the least education are most likely to go to the front lines and be killed first,they tend to be throw aways while those with connections stand in the background giving the orders.But all of them are brave and respected back home by all of us,including by John Kerry.John McCain made an erroneous statement when he said ...“those who chhose to defend our country….None of these men and women “chose” to serve in Iraq,they were ORDERED to serve there.And at risk of court marshall if they refuse to do so.Bush’s chance and that of his party have come and gone in regards to leading this country out of it’s current mess.Next week let us all think clearly and above party loyalties and vote with the knowledge we now have to set things right in Iraq,Afghanistan,the national budget,war crimes committed by this moronic group of so called leaders of the free world’s most powerful country.Vote intelligently!

TD:

Statement of Max Cleland on John Kerry’s Response to GOP Attacks

“I think people will remember John Kerry’s press conference today as the moment we Democrats stopped once and forever accepting the disgraceful smears of Republicans. John Kerry showed our Party how to fight back with the truth.

“John Kerry is a patriot who has fought tooth and nail for veterans ever since he came home from Vietnam. He has stood with his brothers in arms unlike this Administration which exploits our troops to make a political point and divide America.

“John Kerry should apologize to no one for his criticism of the President and his broken policy in Iraq. George Bush is the one who owes our troops an apology. This is text book Republican campaign tactics.

“Everybody knows it’s not working this time around. 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’ve got a partisan political agenda and that’s the bottom line. We’re not going to take it any more.”

I am a democrat I am planning on voting democrat in the upcoming election. I can’t speak for anyone else here but I can say that as I read the plain meaning of what John Kerry said there was a reasonable interpretation that he was insulting our troops. He should recognize that an say he is sorry.

I live in New Jersey and I applauded our recent supreme court ruling, with regards to gay marriage, I was proud to be from my state that day. If I was born in Mass. I’m not sure I could say the same about this day given the senator who would be representing me. If he just misspoke then frankly he should have said he was sorry about that instead of compounding it with this whole “turn it on bush deal” and refusing to apologize to anyone.

Yes bush is an idiot, and yes he did get us stuck in a war in Iraq when we should have used sanctions to hold them over till we took care of Binladen and Afghanistan but that doesnt mean that what Kerry said was any less wrong.

loud pundit and BlueRose:
I’ve not seen a defense yet, that makes logical sense and can be backed up by either history, or actions.  BlueRose, you complain about who’s making money.  I ask you to consider something, could at be that there is such a majority, that supports this war on terror, that we will pay whatever it costs for gas, because we support the war?  Ponder this for a moment, It is not just Big Oil and Big Buisness thats raking in the cash, it is AMERICAN OWNED Oil Companies and buisnesses that have the obscenely large profits.  I point you towards Occam’s Razor…This simplist solution is most oftem correct.  It’s not Bush and a vast and complex right wing conspiracy that is to blame for everything…It is the PEOPLE!  The silent masses!  Well mostly silent, but we will not tolerate these things any longer.  You’ve kicked the same sleeping tiger that the radical Islamists kicked.  Do you know how to deal with it’s teeth?

John Kerry volunteered to serve in Vietnam. Bush had pappy get him into the Guard and then he went AWOL to avoid a physical (probably because he was using cocaine at the time). Let’s ask who really supports the troops.

Kerry actually fought in a war. He has had bullets fired at him.  He’s not going to attack our military, but his mis-speak (which was intended a a barb at Bush) is being spread around like so much manure.  I wonder why that is? Could it be because the Republicans have nothing else to run with?

Let’s talk about the times Bush mis-spoke.  Let’s talk about the times he’s touted patriotism but led our brave men and women to slaughter because his Republican Congress refused to provide them with adequate supplies. For God’s sake, Halliburton gave our troops bad water and food. They are over there dying for us and these Chickenhawk Republicans can’t even give them decent food and drink or protective armor. 

Anyone who is here blasting Kerry needs to do a little homework.

1. Check the Senate record for the past couple of years and see who’s actually done something for our service men and women.  Kerry has walked the walk in supporting our troops by actually DOING something to help them in Congress. He’s also walked the walk by campaigning for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans running for Congress.

2. See the Robert Greenwald film “Iraq for Sale” and learn who is NOT supporting our troops. http://iraqforsale.org/

Then you will have some clue what this debate is all about.

A botched joke?  You have to admit that it is pretty funny when Senator Kerry gets himself pumped up into that haughty, “do you know who I am”, “how dare you question me” mode - a little reminiscient of Louis XVI of old France.

Can you imagine what the state of this country would be in if “Foot in Mouth” Kerry had been elected President two years ago?!?

What John Kerry SAID was disgusting?

All he meant was that we need change, and the only way to get change and avoid a possible future re-run of the present, is to not allow our young heroes to be used by the system like they’re being used in Iraq right now.

Kerry was NOT SAYING ANYTHING AGAINST THE TROOPS!!!! His comment was targeted at the Bush administration and our current leaders, who USED our young heroes and LIED to them, having now a record amount of deaths as a result of executing a pointless war.

John Kerry is not the man any of you should be angry with. Try spewing your hate at our current powers that be. They’re the very reason any of us are having this discussion right now.

Senator Kerry never insulted the troops…he was insulting the “crook and liar” in chief, “President” Bush…get it?!

Only a Rovian propaganda machine could distort things in this way…

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/31/AR2006103100829.html

From the Washington post….

While campaigning in California, Kerry told a college crowd on Monday: “You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.”

Kerry’s office released his prepared remarks, which said, “Do you know where you end up if you don’t study, if you aren’t smart, if you’re intellectually lazy? You end up getting us stuck in a war in Iraq. Just ask President Bush.

Obviously, Kerry had NO intention to say what the Bush spin machine says he was trying to say.

All you Bush Kool Aid drinkers who have bought the White House “spin” are dead wrong….and it is YOU who owe Senator Kerry an apology!!!

Shame on you and shame on Bush.

PS

You Bush lovers are a sad and pathetic lot of hypocrites; how many THOUSANDS of times has Bush flubbed his own lines and “said” things that everyone knows/knew he didn’t really mean.  Cut the crap!

And one more thing, JFK (There is no comparison in the initials to the real JFK). It is politicians like you, Murtha, Edwards, Kennedy, Pelosi, Reid (I could go on for a wahile) that have pushed a once Bill Clinton voter (I am so sorry) turned to an Independant turned 100% conservative. And now the folks here in Missouri removed the straight ticket vote. More time from work to go vote. Of course, not many liberals understand “work”. They need hard working conservatives to earn and dole out to those that don’t.

Kerry is a disgrace.  Give us more credit.  That was not a joke about Bush, that was you being a racist towards the US military.

Help me to understand your comments, Sir. You made mention that if you are not educated, you would end up in Iraq. Now, from what I saw nothing was even mentioned about the President and his policies, mistakes or whatever you’d like to call them. But, what was mentioned and what most certainly was taken as an implication, was that our Troops were not smart enough to stay out of Iraq. Not sure how this can be taken out of context and the fact that the very next day you start to blame to the President for what YOU said. How is this his problem? Am I happy that we are in Iraq right now…no. But what I would very much like to see once and for all is SOMEONE in the political world be a stand up person and attempt to work together and stop tearing down this Nation - remark by remark. Democrat or Republican!

Mike G, you are a right-wing troll.  Why exactly are you here?  Do you just like taking a s*** all over someone else’s house?

I was shocked to hear Senator John Kerry imply that young people with a good education and good grades do well, and those without end up in the the military - in Iraq.

John Kerry was wrong to say that. Military service is a respected and admirable profession in America. It’s not for people who can’t hack it in school.

Joining the military is a choice in America. It’s time we thank the people who make that choice, the people who put their lives on the line to protect and defend us.

Maybe John Kerry should look at the requirements for being an astronaut in the USA. On the NASA web site, it says: “At least 1,000 hours pilot-in-command time in jet aircraft.” Where do you think astronauts get that experience? MOSTLY in the military! Almost all astronauts who are “pilot/commander” astronauts come from the military.

The Apollo 11 astronauts had military backgrounds.

I’ll bet America’s astronauts never thought that they entered the military because their grades sucked.

Senator Kerry is always criticizing President Bush for his actions on the handling of Iraq, and constantly wants him (Bush) to accept responsibility for a botched war here.  While I have never agreed with the war in Iraq, it is our dutyas members of the military to serve our country, right or wrong, and without hesitation.  Senator Kerry needs to take a good look in the mirror, start pointing fingers at himself, and accept responsibility for what he just said about our troops before he ever criticizes the handling of Iraq again.  Has Senator Kerry suddenly forgotten that it is the troops here in Iraq that has given him the right to criticize our President in the first place?  It is their great sacrifices that prevent him from being thrown in prison or executed for speaking out against our leaders.  If he misspoke… fine… say so, and then he should apologize for what he actually did say… I don’t care about what he meant to say, or if it was meant to be a joke, it is what he did say that matters.  If he apologizes then we can put it behind us, move on, and chock it up to a dumb comment.  Until that day, John Kerry will NEVER be able to fulfill the office of Commander in Chief that he so deeply desires and he will never have the support of any man or woman I serve with in uniform.

C.S.
Ar Ramadi, Iraq

What a disgrace, and a sham of a cover up.  I took this as a personal offense, having served in Iraq.  I have sent this to a military mailing list to make sure that a few thousand other of my brothers and sisters in uniform see it and the text of the original speech.  No matter how much spin you put on it, the words were spoken as they were.

I voted for John Kerry in 2004, and in general I support him.

But could Mr. Kerry please do the rest of us Democrats a favor and just keep his big mouth shut until after the elections?  It’s crap like this that changes the news cycle and takes the focus away from where it should be.  Please, please, please. 

Just.  Stop.  Talking.

You Republicans must be very desperate indeed.

By stupidly and clumsily and tranparantly picking on this minor flub the way you are; you are actually directing MORE attention to Kerry’s intended remarks.

This spin distortion campaign will backfire…and if there was ever anyone who deserves to be fired back on; it’s this administration! 

So keep up the good work.

The Rovian tactics only work for a while; America is catching up to the rest of the world and seeing through the lies of Bush/Rove/Cheney!

“Kerry said the comment in question was “a botched joke about the president and the president’s people, not about the troops ... and they know that’s what I was talking about.”

I heard this on the radio this afternoon and the first thing that came to my mind was you were putting down the troops.  You are a sorry piece of work.  If “they” know what you were talking about, why are there all of these comments concerning your statement?  And to think that all of these young men and women are fighting so that you are allowed to say such disgusting things.  Shame on you John Kerry….shame shame on you.  I hope you read this but it’s doubtful.

DO NOT BACK DOWN, Senator Kerry! You are right. The administration is trying to change the subject. Because even if you HAD meant to say something disparaging about the troops—which I believe you did not—not even that would be worth discussing on the same scale as the real problem here: the disgraceful way this president has led us into war and caused our troops to die, and for nothing noble. Keep the pressure on. Keep the focus on the topic at hand, as you did today. Please don’t back down—I haven’t heard anyone in Congress talk about the war like you did today, and I’m afraid that a so-called backlash will have a chilling effect on this critical dialog.

To democrats, republicans ....,

Here’s a good read that will allow everyone to understand what Americans are up against in the IRAQ:

“Holy War:The Crusades and Their Impact on Today’s World”. The book was written in 1991 by Karen Armstrong and was revised in 1998 and 2001

So, Mr. Kerry, everyone who did not serve in uniform is a “coward”, “a stuffed shirt”?  I pity you.

I would never go to war…I love this country, but I will freely admit to being a COWARD…I would be scared out of my freaking nut.  I think anyone that would not go to war is also a coward…its not a bad thing, its just the truth.

So, for a person who had the opportunity to be in a way (ahem, dubya) and chose not to…I would have to say that makes them a coward…right?  That’s part of the choice, “I am too afraid to go to war”...again its not a bad thing…

UNTIL YOU MAKE THE CHOICE TO PUT OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE IN HARMS WAY…then its an AWFUL thing…to ask people to do something that you, yourself would not do…how comfortable would bush be to send his girls to Iraq…

When that happens I will believe that he is not a “coward”...until then, he is just a person who didn’t step up and fight when he could have and is putting other people in a situation that he could not put himself in…

John Kerry did go to war…he was not a coward then, and he is not a coward now…

Please keep it up Mr. Kerry…we need people like you in this country to show people how utterly stupid and dangerous bush and his croonies are…

John Kerry’s comments were very disturbing to me and my family.  We have a son training to go overseas.  We are a military family and my husband served his country proudly and served in Vietnam.  So as a military wife I understand the hardships left on spouses and children.  To hear his comments makes me think that those keeping HIM FREE have no education!  I feel so sorry for the senator but I am so glad that he is not in the White House.  Maybe when he goes to sleep tonight he might give some thought on what it really means to be thankful for his freedom and pray for those that not only have already served, but those that are now serving.

Iraq: ‘We need $100B’ Government representative asks for billions for rebuilding as international aid conference begins.

John Kerry, a recipient of a Purple Heart for paper cuts, mocks our President!  Or did he really mock our troops?  I do not believe for a minute the defense put forward by the “Mouth” and defender of all things LEFT wing, Chris Mathews.  (He said it was clear to him that Kerry was making a joke about the President.) 

What a jokester!  Only in Massachusetts could this creep get elected.  It’s been nice the last 2 years NOT having to hear from him.  I certainly hope he continues on the campaign trail for the Dems!

Paul Alexander.. from good old “live free or die” New Hampshire.

Dear Mr. Kerry,

This is the first time I have ever offered my opinion to a politician, but I do feel that this is a critial time for our country, and you, sir, are playing an active part in the political process.

Many people, like myself, are unsatisfied with our current president, particularly with the management of the war in Iraq, the economy, and with the direction our country is going.  We are looking for real change not political name calling.

It is clear that your remarks toward the American Servicemen were inappropriate and degrading.  Quit digging yourself deeper, and just admit that you mispoke, and apologize.  In the real world, people make mistakes every day, and we learn to apologize, and make ammends.  You politicians should try it sometime, instead of pretending you are always right, and then try to “spin” things in your favor.

Your “Bush bashing” is pretty much out of control.  Believe me, I do not want to vote Republician, but from what you are showing me, it may be the better choice.  Can’t you show some aspects true “Democratic” policy?  How about if you try to reach out to the mainstream of the American people, and back away from the special intrest groups and the crazy combativeness.  All you are doing is furthering the political rhetoric that we all are sick of hearing, and continuing to divide the country in to highly polarized camps.  If you are to become a true leader, worthy of my vote, you’ll figure out that what this country needs is someone to unite us under common goals, beliefs, and values.  If you focus on these things, and not the special intrests, or the wedge issues, you will win my vote, and certainly others like me.  If you keep spewing rediculous nonsense like you have been lately, the country will likely be no better if the Dems take back congress.  The government will just be being run by another set of clueless politicians, furthering their own special interest and careers.

This is great,, Rep’s don’t have to do anything. Just sit back and let the Dems put their foot in their mouths. I love it

October U.S. death toll in Iraq hits 103
BAGHDAD, (AP) — The American death toll for October climbed past 100, a grim milestone as a White House envoy turned up unexpectedly in Baghdad on Monday following a rough patch in U.S.-Iraqi ties. At least 81 people were killed across Iraq, including 33 in a bombing targeting workers.

The U.S. military on Tuesday announced the deaths of two soldiers, raising the number of troops killed in fighting in Iraq this month to 103.

Re:  Posted by J. Jones | October 31, 2006 6:19 PM

Here is the text as intended, and JK has used it before:

“I can’t overstress the importance of a great education. Do you know where you end up if you don’t study, if you aren’t smart, if you’re intellectually lazy? You end up getting us stuck in a war in Iraq.” - Senator John Kerry

Gee, “geting US stuck in a war in Iraq”? Now, who could he possibly be talking about?  It wasn’t the troops who got us stuck in Iraq!

John Kerry is right: the ones who owe the troops an apology are Bush, Rumsfeld, Cheney, and the rest of the sorry lot who couldn’t even figure out that ammo dumps might ought to be guarded once you invade a country.

I am utterly speechless.  What were you thinking?

My grandfather was awarded the purple heart during his service to our country, two of them in fact.  He earned his while fighting for a nation that he loved and a cause that he believed in.  He was not an uneducated man.  My father served in the military, becayse he wanted to, not because he was somehow unintelligent.  Now my son is serving in the air force, stationed in Kuwait.  After a year of “doing his homework” he made the decision to serve because it was the right thing for him to do, not because it was the only option for his unedewkated self.

  I notice you do not post a transcript of your remarks here on your web site yet you are so adamant that you have been misrepresented.  I’ve heard your remarks and read the transcript.  I did not need to have them explained to me by some Republican snatching at the opportunity to sling some mud in order to feel sickened by them.

  Even if your remarks were aimed at the President of the United States of America and not our military men and women I am just as sickened.  The behavior I am seeing from our leaders, this complete, blatant disrespect for the man who holds the highest office in the land saddens me.  I was raised poor.  I raised my children as a single mother in poverty.  I had nowhere near the economic and educational opportunities that you have had and yet your behavior is base, unprofessional, disrespectful, hateful and rude.  Is that what a good education will get you?  Perhaps my children and I are better off without it.

Hey, College Student,

Remember when “W” said, “the terrorists never stop thinking of ways to harm America, and neither do I”?

Hey, I just want to say I support John Kerry all the way against the latest idiotic right-wing smear. Don’t back down! You’re in the right, so show those cowardly blow hards what real courage is!

Go away, freeper trolls. Sen. Kerry blotched a joke; your idiot neocon masters blotched an entire war.

I have supported John Kerry for several years but his comments today were very hurtful and made me really angry! 

My grandson joined the Navy while still in high school because he was duped into believing he had no choice by a recruiter.  One of the recruiters that have been given free reign of our public schools by “No Child Left Behind”.

He wanted to go to college but knew his mother couldn’t afford to pay for it. My daughter worked two jobs to support her children and would have worked three to put her son through college rather than have him join the military. And she told him that.  Johnny’s response was “I know Mom, that’s why I did it”. 

Johnny is a good, smart boy who worked very hard to keep his grades up all through high school - but that just isn’t enough to get someone into college, let alone through four years of it!

Johnny is being deployed to Iraq in two weeks.

Even if John Kerry didn’t mean to say what he said, he said it.  He needs to apologize to all the Johnny’s out there who are risking their lives because they wanted to get out of poverty and were tricked by lying recruiters and inept politicians!

Incorrect Casualty Reporting Investigated

Associated Press
Tuesday, October 31, 2006; Page A16

The families of seven soldiers who died in Iraq or Afghanistan received incorrect or misleading information about the deaths, the Army concluded after a review of war casualty reports.

You people are idiots!!! It’s so obvious that Kerry was slamming Bush when he spoke about the need for an education so you don’t create policies that get us stuck in Iraq. Stop trying to defend the indefensible blunders of this administation. A change is long overdue!!

Luis:

Sorry, I forgot the link above. I have heard Kerry use this line before, just as Taylor says here:

http://www.taylormarsh.com/archives_view.php?id=24759

I wasn’t at the event where he allegedly dropped the “us” from the sentence, but I had heard it before so I didn’t even realize it was a big deal.

Senator Kerry has stood up for veterans and the military all his adult life - despite the RW smears that attempt to twist his words. This little tempest in a teapot will not change one whit his strong Senate record of working to improve veteran’s and military benefits.

Your comments last night about our troops were despicable, and your statements today defending it as an attack on the president are just as despicable. Such an attack on the president is just as inappropriate as your smear of our soldiers.

You built your career with a smear of our soldiers who served in Viet Nam and later smeared our soldiers in Iraq for committing atrocities, so do not try to spin to us that you would not criticize our soldiers.

Please do the country a favor and resign from the US Senate.

The Republicans need to come up with something before the November elections.  We’re in a war that we shouldn’t be in.  That’s worse than anybody’s comments.

I have never been prouder of a vote than the vote I cast for you in 2004 and I am looking forward to voting for you again in 2008.  Way to piss off all the impotent cowards who like to pretend that they are veterans on the internet.  Keep up the good work and never apologize for telling the truth.

Senator Kerry,

I know that no one in an official capacity will probably read this, but I think it is time you made one statement:

1) I apologize if any troops thought I was saying they were uneducated.

2) My intention was to state that the president is the uneducated one.

3) The President’s well-connected father was able to place George W. Bush in a National Guard unit which was certain to avoid deployment to Vietnam.  The Vice President had multiple deferrments to also avoid service in Vietnam.  They were cowards then, and they are cowards now.

4) Veterans like John McCain and Bob Dole sat on the sidelines when a fellow veteran was being defamed on the national stage, and now Sen. McCain, formerly of the Straight Talk Express, is in bed with the lunatic fringe like Bob Jones University.  They will do anything to win.

Say it once, then get out of the way until Election Day, Senator.

It’s time to stop pussy-footing around with these fools.

Sorry Senator… I voted for you in 2004 and I was appalled by the “swiftboating” of your campaign, but the smug, botched or no, joke was so far out of line and so incredibly unthinking and insensitive, well, I am not surprised. You don’t get it. This country more and more is being run by a privileged plutocracy, like Bush, Cheney and yourself, and the majority of those dying in Iraq are working class. Rather than a joke, an arrogant insider comment among privileged politicians and supporters, you could have spoken honestly about those who bear the burden of this most unfortunate war; a war you voted for.

You gave this foundering, corrupt and impossible administration something to hang their political survival on; something to divert attention, to smear democrats with. You just don’t get it.

I hope you don’t run in 2008. I hope the Democratic Party finds someone whose thoughtful, honest and unafraid to speak up when it counts. You didn’t oppose this war when the rest of us were marching in the streets to SAY NO.

So very disappointed! If this smug little gaffe gives the Republican propaganda machine a leg up, if perchance this elongates (I’m sure video ad spots are already being created) you’ll be responsible for saving these scumbags.

Get a clue, be circumspect and thoughtful.

I am a former registered Democrat and currently registered Republican. Thank you for saying what needed to be said! Your response to the Republicans today was the finest, brightest and most eloquently delivered political press conference I have seen since JFK announced the Cubans had missiles. I believe you should strongly consider running again for the Presidency. This time I think you can carry Florida. Sorry, I think you carried it last time also.

Senator Kerry

I am now so glad that I was never voted for you in the past, and now I will NEVER VOTE FOR YOU.  I have a brother that is a major in the US Army serving his second term in Iraqi and let me explain to you he was third in his high school class, went to UofI and graduated with a aeronautical engineering degree.  I don’t believe that would fall under you comment.  You owe eveyone in this country an apology, exspecially the troops and thier families.  Our troops responded to call for the United states not because they lacked education.

Ultimately when the nation throws out the Republican crooks and liars, these same people who are here demonstrating their ignorance and faked outrage will be thankful that their masters have been removed from office.

So why don’t you losers take a moment and thank all of us who have fought so hard on your behalf. Or maybe you are satisfied seeing your hard earn taxes go to Halliburton, Exxon-Mobil and big pharmaceuticals. Think about it. Or maybe you shouldn’t, your heads might explode.

I am a Vet. I am neither a Republican or a Democrat, I think both parties are overflowing with scum bags in office.

I find your comments about the education level of the troops in IRAQ to be offensive. You say now that you meant them to be relevant to the President, but I have listened to them several times, and I cannot take them that way. You need to apologize immediately.

If you don’t then you can go @#$% yourself, you are a disgrace to all the men and women that have ever served with Honor.

As a USAF vet who is Canadian I was in Detroit as well as Washington in the early 70’s and observed people making use of their democratic rights.  Many of us served so this would be possible.  Free speech is an important part of democracy and we do not have to agree with any Commanders when we are civilians.  Where was President Bush during that Viet Nam War and where Rumsfeld, Cheney?  Perhaps they could be sent to serve in Iraq.  They certainly are willing to send the youth of todays society, both educated and those still searching.  I have a love for the USA and its people, I am not sure the Bush team does.  This is not about which party one belongs to at all.  Thank you John Kerry for clarifying who owes the apology
am

I find John Kerry’s “Joke” about Bush’s ignorance leading us into Iraq far less insulting than G Dub looking for weapons of mass destruction under a table at a media dinner.  Stupid jokes aside, Bush guided an angry and emotional country into Iraq with misinformation….not Kerry.

John…would you like some cheese with that whine?

Senitor Kerry, please, please , please get over the 04’ election. Your continuous griping and complaining for two years has made me more determined than ever that a man like you should never be allowed to be President. The position calls for maturity (you ain’t got it), professionalism (you ain’t got it), dedication to our government (you ain’t got it), and the ability to support our troups and protect our country (you wont do it).

Senitor Kerry, I am ashamed of you! I am ashamed that a fine State like Mass could continue to elect people like you and Ted Kennedy. It really tells the rest of the country that the voters vote for a popular name and not a track record or moral conviction.

My name is Mike LeBleu and I approve this statement. I actually thought about what I was going to type before I did it. Maybe you should try it.

I find Joh Kerry’s comment yesterday Quote: “those not being able to navigate the education system end up in Iraq”...... extremely insulting.
I have a son in the United States Air Force as well as three nephews in the United States Navy and what he said yesterday has upset my family immensely. How disrepectful of him to make such a comment.
He is an embarrassement to this country.

I Thank God that he did not become our President.

My son put off college to do what he thought was his duty as an american citizen.He is a proud american and people like you have no right to insult him or any other soldier. He asked to go to Iraq to do his duty as an american citizen. He is not stupid and he is not a coward. You need to apologize to every american soldier that you have insulted. GOD BLESS AMERICA

Mr. Kerry,

You are a disgrace to our country.  Don’t forget the men and women of our armed services protects your freedoms too!  Something all your money can’t buy!  And our sevice members do it for next to nothing, except when they have to pay with their LIFE!!!!

I’ll echo TD and mbk’s echo of Max Cleland’s words
(I love Max Cleland)

Statement of Max Cleland on John Kerry’s Response to GOP Attacks

“I think people will remember John Kerry’s press conference today as the moment we Democrats stopped once and forever accepting the disgraceful smears of Republicans. John Kerry showed our Party how to fight back with the truth.

“John Kerry is a patriot who has fought tooth and nail for veterans ever since he came home from Vietnam. He has stood with his brothers in arms unlike this Administration which exploits our troops to make a political point and divide America.

“John Kerry should apologize to no one for his criticism of the President and his broken policy in Iraq. George Bush is the one who owes our troops an apology. This is text book Republican campaign tactics.

“Everybody knows it’s not working this time around. 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’ve got a partisan political agenda and that’s the bottom line. We’re not going to take it any more.”