This is simply the return of the son of the unnamed foreign leaders that supported him. Remember that fiasco?

He won’t get the veteran vote, he won’t get the active duty vote, this is all just smoke and mirrors.

His policy statements on the military are just a rehash of what Bush and Rumsfeld are already doing anyway.

rush got it right this guy is “dead man walking”

Posted by: skip at June 4, 2004 05:17 PM

Oh fershur!

And all last year, wingnuts were busily prognosticating that this election wouldn’t even be close and that Dubya would win in a landslide too.

Got any more predictions to make?

Posted by: Don at June 4, 2004 05:30 PM

Kabar requires a bucket.

Posted by: Kabar at June 4, 2004 05:35 PM

Get a clue Don. Kerry’s quote is almost word for word like his “Unnamed leaders” claim. If he had such veteran support he wouldn’t need to go court the vets now.

Posted by: Brian at June 4, 2004 05:48 PM

Kerry has had veteran support from the getgo. He has also had veteran opposition, some of which is funded by the RNC.

Veterans are politically hardly monolithic, after all. I differ in my opinions with a bunch of my fellow vets, but then we differ all over the landscape on a whole bunch of stuff.

But I gotta chuckle over the assertion that he wouldn’t need to court vets now if he already had support. If you ever get around to doing any politically useful work, you’ll find you have to court Every interest bloc out there. And you target those with the highest probability of coming your way.

Apparently you are TFC on how Useful Political Work is actually done. Which is not surprising. The ideologically shriven oftimes have that tendency.

Posted by: Don at June 4, 2004 06:11 PM

Actually if its more than 3 active duty soldiers i would be surprised

Posted by: chris at June 4, 2004 06:31 PM

skip: is rush still on the painkillers, or has he moved on to snorting coke? yay for hypocrisy!

Posted by: x at June 4, 2004 07:05 PM

Chris: Prepare to be surprised.

Though active duty types are generally not considered Veterans, as the term is generally used.

Posted by: Don at June 4, 2004 07:38 PM

Kerry has had veteran support from the get-go.
No he hasn’t. If he is so great for us Vets, why is he having to try so hard to get ANY support from us, and get so little?

He has also had veteran opposition, some of which is funded by the RNC.
Really? Where’s my check?

Veterans are politically hardly monolithic, after all.
On some issues, we are.

I differ in my opinions with a bunch of my fellow vets…
I don’t believe you ARE a vet. I willing to be open minded if you wish to convince me.

But I gotta chuckle over the assertion that he wouldn’t need to court vets now if he already had support.
You can chuckle all you want, but it’s still going to be true.

Posted by: eric at June 4, 2004 08:02 PM

There’s no way the Democratic Party of Bill and Hillary Clinton are going to court a majority of the Veteran Vote.

Who would want to vote for a political party whose motto is “I support the troops but not what they do?”

Posted by: Jeff MacMillan at June 5, 2004 01:39 AM

Amazing what a bunch of maroons some on the right are.
20,000 more American troops have just had been told ‘you cant leave the military’ in preparation for Iraq. Im sure they are thrilled with Bush.

Heres an interesting list from newsmax:
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2004/6/3/204555.shtml

Below is the list of retired senior military flag officers who are advising John Kerry:

Adm. William Crowe (USN, Ret.) Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Gen. John Shalikashvili (USA, Ret.) Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Gen. Tony McPeak (USAF, Ret.) Former U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff

Adm. Stansfield Turner, (USN, Ret.) Former Director, Central Intelligence Agency

Gen. Joseph Hoar (USMC, Ret.) Former Commander in Chief, U.S. Central Command

Gen. Wesley Clark (USA, Ret.) Former Supreme Allied Commander Europe

Gen. Johnnie Wilson (USA, Ret.) Former Commander, U.S. Army Material Command

Lt. Gen. Daniel Christman (USA, Ret.) Former Superintendent, U.S. Military Academy

Lt. Gen. Kennedy (USA, Ret.) Former Deputy Army Chief of Staff for Intelligence

Vice Adm. Lee Gunn (USN, Ret.) Former Inspector General, U.S. Navy

Maj. Gen. Harry Jenkins (USMC, Ret.) Former Chief Legislative Liaison, U.S. Marine Corps

And I hear 3 of the last 4 centcom commanders are against Bush including Zinni who described Bush’s military leadership as incompetant and possibly deriliction of duty…

and here’s a link to an article discussing Republican ties to the swift boat vets against kerry:
http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2004/05/14/gannon/index.html

Posted by: Loofa at June 5, 2004 01:49 AM

As someone who respects the legacy of veterans, I will go to my grave honouring Capn Docs view of Senator Windsock —- hes a 2-bit opportunist - nothing more. What has happened is that his brain has been eaten from the inside out an an early age - Hanoi John was born OLD —- he is nothing more than a hollowed out cream puff. A gigolo remnant, monarchical leftover, - a traitor to his country - a quisling idiot - the massachusetts faggot-loving, public trough gorging french-haired fairy John F*n Kerry.

Posted by: hound at June 5, 2004 02:31 AM

thats a pretty short list of supreme losers you have there loofa sponge - compared to the dozens of rank and file who have come out AGAINST HANOI JOHN…== BTW Your list appears to be 100% democratic partisans - what a surprise!

Posted by: hound at June 5, 2004 02:36 AM

DonnieChad I’ve cut back on posting comments but I couldn’t pass up this Pack of Crap - “He has also had veteran opposition, some of which is funded by the RNC.” Prove it. The RNC funding part.

I gotta chuckle out of most of this crappy fluff you’re spouting, but can you explain the “ideologically shriven” comment? Coming from you, and knowing how many atrocities you committed while In-Country, I’m sorta curious about how you accept Kerry’s complete and open honesty on the subject. Ideologically speaking, of course.

You might wanna fill us in on how he made a Monster out of you whilst you’re at it. Or did you do that all by yourself?

Posted by: Cap'n DOC at June 5, 2004 08:25 AM

Love your posts hound. My feelings and thoughts put to better words. For liberals to believe that their ‘unnatural’ constituency of the military would follow them, is such a crock I can hardly believe it. What a deluded bastard group huh? The original post says Bush leads by 54% to Kerry’s 40%….I’d bet the spread is a lot wider than that. Reminds me of the picture of the guy shaking hands with Hillary, and he was giving her the finger with the other hand!!! ha ha ha Yeah, like he’s a fricken democrat huh….why do you think the dems wanted to squash the military vote in Florida….our boys surely won’t forget that democrat shit pile.

Posted by: dickD at June 5, 2004 10:20 AM

The Clinton Geneeral that retreated in disgrace from Somalia is for Kerry and bashing Bush?….no kidding?

Posted by: Prapius at June 5, 2004 11:02 AM

All that does not matter at all.

When Kerry is elected President in November he will become Commander-in-Chief and the military will have to accept it.

They will have to put up, theu will have to shut up or they will have to resign.

Truth

Posted by: Truth at June 5, 2004 11:32 AM

So “Truth” you basically state that the military does not matter at all. Given how prevelant your opinion is amongst the democrats its a wonder why military men would not want to vote for Kerry.

Posted by: Brian at June 5, 2004 01:14 PM

Truth’s comments shows the liberal position in a bight light. Since the military would have to put up with a Kerry administration or resign; that should make the military like the democrats. What a moronic line of thought, and an ideology that opposes America. Truth it just proves that liberals are traitors as they protest that they are not. ha ha ha As Rush says, all we need to do is laugh at you guys to defeat you! It might make Al Gore and Howard Dean to give us some more yelling!! Or as I call it….calling their pigs to the trough!

Posted by: dickD at June 5, 2004 01:26 PM

DickO asked, “why do you think the dems wanted to squash the military vote in Florida….”

‘cause they got caught stuffin’ the ballot boxes and they needed to make up for that loss.

I hope precautions are taken at this upcoming election to prevent the fraud that has been used by the democrats in the past.

Posted by: Jeff B at June 5, 2004 05:35 PM

Can’t think of an active duty or vet that I know of who likes Kerry (and considering odds are I’m going to grad school next year in Military History, I know a fair number).

One military history prof I had in class said that if Kerry thinks he’s got the vet vote wrapped up, he should read the emails she gets. And this woman is more connected with the current and former military than I could ever hope to be.

Hell, I met one late war Vietnam A-6 BN that wouldn’t even say the man’s name.

Posted by: Spade at June 6, 2004 02:18 AM

“I don’t believe you ARE a vet. I willing to be open minded if you wish to convince me.” Posted by eric at June 4, 2004 08:02 PM

Don’s a Vet. You can take my word for it.

Posted by: Cap'n DOC at June 6, 2004 09:55 AM

When Kerry is elected President in November …

Truth

And when pigs fly…

Posted by: eric at June 6, 2004 11:10 AM

Theres a Veterans Against Kerry rally on sept. 12 I plan on attending, and I highly recommend any other like minded individuals to do so as well.

Wonder if the media will cover it? Probobly not.

Posted by: HullBreach at June 7, 2004 09:32 AM

Loofa - Isn’t that the same bunch of flag officers that supported and advised “Wild Bill” Clinton, the hero of Oxford? The man who “thanked” his draft board for helping him avoid the draft, when they accepted his lie about joining a reserve unit?

Posted by: popd at June 7, 2004 12:44 PM

Polls show that a surprising number of vets support Kerry, but even so Bush has a large lead in that group.

It is not surprising that many vets support Kerry, because the press has been doing a very good job of covering up for what he did after returning from Vietnam, leaving the impression that John Kerry was a war hero who then became a politician, not an opportunist who left at the first opportunity to slander his former comrades, all Vietnam Veterans, and his country..

How many vets know that Kerry is the reason they were treated as pariahs for years after the war? How many vets know of the lies that Kerry told about us, under oath before the Senate, lies that painted all of us and our commanders as monsters and people who frequently committed war crimes? How many know that that same speech was used by the guards at the Hanoi Hilton to attack the will of our POWs, because Kerry’s recommended actions would have left the US with no leverage to get the POWs back? How many Americans realize that Kerry’s lies survive today in the minds of many foreigners, and have served to permanently tarnish our country’s reputation. Also see this.

How many veterans know that two former POWs (Crecca and Denton) have written letters asking veterans not to vote for Kerry, and that one, Jeremiah Deenton, who served in the Senate with Kerry, used the constitutional language for treason when describing Kerry’s actions?

How many vets know that Kerry, while still a sworn officer in the Naval Reserve, twice met with the enemy during the war, and his compatriots in the VVAW met with them even more often, and these meetings led to the VVAW and its chief spokesman, John Kerry, coordinating their anti-US propaganda? Also see here.

How many know that Kerry tried to cover up the fact that he was still in the Navy Reserves during all of his anti-war activities? The Boston Globe knows (I told them) but I haven’t seen them correct their article claiming Kerry was honorably discharged in 1970 (it was really 1978), or report on how his web site biography changed when his real service records were posted there.

How many vets know that John Kerry’s picture hangs in a room dedicated to those who helped the communists win the Vietnam War, in a museum in Saigon? At least it was there yesterday (6/6). It may be gone today!

How many vets know that while Kerry left Vietnam after an unusually short tour due to three minor wounds (one of which was reported to be a result or his misusie of an M-79 grenade launcher? He was refused a purple heart by his commander, who believed there had been no enemy contact, and by the doctor who removed the M-79 shrapnel and put a bandaid over the scratch, but later the Purple Heart was awarded under circumstance still unclear. Kerry has refused to post the medical records for that Purple Heart. Most vets know that soldiers didn’t leave their buddies just because they had three very minor wounds, causing another man to take their place and endure the danger they escaped.

How many vets know that the man who took over Kerry’s boat and served a full tour, John O’Neil, has been smeared by the Kerry Campaign as a “Nixon shill?”

How many vets know that over 200 of Kerry’s fellow swift boat veterans signed a letter proclaiming him to be unfit to be Commander in Chief? How many know that this included his entire chain of command, an event unprecedented in US history? How many vets know that the press did it’s best to downplay this extraordinary event and to smear those who led the group? How many know that the group asked Kerry to release his full military medical records, which would show the truth about his first purple heard, a request he has ignored?.How many have listend to or watched that conference> All of the information is available here.

If all veterans read this comment, how many do you think would continue to support Kerry?

Posted by: John Moore (Useful Fools) at June 8, 2004 02:10 AM

The fact is the Military does not want to go back to Clinton era style of running the military where moral was at an all-time low and they had a hard time meeting recruiting goals. Remember when Clinton forced retired over 3,000 Army NCO’s?

Bush since taking office has increased basic pay by 250 dollars in 3 years. Clinton only increased it 270 dollars in 8 years.

As for the stop loss order that makes soldiers stay on it is perfectly legal and the military uses it all the time. It was used twice in my division during PEACE TIME in the Clinton years because the Army couldnt meet its recruiting goals and keep the division staffed with enough soldiers. Again Bush doesnt have this problem as recruiters are having to turn away people because so many want to join. The Air Force is even going to have to lay off about 12,000 people because they are so over staffed.

Posted by: MikeC at June 8, 2004 01:47 PM

**** The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee added: “But the numbers of active duty people quietly coming and saying we need a change, we need to build a modern military, we need to do the things necessary to protect our troops, we need to have all our allies on the ground in Iraq …” ****

The assumptive presidential nominee of course was referring to conversations, over lunch, with an apparent double amputee dictator, during a recent trip to North Korea. He firmly assured ‘the little fella’ that, if he were elected, he would see that all of his concerns would be taken care of.

Posted by: Jeff B at June 8, 2004 10:25 PM

I am a Vietnam “Era” Veteran. USN, 67-70. Since John Kerry’s advance to nominee, although I have never been politically active in my 56 years, I have been speaking at various shipyards, marinas and port facilities I visit in my work as a Marine Surveyor. At each, I have taken “straw” polls of Veterans.

Granted, this is Louisiana. The Deep South. But I have yet to meet ONE Veteran who will admit that he will vote for John Kerry. Not ONE. Virtually every Vietnam Veteran I spoke to, remembered Kerry’s Vietnam Veteran Against the War protestors.

Interestingly, all the Vietnam Veterans I spoke to have said similar things regarding their service and their treatment by America upon returning home. We were treated like criminals. We were disreputable. We were Drug Addicts. We may have committed attrocities like those at Mi Lai. Even our own famlies suspected us from what they had heard on the News. We hid our duffles and foot lockers in the back of the closet or attic and never mentioned our service again…………..

Until the Democratic Party, in their infinite wisdom, chose as their candidate, the ONLY Vietnam Veteran who is universally despised by almost all Vietnam Veterans for his betrayal of our honor before Congress.

There is a very common Sixties expression, from my era of Veterans………………
“Payback’s a Bitch”

Paybacks for John Kerry are long overdue……….

Posted by: ET at June 9, 2004 11:22 PM

I dont need to add a line - John Moore and ET have it covered. Thanks, guys.

Posted by: Cap'n DOC at June 10, 2004 07:25 AM

DickD, do you have a url to this photo?

“Reminds me of the picture of the guy shaking hands with Hillary, and he was giving her the finger with the other hand!!!”

And for the record, I am prior service Army, and I wouldn’t vote for Kerry for $#!*eater.

3 votes for GW here: myself, my wife, and my daughter (who will vote in her 1st election this year)

Posted by: Constantine at June 10, 2004 03:18 PM

ET, thank you for your service.

Long overdue and not of much comfort now, but I felt compelled to state it none the less.

Posted by: Constantine at June 10, 2004 03:22 PM

I’m active duty Air Force. I have 70 guys that work for me and I have yet to hear a single one of them say they support Kerry.

Posted by: Madison at June 11, 2004 02:41 AM