Kerry’s military records released

[erik_kosberg]

http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/4735761.html

Records of John Kerry's Vietnam War service released Wednesday show a highly praised naval officer with an Ivy League education who spoke fluent French -- the fruits of a privileged upbringing that set him apart from the typical seaman.

With Republicans questioning his record, the likely Democratic nominee posted more than 120 pages of military records on his campaign Web site. Several described him as a gutsy commander undertaking a dangerous assignment in Vietnam and detailed some of the actions that won three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and a Silver Star.

Kerry's most harrowing experience came during the nearly five months when he commanded a "swift boat" in the Mekong Delta. The future Massachusetts senator was commended for gallantry, heroism and valor during the tour, which was cut short when Kerry was wounded three times and sent back to the United States.

[drmomentum[$]]

Real patriots like Bush defended the skies of Texas from the Viet Cong invasion, Erik. John Kerry ran off to some foreign country. Heroism? There's no comparison.

While Bush has got Kerry on the run with this issue, he really should ask for a debate, and then challenge Kerry on each of his awards. Maybe he could get him to tell a few war stories.

-JP

[wivabef]

I'm sure as hell tired of anybody questioning Kerry's military records because I'm tired as hell of giving Kerry yet another opportunity to blab on and on about how he served in Vietnam.

Another reason it should have been McCain in that oval office. I would have loved to hear Kerry say "and he was avoiding real battle in Vietnam by getting imprisoned. I kept going back in there, shrapnel wound after shrapnel wound!"

Dear John,

What have you done for me lately?

Vietnam was over thirty years ago.

[erik_kosberg]

drmomentum said

Real patriots like Bush defended the skies of Texas from the Viet Cong invasion

And maybe even the skies of Alabama, but we’re not quite as sure about that. But he did do a really, really good job defending Texas. Not a single commie MiG-19 made it past his stalwart defense. But what’s he done for me lately?

[mnehr]

Totally off topic (kind of..) but I found it funny that on his background record sheet he listed membership in the Skull and Bones. I thought he was supposed to keep that secret.. You know the kooks are going crazy. Both he and W are Bonesmen and the stories around that group are wild. (no, I don't buy into the kooks stories.)

[frazzledspice]

Is it possible that those who have experienced the agonies of war firsthand are more thoughtful and cautious before committing our troops or sending them into harm's way.

Even Secretary of State Powell adopted a much more cautious approach to our entering into war with Iraq than did Vice President Cheney, who accepted a series of deferments:

Dedicated students of obstetrics will observe that Elizabeth Cheney's birth date falls precisely nine months and two days after the Selective Service publicly revoked its policy of not drafting childless husbands. This would seem to indicate that the Cheneys, though doubtless planning to have children sometime, were seized with an untamable passion the moment Dick Cheney became vulnerable to the Vietnam draft. And acted on it. Carpe diem! (slate.msn.com)

Rumsfeld attended Princeton on an ROTC Scholarship, but served in peacetime (1954-1957) and only as a "drilling reservist" in his reserve years.

George W. Bush, whom the world regards as a "cowboy," never saw wartime service, and, apparently, saw very little of the stateside reserve duty he had signed up for.

It concerns me that the primary decision makers on the Iraq war are people who have never seen the horrors of war firsthand themselves.

I believe that no one who has served in a combat zone could have invaded Iraq without even knowing whether the WMD's were there or not.

[drmomentum[$]]

wivabef said

Dear John,

What have you done for me lately?

Vietnam was over thirty years ago.

Heck, maybe if we elect him Kerry will volunteer to go over and bring Osama back himself.

-JP

[wivabef]

drmomentum said

Heck, maybe if we elect him Kerry will volunteer to go over and bring Osama back himself.

-JP

LMAO! I just got this image of Kerry as a comic book hero, that horribly long face busting through a powerburst of colour, his overstarched shirts hiding his rippling pecks. He'd jump a snowboard (because he never falls down) and ride the dunes.

[rmthunter]

frazzledspice said

Is it possible that those who have experienced the agonies of war firsthand are more thoughtful and cautious before committing our troops or sending them into harm's way.

It's almost an axiom that former military men (and they all have been, so far)are very reluctant to commit to war.

We could use a few more generals in office.

Bob

[drmomentum[$]]

Heard on Prarie Home Companion:

John Kerry walks into a bar.

The bartender says "Why the long face?"

-JP

[erik_kosberg]

Here’s the Democratic version of “compare and contrast,” anyone have a link to the Republican version?

[wivabef]

drmomentum said

Heard on Prarie Home Companion:

John Kerry walks into a bar.

The bartender says "Why the long face?"

-JP

OW! OW! You're hurting me! Sides... splitting!

[drmomentum[$]]

Uh - that would be "prairie" of course. Please excuse my spelling.

-JP

[wivabef]

drmomentum said

Uh - that would be "prairie" of course. Please excuse my spelling.

-JP

Well, now it's not as funny anymore