Mark Kleiman makes complete sense discussing the perverse effects of our current mindset (and, unfortunately, policies) in the War on Your Neighbor.
This post, however, contains this thoroughly obnoxious remark:
Not that an honorable discharge is anything to crow about: all it means is that you didn’t get caught violating any really outrageous rules.
Spoken like a man who doesn’t have one himself, as I am pretty proud of my honorable discharge. One of these days Democrats are going to learn how to attack Republicans (or Bush) without shitting all over millions of bystanders. I seriously hope the Kerry campaign decides to take up this snotty refrain- enough PR collateral damage will be done to edge a million more votes Bush’s way should anything this offensive come out of Kerry/Edwards or the DNC.
None
One of these days Democrats are going to learn how to attack Republicans (or Bush) without shitting all over millions of bystanders
You mean like calling into question a decorated veteran’s war medals, therby shitting all over the process of awarding those medals and the thousands of veterans who earned medals in similar circumstances? Yeah, I here ya, John.
Crank
Pretty standard Kleiman – he’s actually fairly reasonable on policy issues, but invariably resorts to the lowest common denominator when it comes to politics.
Sandi
*None
Not all of John Kerry’s medals are in question. Questioning the validity of those that are, shits on no one but Kerry. It says nothing to the process of awarding those medals, nor of the thousands of other veterans who earned medals. It does speak to how he Kerry got them.
BTW the Navy is probing into the validity of at least one Kerry’s medals.
Dean
Sandi:
That investigation is now closed, the Navy concluding that Kerry’s medals were awarded according to proper procedure.
Sandi
Thanks Dean, I should have dug further. *blush*
SteveMG
John:
You should be proud of your achievements.
And I and my family thank you for it.
Cheers.
Steven M. Galbraith
None
*Cough*
Really, what the swiftboat vets drug us though was a condemnation of the way that veterans are awarded medals. Questioning Kerry’s medals called into question other’s medals (regardless of the circumstances). The swiftboat vets crapped all over these veterans for political gain.
Note, I didn’t use partisan. These guys political affiliations couldn’t matter less. They’re angry that Kerry testified against the war.
While I understand that (even if I think it is unjustified), it does not excuse what they did.
Harry in Atlanta
It has amazed me how stupid the Democrats and their partisans are in claiming that Bush was a coward for going into the National Guard. Don’t they realize that people who were and are in the National Guard are voters too? It’s the same thing when they play the Bush is stupid meme. Not only do they insult Bush they also insult anyone who either voted for Bush, joined the NG, or both. Just plain stupid I tell ya.
“They’re angry that Kerry testified against the war.”
None, they’re not angry that Kerry testified against the war plenty of other vets did also and I don’t believe they are angry at them. They’re angry because Kerry called them baby killers and rapists in his testimony. Many of those vets believe Kerry did this for purely selfish reasons and then he turned around and began touting his “heroic” war record when it became beneficial to his political career goals. The more I learn about John Kerry the more I have to agree with the Swiftees. Kerry is a self-aggrandizing hypocrite. What an ahole.
Boatswain
None- i completely disagree with you. Veterans know the difference between someone who games the system in order to get out early and someone who earns decorations through legitimate means. Smearing the service of a person in the NG is a lot more likely to offend other people in the NG than questioning the loophole ballet that Kerry pulled to go home after 4 months. Harry makes a fine point too. there is testifying and then there is TESTIFYING and calling your peers war criminals. there is being against the war and then there is meeting with the enemy and providing a poster child for the oppositions propaganda. its not too subtle of a difference for you is it?
pleasewakeupy'all
Here’s the words of a veteran that apparently has his eyes and mind open. Wish he were more the rule than the exception.
…..I’m a retired Army veteran living in an archconservative enclave in the Florida Panhandle. I work primarily with active and retired military members who’ve become conservative ideologues, fearful of facts or ideas unsupportive of their ideology. Lively discourse died long ago with the rise of “Support the President” and “you’re either with us or against us” mentality. The mean-spiritedness of their attacks on any dissent has made me question what it means to be an American today. I feel incredibly sad that the country I once admired exists only as a childish, naive construct. The naked, unadorned arrogance, abuse of power, secrecy, and deceit by the current administration has utterly stunned and embittered me. How is it that we are so easily deceived and made fearful? Was the fearful, racist, fanatic always right there, just under the surface? Frankly, I’m so disappointed in my countrymen and so fearful for democracy that an abiding weariness has beset me.
Harry in Atlanta
“Frankly, I’m so disappointed in my countrymen and so fearful for democracy that an abiding weariness has beset me.”
Well here’s another telling quote from a self-absorbed arrogant knows what’s best for everyone else elitist. Well move somewhere else you miserable sadsack. Move to Berkeley and get yourself another government job dispensing free shit to homeless Democrats. And as far as your being disappointed in everyone not being as wise and tolerant as you are: Go piss up a rope. Jeez, one Tereza Heinz-Kerry on the planet is already one too many.
pleasewakeupy'all
“get yourself another government job ”
Like the 30-year one in the Army?
“dispensing free shit to homeless Democrats.”
Like the volunteer work helping (not homeless or Democrat, by the way) folks at the VA?
You certainly are one patriotic dude.
Harry in Atlanta
“Like the volunteer work helping (not homeless or Democrat, by the way) folks at the VA?”
If this is true, and I have no way of knowing, then he certainly has nothing but contempt and disdain for his wards and co-volunteers (or co-workers as the case may be). Pleasegrowup I was simply responding to the gentleman’s stated opinions concerning his co-workervolunteers (and presumably anyone else’s) whose opinions differed from his own insightful ones. I never questioned the man’s patriotism or dedication, I did, however, mock his smug condescending attitude toward his co-workers. If he feels stunted by not being in the company of equals then perhaps a change of venue would be appropriate. From the sound of him I’m sure his co-workersvolunteers would agree. Don’t you?