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04/27/2004 Entry: "More slappage..."
More slappage...
Well, they asked for it, and now they've got it. I'm still wondering who thought it was a good idea to bring this all up again.
John Kerry, a decorated Navy veteran criticized by Republicans for his anti-war activities during the Vietnam era, lashed out at President Bush on Monday for failing to prove whether he fulfilled his commitment to the National Guard during the same period.Conservative critics have questioned whether Kerry deserved his three Purple Hearts for battle wounds, an issue the Democratic presidential candidate sought to put to rest last week by releasing his military records. On Sunday, a top Bush adviser criticized Kerry for leading anti-war protests after he returned from the battlefield.
"If George Bush wants to ask me questions about that through his surrogates, he owes America an explanation about whether or not he showed up for duty in the National Guard. Prove it. That's what we ought to have," Kerry told NBC News in an interview. "I'm not going to stand around and let them play games."
Replies: 7 people speak up
As a Gulf War I vet, I received numerous ribbons and I think one medal. I have them in a cardboard box labeled "awards".
They are all the same. I am sorta disappointed Kerry is not being more forcefull but I am satisified Kerry is fighting back, asking Bush to explain his TANG service.
I wish Kerry would bring on more people like those in the Clinton war room. More people willing to fight!
Just like he did. Just like I did.
Posted by gammrock @ 04/27/2004 10:38 AM NY
Kerry needs to change the wording from "an explanation about whether or not he showed up for duty in the National Guard" to "why he let his flight status lapse, which cost the American people around a million dollars for his training, when he still had two years [or whatever it was] left to go on his Guard obligation."
Or if he wants to be really snarky (yeah!) he could phrase it "Why was he so afraid of taking that flight physical on [whatever the date was, Aug. 72 IRRC] that he let his flight status lapse?" Then pound on the cost of his flight training again.
Everybody who's ever had to pee in a bottle to get/keep a job knows why you might avoid a physical. And associating the words "flight training" with Bush will raise subliminal hackles in "the post 9-11 world" he keeps reminding us we live in now.
PS--Good story in the Fluffya InkWire--er, I mean "Philadelphia Inquirer"--about the impact of the Net on politics this cycle. For those who don't want to mess with the registration PitA, my favorite graf was:
Pew surveys show that even Internet users - themselves still a minority of Americans - say they get more of their political information from television and newspapers, although the Web is neck and neck with radio; so, the Internet's impact remains relatively limited
Posted by Xan @ 04/27/2004 12:05 PM NY
I think they must have been more conscientious about handing out medals during the 60s and 70s. I never got one single medal that I was awarded in my Service Record Book or SRB. I had a good number coming to me, a Good Conduct Medal, a National Defense Medal, a Humanitarian Mission medal (we rescued a bunch of Vietnamese on a sinking boat in the South China Sea on my second cruise on the aircraft carrier CV-61 USS Ranger), and I think at least one other medal that escapes me now. I never put up much of a stink back then because I didn't think it was all that important, but it sure would be nice to have them now.
Posted by Stentor @ 04/27/2004 12:18 PM NY
dont they make soldiers pay for their medals?
Posted by justin @ 04/27/2004 01:03 PM NY
What Xan said, plus ...
"George, come out from behind Karen Hughes' skirts and fight me like a man, you big tough defender of national security, you."
Ooh, baby.
Posted by Peanut @ 04/27/2004 01:05 PM NY
Hey,the bush person has medals.
In Mn., they are called pull tabs
on a beer can. And his big medal
is a silver spoon, which he used
for his drug's.
Shit for brains can't even be the
sole on Sen. Kerry's shoe.
Have a good one.
Posted by Don Harrilla @ 04/27/2004 06:46 PM NY
I don't think we were charged for any certificates or awards or medals.
Posted by gammarock @ 04/27/2004 11:01 PM NY
