Inform yourself

[Biggles]

I don't believe in proselytizing, and I respect everyone on this board, regardless of their political philosophies. That being said, a brother and a cousin of mine served with honor in Vietnam (as Marines), and I am OFFENDED by the testimony of now Sen. Kerry back in '71 about atrocities supposedly committed by our troops (begging the question about why he would wait until he was safely on US soil to object to atrocities in which HE participated).

Anyway, for some interesting background, go to www.wintersoldier.com.

[Tim Hatch]

I don't believe in proselytizing, and I respect everyone on this board, regardless of their political philosophies. That being said, a brother and a cousin of mine served with honor in Vietnam (as Marines), and I am OFFENDED by the testimony of now Sen. Kerry back in '71 about atrocities supposedly committed by our troops (begging the question about why he would wait until he was safely on US soil to object to atrocities in which HE participated).

Anyway, for some interesting background, go to www.wintersoldier.com.

To put it succinctly: the guy's an ass.

[jimbow8]

To put it succinctly: the guy's an ass.
To put it succinctly: Bush is an even bigger ass.

[Tim Hatch]

To put it succinctly: Bush is an even bigger ass.


I never realized Bush had a bigger ass. :D

[Ken Valentine]

I don't believe in proselytizing, and I respect everyone on this board, regardless of their political philosophies. That being said, a brother and a cousin of mine served with honor in Vietnam (as Marines), and I am OFFENDED by the testimony of now Sen. Kerry back in '71 about atrocities supposedly committed by our troops (begging the question about why he would wait until he was safely on US soil to object to atrocities in which HE participated).

Anyway, for some interesting background, go to www.wintersoldier.com.

Some troops DID commit atrocities. Some troops always do. But the only times in U.S. history -- that I know of -- where it was actually done under orders, or was actual government policy was in the War Between The States, and in World War II.

On the other hand, Nixon did give a presidential pardon to Lt. Calley who was convicted of an atrocity in the My Lai massacre.

But then Who the flaming hell is Kerry to be claiming anything. Three Purple Hearts? I remember reading about some of his "heroics" in Vietnam. Like the time he was wounded in the thigh while pulling a shipmate back into the boat. Seems he got a Silver Star and Purple Heart for that one. Eight days later he is reputed to have leapt from the boat, chased down a Viet Cong and taken his weapon. Eight days after receiving a wound in the thigh? Couldn't have been much of a wound. Probably got a bruise from a deck cleat . . . maybe even tore his pants.

He was also given an early discharge from the military in order to run for public office. Can anyone say, "Strings were pulled?" Can anyone say, "Family connections?" Can any one say, "FARCE?"

Ken - I think I'm going to be ill now - V.

[jimbow8]

My thoughts on Kerry's medals are this: At least he was in Vietnam. It is at least debatable that he deserved the medals. Bush never went. Regardless of how he got out of it (my dad's father pulled some strings to get his son into the Air Force and keep him out of Vietnam, and I and the rest of my family are eternally thankful for that, because who knows what would have happened), Bush never went, so the fact that he is questioning Kerry's medals or intent for that matter is TOTALLY ludicrous.

[Ken Valentine]

My thoughts on Kerry's medals are this: At least he was in Vietnam. It is at least debatable that he deserved the medals. Bush never went. Regardless of how he got out of it (my dad's father pulled some strings to get his son into the Air Force and keep him out of Vietnam, and I and the rest of my family are eternally thankful for that, because who knows what would have happened), Bush never went, so the fact that he is questioning Kerry's medals or intent for that matter is TOTALLY ludicrous.

Why, Oh why, do people seem to think that being in the military is some sort of qualification for elective office. It's NOT! Unless one imagines that mindlessly TAKING orders qualify's one to mindlessly GIVE orders.

Ken V. Whose father spent a great deal of time to successfully convince his sons NOT to go into the Marines.

[Scott Hajek]

Putting aside the discussion of Vietnam (like John McCain has asked every one to do), the bigger issue is the atrocity of the Iraq "war." Here is an event this country should never have started and now cannot possibly finish. The information leading us to this conflict was false, the pretenses by the Bush Administration are false. To paraphrase... Truth, Bush can't handle the truth. He doesn't even know the definition of truth.

I am more sickened by the way the Bush Administration and the Bush-Loving-Right-Wing-Side-of-the-Media continues to praise him for his destructive policies here and abroad. But, the most sickening of all are the people in the country that continue to worship him like the second coming of Christ just because he is a registered Republican. Open your eyes and your minds before you side with one candidate or the other. If someone were able to prove to me that Bush has done more good than bad (and admit that he has made mistakes) then I would listen and weigh my options. However, no one is capable of doing that. Bush has done more bad than good (name one good thing he has done) and is incapable of leading our nation as part of the global society.

There is absolutely no way I would ever vote for George W. Bush or a member of his administration unless it was to see who should get the chair first.

[Tim Hatch]

Open your eyes and your minds before you side with one candidate or the other.

I agree. It's interesting how an anti-Bush or anti-Kerry comment is taken as an endorsement for the other side. If we opened our eyes and minds to these two "candidates", we'd end up jaded cynics.

Oops, too late. :p

[Scott Hajek]

So far any anti-Kerry sentiment is seen as support for Bush. And any anti-Bush sentiment is seen as unpatriotic.

Go figure.

[jimbow8]

I agree that military service is inconsequential (mostly anyway). I just think Bush has no ground to stand on in deriding Kerry for his service. Period.

I am not a huge Kerry fan. (I supported Dean.) I just think it is sad that we (or I do anyway) continually come to the point of voting against the person we don't want to see in office more than voting for a person that we can actually support.

[Ken Valentine]

There is absolutely no way I would ever vote for George W. Bush or a member of his administration unless it was to see who should get the chair first.

Chair? I'm thinking "rope," and "street lamp." Although I wouldn't object to a firing squad.

Ken V.

[Ken Valentine]

I agree that military service is inconsequential (mostly anyway). I just think Bush has no ground to stand on in deriding Kerry for his service. Period.

I am not a huge Kerry fan. (I supported Dean.) I just think it is sad that we (or I do anyway) continually come to the point of voting against the person we don't want to see in office more than voting for a person that we can actually support.

With the single exception of Ron Paul, I wouldn't vote for a RepubliCON if you put a gun to my head. And I'd put a gun to my own head before I'd vote for ANY Democrap.

Ken V.

[Marc]

To put it succinctly: Bush is an even bigger ass.

Amen. (That's as long as the message would have been but apparently messages need to be 10 characters thus this ammended paranthetical).

[Bluesman Mike Lindner]

Well, sir, I'd suggest taking down the Taliban was a good thing. Do you disagree?

[Biggles]

Well, sir, I'd suggest taking down the Taliban was a good thing. Do you disagree?

Not only took those SOBs down, we pinned 'em!

[jimbow8]

Yeah! Things are going GREAT in Afghanistan!!!! (Sarcasm highly intended)

[Bluesman Mike Lindner]

Yeah! Things are going GREAT in Afghanistan!!!! (Sarcasm highly intended)

Afghani women might have a different slant on things. So might musicians, chess players, and kite flyers. But that's just my guess.

[jimbow8]

And meanwhile, women are still treated like shit in Saudi Arabia. But that's ok because they are our allies. Its the whole selectivity I have a big problem with.

Musicians?!?! They aren't "real" people anyway! ;)

[Bluesman Mike Lindner]

And meanwhile, women are still treated like shit in Saudi Arabia. But that's ok because they are our allies. Its the whole selectivity I have a big problem with.

Musicians?!?! They aren't "real" people anyway! ;)

Well, you do what you can in this world, Biggles. Can't make a utopia (calling Comrades Lenin and Stalin!). And you're right about about musicians not being "real" people--they're on a higher plane. (Though drummers...well, debate still rages.)

[Bluesman Mike Lindner]

That's what I love about our board. The cool, rational, scholarly discussion.

[jimbow8]

Hey! Now you're twisting my words! :p

[Bluesman Mike Lindner]

Hey! Now you're twisting my words! :p

I nevva coulda done it, judge, yer honor. At the time I wuz accused of dis monstrous crime, I wuz on de udda side a town, sellin' drugs to schoolkids.

[Biggles]

Well, you do what you can in this world, Biggles. Can't make a utopia (calling Comrades Lenin and Stalin!). And you're right about about musicians not being "real" people--they're on a higher plane. (Though drummers...well, debate still rages.)

Mike, Jimbo isn't Biggles. I'm Biggles. It's bad enough that I have to take credit for what I post; I'm not taking credit (or blame) for what he posts. As far as I'm concerned, all Stalin and Lenin were good for is a 50 cent lobotomy (referring to the cost of one round of .44 Magnum). I would have been happy to do the surgery myself, but I wasn't born until two years after Stalin died. But now they're both good (that is, dead) commies.

[Biggles]

That's what I love about our board. The cool, rational, scholarly discussion.

Well, as I like to say: "Everyone is entitled to my own opinion". :D

[Biggles]

Well, as I like to say: "Everyone is entitled to my own opinion". :D

Oh, and the corrolary: "Urinalysis is as good as mine".

Here's another: "Women are from Venus; Men are from Mars; Politicians are from Uranus."

[Richard Kendrick]

Musicians?!?! They aren't "real" people anyway! ;)

Hey Now! :mad:

RIK :D

[Bluesman Mike Lindner]

Mike, Jimbo isn't Biggles. I'm Biggles. It's bad enough that I have to take credit for what I post; I'm not taking credit (or blame) for what he posts. As far as I'm concerned, all Stalin and Lenin were good for is a 50 cent lobotomy (referring to the cost of one round of .44 Magnum). I would have been happy to do the surgery myself, but I wasn't born until two years after Stalin died. But now they're both good (that is, dead) commies.

Apologies to you both, Biggles. I was wrasslin' with a screwed-up keyboard at my internet cafe last night. I can think (somewhat), or think about the physical act of typing, but both...well, beyond my poor powers, and that's a fact.