Guest Cerebus Report post Posted July 30, 2004 One thing that irked me about the DNC last night was the whole OMGVIETNAM~! thing. I know we all make jokes about it, but it was astonishing to see the whole military theme pounded into our heads. Here are some thoughts from Kaplan that sum up my own. (Yeah, yeah but I don't have time to write up a well-thought out post. At least its not from Commondreams) [...]No one who watched his acceptance speech last night could have missed the fact that, yes, John Kerry served heroically in Vietnam. Easier to miss was that, as a guide to what sort of approach to national security Kerry will enshrine in official policy--presumably the whole point of the exercise--last night's martial imagery and rhetoric told us nothing at all. Or, rather, worse than nothing. [...] Echoing the phalanx of generals who have endorsed him, Kerry says we should trust him to guide the fortunes of an America at war because "I defended this country as a young man and I will defend it as president." Leaving aside the unseemliness of recently retired general officers endorsing political candidates from a convention podium, the steady diet of patriotic gore that Kerry forced us to imbibe was unsettling enough. After all, whether it describes a Republican or a Democratic candidate, the fact that a politician has "fought under that flag" tells us nothing about his qualifications to be a wartime leader--even less when the would-be leader devotes far more of his convention speech to a long-ago war than he does to the war in which America happens to be presently engaged. [...] For their part, Senators Chuck Hagel, John McCain, and John Kerry all served in Vietnam. How did it shape their foreign policy views? In completely different ways: the first ended up a traditional realist, the second a virtual neoconservative, and the third a conventional liberal. [...] Indeed, he spent far more time discussing domestic policy than he spent discussing foreign and defense policy. And when he did get around to discussing the matter of our national survival, he basically took a page from the post-Vietnam playbook favored by an earlier generation of Democrats. "We shouldn't be opening firehouses in Baghdad," the candidate declared to rousing applause, "and shutting them down in the United States of America." Suggesting that Europeans won't send troops to Iraq simply because they can't stand his opponent, Kerry promised to be nicer to our allies so we could "bring our troops home." Unlike, say, in Bosnia, he pledged to go to war "only because we have to." Leaving unsaid exactly by whom and at what cost, he dedicated himself to making America "respected in the world." Finally, and without saying precisely what it is, Kerry said he knows "what we have to do in Iraq." He has a plan, you see. Just like a candidate from long ago claimed to have a plan to end a war--the war that put Kerry on the stage last night and which, for him at least, wasn't so long ago at all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MikeSC Report post Posted July 30, 2004 I'll always be baffled that Bush and Dole's heroism in World War II (that universally approved of war) was worth nothing, but Kerry's Vietnam experience (a war the Dems couldn't possibly dislike more) makes him the perfect candidate. -=Mike Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JangoFett4Hire 0 Report post Posted July 30, 2004 It was more the fact that he stuck his neck out to help out fellow soldiers. You know like you do mike every time you make a post on this board. And who said that Bush and Dole's military experience was worthless? Source please. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest thebigjig Report post Posted July 30, 2004 Kerry's Vietnam service is apart of his character... it defines him as a human being at least thats the excuse... and ya know what? I buy it to a certain degree, but yeah it gets annoying hearing about it from time to time but it's no different than Bush constantly talking about "values" and of course, making all of his speeches about terrorism as if all of us forgot yesterday that terrorism is a problem we face The Presidential Election of 2004 - Battle of repetition Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lord of The Curry 0 Report post Posted July 30, 2004 It was more the fact that he stuck his neck out to help out fellow soldiers. You know like you do mike every time you make a post on this board. And who said that Bush and Dole's military experience was worthless? Source please. Mike sticks his neck out to save us fellow posters each time he posts? Interesting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest thebigjig Report post Posted July 30, 2004 It was more the fact that he stuck his neck out to help out fellow soldiers. You know like you do mike every time you make a post on this board. And who said that Bush and Dole's military experience was worthless? Source please. Mike sticks his neck out to save us fellow posters each time he posts? Interesting. he tries, but he usually stumbles and falls flat on his face... and even when he's kissing cement, he continues to fight bravely, even if you cant understand a word he's saying because... well... you know... mouth to cement... cant make out what he's saying... yeah you get the point Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NoCalMike 0 Report post Posted July 30, 2004 I didn't see anything in that video that tried to claim "Kerry won Vietnam" It was a nice video piece. To me, it was more harping on the fact that he was concerned with saving his fellow soldiers life. Of course it was fluff, what in the hell do you expect for them to show at the DNC? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slayer 0 Report post Posted July 30, 2004 Mike saved me from a burning building once Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
{''({o..o})''} 0 Report post Posted July 30, 2004 Mike threw me into a burning building once Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MikeSC Report post Posted July 30, 2004 Mike threw me into a burning building once I did apologize for that. -=Mike ...Who keeps his heroic exploits quiet out of modesty... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NoCalMike 0 Report post Posted July 30, 2004 For the record, I was the one that set the building on fire...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2GOLD 0 Report post Posted July 30, 2004 Does this mean Mike will soon get banned for our sins like Jesus? Cause I don't think I want the Religion of Mike to spread. It's too sane for me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MikeSC Report post Posted July 31, 2004 Does this mean Mike will soon get banned for our sins like Jesus? Cause I don't think I want the Religion of Mike to spread. It's too sane for me. Well, I do deal with lepers. I could mention the names of the people on this board who fit that description. -=Mike Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jobber of the Week 0 Report post Posted July 31, 2004 I'll always be baffled that Bush and Dole's heroism in World War II (that universally approved of war) was worth nothing, but Kerry's Vietnam experience (a war the Dems couldn't possibly dislike more) makes him the perfect candidate. -=Mike If Bob Dole ran for President during wartime, perhaps his service would have been more relevant. And thank you for rescuing me from that mine filled with the toxic gas. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted July 31, 2004 And thank you for rescuing me from that mine filled with the toxic gas. Mike was going in for a puppy that ran in. You just happened to be there as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ravenbomb 0 Report post Posted July 31, 2004 I didn't see anything in that video that tried to claim "Kerry won Vietnam" It was a nice video piece. To me, it was more harping on the fact that he was concerned with saving his fellow soldiers life. Of course it was fluff, what in the hell do you expect for them to show at the DNC? I liked the Daily Show video better Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MikeSC Report post Posted August 1, 2004 And thank you for rescuing me from that mine filled with the toxic gas. Mike was going in for a puppy that ran in. You just happened to be there as well. It was cloudy and I heard whimpering. Only when I got outside did I notice the difference. -=Mike Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Robfather 0 Report post Posted August 1, 2004 I thought service didn't matter ... at least that's what the Dems said when it was Slick Willie at the top of the ticket. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest BDC Report post Posted August 1, 2004 Back and forth. Service doesn't matter for Clinton, or Dole or Bush Sr, but it does for KERRY! Kerry seems to be the ultimate Dem, flipflopping like a real champ. Oh, and Mike shot the bear that was trying to chew my head off... that's why I only have one eye now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest thebigjig Report post Posted August 1, 2004 Back and forth. Service doesn't matter for Clinton, or Dole or Bush Sr, but it does for KERRY! Kerry seems to be the ultimate Dem, flipflopping like a real champ. Oh, and Mike shot the bear that was trying to chew my head off... that's why I only have one eye now. I've never said that it truly MATTERS to me whether Kerry served in Vietnam. I think it defines his character to a certain extent, and they're mainly using it as a counter maneuver to the Republicans calling him soft on defense and unpatriotic, but I definitly won't vote for him because he's a war hero Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jobber of the Week 0 Report post Posted August 1, 2004 Back and forth. Service doesn't matter for Clinton, or Dole or Bush Sr, but it does for KERRY! Kerry seems to be the ultimate Dem, flipflopping like a real champ. I'll just say it again. Dole's service didn't matter because we weren't at war with anybody. If he was running in today's climate things would be different. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest thebigjig Report post Posted August 1, 2004 Back and forth. Service doesn't matter for Clinton, or Dole or Bush Sr, but it does for KERRY! Kerry seems to be the ultimate Dem, flipflopping like a real champ. I'll just say it again. Dole's service didn't matter because we weren't at war with anybody. If he was running in today's climate things would be different. That and I don't really remember the Democrats questioning his patriotism... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest INXS Report post Posted August 3, 2004 The Dems are doing right to play up Kerry's amazing military career. Not only did he serve voluntarily and bravely going beyond the call of duty, he also had the character to QUESTION the war when he returned home. Kerry is an intelligent man who has seen the horrors of war. I think that America and the rest of the world would be a lot safer if Kerry made it into the WhiteHouse. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MikeSC Report post Posted August 3, 2004 The Dems are doing right to play up Kerry's amazing military career. Not only did he serve voluntarily and bravely going beyond the call of duty, he also had the character to QUESTION the war when he returned home. Kerry is an intelligent man who has seen the horrors of war. I think that America and the rest of the world would be a lot safer if Kerry made it into the WhiteHouse. "Amazing military career"? Umm, yeah. THAT'S an accurate description. "Bravely going beyond the call of duty"? Jesus Christ, are you Theresa? -=Mike Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted August 3, 2004 Kerry served in Vietnam? And thanks, Mike, for getting the cum out of my wang. You outta get a Purple Head for that alone... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest thebigjig Report post Posted August 3, 2004 The Dems are doing right to play up Kerry's amazing military career. Not only did he serve voluntarily and bravely going beyond the call of duty, he also had the character to QUESTION the war when he returned home. Kerry is an intelligent man who has seen the horrors of war. I think that America and the rest of the world would be a lot safer if Kerry made it into the WhiteHouse. "Amazing military career"? Umm, yeah. THAT'S an accurate description. "Bravely going beyond the call of duty"? Jesus Christ, are you Theresa? -=Mike Gotta love the sarcasm... coming from someone sitting behind a computer screen that will likely never amount to anything more than the gum on the bottom of my shoe... and yeah, there is gum on the bottom of my shoe goddamnit Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Wildbomb 4:20 Report post Posted August 3, 2004 kkk...bloody hell. And I'm not quite sure what gave me the idea, but I'm almost positive Kerry served in a place called Vietnam...sure seems to be important these days. For the record, Mike rescued me out of my car which was about to plunge over the edge of a bridge. He sure seems to be all over the place at the same time. --Ryan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
snuffbox 0 Report post Posted August 3, 2004 Mike fought in every great American battle from 1812 to Iraq... Listen to him kiddies, the man knows courage... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vyce 0 Report post Posted August 3, 2004 The Dems are doing right to play up Kerry's amazing military career. Not only did he serve voluntarily and bravely going beyond the call of duty, he also had the character to QUESTION the war when he returned home. Kerry is an intelligent man who has seen the horrors of war. I think that America and the rest of the world would be a lot safer if Kerry made it into the WhiteHouse. "Amazing military career"? Umm, yeah. THAT'S an accurate description. "Bravely going beyond the call of duty"? Wow. And to think, Mike, they call some of us Republicans "blind Homers" for following Bush. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Corey_Lazarus 0 Report post Posted August 3, 2004 Mike came to my aid when Goober and Jerry Nutzick, better known as the Marvelous Prostate Brothers, were beating me up. Luckily, I was able to reach into our corner and tag him in just in time, watching him clean house and then pin Goober while I distracted Jerry, winning us the True Hardcore Competition Tag Team titles. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
