Are there really two more months in this campaign? And will we really have to spend that time re-fighting the Vietnam war insted of other pressing issues, such as, oh, terrorism? Iraq? Anything? The Democratic party did indeed sell out by rejecting Dean or anyone else who really stood for a real platform. People have a right to vote for an alternative, even if that alternative loses. So, anti-war voters deserve a candidate to represent their views. The Dems instead chose someone who is both for and against the war. I think your prediction for the election is a likely outcome. Too bad it won't be the result of a true, honest, valid debate.

Too bad it won't be the result of a true, honest, valid debate.

What is there to debate? Maybe I'm not paying enough attention, but Kerry's campaign so far seems to be more of a collection of focus group images and buzz words than a vision of his proposed administration.

If he wants to lead the country shouldn't he be showing us a map of where he wants to go?

I always thought that Kerry was the weakest out of all the candidates. I just thought that he would get his game together better than this. This is one sad campaign. I read a comparison this morning between John Kerry and Maj Frank Burns from TV's M*A*S*H. I think that about covered actually.

I'm not a Democrat, but I have much more respect for Dean than I do Kerry. I could actually be convinced to vote for Dean but Kerry is everything I hate about politicians. Dean is a leader. I think Dean is doing a very smart job since the nomination, He's proven to be an active campaigner, and he's been a good soldier. After this election is over and the recriminations begin, Dean will be in a very powerful position, and good for him too.

This is the dumbest son of a bitch to be nominated since Dukakis.

And isn't that just the saddest thing? This is like one of those prize fights that are hyped for months only to have it end in 40 seconds in the first round after the first punch. Im not a Democrat, But I want a "do over". This isn't even a fair fight.

I disagree about Dean - he's a wacko who is not above groveling for the hate-America vote by screeching that Bush raised the alert level just to "scare" Americans and to draw attention away from the Democratic Convention. He is supremely irresponsible and opportunistic.

Oh, dear, dear. And you were doing so well!

Says a lot about Massachusetts doesn't it? Kerry, Dukakis and Teddy.....

I think the rank and file Democrats got the shaft. I wrote something about that, and add the link if you are interested. What concerns me is that it is a loss for the entire electoral system. The PARTY chose the nominee, not Democrats.

http://www.bunkermulligan.net/archives/cat_politics.html#001486

Why say that Kerry isn't an anti-war candidate? He surely was at one time or anothere, just as he is both pro- and anti-abortion, supports Second Amendment rights but is in favor of stricter gun control, wants to lower government's burden on Americans by raising taxes, and favors a strong foreign policy (to be reached by surrendering to al-Sadr, pulling out of Iraq, reducing funding to the armed forces, putting Jimmy Carter in charge of diplomacy, giving nuclear fuel to North Korea, and never never conducting military operations without the express approval of France and Kofi Annan). Face it, the man is a vermin... and the Democratic Party is a pack of lesser vermin for nominating him and for keeping him as a Senator for all these years.

There's a local talk show in Dallas with a parody song:

"They must be smoking Crack in Massachusetts"

Even though i knew what to expect coming from Instapundit that last sentence was absolutely hilarious. Good luck with that, it will be hard to impossible not to blog about John Kerry.

"Do you remember anyone in 1960 running on his war record against the Kaiser in WWI?"

Too funny!

Scrappleface has it right today with his usual dose of satire - http://www.scrappleface.com/MT/archives/001813.html

"Dean - he's a wacko who is not above groveling for the hate-America vote by screeching that Bush raised the alert level just to "scare" Americans and to draw attention away from the Democratic Convention. He is supremely irresponsible and opportunistic."

Yes, he is all of these things, but he is the candidate the Democrat rank and file wanted. At least with Dean and Bush we could have had an open debate between the pro and anti war factions. As things stand now, if Kerry loses, the Democrat base will think that the loss was because they sold out and went for the "electable" one.
During the primary in New Hampshire there was a house that had a giant Dean sign, it was enormous. They quietly took it down after Dean lost the primary and haven't replaced it with a Kerry sign. I think that pretty much says it all.

Dean is all of those things and more. But the one thing that Dean is that Kerry never will be, is a leader. Dean has the power to inspire people, which is a very powerful thing indeed.

I believe that Dean belives what Dean says, I dont believe Kerry is even aware of what he's saying most of the time.

I don't think Dean was the candidate the rank-and-file wanted. I think Dean was the candidate that the screechy anti-war 10% of the party wanted. That was born out plainly in the primaries where he lost his ground to Kerry immediatelly.

The rank-and-file wanted the devil they knew, which is so ironic in so many ways that i'll let someone who is better at writing take a stab at it :)

Bush is universally hated but he is leading in the polls???????

"I read a comparison this morning between John Kerry and Maj Frank Burns from TV's M*A*S*H."

Would that be the episode where Frank applies for a Purple Heart for getting a "shell fragment" in his eye ... and Hawkeye points out that it was an EGG shell from breakfast? That was the first thing that popped into my mind when all this hullabaloo started about whether Kerry deserved his medals ... and whether he was just trying to get as many as possible for an early exit.

Never mind. Just read the Instapundit link about this.

I work 2 blocks from the Fleet Center and the only political leftovers in the area that I've seen are two grafitties, 'F*** Kerry" and " kerry Lies ". I guess he left an impression.

Great blog. Sorry you're dropping out of the Kerry arena. He's provided us with some great theater. That was marvelous trotting out poor ole Cleland to demand Bush "step up to the plate." Come to think of it, Cleland looks like he's gained a bit of weight lately. Someone needs to tell him to step away from the plate.

I've said for months the election won't be close, contrary to the impression the media would like to give. We Americans, even hillbilly hicks such as I, aren't that stupid.

I hereby swear off blogging about John Kerry.

I'll believe it when I see it. Blogging about Kerry (or Bush for that matter) is like picking your nose. It's disgusting. It's unpleasant. It's unnecessary. It's very hard to stop once you've started.

I know it's popular to pretend actions that are aged shouldn't matter. We inherited that idea from the Clinton campaign. Bush (41) was just so unpopular, with his "No new taxes!"... well until the Dems really pushed him, that nobody could have lost to him, save for being caught with a live boy or dead girl. Wait, no, they practically caught Clinton with a live girl didn't they? Nevermind. Bush (41) was a terrible campaigner and not so great a presidential figure. And, Clinton was skilled - a great politician. So, now that we know why we overlooked Clinton's obvious personality flaws to avoid four more years of some old dude talking about some "juncture", let's get realistic again. Character matters one big chunk!

Kerry can't keep his lies straight. Cambodia was seared into his memory, only he wasn't there, or maybe he was on a different day or maybe? Then, he thew his medals over the White House fence, or were they the ribbons or perhaps they were somebody's WWII medals instead - who knows, the stories keep changing. Then he admits to war atrocities, only then he thinks maybe that was too strong language, but he stands behind his statements to the Senate where he says everyone all the way up the ranks approved of rape, torture, maiming, killing children, etc. And, that's what is so annoying to those who pay attention.

We knew Clinton lied all the time about all kinds of stuff. We assumed he stuck mostly to lying about his sex life, and hoped he'd be selfish enough to do a half decent job as president just so he'd look good. Some of us believed his sincere lip biting empathy was legitimate, and thought he'd do his best cause he really cared. We all knew he was smart and had the ability to do a decent job as president. And, he didn't do that badly once you forgive him for blowing it on terror and the military. But, Kerry is running on the "Bush is a liar and stuff" campaign mantra. That's not going to fly when you get caught daily in your own fibs. Worse, nobody really believes he can relate to us. Unlike Clinton, who was likewise caught fibbing a lot, Kerry can't give us those puppy-dog eyes and bite his lip cause he really cares. Why? Cause he can't! He can't even fake empathy. It's JFK: Just for Kerry!

This Vietnam thing isn't just ancient history. He accused soldiers and generals of war crimes! His whole political career is based on his bravery in combat and then his heroic part in ending the Vietnam war. In his acceptance speech at his convention, he said he defended America during Vietnam and he'll do it as president. How? Will he protect America by ending the Iraq war the way he helped end Vietnam? Isn't that the part he's so proud of? He visited with the North Viet Cong to encourage them in their peaceful resolution of the conflict WHILE OUR SOLDIERS WERE STILL IN SOUTH VIETNAM (read: win by America's withdrawal) and he continues to align himself with people that don't particularly like America, reaching out to the Mullahs in Iran and European "allies" that slandered the Bush administration while protecting financial windfalls in Iraq's previously corrupt and wicked regime. What Kerry did and what he said after he came back from Vietnam is substantive, even if it does bore everyone under 35.

So, I have to say that the way he's handling this SwiftVets thing is a great test of his character. It's a good example of how he'd lead. We have a president accused by world leaders of being worse than Hitler. He's been maligned by more slanderous communications than any president in recent history - largely from his own people. Michael Moore made an entire movie accusing him of being a lying murderer. And, he's mostly stayed the course and avoided ad hominem attacks on his enemies, even the French. Kerry has completely flipped out over a hand full of ads that most Americans would've never heard about had he not so badly reacted to them.

Beloml,

Thanks for the link to scrappleface. It is clear after reading that post that this has really been a one man race all along. The Dems could have run a collection of lepperchauns in a latex suit called Punky Brewster and gotten the same poll numbers as they have for the Easter Island head they nominated.

BRAVO. That's some great writing, Frank! Well said.

But now you need to repeat it DAILY! :-)

35 years ago! For gods sake man! Did it occur to you that 35 years was a hell of a long time ago? Do you remember anyone in 1960 running on his war record against the Kaiser in WWI?

Uh, dude, in 1925 WWI had been over for seven years. In 1925 the Kaiser was puttering around his garden in (click, clickety) Doorn, Holland.

I liked the Maj. Burns/Captain Pierce on Hardball parody this morning, but I actually think the character who best personifies Kerry is Col. Flagg, the insane CIA operative who would drop in from time to time.

"Easter Island head" LOVE IT!

Freaking hilarious post. Nice work Verifrank.

This is why I thought you ought to get a blog of your own. Excellent stuff. Put some of my own thoughts into words so I don't have to.

The Dems nominated him because they thought the voters would be impressed by his uniform. That is why Clark was in the race as well. They really think we are stupid and won't vote for a man based on his character, and his principles. Oh look, shiny medals. (Which either were, or were not thrown over the fence)

But the fact this anti-war candidate was running as a war hero of an "immoral war" is maddeningly dissonant. Its got too much of a "We're at war with Eastasia. We've always been at war with Eastasia." kind of vibe to it that really creeps me out.

...bringing his B game to an A game park.

I love that. So true, so true.

Nice post. One quibble. "Do you hold myself and the rest of the American public in such contempt ..." As grammarian Patricia O'Connor said, "In the contest between 'I' and 'me,' the booby prize often goes to 'myself.'" Should have been "Do you hold me and the rest of the American ..."

I've said it before and I'll say it AGAIN. Kerry is NOT the candidate selected to win, he's the one the Dems High Command want to LOSE so that they can (a) run Hilary in 2008 and (b) spend the next four years undermining democracy with their shrill lies about the last two elections were stolen etc etc. As a wee British chap often says - 'I have a cunning plan'......and it goes so well with the flipflop. I want to win but I'll lose so that's OK because I meant to lose even if I don't win. In fact if I win my own party will probably hire a runaway horse or fix my bike so that the way is clear for Hilary and Bill in 2008. Better hope you DO lose Johnnie boy!

"If you can't take a punch from a guy like Bush, how are you going to deal with Chirac? or the Iranians? or for that matter, all the other Republicans in Congress, who want nothing more in life than to be the one who spills your guts out on the floor."

Excellent summation.

During the Democratic primaries, I recall someone predicting that the Clintons would make certain that the Democratic candidate, whoever it might be, would be a loser, giving Hillary her big opportunity in 2008.

I don't know whether Bill and Hill had any hand in the Kerry selection or in advising him on how to run his campaign, but things are sure working in their favor.

During the Democratic primaries, I recall someone predicting that the Clintons would make certain that the Democratic candidate, whoever it might be, would be a loser, giving Hillary her big opportunity in 2008.

I don't know whether Bill and Hill had any hand in the Kerry selection or in advising him on how to run his campaign, but things are sure working in their favor.

As far as I'm concerned Sen. Kerry has no decorations, medals, or ribbons. He gave them back, remember. Who re-issued them back to him? - GN

Brilliant post!

And "Libertarian" is absolutely right; didn't anybody vet this guy?

Why aren't more Democrats outraged? They've been effectively disenfranchised by their own party!

Instalanche!

35 years ago! For gods sake man! Did it occur to you that 35 years was a hell of a long time ago? Do you remember anyone in 1960 running on his war record against the Kaiser in WWI?

Uh, dude, in 1925 WWI had been over for seven years. In 1925 the Kaiser was puttering around his garden in (click, clickety) Doorn, Holland.

Yes, and Harry Truman was a WWI vet in 1948. It did come up, but Harry was tough. Ask Japan.

Does anyone know of a source that would confirm the supposition that the "enemy fire" Rassman heard was actually 50 Cal fire from John Kerry's boat, responding to an assumed ambush triggered by explosion of a mine hit by the 3 boat. If I were in that position having 1.heard a mine explode, 2. fallen off the boat when the commander executed an evasive move to avoid the ambush, surfaced to the sound of 50 caliber rounds whistling through the air, I might well have dived for the bottom assuming enemy fire was the cause of all the racket. This scenario would easily explain the Rassman account of the episode, his conviction that his life was in great peril, and his honest gratitude that his life had been "saved" by JK.

Harder for me to understand is why we have heard nothing about damage reports for the boat and the participants. It seems to we that with heavy hostile fire from both shores certainly someone among the enemy would have hit the boat if not Rassman or Kerry. I was in the army, not the navy, but the rules cannot be that different. If your boat is damaged, do you not file a report and get the holes patched? That damage report should put the entire matter to rest. Would someone please help me through this dilemma? fred allen

?

Gee, no comments from the trolls? You think maybe they finally "get it" and recognize they've been screwed?

Too funny about JF'nK and too funny for the usual suspects!

I don't buy any of these theories of the DNC running a loser (Kerry) against Bush so they can run with a winner (Hillary) later. I think both parties always run as flat out as hard as they can, because sh** happens. They know that incumbents have a big advantage and that incumbents can arrange the deck chairs to fortify their positions. Do you really think the DNC would give this admin a bye so they can potentially make 2-3 SCOTUS appointments?

Isn't Kerry's campaign being run by the Clinton crowd...? HHHhhmmm...how can lose while appearing to be trying to win........

The essence of a military award is the originating order, which becomes a permanent part of the servicemember's military record. The citation (certificate for framing on the wall), as well as the actual medal and ribbon, are only symbolic of these orders. So a veteran keeps his awards regardless of whether he sells the medals, throws them away, renounces them publicly etc.

I believe there may be DoD regulatory procedures for a board to convene and formally revoke such awards, but whether this has ever occurred in post-WWII history I couldn't say. I don't even know if it happens automatically for members who commit capital crimes and are incarcerated.

As far as I'm concerned, it should happen automatically for people who do what Kerry and his fellow medal-throwers did. But in view of the probable political fallout, the DoD of all administrations probably finds it convenient to let this sleeping dog lie, slumbering deep somewhere in the regulatory process.

Let's face it folks, Kerry is NOT supposed to win this election! Bill and Hillary are planning her run for 2008, and the purpose of all the Bush/Republican bashing is to give her a better edge against her future opponent! It's so obvious... why else would they have nominated Kerry? He is a huge joke! (I should know, I live in fabulous Tax-achusetts!)

'Blue Falcon' Kerry learning not to bring a croissant to a knife fight. For explaination of the term Blue Falcon, just follow the link.

Blue Falcon: a version of the military acronym BF which stands for Buddy F*&%er. That is what someone who behaves in a manner which elevates his personal needs or desires above those of the unit to which he belongs. i.e. John Kerry. Let me let you in on a little secret. Not everyone in the military is a selfless, heroic, patriot. No matter where you go or what you do, you will always run into that 10% of people that are completely self absorbed idiots. This is just as true in the SEAL Teams as it is at your workplace. People squeak by, they finagle, they schmooze their way into a position of responsibility or trust that they do not deserve. Or they may go into a situation with good intentions, but when the heat is on they just can take it. Either way the results are the same, somebody else has to pick up slack because Mr. 10% is not shouldering the load. Usually the ones with good intentions realize that they are not cut out and remove themselves from the herd, but the other ones, the schemers will milk the system for all its worth and get away clean with a legitimate resume bullet that the average Joe could never dispute.

There's more. Good stuff.

are there any blogs that DONT talk about politics?
i am bored with long winded lawyers who can string 20 thesaurusized words together in a sentence..

Your diatribe is hilarious. I keep forgetting that all right wing humor is unintentional. Its a good thing that you are only preaching to the chorus.

Please...as if you ever really supported him. And now we're supposed to care that you're not backing him?

ALERT!! Rush Limbaugh is also predicting a Kerry loss!!!! Stop the presses!

I dont think I ever said I did support him once but have changed my mind, I just expected a better fight out of him than this. I like close elections, I like a good argument, a well played fight. In my opinion, your adversaries make you better. If the republicans are left with as much power as the Democrats have had for the past 60 years,they will eventually become as corrupt as the Democrats. It's just natural. I count on the opposition party to keep us honest. Democrats are not my enemy, tyranny is.

My disappointment with Kerry is the same as those who pay big money to watch a prize fight thats over in the first round.

We need two parties. We need both parties to do their job. The Democrat party is taking a dive, and as a Republican I can say I'm sincerely disappointed.

It would be such a shame to never blog about Kerry again. Reading some of the comments, I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard.

Btw:
I'm from MA (Kerry's state) and it *is* true that Kerry has never been in as much of a political fight as he is now. He's only had a couple of *real* challengers that I can think of.

If Kerry were to become our president he'd be eaten alive by those out to get him and the US. For the term of Kerry's presidency (there would be only ONE term), we'd essentially have no presidential leadership. All the opposition would immobilize him.

Actually, I really love the idea of John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon debating the Kaiser, the Kellogg-Briand Pact, and the Zimmerman Telegram in 1960. The reality is here were two guys whose service had been just 15 years before, and the guy they were running as the successor to/against the legacy of was the Supreme Allied Commander in that war 15 years earlier, and probably WWII never came up at all in their speeches. Obviously Kennedy traded on his whole PT 109 thing, but it was background, image-boosting stuff for the PR guys to play with, not something for the candidate to base every speech he made on.

Varifrank: Please don't quit your blog just yet - your Farewell JF'nK piece is brilliant and a much needed break from all the hyper-serious nail-biting of late. Great writing - hang in there, we're counting on your talents!!
As much as we know our country needs a serious debate - the reality is, that such is apparently not in the cards, at least not this go-round!

Wow!!! If only the rest of the country will see things the way you can describe, then everything will be better. You have a great blog!! I hope stupid celebrities supporting Kerry will shut up and do their jobs and shut their mouths and their own political philosophies. I hope they can read your post. Maybe this time around will get to see Alec Baldwin moving to Canada as he promised last election.

It his hard to believe no one has taken him out. If he had been one of my Marines I would have felt morally obligated to put him down before now.

Ah, but you are missing the fact that Kerry was "Short" the day he stepped into Vietnam.

New to the blogosphere but rapidly becoming addicted. Loved your Farewell to Kerry piece, LOL most of last night at some of the lines. Please, please don't stop writing about Kerry, if only for our comic relief.

John Kerry is a Joke! I was raised a Democrat, but as a 24Year Air Force, Vietnam/Veteran I could never in my heart of hearts find it in me to forgive or forget John Kerrys, and Jane Fondas actions. I dont know if I will ever be able to vote Democratic again after the likes of Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and the Wicked Witch of the East, Hillary. Whats that old Adage, YOU CAN FOOL SOME OF THE PEOPLE , SOME OF THE TIME, BUT NOT ALL OF THE PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME! KEEP BLOGGING! DG.

My prediction: Bush won't even get 200 electoral votes and you'll be eating this shit-burger for months. 40 states? LMAO

"We Americans, even hillbilly hicks such as I, aren't that stupid."

The fact that George W. Bush is actually running even against Kerry disproves this statement.

Here you are, with a 15% polling tailwind from the press reduced to Michael Moore street theatre with Max Cleland doing your dirty work in front of the cameras.

Gem of a line.

I don't understand why people keep saying that Kerry is running on his war record. It's the swiftboat liars that pulled this stuff into the spotlight. This is another example of a Carl Rove masterpiece manipulation. Bush's people had to know that as a rich kid who's daddy kept him out of harm's way in the military he could not stand against someone that actually saw combat in the eyes of the nascar dads. Where do they attack Kerry? On his war record. Just make up some lies and get people talking about them until the whole thing is a sore spot to everyone. What has Bush done right? Lie, lie, and vacation. Anytime anyone calls him on it they are labeled a traitor. I really suggest you people read something sometime and turn away from Fox News. Do you really believe we are better off now than 4 years ago? The economy is crap, we're in a war with people that never attacked us defending (read torturing) people that don't want us there, the rest of the world hates us and thinks our leader is an idiot.

Chalabi! Plame! Chalabi! Plame!

You guys are going to look silly when Bush loses.

Kerry is a loser for going to fight that war. He should have ducked out like Bush and Cheney. Now there's a couple of real men.

OMG! What a pimp-slapping! You've called this prick the only L-word worse than liberal. That was so darn funny I might just have to drink a beer.

Did you know it's not too late for Senator John Edwards to become the Democratic candidate for President? If it happened in Jersey do you think it can't happen here? You are all such suckers.

In November, four years of wandering in the darkness will come to an end. No amount of ignorant ranting will change the fact that the American people have woken up to the fact that the robber-baron's have been stealing their birthright. Go JOHN!

There are billionaires supporting both major party candidates. How ignorant do you have to be to not see that?

John Edwards going in front of Kerry in the race? And ones not believing that are the suckers? If only those on medication are supporting Kerry we can't lose, they will most likely forget what they are doing at the polls come November.
Bush 2004

I'm not sure about your ultimate prediction about the election (hope rears its ugly head)! But Kerry sure is a weak-ass pussy. I don't know if he or Shrum or any other moron in his campaign is really responsible for their media strategy. If they think they're roping a dope and that this strategy is going to work,they are sadly mistaken. Moreover, who would want to vote for someone who thinks that he can just let Bush dominate the discourse while hoping he somehow implodes?

I DONT KNOW ABOUT ANYBODY ELSE BUT AS FOR ME, THE FACT THAT BUSH PUTS GOD FIRST IN ALL HE DOES AND PRAYS FIRST, IS A MAN WE NEED TO RUN THIS COUNTRY. IF WE GO BACK TO THE FIRST PRESIDENT. HE STATES THAT THIS COUNTRY CANNOT MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT THE GUIDANCE OF GOD AND HIS WORD,THE BIBLE. JOHN KERRY HAS NO IDEA HOW TO RUN THIS COUNTRY, BUSH HAS INSTRUCTIONS. (BIBLE)
BASIC
INSTRUCTIONS
BEFORE
LEAVING
EARTH

A man who truly believes in God doesn't lie and cheat to anyone and wouldn't have such questionable connections and methods of getting what he wants - after all God knows everything going on doesn't he. Do you think Bush really fools Him. Not on your life.

Bush is not the only man with so-called religious conviction in your government

For "God's" sake wake up !

Actually, Bush did not lie as the dumicrates like to put it. What were we to do, wait for another attack? God knows Bush's heart and thats that. Maybe Kerry work on not changing his mind on everything he "says" he is for, and trying not to get everyone to like him. Kerry has already messed up though and he is doing everything in his power to make himself look good. By the way I decided that Im going to vote for John Kerry before I decide to vote against him.

All of you Bush-lovers need to get a clue. It blows my mind to see what some of you people say. You are so ignorant. Do you realize that the only thing any of you can say about Kerry is that he "flip-flops"?. At least Kerry can admit he can make mistakes. Bush has his head so far up his own ass he cant put his pathetic pride aside an admit to any mistakes he has made, and there are a lot of them. I cant even look at him anymore. The man has no integrity. And those of you who vote for that pathetic piece of shit are worse than him. I feel sorry for all of you. I will especially when you are all squatted down in the corner of your rooms crying histerically after Kerry wins this election and dominates all. I can hardly wait, because he will win. Ohh, are you big bad republicans scared? Awwww. WELL YOU SHOULD BE!!! So screw all of you corporate pussies, and get ready for the next democratic president. So stop all of your Kerry trash talk. You know there's nothing to say. I love how you all try so hard to find stuff on him. It's hilarious. And its always the same thing over and over. Funny how that is. And most of you dont watch the news, well by that i mean anything but fox news. Do yourselves a favor and watch cnn for a change, and find out what's really going on in the real world. kerry 2004!!!!!