Letter to John Kerry-8/25/2004

[bronco militia]

Letter to John Kerry

August 25, 2004

Senator John Kerry
304 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Kerry,

We are pleased to welcome your campaign representatives to Texas today. We honor all our veterans, all whom have worn the uniform and served our country. We also honor the military and National Guard troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan today. We are very proud of all of them and believe they deserve our full support.

That’s why so many veterans are troubled by your vote AGAINST funding for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, after you voted FOR sending them into battle. And that’s why we are so concerned about the comments you made AFTER you came home from Vietnam. You accused your fellow veterans of terrible atrocities – and, to this day, you have never apologized. Even last night, you claimed to be proud of your post-war condemnation of our actions.

We’re proud of our service in Vietnam. We served honorably in Vietnam and we were deeply hurt and offended by your comments when you came home.

You can’t have it both ways. You can’t build your convention and much of your campaign around your service in Vietnam, and then try to say that only those veterans who agree with you have a right to speak up. There is no double standard for our right to free speech. We all earned it.

You said in 1992 “we do not need to divide America over who served and how.” Yet you and your surrogates continue to criticize President Bush for his service as a fighter pilot in the National Guard.

We are veterans too – and proud to support President Bush. He’s been a strong leader, with a record of outstanding support for our veterans and for our troops in combat. He’s made sure that our troops in combat have the equipment and support they need to accomplish their mission.

He has increased the VA health care budget more than 40% since 2001 – in fact, during his four years in office, President Bush has increased veterans funding twice as much as the previous administration did in eight years ($22 billion over 4 years compared to $10 billion over 8.) And he’s praised the service of all who served our country, including your service in Vietnam.

We urge you to condemn the double standard that you and your campaign have enforced regarding a veteran’s right to openly express their feelings about your activities on return from Vietnam.

Sincerely,

Texas State Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson
Rep. Duke Cunningham
Rep. Duncan Hunter
Rep. Sam Johnson
Lt. General David Palmer
Robert O'Malley, Medal of Honor Recipient
James Fleming, Medal of Honor Recipient
Lieutenant Colonel Richard Castle (Ret.)
http://georgewbush.com/KerryMediaCenter/Read.aspx?ID=3364

[Rascal]

Ah!!

That is funny.

Watch them spin, backpeddle, spin, backpeddle, spin. If it was an olympic event the dems would get gold every damn time.

[bronco militia]

Ah!!

That is funny.

Watch them spin, backpeddle, spin, backpeddle, spin. If it was an olympic event the dems would get gold every damn time.

how long will the Kerry campaign continue to bitch and moan about this non-issue?

[Rascal]

probably till the election.

If they want it to truly stop, all they have to do is to stop their own BS.

Pretty simple. Even to a sock puppet.

[Rohirrim]

Now that it's exploding in Bush's face, I imagine they'll keep it going for awhile.

It's ironic. Bush gets wounded by the hand grenade he threw. Maybe he can put in for a Purple Heart.

I'm sure that when Kerry was earning his medals, Bush was earning awards for his bong handling.

[bronco militia]

Now that it's exploding in Bush's face, I imagine they'll keep it going for awhile.

It's ironic. Bush gets wounded by the hand grenade he threw. Maybe he can put in for a Purple Heart.

I'm sure that when Kerry was earning his medals, Bush was earning awards for his bong handling.

what makes you think it's exploding in Bush's face? Bush's lead lawyer being in cahoots with the swifties?

IMO, I don't think any of us really give a crap if Kerry or Bush are involved with the 527's.

campaign finance reform my ass...

[OrangeDoofus]

Wow. A triple-amputee war veteran shows up to deliver a letter to Bush, and he won't even come out to accept it personally?

Bush is his own worst enemy.

[Rascal]

Who said Bush was there?

[Mile High Shack]

Now that it's exploding in Bush's face, I imagine they'll keep it going for awhile.

It's ironic. Bush gets wounded by the hand grenade he threw. Maybe he can put in for a Purple Heart.

I'm sure that when Kerry was earning his medals, Bush was earning awards for his bong handling.

you heard that joke last night on MSNBC I believe.....get some new material ;)

If Kerry didn't make his sole reason to elect him the 4 mnths he served in 'Nam, this would've never been an issue.

[Rohirrim]

you heard that joke last night on MSNBC I believe.....get some new material ;)

If Kerry didn't make his sole reason to elect him the 4 mnths he served in 'Nam, this would've never been an issue.

No. They're stealing my material. I agree the Dems went overboard on the Vietnam service thing. Now that Kerry won't come out against the Iraq BS, I'm back to the old situation of voting for the better of two evils. But the gap between Kerry and Bush on that score is so huge, I don't even have to think about it.

As far as the Bush presidency goes, I've never seen so many monumental blunders in my life - and still, nobody has been fired, except the people who voiced disagreement with Bush, or his policies. Now that Cheney has come out against the amendment against gay marriage, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Bush dump him too. The guy just can't stand it when people disagree with him. Maybe he has some kind of "Messiah" complex?

[Garcia Bronco]

You guys realize Kerry has a zero percent chance to win this race. Bottom line....the guy wants the UN to run this country and dictate our policy. He wants to take your money and give it to other people that didn't earn it. His party's philosophy is that government should be in the business of solving your problems outside of the realm of defense and security. An impossible task that creates more harm than good, IMO. His party is in the business of racism and sexism by promoting affirmative action. I'm no fan of George Bush, but at least his views about how this country should be run are closer to mine than that of John Kerry.

[Rohirrim]

You guys realize Kerry has a zero percent chance to win this race. Bottom line....the guy wants the UN to run this country and dictate our policy. He wants to take your money and give it to other people that didn't earn it. His party's philosophy is that government should be in the business of solving your problems outside of the realm of defense and security. An impossible task that creates more harm than good, IMO. His party is in the business of racism and sexism by promoting affirmative action. I'm no fan of George Bush, but at least his views about how this country should be run are closer to mine than that of John Kerry.

Shows what you know. No incumbent has ever been re-elected with numbers this low at this point in the campaign. Normally, an incumbent will go into September with a two digit lead - the norm is 19 to 21%. Bush is dead-even with Kerry. Most pollsters agree that the number one indicator for how an incumbent is doing is the results from this question: "Do you agree with the direction the country is going in?" Bush's numbers on this one are 37%. No incumbent has been re-elected with a number in this category less than 52%.

What a load of tripe. Kerry wants as much UN involvement in U.S. affairs as Truman, Eisenhower, JFK, Johnson, Nixon, Ford or any other modern president ever wanted. This is the same old scare tactics tripe we hear from the right every day: "They'll sell us out to the UN! A global government! They'll take away our guns! They'll destroy our defense! They'll fill the gummint with coloreds!" This tactic actually works - in trailer parks all across the country.

[Mile High Shack]

all I know is, if Kerry does get elected, which it's going to come down to Ohio and Florida basically.......

then no one who griped about Bush EVER should gripe then about the president....you reap what you sow and whatever windfall comes from his possible election....then you get what you deserve.

Kerry isn't going to bring the same "prosperity" that came during the Clinton years...I think most people want that...but sorry that just isn't going to happen anymore post 9-11. We have real enemies that we need to attack head on and not sit back and react after the fact.

Our economy is always going to be precarious from now on due to terroism, Kerry won't change that and he can't stop it, in fact I fear he may aid in it by being passive towards them and only reactive not proactive.

[rosco]

You guys realize Kerry has a zero percent chance to win this race. Bottom line....the guy wants the UN to run this country and dictate our policy. He wants to take your money and give it to other people that didn't earn it. His party's philosophy is that government should be in the business of solving your problems outside of the realm of defense and security. An impossible task that creates more harm than good, IMO. His party is in the business of racism and sexism by promoting affirmative action. I'm no fan of George Bush, but at least his views about how this country should be run are closer to mine than that of John Kerry.
1. Racism & sexism were & still are the mantle of the republican party. Strom Thurman & Trent Lott are two good examples.
2. Anybody with any bit intelligence Knows that " the UN will run this country if Kerry is elected" is hogwash.
3. In regards to Defense & Security,Unlike bush who's a 1 trick pony, the Democratic party can actually solve that problem as well as others.
4. Your grasping at straws if you actually believe John Kerry has zero chance of winning.

[Garcia Bronco]

Shows what you know. No incumbent has ever been re-elected with numbers this low at this point in the campaign. Normally, an incumbent will go into September with a two digit lead - the norm is 19 to 21%. Bush is dead-even with Kerry. Most pollsters agree that the number one indicator for how an incumbent is doing is the results from this question: "Do you agree with the direction the country is going in?" Bush's numbers on this one are 37%. No incumbent has been re-elected with a number in this category less than 52%.

What a load of tripe. Kerry wants as much UN involvement in U.S. affairs as Truman, Eisenhower, JFK, Johnson, Nixon, Ford or any other modern president ever wanted. This is the same old scare tactics tripe we hear from the right every day: "They'll sell us out to the UN! A global government! They'll take away our guns! They'll destroy our defense! They'll fill the gummint with coloreds!" This tactic actually works - in trailer parks all across the country.

You're not going to start quoting Gandalf again are you? Cause we all understand that you live on middle earth. You know....fantasy land. Kerry absolutely wants the UN involved in the decision making processes of our foreign policy. He's said so himself when commenting on Iraq. Our government's institutions are already filled with a multitude of different types of people....so your "coloreds" comment is complete crap. As far as pollsters are concerned....I don't put much faith in that either..because the bottom line is we don't see the raw data....the results you see can be skewed to fit a desired end. Anyone who' taken a research methods class knows that. I also noticed you didn't comment on one of the biggest pints of all....the democrat tendency to take my cash that I earn and give it away to government programs that waste it. How can you, Rohirrim, possibly support such a notion?

[Rohirrim]

all I know is, if Kerry does get elected, which it's going to come down to Ohio and Florida basically.......

then no one who griped about Bush EVER should gripe then about the president....you reap what you sow and whatever windfall comes from his possible election....then you get what you deserve.

Kerry isn't going to bring the same "prosperity" that came during the Clinton years...I think most people want that...but sorry that just isn't going to happen anymore post 9-11. We have real enemies that we need to attack head on and not sit back and react after the fact.

Our economy is always going to be precarious from now on due to terroism, Kerry won't change that and he can't stop it, in fact I fear he may aid in it by being passive towards them and only reactive not proactive.

Personally, I don't think terrorism is that big a deal - especially not to change the Bill of Rights over. The Cold War was about a million times more dangerous to the U.S. than terrorism will ever be. We actually had an enemy who could destroy us - literally - and an enemy who's intelligence capacities were about a zillion times more advanced than anything OBL can ever dream of. We defeated that enemy without altering our freedoms. In fact, we enhanced our freedoms and spread them throughout the world - through peaceful means, which in many ways aided us in defeating that enemy. Basically, people looked at how we lived and then at how Soviets lived - pretty easy sale. We could try that in the Muslim world too. This is another reason I despise Bush. Instead of leadership, he spreads fear - a fear that does not match the threat.

I agree about the economics though. We're in for a tough haul, no matter who gets elected. I was listening to T. Boone Pickens on the radio yesterday (the guy's been an oilman for about 60 years) and he said that he believed production has pretty much topped out now, while the demand continues to rise. Even he said tapping ANWR would barely cause a burp to the demand side. Our trade deficit is screwing us every day, and the fed deficit isn't doing us any favors either. One of the key elements of our future will be a an emergency plan to create, and shift over to new energy sources - somewhat on the order of when JFK pushed us to the moon. IMO, it's a national imperative right now. The chances of this kind of policy being implemented by a bunch of oilmen is less than zero.

[Garcia Bronco]

1. Racism & sexism were & still are the mantle of the republican party. Strom Thurman & Trent Lott are two good examples.
2. Anybody with any bit intelligence Knows that " the UN will run this country if Kerry is elected" is hogwash.
3. In regards to Defense & Security,Unlike bush who's a 1 trick pony, the Democratic party can actually solve that problem as well as others.
4. Your grasping at straws if you actually believe John Kerry has zero chance of winning.

1....so your counter point to a flawed sytem supported by a party(Democrats) that promotes racism and sexism is a dead guy and one congressmen....good one.

2....I never said the UN would run this country....what I said is the John Kerry supports the notion that the UN should be involved in dictating our foreign policy. Think about it....what is the other type of policy that's out there in the same subset. Exactly...that would be domestic policy. Do you think congress would allow the UN to run that?...I don't think so. So the run the country comment is just about foolish.

3 There is no solving this problem. It's not in a math book....or a discrete puzzle. No my friend this will take constant vigilance. There is no end to it. It's not like changing a tire...and if you think that Kerry will some how make it different than you really need to get a grip on the situation in your mind.

4 Of course he doesn't in reality have a zero chance. I or you would have a zero chance. But you'll see come election time..

[Mile High Shack]

nor will it be implemented by Kerry either........

Kerry isn't that stupid, he knows how important oil is to our economy....it's a vital cog and you can't just put those people out of work.

it is probably going to be a slow, gradual process getting off the oil teet, something along the lines of 100 years or so. Something that is so intertwined within our economy is going to be hard to force out without some major problems.

[Garcia Bronco]

nor will it be implemented by Kerry either........

Kerry isn't that stupid, he knows how important oil is to our economy....it's a vital cog and you can't just put those people out of work.

it is probably going to be a slow, gradual process getting off the oil teet, something along the lines of 100 years or so. Something that is so intertwined within our economy is going to be hard to force out without some major problems.

Exactly...say hello to the new boss...same as the old boss.

[freak6]

Bush blew it, he did nothing to try and stop 9/11 when he was warned over, and over, and over, and over again.

[Rohirrim]

nor will it be implemented by Kerry either........

Kerry isn't that stupid, he knows how important oil is to our economy....it's a vital cog and you can't just put those people out of work.

it is probably going to be a slow, gradual process getting off the oil teet, something along the lines of 100 years or so. Something that is so intertwined within our economy is going to be hard to force out without some major problems.

IMO, we don't have time for a slow, gradual process. It's not a matter of putting a few people in one industry out of work - it's the fact that if we're not prepared for the energy shift - everybody is going to be out of work, no matter what industry they're in. There are plenty of people in the industry who say we don't have 100 years to think about it. To me, this is a national emergency more important than terrorism, missile defense, global warming, etc.

There was one respected industry prognosticator on the radio yesterday who predicted that demand will outstrip supply next year - and said he wouldn't be surprised at all to see gas at $7.00 a gallon within five years. We all know the resource is limited. We'll still be arguing about when we're going to run out when we actually run out. What I worry about is that if we just do nothing, and wait for the inevitable, we'll end up engaged in actual wars for oil - and that will make WWI look like a slap fight.

It reminds me of some fat guy sitting on his couch watching his TV, day in, day out. His doctor says, "If you don't get off your ass, your going to die." The guy keeps saying, "Yeah, I know. I know. Quit bugging me." Then, one day, the heart attack hits him. He screams, "Save me, Doc. Save me." And the Doc says, "Too late. You should have done something about this years ago."

[OrangeDoofus]

Who said Bush was there?

It was delivered to his ranch in Crawford, where he's on vacation.

[Cito Pelon]

The UN has to be USED to further our ends. They can't be ignored. I'm looking for LEADERSHIP, real LEADERSHIP, not just leaning on a podium and making speeches, but actually gathering people together and MAKING a consensus.

Everybody knows that radical Islam is a danger to world order, and nobody wants them having a say in the world political order. IMO, what GWB has done is made the rest of the world political order think that the US is as much or more of a potential disruption to world stability than radical Islam is, or can be.

That is a fact that has to be dealt with if we want peace and prosperity. It's time for American leadership to shut up the belligerent rhetoric and be cooperative. That's the best way to actually win.

Rohiirim I believe said te Bush admin has made more blunders than is believable, and I'm sorry, GWB fans, but that is true. I wish him all the luck and success in the world if he gets reeelected, but he has to start playing smart. He has all the leadership ability you can wish for, but the advice he's getting basically sucks, and so his decisions basically suck also.

GWB is dependent on his advisors in order for him to make good decisions. He's a decisive, strong leader, but his team of advisors are not good for America.

With his leadership ability, the sky's the limit, but he's been getting some really, really bad advice. And this plan to rejuvenate the US economy by concentrating wealth in just a few hands is so incredibly ridiculous, I'm continually flabbergasted by how people actually buy into it. For 400 years the direction has been totally opposite to that, and we've done well, but now people actually buy into turning 180 degrees? Unbelievable.

[Cito Pelon]

BTW, your open letter from Texas was signed by two reps from California - Randy Cunningham and Duncan Hunter. Both from San Diego, I believe.

[RaiderH8r]

Now that it's exploding in Bush's face, I imagine they'll keep it going for awhile.

It's ironic. Bush gets wounded by the hand grenade he threw. Maybe he can put in for a Purple Heart.

I'm sure that when Kerry was earning his medals, Bush was earning awards for his bong handling.
He didn't inhale either.

[Cito Pelon]

IMO, we don't have time for a slow, gradual process. It's not a matter of putting a few people in one industry out of work - it's the fact that if we're not prepared for the energy shift - everybody is going to be out of work, no matter what industry they're in. There are plenty of people in the industry who say we don't have 100 years to think about it. To me, this is a national emergency more important than terrorism, missile defense, global warming, etc.


A lot of positive things will start to fall into place when we get that oil-monkey off of our back.

[Cito Pelon]

Personally, I don't think terrorism is that big a deal - especially not to change the Bill of Rights over. The Cold War was about a million times more dangerous to the U.S. than terrorism will ever be. We actually had an enemy who could destroy us - literally - and an enemy who's intelligence capacities were about a zillion times more advanced than anything OBL can ever dream of. We defeated that enemy without altering our freedoms. In fact, we enhanced our freedoms and spread them throughout the world - through peaceful means, which in many ways aided us in defeating that enemy. Basically, people looked at how we lived and then at how Soviets lived - pretty easy sale. We could try that in the Muslim world too. This is another reason I despise Bush. Instead of leadership, he spreads fear - a fear that does not match the threat.

I agree about the economics though. We're in for a tough haul, no matter who gets elected. I was listening to T. Boone Pickens on the radio yesterday (the guy's been an oilman for about 60 years) and he said that he believed production has pretty much topped out now, while the demand continues to rise. Even he said tapping ANWR would barely cause a burp to the demand side. Our trade deficit is screwing us every day, and the fed deficit isn't doing us any favors either. One of the key elements of our future will be a an emergency plan to create, and shift over to new energy sources - somewhat on the order of when JFK pushed us to the moon. IMO, it's a national imperative right now. The chances of this kind of policy being implemented by a bunch of oilmen is less than zero.

Good common-sense post. Radical Islam is something no country in the world wants. Just look at the Iraqis in Najaf. They want Moqtada Al-Sadr to disappear as much as anybody. Dropping 500-lb bombs on Najaf to get rid of the Mahdi militia isn't the best strategy, I'm sorry. It's the easiest strategy, but winning isn't easy.

GWB has gotten us at odds with the rest of the world. Granted, being dominant opens us to attack no matter what, but to say "In you face, losers" while you're dominating? That's foolishness. We don't need leaders that are foolish.

[football idiot]

hey freak, what did Clinton do in his 8 years, while this stuff was being planned? the first WTC bombing happened on his watch if I'm not mistaken.....

nobody was worried about Al Qaeda or terrorism. we've always had psychotic cults and religious zealots declaring war on us, and Afghanistan had been a mess for 30 years.

yes, we knew they didn't like us, and wanted to hurt us. no one had anyway of knowing what they planned or how they planned it, especially considering that our national defense organizations were geared against the commies (China & Russia), not anti-terrorism plans and projects. the CIA/DIA/NSA/etc. never focused on terrorism until after 9/11. there's always people screaming the sky-is-falling, and documenting it doesn't prove anything.

it's only too liberal to point fingers after the fact, instead of focusing on how to stop it from happening again.

the political correctness angle is killing us in the area of airline security, where common sense dictates a little extra scrutiny of certain people (Arab-Muslims) since every terrorist to ever hijack an airplane has pretty much been both an Arab and a Muslim (and an adult male for that matter). but we can't racial profile anyone, that 70-year-old grandmother and 3-year old in a wheelchair are just as likely to be threats to national security as a dozen young Arabs.

oh well. I've probably offended enough people for now.

[Cito Pelon]

3 There is no solving this problem. It's not in a math book....or a discrete puzzle. No my friend this will take constant vigilance. There is no end to it. It's not like changing a tire...and if you think that Kerry will some how make it different than you really need to get a grip on the situation in your mind.


I don't think Kerry is going to demolish all challenges to the US. But I'm as sure as I can be that GWB is a disaster waiting to happen. His policies are an environmental disaster, and environmental destruction is nothing to laugh at.
His economic policies are so far out of reason and common-sense they ARE laughable. His foreign policy is commendable, but the implementaion of it has repeated every mistake ever made in foreign policy.

If I thought he would be able to stop making ridiculously stupid and ignorant mistakes in 2 out of 3 of those areas, I would seriously consider voting for him. But right now, Kerry is the best candidate to keep American power at par until somebody better comes along. His environmental, economic, and foreign policies will keep the pot from boiling over much better than GWB's do, and that's all I'm looking for right now until people come to their senses better than they are right now.

[Exile_In_SJ]

Now that it's exploding in Bush's face, I imagine they'll keep it going for awhile.

It's ironic. Bush gets wounded by the hand grenade he threw. Maybe he can put in for a Purple Heart.

I'm sure that when Kerry was earning his medals, Bush was earning awards for his bong handling.




wow if seeing Heinz-Kerry lose support in the polls, see him lose the veterans badly, to see him flounder about and whine is your idea of exploding in GWb's face, I'm sure Bush would ask for more. I would. So far Kerry is dancing toa tune he isn't calling. Kerry is reacting not initiating.

Kerry has already admitted to lying about cambodia and says that the first purple heart may not be valid.

This whole swift boats thing has been a positive for Bush and a negative for Kerry. rofl

[Exile_In_SJ]

Kerry admits embellishing the truth.

from little green footballs...


Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry’s 1971 testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee reveals that the then anti-war activist admitted to writing many of the battle reports during his four months of combat in Vietnam.

Kerry told the committee on April 22, 1971, “...I can recall often sending in the spot reports which we made after each mission...”

Kerry also said that many in the military had “a tendency to report what they want to report and see what they want to see.”

Kerry’s comments about the battle reports came in response to a question from then Senator Stuart Symington (D- Mo.), who wondered about the accuracy of information from military sources.

According to the testimony , which is available in the Congressional Record, Sen. Symington asked Kerry, “Mr. Kerry, from your experience in Vietnam do you think it is possible for the President or Congress to get accurate and undistorted information through official military channels.[?]”

Kerry responded, “I had direct experience with that. Senator, I had direct experience with that and I can recall often sending in the spot reports which we made after each mission; and including the GDA, gunfire damage assessments, in which we would say, maybe 15 sampans sunk or whatever it was. And I often read about my own missions in the Stars and Stripes and the very mission we had been on had been doubled in figures and tripled in figures.

Kerry later added, ”I also think men in the military, sir, as do men in many other things, have a tendency to report what they want to report and see what they want to see."

[Garcia Bronco]

I don't think Kerry is going to demolish all challenges to the US. But I'm as sure as I can be that GWB is a disaster waiting to happen. His policies are an environmental disaster, and environmental destruction is nothing to laugh at.
His economic policies are so far out of reason and common-sense they ARE laughable. His foreign policy is commendable, but the implementaion of it has repeated every mistake ever made in foreign policy.

If I thought he would be able to stop making ridiculously stupid and ignorant mistakes in 2 out of 3 of those areas, I would seriously consider voting for him. But right now, Kerry is the best candidate to keep American power at par until somebody better comes along. His environmental, economic, and foreign policies will keep the pot from boiling over much better than GWB's do, and that's all I'm looking for right now until people come to their senses better than they are right now.

While I certainly agree that the environment is a big issue that is constantly neglected. The real problem in that issue are the people of this country not demanding it as a majority and congress not doing anything for the ones that do. I would love to see the environment as a major party plank..but it just doesn't show up...mostly...IMO...because the people of this coutry don't demand it. I don't care who the President is or who is running for the job...their stance on the environment will not win or lose the election for them...ergo...it's on the back burner. Congress though is ultimately the decision maker in this realm. It sucks that we have so much of our economy built around fossil fuels.