Malkin reprints a letter from a Vietnam Vet who says he isn't affiliated with any 527s. He hasn't read Unfit for Command, but he does have a thing or two to say about Tour of Duty, and like many veterans from the Vietnam era—and from other conflicts—he has some issues with Kerry's behavior. Not to mention his command of the facts.

Posted by: Attila at 10:51 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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This is the text of the letter presented to Max Cleland today when he showed up at the President's ranch to engage in his little bit of political theatre:

Dear Senator Kerry,

We are pleased to welcome your campaign representatives to Texas today. We honor all our veterans, all who 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.)

Posted by: Attila at 10:25 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Just a public service announcement:

When a group of people decide to drop acid together, it's a good idea for one person to abstain, in case there's an emergency. And to order the Thai takeout or pizza. And in case someone has to drive or answer the phone.

This is particularly important when the group is supposedly trying to run a presidential campaign.

I'm finally starting to consider those rumors that the all-powerful Clintons really want Kerry to lose (to set Hillary up for '0 and are making sure he gets the worst possible advice. It's the only other explanation, because this is truly unreal.

"We are the party of censorship. Yes, censorship!—the cure for bad speech is to squash it: take those ads off the air! Kerry's war wounds prevent him from signing a form to provide full release of his military records! Big Daddy Bush, make them stop being mean! Can I have a cookie?"

Is anyone in the Kerry campaign not high?

Via Protein Wisdom.

Posted by: Attila at 06:17 PM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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1 Wasn't Bush the one who called for *all* ads to be removed (truthful or otherwise). Isn't that censorship? Got to admit the Swifties are doing a nice job for Georgie. Not only are they doing the nasty against Kerry but they've managed to keep the important issues of out the headlines (except for that big item yesterday about how Bush is again buggering the environment for oil). Meanwhile let's check out Georgie's war medals: Bush's War Medals

Posted by: littlemrmahatma at August 26, 2004 08:19 AM (BZ0tI)

2 I don't care about Bush's service in the National Guard. And if you voted for Clinton, you don't care about it either. Get real: this is a trumped-up issue. (And don't tell me it's because Bush, lacking combat experience, is sending young people to die overseas. Remember Kosovo?) I think the Bush campaign would love to see the debate turn on real issues, but Kerry doesn't want to talk about them--with him it's just "Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam. And by the way--Vietnam."

Posted by: Attila Girl at August 26, 2004 11:38 AM (SuJa4)

3 Also, Bush's point about the 527s is that money that used to go to the parties, which would have to be accountable for how the funds were used, now goes to these outside groups--which are answerable to no one. The Democratic 527s have raised millions of dollars to the Swifties' half a million or so. We need to address this problem with McCain-Feingold, or not address it. But whatever solution emerges should be applied to both parties. That was Bush's point.

Posted by: Attila Girl at August 26, 2004 11:51 AM (SuJa4)

4 I don't care about Kerry's Vietnam record. He went, he saw hell - that's enough for me. For Kerry it's Vietnam 24/7 because of the Swifties constant barrage and that darn Liberal Media that won't let the topic go. BTW, you posted a bit ago crying about how Kerry had spent something like $1/2 billion dollars in what you thought would be a losing campaign. Can't find the post and I'd like your source. You have the *MOST* reliable, unbiased sources. My lame biased source (FEC) shows that Bush has raised and spent more money than Kerry. Can you please clarify? Did you pull the post because of *GASP* errors in reporting?

Posted by: littlemrmahatma at August 26, 2004 12:52 PM (BZ0tI)

5 (And you yourself are a perfect example of being part of the 24/7. How much blog space have you devoted to the whole Swiftian affair? How does it feel being a pawn - or at least a queen - for Bush?)

Posted by: littlemrmahatma at August 26, 2004 01:42 PM (BZ0tI)

6 I don't care about Kerry's Vietnam record. He went, he saw hell - that's enough for me. And it's enough for me that his irresponsible conduct afterward was used as an excuse to torture our POWs. These are the guys that truly "saw hell." Not to mention the hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese and Cambodians who lost their lives in the most unspeakable fashion when we pulled out of Southeast Asia. For Kerry it's Vietnam 24/7 because of the Swifties constant barrage and that darn Liberal Media that won't let the topic go. The Kerry campaign's harping on Vietnam predates the publicity surrounding the Swifties. Remember his silly salute at the convention? He's been using his Vietnam service as a kind of "get out of debate free" card, and he deserves all of this. BTW, you posted a bit ago crying about how Kerry had spent something like $1/2 billion dollars in what you thought would be a losing campaign. Can't find the post and I'd like your source. You have the *MOST* reliable, unbiased sources. My lame biased source (FEC) shows that Bush has raised and spent more money than Kerry. Can you please clarify? Did you pull the post because of *GASP* errors in reporting? 'Twasn't me. You're looking for a couple of commenters on this thread. I don't pull posts, unless they were written at 3:00 a.m. just as my Ambien is kicking in and they are truly incomprehensible. (And you yourself are a perfect example of being part of the 24/7. How much blog space have you devoted to the whole Swiftian affair? How does it feel being a pawn - or at least a queen - for Bush?) I'm a 'ho for truth.

Posted by: Attila Girl at August 26, 2004 02:13 PM (SuJa4)

7 "I'm a 'ho for truth.' must...not...respond...to...perfect...setup... channel flip channel flip channel flip

Posted by: littlemrmahatma at August 26, 2004 03:16 PM (BZ0tI)

8 I admire your steely self-control--almost as much as your wife does

Posted by: Attila Girl at August 26, 2004 08:20 PM (SuJa4)

9 geez...

Posted by: Desert Cat at August 26, 2004 10:35 PM (c8BHE)

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Am I supposed to be following this sports thingie in Greece?

Posted by: Attila at 02:49 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I know that the intense left-liberal media bias is part of the reason people get their news and analysis from blogs. I really do.

But every once in a while, I wish that the mainstream guys would try to do their actual jobs.

Now, as the two tenuous connections between the Bush campaign and the Swifties melt away and I reflect on the intimate connection between the DNC and several anti-Bush 527s—along with the underlying attitude, which from the get-go has been "prove that we're in bed together," I feel wistful again, and long for real, old-fashioned journalists to do just that.

Is anyone outside the blogosphere up to the challenge?

Posted by: Attila at 02:33 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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James has the skinny (via Drudge) on John Kerry's recent phone call to Robert Brent of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. Apparently they bunked together in Vietnam, and Brent used to put Kerry back to bed when he was sleepwalking. (James: "that's not a good thing to do in a combat zone.")

Brent, who lost two of his men in Vietnam, is as outraged as many vets at John Kerry's conduct when he came home, joined the antiwar movement, and lied about supposed "atrocities" committed by our guys in southeast Asia.

Kerry wanted to meet face-to-face, and talk about the factual dispute. Brent declined.

Had I mentioned that this election is over?

The problem here is that the Democratic Party thought they could have it both ways with Kerry: here's a guy who got decorated in Vietnam, but came back and protested the war. I suspect the reasoning was that he could appear to be all things to all people. To the antiwar crowd, he could be a peace protester. To those who are concerned about the War on Terror, he could play the war hero and look "tough."

In their attempt to have it both ways, though, they really have it neither way. Those who are infuriated by the war in Iraq are not turned on by this "reporting for duty" bullshit, and those who are very concerned about the terrorist threat—and support the action in Iraq—are nauseated by it.

There's no there there.

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Q and O points out that it was Kerry himself who was first questioning the service record of George W. Bush, and—with an able assist from the Wall Street Journal—quickly puts the lie to the notion that the Swift Boat Vets are out of bounds.

I'm still thrilled with the way Bush handled the calls for him to condemn the Swifties. He distanced himself from them, yet rejected the idea of a unilateral disarmament by those who support him (or at least hate Kerry), and brought up the idea that these 527s are even less accountable than the parties are, as a basis for future policy debate. (I think it's worth noting that a few of the Democratic 527s had offices right next to that of the DNC at the Democratic convention.)

Posted by: Attila at 11:50 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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. . . an article that might actually result in renumeration. Therefore, blogging will theoretically be lighter than usual this coming week. Or human nature will kick in, and I'll be online 24/7. One of the two.

Also, I'm expecting to hear more in the "comments" sections from people who don't usually chime in. Remember: you are graded on class participation as much as on your test grades. Raise your hands!

Posted by: Attila at 12:23 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Photon Courier reads a cartoon by Garry Trudeau:

In the Sunday Doonesbury, Mike has a summer daydream in which: "George Bush never became President..." and "we never invaded Iraq..." and "we didn't torture and kill prisoners..." and "we're not hated around the world..." and "the American people are far more secure."

Shortly after reading this comic strip, I read a post by Omar, who blogs from Iraq. On Al Iraqyia TV, he saw a program about an event that happened in the early 1980s. A member of an opposition group was arrested by Saddam's agents. He was tortured to get him to reveal the name of the leader of the group...at first he resisted but finally broke and said "Sabah, a student in the college"...then lapsed into a coma and soon died. Saddam's goons arrested and killed everyone they could find named "Sabah" in the colleges in Baghdad (except for known regime supporters). There were 40 of them.

Courier concludes by remarking, "what a great summer daydream."

Yup.

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I finally saw Saving Private Ryan tonight. I know, I know: but my husband used to just pop it into the DVD player without telling me: I'd hear it playing downstairs in the media room. And I couldn't, you know, watch it without seeing the beginning. (This is what we call, in the trade, a "rationalization.")

Actually, that might be a great way to watch it—minus that first 20 minutes. I've been hardened in the past two years by Band of Brothers, The Passion of the Christ, The Pianist, and (just last night) House of Sand and Fog. So I guess I was ready. But I knew the landing on Normandy beach would be awful.

Attila-Hub assured me that if I could get through the first 20 minutes, I'd be fine. He didn't tell me it might be the longest 20 minutes of my life.

It's beautifully done, though I don't think it's as good as Band of Brothers, which gives one a good ten hours to get to know these guys. You live with them, drink with them, fight with them, shower with them. They become a part of your life, especially the second time you go through the series.

On the other hand, Saving Private Ryan pioneered the filming techniques that Band of Brothers relied upon. They both have that Tom Hanks imprint.

All I want to do, watching either work, is weep with gratitude for all the men who died so I can be free—or at least so Europe can be. I want to bring them flowers, kiss the earth where they are buried. Maybe I will some day.

And I want to require every single French person to watch at least one of these, especially Private Ryan. They owe us that, dammit.

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Former Presidential Candidate Bob Dole—whose war heroism is bona fide, undisputed, visible to the naked eye, and not sexed-up—has finally had it with John Kerry's brand of "look at me! I was in 'Nam for five minutes and got a hangnail" campaigning:

Former Republican Sen. Bob Dole suggested Sunday that John Kerry apologize for past testimony before Congress about alleged atrocities during the Vietnam War and joined critics of the Democratic presidential candidate who say he received an early exit from combat for "superficial wounds."

Dole also called on Kerry to release all the records of his service in Vietnam.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Dole told CNN's "Late Edition" that he warned Kerry months ago about going "too far" and that the Democrat may have himself to blame for polls that show him losing support among veterans.

"One day he's ... throwing away his medals or his ribbons," Dole said. "The next day he's standing there, 'I want to be president because I'm a Vietnam veteran.' Maybe he should apologize to all the other 2.5 million veterans who served. He wasn't the only one in Vietnam."

Dole added: "And here's, you know, a good guy, a good friend. I respect his record. But three Purple Hearts and never bled that I know of. I mean, they're all superficial wounds."

Kerry campaign spokesman Chad Clanton said: "It's unfortunate that Senator Dole is making statements that official U.S. Navy records prove false. This is partisan politics, not the truth."

Nevermind that those official Navy records are based on Kerry's own accounts of what happened.

Posted by: Attila at 01:14 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Glenn envisions a world in which John Kerry has vision, and isn't whoring his Vietnam record.

N.Z. Bear responds.

And several commenters point out that the John Kerry Glenn has in mind looks a lot like . . . Joe Lieberman. Wouldn't that be a lovely universe? There would be two viable candidates on the ballot, and I'd have an actual decision to make.

Maybe the Democrats should have put some thought into this, instead of saying, "hey. We like your initials, and that Vietnam stuff makes you sound butch. And—most importantly—you aren't George W. Bush.

This Reynolds guy is pretty smart; too bad he doesn't get a bit more exposure.

Via Dean Esmay.

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Doesn't this look like a fuckin' blast.

h/t: Mikal.

Posted by: Attila at 06:07 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Tom Smith at the Right Coast discusses the problem of educating gifted kids.

My experience? It can't be done. Gifted kids educate themselves. Get them library cards, and cut them some slack on the mediocre grades they'll get because they were reading instead of doing their homework.

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Having an airheaded moment, here: when was it that John F. Kerry demanded that MoveOn.org pull its ads that attack George W. Bush?

I just can't remember at all.

Posted by: Attila at 11:26 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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. . . when was it that John F. Kerry condemned Al Gore's speech about how President Bush "played on our fears"? When did he distance himself from Gore's statement that G.W. Bush "has brought deep dishonor to our country and built a durable reputation as the most dishonest President since Richard Nixon"?

I'm just having trouble remembering the date. That's all. I'd appreciate it if you could help me out.

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. . . when it was that John F. Kerry condemned Fahrenheit 911?

Because the exact date and circumstances appear to have slipped my mind.

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All can be told, now that my personal vendetta has been fulfilled. Secretly funded by a Texas cabal, I've been quietly campaigning to have the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth referred to as the "Swifties," rather than the "Swiftees." This effort has taken me days of grueling effort, along with a swift boat load of oil money. Now that the correct term is the dominant one, I feel I can take the next few months off.

Someone wake me up in time for Thanksgiving, okay?

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James Joyner discusses the . . . interesting look of the campaigns right now:

Overall, Electoral Vote.com has it at Kerry 301, Bush 213 at the moment while Scott Elliot at Election Projection has an even more sizeable lead based on his predictive formula: Kerry 327, Bush 211.

Clearly, this is Kerry's race to lose at the moment. That's not overly surprising given the fact that we're in the middle of a controversial war. Plus, of the four biggest states, the Democrats have a virtual lock on two (California and New York), while the Republicans have only one gimme (Texas) with Florida as a perennial swing state (although trending Democrat owing to migration trends).

The Republicans need to have a very good convention.

I'm going to hang tough, and repeat what I've been saying all along: It'll be Bush, and by a comfortable margin.

The GOP convention is coming up, and Bush will get a decent bounce from it. The debates are coming up, and he's going to clean Kerry's clock.

When people wake up on Election Day they'll be thinking about their own safety and security more than "let's get a guy into the White House who's fluent in French." And all those people who hate Bush so much they are going to hold their noses and vote for Kerry are going to sleep late that day, rather than stop by the polls on the way to work.

That's how it goes.

Posted by: Attila at 01:21 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Tells his side of the story.

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