Sunday, August 29, 2004

MoveOn PAC

A letter to MoveOn members from John Kerry
Dear MoveOn Members,

Three words sum up why we need to take action today: The Supreme Court. I need you to join me in keeping the Supreme Court out of the hands of right wing ideologues. I am prepared to filibuster, if necessary, any Supreme Court nominee who would turn back the clock on a woman’s right to choose, on civil rights and individual liberties, and on the laws protecting workers and the environment.

If you agree with me that there should be no equivocation, no double-speak, no avoidance of the issue, then sign my online petition today at:

http://petition.johnkerry.com

I will deliver this petition to Senate Democratic Leader, Tom Daschle, and the Ranking Democratic Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Pat Leahy, as well as their counterparts on the Republican side of the aisle – Majority Leader Bill Frist and Judiciary Chairman Orrin Hatch. We will assure that they hear our voices loud and clear that we will oppose a nominee who would turn back the clock on a woman’s right to choose, on civil rights and individual liberties, and on the laws protecting workers and the environment.

The criteria are basic: Any person who thinks it’s his or her job to push an extreme political agenda, rather than to interpret the law, should not be a Supreme Court Justice. Any person who thinks it’s his or her job to carry out the President’s political agenda, rather than to provide justice to ordinary Americans, should not be a Supreme Court Justice.

Make no mistake, we need to take back the White House in 2004 and that’s why I’m running for President. When I’m President there will be no John Ashcroft trampling on the Bill of Rights – but before I become President we must stop George W. Bush from using the Supreme Court to carry out the President’s political agenda, rather than to provide justice to ordinary Americans.

The differences today are clear: George Bush wants to criminalize the right of women to choose, he’s willing to take us back to the days of back alleys, to gag doctors and to deny families the right to plan and be aware of their choices. And don’t take my word for it: just look at who they’ve already tried to ram down our throats: Judges like Charles Pickering and Priscilla Owen who have long records of opposition to Roe v. Wade, have sought to restrict laws barring sexual discrimination, have supported a ban on interracial marriage, and have worked to narrow laws on gender discrimination. Or Judges like James Leon Holmes who dismissed arguments for the availability of abortion for rape victims claiming that conceptions from rape occur with approximately the same frequency as snowfall in Miami. Each year in America, over 30,000 women become pregnant as a result of rape or incest; snow falls in Miami roughly once every 100 years.

I believe America should move forward and advance our right to privacy and equal rights, the civil rights, and the right to choose in this nation.

No one is better at demanding action and holding government accountable than MoveOn.Org – and together we can stop the Bush right-wing juggernaut by mobilizing the United States Senate to reject any Bush Supreme Court nominee hostile to the rights of women to choose.

Sincerely,

John Kerry
June 17, 2003

KERRY SAYS "SWIFTBOAT VETERANS FOR TRUTH HAVE TIES TO BUSH CAMPAIGN"

The Kerry Spot on National Review Online

John Kerry speaking of Navy Adm. Boordas suicide.Sources say Boorda wrote in a suicide note that he wore two "V" pins for valor in combat in Vietnam because he thought he had earned them.


"The military is a rigorous culture that places a high premium on battlefield accomplishment", said Sen. John F. Kerry, who received numerous decorations, including a Bronze Star with a 'V' pin, as a Navy lieutenant in Vietnam.
"In a sense, there's nothing that says more about your career than when you fought, where you fought and how you fought,Kerry said.
If you wind up being less than what you're pretending to be, there is a major confrontation with value and self-esteem and your sense of how others view you."
Of Boorda and his apparent violation, Kerry said: "When you are the chief of them all, it has to weigh even more heavily."

Click on post title for article

What Can 100 Pages Tell Us?

Michael Dobbs, of the Washington Post, filed to see Kerry's complete Military Record under the Freedom of Information Act. Dobbs was only able to get six pages of the more than one hundred pages The remainder of the record will only be released if John Kerry signs the standard form 180, which he promised Tim Russert he would do and which thus far he has refused to do.

More questions arise regarding why there are three citations for the same medal and incident leading to the medal. The first citation signed by Adm. Zumwalt is not among Kerry's posted records, and knowledge of the third citation has been disavowed by the signatory who has said he never saw it nor did he sign it--Secretary of the Navy, John Lehman said it may have been signed by an electronic pen.

Official records listed on the Kerry web page includes a Silver Star with the V for valor despite naval officials who unequivocally state the Navy has never used the V in conjunction with the silver star.it awards. Evidently a combat V is never awarded even by other services to anyone awarded a Silver Star.

Another updated record on Kerry's site indicates 4 (four) bronze campaign stars while Navy records indicate he had earned 2 (two), one for "Counteroffensive, Phase VI," and one for "Tet69, Counteroffensive.

Another updated record on Kerry's site indicates 4 (four) bronze campaign stars while Navy records indicate he had earned 2 (two), one for "Counteroffensive, Phase VI," and one for "Tet69, Counteroffensive.

Kerry's discharge date is also in question. Was Kerry still in the military during his vist to Paris when he met with North Vietnamese and Viet Cong officials? Was he discharged when he returned from Vietnam or in July, 1978? According to his website, April 29, 1970 has kerry listed as Registrant who has completed service.

Oliver North: Bring it on, John

Bring it on, John by Oliver North

As usual, you have it wrong. You don't have a beef with President George Bush about your war record. He's been exceedingly generous about your military service. Your complaint is with the 2.5 million of us who served honorably in a war that ended 29 years ago and which you, not the president, made the centerpiece of this campaign.
I talk to a lot of vets, John, and this really isn't about your medals or how you got them. Like you, I have a Silver Star and a Bronze Star. I only have two Purple Hearts, though. I turned down the others so that I could stay with the Marines in my rifle platoon. But I think you might agree with me, though I've never heard you say it, that the officers always got more medals than they earned and the youngsters we led never got as many medals as they deserved."

Clinck on this post's title to read more

Saturday, August 28, 2004

CPUSA Online - Top Ten Reasons to Defeat Bush - Downloadable Flyer (English & Spanish)

THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE USA WANTS YO DEFEAT BUSH

CPUSA Online - Top Ten Reasons to Defeat Bush - Downloadable Flyer (English & Spanish)"Top Ten Reasons to
Defeat George W. Bush10 Grandes Razones Para Derrotar a George W. Bush

1. Bush is destroying workers rights and outsourcing jobs instead of protecting the right to organize and creating new jobs rebuilding schools, bridges, roads and hospitals
2. Bush is privatizing Medicare, Social Security and public education with phony reforms instead of enacting health care for all, protecting retirement funds and full funding for public education through college.
3. Bush is bankrupting the Federal Government with giant tax cuts for the very rich and super-funds to the military instead of securing the budget for human needs by taxing the rich and spending on human needs.
4. Bush is rolling back civil rights gains instead of enforcing and expanding affirmative action to end racism in all areas of life.
5. Bush is curtailing women's rights and choice by undermining Roe v. Wade instead of upholding the right to choice and ending the gender wage gap.
6. Bush is abusing immigrant workers in low-wage jobs instead of providing a clear path to citizenship and equal rights.
7. Bush is exploiting and ruining the environment by protecting corporate polluters instead of conserving our natural resources for the public good.
8. Bush's war in Iraq is a disaster for our security and economy. He is pushing for more preemptive wars and for first strike nuclear military policy instead of negotiations and cooperation utilizing the UN.
9. Bush is denying civil liberties and free speech in the name of fighting terrorism instead of repealing the USA Patriot Act and helping cities, towns and states fund firefighters and police.
10. Bush discriminates against Gays and Lesbians with a Constitutional Amendment instead of expanding civil rights and liberti"

HughHewitt.com

This is a MUST READ! Follow the links within the piece posted today

"'America then and America now was and is undeniably the greatest force for good in the world. Its troops, then and now, fought and still fight to protect and defend the United States and to stop evil men, regimes, and ideologies from murdering millions of innocents. In those fights, there will be terrible tolls, and many innocents will die or be injured, but American armies fight wars --then and now-- with more concern for the innocent and with more discipline and accountability than any armies in history.
At one point in his life, John Kerry rejected the core principles of the preceding paragraph. He has never confessed that error and asked for forgiveness of the people he slandered at that time. That's why he won't be the president. That's why Peter [Beinart] is wrong. And it is why the restraint that Professor Hanson wishes were still in place is not there and won't return to campaign 2004. The men John Kerry slandered are now fighting for their honor --again. Karl Rove didn't tell them to do so, and they aren't going to stop because Peter Beinart thinks they deserved to be branded barbarians.
It was a branding. It is still a brand --a dishonest, slanderous one. Men fight for their honor, and the ads aren't going away as a result.'"

Read the entire piece, it is well worth your time! Just click on this post's title

Friday, August 27, 2004

My Response to MoveOn PAC

MoveOn PAC: "YOUR PETITION LETTER

TO: President Bush; Ken Mehlman, Campaign Manager of the Bush/Cheney '04 Campaign; and Ed Gillespie, Chairman of the Republican National Committee
FROM: (Your Name and Email)
SUBJECT: Stop Voter Suppression
__________

Dear President Bush, Ken Mehlman, and Ed Gillespie:
(Your personal note)
Recent accounts of voter suppression targeting African-American and other minorities are troubling. The role of Republican elected officials and campaign staff in many of these incidents is totally inappropriate.
Stopping eligible voters from voting is a basic affront to democracy. It undermines the basic principles of our electoral system and calls into question the legitimacy of our elections.
I urge you to publicly disavow all forms of voter suppression, including voter intimidation, misinformation, purges of voter roles that disenfranchise qualified voters, the threat to discount provisional ballots, and other actions that undermine the rights of qualified Americans to vote, and to publicly condemn voter suppression activity by your staff and volunteers.
Sincerely, "

My response:

I urge you to publicly disavow all forms of SBVT suppression, including SBVT intimidation, misinformation, purges of SBVT ads that prevent qualified voters viewing, the threat to squelch free speech, and other actions that undermine the rights of qualified Americans to choose, and to publicly condemn any information suppression activity by your staff and volunteers.

Sincerely,

Patricia G., Senior Citizen, Independent Sentient Voter and Contributor to SBVT




Secret Military Record of George W. Bush

Secret Military Record of George W. Bush

Judicial Watch

"(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, today released recently declassified documents showing that Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry accepted laundered contributions for his 1996 re-election campaign from the Communist Chinese government "
read more

More Kerry Conflicts

Today, John Glenn speaks out against the Bush campaign stating it is responsible for the swifties speaking out. According to Glenn, funding for this comes from the Bush campaign. I guess the Democrats have not been able to back up their claims about linking people working in both the B-C campaign now that the one vet informed Bush-Cheney that he was one of the swiftvets and left B-C. The lawyer for the RNC resigned because he had given legal advice to the swiftvets and did not want that to be misconstrued in any way. The Democratic lawyers who serve both anti-Bush 527s and the DNC have not resigned. Not that they would have to because this is legal. Reputable lawyers, be they working with Democrats or Republicans do not discuss one clients interests, goals etc. with another client. As for the swiftvets, they undoubtedly have recieved support from Republicans just as the anti-Bush 527s have been funded with money from Democrats. By dropping vets from swiftvets and calling them swifties they appear to want to rename this group of veterans with a more negative sounding term. Take the term vets out of the name to further degrade this group of men who served their country honorably. I for one am tired of the Democrats derision of any Vietnam Veteran who does not march to the Democratic party line.

Thursday, August 26, 2004

Kerry Admitted Writing Own Combat Reports

Little Green Footballs had this to say today:
Kerry Admitted Writing Own Combat Reports

In testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 1971, John Kerry admitted writing his own combat reports, and implied that he himself had exaggerated those reports.

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."


Tuesday, August 24, 2004

First Purple Heart

Major Garrett, on Fox News, reviews Kerry's Journal entry on 12/11/1968 in which he wrote that he and his crew mates had yet to be shot at, was writtten 9 days after the wound suffered on 12/2/68 for which he obtained his first purple heart.

The Questions The Mainstream Media Needs To Ask John Kerry About Vietnam

The Questions The Mainstream Media Needs To Ask John Kerry About Vietnam. A review of statements made by John Kerry and or biographers and campaign staff is well worth reading.

Sunday, August 22, 2004

Another Attack on Kerry's Accomplishments

http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0408/schanberg.php
This article refers to Kerry's role in investigating MIAs and POWs. Devastating!

Todays Vietnam

Ironbear on his blog "Who Tends The Fires" has an insightful commentary on differing views of the Vietnam War. I highly recommend it.
http://www.whotendsthefires.us/mt/archives/000813.html

The First Amendment

I am distressed that the first amendment giving every American the right to speak freely in keeping with their beliefs and conscience is being threatened by a man who is a senator and a nominee for the position of POTUS. President Bush has been criticized, lied about, and watched his approval ratings erode based on the rantings of the very liberal 527s. George Soros, an extremely wealthy man has contributed millions of dollars to fund 527s which spew hatred and divisiveness through out our nation. Soros wants to buy the presidency and have a weak, indebted man in the white house to pursue his own vision for the world and the United States. The comparison to Hitler, the repetitive statements that President Bush lied to the American people, stating that we reopened the torture chambers of Saddam under new management have done nothing to bring this country together while we are at war against elements that wish to kill us, one and all. When Bush has been vindicated by the 9/11 commission re yellow cake, when Sandy Berger steals documents from the national archives etc. the media says little except to indicate political motivation for the revelation of facts.
Now, a groups of American citizens, who served this country honorably, recieved medals for their courage and returned home to be shamed for crimes they did not commit wish to speak of their experiences with John Kerry while in the swiftboats in the rivers of Vietnam. Kerry's response:
Tell networks they will be liable for lawsuits if they air swiftboat ads.
Tell President Bush to order the swiftboat vets to stop
Tell the FEC that these ads are funded by Republicans who support Bush and that
they are collaborating with the Bush Campaign and the RNC
Threaten the swiftbets with lawsuits
Tell the American people that these vets are lying despite Kerry having to backdown
on his oft told, seared in his memory, story of Christmas 1968 in Cambodia

Kerry's Story vs Gridley Memories

A couple of the crew compare their memories of Kerry and his duties while aboard the
USS Gridley as in Tour of Duty, the official biography.

http://home.nycap.rr.com/pwcarter/the%20kerry%20page.html

Anti-Bush 527s On Air Now

Here's what's on the air right now (from The Note)
· 4 BC04 ads: 3 positive ads on ownership, homeland security, and the Olympics; and 1 slamming Kerry on his record
· 1 KE04 ad biting back at the SBVfT
· 1 (brand new!) anti-Kerry ad by the SBVfT
· 3 pro-Kerry DNC ads including a new one on health care
· 1 (old and re-released) anti-Bush ad by MoveOn.org's PAC contrasting Kerry and Bush's wartime service
· 6 anti-Bush ads by the Media Fund in battleground states
· 4 ads by the New Democrat Network in selected markets promoting Hispanic support for Democrats

Swift Vet City

Friday, August 20, 2004
Swift Vet City
by John K. Addis on Defeat JohnJohn.com

First the Kerry campaign tried to badger and bribe television networks not to air anti-Kerry ads, then tried to stop news organizations from even talking about the organization. Now, Kerry is trying to get booksellers to refuse to carry the Swift Vets book, and if that doesn't work, stop the publisher from even being allowed to print it. Just like all the lawsuits and illegal activity the Kerry camp has engaged in to deny voters even the option of voting for Ralph Nader, so too are they committed to making sure we can't have access to any information that could possibly be negative against this particular Democratic candidate. Make no mistake -- Kerry is an enemy of free speech, free expression, and choice, and if you think Bush is sometimes good at controlling the media, Kerry's going to be far, far, far, far, far worse. We cannot elect a man who at every step shows he's an opponent of Democracy.

I think Bush has handled himself very well in this situation. When moveon.org and Michael Moore are intensely anti-Bush, even making up facts and figures or comparing the President to Hitler, Kerry said nothing, and even encouraged it. Now that he's the "victim" of an organization critical to his campaign, all of a sudden he's begging Bush for help, to condemn the ads. I'm sorry, but how many outrageous uncorroborated Bush-hating ads or articles or movies did Kerry condemn? What was that? None? Right. So Bush took the high road (of sorts), and did condemn the ads, but not specifically -- he asked Kerry to join him in supporting a ban on all 527s (the name for the type of unregulated soft money political organizations like moveon and swiftvets). Kerry, of course, can't -- he needs the anti-Bush extremist ads running if he has a prayer of winning. So he's left with the ridiculous position of saying anti-Kerry ads should be illegal and anti-Bush ads should be legal. He, he.

I don't feel any sympathy for Kerry over the Swift Vets thing, even if the claims were exaggerated. He brought this on himself. He has decided to run a campaign solely on the fact that thirty years ago he was in Vietnam for four months, ignoring his entire 20 years in the Senate. He ran ads featuring photos of Kerry with the people who didn't support him, the same people you now see in the Swift Vets ads. And, more importantly, as the new ad shows, he's far more famous for saying all soldiers, including himself, committed atrocities and rapes and beheadings and murders for fun, which regardless of the accuracy of any of all of the claims, makes his "elect me because I'm a Vietnam vet" all the more disgusting.

One other quick note that the Kerry camp and mainstream media keep pounding into the ground -- yes, the Swift Vets get a lot of funding from millionaire Republicans. But, well, duh. Who do you think is going to give them money, millionaire Democrats? Is everything moveon.org does by definition 100% wrong and lies simply because it's 100% funded by rich liberals? Funding naturally comes from those who have things to gain, not to lose. The Swift Vets didn't start with Republican funding. It was and is a non-partisan organization made up by Democrats, Republicans, and Independents who felt the last straw had been broken when Kerry, who they all despised, used pictures of them for his political ads. Naturally, to defend their positions they needed money, and asked for it. Naturally, opponents of Kerry were the first to donate. It doesn't mean everything they say is tainted just because of where the money comes from -- their message has stayed the same since Day 1, and would be unchanged if all the money happened to have come in from liberal millionaires instead.

Deroy Murdock on Swift Boat Veterans on National Review Online

Deroy Murdock on Swift Boat Veterans on National Review Online
explains how Kerry can easily answer claims by signing the form 180

Friday, August 20, 2004

Josh Ferguson%3A Kerry Begins To Melt

Josh Ferguson writes that Kerry's law suit against the swiftvets and filing with the FEC against the Bush campaign signal his fear the word is getting out and the maninstream media will be unable to ignore it.

Thursday, August 19, 2004

Slings And Arrows

This is an excellent blog speaking about the Pew Poll which shows the percentage of Americans who actually believe the USA was at fault for 9/11. Bryon Scott also comments on the top forty-nine 527s as to their purpose and funding. Kerry has complained bout the Texas Republican donating $100,000 to the swiftboat vets while 176 million has been spent by Democrats compared to 10.8 million spent by Republicans.

(link) http://slingsnarrows.erudite-absurdity.com/

Kerry Condemns Ad Attacking Bush Service

Kerry Condemns Ad Attacking Bush Service. This is a day late and a dollar short. Where was Kerry when moveon.org was spewing it's hate? Why did he not condem the Democratic leders who were so prominent at the premiere of Fahrenheit 9/11. When did he disavow Al Gore's ranting that Bush betrayed America. I think Kerry was hoping this would cause Bush to stifle the swiftvets. The swiftvets have freedom of speech. They have a right to tell of their experiences. Why doesn't Kerry sign for the full released of all his military records. Will they show that Kerry was the author of some of the accounts that led to his medals? When will the major media start digging via the freedom of information act regarding Kerry or will they just go after the swiftvets? So a group of (gasp) Republicans funded the 527 of the swiftvets. Does Kerry find that strange? I was of the opinion that Democrats funded the pro Kerry 527s. Maybe it was the Green Party.

New Political Party in Iraq

If you have not visited http://iraqthemodel.blogspot.com/ recently, two of the Fadhil brothers are going to run for office and have, with others, begun the pro-democracy party. They now have a web page with major issues, candidates etc.
To me it is amazing that despite all of the negative news we hear about Iraq these citizens have taken the concept of freedom and democracy to heart. They realize the dangers inherent in the establishment of a new government when so many factions wish to see it fail. They have read alot about the birth of the United States and the challenges that faced our founding fathers.

Monday, August 16, 2004

Vote Kerry, Pay More Taxes

The Congressional Budget Offide (CBO) report produced at the request of Congressional Democrats confirms that tax cuts since 2001 increased the share of federal income taxes paid by the highest earners while decreasing the tax share of lower- and middle-income groups. The CBO analysis, Effective Tax Rates Under Current Law, 2001 to 2014, shows that the income tax remains highly progressive, with the top 5 percent of earners paying more than half of all federal income taxes.

Americans For Tax Reform issued the following report on August 13,2004.
In a speech yesterday, Kerry told his audience that he plans to follow Clinton’s model and do, “the same thing that we set out to do in 1993, and I was there and I voted for it, I know how we did it.”
They “did it” with the largest tax increase in American history.
On July 31, 2003, Kerry claimed on MSNBC’s Hardball that "We Democrats…balanced the budget…without raising taxes on middle class Americans." Kerry’s claim contradicts his 1993 speech on the floor of the Senate, when he said, “I wish that we did not need to raise taxes (on the middle class),but …this budget cannot be balanced without increasing taxes.” Kerry apparently has a problem with telling the truth about both his record on tax increases and his intentions to raise them.

John Kerry 's plans are clear; he wants to stick middle class Americans with a huge tax hike.

John Kerry voted twice in 1993 for Bill Clinton’s tax bill, which the late Democratic Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY) called the “biggest tax increase in history.” The legislation hit the middle class hard, increasing the marginal tax rates for those making between $30,000 and $100,000 per year andraising taxes on gasoline and social security. Kerry said that he is “proud to have supported and votedfor (Clinton's) economic plan.”

"John Kerry has repeatedly misled the American People by saying he only wants to raise taxes on the rich,” His latest statement demonstrates Kerry has every intention of implementing an across-the-board tax hike that will impact the middle class and working families nationwide.”





Saturday, August 14, 2004

PROACTIVE Kerry

Kerry said: "I believe I can fight a more effective, more thoughtful, more strategic, more proactive, more sensitive war on terror that reaches out to other nations and brings them to our side and lives up to American values in history."

Much has been said about his choice of 'more sensative war' with which I agree.
However his use of the term proactive to me is confusing. Merriam-Webster defines proactive as:
Main Entry: pro·ac·tive
Pronunciation: (")prO-'ak-tiv
Function: adjective
1 [1pro-] : relating to, caused by, or being interference between previous learning and the recall or performance of later learning
2 [2pro- + reactive] : acting in anticipation of future problems, needs, or changes

In Kerry's nomination acceptance speech, John Kerry said "I defended this country as a young man and I will defend it as President. Let there be no mistake. I will never hesitate to use force when it is required. Any attack will be met with a swift and certain response. I will never give any nation or international institution a veto over our national security. And I will build a stronger American military."

"Any attack will be met with ...response"--is this proactive? Where was he 9/11/01?
We have been attacked!

"I will never give...a veto over our national security" When the administration went to the UN because Saddam had not cooperated with the UN resolutions and the USA was vetoed Kerry criticized President Bush for not continuing with diplomacy. I guess Kerry feels vetos should govern our efforts to protect our national security.

"And I will build a stronger American military." In view of his voting pattern against weapons, military and the funding for our forces in Iraq, I hardly can describe him as proactive.

As far as diplomacy is concerned, his constant criticism of the current coalition
demeans those countries who have made up the multinational force. Of course we have the greatest number of troops, we are the largest country with the largest military despite the fact that Kerry did everything to be proactive to prevent it.

Friday, August 13, 2004

Are the Democrats religion-friendly?






The following is an exerpt from the article reporting on the Democratic Faith Meeting
Outreach Goes Only so Far
From the August 6, 2004 Wall Street Journal: Are the Democrats religion-friendly?
by Terry Eastland

In the sanctuary hung a cloth sign stating that "Lesbians, Gays & Friends at Old South Church" are "Open and Affirming." One of the nation's most progressive political pastors, the Rev. Dr. James Forbes of the Riverside Church in Manhattan, who had spoken to the earlier luncheon, delivered the sermon. The service ended with a "statement of our vision" in which attendees committed themselves to public policies favoring "full employment," "a true livable wage," "universal access to prekindergarten and childcare programs" and a "progressive tax policy." Not exactly the Apostles Creed, but you have to remember that progressive, even prophetic, faith was astir.

Before the service, Forbes told me that it is necessary for the Kerry campaign to be more explicit about religion if the Democrats' vision for the country is "to be embraced by the electorate."

In his acceptance speech, John Kerry explicitly sounded a religion-friendly theme. "We welcome people of faith," he said. But which people of faith? Those well left of center, theologically and politically, for sure. Beyond that, doubtful.




Thursday, August 12, 2004

Son of McGovern

"Earlier in the week, Kerry boasted that he would fight a 'more sensitive' war on terror. Now he talks about bringing the troops home, 'where they belong.' Does Sen. Kerry really think that the war on terror can be fought from the continental United States? Is he opposed to a forward strategy of fighting terrorists wherever they operate? If so, then Kerry seems to want to return to the approach employed in the 1990s, when al Qaeda was allowed to turn Afghanistan into a base of operations. Kerry apparently favors a defensive approach to the war on terror rather than the offensive approach the Bush administration has chosen."

Click on title to read more

Power Line: John's bogus journey

"Today's message from Russ Vaughn is such a message. Russ served in the 2d Battalion, 327th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam in 1965-66. Russ's message is in the form of a poem entitled 'The Night Before Christmas (Cambodian version),' and it's special:
'Twas the night before Christmas and we were afloat
Somewhere in Cambodia in our little boat.
While the river was lighted by rockets' red glare
No one but the President knew we were there.
The crew was all nestled deep down in their bunks,
While the Spook and I watched the sampans and junks.
Our mission was secret, so secret in fact,
No one else would remember it when we got back.
When out on the water there arose such a clatter
I leaped down from the bridge to see what was the matter.
The incoming friendly was starting to flash
And I knew that the ARVN's were having a bash.
The snap of friendly fire on the warm tropic air
Convinced me for sure no one knew we were there,
On a clandestine mission so secret it's true
That I'm still convinced only Tricky Dick knew.
While I huddled for safety in the tub on the bow,
I thought of a title, 'Apocalypse Now.'
To give to the films I was I making each day
To show all the voters when I made my big play.
As I sat there sweating in my lucky flight jacket,
Spook said, 'Merry Christmas!' and tossed me a packet.
And what to my wondering eyes did appear,
But a new lucky cap, which I still have right here.
I keep it tucked here, in this leather brief case,
Just sharing with the press its secretive place
As I regale them again with my senate refrain,
That Christmas in Cambodia is seared into my brain.
Don't bother to quibble with history my friend,"

Click title to read entire article.

Wednesday, August 11, 2004

DRUDGE REPORT 2004�

Druge reports a little spat between John and Teresa requiring separate hotel rooms.

Tuesday, August 10, 2004

Clarity

A few days ago, I received the following email.
I'm trying to get all this political stuff straightened out in my head so I'll know how to vote come November. Right now, we have one guy (Democrats) saying one thing. Then the other guy says something else (Republicans) . Who to believe. Lemme see; have I got this straight?

Clinton awards Halliburton no-bid contract in Yugoslavia - good...

Bush awards Halliburton no-bid contract in Iraq - bad...

Clinton spends 77 billion on war in Serbia - good...

Bush spends 87 billion in Iraq - bad...

Clinton imposes regime change in Serbia - good...

Bush imposes regime change in Iraq - bad...

Clinton bombs Christian Serbs on behalf of Muslim Albanian terrorists - good...

Bush liberates 25 million from a genocidal dictator - bad...

Clinton bombs Chinese embassy - good...

Bush bombs terrorist camps - bad...

Clinton commits felonies while in office - good...

Bush lands on aircraft carrier in jumpsuit - bad...

Clinton says mass graves in Serbia - good...

Entire world says WMD in Iraq - bad...

No mass graves found in Serbia - good...

No WMD found Iraq - bad...

Stock market crashes in 2000 under Clinton - good...

Economy on upswing under Bush - bad...

Clinton refuses to take custody of Bin Laden - good...

World Trade Centers fall under Bush - bad...

Clinton says Saddam has nukes - good...

Bush says Saddam has nukes - bad...

Clinton calls for regime change in Iraq - good...

Bush imposes regime change in Iraq - bad...

Terrorist training in Afghanistan under Clinton - good...

Bush destroys training camps in Afghanistan - bad...

Milosevic not yet convicted - good...

Saddam turned over for trial - bad...

hmm!

Passions on High

Michael Novak, responds to over 500 comments on his July 30,2004 article on why he thinks the Dems will lose. Again, he makes some very valid points.
Click on Title (link)

Article --The Dems Will Lose

Michael Novak, a Democrat, wrote this article on July 30,2004. It is well worth reading his views.
Click on title (link)

Monday, August 09, 2004

Military View of President Bush

I have been reading a lot of military blogs everyday. I follow links from sites often and so trying to retrace my steps has proved impossible. Comments made by one military person stick in my mind. I will attempt to paraphrase what I remember.
Evidently the protocol for the military that greet the president as he boards a helo or a plane or comes off of one is to salute the CIC as the president comes in to view and hold the salute as long as he remains in view. He said, watch the next time this occurs on TV. You may well see the military turn and continue the salute until the president is inside the plane. Watch clips of former president in similar circumstances and you will see the military giving the obligatory salute while facing him, but they do not turn and continue the salute. He pointed out that on one occasion, Mrs. Bush approached with one dog on a leash and entered the plane. As President Bush came forward with the second dog, the dog refused to go up the steps so the president bent down and picked the dog up and went up the steps and into the plane. A few moments later, the military man felt a tap on his shoulder, it was the president who came back to return the salute he was unable to give with his arms full of dog. This is one of the courtesies of the President that endear him to the military and indeed, to me.

POW/MIA Families Against John Kerry

This site offers testimony of those families and friends of MIAs and POWs. Prisoners of war in the Hanoi Hilton recall being demoralized by reporting of John Kerry's group activities and the lies told about our military. There is opportunity to send
an email in support of their campaign against the election of Kerry as Commander in Chief.
Click on title (link)

Sunday, August 08, 2004

There Really Are Two Americas

From The Wall Street Journal's OpinionJournal.com Featured Article Tuesday, July 13, 2004

Liberal Loopholes
Edwards and Kerry want to raise taxes, but know how to avoid paying them.

I know which of the "two Americas" I fit in. Guess what, it is not the America of the two Johns. So my question is how much of the promised tax increases will actually hit the super-rich like Kerry/Edwards and how much will the upper middle-class wage earners pay?
The Kerrys and Edwards have exploited plenty of tax loopholes over the years. Of course, nobody is obligated to pay more than what the letter of the law requires. But the complex tax code benefits the wealthy, who can afford tax attorneys and complicated schemes to skirt the law. And high marginal rates give them plenty of incentive to do so.

Senator Edwards talks about the need to provide health care for all, but that didn't stop him from using a clever tax dodge to avoid paying $591,000 into the Medicare system. While making his fortune as a trial lawyer in 1995, he formed what is known as a "subchapter S" corporation, with himself as the sole shareholder.

Instead of taking his $26.9 million in earnings directly in the following four years, he paid himself a salary of $360,000 a year and took the rest as corporate dividends. Since salary is subject to 2.9% Medicare tax but dividends aren't, that meant he shielded more than 90% of his income. That's not necessarily illegal, but dodging such a large chunk of employment tax skates perilously close to the line.

The Internal Revenue Service takes a dim view of such operations and "may collapse the structure entirely and argue the S corporation is not truly a separate entity," in the words of Tax Adviser magazine. Attorney CPA magazine lists it as No. 11 of its "15 best underutilized tax loopholes," but warns that the IRS "has successfully litigated cases against individuals, particularly sole shareholders of personal service S corporations, reclassifying such deemed distributions as wages subject to social security taxes."

As a political matter, the dodge is especially hypocritical because the income limits on which Medicare taxes are paid were lifted by Democrats in 1993 specifically to hit "the rich," as Mr. Edwards likes to call people in his tax bracket. And the supreme irony? Mr. Edwards has claimed that he set up the subchapter S company to protect himself from legal liability. You know it's time for tort reform when even the trial lawyers say they're afraid of getting sued.

Senator Kerry's personal finances are not so complicated, since most of his income comes from his government salary and a modest inheritance. But he owes his jet-setting lifestyle and indeed some of his political success to the wealth of his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry. Her personal assets have been estimated at up to $3.2 billion, and the couple travel among their five houses scattered around the U.S. on a $35 million Gulfstream V jet. During a tough election for the Senate in 1996, Mr. Kerry sidestepped a gentleman's agreement with opponent William Weld to limit the spending of personal wealth on either side to $500,000 by having his campaign borrow $1.7 million from his wife.

Mrs. Heinz Kerry's finances remain largely a closed book, since she has so far refused to release her tax returns. What we do know so far is that she has prepaid $750,000 in federal taxes on $5.1 million in income for 2003--an effective tax rate of 15%. That is because a significant portion of the income came from tax-free municipal bonds, which is perfectly legal.

Even so, her net income must be much higher. We know that since the death of her husband John Heinz in 1991, Mrs. Heinz Kerry has invested shrewdly and possibly even doubled her inheritance. Even if one takes a conservative estimate of her net worth, say $1 billion, an income of $5.1 million means a paltry return of just 0.5%. More likely, the majority of her investment income is sheltered within trusts so that tax is deferred until she or her family actually wants to spend it. Again, perfectly legal, but this is a luxury that the average middle-class professional working for a wage does not have. These are the non-rich who will pay the bulk of any Kerry tax increase.

So when John Kerry and John Edwards say that they want to tax the wealthiest Americans, let's be clear about what they really mean. They want to tax the most productive people at higher marginal rates and close loopholes for corporations, while they themselves dodge taxes by exploiting loopholes they plan to preserve.

Their double speak means what is good for them they will protect and what soaks it to the middle class they will endorse.

I really do not envy them their wealth, it just really makes me angry when they try to fool the masses with "they are one of us" slogan. They eat at Wendys like the common man and then go to their real lunch catered by the local club for the wealthy. Kerry intrudes on the Marines having their meal for a photo op because he is
not held to the same etiquette of common people.


Saturday, August 07, 2004

Kerry On Iraq

From Kerry's statement on Larry King Live 12/14/01,'I think we clearly have to keep the pressure on terrorism globally. This doesn't end with Afghanistan by any imagination. And I think the president has made that clear. I think we have made that clear. Terrorism is a global menace. It's a scourge. And it is absolutely vital that we continue, for instance, Saddam Hussein.' to his comments in the speech accepting the Democratic nomination'I will be a commander in chief who will never mislead us into war" This compilation of Kerry quotes along with dates and where he spoke shows his ever changing, politically expedient changing stance on the war in Iraq. Kerry says the president has made this clear,WE(my emphasis) have made it clear. Since "we" indicates I plus others, Kerry himself was advocating going after Saddam. Why did he MISLEAD us? He had the same intelligence as the president and evidently came to the same conclusions.

Redstate || Kerry knocks Bush for inaction on 9-11

Kerry knocks Bush for inaction on 9-11: "what was he doing?
In an interview with Larry King on CNN, July 8, 2004, Sen. Kerry was asked where he was the morning of September 11th. Here is part of his response:
Kerry: '...And as I came in [to a meeting in Sen. Daschle's office], Barbara Boxer and Harry Reid were standing there, and we watched the second plane come in to the building. And we shortly thereafter sat down at the table and then we just realized nobody could think, and then boom, right behind us, we saw the cloud of explosion at the Pentagon...' (emphasis added).
It should be noted that the second plane hit the World Trade Center at 9:03 a.m., and the plane hit the Pentagon at 9:43 a.m. By Kerry's own words, he and his fellow senators sat there for forty minutes, realizing 'nobody could think.'
In other words: Sen. Kerry, who criticized President Bush for not rushing out of the Florida classroom for seven minutes, sat paralyzed with his colleagues for a full forty minutes. He is hardly in a position to criticize President Bush for 'inaction.' "

Thursday, August 05, 2004

GobbleBlog

This is a letter to John Kerry written by a military man with sons in service. Well written with a message I heartily agree with.
Click on title (link)

Ion Mihai Pacepa on John Kerry

Ion Mihai Pacepa was acting chief of Romania's espionage service and national-security adviser to the country's president. He is the highest-ranking intelligence officer ever to have defected from the former Soviet bloc. This commentary was posted back in February, but if you have not read it, I recommend it.
Click on title (link)





MY WAR - Fear And Loathing In Iraq

The reality of what our troops face is described in graphic detail in this blog. God bless our military.
Click on title (link)

Iraqi American

Todays post is interesting. Speaking of wars started by Democrats, with the most recent without UN approval. The second world war being the only one where we were attacked, Pearl Harbor and the attacks by Germans on US ships.

Wednesday, August 04, 2004

Open Letter To Our Military

I am pleased to be able to write to you to tell you that each of you holds a place in my heart. How does anybody truly convey the depth of appreciation for what you are asked to do for the wellbeing of the USA. You place your physical wellbeing at risk changing the pattern of your lives while leaving all that is familiar including your families, friends and future plans. Greater love of country is impossible to find. I have great confidence that you will succeed at whatever task is at hand. I saw an article in USA Today some months ago that mentioned three Iraqi brothers who were blogging from Baghdad. I checked out their blog http://iraqthemodel.blogspot.com/
and I finally felt I was getting views of what was happening in Iraq that was not being told by the media. I followed the links they posted to other Iraqi bloggers and links to Military blogs. I was hooked! As my son says on his webpage, "Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach that person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks". He laughs at me now because I spend so much time reading the blogs from the Military, the Iraqis and about politics.
My blog has been dominated by my thoughts on the political situation for many months.
It really started with the New Hampshire Democratic primary elections. As the months progressed with caucuses and primaries, I watched the televised debates and what I saw did not make me happy. We are at war, our military are in harms way because of
bold leadership by President Bush after our nation was brutally attacked on 9/11.
The Democratic debates quickly were a contest about who could bash President Bush most effectively. I have always been an independent who cast a vote for the person I thought would do the best job. The Democratic bashing has turned me into a Republican until such time as Democrats return to a more central position
I lived through WWII and so happy on VE day because my brother had enlisted in the Navy and at 10 I was naive enough to think this would mean he did not have to go.
In that and subsequent conflicts we did not have the internet so snail mail was the only way we could communicate. Cousins who were in the military during WWII had their mail censored and I recall reading them with lots of blacked our blanks. This is so much better in that military can instant message their loved ones and people like me can write my thoughts for anyone who may be interested to read. I lived through Korea with military that were at that time in my age group. Then came Vietnam
with the constant barrage of so many battles,so many losses of our brave troops. In WWII demoralizing messages were radioed to our troops in Europe and in the Pacific by Tokyo Rose. These were Germans and Japanese broadcasting propaganda about what the girlfriends or wives were doing while they were at war, how they were losing,how nobody at home cared about them. Anything to try to break their spirit. Then we came to Vietnam. Now the ones trying to demoralize our troops were homegrown. Jane Fonda went to North Vietnam to protest US presence. She reviewed our POWs in the hands of the North Vietnamese. She shook hands with our troops. At least one POW slipped her a note which she promptly turned over to the Vietcong. Back in the US, she was soon joined by John Kerry in their endless plotting against our presence in Vietnam. That was their right, we have freedoms fought for and protected by our military over the years. However, John Kerry testified before the senate claiming our military were murdering, raping, torturing, killing babies etc. The people he claimed told him these things have been discredited. This is why the Vietnam Vets were so badly treated when they came home.
All of this occurred while our military were still in action. You can read more accurate accounts of this written by vets at www.swiftvet.com and wintersoldier.com
I cannot vote for John Kerry. If you are a Kerry supporter, you will not like my blog. If you are undecided or plan to vote for President Bush, you may find my thoughts of interest. Whatever you think, I urge you to vote your conscience.
Now we have M. Moore and his propaganda movie, politicians who seem to want us to be defeated so they can prove their point that this war is wrong. Do not believe, even if God forbid Kerry wins, that we are not supporting you. I think enough of us feel the war was right both in Afghanistan and in Iraq to free the millions of innocent people who have lived so long under the suppression of the Taliban and Saddam. As a woman, I cannot imagine not being able to leave my home without a male relative, being stoned because my ankle showed beneath my dress, not being allowed to go to school and pursue my profession as a nurse and nurse educator. It is Taliban types who want to take over the Muslim world and then the entire world. The Iaqis have
issued a decree that women from birth to age 40 are to have a male relative accompany them in order to get a passport. Many Iraqis are trying hard to develop a democracy and they value freedom so greatly.Read the site I mention in my previous blog to read some of the good news from Iraq.
Please remember that you are in my thoughts and in my prayers. May God's angels watch over you. You are honored and loved by this senior citizen in North Carolina.

Letters to Our Military

I received an email from a blogger friend regarding Slagle Rocks efforts to get letters to our military. They wonder about the support at home. Michael Moores F9/11 is making the rounds and has a very demoralizing effect on our troops. Go to this site
http://combatarms.mu.nu/archives/039800.php

for more information. You can write a note to the military on the comments section and you can also write letters in your blog. Feel free to make comments on my blog directed to those brave men and women who are risking their lives so that we may continue to experience the freedoms that are so familiar and so dear to us.

Monday, August 02, 2004

Good News In Iraq

I encourage anyone who reads my blog to read the August 1 and 2 posts at
http://chrenkoff.blogspot.com/