If this is true, then I am one of the first who owes an apology.
Archives for March 2004
The Real Enemy
Commenter Wallster reminds uf who the real enemy is:
It amazes me how ignorant right wingers can be – you do realize we caused this attack, don’t you? The blood of 200 innocent Spaniards is on the hands of GWB and ignorant asshat warbloggers like John Cole.
Damnit- and I thought the root cause was poverty. Or the Israeli/Palestine issue.
Of course, Wallster has a high-ranking ally in this vile line of thought:
Former Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean said Tuesday that President Bush’s decision to send troops to Iraq appears to have contributed to the bombing deaths of 201 in Spain…
“That was what they said in the tape,” Dean said. “They made that connection, I’m simply repeating it.”
Dean’s comment came as he was defending former rival John Kerry, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, from a Bush campaign ad accusing Kerry of turning his back on U.S. soldiers fighting in Iraq.
Dean said it is the president who has not supported the troops. He said Bush sent soldiers to Iraq unequipped, misled the country on the reasons for war and made the United States less safe by focusing on a target that wasn’t a threat. And, he said, “The president was the one who dragged our troops to Iraq, which apparently has been a factor in the death of 200 Spaniards over the weekend.”
Dean issued a statement later to The Associated Press that said, “Let me be clear, there is no justification for terrorism. Today I was simply repeating what those who have claimed responsibility for the bombings in Spain said was the reason they carried out that despicable act.”
What is that word again? Oh yeah:
Cheney Speech
Some highlights from this latest speech from a member of the ‘Republican Attack Machine’:
Senator Kerry speaks often about the need for international cooperation, and has vowed to usher in a “golden age of American diplomacy.” He is fond of mentioning that some countries did not support America’s actions in Iraq. Yet of the many nations that have joined our coalition – allies and friends of the United States – Senator Kerry speaks with open contempt. Great Britain, Australia, Italy, Spain, Poland, and more than 20 other nations have contributed and sacrificed for the freedom of the Iraqi people. Senator Kerry calls these countries, quote, “window dressing.” They are, in his words, “a coalition of the coerced and the bribed.”
Many questions come to mind, but the first is this: How would Senator Kerry describe Great Britain – coerced, or bribed? Or Italy – which recently lost 19 citizens, killed by terrorists in Najaf – was Italy’s contribution just window dressing? If such dismissive terms are the vernacular of the golden age of diplomacy Senator Kerry promises, we are left to wonder which nations would care to join any future coalition. He speaks as if only those who openly oppose America’s objectives have a chance of earning his respect. Senator Kerry’s characterization of our good allies is ungrateful to nations that have withstood danger, hardship, and insult for standing with America in the cause of freedom.
Senator Kerry has also had a few things to say about support for our troops now on the ground in Iraq. Among other criticisms, he has asserted that those troops are not receiving the materiel support they need. Just this morning, he again gave the example of body armor, which he said our administration failed to supply. May I remind the Senator that last November, at the President’s request, Congress passed an $87 billion supplemental appropriation. This legislation was essential to our ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan – providing funding for body armor and other vital equipment; hazard pay; health benefits; ammunition; fuel, and spare parts for our military. The legislation passed overwhelmingly, with a vote in the Senate of 87 to 12. Senator Kerry voted no. I note that yesterday, attempting to clarify the matter, Senator Kerry said, quote, “I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it.”
Read the whole thing.
Lies and the Lying Liars
Remember last week when Kerry made this remark:
“We’re going to keep pounding, let me tell you. We’re just beginning to fight here,” Kerry said. “These guys are the most crooked, you know, lying group I’ve ever seen. It’s scary.”
His aides were quick to point out that Kerry was talking about the ‘Republican Attack Machine,’ because they knew the remarks, if directed towards the President, were beyond the pale:
Kerry did not specify to whom he was referring. But his spokesman Dick Wade said the comments targeted the “Republican attack machine” and not Bush or Cheney.
This damage control was enough to calm the storm, as it was widely represented that the ‘Republican Attack Machine’ wasmeant to be such evil individuals as Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity.
Guess what? Kerry was lying. In my home state of West Virginia, Kerry had the following to say:
“The Republican attack machine has welcomed me to West Virginia today with another distortion,” the Massachusetts senator told the veterans, adding that he voted against the bill because Bush refused to pay for it by rescinding some of his tax cuts.
What ‘Republican Attack Machine’ might that be, Sen. Kerry?
Before Kerry even arrived in Charleston, W.Va., for an event showcasing his support for veterans, President Bush had unveiled an ad on local TV accusing him of undercutting U.S. troops in Iraq by voting against war funding.
“John Kerry: Wrong on defense,” said the ad, which focused on the presumptive Democratic nominee’s 2003 vote against an $87 billion appropriations bill to fund military operations in Iraq.
They can’t even keep their lies internally consistent, or they hold us in such little regard that they are not even trying. Apparently, any disagreement over policy is an attack ad to the bozo’s. Then again, that is not surprising, since these are the same hacks that think that any analysis of Kerry’s voting record is an attack on his patriotism.
Of course, lying is nothing new for John Kerry.
Deepest Condolences
I don’t know Scott Elliott. I don’t know his politics. I do know that this broke my heart and made me cry.
(via Oliver, who beautifully titled his post “Dying in the Service of Good”)
Let The Spin Begin
Ezra, in a post titled “Substance-Free Attack Dogs” claims that I am over-reaching when I note that Kerry is out of line with his ‘foreign leaders’ comments. Notwithstanding the irony of being called an attack dog by none other than the First Violinist of the I Hate Bush orchestra, Ezra, while on the same sheet of music with the rest of the Anyone But Bush crowd, is off-key on a number of his assessments and statements.
Sayeth Ezra:
Sorry John, but your little scandal is over. The new Spanish prime minister has said he wants Bush out, not to mention that Kerry was misquoted in the first place.
Wrong and wrong- off to a typical start for Ezra. First, the new Spanish prime minister, a socialist, may dislike Bush and desire Kerry in office. But he was not in office when Kerry made the remarks, Kerry did not visit him, and since Kerry won’t tell us which leaders he is talking about, this is projection on Ezra’s part.
Second, while Kerry may have been misquoted, it did not change the thrust of his message. This was widely discussed in the blogosphere yesterday, and Ezra knows it. Why let the truth get in the way of spin? At any rate, it is a moot point, as Kerry himself isstanding by the statements:
In a telephone interview, the Massachusetts senator and presumptive Democratic nominee said “it’s no secret” that some countries are “deeply divided about our foreign policy. We have lost respect and influence in the world.”
He continued: “I stand by my statement. The point is not the leaders. What’s important is that this administration’s foreign policy is not making us as safe as we can be in the world.”
Undeterred, Ezra swings for the bleachers again:
They’re not going after Kerry on the economy, because he’s far more serious about the deficit than Bush is.
They’re not going after him on his foreign policy positions because they’re all thoughtful and tough.
They’re not going after him on health care because he’s got a sensible plan.
Instead, they’re going after him on whether or not he actually had the lamb when he lunched with the foreign leaders and the ridiculous and baseless charge that Kerry doesn’t talk about terrorism enough.
A banner day for Ezra, as he goes 0-6. They are going after Kerry on the economy- here is the Bush/Cheneypress brief on their plan for the economy, you can view any number of commercials from the Bush campaign on Kerry and foreign policy, and as far as I can tell, no one in America is talking about Kerry’s health plan.
Finally, no one cares what Kerry ate for lunch when he met with these foreign leaders, because HE DID NOT MEET WITH ANY. All people want to know is what foreign leaders? Saddam Hussein? Gerhard Schroeder? Aristide? Kim Jong-Il? Ordinary people want to know- but we know how Kerry holds ordinary people in low regard:
The town meeting was contentious at times, with 52-year-old Cedric Brown repeatedly pressing the candidate to name the foreign leaders whom Kerry has said are backing his campaign.
“I’m not going to betray a private conversation with anybody,” Kerry said. As the crowd of several hundred people began to mutter and boo, Kerry said, “That’s none of your business.”
These guys can’t even keep there lies consistent. Did he make the statement, or was he misquoted? It goes on and on.
One thing that I have learned about politics is that your political opponent often times over-reaches, and in doing so, exposes his Achilles heel. Ezra does so here, with this little statement:
They’re not going after him on his foreign policy positions because they’re all thoughtful and tough.
Anyone with half a brain recognizes that Kerry’s biggest problem is his voting record. Democrats are terrified that people will see the real record, so the new meme of the election is that Kerry is smart and thoughtful, able to understand complex situations and make nuanced decisions. That sounds great, especially since they can tie it in tothe absurdly false meme that Bush is stupid.
In the end, though, what it all boils down to is that Kerry is a waffler, an opportunist, and a Monday morning quarterback who likes to take every side to an issue. Exhibit A for the day:
“I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it,” he said.
Nuanced, thoughtful, and tough, hunh? Your amendment failed, Sen. Kerry, and you voted against the bill. Period. End of story. Even Ezra can’t spin this one.
He Stands By His Word
How long are you Democrats going to give Kerry a free ride on this?:
S President George W Bush has challenged Democratic rival John Kerry to name the foreign leaders he says privately support him in the election.
“If you’re going to make an accusation in the course of a presidential campaign, you ought to back it up with facts,” Mr Bush said.
Mr Kerry has said he stands by his claim, but was unable to name the leaders without betraying confidences.
“I’m not making anything up at all,” the Massachusetts senator said.
Mr Kerry said last week that he had heard from some foreign leaders who he said were quietly hoping that he would beat Mr Bush on 2 November.
And amid Republican suggestions that he was making it up, Mr Kerry told the Associated Press news agency: “I stand by my statement.
Start naming some names, or STFU, Mr. Kerry.
BTW- according to this latest poll, your word isn’t worth very much:
Says What He Believes:
Bush
Yes———–51%
No————45%
Don’t know— 4%Kerry
Yes———–33%
No————57%
Don’t know–10%
While the leftcan keep trying to convince themselves that Kerry’s lies, flip-flops, and waffling are signs of heightened intelligence, the public isn’t buying it.