Unlikely.

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Bot,
You must have forgotten, In the eyes of the leftist elites,Republican are tooo stooopid to understand the REAL issues. After all, if republicans were as smart as dems, we wouldn't be republicans. So its obvious there must be evil, demented, smart guy, somewhere, pulling the strings for the mind-numbed robots. If only they could stop the evil puppet master, we would have the utopia they truly wish for us.

Allowing people to keep the money they have earned is NOT redistribution. Never has been. Never will be.

I know you pro-tax guys just CAN'T wrap your brains around this whole concept of "keeping what you earn", but keep trying....maybe you'll understand it eventually....

And yes, I DO believe we should have no progressive INCOME taxes. A progressive system is by definition unfair. It penalizes financial success, and rewards financial failure.

Abolish the IRS. National retail sales tax is the only way to go.

www.fairtax.org

Mike

__________________
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1985 300TD
270,000 miles
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1994 E320
not my favorite, but the wife wanted it

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AMEN!

The Swift Boat veteren's account overwhelmingly contridict that of John Kerry.

I heard the doctor who treated Kerry for his wound that gave him his purple heart. John had a 1/2 inch "sliver" of metal in his arm. It could have been pulled out with your fingers and covered with a band-aid. Kerry (or his comrades around him during the doctor visit) said that he was the "next JFK from Massachussets", and was "going to be president". The doctor believed that Kerry was just there to enhance his resume for president. Kerry also stated that the wound was from enemy fire in a fire fight. His comrades stated to the doctor that there was no fire fight and that Kerry wounded himself with a mortar round that he himself launched. The doctor stated that the wound was indeed not consistant with John's story.

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Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
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mplafleur, your statement reflects the lies and distortions promoted by this Republican hatchet squad. Why don't you get the real facts? The doctor has been exposed as a liar who never treated Kerry. The "comrades" you mentioned did not serve with him. It is a trumped up smear and you people are no better than the people who spit on these guys when they came back from Nam.



Shame on the Swift Boat
Veterans for Bush

By JIM RASSMANN
August 10, 2004; Page A10

Wall Street Journal

I came to know Lt. John Kerry during the spring of 1969. He and his swift boat crew assisted in inserting our Special Forces team and our Chinese Nung soldiers into operational sites in the Cau Mau Peninsula of South Vietnam. I worked with him on many operations and saw firsthand his leadership, courage and decision-making ability under fire.

On March 13, 1969, John Kerry's courage and leadership saved my life.

While returning from a SEA LORDS operation along the Bay Hap River, a mine detonated under another swift boat. Machine-gun fire erupted from both banks of the river, and a second explosion followed moments later. The second blast blew me off John's swift boat, PCF-94, throwing me into the river. Fearing that the other boats would run me over, I swam to the bottom of the river and stayed there as long as I could hold my breath.

When I surfaced, all the swift boats had left, and I was alone taking fire from both banks. To avoid the incoming fire, I repeatedly swam under water as long as I could hold my breath, attempting to make it to the north bank of the river. I thought I would die right there. The odds were against me avoiding the incoming fire and, even if I made it out of the river, I thought I'd be captured and executed. Kerry must have seen me in the water and directed his driver, Del Sandusky, to turn the boat around. Kerry's boat ran up to me in the water, bow on, and I was able to climb up a cargo net to the lip of the deck. But, because I was nearly upside down, I couldn't make it over the edge of the deck. This left me hanging out in the open, a perfect target. John, already wounded by the explosion that threw me off his boat, came out onto the bow, exposing himself to the fire directed at us from the jungle, and pulled me aboard.

For his actions that day, I recommended John for the Silver Star, our country's third highest award for bravery under fire. I learned only this past January that the Navy awarded John the Bronze Star with Combat V for his valor. The citation for this award, signed by the Commander of U.S. Naval Forces, Vietnam, Vice Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, read, "Lieutenant (junior grade) Kerry's calmness, professionalism and great personal courage under fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service." To this day I am grateful to John Kerry for saving my life. And to this day I still believe that he deserved the Silver Star for his courage.

It has been many years since I served in Vietnam. I returned home, got married, and spent many years as a deputy sheriff for Los Angeles County. I retired in 1989 as a lieutenant. It has been a long time since I left Vietnam, but I think often of the men who did not come home with us.

I am neither a politician nor an organizer. I am a retired police officer with a passion for orchids. Until January of this year, the only public presentations I made were about my orchid hobby. But in this presidential election, I had to speak out; I had to tell the American people about John Kerry, about his wisdom and courage, about his vision and leadership. I would trust John Kerry with my life, and I would entrust John Kerry with the well-being of our country.

Nobody asked me to join John's campaign. Why would they? I am a Republican, and for more than 30 years I have largely voted for Republicans. I volunteered for his campaign because I have seen John Kerry in the worst of conditions. I know his character. I've witnessed his bravery and leadership under fire. And I truly know he will be a great commander in chief.

Now, 35 years after the fact, some Republican-financed Swift Boat Veterans for Bush are suddenly lying about John Kerry's service in Vietnam; they are calling him a traitor because he spoke out against the Nixon administration's failed policies in Vietnam. Some of these Republican-sponsored veterans are the same ones who spoke out against John at the behest of the Nixon administration in 1971. But this time their attacks are more vicious, their lies cut deep and are directed not just at John Kerry, but at me and each of his crewmates as well. This hate-filled ad asserts that I was not under fire; it questions my words and Navy records. This smear campaign has been launched by people without decency, people who don't understand the bond of those who serve in combat.

As John McCain noted, the television ad aired by these veterans is "dishonest and dishonorable." Sen. McCain called on President Bush to condemn the Swift Boat Veterans for Bush ad. Regrettably, the president has ignored Sen. McCain's advice.

Does this strategy of attacking combat Vietnam veterans sound familiar? In 2000, a similar Republican smear campaign was launched against Sen. McCain. In fact, the very same communications group, Spaeth Communications, that placed ads against John McCain in 2000 is involved in these vicious attacks against John Kerry. Texas Republican donors with close ties to George W. Bush and Karl Rove crafted this "dishonest and dishonorable" ad. Their new charges are false; their stories are fabricated, made up by people who did not serve with Kerry in Vietnam. They insult and defame all of us who served in Vietnam.

But when the noise and fog of their distortions and lies have cleared, a man who volunteered to serve his country, a man who showed up for duty when his country called, a man to whom the United States Navy awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts, will stand tall and proud. Ultimately, the American people will judge these Swift Boat Veterans for Bush and their accusations. Americans are tired of smear campaigns against those who volunteered to wear the uniform. Swift Boat Veterans for Bush should hang their heads in shame.

Mr. Rassmann, a retired lieutenant with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, served with the U.S. Army 5th Special Forces Group in Vietnam 1968-69.

Also: Non-partisan Annenburg report:

http://www.factcheck.org/article.aspx?docID=231

I think this is the third time this JR article's been posted. Must the the only arrow in the quiver. I would suggest over use may dull its point.

And let's see. JR and the "band of brothers" are touring this great country, playing to adoring audiences, eating, sleeping and partying on campaign funds with a potential president. Given that option I'd probably say, "yes sir, whatever you'd like me to say, do, write, sir, I will sir."

All the vilification of the SwiftVets doesn't really address the questions raised nor does it explain the curious inconsistency of "Christmas 1968 in Cambodia".

At some point the Major 3 TV networks and the mainstream media are going to have look at the facts. At that point it should get interesting.

It's already passed interesting. Now it's just disgusting. Of course, more lies can be fabricated to counter the known truth - I just hope it backfires in the liars' faces.

__________________
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and what do you think of the major contributor to SBV getting a 90 million dollar contract from Bush?

I do not consider myself a libertarian, however I favor the tax system advocated above - a consumption tax. That would potentially eliminate the dodges and games played by the current income tax system. Unfortunately there is too much vested interest in keeping it the way it is, especially for maintaining an economy based on consumption and discouraging savings.

On the other hand, the current shift of repubs is NOT allowing those who earn money to keep it. They are redistributing UP as they are giving legislative breaks to corporations in return for campaign contributions. This results in corporations constructing elaborate tax dodges by off-shoring corporate headquarters and faking investments/losses. Further, the drop in government income forces cuts in the departments that oversee and enforce the laws, so more and more companies are getting away with breaking laws to hide earnings.

The tax burden for the defense department's immense spending spree is falling onto the backs of the middle class while the top 1% get kickbacks. That is one reason the Libertarians object to Bush and Co.

__________________
'83 240D with 617.952 and 2.88
'01 VW Beetle TDI
'05 Jeep Liberty CRD
'89 Toyota 4x4, needs 2L-T
'78 280Z with L28ET - 12.86@110
Oil Burner Kartel #35

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1...oD/bioclip.jpg

Is this surprising when there are still those that will argue that John F. Kennedy's PT-109 story is myth.

Heck, I'm their age. When I wake up in the morning, I can't remember where I left my car keys.

These old farts are trying to differentiate memory from memory from 35 years ago. I'll bet none of them remember where they left their car keys, either.

The water was still. Sure it was. It was rough. OOokay. He's a liar. He's a hero. Ooookay.

What's he done in government in the last say, 20 years? Now taht's some stuff that's on the record, not subject to "Band of Brothers'" idolotry nor commie sympathizer rapid hate.

Moveon, ya'll.

B

That sums it up nicely, thank you.

ah yes that secretive and reclusive George Soros, he moves in the shadows, always trying to hide his true motives and neferious plans.

This is one of the reasons I have quite voting R. Soros has been mentioned two times now as some evil mastermind. Please, someone tell me something bad about him. Tell me about the sweetheart deal he Kerry sent him. Show me the the false accusations he has made against Bush.

As fowler said, the stupid of the world seem to have taken up residence in the Republican party. They hear Rush say "Soros bad" and they just parrot it.

What happened to the party of ideas? Goldwater Kemp Reagan McCain, you didn't have to agree with them but at least they had ideas

Do you have any idea how disrespectful your comment is? Does it ever occur to you that people who disagree with you might just disagree?

I haven't studied the national retail sales tax, so I can't comment on that. So long as wealthy people pay more than poor people, then maybe it is fair.

The thing I don't understand is why you object to the word "redistribution"? Does it have some evil, commie connotation to you?