So, where were you really, Lt. Kerry? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

KyGuy · #1 08-12-2004, 11:28 AM

Today's Tony Snow Column

Tony Snow

Swift Boats, Continued
http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com

| I had an interesting talk with Jim Hurley, the head of Vietnam Veterans for Kerry. Not surprisingly, he disparaged Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, whom he called "Swift Boat Veterans for Bush," and urged one and all to look at the military records reproduced on the Kerry for President website.

The most interesting part of the talk concerned the latest account of John Kerry's whereabouts on Christmas Day, 1968. Kerry's account of this list has shifted and changed constantly over the last 35 years. Some versions have him spending the day in Cambodia, dropping off spies. Others have him in a barracks, 55 miles from the Cambodian border, scribbling entries into his diary. Hurley offered a hybrid today, saying Kerry was ordered onto the water Christmas day, made his way to the Cambodian border, endured three separate engagements with the enemy, and returned home. I count at least six distinct versions of Kerry's whereabouts on that day, including this one, released Wednesday by Michael Meehan of the Kerry campaign:

"During John Kerry's service in Vietnam, many times he was on or near the Cambodian border and on one occasion crossed into Cambodia at the request of members of a special operations group operating out of Ha Tien.

"On December 24, 1968 Lieutenant John Kerry and his crew were on patrol in the watery borders between Vietnam and Cambodia deep in enemy territory. In the early afternoon, Kerry's boat, PCF-44, was at Sa Dec and then headed north to the Cambodian border. There, Kerry and his crew along with two other boats were ambushed, taking fire from both sides of the river, and after the firefight were fired upon again. Later that evening during their night patrol they came under friendly fire.

"It is an acknowledged fact that Swift Boat crews regularly operated along the Cambodian border from Ha Tien on the Gulf of Thailand to the rivers of the Mekong south and west of Saigon. Boats often received fire from enemy taking sanctuary across the border. Kerry's was not the only United States riverboat to respond and inadvertently or responsibly across the border. In fact, it was this reality that lead President Nixon to later invade Cambodia itself in 1970."

Curiouser and curiouser. Stay tuned.

koop · #2 08-12-2004, 12:16 PM

He was in Alabama silly.

KirkVining · #3 08-12-2004, 01:42 PM

The Republicans continue to argue against Kerry based on trumped up 40 year old garbage. It's the same stuff they pulled on the Clintons and the public is reacting in the same way - this may get the red meat Republican crowd all hot and bothered the way Hillary's cattle futures did, but the average voter just doesn't give a $hit. During the Swift Boat Freak Show Kerry's poll numbers have jumped in New Jeresy to the point it is no longer a potential swing state, they have increased in Michigan by 7 points, and Kerry is now running ahead in many others. The Apocalpse Then stories may work for the Koolaid set, but most people are focusing on the economy which seems to be going back into recession, and the continual bloodbath in Iraq which shows no signs of letting up any time soon, and the absolute crazed approach the Admin has shown to terror alerts. Now they have added a new element, the choice of a Republican Party hack, Porter Goss, to the position of CIA director. Goss himself is on record saying he doesn't qualify for the job, and the 911 Commission singled him out for critizism for failing to even hold any hearings at all on terrorism prior to 911. As usual, the only reason he seems to have been selected is that he may be worth a few votes in Florida, and because he can be counted on to keep the family skelatons in the closet.

mzsmbs · #4 08-12-2004, 02:07 PM

what's up wit the the ass as your avitar?

KirkVining · #5 08-12-2004, 02:15 PM

Its to help people expose what an ass they are. Looks like it works.

mzsmbs · #6 08-12-2004, 04:59 PM

:p

#7 08-13-2004, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KirkVining

The Republicans continue to argue against Kerry based on trumped up 40 year old garbage.

Wow Kirk if I a dollar for everytime your gang talked about Bush's dental records of drinking and driving I'd be a millionaire, er um well I'd have more millons anyway but you should get my point.

Your charts don't seem to indicate planes smashing into US interests.

KirkVining · #8 08-13-2004, 01:43 PM

Actually, Medmech, you can find Sept 11 on the charts. The drop of the dollar ties right to it, however, I have never really bought the idea that Sept 11 in and of itself has been responsible for recession and major economic calamity. Our reaction to it has done a whole lot more damage. These terror alerts, none of which have turned out to be worth a bootful of cow piss, hurt the economy every time they trot them out, and an adminstration that pushes fear and raises the debt level is also harming us. In addition, as I stated before 911 should have been a wake up call to get off foriegn oil, and we will now pay dearly for not doing so. We now are moving into a point of economic convergence - high debt load where interst is paid to foreign oil potentates, high trade deficit fuled by energy price rises, high government expenditures outside the US, that point to a macroeconomic shift in overall cash outflow from this country to the rest of the world. It is not good, and more of it can be tied to government failure to recognize this gathering storm than to 911.

I really have tried to keep any attacks on Bush's service to strictly a response to this Swift Boat stuff. I have stated numerous times we should just drop it and concentrate on the present. Unfortunately, the present isn't working out for the right. If you look at the futures markets, they ain't betting things are going to get any better.

#9 08-13-2004, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KirkVining

I really have tried to keep any attacks on Bush's service to strictly a response to this Swift Boat stuff. I have stated numerous times we should just drop it and concentrate on the present.

Even in retaliation on Bush's service record I don't play that card, I walk the walk, one of the things I do like about you is that your fairly consistent but your hatred of Bush seems to cloud that thought at times. I think you'd be a much more credible if you jumped out of that "anybody but Bush" line.

I regards to the rest US/World Economics to much too complex to even attempt to make a case for either side. I could easily provide contradictory data, but it's pointless.

fj bertrand · #10 08-15-2004, 09:43 PM

from the daily show, Jan 2004:

Jon Stewart: "Do you know John Kerry? Have you met him at al?"

Hetrosexulal former NJ Gov Christine Whitman: "Oh yeah, Oh yeah."

JS: "Nice fellow?"

CW: "Actually, my husband went through school, colege and served in Vietnam with him"

JS: "You're kidding!"

CW:"No, no, they spent christmas going up the river in a swift boat."

Hello George Bush, what were you doing on christmas 1968? probably tanked.