Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (603392)	8/13/2004 10:14:49 AM
From: Andrew N. Cothran	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769667

Ken: Looks like your wonderful Democratic friends over on the Kerry thread can't take the heat. They are like the other Kerry supporters. They love to dispense their crap but when the chips are down, when they run into someone who refuses to bow and scrape to their command, they run like crybabies to SI and bounce their opponent from the thread. But I managed to have some fun along the way. Tell your friendly lackeys that they will miss me but I will not miss them.

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (603392)	8/13/2004 11:48:38 AM
From: J. C. Dithers	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769667

what specifically did Kerry say that they contradict? Okay, Kenneth. That he was in Cambodia on Christmas Day 1968. One whopper is enough to make the case when it is repeated over and over through the years, even on the Senate floor. But they also dispute his account of the actions that led to every single medal he was awarded, and his accounts of what he did on a variety of occasions including the details of Rassman. Then we have his allegations of war crimes he witnessed. All vigorously disputed as lies. Let me tell you what I think John Kerry did, the good and the bad. It may not be too different from what you believe in your heart. Here is a young man with a narcissistic personality and delusions of grandeur who visualizes himself as the next John Kennedy. He has to make a decision about Vietnam. He rolls the dice by enlisting and volunteering for Vietnam. He may come home a hero -- or he may come home in a coffin. So far so good -- he shows more courage than most, whatever his inner motives. In the pre-camcorder era of 1968, he takes a movie camera with him, intending to record his exploits. He expresses his intention to someday become president to a number of his comrades. He serves on a destroyer, but finds that this keeps him too far from the action, so he volunteers for the swift boats. Still commendable. Over the next four months he is in combat situations. Now he puts his plan in action. He claims Purple Hearts for very minor "wounds." (The regulations are loose as to what constitutes a "wound"). None of his wounds cause him to lose more than a matter of minutes in sick-bay and are treated with bacitracin and band-aids or ace bandages. Now he begins to be a medal-grubber. He manages to get himself written up for Bronzes and a Silver. (Later, many who were there will dispute his accounts of these combat actions). He "earns" the medals at a rate that exceeds the most decorated soldier of WWII, Audie Murphy. And at the end, he hasn't a scratch on him. All through this, he has someone take movies that are recreations of his various exploits. We see him emerging from the jungle in combat garb holding his weapon. (Imagine Audie Murphy even thinking of doing such a thing, even though he went on to become a movie star). It's not looking so good any more. This is a self-absorbed, vainglorious man seeking to use the battleground to promote his own political future. Now he has what he thinks he needs. Medals, and movies to "prove" it. He uses the three P/H to get a ticket out of 'Nam eight months early. When he gets stateside he petitions out of his enlistment a year early, to run for the Senate. He has left his "Band of Brothers" behind to fend for themselves. 35 years later, he claims his four 'Nam months as his most important qualification for becoming president. He reminds everyone constantly during the primaries of what a hero he was. He crosses Boston Harbor to the DNC in a boat surrounded by his crewmen. (They tried to get an actual swift boat, but it was too costly). His first words at the DNC are, "John Kerry, reporting for Duty!" I see J.K. as a hero of sorts for a very brief period 35 years ago, but also an unabashed self-promoter and braggart who served not so much for his country or his brothers, but to further his own ambitions. He won the roll of the dice. He left his bothers behind without a qualm. There are now some 250 men who were there and DID serve with him who dispute his heroics. Why aren't 250 or 500 other veterans coming forth to support his versions of the truth? Where are they all? There are only the same-old eight crewman who back him up and they were all at the DNC and obviously support his political agenda. We are all complicated in our personalities and character and JK is no exception. He showed courage under fire but diminishes it by the constant bragging about it. I think he is more than capable of exaggeration and outright lies about his service when it serves his purpose. All of this has to do with character. I believe GWB is a less heroic figure but fundamentally a more honest man and less driven by self-aggrandizement.