Kerry Was Not Talking About The Troops

kenny olav

A lot of you know I'm not a fan of Senator Kerry. I have never voted for him, though I had the opportunity to do so three times: twice for Senator and once for President.

But despite what you may have heard, he DID NOT say the troops were uneducated and dumb, although that's what it may seem like from watching this short clip.

The truth is, Kerry did not in any way say the troops had stupidly gotten themselves stuck in Iraq. What he meant was that the BUSH ADMINISTRATION had not educated themselves on the situation in the Middle East, which is how they got stuck in Iraq, as he puts it. Of course, they are not in Iraq - if they ever set foot in Iraq, they never travel beyond the safety of the Green Zone. Kerry says the troops are stuck in Iraq because of Bush's stupidity, not theirs. I think it goes beyond stupidity, but this is not about my opinion, it's about clarifying John Kerry's.

Here is the video of John Kerry defending himself at a press conference:

http://video.johnkerry.com/video/flash/103106_pressc_2.html

I'd hate to think that Bush might continue to distort what Kerry said and possibly swing the pendulum away from the Democrats this election, however marginal the change the Dems might bring.

Purple Hawk

you seem to have a lot more enthusiasm about putting kerry's comments into context compared to rush limbaugh's comments.

gimmesometruth27

where was this kerry in 2004?

it will be interesting to see what happens with this in the next few days.

kenny olav

Purple Hawk wrote:

you seem to have a lot more enthusiasm about putting kerry's comments into context compared to rush limbaugh's comments.

are you fucking kidding me? ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!!?!?!?

Purple Hawk

Kenny Olav wrote:

are you fucking kidding me? ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!!?!?!?

nope b/c if you'd have listened to rush's show that day, you'd understand.

Will1659

Purple Hawk wrote:

you seem to have a lot more enthusiasm about putting kerry's comments into context compared to rush limbaugh's comments.

As I said on the other thread, explain how what anyone is doing qualifies as "putting his comments into context." They don't need context and they don't need justification. He mis-delivered his joke, ok, Bush sucks at public speaking too, let's move on. Rush Limbaugh's comments, on the other hand, context or no context, were just based on bad information or idiocy. In the ad to which Rush was referring, anyone who knows anything at all about Parkinson's could tell you that MJF was exhibiting the symptoms of over-medication rather than under. This is sometimes inevitable, this lack of control over exactly when and to what degree your drugs take effect. And anyone who doesn't know enough about Parkinson's to know that (i.e. Rush evidently) just shouldn't be commenting on it. Anyway, back to the point, Kerry's and Limbaugh's comments aren't even in the same ballpark. I think Limbaugh said exactly what he meant to say. Kerry, on the other hand, had a brief slip of the tongue and the right is jumping onto that cause they've got nothing else right now.

sponger

If Kerry was really commenting about Bush's lack of education, then that doesn't even make sense. Bush holds an advanced degree from an Ivy League University. That doesn't make the guy ultra-smart, but it doesn't make him uneducated either.

gimmesometruth27

sponger wrote:

If Kerry was really commenting about Bush's lack of education, then that doesn't even make sense. Bush holds an advanced degree from an Ivy League University. That doesn't make the guy ultra-smart, but it doesn't make him uneducated either.

if you watch the video he was saying that bush surrounded himself with people who failed to listen to the advisors and experts that told him this situation in iraq was a likelihood. instead he went along with guys like cheney and rummy who have never served and thought it would be easier than it has been, and that makes for uneducated decision making.

chopitdown

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

if you watch the video he was saying that bush surrounded himself with people who failed to listen to the advisors and experts that told him this situation in iraq was a likelihood. instead he went along with guys like cheney and rummy who have never served and thought it would be easier than it has been, and that makes for uneducated decision making.

cheney didn't serve, rummy did...continue.

soulsinging

Will1659 wrote:

As I said on the other thread, explain how what anyone is doing qualifies as "putting his comments into context." They don't need context and they don't need justification. He mis-delivered his joke, ok, Bush sucks at public speaking too, let's move on. Rush Limbaugh's comments, on the other hand, context or no context, were just based on bad information or idiocy. In the ad to which Rush was referring, anyone who knows anything at all about Parkinson's could tell you that MJF was exhibiting the symptoms of over-medication rather than under. This is sometimes inevitable, this lack of control over exactly when and to what degree your drugs take effect. And anyone who doesn't know enough about Parkinson's to know that (i.e. Rush evidently) just shouldn't be commenting on it. Anyway, back to the point, Kerry's and Limbaugh's comments aren't even in the same ballpark. I think Limbaugh said exactly what he meant to say. Kerry, on the other hand, had a brief slip of the tongue and the right is jumping onto that cause they've got nothing else right now.

this comment is so bogus i cant even believe it... nobody knows their prescription drug effects like rush!

kenny olav

sponger wrote:

If Kerry was really commenting about Bush's lack of education, then that doesn't even make sense. Bush holds an advanced degree from an Ivy League University. That doesn't make the guy ultra-smart, but it doesn't make him uneducated either.

he was saying he "didn't do his homework" on Iraq.

sponger

Kenny Olav wrote:

he was saying he "didn't do his homework" on Iraq.

Actually, here's what he said:

You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq.

kenny olav

sponger wrote:

Actually, here's what he said:

According to Kerry spokeswoman Amy Brundage, his 'prepared text' was: "Do you know where you end up if you don't study, if you aren't smart, if you're intellectually lazy? You end up getting us stuck in a war in Iraq. Just ask President Bush."

sponger

Kenny Olav wrote:

According to Kerry spokeswoman Amy Brundage, his 'prepared text' was: "Do you know where you end up if you don't study, if you aren't smart, if you're intellectually lazy? You end up getting us stuck in a war in Iraq. Just ask President Bush."

pffft. I'll believe it when I see it. We need to get the original copy of the 'prepared' text and carbon date the ink to before the time of the speech.

kenny olav

sponger wrote:

pffft. I'll believe it when I see it. We need to get the original copy of the 'prepared' text and carbon date the ink to before the time of the speech.

It's certainly possible that Kerry meant what people thought he meant and then invented this new explanation to cover it up. However, Kerry does have a history of lame attempts to make jokes. We'll never know. We should give him the benefit of the doubt. I think its a reasonable explanation.

sponger

Kenny Olav wrote:

Kerry does have a history of lame attempts to make jokes.

But, does he have a history of fumbling the wording of his jokes? Lame jokes are one thing, but making a good joke into a lame one by re-wording the punchline is another.

69charger

Kenny Olav wrote:

However, Kerry does have a history of lame attempts to make jokes. We'll never know. We should give him the benefit of the doubt. I think its a reasonable explanation.

He also has a well documented history of demeaning members of the United States Military, so maybe we should just follow established Kerry precedent and believe him when he called our troops stupid.

He's already called our troops terrorists, rapists, murderers, and baby killers.

sponger

I would've voted for McCain if he had made it to nominations. There is no question about that guy's service in 'Nam.

Pearl Jam and toast

Purple Hawk wrote:

you seem to have a lot more enthusiasm about putting kerry's comments into context compared to rush limbaugh's comments.

Rush Limbaugh is a stupid ass who says extremely rude and ignorant things on a daily basis. There's no context there, he's just an ass.

Byrnzie

sponger wrote:

Bush holds an advanced degree from an Ivy League University.

The things that money can buy! :rolleyes:

Byrnzie

69charger wrote:

He also has a well documented history of demeaning members of the United States Military, so maybe we should just follow established Kerry precedent and believe him when he called our troops stupid.

He's already called our troops terrorists, rapists, murderers, and baby killers.

Please provide examples.