The John Kerry Incident

Milhouse VanHoutenMilhouse VanHouten Posts: 755
edited November 2006 in A Moving Train
This whole thing is ridiculous.

Look at the people who called for Kerry to apologize: President Bush, VP Cheney, Tony Snow, John McCain, every douchebag on Fox News, assorted talk radio assholes across the country, etc.

Do ANY of the aforementioned people really want an apology from Kerry? Would any of them "forgive" him if he said he was sorry? Do any of them actually care about what he said in the first place? Demanding an apology from someone is kind of a lame thing to do in any cirumstance, but this is even worse. Bush and Rove and Mehlman and the rest of the GOP heard what Kerry said, and they weren't thinking: "Oh, my sensibilities have been offended by this man's callous remark. I demand he apologize!" Fuck no, don't be stupid. They're thinking about how they could go on tv and show their asses, condemn Kerry and call him 'anti-military', while positioning themselves as 'pro-military' at the same time. The GOP actually wanted Kerry to hold off on the apology as long as possible. The longer he resisted, the longer they got to bash him. Anyone who acts like the point of calling for an apology is actually to get an apology is a fucking moron. Similarly, the only reason Dems wanted Kerry to apologize is so that they could move past the issue. I doubt Democrat congressional candidates enjoyed answering 5 questions per hour about John Kerry's disdain for our fighting men and women.

It's a bunch of stupid election year bullshit, and the Republicans are the ones cynically milking it for all it's worth.
"Of course it hurts. You're getting fucked by an elephant."
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • hippiemomhippiemom Posts: 3,326
    Milhouse! :D

    Where the hell have you been?
    "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." ~ MLK, 1963
  • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,446
    Yep...it's stupid. And it's being done by the Dems now. And don't think for 1 second that it's only retribution for the Kerry thing...they'd have done it even if it had happened in teh reverse order. A bunch of idiots looking for the 'quick fix' to their election problems. Stupid, just stupid.
    hippiemom = goodness
  • Yep...it's stupid. And it's being done by the Dems now. And don't think for 1 second that it's only retribution for the Kerry thing...they'd have done it even if it had happened in teh reverse order. A bunch of idiots looking for the 'quick fix' to their election problems. Stupid, just stupid.
    Well . . . Boehner said that none of this is Rumsfeld's fault, and that our generals have screwed things up.

    Isn't that a little weird? I mean, putting aside whether Boehner needs to "apologize to our troops" or anything like that . . . NONE of this is Rumsfeld's fault? Really?
    "Things will just get better and better even though it
    doesn't feel that way right now. That's the hopeful
    idea . . . Hope didn't get much applause . . .
    Hope! Hope is the underdog!"

    -- EV, Live at the Showbox
  • know1know1 Posts: 6,794
    Uhh....most of the top Dems were calling for an apology as well. What did they want?
    The only people we should try to get even with...
    ...are those who've helped us.

    Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
  • know1know1 Posts: 6,794
    to win next tuesday

    Good point.

    It's not really about policies and positions anymore is it? It's all about winning - nothing more and nothing less.
    The only people we should try to get even with...
    ...are those who've helped us.

    Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
  • know1 wrote:
    Uhh....most of the top Dems were calling for an apology as well. What did they want?

    Uhh... I'm pretty sure I addressed that. Dems (especially Democrats running for congress) want him to apologize so the story will be over.
    "Of course it hurts. You're getting fucked by an elephant."
  • Uhh... I'm pretty sure I addressed that. Dems (especially Democrats running for congress) want him to apologize so the story will be over.
    He did and it is.
  • Uhh... I'm pretty sure I addressed that. Dems (especially Democrats running for congress) want him to apologize so the story will be over.
    Exactly. The whole thing is such a damn joke. Like I've said before, anyone who thinks Kerry was insulting the men and women in the U.S. Military is a goddamn moron. He was attacking the administration and just communicated it poorly. Even John Kerry isn't dumb enough to attack the troops. btw, Milhouse - What's your sig from?
  • know1know1 Posts: 6,794
    Uhh... I'm pretty sure I addressed that. Dems (especially Democrats running for congress) want him to apologize so the story will be over.

    But if the story would be over if he apologized, then why would Republicans ask for him to apologize?
    The only people we should try to get even with...
    ...are those who've helped us.

    Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
  • jlew24asujlew24asu Posts: 10,118
    I think the real truth about this incident is that it hurts John Kerry not the dems.
  • AbuskedtiAbuskedti Posts: 1,917
    The average Joe I run into thinks that what Kerry said was very wrong and very serious..

    That freightens me.. but I've been getting freightened alot lately
  • jlew24asujlew24asu Posts: 10,118
    Abuskedti wrote:
    The average Joe I run into thinks that what Kerry said was very wrong and very serious..

    That freightens me.. but I've been getting freightened alot lately


    if it was a republican who said, you would think it was very wrong and very serious
  • know1 wrote:
    But if the story would be over if he apologized, then why would Republicans ask for him to apologize?

    To take full advantage of the opportunity presented to them, the Republicans have to call for an apology. It's part of the overall act of criticizing him. If they don't call for an apology, their attack on him isn't as strong as it could have been. Calling on him to apologize puts him on the spot, because lots of idiots actually care if he apologizes or not. Now, he has to respond one way or the other. If he refuses to apologize(as he did), he looks like a stubborn jackass and the Republicans are able to continue the attack(as they did). The Republicans called for an apology almost immediately after it became a story. This was a good move on their part. It ensured that Kerry wouldn't apologize right away, which is exactly what they wanted in the first place. Kerry looks weak if he apologizes "just because the GOP told him to", so he makes a sad attempt to defiantly hold his ground for a day or two (which is what he did). In the end, they make a 3 day story out of a simple verbal gaffe.
    "Of course it hurts. You're getting fucked by an elephant."
  • drew0drew0 Posts: 943
    All I can say,

    "[Our enemies] never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."

    But, that isn't a big deal, now huh you big Republicans you?
    Pittsburgh 6/23/06
    Madison Square Garden 6/25/08
  • drew0drew0 Posts: 943
    jlew24asu wrote:
    if it was a republican who said, you would think it was very wrong and very serious

    I know it wasn't directed at me, but I'll answer anyway. I wouldn't find it wrong, because he misspoke. It's not the end of the world, and anyone who makes a deal out of it and acts as if it's the end of the world, and the Democratic Party, just needs to shut up and stop disscussing politics, because you're not looking at the whole picture and are wasting other people's time. He slipped, and it happens to the best of us - even as Scott McCellen Scott McClellan, who thinks “even the most straightforward and plain-spoken people misspeak.” But, that was refering to George Bush when he said something wrong and slips about harming our country, because that's fine. When John Kerry says something wrong, it's shameful and an act of treason, for he's a disgusting man who is an idiot. Oh, no, he's a FLIP-FLOPPER. Although since he's a conservative, he's an honorable Christian, I take it, and can't do wrong - and they're allowed to be flip floppers, as no one cares when any other prominent conservative "flip flops on an issue".
    George Bush has misspoke before and said things equally as bad, but Republicans never made a fuss about that. The Republicans who are raising hell over this comment are beating a dead horse, and embarressing not only themselves, but their party as a whole. It's pathetic and just plan shameful.
    Pittsburgh 6/23/06
    Madison Square Garden 6/25/08
  • igotid88igotid88 Posts: 27,992
    Abuskedti wrote:
    The average Joe I run into thinks that what Kerry said was very wrong and very serious..

    That freightens me.. but I've been getting freightened alot lately


    Did you at least explain to them what he meant to say? I think that's the problem is that most people don't hear or don't wanna hear the whole story. Bush has said many terrible things and there's never a big brouhaha. There wasn't an outrage over the Where's the WMD joke at that dinner a few years back.
    I miss igotid88
  • kenny olavkenny olav Posts: 3,319
    igotid88 wrote:
    Did you at least explain to them what he meant to say? I think that's the problem is that most people don't hear or don't wanna hear the whole story. Bush has said many terrible things and there's never a big brouhaha. There wasn't an outrage over the Where's the WMD joke at that dinner a few years back.


    It was interesting reading how this story was portrayed in two different newspaper I read today.

    Reading about it in the Boston Globe, which is read only by people who really sit down and read the paper,it was clear that Kerry intended to say "get US stuck in Iraq" and he was referring to Bush.

    Reading the Boston Metro, which is free and readily available throughout the city, and can be seen being read by at least half the people riding the T or the commuter rail... IT WAS NOT MADE CLEAR AT ALL that Kerry was referring to Bush not the troops... in fact, most of the front page was made up of the now famous picture of troops in Iraq purposely mispelling their joking plea for help. It was pretty funny joke by them, or would have been if the premise were true. But to print that picture on the front page... a day (or two?) after Kerry had explained that his comment was not directed at the troops.... THIS IS DISGUSTINGLY IRRESPONSIBLE journalism. everyone I overheard on the train today thought that Kerry had insulted the troops. and even if they read the story on the front page... it wasn't clear what Kerry's joke was about. they didn't mention what he had meant to say. throughout the rest of the paper, there was no clear mention of Kerry's intent.

    I didn't read the Boston Herald today, but I imagine it was more of the same bullshit that they put out every day. the paper was once owned by Rubert Murdoch and I think maintains some of kind of connection to his media empire. they basically mirror what you see on the local Fox news outlet.

    i'm pissed off about this so no much because of wanting John Kerry to be vindicated. it just really pisses me off that a large segment of the media can do this to a person... distort his message.
  • I never liked Kerry. He's a boring, droning atypical politician who never has an opinion that he didn't pull off of this week's Democratic strategy guide or Gallup poll. His "stances" on the big issues are usually determined by the direction of the wind. I'm not saying the guys on the other side are any better, but it continually amazes me that someome with such a knack for sticking his own foot in his mouth could hold such a high public office.

    Well, I guess this is the same state that's re-elected Ted Kennedy for all these years, so maybe I shouldn't be so surprised.
    fuck the public
  • politics are alot easier for people when done in soundbytes. This is what republicans are best at. Their talking points are 5 second verbal assaults that people can easily soak up and use for their own. Republicans are much better at this than democrats. Democrats want to talk about issues. Of course that comes across as boring. In my opinion.
  • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,446
    politics are alot easier for people when done in soundbytes. This is what republicans are best at. Their talking points are 5 second verbal assaults that people can easily soak up and use for their own. Republicans are much better at this than democrats. Democrats want to talk about issues. Of course that comes across as boring. In my opinion.

    My opinion is that your opinion is crap. ;)

    'No Blood for Oil' ... 'When CLinton lied no one died'...everyone uses stupid 5 second talking points an ddumbass chants. Everyone.
    hippiemom = goodness
  • hairpants wrote:
    I never liked Kerry. He's a boring, droning atypical politician who never has an opinion that he didn't pull off of this week's Democratic strategy guide or Gallup poll. His "stances" on the big issues are usually determined by the direction of the wind. I'm not saying the guys on the other side are any better, but it continually amazes me that someome with such a knack for sticking his own foot in his mouth could hold such a high public office.

    Well, I guess this is the same state that's re-elected Ted Kennedy for all these years, so maybe I shouldn't be so surprised.

    A caller to a local talk show was asked to get to the point about his position on this Kerry incident He says " I'm a Democrat and If John Kerry's gonna take a big crap in the backyard and then walk around in it I ain't letting him back in the house" I was LOL
    Don't Ignore The Rusted Signs

    1998 Seattle 7-21
    2000 Seattle 11-06
    2003 Seattle Benaroya 10-22
    2005 Gorge 9-1
    2006 Gorge 7-23
  • Kenny Olav wrote:
    Reading about it in the Boston Globe, which is read only by people who really sit down and read the paper

    that's pretty damn condescending.
    I'll dig a tunnel
    from my window to yours
  • My opinion is that your opinion is crap. ;)

    'No Blood for Oil' ... 'When CLinton lied no one died'...everyone uses stupid 5 second talking points an ddumbass chants. Everyone.

    Hey, i was giving your guys credit...they just do it much better and more aggressively.
  • kenny olavkenny olav Posts: 3,319
    hairpants wrote:
    I never liked Kerry. He's a boring, droning atypical politician who never has an opinion that he didn't pull off of this week's Democratic strategy guide or Gallup poll. His "stances" on the big issues are usually determined by the direction of the wind. I'm not saying the guys on the other side are any better, but it continually amazes me that someome with such a knack for sticking his own foot in his mouth could hold such a high public office.

    Well, I guess this is the same state that's re-elected Ted Kennedy for all these years, so maybe I shouldn't be so surprised.

    Right... cause the Republicans have given us such great choices over the years...
  • bigbadbillbigbadbill Posts: 1,758
    I'm actually taking classes at that same college in Pasadena, CA (P.C.C.) Too bad I didn't have any classes on Monday when Kerry made his joke.
    11/6/95, 11/18/97, 7/13/98, 7/14/98, 10/24/00, 10/25/00, 10/28/00, 6/2/03, 6/3/03, 6/5/03, 7/6/06, 7/7/06, 7/9/06, 7/10/06, 7/13/06, 7/15/06, 7/16/06, 7/18/06, 10/21/06, 4/10/08, 4/13/08, 9/30/09, 10/1/09, 10/6/09, 10/7/09, 10/9/09
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