Alphecca

My sentiments exactly. And now this will be 100% of the media buy-in on the whole shebang...

One guy is waffling out of, what is it, 200 or so? This guy doesn't sound too decisive. Maybe he was similarly hurried in signing the silver star recommendation all those years ago.

All of this bears on John Kerry's truthfulness, cynicism and manipulativeness. The leopard hasn't changed his spots, no matter how "ancient" the info is (some of us voters were alive and aware of what was going on in those ancient days of yore). This all has a bearing on what John Kerry is proposing to do to fight terrorism, encourage the economy, improve health-care finance, etc. More importantly, it shines a light on the gap between what he proposes, and what he will actually do.

Look to Kerry himself. He threw his medals away. Obviously he felt he didn't deserve them either!

Prediction: the mainstream media will pay close attention to the retractor, and none at all to the rest of the SBVFT.

At least now the media might pay some attention to the book.

John Kerry is the same today as he was then - he has one purpose in life and that is the grab for power and position - but worse than that, he doesn't know why he is doing it!!!

Nice work Jeff!

I think that quibbling over retractions (maybe we'll even get to see retractions of the retractions!) of 37 year old stories is a pretty sorry excuse for a campaign.

Ultimately, Kerry has brought this on himself, and I think a lot of people are sick and tired of an election in 2004 being about Vietnam.

Elliot didn't actually retract his statement, he waffled.

The Globe Quotes Elliot: "Elliott said he regretted signing the affidavit and said he still thinks Kerry deserved the Silver Star.

"I still don't think he shot the guy in the back," Elliott said. "It was a terrible mistake probably for me to sign the affidavit with those words. I'm the one in trouble here."

Let me see if I get this straight.

The guy supports Kerry in '96. When interviewed for the book he changes his mind. Signs an ad. Based on issues he reviewed in '96 and subsequent.

Then changes his mind again.

Ladies and gentlemen. This is odd behavior. Very odd.

Conspiracy-nut moment:

What if, exactly as as J Bowen (above) suggests, this is intended to draw attention to the SBVFT "story". Could be a great 'rope-a-dope"

Probablity?

It's been said before, but THANK GOODNESS THIS IS LIKELY THE LAST ELECTION WE'LL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE VIETNAM ISSUE!!!

Kerry slimed the US Military in '71.

Which led to the US abandoning Vietnam and Laos. Which led to mass murder.

There is no statute of limitations on mass murder.

Kerry lied. Millions died.

BTW if Dole is any indication it takes 50 years before you see the last vet in politics.

I don't think Kerry shot that guy in the back. Not really, I mean I don't know but I don't think so. I don't think Kerry shot all those unarmed villagers. I don't think Kerry faked his medals. I don't think Kerry gave aid and comfort to the enemy. I don't think Kerry bugged out eight months early. I don't think Kerry is unfit for command. I don't think Kerry's campaign gave me enough to say all this.
Where was I?
Oh yeah, I don't think Kerry . . .

Kerry ignored these guys 'cease and desist' letters and used their photos in his campaign

Kerry showed home-movies enhanced with 'special effects' of his service at the DNC convention

Kerry is obsessive-Complusive about his Vietnam service even as he refuses to discuss his post-war VVAW frauds and inneffectual 20 year Senate career

Kerry prepaid for 1/2 million copies of F***911 DVD's of lies to distribute to DNC donors in October

Kerry seated Mhore in the Presidential box at the DNC convention even as he released false statements 'distancing' himself from Mhore's statements

Kerry now uses Mhore's frauds as talking points in his stump speeches

Mhore lied and said his film's distribution was 'blocked' and now Kerry is trying to block the SwiftBoat Vets ads

The SwiftBoat Vets were there and deserve to be heard

The fact is that the Kerry campaign knew this was coming, had been contacted by this group months ago, and decided to preempt the damage with vicious unfounded attacks on Bush's Service record...

Now they cry butbushbutbushbutbush...

It's such a standard Clinton(D) tactic as to reveal virtual complicity by the media for refusing to point it out.

Those are just some of the reasons that demonstrate JFKerry(D)'s arrogance that only he be allowed to speak...

Which is the most offensive thing about the man...

I was upset about the tossing of the medals way-back in '72. I was reminded about being upset when I learned that they weren't his medals and he had misled (kept silent) us on the ownership for 30+ years. He coulda tossed his own then sent a letter and gotten new ones for free. I think I woulda been less concerned.

I know of no other vet who had a movie camera and re-enacted his battles within days of the fight. (AND way before any award board could have convened). This was a surprise. Not a shock, just a surprise cause I had never heard of anyone doing it before.

Playing war hero for his own movies would support a claim of being an opportunistic. The medals would have "sealed-the-deal" about him being a hero in the JFK-PT109 sense.

Does anyone care? Not as much as the media will.

That was then, this is now. Everyone did what they thought was right, for them, at the time. The war is over. The good guys won. (as they always do). Make peace, make love, make money and move on.

Viet Nam, ancient?
No. It was only a moment ago.

I hated the anti-war protestors then, as now.

Andy,

Kerry is no good guy. Because so many believed his '71 lies we abandoned so many. To torture and murder by the comrades.

It will not happen again.

Speaking of the "retraction of the retraction" read this:

from

****
"Captain George Elliott describes an article appearing in today’s edition of the BOSTON GLOBE by Mike Kranish as extremely inaccurate and highly misstating his actual views. He reaffirms his statement in the current advertisement paid for by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, Captain Elliott reaffirms his affidavit in support of that advertisement, and he reaffirms his request that he ad be played."****

I too am sick of the mudslinging over events that happened 30+ years ago. My question is why did the slimy political operatives working for Kerry start all of this by questioning GWB’s military service during Viet Nam? Why didn’t Kerry use better judgment and denounce these tactics. His silence was tacit approval, which illustrates that he who lives by the sword...

That last quote was from Drudge Report (link disappeared):

http://drudgereport.com/flash5.htm

Let's face it. There was no retraction by Captain Elliot, there is only the assertion that he did in a newspaper article in the Boston Globe by Mike Kranish, who, amazingly, has been contracted to write for the Kerry-Edwards campaign book. Captain Elliot says that the article was extremely inaccurate and highly misstating, and I believe him. I have had a number of instances of my talking to the press and then seeing the end product coming out as outright lies. The moral of the story is never, ever talk to the press unless you have your own tape recorder or video going, just to keep them honest. Even then, it is a close call.

See? I might be right:

Conspiracy-nut moment:

What if, exactly as as J Bowen (above) suggests, this is intended to draw attention to the SBVFT "story". Could be a great 'rope-a-dope"

Probablity?

Posted by: Tommy G at August 6, 2004 10:33 AM

Swift boat ad is just another, in a long series of, personal attacks... after all isn't that what GOP campaigns are all about! How were the Clintons attacked... the attacks came in regard to past (personal) behavior, I guess it seemed like a good way to spend $52M. The latest attack would have to be the selection of Alan (I wouldn't imitate that behavior) Keyes as a GOP canidate in IL. Even the GOP party chairman could couldn't offer any logic as to the selection and when quizzed about the selection... "I was out of town that weekend"

Read the article in the Wall Street Journal written by the special forces guy. Kerry sounds like he may have deserved 2 stars. The people that know the truth are the ones that served by side. The ad is a smear just like the one used against John McCain about his black love child.
Same people putting this on today. To believe it you have to be a blind right wing idealogue.

Please get a grip.
HE HAS A SERVICE RECORD PEOPLE
http://news.findlaw.com/legalnews/lit/election2004/docs.html

An Ex-Vietcong in Mekong Delta who has claimed to fight John Kerry in “Swift Boat” incident is a liar.

I just spoke to my relatives there and this is the whole story:

In order to help John Kerry to win the presidential election, Ha Noi government has setup and arranged the interviews between AP, Reuters and an “ex-vietcong” in Mekong Delta.

About ten days ago, 3 high school teachers from nearby district and about 8 officials from Can Tho province arrived at Bay Hap River and Dong Cung canal pretending to be the local people. The local government was ordered to arrange only these “ordinary people” to be interviewed by AP or Reuters.

These trained officials played as the ex-vietcong to answer the questions of reporter. And Ha Noi fooled the whole world again.

Barry