I Apologize Senator Kerry

I apologize Senator Kerry ... to our troops, that is.

It had been suggested that our noble troops in Iraq snubbed Senator John Kerry during his recent visit to Iraq. I admit to being one of those who had some fun with the bit via a photo-shop. I should have known they'd behave with more class than that.

On the other hand, unfortunately for Senator and would be two time (eye roll) Presidential candidate, John Kerry, it seems things were actually the reverse.

Snubbed? Alone? Hardly. Sen. Kerry isn’t eating alone. In fact that photo is at an off the record breakfast meeting Senator Kerry conducted early Sunday morning with the very real Marc Santora of the New York Times Baghdad bureau and his younger colleague from the newspaper. The man shown in the green shirt across from Sen. Kerry is Marc Santora.

The Distinguished Gentleman from Massachusetts traveled halfway around the world on tax dollars, allegedly to support the troops he ticked off with a poorly crafted joke - and rather than spend just a little bit more time with them, he opted to have breakfast with reporters from the New York Times and The New York Review, instead.

That sounds more like the John Kerry I thought I knew. It was "off the record", somehow I can almost hear Kerry asking, "So, what are my chances, guys?"

What an inspiration the guy is, ay? Kerry's problem is that he is precisely what Terry McAuliffe called him today - a loser.

WASHINGTON - Former Democratic Party boss and Clinton friend Terry McAuliffe is lambasting John Kerry’s unsuccessful presidential campaign, calling his effort to unseat President Bush "one of the biggest acts of political malpractice in the history of American politics."

And if Kerry's people or TPM thought this little picture kerfluffle was going to somehow benefit Kerry's image ... sorry, as usual, the jokes on him. Next time he flies around the world on tax dollars, perhaps he can actually spend more time with our brave fighting men and women in harms way, as opposed to sucking up to the good old boys at the New York Times.

Rumor has it he didn't get to spend nearly enough time with the fighting men and women during his paper cut shortened service in Vietnam. Via lgf I see that some of my colleague's on the right are absolutely mortified at our error, too.

Comments

[Devil's Advocate]

This is the second time in a day that the right-nut clods have gotten eggs all over their face, once with the Jamil story, and now with the Kerry story.

Keep it up, right-nutters! It is very entertaining to see you slapped in the face time after time after time.

[yyy]

The best thing about the nutters is that they are unable to learn from their mistakes...ever taking their cue from our fearless leader, Bush Light.

So now a photo of Kerry with someone other than our troops mean it was he who was snubbing them, not vice versa.

[Purple Avenger]

"if Sargent is correct, Kerry was talking to some reporters and deliberately sought out an empty spot."

I always use a crowded cafeteria for my private conversations. Really.

[reliapundit]

kerry coiuld have spoken to these two reporters ANYTIME on the trip.

he either chose to - to save face - or the three concocted this story.

kerry slandered our troops, issued a hollow apology, and then went there and was shunned. THESE ARE FACTS, and the correct explanation for this signle snapshot is IRRELEVANT.

[Parabellum]

The photo hasn't changed a bit. There are STILL no soldiers anywhere near J. Effin' K.

[Truthteller]

To Whom It May Concern,

You wouldn't know truth if it hit you in the face. You just write to fill your rightwing ego?

Keep up your lies, you see it makes us become even stronger and more determined to get real leadership and "truth", ah yes that word again, it hurts but makes you look like the liar you are.

Oh by the way Terry McAwful, we were glad to see him go, he was a Clintonesque and we progressives refuse to be the "democratic wing" of the republican party. Terry will be slapped silly with truth about just how much he sucked as DNC chair in the next few weeks, he needs to see how much we lost because of him and his Clintonesque ideas.

Also, I can tell you never wore the uniform and you would rather lie about a true warrior then to speak the truth about the chickenhawk in the WH who ran and hid in an apartment in Alabama, to afraid and truly not supporting or even being a part of the troops.The only thing Dubya knows how to do is use and destroy the troops. Over 3,000 troops killed for a mistake, let me know when you will join up for your Commander in Chief and really support the troops by becoming one? I'm waiting.

[Dan Riehl]

"I'm waiting"

John, is that you? ; )

[Joe Wilson]

I remember the lizards at the lgf saying kos could not back a winner.

As it turn out, wingnuts are never right about anything:

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003528263

Geez.

[djangone]

'[A]nd rather than spend just a little bit more time with them, he opted to have breakfast with reporters from the New York Times and The New York Review, instead.'

Ahh, because that's the ONLY thing Kerry did on the trip, give an interview. And then go home. Good god, who reads you? I mean, I'm going to read you now just for comedy, but who reads you and is stupid enough to believe you? Next I'm going to hear that you called the Virginia Senate race for George Allen, heh. Oh, oops.

Look, you were wrong. You're nearly always wrong. It's the net-net of modern extreme conservatism to be, on pretty much every issue, dead wrong unless they're fighting some tiny insignificant nobody like Ward Churchill. At some point, maybe, you'll give it up and realize that being a right-wing blogger, no matter how profitable, only leaves you with the reputation as one of the stupidest people alive, as a laughing stock, like Rob Deer with the strikeouts but without the home runs. Now, being wrong, simply apologize. You started out doing it, and then you veered into infantile, cover-your-ass territory aided by that little dishonesty I called out above. C'mon, try again, you can do it.

[Jon G]

You guys need to find some issues that actual matter to someone. Who John Kerry did or did not have dinner with in Iraq is so trivial it doesn't deserve a passing thought. But I guess when your side has screwed up everything they've touched, then got kicked in the groin by the American Public, you've got to find something, even if it's the smallest molehill imaginable.

Oh yeah

John Kerry - decorated Viet Nam Vet
George Bush - protected Texas from Viet Cong invasion.
Dick Cheney - Record holder for most deferments during a US war. "I had other priorities"
Bush Twins - partying to keep Argentina free

[Stogie]

Oh yeah, Jon G. Kerry, the decorated Viet Nam Vet. He decorated himself by writing his own recommendations for medals with fraudulent stories of his non-existent bravery. The man is more than an empty suit; he is a complete fraud.

Kerry's brave exploits in Viet Nam:
1. Killed a 12 year old boy.
2. Shot a wounded Viet Cong in the back, for which he ordered himself a Silver Star medal with "V" for valor. Real valorous. I'm so impressed.
3. Got his first purple heart from shooting a machine gun into a rocky bank and getting hit with a piece of metal that ricocheted. Wound was closed with a bandaid.
4. Got another purple heart by dropping a hand grenade into a rice barge, which peppered his sorry ass with hundreds of bits of burned rice.
5. Spent four months in Viet Nam, one of which was away from the battlefield for training.
6. Got himself excused from further duty on account of his three purple hearts, two of which were completely bogus.

When he got back to the states, Kerry lied his ass off to the Fulbright Commission about false stories of US atrocities against the North Vietnamese. While still an officer in the US Navy, met with North Vietnamese officials in Paris while peace talks were going on, an act of treason.

No matter how you cut it, Kerry is a complete disgrace to the uniform he wore and is empty suit completely lacking in substance and deserving of absolutely no respect from anyone.

[Doc]

My, my, aren't the lefties out in force tonite? You guys should take it over to LGF; it would be amusing.

Enjoy yourselves for now; your ideas are doomed to die a slow death by demographics (or, in the event violent Muslims succeed in loosing a nuke on your location, a somewhat more speedy death by fission). You see, ~80% of children hold about the same worldview as their parents; e.g., the children of violent Muslims are ~80% likely to be violent Muslims, the children of atheists ~80% likely to be atheists, etc. But you 'progressives' don't reproduce very well; one designer child at 39 really doesn't cut it. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and suppose that the main reason for your paucity of offspring is noble: you think the world is overpopulated and you're doing your bit to improve on the situation. But those of us of the more...reactionary stripe tend to reproduce in a fashion a bit more robust. Hence, in 20 years or so, we win. Just think of it as evolution in action; survival of the fittest. Last man standing.

[Joe Wison]

Wait, aren't you that guy that said macaca lost and Hume dissed you saying if you had a blog, you do not have to be right?

Damn, Hume was right. Well, you were right about macaca. LOL

Right wing blogs have no credibilty.

Just like w.

Geez.

[Jon G]

When it came time to serve his country, Kerry went to Viet Nam and fought. Bush didn't. Cheney didn't.

A nationwide survey released this month showed young Americans prefer Democrats to Republicans by a 21-point margin, up from 19 percent in April.

[Joe Wilson]

Doc,

Been there done that.

I emailed that link above to Charles and he posted it.

We go way back.

BTW, stop breeding. There is enough hate in the world. Hate breeds hate.

Geez.

[djangone]

Hey Doc, I did take it over to LGF. I'm the reason Charles instituted his registration system. http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=11220_Troll_Spills_Beans

It's too silly to even explain; suffice it to say that Charles is even dumber than he looks.

[carol h]

My son is in the Army currently stationed in Ramadi. On a mission last week one of his fellow soldiers was hit in the leg by a ricocheting buttet. My son tells me that is was no big deal and that the guy was back in action the next day. If this soldier receives a Purple Heart for his injury and 30 years from now runs for president, do you think ridicule would be justified? After all, the injury this soldier sustained is very similar to one sustained by John Kerry. If so, perhaps you would like to tell him now, that if he receives a medal he doesn't deserve it. Perhaps you could tell me, that this injury is something to be made fun of. If you do, please be prepared to tell me how many children of yours are being shot at every day.

[Judith]

Oh, Lordy. Isn't there something we can put in the water to get rid of these liberal slugs? Hate, hate, hate.

[Dan Riehl]

Carol H - I applaud your sons service. Now if his friend were to have three minor injuries in a row, at least one of which he did the paperwork for himself. And then went around the chain of command to get a 3rd purple heart to come home after 3 or so months, leaving his command there without him ... I just might. Otherwise, I don't see that you have a point.

[Pamela Leavey]

Dan

You could learn a thing or two from Bryan at Hot Air and Captain Ed. Kerry's trip to the Middle East was a fact finding mission not a photo-op with the troops. Unlike Bush who is known for using the troops for photo op's, Senator Kerry doesn't use people for photo-op's. The facts stand in Kerry's military record that he deserved his medals. You insult every member of the service who also earned their medals when you continue to perpetuate these lies - and thus you are like Bush, using the troops to your own advantage.

[Troublemaker]

So.....let me get this straight...

The troops didn't shun Kerry? It was Kerry who shunned the troops? Oh, well.....some things never change.

[Highrise]

"Kerry's trip to the Middle East was a fact finding mission"

Hehe you just made a funny...fact finding and sitting down with reporters :P

"Senator Kerry doesn't use people for photo-op's"

He doesn't mind posing with our enemies when he uses our dollars to meet with them.

Gee, why do you think when other US reps go over to Iraq there are a TON of pictures with troops yet he comes back with hardly anything? Puleaze.

[syn]

Perhaps this is the time to do one of those "we're sorry world" with our heads tilted to one side photo campaigns? Let everyone know just how much we care about Kerry and stuff.

[Immolate]

Did I just read someone saying that "Senator Kerry doesn't use people for photo-op's"?

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/22/politics/campaign/22kerry.html
http://www.indcjournal.com/archives/000700.php
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=966
http://bluestarchronicles.com/2006/12/18/john-kerry-meets-soldiers-in-iraq/
http://flapsblog.com/?p=3801

[tas]

OK, let me get this straight.. The right blogosphere rallies against Kerry based on a photo of him in a troop mess hall in Iraq with no troops sitting with him. But then, after Kerry's people are contacted, we find out that Kerry sought an empty table to talk to reporters. So, after basic journalistic principles are followed by contacting the principle of a piece and saying, "Hey, waht's up with this?," we find out that the right blogosphere is, again, completely full of it.

And what's your response, Dan? To pour more slime over Kerry's head with another round of baseless, unsubstantiated attacks. Why not contact Kerry's people? Why not ask them, "Hey, why was Kerry talking with reporters in Iraq?" There's a million different, and perfectly viable reasons, why Kerry had this conversation. Maybe it was a spur of the moment thing, who knows. People, god forbid, talk!

But instead, Dan, being flat out wrong doesn't make you feel shame. It does nothing to knock you off your sanctimonious perch as you continue to preach on about how Kerry is wasting taxpayer money and blah blah blah... Please. You've lost your credibility -- especially since you refuse to eat crow.

[SondraK]

The troops despise Kerry.

Just ask them.

[Pug]

Nice theory about the reproductive prowess of wing nuts, Doc. I'm sure it fits in very well in your delusional right-wing world. Fortunately, like so much else you believe in, it is completely wrong. The fastest growing demographic group in the United States, by far, is Hispanics, not right-wing fundamentalists.

In twenty years all those illegals' kids will be voting...for Democrats. Young people are also voting in large majorities for Democrats. Republicans, the party of white Southern males, is the party doomed by demographics. In the next few election cycles Republican dominance will be in danger even in places like Texas.

[Pug]

I know actual facts tend to disturb your cozy view of the world, Dan, but here are two facts all your Kerry-hating will never change:

1) John Kerry = decorated combat veteran
2) Dan Riehl = not

[syn]

Pug are you enjoying your position as master of the slave plantation. How's that KKK Senator Byrd working out for you?

At least you admit the true nature behind the Dmeocrats need to further illegal immigration so as to perserve your slavery source.

[Bat Guano]

Howzit feel to be wrong about everything? Your ignorance is a great source of hilarity, gotta love it.

[Jon G]

John Kerry went to Viet Nam and risked his life fighting for his country. America honors ALL our veterans. You don't like Kerry's politics, fine. Don't like him personally, fine. But it's unpatriotic and unAmerican to attack his service to America.

And while you've been having this stupid school-yard debate about who is or isn't lunching with Kerry, American deaths in Iraq went over 3,000 and 115 American soldiers were killed in December, the highest monthly toll since January, 2005.

[Rocketman ~(Ä)~]

1.) ALL of the reports from G.I.s in theater state that Kerry couldn't BUY a troop to be seen with. NO commander volunteered to welcome him OR be even be SEEN with him.

2.) If Kerry didn't lie and swindle his way to getting his "ticket punched" (REAL vets know what that means), why does he STILL refuse to release ALL of his records? I for one would love to take a peek at that Dishonorable Discharge he rec'd for giving aid and comfort to the enemy, er, "conduct unbecoming an officer". Well?

3.) REAL men like LtC. Oliver North are ridiculed by limp-wristed Dhimms even though HE refused bonafide Purple Hearts (FIVE in fact) in order to stay in country with his men.

4.) And to all you wimps who berate GW's service: How many of YOU are a qualified Fighter Pilot?

~(Ä)~ Death From Above

[Jon G]

Kerry enlists, then volunteers for swift boat service so he can lie and swindle to get his ticket punched back home. That makes PERFECT sense. He's an American Veteran that risked his life in battle and deserves the same respect all other vets receive.

I'm not berating GW's service. I just know he went into the Guard to avoid going to Nam, that's why he checked the box labeled “I Do Not” volunteer to serve overseas when he filled out the enlistment forms. Lots of people did similar stuff at that time. But they both had a choice to go or not. Kerry choose to put his life on the line for his country, Bush chose to stay in Texas and learn how to fly jets. Those are the plain, simple, unalterable facts.

Then there's Dick Cheney - five deferments and a public statement that he had other "priorites". Sounds like he REALLY wanted to minimize the risk of going into battle.

From wikipedia - you do the math: "On October 6, 1965, the Selective Service lifted its ban against drafting married men who had no children. On January 19, 1966, when his wife was about 10 weeks pregnant, Mr. Cheney applied for 3-A status, the "hardship" exemption, which excluded men with children or dependent parents." That was his FIFTH deferment. Which, I believe, is a record for the war.

And here's what Oliver North has to say about the current surge talk - read it at http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=18797

"A "surge" or "targeted increase in U.S. troop strength" or whatever the politicians want to call dispatching more combat troops to Iraq isn't the answer. Adding more trainers and helping the Iraqis to help themselves, is. Sending more U.S. combat troops is simply sending more targets."

[SondraK]

Sooooooooooooooo...where are all the photos of the troops WITH John Kerry?

How about the We suport Jon Kary sines?

[tb]

What was the movie where the guy was dead and didn't know it? That's Dan. What was left of his credibility has been vaporized and he's still blundering forward, expecting people to believe the succession of lies.

[Canof]

Personally, I take the word of SOLDIERS WHO WERE THERE over the evidence of a single moment caught in a photograph. I have good friends in the Army, fellas, and **the SOLDIERS WHO WERE THERE say that almost all the soldiers avoided Kerry like the plague**. THAT IS ALL THE EVIDENCE WE NEED. Whether in that moment he was talking to reporters or not is IRRELEVANT.

[serr8d]

Thankful for every vet's service, but it isn't what Kerry did or didn't do in a combat theater that's his legacy; it's what he did and said when he got home. Those cuts were the deepest.

We have a volunteer force now. As much as Democrats would like the military services to be an extension of their numerous social programs, the Services aren't designed to be like their inner-city welfare failures. There is risk involved in active service, and for Kerry to even show his face in Iraq is at best a tolerated media event...and, more likely to most troops, a spectacle to avoid.

[Jon G]

Oh - you're talking about a popularity contest, even though you weren't really there, take as your evidence a photograph that appears to show something entirely different than your original spin, don't have any real first-hand evidence and never bothered to talk to Kerry to see what was going on at the time.

Of course, you can apply slightly more scientific methods to popularity contests. Like this:

Only 35 percent of the military members polled this year said they approve of the way President Bush is handling the war, while 42 percent said they disapproved. The president’s approval rating among the military is only slightly higher than for the population as a whole.

http://www.militarycity.com/polls/2006_main.php

And Iraq is George Bush's legacy.

[M.Sphinx]

"Kerry's brave exploits in Viet Nam:
1. Killed a 12 year old boy."

You callin' a soldier a baby killer? Heh.

[Dan Riehl]

Dan -- You could learn a thing or two from Bryan at Hot Air and Captain Ed.

I respect their work. But I have no desire to be quite as dry in approaching every subject, particularly Kerry. The facts is, Kerry is old news and this entire issue is silly. The Left has invested much more time and thought in it than I, or most on the right.

The point of my post was nothing more than tweaking Kerry yet once, again. That some of you on the Left seem to take the man seriously is what's really funny here.

He disgraced himself and his uniform upon returning from Vietnam. You mention photo ops, good heavens, Kerry doesn't take a breath, let alone a photo, without assessing the political implications. But his instincts are so poor, he always makes the wrong choices.

The Left needs to get over John Kerry, you'll be much better off. Of any potential candidate on the Left, I suspect the Right fears Kerry the least.

[serr8d]

President Bush's legacy then includes the growing desire for democracy in the Middle East, and when the Islamic Fundamentalist minority is finally defeated, and Islam is reformed, then the credit for that will go to George Bush.

For the War on Terror to succeed, these Islamic fundadmentalist/terror generators will have to be defeated. Islam will have to reform. Thank President Bush for setting this into motion. If you don't have the foresight to see what has to happen, then you aren't thinking outside your hate for Bush. You are limited by your own small minds.

[J. D.]

This is all silly.

Did it never occur to you dupes on the right that Kerry might be a little more interested in meeting with the troops than worrying about whether or not he has his picture taken?

You guys sound like you're looking for a picture of him holding up a plastic turkey. Get your priorities straight, please.

I've never seen people embrace blatant lies and propaganda so easily in my life - I've only read about it in the history books.

[J.D.]

"The Left needs to get over John Kerry, you'll be much better off. Of any potential candidate on the Left, I suspect the Right fears Kerry the least."

There's that word - fear. It's about the only thing you guys seem to understand.

And I apologize for trolling, but I had to add that one in.

[LUCIUS SEVERUS PERTINAX]

"Progressive" is just a polite euphemism for "Socialist"

[Jon G]

Dan the blogmaster, after putting numerous Kerry posts up and joining in the ludicrous search for meaning in empty seats now says that "the Left has invested much more time and thought in it than I, or most on the right."

Truth is, it's the right that needs Kerry, not the Left. He reminds them of the good old days. Before Bush's plunge in the polls - down to 30 now. Before Bush's Katrina debacle. Before the spiraling death toll of the Bush War. Before the 'thumpin' laid on the Republicans in the last election.

[Phoenix]

Jon G,

You're right. The truth is, we are damned depressed about that 'thumpin' we took. We'll do anything for a laugh these days. We hope Kerry will continue to provide - just as he's always done. :)

[Phoenix]

My bad. I commented without having ever worn a uniform. :(

.
Wait. .... wait. I was a Brownie once. Does that count?

[Sarcastro]

Do you people ever get sick of being wrong all the time?

[Phoenix]

Sarcastro,

Unfortunate name, but your question deserves a response. Yes. We do get tired of being wrong all the time. Is there a way you could set us right? We are willing to listen.

(You have to have fought in a war, though, before anyone will listen. Do you have credentials?)

[dave]

Dear Moronic Brownshirt Fucks,

You're wrong. As usual.

Shut the fuck up.

Thanks in advance...