Kerry apologizes
 

How hard would it have been for him to just come out and apologize immediately? Now it looks like he's apologizing because he was told too. WTF??!?!?! How can an experienced politician let this debacle happen? Republicans are evil, but Democrats appear to be retarded. This sucks.

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

It is a dead issue right now but the war in Iraq still goes on without a plan.

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

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It is a dead issue right

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no it's not. apparently Cheney is gonna talk about it tomorrow at whatever stop he is making.

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

[ QUOTE ]
How hard would it have been for him to just come out and apologize immediately? Now it looks like he's apologizing because he was told too. WTF??!?!?! How can an experienced politician let this debacle happen? Republicans are evil, but Democrats appear to be retarded. This sucks.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, I think his Republican handler decided it was time. Had to be Cheney or Rumsfeld that broke him. The man is such a sleeze after all that he probably sold out his own party. Wonder what he got?

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

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It is a dead issue right

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no it's not. apparently Cheney is gonna talk about it tomorrow at whatever stop he is making.

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You do not get it. The Republicans are out of material they have nothing else to talk about. What else are they going to talk about?

Mark Foley?
How the Iraq War is going?
Stem Cells?
Cheney?
Bush?

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

link at least?

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
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It is a dead issue right

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no it's not. apparently Cheney is gonna talk about it tomorrow at whatever stop he is making.

[/ QUOTE ]

You do not get it. The Republicans are out of material they have nothing else to talk about. What else are they going to talk about?


[/ QUOTE ]

i do get it. i KNOW they have nothing to talk about, but this GIVES them something. Kerry is a moron.

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
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It is a dead issue right

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no it's not. apparently Cheney is gonna talk about it tomorrow at whatever stop he is making.

[/ QUOTE ]

You do not get it. The Republicans are out of material they have nothing else to talk about. What else are they going to talk about?


[/ QUOTE ]

i do get it. i KNOW they have nothing to talk about, but this GIVES them something. Kerry is a moron.

[/ QUOTE ]

What does this make Mark Foley then?

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
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It is a dead issue right

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no it's not. apparently Cheney is gonna talk about it tomorrow at whatever stop he is making.

[/ QUOTE ]

You do not get it. The Republicans are out of material they have nothing else to talk about. What else are they going to talk about?


[/ QUOTE ]

i do get it. i KNOW they have nothing to talk about, but this GIVES them something. Kerry is a moron.

[/ QUOTE ]

What does this make Mark Foley then?

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a pedophile. he's old news. what's your point?

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

Whether he apologized or not, they were going to talk about for a long time. He shouldnt have apologized at all, but once actual Troops and families began to complain due to the Republican Propaganda machine, he had to in his own mind to save any chance at a run in 08 which he desperately wants. Also with an apology now theres a chance talk ends tonight instead of it going all week.

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

Kerry apologized so it does make it a dead issue for everyone but people who hate Dems.
So in terms of the election its a dead issue and can hurt the the reps somewhat with Indep and disastisfied repubs...but it helps motivate the base.

Kerry didn't immediately apologize because he was thinking about his 08 election campaign and wanted to look tough...which was totally selfish.

Had he immediately set the record straight and apologized for his screwup...it would have been a dead issue

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

Maybe I'm crazy but I don't care if they talk about it all week. The Republicans don't want to talk about Iraq this week. They want to talk about economy, taxes and protecting us from terror. And in some places they want to talk about gay marraige. Other places - immigration.

I was quite happy to hear Kerry say over and over again, "I wasn't talking about the troops. The troops are heros. I was talking about how the President got us stuck in a quagmire."

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

“Military men are just dumb stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy.” - Henry Kissinger, quoted in “Kiss the Boys Goodbye: How the United States Betrayed Its Own POW’s in Vietnam”

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

[ QUOTE ]
“Military men are just dumb stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy.” - Henry Kissinger, quoted in “Kiss the Boys Goodbye: How the United States Betrayed Its Own POW’s in Vietnam”

[/ QUOTE ]

That is just silly and inflamatory to use a Kissenger quote. He is ancient history. It's not like he is visiting the White House to give Bush advice on the war.

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

First, Foley may be a creep, but he is not a pedophile. Pedophiles like little kids, not 16 yr old high school students. Foley is a "Gay American" as is Barney Franks and Jim McGreevy (not that there is anything wrong with that-being gay). Next, (a non-sequitor) Kerry is a moron (apologies to all morons). Irrespective of your political party/agenda/leanings etc. John Kerry is an elitist, stiffassed snob who thinks all of us (Republican or Democrats) are a step below him, and that the military men and women are 2 steps below. I have a PhD in chemistry, spent 6 stinking years in the military, and believe Kerry could not carry my jockstap. Being a Kerry apologist makes you look dumb.

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

[ QUOTE ]
That is just silly and inflamatory to use a Kissenger quote. He is ancient history. It's not like he is visiting the White House on a monthly basis, or whenever he is in town and wants to stop by, to give Bush advice on the war.

[/ QUOTE ]

FYP

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

He didn't really apologize - he said he's "sorry the joke bombed" - not an apology to the soldiers in Iraq.

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

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That is just silly and inflamatory to use a Kissenger quote. He is ancient history. It's not like he is visiting the White House on a monthly basis, or whenever he is in town and wants to stop by, to give Bush advice on the war.

[/ QUOTE ]

FYP

[/ QUOTE ]

First find your sarcasm detector. Then look for the on/off switch. Make sure it is in the "on" position.

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

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He didn't really apologize - he said he's "sorry the joke bombed" - not an apology to the soldiers in Iraq.

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No he said "sorry if you were offened b/c I botched the joke". A slight difference. I don't think he really owes any more than that b/c it was indeed a botched joke. Politicaly sure it would have been better for him to handle it differentaly, but on a moral level I don't think he needs to say anything else.

I think its actually pretty funny with how anti politcal correctness the Repulicans/"conservatives" are, yet you have to apologize how an obvious misstatment might have hurt someones feelings.

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

[ QUOTE ]
First, Foley may be a creep, but he is not a pedophile. Pedophiles like little kids, not 16 yr old high school students. Foley is a "Gay American" as is Barney Franks and Jim McGreevy (not that there is anything wrong with that-being gay). Next, (a non-sequitor) Kerry is a moron (apologies to all morons). Irrespective of your political party/agenda/leanings etc. John Kerry is an elitist, stiffassed snob who thinks all of us (Republican or Democrats) are a step below him, and that the military men and women are 2 steps below. I have a PhD in chemistry, spent 6 stinking years in the military, and believe Kerry could not carry my jockstap. Being a Kerry apologist makes you look dumb.

[/ QUOTE ]

How did you learn to figure out what other people are thinking?

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
“Military men are just dumb stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy.” - Henry Kissinger, quoted in “Kiss the Boys Goodbye: How the United States Betrayed Its Own POW’s in Vietnam”

[/ QUOTE ]

That is just silly and inflamatory to use a Kissenger quote. He is ancient history. It's not like he is visiting the White House to give Bush advice on the war.

[/ QUOTE ]Why would you think that the attitude is today any different, on the part of the political authority over military men? Why would you think this attitude is not, for the most part, bi-partisan, as well?

And why is this "ancient history" when there is a real, bloody war going on as we speak?

Mickey Brausch

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

Mickey,
Turn your sarcasm meter back on.

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
“Military men are just dumb stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy.” - Henry Kissinger, quoted in “Kiss the Boys Goodbye: How the United States Betrayed Its Own POW’s in Vietnam”

[/ QUOTE ]

That is just silly and inflamatory to use a Kissenger quote. He is ancient history. It's not like he is visiting the White House to give Bush advice on the war.

[/ QUOTE ]

Awesome.

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
“Military men are just dumb stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy.” - Henry Kissinger, quoted in “Kiss the Boys Goodbye: How the United States Betrayed Its Own POW’s in Vietnam”

[/ QUOTE ]

That is just silly and inflamatory to use a Kissenger quote. He is ancient history. It's not like he is visiting the White House to give Bush advice on the war.

[/ QUOTE ]

Awesome.

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

[ QUOTE ]
How hard would it have been for him to just come out and apologize immediately? Now it looks like he's apologizing because he was told too. WTF??!?!?! How can an experienced politician let this debacle happen? Republicans are evil, but Democrats appear to be retarded. This sucks.

[/ QUOTE ]

This does indeed suck. The Dems have the Party of Satan reeling and Kerry hands them a gift like this. I would love to see both houses change hands and get to watch as Bush gets his feet held to the fire for a year. I expect that the Dems chances here are overstated and they make gains in both houses but miss taking control of either. It truly sucks to identify with the message of the Dems and see [censored] like this happen over and over again. And what the [censored] is Kerry doing whining about Republican lies now?

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

Where were all these sensitive republicans when Bush joked about not finding any WOMD? Or when he said he helps aid the terrorists?

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

Letter to DNC and all non-running high profile democrats

Dear Sir or Madam:

Please....STFU!!!

Sincerely,

Disenfranchised Freedom Lovers of America

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

[ QUOTE ]
How hard would it have been for him to just come out and apologize immediately? Now it looks like he's apologizing because he was told too. WTF??!?!?! How can an experienced politician let this debacle happen? Republicans are evil, but Democrats appear to be retarded. This sucks.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hindsight is 20/20. I'm sure he was hoping that there would be some bigger story to blow up and everybody would forget his gaffe (with the exception of right-wing radio, but he doesn't care about that). Apologizing makes it a story when it doesn't have to be one. Think how many non-stories that have happened over the last few years because of non-apologies. As I type this, they are all not going through my head right now.

That's the politics anyway. Content-wise, he probably should have apologized because it was a dumb thing to say.

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

It was a pretty stupid thing for him to say. It was an OK joke to make in private. In public he could have made a serious point about how people who don't have other oportunities wind up in Iraq.

He came accross like a the snobbish Yalie that he is talking about the poor slobs who have to go to Iraq. It also reminds people of how he accused American troops in Vietnam of routine attrocities.

Politician get in trouble when they slip and say the "wrong" thing, but this mistatement was kind of revealing of Karry's attitudes.

The Republicans are making a big deal out of it, because they need something to distract voters from the situation in Iraq.

Gag a counter
 

[ QUOTE ]
Turn your sarcasm meter back on.

[/ QUOTE ]I did. It whined so loud. My bad.

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

[ QUOTE ]
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It is a dead issue right

[/ QUOTE ]


no it's not. apparently Cheney is gonna talk about it tomorrow at whatever stop he is making.

[/ QUOTE ]

You do not get it. The Republicans are out of material they have nothing else to talk about. What else are they going to talk about?

Mark Foley?
How the Iraq War is going?
Stem Cells?
Cheney?
Bush?

[/ QUOTE ]

you forgot Osama - the poster boy for Republican ads this cycle - he's in them more then GWB or any Republican candidates.

rb

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

[sarcasm]A personal apology to the U.S. troops posted on his website for all to see relying on the media to commuicate his apology to the troops. Very sincere and convincing.[/sarcasm]

I was willing to give Kerry the benefit of the doubt but this episode has convinced me that he believed what he stated in his gaffe.

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

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He came accross like a the snobbish Yalie that he is talking about the poor slobs who have to go to Iraq. It also reminds people of how he accused American troops in Vietnam of routine attrocities.

[/ QUOTE ]

He very well might be a snob, but isn't it more important to determine whether he's a truthfull snob?

As far as atrocities in Vietnam? I guess you'd have to define the word 'routine' to further discuss that subject?

.....there were many.

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
He came accross like a the snobbish Yalie that he is talking about the poor slobs who have to go to Iraq. It also reminds people of how he accused American troops in Vietnam of routine attrocities.

[/ QUOTE ]

He very well might be a snob, but isn't it more important to determine whether he's a truthfull snob?

As far as atrocities in Vietnam? I guess you'd have to define the word 'routine' to further discuss that subject?

.....there were many.

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There was truth in his joke that people with no other oportunities wound up in Iraq, but it seemed like it betrayed a snobbish attitude. Obviously, you don't tell an audience of college students to study hard or you will wind up in Iraq.

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They told stories that at times they had personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals and turned up the power, cut off limbs, blown up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages in fashion reminiscent of Ghengis Khan, shot cattle and dogs for fun, poisoned food stocks, and generally ravaged the countryside of South Vietnam in addition to the normal ravage of war and the normal and very particular ravaging which is done by the applied bombing power of this country.

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This was his testimony before the Foreign Relations Commitee 35 years ago. It may well have been accurate. You can see how the Republicans could make the argument that he is in the habit of insulting the troops.

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
He came accross like a the snobbish Yalie that he is talking about the poor slobs who have to go to Iraq. It also reminds people of how he accused American troops in Vietnam of routine attrocities.

[/ QUOTE ]

He very well might be a snob, but isn't it more important to determine whether he's a truthfull snob?

As far as atrocities in Vietnam? I guess you'd have to define the word 'routine' to further discuss that subject?

.....there were many.

[/ QUOTE ]

There was truth in his joke that people with no other oportunities wound up in Iraq, but it seemed like it betrayed a snobbish attitude. Obviously, you don't tell an audience of college students to study hard or you will wind up in Iraq.

[ QUOTE ]
They told stories that at times they had personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals and turned up the power, cut off limbs, blown up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages in fashion reminiscent of Ghengis Khan, shot cattle and dogs for fun, poisoned food stocks, and generally ravaged the countryside of South Vietnam in addition to the normal ravage of war and the normal and very particular ravaging which is done by the applied bombing power of this country.

[/ QUOTE ]
This was his testimony before the Foreign Relations Commitee 35 years ago. It may well have been accurate. You can see how the Republicans could make the argument that he is in the habit of insulting the troops.

[/ QUOTE ]

I know that it's a matter of both opinion and interpretation, but I do believe that by ommitting the word 'us' in his delevery, Kerry opened the door for his own skewering.

As far as the "Republicans making an argument....."?

I'm sorry, no insult intended here, but that's just a bunch of crap and stretching the truth to the extreme.

Twisting, turning, omitting, misrepresenting and taking out of context Kerry's remarks in front of the FRC is neither an excuse or justification for doing so. Especially, IMO, if it was done intentionally for a partisan political gain, which is how I see it.

FWIW, I was part of VVAW at the time, and can tell you that Kerry was not beloved by all of us. Should you doubt my statement, I can probably scan a copy of my dog-eared VVAW membership card and post it, as I still have it.

My biggest problem with this whole issue is what I perceive to be be the focus that is afforded more to the messenger than the message.

You would think that after all of these centuries, civilizations would have learned by now.

In these divisive and polarized times, it appears to be going the other way......a very sad statement.

Re: Kerry apologizes
 

This is the way this administration works. At least when he apologized, he didn't apologize to the troops, but to the people that misinterpreted what he said. The problem is that this was gold for this administrations deception machine.

We're gonna hear for the next week about how Kerry hates the troops, not that he was trying to rip on Bush. The people that hear this are the same people a few years ago heard, Iraq ... 9/11 ... Iraq ... 9/11 ... and came to the conclusion the two were related and we have to bomb Iraq because of 9/11. But they'll tell you how well it worked out because they saw the banner on the ship that said Mission Accomplished. They don't know what mission, but it was a good one.

I think the best thing the Democrats could do would be, like another poster said, is just STFU, stay in your houses and lock your doors for a week and let the GOP screw themselves up, instead of give them things like this to twist around.