“Politics of personal destruction” is a phrase used extensively by Bill Clinton and picked up by the others in leadership for the Democratic Party. I can understand how Bill would be able to rationalize that to himself. I never saw it in those terms myself, and I’ve always felt it was a pot calling a kettle black. The Democratic Party head-shed have become purveyors of bad news and personal attack. To them, however, saying John Kerry had no record in the Senate to run on was a personal attack.
Today, Deacon asks, “What ever happened to Steve Gardner?”
Steve Gardner served on a Vietnam swift boat crew with John Kerry. He was the only member of the 12 man crew who spoke against Kerry, thus becoming a key figure in the most fascinating and, I believe, significant story of this year’s election.
He directs us to an article by Mary Laney in the Chicago Sun-Times which details the grief that came to a man willing to speak out against the Democratic nominee.
“I’m broke. I’ve been hurt every way I can be hurt. I have no money in the bank but am doing little bits here and there to pay the bills,” he said.
I really didn’t expect to relive the election. But this thing just struck me hard. In the eyes of DNC faithful, John Kerry is the only veteran who ever spoke the truth. Any other vet fits well in their vision of red-state Americans, and deserves any bad things that might befall him. I take personal umbrage. Until that attitude changes, I cannot see myself ever again voting for a Democrat for national office.
That’s so sad. I’m at a loss for any other words.
Comment by Sarah — November 29, 2004 @ 11:47 am
[sarcasm] Awwwwwwww the poor baby, he chose to partake in a viscious smear campaign, amd now he is all upset because it came back to bit him in his gluteus maximus. I pity him. [/sarcasm] Ya know every damned thing they said was contrdicted by OFFICIAL F—ING RECORDS, and we are supposed to pity this schmuck, yeah right.
Comment by Bubba Bo Bob Brain — November 29, 2004 @ 7:20 pm
Bubba, you continue to quote “the official records” which were written by–wait for it–John Kerry.
You obviously didn’t read the article I linked to–he’s not whining. In fact, just the opposite. The woman who wrote it draws conclusions, not him–or me.
Besides, where was the concern about whining when the Swifties first came out and Kerry was crying for Bush to “Make the bad men go away!”?
Comment by Bunker — November 30, 2004 @ 9:18 am
I reiterate, NOWHERE ON THOSE RECORDS DOES THE NAME JOHN FORBES KERRY APPEAR, NOR DO HIS INITIALS, you are a sap if you continue to believe he wrote his own medal citations. You ever receive a goddamned medal while you were on active duty? Are your initials or name on the dictation portion of the citation?? If not why should I believe YOU DID NOT WRITE THEM??. Same thing as you not believing Kerry did not write the official record.
Comment by Bubba Bo Bob Brain — November 30, 2004 @ 6:56 pm
Bubba, I addressed this once before. No, his name does not appear on his citations except as the recipient. Nor does it appear on the official reports. I pointed out some time ago how the reports show he wrote them, but won’t go into it again here. If you are interested, you can do the search.
As to medals, I have a few. I wrote none of them. The people who did write them up did not sign the citation which I received, either. Their signature is on another form, one that is not in my records–the same for those I submitted for others. The only signatures on my medal citations are those of the SecAF and Air Force Chief (if I remember correctly). The ones in office at the time–unlike Kerry’s.
I guess I’m a sap. I believe what 260 men said rather than what Kerry said. You’re just too smart for me to pull the wool over your eyes.
Comment by Bunker — November 30, 2004 @ 7:16 pm
I went to the OFFICIAL US NAVY site, and got my information, where did you get yours? From 260 (out of over 3000) guys with an axe to grind??
Comment by Bubba Bo Bob Brain — November 30, 2004 @ 7:19 pm