Why haven't John O'Niell and his thugs been discredited?

[coloradodem2005]

All this does is add to my cynicism. They are still allowed to flourish even though they were figured out to be liars about many of the things that have happened. I am getting real sick of all this. All the more reason for this administration and their thugs to be gone.

[The Zanti Regent]

1. It's your WHORE PRESS in action

Yes, your LIEberal Press, doing what it does best, kissing the ass of the illegal occupant of Al Gore's house!

[Erika]

4. O'Neill Slammed Catholics

and about everyone else. A knowing and thinking person will come to the rightful conclusion that this book was authored by less than honorable people. Bushco supporters.

[Birthmark]

2. That wouldn't be profitable.

Do you know how hard it is to generate ratings for idiots like Blitzer and O'Reilly?

[kerryhawk]

3. it looked like

nobody took them seriously in the beginning, especially after mccain denounced them right away. still, voters are not going to like these vicious partisan attacks, it will certainly energize republicans but it might backfire with independents.

[Skittles]

13. you are correct, kerryhawk

knowing the track record republicans have with lies being aided by the corporate press, Kerry should have taken immediate action. I agree this will backfire on voters who know better.

[barb162]

5. Kerry waited too long

despite what his campaign says and some people believe. While this moron was spewing his venom on tv and people were reading the book and seeing the commercials, action should have been taken by Kerry weeks back. O'Neill has succeeded: he has put doubt in minds of some voters. Some voters will go for Bush because they "know" him and they just don't quite "trust" Kerry because of these charges/ lies. The GOP types are geniuses at this kind of stuff. They were successful going after Cleland and McCain on the SAME kinds of stuff. How many voters are affected? I don't know. But all you have to do is plant the seeds of doubt about the war hero. Every time he goes on tv he repeats the lies again and again and again and then the interviewer quizzes him, blah, blah, blah, but there was another chance to repeat those lies. Worked like a charm before, didn't it?

[Nordic]

6. if the american people fall for this shit

then they get what they deserve.

and it's time to move.

[Zen Democrat]

9. The books only been out since last Monday. n/t

[barb162]

10. it has been out for weeks

and still is amazon's number 1 for a few weeks.

[JI7]

7. they HAVE been discredited, it's the big media that is the problem

[zaj]

8. The story has "legs" because one of the assertions is kinda accurate...

... one of the assertions is that Kerry lied before Congress with his "Christmas in Cambodia" statements.

It would appear that even though he could very easily been merely mistaken, even having just one "accurate" assertion means that the book and these guys can't be summarily dismissed.

They threw 100 things as the wall and 1 of them stuck... kinda.

That gives the media and publishers free reign to run with the overall story. Plus they get to talk about the "fight over the story" which in itself draws attention to the allegations, without the press actually covering it as fact anymore.

They are merely covering it as the backstory to the topic they are able to cover... which is the "controversy". And of course, we would all agree that the "controversy" is indeed factual, even if the allegations creating that "controversy" are almost entirely a lie.

[barb162]

11. Rove etal are marketing geniuses

and O"Neill too. Every damn show he goes on, they play the anti-Kerry ads. SO even though those swiftboat ads are only being played in certain states (mine not one of them) I have seen them at least a hundred times I think on the debate over this book. Anyone who turns on the news in this country has now seen the ads. I bet Rove is really yucking it up. All the free air time he gets in running these ads. They will try to keep this going as long as they can and they are being very successful so far.

[UnderPaidMinion]

12. I think it's the seriousness of the charges

If the things they say were true then it would be big trouble.

If a serious charge like this is made then it almost demands a followup. I just wish Kerry confronted these charges when they first came up. I also think the approach of only blaming the money men that put up the cash to air the charges instead of debunking the charges head on is a mistake.

[thebigidea]

15. its good that we have people like you sticking up for John O'Neill, innit

Thanks for all your help spread Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt here on DU.

swiftvets.com would like to present you with this brass bust of Larry Thurlow for your efforts.

[barb162]

19. nobody here sticking up for LIAR Oneill

"...spread Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt"

HUH?

How about Honest Appraisal instead of the above. If Dems can't honestly appraise and evaluate what the GOP is doing and see where they are being successful, like the swiftboat lies, then Dems can't find means to fight GOP crap. And if Dems can't honestly evaluate Dem strategy and see where it's going right and wrong, Dems end up having their heads in the sand. Nothing is wrong with analysis, evaluation, readjustment of Democrat strategy and getting a new RAPID ACTION and other action plans if it isn't working. In fact, it is absolutely necessary. It is crucial.

[kskiska]

14. I know what you mean

Don't forget, though, it's been festering on a weekend. Maybe another week of Hardball…

Also, how many times can they go on the same programs and say the same things?

[mopaul]

16. & the negative attacks 'seem' to be working....so they say

total nazi propaganda time folks

[0rganism]

17. They HAVE been discredited, but the mass media uses 'em anyway

Their charges have been repeatedly shown to be lacking in basic honesty, let alone common decency, yet they present an opportunity irresistable to the average media whore: Political Controversy at the Highest Level!

Of course, it only flies because the charges are against a Democrat.

If the Kerry campaign hadn't figured out they're in hostile media waters yet, they surely know it now.

[ReallyTired]

18. Answer: RATINGS.

[The Magistrate]

20. They Have Been Dis-Credited, Mr. Dem

Their continuation in the media is of real benefit to our side for that reason....

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"