Ok.. So The Pentagon to check Kerry war record - Now What About *'s!!!!

[althecat]

This post is from a DU new poster - zendik... he wanted it posted but didn't have the numbers.. it is a goodie... and soon he will be losing his power as he is in the path of Frances.

From The Telegraph:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/09/05/wus05.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/09/05/ixworld.html

"In a fresh blow to John Kerry's flagging presidential campaign, the Pentagon has ordered an official investigation into the awards of the Democratic senator's five Vietnam War decorations."

And, here's the really delicious part:

"A navy spokesman confirmed on Friday that the inspector-general's office at the Pentagon had authorised the inquiry. "It is the responsibility of all personnel to correct errors in official records," said the spokesman. Another official said privately: "There's a feeling that it's time to deal with this thoroughly, once and for all.""

When are they going to do an investigation on Bush's record? A THOROUGH investigation of his "service" to clear everything up "once and for all"? People have been asking for that very thing for YEARS.

This turns my stomach. I don't have the words ... at least, not the kind I'd use in public.

It's just disgusting, and will lend official Navy credence to the Swift Boat liars. And, of course, if the investigation finds everything checks out, we won't hear about it til AFTER the election. I doubt that'd be the case if anything was out of place. For the majority of the public, just the fact that there is an official investigation will translate to "he must be crooked".

Also from the article:

"Among other records to be examined is a citation of Mr Kerry for bravery that was apparently signed by the former Navy Secretary, John Lehman, and contributed to the award of his silver star. The glowing citation states: "By his brave actions, bold initiative and unwavering devotion to duty, Lt Kerry reflected great credit on himself." But Mr Lehman denies all knowledge of the commendation. "It's a total mystery to me," he said last week. "I never saw it, I never signed it and I never approved it." The inquiry will also investigate other reports and citations leading to the award of Mr Kerry's medals."

So this man remembers every citation he ever signed, then. More than three decades ago. Makes perfect sense, huh?

Sorry about the rant, but this makes me so mad I can't stand it. Will this FINALLY get the media to take a serious look at Bush's "service"? What will it take?

- zendik

[rfranklin]

1. Write a letter to your local newspaper, ask why Bush refuses to sign a

release for his military records which he promised to do (could that have been a lie?) during the interview with Russert. Write to the national media too and ask the same.

see this from Democrats.com

"Now that the Swift Boat Veterans have filled the airwaves with lies about Kerry's combat medals, it's long past time for Bush to release ALL of his military records - just as he falsely told Tim Russert on 2-8-04.

Since Bush is so busy avoiding questions about his desertion, we've saved him precious time by filling out the form that he needs to submit (SF 180). All Bush has to do is sign it and fax it to 314-801-9195!"

http://democrats.com/display.cfm?id=340

[Mistress Quickly]

24. I don't think Kerry

has signed a form 180 either like he said on Russert's show. At least that's the buzz in freeperland. Does anyone know?

[zendik]

2. Thanks for posting it!

One day when I'm all grown up, I'll be able to post all by myself. :7

[althecat]

4. Not too long now.. isn't it 10 posts or sommat?

[ck4829]

3. This is messed up

Bush's records are lost, and then they suddenly turn up again.

Kerry's records are still around, I think they might they do a little doctoring on Kerry's record.

[zendik]

8. The whole notion that this guy

specifically remembers that he did NOT sign/authorize Kerry's award over 30 years ago seems pretty fishy to me. I mean, come on, Kerry was NOBODY at the time, just another soldier. Why would this guy have paid attention at the time?

The hypocrisy of it, considering the state of Bush's records, blows my mind. I had thought nothing else would shock me after slimeballs wearing the Purle Heart band-aids, but this did it.

We should NOT protest the investigation into Kerry's records, though. I think we should welcome it and demand the same level of scrutiny be applied to the Deserter in Chief's records -- and by that I mean his records, not the sketchy shit he's released so far.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

5. I don't understand what the basis of such an investigation could

possibly be. Without some kind of proof (documented) of an error, the official record should stand.

I could pick some random vet, say, Bob Dole, and question a bunch of his stuff and initiate an investigation. Likewise someone could challenge some of mine.

[zendik]

10. I'm sure they won't find anything wrong.

That's not the point. This strikes me as the equivalent of screaming "child abuse" during a divorce -- it doesn't MATTER if it's true, the accusation is devastating in itself. The public will hear "official Navy investigation into whether Kerry deserved his medals or there is some kind of fraud going on" (as the dittoheads will spin it, of course) and the damage will be done.

I can't say this word too many times: Disgusting. Just plain disgusting. And about as dishonorable as it can get.

[Eloriel]

6. Welcome to DU, zendik

Glad you've joined us. Stay safe.

[Booster]

7. Yet, no one made a big deal out of Bush's

superior officer not remembering ever seeing Bush during his national guard stint FOR OVER A YEAR. Also, whoever is in charge of driving records in Texas should do a thorough investigation of Bush's driving record, which have apparently been sealed. All of this smells to high heaven, but what can we do?

[Webster Green]

9. There is still plenty to attack in the chimp's service record.....

Bush missed his physical and lost his flight status. That part is well documented and can't be denied. It costs a lot of taxpayer dollars to train pilots. Bush declaring that he got an honorable discharge isn't good enough. Why did he get an honorable if he didn't fulfill his duties? More special treatment, thats why. Why the hell should he get a pass on this, and why should the dems be afraid to bring it up?

[zendik]

12. We can bring it up until we're blue in the face

but until our pathetic media pick it up and run with it we'll just be seen as those psycho liberals with their crazy conspiracy theories.

Maybe the Barnes interview will set the ball in motion at last, but I'm not holding my breath.

[Webster Green]

14. That is true, but if Kerry makes it an issue, they can't ignore it.....

....and they can't deny it. The documents are there for all to see.

[althecat]

13. I suspect there is a bit of AWOL fatigue in the media...

It will take Kerry fully taking the gloves off for this to become an issue in the media. And that would involve a change in campaign strategy... frankly Gore lost the last election because he thought reasonableness works... in the end it sort of did and it didn't. Gore was so damn reasonable he almost conceded on election night and then as MM pointed out so clearly in his movie he presided over the rubber stamping of the theft of black votes in Florida. Either the DNC starts to learn how to use some head-kicking rhetoric with effect or I fear they will lose again.

[Webster Green]

16. The AWOL thing is one issue.....

The loss of flight status due to missing his physical is provable and should be addressed. It is not nearly as nebulous as the question of what the chimp was doing in Alabama.

[althecat]

18. So why did he lose his flight status?

... I have always assumed that he lost it becoz of a positive drug test.

Frankly though I don't think that is going to run.... I don't know the answer though.

There is a thread over in GD Campaign that makes some interesting comments on how this election is about fear and that Kerry needs to make people fear Bush more than they fear him..... I will post a link.

I Do Not Want Kerry To Get Nasty
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x750611

And as further food for thought on this question
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/comics/Bizarro.dtl

[DixieDem]

11. The PENTAGON ordered this???

Hmmm... that tells me all I need to know. Shit is hitting the fan at the pentagon and they're desperate to deflect it.

[Stephanie]

20. Isn't this abuse of power? Is this legal?

Who ordered it and on what authority?

[althecat]

15. Kerry may be about to change tack... according to this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x750650

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040905/nysu013_2.html

<snip>

NEW YORK, Sept. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- As Senator John Kerry's campaign reeled from tough attacks against his military record by a group of hostile Vietnam vets, his campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill and other staffers argued that the Swift Boat ads would blow over. But, as Newsweek reports in the September 13 issue (on newsstands Monday, September 6), Kerry had had enough. For three or four days, as he campaigned across the country, Kerry ripped into Cahill, furious that the mostly baseless attacks on his valor were driving his numbers down.

"He was very angry," one old friend says. "The calculation had been made that this wasn't going to hurt him," report Washington Correspondent Richard Wolffe and General Editor Susannah Meadows. Kerry's solution was to reach for an old ally. "Get Vallely," he screamed. Thomas Vallely is the leader of the pack of vets that Kerry calls his dog-hunters, a group that has beaten back the attacks on his Vietnam record since his first Senate race 20 years ago. "He knows that I know the other players," Vallely says of Kerry's Mayday call. "He knows that I also like this stuff." The return of the old warriors marked a turning point in the Swift Boat controversy, and a rare moment when Kerry stamped his authority on a drifting campaign, reports Newsweek. "OK, time to break out the fatigues. We've been there, done that. Time to do it again," says David Thorne, Kerry's close friend, of the mood among the senator's inner circle.

*********

This pentagon dirty trick gives him the platform and the vehicle to do so....

[leftchick]

17. The petagon has denied the AP's FOI request yet again for aWol*'s

record. USA Today did a surprisingly good article about it a couple of weeks ago. I hope JK brings this information to light.

[althecat]

21. I think people should start emailing JKs campaign on this

.. frankly I think they must all be spineless morans..... and consequently since they can't add up 2+2 for themselves someone needs to give them the answer. Forcefully...

JK should attack bush directly on this and before the damage gets done via inuendo. The first time people should hear about this investigation is from Kerry accusing the Bush campaign 1) of dirty tricks... and 2) demanding some answers about Bush's broken service in the TANG....

[charlyvi]

19. Why does this surprise anyone?

The far right used government investigations to try and hobble Clinton for eight years. They're just pulling the same shit on Kerry before he gets elected; and the sad fact is, the American people probably will not call them on it.

[wyldwolf]

22. Disgusting! Using the power of the government for partisan ends

But, of course, it doesn't surprise me.

[George W. Dunce]

23. Lehmans an ass

Somehow I don't think John Lehman could remember what he had for dinner last night. To me he was the second stupidest member of the 9/11 commission. I found myself wondering how he became head of the Navy.

[althecat]

25. kick n/t