The comparison Rove doesn't want made, military awards

[Walt Starr]

Okay, so here's what Kerry had on his chest:

Kerry' s Rack



Of Fruit Salad

Vs. the only award I could find in any picture of Dubya* in uniform, a ribbon for being an expert with a pistol:



Edited to add If Georgie would release his DD214 and he completed his service in the Texas Air National Guard, there are two possible awards he may have received from the TANG that are TANG specific. If so, he would have something that looks like this:

[Paradise]

1. you're amazing. thanks. :) n/t

[Walt Starr]

2. Yeah, couldn't get the devices in place

There should be a Combat "V" device for Valor on the Bronze star, two gold stars on the Purple Heart indicating two additional awards, and according to Kerry's DD215, four bronze stars on the Vietnam Service medal, although in a picture of Kerry I only saw two such devices on that award.

[Florida_Geek]

3. Plus a V on the Silver Star

and a couple lines of coke on the pistol medal :evilgrin:

[Walt Starr]

4. According to Kerry's DD214, yes

but the Combat "V" device is NEVER attached to the Silver Star as it would be redundant. Valor in combat is required to be awarded the Silver Star.

I believe that "V" listed on the DD214 is a clerical error. If you look at pictures of Kerry you will see he never ever wore a "V" device on his Silver Star.

[enough]

5. This is great.

I hope the Kerry campaign will use this very telling graphic, or something like it. Thank you.

[Walt Starr]

7. Here's something funny, where *'s awards fall in comparison to Kerry's

If you look at the second row up on Kerry's rack of honor, all the way to the right, you sill see the Vietnam Service Medal. On the row below that all the way to the left is the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation. *'s awards fall between those two awards in the Pyramid of Honor.

The lowest row of Kerry's awards were awarded by the Republic of Vietnam. U.S. Reserve and National Guard awards fall above Foreign awards in the Pyramid of honor.

[Walt Starr]

6. Oh, and here are the requirements for the TANG awards

Texas Govt Code 431.134 Para 1
Texas Faithful Service Medal

The Texas Faithful Service Medal shall be awarded to a member of the state military forces who has completed five years of honorable service during which the person has shown fidelity to duty, efficient service, and great loyalty to the state.




Texas Govt Code 431.134 Para 5
Texas State Guard Service Medal

The Texas State Guard Service Medal, shall be awarded to a person completing three consecutive years of honorable service in the Texas State Guard during which the person has shown fidelity to duty, efficient service, and great loyalty to the state.


If * wasn't AWOL, he should have the first one. If he showed up all of the time, he should have the second. I cannot verify either, however, as Bush won't release the records.

[Walt Starr]

8. I've been able to verify the Texas Awards

From *'s ANG-22:


Without the DD-214, I cannot verify anything more than when he was commissioned an officer he was wearing the small arms expert qualification ribbon. Any other Air Force awards are unverified and, in fact, I don't know that he rightfully wore that pistol ribbon as we have no record of the award.

[enough]

9. The more I think about it,

the more I think you have hit the nail on the head with this post.

What do Rove and Co. do when confronted with an overwhelming imbalance between them and their opponent? They attact the opponent directly at the issue that seems to be his overwhelming strength. It's exactly what they did to Max Cleland -- so the guy has lost three limbs in service to his country, what can they do about that? Pour their corruption all over his heroism and destroy it with their rot. And it worked.

It works because it's so audacious -- breaking the tabu -- you can't attack a tripple amputee war hero, can you??? Watch us, says Rove.

So here they go again. Break the tabu -- attack the heroism -- kill it with corruption.

But your post makes it so clear. Takes it right back to the reason why they have to use this tactic. It goes straight to their weakness. Please please let Kerry take this and run with it.

Thanks again. Nominating your post for the homepage.

[Walt Starr]

10. UPDATE: New information reveals a potential fourth * award

Kerry

Kerry' s




Dubya*

BBBBBBBBBBBBB


I have verified the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award and Air Force Small Arms Expert Marksmanship ribbon only via a photograph of George W. Bush. Other Air Force awards can only be verified if Bush releases his DD214. The two Texas Air National Guard Medals were verified via Bush's ANG22.