Waw!!!
Bill M. | Email | Homepage | 09.02.03 - 7:39 pm | #

That would be Wow... !!
Bill M. | Email | Homepage | 09.02.03 - 7:42 pm | #

Now, folks. We need John Kerry with us. Today was a very sad day, a man diminished by his own event, a hero reduced by his own heroism. I think Saletan nailed it.

But in some ways he missed the point entirely. Kerry sounds just like a man who fought in Vietnam, and who later (famously) founded Vietnam Veterans Against the War, and threw his medals away.

It's ironic that, now, he wants to be remembered for fighting the war, not the (more important) war against the war, which he fought and fought courageously, from the front.

And it illustrates something Dean himself has said many times. Say what you think, not what you think others want to hear. Speak from the heart, without calculation, and if you mispeak apologize.

You know what makes me saddest about John Kerry? Today he reminded me so much of Bob Dole. Y'know, "one more mission," surrounded by his brother soldiers, Bob Dole.

And that wasn't John Kerry. John Kerry didn't just fight in the war. He fought in the war against the war. And now, having been on both sides in that war, he wants to be on both sides of this one, simultaneously.

But, still, we need Kerry with us. So be nice.
Dana Blankenhorn | Email | Homepage | 09.02.03 - 8:28 pm | #

I'm sorry, the battleship in the background was just to friggin' much. I know he was making the point that he and his comrades belong in front of a battleship as opposed to GW who was deposited on one (much to the taxpayers expense) but I have had it up to my eyeballs in this kind of manipulative imagery. It is kitsch and it is insulting. He should be careful leaning on this military cred thing too much, lest Wes Clark throw his stars in and obliterates Kerry where he stands (IMO). That being said, Max Cleland is FANTASTIC on stage. I wish we had this guy. He's like Ann Richards and Colonel Parker with medals. He's good there is no argument. Kerry did good, I guess but yakked on and on without seeming to go anywhere. I wonder why he's crafting the message so much. This was his time to be bold and focussed. If he pulls out a victory in the primaries I guess I'll vote for him but I won't be thrilled about it.
RM NYC | Email | Homepage | 09.02.03 - 10:02 pm | #

Are you SURE it was Saletan who said that??! My how they come around!!

Right on, both Saletan and RM: my feelings exactly. I started yelling at the TV when Kerry started badmouthing photo ops (of Bush I suppose) and such. "Nice carrier photo op you got there, Senator! Couldn't fenagle a flight suit out of the Navy?"
:: When politicians speak in such hypocrasy, such obvious contradiction to reality, I can no longer just let it go. That's what Dean has done for me: given me hope AND raised my standards for acceptability. Contrasted with Bush how could you not have to raise your standards (!) The Republican talking points on the tax cuts were just too much as well.
Ben in Redmond | Email | Homepage | 09.03.03 - 2:20 am | #

Ouch.
chase | Email | Homepage | 09.03.03 - 5:03 am | #

RM, that's an Aircraft Carrier, not a Battleship. If you want to be considered serious about military matters, learn the difference.
Anthony Segredo | Email | Homepage | 09.03.03 - 10:07 am | #

is kerry our bob dole? any day now he's going to start referring to himself in the 3rd person.
niner | Email | Homepage | 09.03.03 - 10:31 am | #

heck, i thought gephardt was our bob dole...
anna | Email | Homepage | 09.03.03 - 11:45 am | #