Kerry went, George didn't: who cares?

[dd74]

A mention in another thread discusses Kerry's Vietnam duty then his peace activism against the Vietnam conflict.

Then there's Bush who didn't go to Vietnam but instead entered the Nat'l Guard, who some say isn't "real duty." Consequently, he never saw true combat.

Why should anyone care what either man did, particularly if Iraq is purportedly no Vietnam.

Or is this more about either man's "character" than war itself?

[CamB]

It's more about assassinating the other man's character - kinda pathetic really.

[fintstone]

I agree, it is pathetic. After all the assassination of GW's character regarding his honorable service in the national guard, the same folks defend the fellow who refuses to make his records public and admits to committing atrocities.....strange world.

How the tone changes when discussing one's own candidate's record. We are just supposed to accept whatever the dems say as fact regardless of evidence indicating otherwise. Personally, I would not have made issue with either candidate's military service if the Kerry campaign had not lied outright about GW's service and then had those lies repeated by folks who did not verify the information.

Oddly enough, in the Vietnam era, the direction that GW chose (ANG Pilot) was much more likely to see action and to be killed than the route Kerry chose. It just didn't work out that way.

Even by Kerry's own accounts, most of the people he shot were running and not shooting back.

[Bleyseng]

It gets bought up because some people paint GW as such a brave President leading the country in the war against terrorism. When has GW ever showed bravery? When he got tired of swatting flies?
When someone has shown bravery unfire that shows their mettle under pressure.
I still don't see whats so honorable Flint about GW lame service record.
Geoff

[fintstone]

I don't think anyone has called GW's military service as "brave." honorable service implies just that...honorable service.
On the other hand, I do think it was at least daring to take the attack to our enemies as opposed to "swatting flies" as previous administrations did.

[Dantilla]

A president does not need marching skills.

A president needs leadership skills.

Both military records are irrelevent to what needs to be done in the future.

[fintstone]

A president does not need marching skills.
A president needs leadership skills.

Both military records are irrelevent to what needs to be done in the future.

I am inclined to agree that their military experience is irrelevent, and in fact, seems to cancel out.

But I disagree with the premise that one only learns to march and does not develop leadership skills through military training and service.

[RickM]

I read an article last year that rated the colleges for producing the best corporate leaders. The military colleges were all on top of the list. Something must be said for discipline, strategy, teamwork and effectively working in a hierarchal environment.

[dd74]

Originally posted by RickM
Something must be said for discipline, strategy, teamwork and effectively working in a hierarchal environment.

Yeah, all those qualities have been shipped to China, where Cheney is currently selling our corporate American soul.

[RickM]

Originally posted by dd74
Yeah, all those qualities have been shipped to China, where Cheney is currently selling our corporate American soul.

How so? The "offshoring" of commoditized labor?

[dd74]

All I'm saying is the lionshare of those jobs simply need to come back here, and everyone knows exactly what Cheney is up to in China, establishing more contact and eventually outsource more American jobs.

As I said, any American company who decides to keep its manufacturing within the U.S., should get a massive tax break from the gov't in lieu of the other American companies who are shipping jobs overseas.

[fintstone]

All I'm saying is the lionshare of those jobs simply need to come back here, and everyone knows exactly what Cheney is up to in China, establishing more contact and eventually outsource more American jobs.

Why would you not think that he is there to negotiate a united front to North Korea on nuclear weapons like the recent visits to Japan?

[Superman]

Interesting. Military service is thought to be irrelevant now. A few years ago, a President's love life was considered to be relevent on the ground that it speaks volumes about a person's character. So now what is the position? We're interested in a presidential candidate's character, as reflected by his past decisions? Or we're not? We were. But now we're not? Someone explain this.

[fintstone]

I only find it irrelevant as a differentiator because both served honorably as their nation asked them to.

[nostatic]

Originally posted by fintstone
I only find it irrelevant as a differentiator because both served honorably as their nation asked them to.

hmm...I thought you said Kerry was a medal monger who gave aid and comfort to the enemy, etc. You seem to have argued extensively that his service was anything but honorable.

Just as you question Kerry's actions, there are those that question the "service" that GW performed during his tenure with the Guard.

[fintstone]

I think I made my point...all this crap about GW's service when many more questions could be asked about Kerry. i would have asked about neither, but if asked about one...why not the other? Our country considers both to have served honorably...that is enough for me. I don't consider either's service long enough or heroic enough to make any further difference.

[Bleyseng]

If we are concerned about a Presidents character then maybe we should look at GW DWI's. Someone who has multiple DWI's to me is an alcoholic and this guy is running the country.
All this service talk and about Kerry's anti war activities in the 70's is a waste of time. Behavior under fire does show if a person is a chicken or not. Hard to tell if Bush is a chicken cuz he's never been under fire.
Geoff

[350HP930]

Concidering his 'pretzel' incident I would suspect georgie still has a few relapses every now and then. Not that it matters that much since it appears that cheyney is the person doing the presidential duties in this administration.

[araine901]

I think its safe to say that GW did not command a boat crew that used Ma Duce (M2 .50 Caliber machine gun) on personell as Kerry has admitted to. ( a viloation of the Geneva Convention )

350: You seem pretty angry about this Bush guy what gives? Was is not your state that couldnt figure out how to use a ballot card and got him into office?

[fintstone]

If we are concerned about a Presidents character then maybe we should look at GW DWI's. Someone who has multiple DWI's to me is an alcoholic and this guy is running the country.

I only find any record of one. Were you in the cell with him or did you make this up too?