Sorry, I heard it on the radio, unless Limbaugh does transcripts, but he wouldn't be so stupid, would he?

What day did you hear it? i've been searching his site. I found where he talked about Hackett, but there is nothing even close to what you're saying he said.

He puts transcripts on the website, and mp3s of his show are there also.

I found it and he does say "it appears what we have here is a guy going to Iraq to pad his resume....come back and run for Congress"

But the lib site I got it off cuts when he starts explaining..his remark.

OK, more info.

Turns out Hackett was a Liason and never saw and was not involved in combat. He volunteered to go, though openly against the war, but in a non combat position.

Seems like a pretty obvious assumption to me.

Funny thing is I heard HAckett complain that his units rifles didn't have night scopes(a slam on Bush) and it turns out he likely didn't need a rifle period.

Interesting to say the least. Have not verified my info yet, but I'll look more later.

Regarding the title of this thread--what is next "sun is hot"

All "talking heads" are asses, regardless of political affiliation.

News flash:

That was an asinine comment by Limbaugh.

ANYONE who volunteers to serve in the military, for whatever motivation, is worthy of our respect and appreciation for THAT SERVICE. While whomever-it-was (I don't really know or care for purposes of this analysis) may or may not have had what we would consider to be a political motive, so what? He still did a job that so many of us benefit from as we sit back and electronically pontificate.

And don't give me the whole combat role/non-combat role. Certainly there is a continuum of personal risk, with special ops forces and carrier-based aviators at the top, down to folks in administrative roles. Sad truth is, a suicide bomb doesn't distinguish between whether you push the envelope or push paper.

Bryan, Len, let's have the integrity to call an asinine comment when we hear it, and not engage in selective outrage. It doesn't diminish the strength of conservative ideology one bit to admit that, despite the efforts of many here to suggest that one person's poor judgment is the indictment of an entire philosophical world view.

John,

I see where you're coming from, but I think you miss the issue.

You seem to imply either:

It's not possible for Limabugh to be correct, no one would do such a thing.

....................or


Even if he did do just what Limbaugh said, you cannot point out this fact as it's in bad taste.

IMHO, if a guy volunteers for a war he is against and does so in the safest possible way (to himself) then comes back. Then in a matter of days anounces his candidacy for Congress, and in his ads and interviews makes it seem as if he saw combat.......well, a spade is still a spade.

Hackett's resume, per The Cincinnati Post:


"Hackett's public service revolves around the Marine Corps. In 1982 he enlisted in a reserve officers program while he was a student at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. He completed law school at Cleveland State before starting full-time active duty in 1989. He continued in the active reserves after returning in 1992 to Cincinnati, where he practiced law in a small firm before launching a solo practice in 1994. Hackett served on Milford City Council from 1995-98; he stepped down after purchasing what he describes as the oldest house in Indian Hill - a recently-renovated, 200-year-old stone structure on the banks of the Little Miami River.

Last year Hackett re-enlisted in the Marine active reserves; he went in with the rank of major and served in Iraq with a governance support team, where part of his job involved organizing convoys to bring money and supplies from Baghdad to Iraqis serving in the regional government."

Such an opportunist. Apparenty he saw all those years ago that Rob Portman would resign his seat after getting an appointment from Bush and decided to go to Iraq the year before to 'pad his resume'.

Kinda sorta like buying your first ranch in '99 so you have a place to 'cut brush' during an election.

You actually make a good point there. I am honest to a fault:)

Len, let me distinguish.

On the one hand, you have people who served at personal risk to themselves, and then tend to exaggerate their behavior once the shooting stops. This is the John Kerry situation, which was further compounded by his repudiation of the war effort, throwing away of medals, etc., all of which tended to fuel the opposition's characterization of him as a waffler. This is somewhat reprehensible, insofar as it diminishes the contributions of those who made TRUE sacrifices in service of the country.

But that's not what I believe to be the fact pattern here. You have Limbaugh, in a fervent effort to discredit Hackett, attacking NOT the difference between what Hackett says and what others who served with him say actually occurred (as in the Kerry case). Instead, Limbaugh is attacking the fact of his service, somehow implying that his contribution was any less valid because he was a civil affairs officer.

What next? Shall we assume that Senator McCain is superior to virtually all other candidates by virtue of his combat experience alone? Senator Inouye?

Simply put: Limbaugh, and anybody else, should be sufficiently creative to come up with ways to attack the candidate without having to question his military contribution. How do you think that makes the majority of persons serving in the military who are NOT in combat roles feel? Maybe Limbaugh should go over to Iraq in order to experience the daily terror of suicide attacks, lousy infrastructure, harsh climate and the collective scorn of Europe and a good chunk of America before he opens his yap?

Comments like that tend to DIMINISH his credibility, which is a disservice to the ideals he claims to serve.

John, Limbaugh had the opportunity to serve in Viet Nam but declined.

Len, I've looked at Hackett's campaign flyers on his website (Google it)and he never claimed to be a combat Vet, but a special affairs officer who worked to bring supplies to needy families. I don't think HE was distorting his record.

John,

Limbaugh did go to Iraq, a few months ago, but that's besides the point. All I'm saying is that if a guy really does volunteer to pad his resume......well ther's nothing wrong with pointing it out. That's all.

Dave,

I googled longer than I care to admit and found "absolute" statements from both sides that were totally contradictory to each other, so I gave up. This isssue seems to have been pure emotion on both sides.

I concede Limbaugh may have jumped the gun, but he may also have been dead on.

Hackett was a crazy wealthy lawyer already in politics when he rejoined. Why would he do that? Especially in a war he openly disagreed with? It just makes no sense to say it was an act of principle.

So, what was Bubba doing? Remind us again why he couldn't make it.

Dave,

When last I checked Limbaugh's name wasn't on the ballot anywhere. Again, my entire point is that we don't have to assume that Limbaugh can do no wrong: his comments reflect an extremely poor choice of a vector of attack, and are in their absurdity akin to those who made such a big fuss over Mr. Bush's National Guard service.

When, by the way, did the Democrats get such a taste for combat experience in their candidates? Must have been when they attempted to put Kerry off as a centrist. My recollection was that the Clinton Administration had nothing but chagrin and disrespect for all things military.

That's because of endless talk show repetition of a quote from a letter Bill Clinton wrote when he was 18. What anti-military actions when in office can you point to?

Jeff, I think Clinton was in college, smoking pot and protesting the war. He never portrayed himself as a hawk though, or pro-Viet Nam War certainly.

Len, I don't know Hackett's motives for volunteering. what are anyone's motives to place themselves in that position. I don't think any place over there is particularly safe. As you can see, he had a long history of military service; perhaps he felt a sense of duty.

John, My comments directed at Limbaugh's lack of military service were in response to your remark that he should spend time in Iraq. As far as Dems suddenly touting military experience in their candidates, I think it's always been the case when one has that experience.

what were those pills rush were hooked on?

and what is rush's stand on drug addicts?

Geez.... I'm a republican and I know that he is an a$$ - for that matter, so is Savage, Hannity, and O'Riley.

Glenn Beck is entertaining to listen to.

AFJuvat

kerry's rice in the a$$ was self inflicked. When kerry joined the Swift boat group, they weren't doing anything, his seeing action was a surprise to him.

I am acquainted w/ someone who works for FOX News, they know all of those personalities pretty well. Between Hannity and O'Reilly, one is a nice guy in real life and the other is complete rectum.

Care to guess? ;)