Hey assholes, I'm a veteran and I saw combat and I say that it was the Kooky Kerry Klan that brought up the question of military service, not the Bushies. There's an old saying - If your daddy was hanged as a horse thief, don't talk about rope.

WHY ARE THE MEDIA AND THE BUSH CAMPAIGN IGNORING THE SINGLE ISSUE THAT CAN SINK THE KERRY/EDWARDS CAMPAIGN?

The most salient fact about Kerry’s military career, that is the center piece of his campaign, is that two thirds of his comrades hate him.

This is the issue that can determine the outcome of this election; if we can get the word out. But this is proving to be exceedingly difficult. For example, hundreds of Vietnam Veterans demonstrated outside the Fleet Center on the last two days of the Democratic National Convention including massing in front of Kerry’s Beacon Hill mansion face to face with State Police Swat Teams and Secret Service Agents.

And most of the media ignored us, even FOX. What’s up with that? The following links describe our experiences those nights and include a few pictures I took of the situation:

http://pep.typepad.com/public_enquiry_project/2004/07/report_from_the.html

http://pep.typepad.com/public_enquiry_project/2004/07/report_from_the_1.html

http://pep.typepad.com/photos/viet_vets_at_the_dnc/index.html

This issue will have no impact on the 30% of the electorate, who hate Bush and often America, but it will keep some Bush haters from voting and it will flip enough of the undecided to totally preclude a Kerry victory. Ninety percent of the electorate has made up its mind already and they split evenly. We only have to tilt a few undecideds our way and encourage a few to stay home and George W. Bush will win!

For example, I recently asked a Viet Vet buddy if he knew any Viet Vets who liked Kerry and he thought for a moment. He then said “I know two guys who hate Bush, but they can’t stand Kerry either.”

Everyone who wants to win the war on Terrorism must ask this question of every waffling voter they know:

IF TWO THIRDS OF JOHN KERRY’S FELLOW VETERANS HATE HIM, HOW COULD HE EVER EFFECTIVELY DEFEND AMERICA AS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF?

You will undoubtedly be answered with objections to the validity, morality or win-ability of the Vietnam War along with assertions that Kerry’s opposition was the right thing to do. Tell them that most Vietnam veterans believe the Vietnam War was the Right War at the Right Time for the Right Reasons and it was worth it!

President John F. Kennedy decided to stop...

http://pep.typepad.com/public_enquiry_project/2004/08/why_are_the_med.html

Love that kind of stuff from Harkin....as if 'chickenhawk' is a trump card used to stop debate.

What then of the--what?, thousands, tens-of-thousands--other men Cheney's age who took legal deferments b/c they were raising children?

Are they chickenhawks? Are they cowards too?

Or is it only Cheney b/c he had the temerity to advocate a war while simultaneously having the audacity to be a civilian?

I just lost all respect for Bob Kerrey.