Brain Fertilizer

I remember when I was a kid, I used to wonder why all the fuss about politics. My folks were active in following the Kennedy campaign and took an active part in the Goldwater campaign, at the grass roots level, some 4 years later. Because of that I was exposed to it rather early, but it wasn't till high school, that it took on some significence.

Now, we face an evil abroad which if allowed to continue unchecked can and will threaten our western civilization as we have come to know it. And at home we face a far sinsiter threat. That of what is fast becoming two polar opposites in our choice for the leader of the free world.

Sometimes I wonder, if it would have been somewhat less stressful 50 years ago...when all we had to worry about was the "Commies" and "The Bomb" (and most times they were one and the same, fear wise).

But come November I shall vote as I have in the last eight elections....for the best man availible for the times and the job. In this case George Bush. And to hell with the NYT!

I just posted a question myself on my blog about all of this veteran crap. Do people actually care about this trivial junk compared to the real issues the U.S. faces?

Weeellllll, I do care, because I think this is establishing whether or not Kerry tells the truth. If he does not, how can we trust him on any of the real issues? But I'm tired of blogging about it.
In any case, I'm sure they'll discuss issues like Iraq, the War on Terror, the economy and such in the debates.

I'm with you on the truth factor. For me that has been established and it seems to be droning on. Perhaps it needs to continue for the rest on the masses to get it.

I agree that the issue -- why it "matters" -- is because it establishes that John Kerry lies, has lied, is continuing to do so, just to maintain his idea of self-history.

I think he's maintained a finely constructed self-portrait ("it's seared into [him]") about who he THINKS others will believe he is, and that's why it's threatening to such an extent to the Left and to Kerry and now even Edwards (who "defends" Kerry's "military record of service" although Edwards was no where even remotely near Kerry's military service when it took place)...because, it calls into question the fact that some people in the country are ready and willing to follow Mr. Make Believe into oblivion.

The Demos are literally grabbing at straws this evening with anyone and everyone possible as to blame, demands, accusations, about this issue. Everything EXCEPT proving Kerry right, or, providing any iron-clad proof that what the Swiftees have to say is not true.

Instead, they and apologists continue to blame Bush and "call on Bush to renounce the ads (by the Swiftvets)" and the like. Nothing about Kerry's lies, meanwhile, not a peep...

Yes. And so while I'm personally a little bit tired of it all because I've been convinced of his essential dishonesty and lack of integrity for some time, I don't mind the situation being flogged and blogged for a while yet, for one important: the Democrats and the press are willing to overlook significant integrity and honesty problems of Kerry as long as they can get W out of the White House. Every person who sees the blatant bias in the news and the lack of concern about honesty by the Dems is another person who won't trust those institutions very much in the future.
This isn't just about defeating Kerry anymore, for me (because I think that will happen, easily). It's about Democrats who deliberately conceal their agenda so they can get elected, and the mainstream news media who make it easy for them to do so. I want both institution to collapse. I want an America that demands a reasonable level of honesty from its politicians.

Nathan, you make good points. For more on the, "anybody but Bush," zealots, I invite everyone to visit TownHall.com: http://www.townhall.com/columnists/douggiles/dg20040821.shtml

Does anyone dispute that Kerry served a stint in Vietnam? I don't think so. What we seem to have is some veterans who have a deep personal hatred of Kerry for his activities after his service. Apparently none of his critics were actually there when Kerry supposedly took fire. Read William Rood's account of the February 28 incident - he was there.

It is interesting to me that so much is being made of this Vietnam incident. It happened 35 years ago! It would seem to me that where both men would take us in the next four years should be more important.

Kerry "lied" about wounds he recieved and Bush "lied" about WMDs in Iraq. Call it a wash and move on, fer crying out loud...