John Kerry - Standup Comic - NOT!

[laxfan25]

Just so you don't think I'm a complete brie-eating, chablis-swilling knee-jerk Hollywood liberal (I prefer extra-sharp Vermont cheddar, thank you) - I was aghast the other day when the Kerry comedy story broke.

First of all, he is not a comedian. The intended joke was lame at best, but the botched delivery made my jaw drop. To make matters worse, he goes off the next day on a tirade about "not having to apologize to anybody!" and the right-wing cabal in the White House that's out to get him (true as that may be). I said to my wife - "Is he completely tone-deaf? Does he have any idea how he is coming across?"

All he had to do was quickly apologize to the troops and say "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to imply that our fighting forces are made up of morons. After all, I'm one of you!" Then he could get into attacking Mr. Bush and Cheney and their fine military records and exemplary execution of the war. Instead he spends the next day getting blasted by everyone before he lamely apologizes. Jeez, what an idiot.

That said, I'm hoping it won't have any lasting effects come Nov. 7th, and we will then be able to do our touchdown dance. I'm predicting a sound and well-deserved spanking.

[StrykerFSU]

I was beginning to wonder if this was going to surface on the boards. laxfan25, that was a mighty fine analysis of the bonehead's comments. Some have been arguing that his statement and slow apology are indicative of a fundamental lack of respect for the military on his part. Of course, in order to believe that you have to think that his service during Vietnam was completely disingenuous as the Swifties suggested back in 2004. I read their book and I'm not quite ready to make such a damning statement. Of course, the events of this week sure made me glad that old "For it before I was against it" isn't sitting in the Oval Office right now.

I don't think that Kerry being Kerry, to borrow another Mass. saying, will have any effect on Tuesday. I expect the Dems to pick up about as many seats as would be expected for any 6th year midterm election. The loud sound you hear that night will be me slamming my head in a car door as the wicked witch of the West, Nancy Pelosi, is named Speaker.

[Sonny]

W may have his warts. But is scary to think that JK was pretty close to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave in 2004.

[Danny Hogan]

what was the intended joke?

i have heard what he said an can' t pick out the joke.

[mbuff]

Pretty productive week for the ASSHAT list

First Kerry then preacher Haggard and it's not over yet. I love election month.

[laxfan25]

What he MEANT to say was something along the lines of-
"Study hard and you'll be OK. If you're intellectually lazy, you'll end up getting US stuck in Iraq. Just ask President Bush"

It was a back-handed slam from one Yalie guy to the other Yalie who seemed to get by with the gentleman's C. Would have had 'em rolling in the aisles with his flawless timing and quick wit if he hadn't forgotten the US part.

As for W'04 though - yeah, we're SO much better off because he won the election. Who knows where we'd be if JK had gotten in! (Exactly how much worse could it be? Osama still running around loose because he surrendered in the War against IslamoFascism? Countries around the world brandishing nuc-u-lar weapons?)

[StrykerFSU]

Of course, the events of this week sure made me glad that old "For it before I was against it" isn't sitting in the Oval Office right now.

Admittedly, that's in the eye of the beholder.

Heard on the radio today that in the past Kerry has said that he does not like having prepared statements. He said that he prefers the more off the cuff style because it provides the people a better idea of what his beliefs are. I bet he's regretting that statement right about now. I thought it was remarkable how swiftly the other Dems turned on him. They did not really have a choice but WOW! Usually you have to send inappropriate emails to be blackballed that quickly.

The political landscape is littered with those whose careers were destroyed because what they said did not exactly match what they were thinking.

[sohotrightnow]

Terrible joke, but why should he have to apologize if that was not the intended effect? If he was not insulting the troops, he should not have given in and apologized to appease Cheney, Bush et al. I suppose joking about weapons of mass destruction that don't exist is ok, right? And if Bush loves the troops so much and thinks they are so "educated", then I am sure he would have no problem having one of his daughters bringing home a private as a boyfriend, correct? When will the hypocrisy end? This administration has less service combined than the individual who runs the Daily Kos website.

Oh, and I know how Republicans hate Olbermann, but his comment on this "incident" was excellent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81XCDgPg ... ed&search=

[MNLaxFan14]

What he MEANT to say was something along the lines of-
"Study hard and you'll be OK. If you're intellectually lazy, you'll end up getting US stuck in Iraq. Just ask President Bush"

It was a back-handed slam from one Yalie guy to the other Yalie who seemed to get by with the gentleman's C. Would have had 'em rolling in the aisles with his flawless timing and quick wit if he hadn't forgotten the US part.

You should bold the "Just ask President Bush" part too, because he neglected to say that as well. If he really had that written in his notes, why did he take such offense right away and refuse to apologize? For damage control he finally got his staff to find a way to add words to make it an insult to Bush and not the military. Has he shown anyone his notes to prove that it said what he wanted to say? I think he said exactly what he wanted say. He just didn't anticipate that anybody would take offense to a "joke" like that.

[Sonny]

[laxfan25]

Terrible joke, but why should he have to apologize if that was not the intended effect? If he was not insulting the troops, he should not have given in and apologize

Because if it was not his INTENDED effect, it was the ACTUAL effect of what he said. It can easily be construed as a slam at the intellectual level of our troops - anyone could see that, and what was so distressing is that he couldn't! I saw a clip of the Imus show where he was counseling Kerry to just go home, go windsurfing or whatever, and just stop talking! JK was having a hard time accepting the wisom of such advice. Obviously many other people on our side of the aisle felt the same way - as I did as well. It was a bad mistatement, with a hamhanded followup.

Fortunately that is all it was, was a bad joke, which I would gladly contrast with the actual performance of the Bush administration. I understand that some say if Kerry had won the election it would have been an unmitigated disaster. I'm just curious though - can someone give me the litany of achievements we've had during this glorious second Bush term??
Here in my home state, MSU just fired their football coach for incompetence. Why is it that Mr. Rumsfeld has kept his job, and the President still insists that he's doing a fantastic job? Do you all agree? What would be the measure of doing a poor job?

[onpoint]

The other unfortunate thing is that there is some (misguided) truth to his words. If our country remains in Iraq or in any other type of war, it can be construed that those who are not as well educated will end up doing the fighting.

I'm not trying to slam the troops in the least, but the military makes it so attractive for people who don't have much money or need a second lease on life that the rich, educated demographic is not generally the one serving our country. Also, people who don't want to serve can use college as their excuse. It makes those who did not study very well, didn't make it to college and signed up for the military because they didn't have many other options.

Still, no debating that Kerry shouldn't have said what he did. At least both Dems and Reps have a litlte foot in their mouths right now (Rush). I wish both parties would stop attacking and start trying to move the country forward, no matter what the political affiliation. I think I'm voting for my grandfather in 2008.

[laxfan25]

The other unfortunate thing is that there is some (misguided) truth to his words. If our country remains in Iraq or in any other type of war, it can be construed that those who are not as well educated will end up doing the fighting.

You are certainly on point there Alex. For those not old enough to remember, one of the crimes of the Vietnam war was that it was fought largely by the poor, with a very high percentage of minorities. The reason? There was a draft back then, but those with connections were able to get deferments (like Mr. Cheney) or got into the Air National Guard (whether they showed up or not, like some others). The volunteer military was the answer to the very unpopular draft. During times of relative peace (most of the late 70's, 80's and 90's) it was a pretty good gig. Do your time and get a nice chunk of change to pay for college if you couldn't afford it. Now that there is this nasty business going on, with no end in sight, the military is scrambling to fill its ranks. They've had to dramatically beef up the recruiting ranks, and the quality of recruits has gone steadily down. It is a fact that they have lowered their standards for acceptance in order to get the bodies. So the point that JK inadvertantly made, study hard or you could end up stuck in Iraq, does have a kernel of truth to it.

By the way - do you want to very quickly end our misadventure in Iraq? Suggest that we re-institute the draft, with NO deferments, and we would be pulling out before the end of the year. As it is right now, the war in Iraq has very little impact on a wide swath of America. The people are growing disenchanted with the lack of progress (I guess you could call going to hell in a handbasket a lack of progress) but it ain't nothing like you would see if the ranks of troops were being filled with young men and women pulled from all classes of society. It would be over NOW if that were the case. Truth.

[StrykerFSU]

I will agree that the enlisted ranks are made up of those from some of the lower economic classes but there are exceptions to that and the officers are all college educated and from all walks of life. Today's military personnel are the best trained and educated in the history of this nation. The military has come a long way from the dark days following our surrender to Communist North Vietnam. No longer are judges offering military service instead of prison time. Today's military is one we can all be proud, regardless of what Sy Hersh may say. Colin Powell's autobiography does a good job of describing these transitions and is a great look into an exemplary American (man I wish he would run for President), but I digress.

Of course the enlisted ranks are filled with minorities and people from lower economic class. The military has long been one of the best ways to move into the middle class. Just look at the effect on our demographics that the GI Bill had following WWII.

Recruiting is more difficult because the military is no longer a free ride. There can be no misunderstanding as to the responsibilities required in exchange for the possible economic advancement. That is why those who do choose to volunteer to serve our country deserve all of our respect and admiration, ahem Mr. Kerry. As for the rest of us, don't lose your draft cards. I think Iran and North Korea are going to have a lot to say about whether we ever need them.

[sohotrightnow]

Can I ask a question? Why is it that Bush gets a free pass with his laundry list of quotes? Everyone just seems to to shrug their shoulders and say "That's ok, we know what he was trying to say." Is the bar set so low that the man is allowed to mangle the English language beyond belief and the public is supposed to accept it?