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-RetweetDemocrat Blog Applauds Kerry's Military Insult

Wed, Nov 1, 2006 at 8:00:30 am PST

Kerry’s base knew exactly what he was saying. They know very well that it was not a joke about President Bush, as Kerry is now (laughably) trying to claim. Here’s a post applauding Kerry’s slam at the military, at The Democratic Daily: All Star Rally Gives Phil Angelides A Boost.

Cortney Fielding staff writer for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune (and the Pasadena Star News) reports that “while the students showed proper enthusiasm for Angelides by waving his signs and wooing and booing at the right places, the energy in the room clearly belonged to Kerry.”

He took the stage to roaring applause and left it only to be mobbed by students and reporters.

Kerry charmed the crowd with tales of surfing at Mission Beach and got laughs for a series of one-liners, including telling the crowd he had just returned from Texas, “Where the president used to live - now he lives in a state of denial.”

Kerry then told the students that if they were able to navigate the education system, they could get comfortable jobs - “If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq,” he said to a mixture of laughter and gasps.

Talk about speaking the stark truth to students who want more out of life. The education system in California is a mess, especially in L.A. County. Each day I pick my daughter up at school I see the recruiters leaving, smiling because they have snagged another kid who’s trapped by the system and sees no future other than enlisting. It shouldn’t be like this. A 50% drop out rate is unacceptable. What is the bottom line for these kids, a job at McDonald’s or Iraq. Kudos to Kerry for delivering a wake up call to the young voters at the rally (wingnuts are all wet on their claims).

UPDATE at 11/1/06 8:07:07 am:

The anti-military attitudes of the left are standing today in stark relief. Contrary to the claim made by this blogger, there are no drop-outs in the US military; a high school degree is required to enlist.

UPDATE at 11/1/06 8:20:12 am:

More information about the high quality of America’s military:

Who Are the Recruits? The Demographic Characteristics of U.S. Military Enlistment, 2003—2005. (Hat tip: Just_a_Grunt.)

Service demographics offer snapshot of force. (Hat tip: David Simon.)

Academic Education

— 49.2 percent of officers have advanced or professional degrees; 39.4 percent have master’s degrees, 8.5 percent have professional degrees and 1.3 percent have doctorate degrees.

— 22.8 percent of company grade officers have advanced degrees; 16.5 percent have master’s degrees, 5.9 percent have professional degrees and 0.3 percent have doctorate degrees.

— 85.4 percent of field grade officers have advanced degrees; 70.7 percent have master’s degrees, 12.1 percent have professional degrees and 2.5 percent have doctorate degrees.

— 99.9 percent of the enlisted force have at least a high school education; 73.3 percent have some semester hours toward a college degree; 16.2 percent have an associate’s degree or equivalent semester hours; 4.7 percent have a bachelor’s degree; 0.7 percent have a master’s degree and .01 percent have a professional or doctorate degree.

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163 comments

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1 The Other Les  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:01:54am

Last!

/moonbat

2 red satellite  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:01:58am

I tell ya ..I'm shocked.

3 rcris5  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:03:22am

One word: Rove.

4 galloping granny  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:03:50am

I saw that comment last night. The lady has not the first clue. You highlighted the wrong part though, Charles. Here's the important line -

A 50% drop out rate is unacceptable. What is the bottom line for these kids, a job at McDonald’s or Iraq.

You must have a high school diploma or the equivalent to be a member of the United States military. Has been that way for a couple of decades. No dropouts welcome.

5 religion of bacon  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:04:17am

Keeping chewing on that razor blade, Lurch!

6 FrogMarch  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:04:50am

the good news is - the hard-core leftist base is shriking. You can almost hear the normal & sane democrats hitting the water.

7 Canadastani  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:05:15am

At least she has the decency to review Kerry's comments as they were, not as they were revised.

8 Ward Cleaver  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:05:32am

The nutroots have got to be Rovian plants. There's no other plausible reason for their steering the Democratic Party off of the cliff.

9 mglazer  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:06:13am

Islamists: "The democrats are doing our work for us."

David Asman on Fox News was interviewing Brigitte Gabriel (Lebanese Christian), author of "Because They Hate," (response to 9.11 media "why do they hate us") and she said the following regarding what the Islamic and Arabic speaking websites have been saying, "The democrats are doing our work for us."

The Media is the Enemy

Dont trust them - they LIE to help America's enemies

10 LthrNck  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:07:10am

They assume far too much. It is difficult for them to grasp that someone else has a different opinion because they truly believe they are right. Therefore, they view everyone else as ignorant, and that became clear after Jf'nK made his comment.

It would be a real hoot to hear what they really believe about some of their core constituency.

11 cblesz  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:08:05am

What a dolt. I do agree that the public schools in California are a joke, but to blame them entirely is the typical "victim democrat" response. They think they are entitled to everything. Half of the problem is the parents. Try taking an interest in your child's education...may help.

12 mama winger  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:08:11am

Here's an All Star Rally for you.

American Soldier by Toby Keith

Stick that in your pipe and smoke it.

13 Ward Cleaver  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:08:11am

Good work, granny! Check the Update.

14 flyover_templar  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:09:46am

God forbid kids learn hygiene, decision making skills, independence, develop a work ethic, and get paid for working.

It's not like Russia sending recruits into Stalingrad. Based on the casualty numbers vs number of active duty personnel, the risk of injury or death in a combat related situation is less than many of these kids' chances in dying in gang activity or an auto accident.

Truth is the vast majority of these young people will serve their time with the military and return home safely, with skills they can use to better themselves, instead of being degenerates living off govt handouts.

God Bless those who don't come home, and God forgive Kerry as I won't.

/FT

15 mglazer  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:10:10am

NOT ONLY IS IT A FLAT OUT LIE

but the Democrats believe it - check out every comments section in MSM websites

Democrats hate American soldiers

They hate America and want to destroy it - weaken us

Destroy America by destroying its defenders

They want to destroy America's troops, America's defenders

16 plutosdad  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:10:33am

Really we should be countering this with facts, not just indignation at his insults, nor anecdotal evidence of soldiers with degrees, but X % percent have finished Y years of schooling, etc. Where can I find that?

For instance, I know that even though there are a slightly higher percentage of minorities in the Army (15% are black vs 13% of the general population), I also know it is a lie to say they "fight for us" since only about 11% of the infantry is black, while 20% of rear echelon jobs are black. White men are overrepresented in the infantry. (I forgot where I read these stats I think it was powerline).

17 David Simon  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:10:36am
Each day I pick my daughter up at school I see the recruiters leaving, smiling because they have snagged another kid who’s trapped by the system and sees no future other than enlisting. It shouldn’t be like this. A 50% drop out rate is unacceptable.

Sorry toots. Those dummies aren't smart enough to join the military.

Academic Education

-- 49.2 percent of officers have advanced or professional degrees; 39.4 percent have master's degrees, 8.5 percent have professional degrees and 1.3 percent have doctorate degrees.

-- 22.8 percent of company grade officers have advanced degrees; 16.5 percent have master's degrees, 5.9 percent have professional degrees and 0.3 percent have doctorate degrees.

-- 85.4 percent of field grade officers have advanced degrees; 70.7 percent have master's degrees, 12.1 percent have professional degrees and 2.5 percent have doctorate degrees.

-- 99.9 percent of the enlisted force have at least a high school education; 73.3 percent have some semester hours toward a college degree; 16.2 percent have an associate's degree or equivalent semester hours; 4.7 percent have a bachelor's degree; 0.7 percent have a master's degree and .01 percent have a professional or doctorate degree.

[Link: www.af.mil...]

18 mama winger  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:11:06am

American Soldier Lyrics. I have them memorized.

I’m just tryin’ to be a father, raise a daughter and a son
Be a lover to their mother, everythin’ to everyone
Up and at ‘em bright and early, I’m all business in my suit
Yeah I’m dressed up for success, from my head down to my boots

I don’t do it for money, there’s bills I that I can’t pay
I don’t do it for the glory, I just do it anyway
Providing for our future’s, my responsibility
Yeah I’m real good under pressure, being all that I can be

And I can’t call in sick on Mondays when the weekend’s been too strong
I just work straight through the holidays, and sometimes all night long
You can bet that I stand ready, when the wolf growls at the door
Hey I’m solid, hey I’m steady, hey I’m true down to the core.

And I will always do my duty no matter what the price
I’ve counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice
Oh and I don’t want to die for you, but if dyin’s asked of me
I’ll bear that cross with honor, cause freedom don’t come free.

I’m an American Soldier an American
Beside my brothers and my sisters, I will proudly take a stand
When liberty’s in jeopardy, I will always do what’s right

I’m out here on the front lines, sleep in peace tonight
American Soldier, I’m and American, Soldier.

An American Soldier an American
Beside my brothers and my sisters, I will proudly take a stand
When liberty’s in jeopardy, I will always do what’s right
I’m out here on the front lines, sleep in peace tonight
American Soldier, I’m and American, an American, an American, Soldier.

19 Ward Cleaver  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:11:11am
20 mglazer  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:11:31am

Democrats hate American soldiers

Because American Soldiers Defend America

Democrats Want America to Lose the War

The admit this, they believe this, that is their goal - their mission

21 RTLM  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:11:45am

I got banned the first hour I was in this room.

Lame!

22 jonturner  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:11:46am

>>A 50% drop out rate is unacceptable.

Right. It should be much higher in order to guarantee a steady supply of reliable, dependant Democrat voters.

23 religion of bacon  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:12:29am

#8 Ward Cleaver

The nutroots have got to be Rovian plants. There's no other plausible reason for their steering the Democratic Party off of the cliff.

No, I really think they believe that they're the voice of truth and righteousness, and that they're taking a "damn the torpedos" approach. They're totally tone deaf as to how this appears to mainstream voters.

Great, isn't it?

24 religion of bacon  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:13:07am

#5 religion of bacon

Keeping?!?

PIMF!

25 hyphen  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:13:50am

This is not the first time Kerry has insulted our troops. It's fair to say our men and women despise this guy. Stick a fork in him, he's done. He'll never be anything more than a senator. No VP job, no POTUS. Too stupid to be anything more.

26 Kragar (proud to be kafir)  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:14:13am

These people are disgusting. The fact they think they're Americans is sickening.

27 Just_A_Grunt  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:14:22am

I am working very hard on my anger management so I will simply post a link to research done by The Heritage Foundation in regards to the makeup of todays military.
Kerry like all libs never was very good at math.

28 Poitiers-Lepanto  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:14:31am

Dear Comrade Kerry,

Great job ! We have been informed that you will not participate in today's rallies of the Communist Party but we hope that you will speak again very soon.

The Central Committee of the People's Republic of Vietnam (formerly North-Vietnam)

PS How is Jane doing ? We miss her !

PPS VOTE DEMOCRAT, DISARM AMERICA, DISARM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE !

29 mglazer  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:14:36am

Democrats disparage the troops by out and out lying about them

proportionaly the troops have a higher education than most Americans - that is a fact

Liberals hate America and what they hate even more are patriotic Americans and no one is more Patriotic than the troops

This is the true and ugly Democratic party the one the MSM holds up on an altar

The media supports the dems because the dems do NOT support America by NOT supporting our troops

30 soccerdad  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:14:50am

# 17 David Simon -- nice stuff -

#16 Pluto's dad -- ask and you shall receive...

31 mglazer  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:15:17am

Keery was a sub par Yale graduate Bush who was partying then even did better than him

32 Globular Cluster  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:15:25am

Rarely talked about in the criticism I hear about Kerry's comment is the idea that one needs to go to college in order to "be smart", as Kerry asserted.

There are many idiots on our nation's campuses, and of the non-idiots there are many who have no idea what they are interested in pursuing. These young people are simply wasting money on tuition. There is nothing wrong with taking the time to discover your interests while serving in the military prior to enrolling in school. Also, one simply doesn't need a college degree to be successful. I know many people who lack a college degree and they are sharp as tacks.

Kerry's comment is snobbery on more than one level. It is pompous, factually-incorrect arrogance toward our men and women in uniform, and it is intellectual elitism toward those without college degrees. It should be noted that Bush graduate with better grades than Kerry.

33 JammieWearingFool  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:17:06am

Geez, I go to a brief meeting and we get two fresh Lerch threads.

The gift that keeps on giving.

I hope Charles saw the Imus bit today.

34 mglazer  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:17:37am

4 months in Vietnam on a boat gives him the right for some 30 years to call America's selfless defenders rapists, murderers, terrorists, dummies ...

He has no right!

Stop MSM shilling for sKerry

Stop showing us your true colors MSM and who you idolize

35 sngnsgt  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:18:24am

I know it's an old one but:

Kerry's father jacked-off into a flower pot and raised a bloomin' idiot!

36 digger12291970  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:18:49am

Kerry can't read!?!

While campaigning in California on Monday, Kerry told a college crowd: "You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq."

Kerry's office said the senator had misread his prepared remarks. They said he had intended to say, "Do you know where you end up if you don't study, if you aren't smart, if you're intellectually lazy? You end up getting us stuck in a war in Iraq. Just ask President Bush."

Not even close.

37 Poitiers-Lepanto  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:19:25am

#27 Just_A_Grunt

Thank you for the link.
I heard Hannity talking about that research but I had no time to look for it.

PRECIOUS ! PRICELESS !

38 JammieWearingFool  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:20:36am

Kerry is so hopelessly dumb. He claimed this monring he told the truth when he returned from Vietnam.

So now his worst nightmare will re-occur: The SBVT will be back in action.

Bring. It. On.

39 code red 21  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:21:04am

Anyone who votes for a Democrat in this election is a stupid fool with a death wish. It just can't get any plainer about how the Democratic party feels about our military and our country.

40 sjmiller  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:21:08am

Kerry said, “You know, education, if you make the most of it, if you study hard and you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, uh, you, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.”

How in gods name can the left protect this tool? It is clear as crystal, this is a bash on all the great men and women in this country that protect us, so we can continue with our lives. The left are just total morons.

41 David Simon  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:21:08am

#30 Soccerdad - To be sure, those are just Air Force statistics, but there's enough info there to expose the sophistry of elitist pricks like Kerry: "Minorities are overrepresented...servicemen are undereducated dolts who have no other employment options..."

42 tfc3rid  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:21:10am

Digger...

If the Kerry people are really trying to sell that the latter was what was prepared... I mean my goodness... It's not even close...

I have an impossible time believeing them...

43 Stuck in california  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:21:42am

My friends son just got a $150,000.00 bonus for re-up-ing as a Lt. Commander as a navy pilot.
HAAA!

44 soccerdad  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:22:34am

Sorry to go OT -- for our British Lizards --

What is a 'shadow minister'? From an article I was just reading

shadow home office minister Damian Green

There seems to be all kinds of these 'shadows' - are they the minority party's representative to the position?

45 JammieWearingFool  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:22:37am

After slip-up on US Iraq troops, Kerry retreats from campaign trail

Cutting and running like only Lerch can do.

Bit more than a slip-up, I'd say.

46 tfc3rid  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:22:43am

The Republicans need to tie Kerry and his thoughts to Pelosi, Reid, and all those in close races...

Harold Ford and Webb are smart in distancing themselves...

47 Ed Mahmoud abu al Qahool Martyr Brigades  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:22:51am

It has long been the standard limousine liberal viewpoint that they are our appointed saviors, I suppose by evolution, or something, since many don't believe in God. Even if Kerry meant his statement to be a joke about Bush, this is sticking because it is so obviously close to kerry's own view.


The 'poor idiots' in the military is clearly the viewpoint of the Meik al-Moor/Shrillery Clinton/Jean Francois Qerie crowd.

48 hannibal smith  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:23:06am

He really stepped in it, and his weasely backtracking was almost embarassing to watch. It wasn't a misinterpretation of some policy criticism; it was the mask falling off when he felt among friends and forgot that he was a public figure and the cameras were rolling.

It leaves me little doubt that he, and god knows how many other "mainstream" Dems, have been obscuring their true identities for the purpose of electability all this time. No doubt he buys into the full-on leftist myth of the "poverty draft," a term that he should be called on relentlessly so as to draw out the link to his ideological roots. He was in what he thought was his element - smarmy college-bound types who already know the president is a moron and the US needs glib hand-wringing to turn us around - and he carelessly dropped an insult, with a little "nudge nudge, we all know we're better than that" smirk, that wouldn't even raise an eyebrow over at the ski lodge. Oops.

49 Let's Roll  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:23:09am

And don't forget these stats according to [Link: www.whoserved.com...] :

House:
Republicans with military service: 15.2%
Democrats with military service: 9%

Senate:
Republicans with military service: 17%
Democrats with military service: 12%

50 Black George Bush  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:23:10am

I said the troops were smart before I said they were stupid.

//channeling John Kerry

51 Murqtaad  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:23:21am
What is the bottom line for these kids, a job at McDonald’s or Iraq.

Is this the joke Kerry botched? I think it's hilarious. Getting loans for school is ridiculously easy. Of course, this is the kind of cop-out that the "it's-everybodies-fault-but-mine" left loves.

52 Spiny Norman  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:23:26am

#32 Globular Cluster

Rarely talked about in the criticism I hear about Kerry's comment is the idea that one needs to go to college in order to "be smart", as Kerry asserted.

There are many idiots on our nation's campuses, and of the non-idiots there are many who have no idea what they are interested in pursuing. These young people are simply wasting money on tuition. There is nothing wrong with taking the time to discover your interests while serving in the military prior to enrolling in school. Also, one simply doesn't need a college degree to be successful. I know many people who lack a college degree and they are sharp as tacks.

VDH has this to say:

What is striking about visiting Iraq is the wealth of talent there, from privates to generals. Without being gratuitously cruel, the problem of mediocrity is not in the ranks of the military, but on our university campuses, where half-educated professors and non-serious students killing time are ubiquitous. Personally, I'd wager the intelligence of a Marine Corps private any day over the average D.C. journalist. Every naval officer I met at the USNA, without exception, seemed brighter than John Kerry, whose "brilliance", after all, has managed to offend millions of voters on the eve of a pivotal election. If the Democrats lose, it will be almost painful to watch the recriminations against Kerry fly.
53 mglazer  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:23:31am

Charles, Michelle Malkin has s snapshot of the MSM reader's comments all saying how what sKerry said "troops are dumb" is true

I think a good effort would be to collect as many of these as possible from the bbc websites to the nytimes all MSM sites with comments and forums etc...

ALl Liberal's comments will be he is right that the us troops are stupid, uneducated and dumb ...

54 SaneInMN  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:23:35am

Here's a sample of the infection that this country is currently afflicted with. Like other pathogens, the quicker we rid this country of this sick ideology, the quicker we recover from this disease.

From [Link: www.michellemalkin.com...]

Via the SFChronicle website:

Should Kerry apologize?
Vernon Burton, San Leandro
For what? Telling the truth? If a few more so-called leaders started telling the truth about Iraq, maybe we could save some of those lives that are being thrown away for nothing.

Cynthia Bournellis, San Jose
When I heard Kerry's comment, I knew that it was not an insult to the troops but rather a dig to the Bush administration. However, I think Kerry should explain what he meant and apologize to the troops for any misunderstanding.

Janice Hough, Palo Alto
Kerry has already said he made a mistake. But hey, if the man was capable of competently telling jokes, he might have been elected president.

Jette Swan, San Francisco
No. I spoke to a former enlisted man about this story. He's livid -- at Bush. (I have listened to comments from multiple radio shows and hav YET to hear a current or retired military man or women LIVID at Bush due to Kerry's treason, Sane) He says there's no need to apologize to the real veterans, because that's who Kerry was talking to in the first place -- and they understand him.

Amy Altschul, Oakland
Why should a person apologize for telling the truth? The truth is, for those who are not educated, the military is one of their only outlets. This does not mean the people are stupid, it means they are uneducated. Their lack of education often means the military, which currently means Iraq.

Steve Ginthum, Sebastopol
His claimed attempt at humor was certainly insulting to our soldiers, and for that, he must apologize. He needs to hire a new writer, and then learn to deliver a line without stooping to the level of the right-wing name-callers.

Jo-Anna Pippen, Albany
Kerry stated the obvious -- that if Bush had done his homework on the culture and history of the region, maybe we wouldn't be stuck there. The Republicans have nothing left to run on, so they mischaracterized Kerry's statement as an insult to the troops. The only things that Bush gets an "A" in are spin and hyperbole. He's managed an "F" in planning, execution and follow-up, and that has cost thousands of lives. Who really should be apologizing here?

55 digger12291970  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:23:43am

#42 tfc3rid: They are re-writing current history. Trying to cover up for the great filp floper. Can we call them liers yet?

56 mglazer  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:24:25am

Cut and Run sKerry Democrats Hate American Troops

57 newsjunkie_ky  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:24:30am

ot

the new ad on democrats raising taxes:

58 Austin Conservative  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:25:47am

What John F'ing Kerry meant to say was...

You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get to marry rich women and spend the money earned by their dead husbands like me. Whoo Hooo!

59 HeatherRadish  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:26:01am

I still don't get it.

Isn't a stint in the military or a job at McDonald's (hey, if you're halfway bright and motivated they've got tuition reimbursement plans and opportunity for advancement) BETTER for a kid's future than all the other shit alternatives for a 18-year-old who for whatever reason doesn't go into college or some sort of trade? Gangs, drugs, welfare, parents' basement...

I went to college after HS because I had a scholarship. *shrug* My best friend was smarter than I was but had crappy grades because he never did a lick of homework. He went into the Air Force, became a mechanic, saw the world, got a good job when he got out, and is generally more successful than I am. But the change between HS graduation and the first time he came to visit me at school after his basic training--holy crap. He GREW UP. Occasionally I think I made the wrong choice.

It's so obvious these arrogant elitist ass clowns have NO IDEA what life is like for normal working-class people. I can't stand it.

60 got milk?  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:26:06am

There is something wrong with my kid.

She is thinking about joining the Military AFTER college.

61 JammieWearingFool  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:26:29am

White House-and Dems-want Kerry apology

I guess his next move will be to call his fellow Democrats stupid.

Which we know they are. I just would like to see him say it.

WASHINGTON - A few Democratic candidates joined Republicans Wednesday in pressing
John Kerry to apologize for a comment critics said appeared disrespectful of U.S. troops as several Kerry campaign appearances were canceled.

"Whatever the intent, Senator Kerry was wrong to say what he said," said Democratic Rep. Harold Ford Jr., running for Senate in Tennessee.

"Sen. Kerry's remarks were poorly worded and just plain stupid," said Montana Senate President Jon Tester, a Democrat trying to unseat GOP Sen. Conrad Burns. "He owes our troops and their families an apology."

"I'm sorry he did what he did. But I think the issue ... we want to make sure it doesn't confuse the subject of the war in
Iraq," Democratic Rep. Ben Cardin, running for Senate in Maryland, said on CNN.

A few more days pounding this and the GOP will be picking up seats.

Panic time for the moonbats.

62 happy  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:26:48am

All the people who join the military must have gone to public schools.

Goes to show how demented these libs are.

Lets give them more to flush.

63 I_Invented_Al_Gore  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:28:03am

Just think...

this jerk could've been president

this jerk was apparently the best the Democrats had to offer in '04

/scary

64 Buckeye Abroad  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:29:02am

Vile moonbat calls grieving mother's son a rapist, sodomizer

I think I now know why I have never visited California.

65 Poitiers-Lepanto  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:29:54am

#61 JammieWearingFool

"Sen. Kerry's remarks were poorly worded and just plain stupid," said Montana Senate President Jon Tester, a Democrat trying to unseat GOP Sen. Conrad Burns.

And this is now.
Imagine after they lose the elections.
It will be a massacre, they will kill each other.

//Conrad BURNS ? It burns indeed !

66 mglazer  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:31:00am

Democrats are LIARs

Democrats HATE America's Troops

The Enemy is the Media that Shills for them

67 HeatherRadish  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:31:13am

#32 Globular Cluster

Rarely talked about in the criticism I hear about Kerry's comment is the idea that one needs to go to college in order to "be smart", as Kerry asserted.

One semester as a TA in a lab section disabused me of that notion right quick. Holy cow, the majority of the students couldn't even spell the name of the class right.

68 Geepers  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:31:35am
Academic Education

— 49.2 percent of officers have advanced or professional degrees; 39.4 percent have master’s degrees, 8.5 percent have professional degrees and 1.3 percent have doctorate degrees.

— 22.8 percent of company grade officers have advanced degrees; 16.5 percent have master’s degrees, 5.9 percent have professional degrees and 0.3 percent have doctorate degrees.

— 85.4 percent of field grade officers have advanced degrees; 70.7 percent have master’s degrees, 12.1 percent have professional degrees and 2.5 percent have doctorate degrees.

— 99.9 percent of the enlisted force have at least a high school education; 73.3 percent have some semester hours toward a college degree; 16.2 percent have an associate’s degree or equivalent semester hours; 4.7 percent have a bachelor’s degree; 0.7 percent have a master’s degree and .01 percent have a professional or doctorate degree.

Damn!

The Democrat college jokers that Kerry was addressing in that speech wouldn't stand a chance.

69 Ojoe  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:31:36am

Anyone who has profoundly studied history will see the absolute necessity of having a strong and intelligent military to preserve freedom, and by extension, prosperity.

Kerry, and the left, are showing their ignorance, not their education.

And only the strong can be gentle.

70 michael78244  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:31:46am

Disparaging words for public school system? She can thank Democrats for "trapping" her daughter. Next time vote Republican and maybe she can get a voucher system.

[Link: pewforum.org...]

[Link: www.iht.com...]

[Link: www.wsws.org...]

71 JammieWearingFool  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:32:21am

While Dem candidates in tight races are jumping ship, we get this:

Pelosi's Base: Kerry Was Just Telling The Truth

I think the base needs to abandon those candidates and vote third party.

Richard Brinton, Salinas
It would be a step in the right direction if Kerry would apologize for being a spineless worm when it comes to confronting the bloody war-mongers in the White House. He actually doesn't have the heart or the will to challenge Bush on his war crimes and corruption.

72 Orbit Rain  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:32:25am

"Where the president used to live - now he lives in a state of denial."

That's right Senator, Americans love pettines...more please...

73 Lazarus  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:32:54am

To them, it's true because they want it to be true. They are at war with reality, and their soldiers are drop-outs.

74 lawhawk  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:33:22am

The issue of the war in Iraq is overshadowed by Kerry's asinine behavior and continuing disdain and disrespect for the US military. Heck, many more candidates are running the other way from Kerry in crunchtime.

Casey cancelled his appearance. Harold Ford calls for his apology. And on and on it goes.

The Post notes:

Military recruits today are actually more educated - not less - than their civilian counterparts of similar ages: More than 90 percent of recruits have a high school diploma vs. about 75 percent of the broader population.

As American Forces Press Service reported last year, "Military recruits actually have much higher average aptitudes than the general youth population . . . In fiscal 2005, 67 percent of recruits scored above the 60th percentile on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. The test is designed so that the average young person will score 50 percent . . ."

Kerry continues to get basic facts wrong about the military, and his service in Vietnam doesn't insulate him from his ongoing and running hatred for the military.

75 FrogMarch  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:33:48am

The 50% drop out rate is due to a ill educational system that is controlled by an ill teacher's union.

Everyone knows the Teacher's Union is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Democrat Party. The teacher’s union wants more money - but they do not require higher standards from their teachers. The teachers union doesn't reward excellence. The teacher's union is not looking after our children. The teachers union is looking after itself.

76 galloping granny  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:33:50am
#67 HeatherRadish 11/1/2006 08:31AM PST

#32 Globular Cluster

Rarely talked about in the criticism I hear about Kerry's comment is the idea that one needs to go to college in order to "be smart", as Kerry asserted.

One semester as a TA in a lab section disabused me of that notion right quick. Holy cow, the majority of the students couldn't even spell the name of the class right.

The average college graduate today had less education that I was required to have to walk out of HS.

77 Kreuzueber Halbmond  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:34:50am

It sickens me to know there are people like this populating our country.

The U.S. needs compulsory military service for everyone out of high school or college. That way all of these nutcases can put their own lives on the line to defend the freedoms they like to abuse. They can go to hell.

78 spider mensch  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:35:57am

Kerry's mulling over his new campaign slogan for a possible '08 run..

"Kerry: The one legged man in the ass kicking contest!"

79 lawhawk  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:36:04am

Meanwhile, the idiocy in Louisiana is staggering. Whiplash Nagin and others are going to vote for William "The Cooler King" Jefferson despite the fact he's under investigation for why $90,000 was found in his freezer. They say that this is just a minor blemish on his record.

Yeah, Democrats can say such things. A GOPer is run out of town. Double standards. But I'm repeating myself.

80 Dave the.....  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:36:10am

"Each day I pick my daughter up at school I see the recruiters leaving, smiling because they have snagged another kid who’s trapped by the system and sees no future other than enlisting."


So it sounds like the military is good then. Helps these people grow up fast. Earn skills. Get a good resume builder.

81 Geepers  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:36:23am

got milk? (#60),

You should think that's wrong at all. Look at what qualifications you need to rise to the top. I believe there are programs for delayed enlistment agreements based on the degree your working on.

82 CrimsonFisted  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:36:36am

I knew all this was ringing a bell. Paging Michael Moore!

NARRATOR: Of course, not a single member of Congress wanted to sacrifice their child for the war in Iraq. And who could blame them? Who would want to give up their child? Would you? Would he [President Bush]? I’ve always been amazed that the very people forced to live in the worst parts of town, go to the worst schools, and who have it the hardest are always the first to step up, to defend us. They serve so that we don’t have to.

83 carridine  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:37:01am

Occasional Reader, Geepers & Egfrow: you've been Hat-Tipped for your efforts in The Great Kerry Meltdown!

Thanx!

84 Seattle Rep  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:37:10am

Anybody remember a press conference before the war started where a reporter asked Colin Powell if he was aware that only 30 percent of Americans could point out where Iraq is on a map? To which he supposedly replied, 'Yes, but that 30% of Americans are US Marines.'

85 Golem Akbar  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:37:42am

Let's watch the dems try to explain this statement all week long, and right until the election. I'm now willing to bet that Lieberman wins by a huge majority. And hope maybe soon all the democrats turn against the left. Wouldn't that be sweet? I'll thank Senator Kerry for that, too.

86 Just_A_Grunt  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:38:44am

College and the military are not mutually exclusive. A lot of your ability to get promoted depends on you getting a college education whether you are enlisted or officer. I was enlisted for 20+ years in the Army and I had to take classes to be competitive for promotions.
This is just another manifestation of class warfare, which apparentely is the only kind of warfare the Dems can wage.

87 ibmkeyboard  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:39:36am

YOU KNOW,
We are having a local election,,And for some dumb reason I had planed to vote for the Democrat...Just Pissed,, I guess...

Thanks Senator Dipshit Kerry for bringing me back to my sense...

Kerry is like shit smelling sauce...But it does clear out the sinus...

88 Just_A_Grunt  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:40:02am

#85 Golem

Let's watch the dems try to explain this statement all week long, and right until the election. I'm now willing to bet that Lieberman wins by a huge majority. And hope maybe soon all the democrats turn against the left. Wouldn't that be sweet? I'll thank Senator Kerry for that, too.

Actually kerry's comments play more to Lamonts' base then Liebermans. I doubt Lieberman gains anything was this.

89 new_tommy  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:40:58am

I'm thinking about leaving college temporarily and enrolling once again, probably as an infantryman this time. I would have to lose a little weight (15-20 lb.) and get back in shape first, though.

90 DC_Hog  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:41:36am

Mama winger, thanks for posting that link to "American Soldier." Brings tears to my eyes, because I am one of those American soldiers, no, correction, I am one of those well educated, college degree earning American soldiers. Kerry is a disgrace to the Navy uniform which I wear. I am proud to say that I work with the best and the brightest our country has to offer.

91 Geepers  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:42:27am

spider mensch (#78),

Kerry's mulling over his new campaign slogan for a possible '08 run..


My vote's for:

John Kerry: "I Was An Asswipe Before I Was A Moron"
92 Dirk Diggler  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:42:30am

Interesting.

Talk about speaking the stark truth to students who want more out of life. The education system in California is a mess, especially in L.A. County. Each day I pick my daughter up at school I see the recruiters leaving, smiling because they have snagged another kid who’s trapped by the system and sees no future other than enlisting. It shouldn’t be like this. A 50% drop out rate is unacceptable. What is the bottom line for these kids, a job at McDonald’s or Iraq. Kudos to Kerry for delivering a wake up call to the young voters at the rally (wingnuts are all wet on their claims).

With every passing day I become more convinced that liberals are not so much misguided as mentally ill. The foundation of modern liberalism seems to rest on malignant narcissism, delusion, paranoia, and an irrational almost pathological hatred of something (Bush, Rethuglicans, the U.S., etc.).

93 Live4Truth  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:42:37am

That's a great link to the Heritage Foundation's study. Leading Democrats should be ashamed of themselved (but they won't be -- they have no conscience, and never learn from mistakes).

I personally know four Marines (three of which have been in Iraq) a Navy Seal, and an Army helicopter pilot. Two of the Marines have bachelor's degrees, the Navy Seal is about two courses away from a BS (but just has no interest in completing it -- he's doing what he wants to do), the Army pilot has a BS, and two other Marines have high school diplomas, are fulfilling their potential, and are generally much better people and have their lives together than most people with higher levels of education.

94 svjathi  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:42:48am

Flipper-Flopper the comes up with some vague explanation that it was a botched joke about the Commander-in-Chief.

Going by the grades both Kerry and "El Diablo" (let us face it, Hugo just mentioned what many Dems already repeat in their minds), which were released during the 2004 elections, Kerry came out dumber than the Prez.

So who is he kidding again?

95 got milk?  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:43:30am

Geepers

I am sure Kerry would think that it is wrong, why would someone with a college degree want to join?

96 oilbertan  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:44:18am

This person is your typical left winger. The school system here in Canada has been dumbed down for the past 35 years to the point where roughly half of HS grads cannot spell, write a coherent paragraph nor do the most basic math calculations without a calculator and I suspect the same is true in the US. The teachers unions are responsible for this (don't get me going on "whole language" - that one set my son back several years) and the left wingers are the ones who blindly go along with this bs and routinely elect liberals who are beholden to the unions. If this woman had half the smarts of your average US soldier she would be able to think this through logically but as I always say, liberals are strangers to the cocepts of logic and common sense. I wonder if her kid is taking Ebonics at her HS? I am sure looking forward to next Tuesday night!

97 Just_A_Grunt  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:44:19am

While throwing around statistics keep this in mind. There are only 1.4 million Americans in uniform out of a population of 300 million. I have not forgotten what Ed Rendell, Governor of PA, tried to do in '04 to get the absentee ballots of service members serving overseas thrown out or at least not counted. And yet here in '06 he is predicted to win reelection.
No Dem is worried about losing the military vote because the numbers are not statiscally significant. Even taking into account the immediate family who may not vote they more then make up for it with just the "dead" voters they have in NY.

98 Murqtaad  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:44:22am

I think Gordon Is John Kerry. Wasn't he just talking about "peeling potatos" at McDonalds? Maybe Gordo is a Kerry staffer.

99 Padre  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:44:33am

Funny, that if he does end up aplogizing now, then there would be yet another flip flop on his part.

I want to see a video splice:

I apologize to no one// I apologize to the military

100 Golem Akbar  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:44:56am

#88 Just a Grunt

Actually kerry's comments play more to Lamonts' base then Liebermans. I doubt Lieberman gains anything was this.

I have faith in the vast majority of Americans who will finally wake up to the damage the left has done to their politics. The voters in Connecticut are no different. Yes there are a lot of nuts there (hey, I live in California, speaking of nuts), but most Americans just want to live and thrive. Kerry's comments will serve a very useful purpose: to wake up the voters to their real interests. And that isn't alive and well in the democrat party these days.

101 Ojoe  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:46:57am

85 golemakbar

I'm "Independent" from here on out.

But it would be good for democrats to shed the 'left' tag.

102 Geepers  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:48:20am

carridine (#83),

I'm famous!

Keep up the good work.

103 EtNorskTroll  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:48:28am

#69 Ojoe 11/1/2006 08:31AM PST


Anyone who has profoundly studied history will see the absolute necessity of having a strong and intelligent military to preserve freedom, and by extension, prosperity.

Kerry, and the left, are showing their ignorance, not their education.

And only the strong can be gentle.

Exactly.

Whether it was a joke or no is irrelevant, now, Kerry has got to go.

Now.

Out the door.

Don't let the door hit ya' where the Good Lord split ya'.

Say goodnight, John.

104 WriterMom  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:48:33am

There is an American moonbat that I work with. She often promotes the line that the majority of American soldiers are uneducated, pretty much illiterates with no other hope of getting ahead, so they are basically FORCED into the military-which is all a sinister plot by Karl Rove against poor people.

Glad to have these stats the next time she pipes up.

105 Globular Cluster  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:48:34am
#92 Dirk Diggler 11/1/2006 08:42AM PSTThe foundation of modern liberalism seems to rest on malignant narcissism, delusion, paranoia, and an irrational almost pathological hatred of something (Bush, Rethuglicans, the U.S., etc.).

The word "liberal" was hijacked by the left. Our Founding Fathers were Liberal and called themselves Liberal. However, liberal meant something completely different back then. It meant individual rights, protection from excessive power in central government, states rights, real freedom of speech, and freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion.

106 doppelganglander  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:49:07am

A guy from the Heritage Foundation is on Fox right now discussing the study on the troops' educational levels.

Just_A_Grunt, did you ever get to the bottom of those 5 absentee ballots?

107 new_tommy  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:49:27am

#98 Murqtaad


I think Gordon Is John Kerry.

Does that mean we have to call him Yrrek?

108 mattm  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:51:34am

The truth about what the Dems think about the military finally came out. In true dem form they claimed that it was some evil GOP plot, not their beliefs.

109 Kragar (proud to be kafir)  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:52:02am

#77 Kreuzueber Halbmond

"The U.S. needs compulsory military service for everyone out of high school or college."

I wouldn't trust most of these people to stand a firewatch, let alone hold a weapon. The days of requiring men to stand and serve as cannon fodder are long passed.

Instead of requiring compulsive service, I prefer Heinlein's model. You want to vote? You want full rights as a citizen? You want to be allowed into certain jobs, such as Police, Teacher, or run for elected office? Then sign up and serve. Otherwise, keep your mouth shut and enjoy your "protected" status as a leech.

110 WriterMom  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:52:35am

#96 oilbertan

Similar indoctrination at Ontario public schools.

111 Occasional Reader  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:53:00am

The US military also seems pretty unique to me in that we have commandos with graduate degrees. E.g., friends of mine who did a masters' in Latin American Studies had a number of 7th Special Forces Group guys in their program.

112 American Jewess in Jerusalem  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:53:39am

Honestly, after doing more reading on this, I do think that Kerry intended for the joke to be a slam against Bush, since the punch line was supposed to be "or else you may end up getting us into a war with Iraq." We know that he is always attacking Bush's supposed intellectual inferiority, so this explanation actually makes sense to me. Now don't get all excited, lizardoids, but hear me out. Even as dumb as Kerry is, I really don't think that he would intentionally and deliberately and brazenly say something so incredibly insulting about those very people who form his voter base -- the underprivileged who supposedly have no choice but to enter the military.

However, I do believe that Kerry's true belief about those who join the military is represented in his flubbed up joke. Call this a Freudian slip, if you will. Anyone remember the movie Liar, Liar? I think this is a Liar, Liar moment. He may not have intended to say it, but it is what he believes nonetheless. And he sure is making an ass of himself in the aftermath!

All in all, a gift to the neocons. I love to see the frenzy in the Dem world, with libs running this way and that -- some condemning Kerry and distancing themselves from him in an attempt to save the elections, and others rushing to his side in a show of lefty solidarity. It's fun, actually. Pass the popcorn.

113 WriterMom  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:53:41am
114 AmericanViking  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:54:04am

#64 Buckeye Abroad

What a vile, disgusting piece of crap that dude is!

Buckeye, I thank you very much for providing the link to this piece of filth.

It is one thing to have an opinion about this war, or any other for that matter - that's fair enough, as everybody is entitled to his or her opinion.

To attack her slain soldier son by insinuating that he and his Marine brethren are 'rapists' and 'sodomisers' is absolutely out of line, totally out of context with his 'master', Cindy Sheehan, as well as extremely offensive to me, personally.

I am going to try hard to remember his assholes face, and the fact that he apparantly came from Fresno, 'cause if I ever meet him, person to person, he and I are going to 'negotiate' his twerpy views, whether he wants to or not - Viking Style!

115 EtNorskTroll  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:54:12am

#72 Orbit Rain 11/1/2006 08:32AM PST

"Where the president used to live - now he lives in a state of denial."

Exactly, Senator...and you come from the State of Confusion.

Knucklehead.

*spit*

~Norsk Troll

116 Live4Truth  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:54:16am

#97 Just_A_Grunt


While throwing around statistics keep this in mind. There are only 1.4 million Americans in uniform out of a population of 300 million. I have not forgotten what Ed Rendell, Governor of PA, tried to do in '04 to get the absentee ballots of service members serving overseas thrown out or at least not counted. And yet here in '06 he is predicted to win reelection.
No Dem is worried about losing the military vote because the numbers are not statiscally significant.


But for every person in the military, there are friends and family who are close to them, and likewise insulted. Let's say that there's an average ratio of 5:1 (people who are close enough to each military person to feel offended). That's another 7 million. And they're almost all of voting age, whereas maybe 10% of those 300 million aren't. 8 million is about 3% of 270 million, and that's significant for elections.

117 Geepers  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:54:59am

got milk? (#95),

Well I butchered that post but I think you got what I meant.

You go to school outside the military with an agreement to enlist at graduation, and they pay for it.

118 galloping granny  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:55:50am
#59 HeatherRadish 11/1/2006 08:26AM PST

I still don't get it.

Isn't a stint in the military or a job at McDonald's (hey, if you're halfway bright and motivated they've got tuition reimbursement plans and opportunity for advancement) BETTER for a kid's future than all the other shit alternatives for a 18-year-old who for whatever reason doesn't go into college or some sort of trade? Gangs, drugs, welfare, parents' basement...

I went to college straight out of HS back in the 60's. I went to college because I was under 18 and my mother made me go to college. I did not want to be there, not because I am "stupid" but because I happen to be very bright, good at lots of different things and had not the FIRST clue as to what I wanted to be when I grew up.

I "obeyed" my mother, but the very last thing I said to her as she dropped me at the door was "You can make me be here for now, but you cannot make me open a book." I did not open a book even once. I majored in bridge, smokers and fraternity parties. I flunked every class except US History and English, which I simply couldn't fail even while trying to do so.

I turned 18. I quit. I got married. I traveled, lived outside the US for several years, raised children. Along the way I went back to college twice. The first time I had to withdraw because one of my children was critically ill. The second time I completed a 4 year+ degree in 2.5 years while working full time and raising teenagers - with a GPA that was >3.8. Had they included my few transfer grades in that I would have just missed a 4.0 Meanwhile, the "kids" I went to college with paid the rent by throwing keggers and rioted every Thursday night.

To me there is absolutely NOTHING worse than sending a young person to college who is not ready to be there. In a world where a college degree can easily run to more than $100K, it is ludicrous to major in something unless you are very sure what you want to do with your life. Virtually no one knows that at 18.

I have encouraged every single one of my daughters to work from the time they were old enough to hold a job. Every single one of them has worked at McDonalds -as have I. They've slung hash, bagged groceries and worked at the Post Office. Every single one of them has grown beyond that to a responsible, well paid, secure job where they are highly valued. Every single one of them has either completed a Bachelors or is currently working on one.

Had my children wanted to join the military I would have encouraged them to do so. Many of their friends have and are the better for it.

Our young people serving in the military are not the "stupid" ones. That honor is left to those who live on daddy's dime instead of making their own way in the world.

119 Dirk Diggler  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:55:51am

GC,

The word "liberal" was hijacked by the left. Our Founding Fathers were Liberal and called themselves Liberal. However, liberal meant something completely different back then. It meant individual rights, protection from excessive power in central government, states rights, real freedom of speech, and freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion.

I know. I felt I made the distinction clear by using the term "modern liberalism". I was going to mention classical liberalism and contrast it but I didn't feel it necessary.

120 Lazarus  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:55:56am

#105 Globular Cluster

The word "liberal" was hijacked by the left. Our Founding Fathers were Liberal and called themselves Liberal. However, liberal meant something completely different back then. It meant individual rights, protection from excessive power in central government, states rights, real freedom of speech, and freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion. (bold mine)

Individual rights name the freedom to act and not to act. That means the freedom to practice a religion or not practice any religion. The establishment clause in the First Amendment reaffirms this. Americans have the right to be free from religion.

121 mich-again  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:56:24am

The writer pamela Leavy also runs another blog, The Unofficial John Kerry Blog, link and in her post yesterday she claims that Kerry has said the same thing many times before, but alas, she provides no link so I doubt her...

Let's make it clear, Kerry has spoken about the importance of a good education time and time again. He's said in the past, "I can't overstress the importance of a great education. Do you know where you end up if you don't study, if you aren't smart, if you're intellectually lazy? You end up getting us stuck in a war in Iraq." His point is ALWAYS to wake kids up to how important a good education is --

Note: Putting quotation marks around a sentence does not make it a quote.

122 Golem Akbar  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:57:57am

#112 American Jewess

Honestly, after doing more reading on this, I do think that Kerry intended for the joke to be a slam against Bush

Of course, but you are right also that now democrats are going to have to 'fess up about their opinions of the military. They don't have good track records. It's the Republicans who support the military, the police, and our freedoms. Kerry may have intended to slam Bush, but did oh-such more. [selah!]

123 DC_Hog  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:58:18am

#104 writermom

"She often promotes the line that the majority of American soldiers are uneducated, pretty much illiterates with no other hope of getting ahead, so they are basically FORCED into the military-which is all a sinister plot by Karl Rove against poor people."


Your moonbat coworker needs a little dose of reality. This absolutly infuriates me to no end! The enlisted men and women I work with are invaluable. I can not get my job done and the military would not function without them. Rank and rate in the military are what they are, but some of the smartest and most intelligent people in the military are Enlisted and they have very technical backgrounds. I keep one single phrase in mind at all times, and it is, "Officers run the military, but the Enlisted make the military run. That is a fact.

124 bordergal  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:58:41am

A high dropout rate in LAUSD?

Wouldn't have anything to do with the large number of illegals and offspring of illegals in the school system, would it?

24,000 future dropouts from the school district took place in the illegal alien rallies this spring.

They're here to bleed the American taxpayer, not to do anything constructive like join the military (even if they could).

No US citizen should put their child in an LAUSD school.

125 got milk?  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 6:58:44am

Geepers

I told here I would pay for books/tution, if she wants to live on campus, she will have to figure out how to pay for it.
I will tell her to check into what you said.

126 Occasional Reader  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 7:00:00am

#121 mich:

she claims that Kerry has said the same thing many times before,

As others have noted... well then, surely some video evidence of this must exist, right? If one of the most photographed people in America was repeating the same joke many times, some of his supporters must have filmed it at some point. So upload it to YouTube and be done with it.

[crickets]

127 Buck  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 7:01:07am

Kerry has (on video/film) called the serving troops rapists, murderers, and terrorists. Why are we surprised when he calls them dummies?

If we took a poll on KOS, who doubts that a majority of Kossaks would agree with those sentiments?

How many times do we have to hear from the left that anyone who follows the orders of GWB would have to be stupid before we admit that this is the way most democrats people here feel?

Serving in the forces during war time seems to create veterans who are antiwar activists, and antiwar activists seem to feel that all wars are corrupt, and active soldiers are fools to be serving in a corrupt war.

I think Kerry was saying what in his heart, and the heart of most of his base.

128 Right Side  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 7:01:18am
Each day I pick my daughter up at school I see the recruiters leaving, smiling because they have snagged another kid who’s trapped by the system and sees no future other than enlisting. It shouldn’t be like this.

I just posted the following question to this mom on the Democratic Daily blog:

Pamela,
what do you tell teach own daughter about the United States military? That it’s just a place for uneducated losers and fools? And she’s just too good for that?

If your daughter did choose to become a military career officer (and lots of college kids do, according to the stats), would you be proud of her, or ashamed of her?

It could happen, you know. All young people want to rebel against their parents. And becoming a military officer sounds like a delicious way your daughter could rebel against you.

129 American Jewess in Jerusalem  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 7:04:45am

#77

The U.S. needs compulsory military service for everyone out of high school or college.

I agree with you 100%. This is what Israel requires, and it's great. Religious girls can opt out of the military by serving two years in National Service, which is basically some sort of volunteer function but it is taken very seriously and monitored closely. Rabbinic students, usually ultra-Orthodox, can opt out of the military too, which causes a lot of hard feelings between them and the members of society who serve in the army. If you didn't serve in the army, it is very hard to get a job. You are stigmatized.

At the very least, America should institute a National Service program that is compulsory, absolutely.

Isn't it funny how it's the lefty libs who perpetuate the elitism in America?

130 Mark1957  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 7:06:50am

John Kerry: "Living proof that life is not fair."

Just in case John Kerry wants to know (which he doesn't), when I, for one, retired as an NCO from the Air Force in 1995, I already had an Associates in Applied Science (A.A.S.) and was better than halfway to a baccalaureate degree, which I subsequently finished at Purdue University (B.A., History, 1997 & M.S.Ed., Higher Ed. Admin., 1999).

Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota, the base from which I retired, and which was relatively isolated, had a huge higher ed program--it seemed as if almost everybody was taking some kind of college course. I knew middle-ranking enlisted people who were working on their doctorates. Hell, the mere fact that we had 18 and 19 year-olds performing maintenance on nuclear-tipped missiles and KC-135 refuelers says a lot for the intelligence level in the Air Force. "Hanyaks" need not apply.

For officers, anyone hoping to be promoted beyond Captain was all but expected to acquire a master's degree. Full-stop. I'd like to see John "Effing" Kerry explain why he thinks they're stupid too.

131 HeatherRadish  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 7:08:02am

#112 American Jewess in Jerusalem

Even as dumb as Kerry is, I really don't think that he would intentionally and deliberately and brazenly say something so incredibly insulting about those very people who form his voter base -- the underprivileged who supposedly have no choice but to enter the military.

Hrm. I wonder if he thought he was pandering to "the underprivileged who supposedly have no choice" by dropping a subtle hint that the draft could come back.

132 got milk?  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 7:08:12am

OT

A new study has found a "substantial" drop in U.S. men's testosterone levels since the 1980s, but the reasons for the decline remain unclear. This trend also does not appear to be related to age

.

Global Warming?

133 Athos  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 7:09:28am

SOP for the nutroots -

Step 1 - Defame the war / mission
Step 2 - Defame the warrior

They can't help showing utter contempt for the American military forces and the call for duty / service that the members of the Armed Forces demonstrate daily.

Lt. Gen Tom McInerary calls for Kerry's resignation.

At the very least, Kerry needs to resign. If not, then the Democratic Party needs to toss him out.

134 Shoved Right(er)  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 7:11:42am

Always good to know service in a desert cammie uniform is equivalent to service in the golden arches uniform. Who gets that bitch her super size fries anyways, elitist *&^^#$$%$#$%^&*(^%$^&*(&(^%$#@#@$$ #$%^&

135 WalterMitty  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 7:15:57am

I wholeheartedly agree about the distain for the military, but it isn’t just that.

Any effort at *anything* that doesn’t fit into the elitist template is disparaged as abject failure foisted on the poor population by the evil conservative cabal.

Take the McDonalds© comment. There is a multi-billion dollar, multi-national company providing goods and services that are apparently in demand all around the world. Just try to find a town or country that doesn’t have one (or hundreds) dispensing their products. Somehow this organization takes the workforce and resources at hand and creates wealth, well-being and in many cases, basic life education for thousands and thousands of people.

Let’s throw in Wal-Mart® lest anyone forget a prime Boogie Man. Another multi-billion dollar organization providing goods and services that are also apparently in great demand around the world.

Join either organization (or many others) at any level you choose. If you work hard and learn the successful systems operated by these organizations, there really is no limit to how far you can go. Start out as a Wal-Mart® greeter, take advantage of all training and advancement opportunities and someday manage a store, a region or more. Learn to run a McDonalds© restaurant and if that’s your passion, your chances of succeeding opening your own Bistro are hugely improved.

The government school systems are failing huge percentages of students. Use whatever statistics you like, but the picture isn’t rosy. One of the biggest reasons (IMHO) is that the liberal socialists running the government-union-educational establishment only accepts one success path: High School, followed by College, preferably with a Liberal Arts degree.

There is no room for mechanics, plumbers, builders, welders, machinists or any of a thousand other occupations that don’t have much use for the crap that passes for curriculum in many public schools. I know this because I have to train High School graduates in math, chemistry, physics and all the other stuff people need to know to do these kinds of useful, productive jobs.

The only losers I meet are those that buy into the claptrap that hard work is beneath them and they don’t have to do anything that doesn’t pay 50k a year to start. This manufactured underclass is the legacy of the liberal elites that need the underclass to maintain their world order.

136 Live4Truth  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 7:16:11am

#112 American Jewess in Jerusalem

However, I do believe that Kerry's true belief about those who join the military is represented in his flubbed up joke. Call this a Freudian slip, if you will. Anyone remember the movie Liar, Liar? I think this is a Liar, Liar moment. He may not have intended to say it, but it is what he believes nonetheless.


Good point, I bet that's true. No politically savy politician would have said such a thing. But we also know that this kind of thinking is typical and mainstream among Dems. So, it seems very likely that it was a Liar, Liar, Freudian Slip moment...

137 mglazer  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 7:17:14am

TOSS SKERRY

RESIGN NOW JF'nK!

138 mglazer  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 7:18:55am

#132 got milk?


LIBERALS!

139 WriterMom  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 7:23:18am

#135 WalterMitty

Excellent post!

DOWN WITH BIG MOONBAT!

Long live BigBusiness/Pharma/KarlRove!

Viva la VRWC!

140 V the K  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 7:23:30am

My son CJ is homeschooled. When we talked to an Army recruiter, he said the Army was leery of home-schooling, and suggested my son make sure he got a GED and a couple semesters at community college before enlisting.

141 hous bin pharteen  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 7:26:38am

We keep talking about how smart the officers are.

The enlisted are just as smart.
If you want to be a leader of men and want the challenge that comes with that, then the enlisted ranks is what you will choose.

Once you get those bars and stars you end up being an office worker and a paper pusher. For that reason allot of our best and brightest go enlisted because they want to be in the field. NCO's run the military. A 2nd Lt will learn way more from his top NCO then he will ever learn in college or the service academies.

142 Chyron  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 7:30:58am
#140 V the K 11/1/2006 09:23AM PST

My son CJ is homeschooled. When we talked to an Army recruiter, he said the Army was leery of home-schooling, and suggested my son make sure he got a GED and a couple semesters at community college before enlisting.

Obvious evidence that the military only wants stupid people.

Why else would they require public schooling?

/joking

143 hous bin pharteen  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 7:32:44am

This comment also proves the lie about why the left is against the war in Iraq.

They don't want anymore troops killed in Iraq. Yeah right.

This shows they do not give a rat’s ass about the troops.

They are against the war because they do not want the US to be a powerful nation. They want us weak. They want to spend that military money on more social programs.

You know, like midnight basketball.

144 DC_Hog  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 7:35:21am

#141

Couldn't agree more! As an officer, I rely heavily on my Enslisted men and women. The military does not, will not, and never will function without them. They are some of the brightest and smartest people I have ever met.

145 hous bin pharteen  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 7:35:23am

GW is on Rush right now.

146 TalkinKamel  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 7:36:04am

#135 WalterMitty

You make some good points.

I agree---I think liberals have an agenda pushing the High School/College with liberal arts degree as path to success; mainly, it isn't a path to success---rather the opposite, in fact, and creates an underclass of perpetually discontented, disaffected people who can't support themselves, but feel they deserve more than they're getting because they (or their parents) spent so much sending them to college where they learned how to speak French, Feminist Literature in a black/trangendered subtext and Art that isn't art at all. In short, they learned nothing---which makes them prime grist for liberal mills.

Honestly, success in school often depends not on intelligence or diligence, but upon how well one can parrot one's professor, how long you can sit still in class and how obedient you are in turning in papers on time and filling out exams. Insight, innovation, imagination all play very little part in it. Really, you'd do much better joining the military, or anything else worthwhile, rather than basically learning to be a paper-pushing drone.

And, speaking of bistros. . .

Isn't it funny how the same liberals who are always done on McDonald's always rave about those trendy little bistros and retaurants they adore so---which serve incredibly fatty, high-choloesteral food, and which are probably much less clean than your average McDonalds.

147 macofromoc  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 7:42:58am

What they should do is compare the Degrees of those in the Military vs. those on the left who like to claim the most inteligence.

If you look at the Military you're sure to find advanced degrees in Science/Mathmatics/Engineering.

Look at the Marxist Left - Humanities/Music/Women's studies.

148 3 wood  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 7:45:26am

#75 Frogmarch

Everyone knows the Teacher's Union is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Democrat Party. The teacher’s union wants more money - but they do not require higher standards from their teachers. The teachers union doesn't reward excellence. The teacher's union is not looking after our children. The teachers union is looking after itself.

Absolutely spot on. It is nearly impossible to fire a teacher for incompetance.

149 Chyron  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 7:47:35am
#147 macofromoc 11/1/2006 09:42AM PST

What they should do is compare the Degrees of those in the Military vs. those on the left who like to claim the most inteligence.

If you look at the Military you're sure to find advanced degrees in Science/Mathmatics/Engineering.

Look at the Marxist Left - Humanities/Music/Women's studies.

No they have degrees in interior design and underwater basket-weaving.

150 3 wood  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 7:50:11am

#87 ibmkeyboard

Thanks Senator Dipshit Kerry for bringing me back to my sense...

Weclcome back to clear thinking. And if you ever feel like voting Democratic again, just remember Kerry.

151 hous bin pharteen  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 7:58:15am

#144 DC hog

Everyone in the military knows that. Civilians should know that as well.

It is not easy even to get into the military as an enlisted person. Not many people know that.
I know two kids who intended to join up. Their families expected them to have no problem. I knew the kids and told their families neither one of them would get accepted. They were not the type of people the military wanted.
Boy were they surprised when they got turned down.

152 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 8:03:02am

Here's my own story about college and the military. I attended a small liberal arts college, and like most freshmen, had no idea what I wanted to study or what I wanted to do upon graduating. So I took courses in things that interested me - literature & history. I had always thought about military service as a possible career. So I joined ROTC. I didn't need the money for school (getting student loans & grants isn't that hard - why do you think tuition is so expensive - they know someone will foot the bill) - I wanted to serve my country. After a while, it became clear that being in the military just wasn't right for me (or America ;) ), so I was able to opt out. But I didn't (briefly) join the service because I felt I had no choice, I choose to join in the hopes of paying some of the debt I owe to all the others who have served me in the military from the Revolution onwards. I suppose that kind of thinking is just too much for a liberal elite like Kerry to understand.

153 Shiplord Kirel  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 9:03:34am

What is the bottom line for these kids, a job at McDonald’s or Iraq.

Kiss my ass, you lying lefty status bigot.

I don't do fast food, and I never wear pieces of my old uniform now that I'm retired, but it might be time for a change. It's chilly today, so I might dig out a BDU jacket (with the eagles still on the collar), possibly add a "Vietnam veteran" bumper sticker to my Lexus (which already has Purple Heart license plates), and drive down to McDonald's for lunch. Looks like they're in this with us.

The moonbats would apparently prefer to put the hard-working folk at McD's on welfare and give their jobs to illiterate illegals.

154 WriterMom  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 9:05:32am

#146 TalkinKamel

Pssst...you forgot 'sleep with the professor'.

Just sayin'.

155 jwbaumann  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 9:18:31am

I have a hunch that drop-outs are more likely to end up voting Democrat than joining the military. Just a hunch.

/ by a factor of 1000 or more

156 plutosdad  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 9:19:22am

I find it humourous these liberals think that without an education you have to get a job in the military - as they sip their lattes while shopping and relax in their pampered lives provided by the invisible service sector employees.

157 new_tommy  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 9:42:14am

Let us just remember that so many liberal dickheads wouldn't be free to pursue their careers in ecological sociology, Marxist critical theory, poststructural semiotics, and the like, if not for our brave men and women in the armed forces. How many literary theorists do you suppose came out of Taliban-controlled Afghanistan?

158 TalkinKamel  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 10:17:42am

#154 WriterMom

Hee, heee, thanks for the correction! Sorry I left that out.

159 taxfreekiller[deleted]  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 11:01:14am
160 Right Side  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 12:35:02pm

#157 new_tommy:

Let us just remember that so many liberal dickheads wouldn't be free to pursue their careers in ecological sociology, Marxist critical theory, poststructural semiotics, and the like, if not for our brave men and women in the armed forces.


I remember that. But today's liberal elites don't remember that. They grew up in a pampered suburban baby-boom environment, in which they never had to worry about poverty or having their lives be in danger from marauding gangs or having their country be in danger from aggressive states on the march. They probably didn't even work their way through college, but had it paid for by wealthy parents and college scholarships.

Before 9-11, America had not been attacked on its home soil since Pearl Harbor, which was before most of these liberal elitists were born. Therefore, they cannot conceive of having to struggle for freedom or having to fight for their lives. They've had their freedom gifted to them on a silver platter by previous generations.

Ever notice how so many heirs of inherited wealth end up as ultra-liberals or even Marxists?

161 jas  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 1:45:08pm

My son is about to enter the US Army. Do these idiots understand you have to go through hoops to get in? Drug test, background checks, interviews, aptitude tests, physicals. I don't see that being the pre-requisite for the local community college, let alone some pretentious structure housing relics and a mindset from the 60's.

162 -=@$$=-  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 3:38:09pm

the demmocratdaily webpage is coming down right now.

i clipped the text but didn't get a pagesave. did anyone get one?

163 Outrider  Wed, Nov 1, 2006 4:34:37pm

The figures for advanced degrees for oficers seem far to low. Almost all officers derive their commissions through ROTC or one of the Academies. There is still a percentage of officers that go through Officer Candidate School (OCS), but that is a small number. An ROTC or Academy graduation is a Bachelors Degree. I'm almost sure that an Associates Degree is required for OCS, but I could be in error on this one.

22.8 percent of company grade officers have advanced degrees; 16.5 percent have master’s degrees, 5.9 percent have professional degrees and 0.3 percent have doctorate degrees.

That leaves a figure of 55.5% of all officers that have no degree at all? This number can not be correct. The military, to my knowledge does not give Battlefield Commissions any more. As I understand it, the figure should total to a number of 100% for company grade officers with at least a Bachelors Degree. As they progress in rank, those degrees just get higher as the military will not promote soldiers, must less officers without advanced degrees. I've never seen a Full Colonel that did not have a Masters Degree. Just curious about the numbers.


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