Kerry to vets: Bush "living in a fantasy world" on Iraq

[Cocoa]

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/breaking_news/story/232704p-199856c.html

LAS VEGAS — President Bush is “living in a fantasy world of spin,” failing to tell U.S. troops or the American people the truth about the situation in Iraq, Democratic challenger John Kerry told National Guard veterans Thursday.

Two days after Bush addressed the same group, Kerry said of the president, “I believe he failed the fundamental test of leadership” by failing to level with the veterans.

“Two days ago the president stood right where I’m standing and did not even acknowledge that more than 1,000 men and women have lost their lives in Iraq. He did not tell you that with each passing day we’re seeing more chaos, more violence, more indiscriminate killings,” Kerry said in remarks prepared for delivery to the National Guard Association of the United States.

“You deserve a president who will not play politics with national security, who will not ignore his own intelligence while living in a fantasy world of spin, and who will give the American people the truth about the challenge our brave men and women face on the front lines,” the Democratic senator said.

more...

[peekaloo]

1. Of course when Boo$h spoke the press mentioned the many

standing ovations he received. We get the following.

"Bush holds a commanding lead over Kerry among veterans and their families. A recent AP-Ipsos poll said the president was the choice of 58 percent and Kerry 38 percent".

[Protected]

10. I noticed the media doing that, too

They were very eager to point out how glowing the reception was for Bush when he spoke to the same group earlier this week.

[JoFerret]

2. Good headline

.

[barb162]

3. Kerry needs to do more of this

somewhere, somehow, maybe these military guys will get it through their heads that Bush is an idiot

[leetrisck]

4. Did Kerry get a good reception

I certainly hope so.

[struggle4progress]

5. Kerry Says Bush `Failed' by Not Telling Truth on Iraq (Update1)

<snip> In the speech today to the 3,500 members of the National Guard Association convention in Las Vegas, Kerry aimed to persuade voters that Bush is using ``the same old distortions'' to conflate the Iraq war with the need to defend against terrorism, said Allison Dobson, his spokeswoman. In a speech to the convention Tuesday, Bush said the Guard was ``fighting terrorist enemies in Iraq, Afghanistan, and across the globe so we do not have to face them here at home.''

While Bush received seven standing ovations during his remarks to the Guard association, Kerry's speech was greeted with polite and scattered applause from the crowd of about 3,000. Kerry's remarks on Bush's handling of the war in Iraq were met with silence. <snip>

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=ageplPpXULv0&refer=us

[Sub Atomic]

6. Then fuck 'em. They deserve what they get.

If these fucking morons cannot understand the incredible damage that * has done to the military by his follies in the Middle East and they want to continue to support him blindly, then fuck them all.

Every single fucking one of them.

[geek tragedy]

7. Service people almost insist on being lied to.

They are just unwilling to face the possibility that their C-i-C is a bastard.

If he's a Republican, that is.

[bluedog]

11. I read on the Yahoo board

that some vets booed and hissed when Kerry was speaking...I don't know how true.but I agree.......that these vets do deserve what they get and should stop their damn whining if they get their benefits cut and have no area hospitals to go to.......

These people don't care if an AWOL coward leads them or not.they are reliving in their "war world" which many must have fond memories of...they live for "WAR"

[NewYorkerfromMass]

13. Yahoo boards are filled with nuts. ignore them.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

12. Kerry's remarks were met with silence because it is true.

They didn't stand up and cheer, 'nor did they boo him.
They were shamed into silence because they know he is RIGHT.

[lasttrip]

15. you are so right. good point.

[Zorra]

14. The crowd was probably in shock when they found out over 1,000

American troops had been killed in Iraq.

Probably the first time they heard it, given the Bu$h "blackout" on casualty reporting.

[JoFerret]

8. Bush LIED in his speech to the National Guard in Vegas

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26044-2004Sep16.html

Bush Challenged on Statements to Guard Association

... his one, seemingly innocuous comment on the matter has in fact come under some scrutiny.

And his assertion that he had asked Congress to increase education benefits for guardsmen and reservists apparently neglected the fact that he hadn't actually officially made the request yet.

....

"Nineteen individuals have served both in the Guard and as President of the United States, and I am proud to be one of them," Bush said, to a roaring ovation.

Nineteen? Really?

....

In fact, Marshall concluded: "Basically the president was using what amounts to a historical trick. . . .

"The president didn't come up with the number 19 out of whole cloth. The National Guard Association of the United States for instance speaks of the 19 presidents 'who served in the Guard or its forerunner, the organized militia.' President left off that little detail."
....

Also, in the speech Tuesday, Bush said: "I called upon Congress to increase the monthly educational benefit for Guard and Reserve forces mobilized for more than 90 days in the war on terror by 40 to 80 percent, depending on the length of their mobilization. Congress must pass this piece of legislation." He got a big round of applause.

And in fact, in an August 18 campaign speech, Bush first mentioned the idea.

But it wasn't until yesterday that the White House released this statement.

Rick Maze writes in the Army Times: "President Bush briefly mentioned his plan during a Tuesday speech in Las Vegas at the annual convention of the National Guard Association. Bush told the Guard audience he has asked Congress to approve an education benefits plan and hoped for quick passage but, in fact, no formal plan has been sent to lawmakers for consideration."

[oneighty]

9. National Guard Association of the United States

According to Google it is an organization of Officers, (No enlisted) This reaction is to be expected.

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