Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Great...Politics has invaded my workplace...

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion (Through 2005) Donate to DU
 
imax2268 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-06-04 07:10 PM
Original message
Great...Politics has invaded my workplace...
I work on an Air Force base here in AZ...for the past six years there has never been much conversation about politics...just little stuff...but then someone printed and posted this letter on the bulletin board...
-----------------------------------------------------------
Dear Senator Kerry:

Since it has become clear that you will probably be the Democratic nominee for President, I have spent a great deal of time researching your war record and your record as a professional politician. The reason is simple; you aspire to be the Commander-in-Chief who would lead my sons and their fellow soldiers in time of war. I simply wanted to know if you possess the necessary qualifications to be trusted in that respect.

You see, I belong to a family of proud U.S. veterans. I was a Captain in the Army Reserve, my father was a decorated Lieutenant in World War II, and I have four sons who have either served, or are currently serving in the military. The oldest is an Army Lieutenant still on active duty in Afghanistan after already being honored for his service in Iraq. The youngest is an E-4 with the military police. His National Guard unit just finished their second tour of active duty, including six months in Guantanamo Bay. My two other sons have served in the National Guard and the Navy.

In looking at your record I found myself comparing it not only to that of my father and my sons, but to the people they served with. My father served with the 87th Chemical Mortar Battalion in Europe. They landed on Utah Beach and fought for 317 straight days including the Cherbourg Peninsula, Aachen, the Heurtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. You received a Silver Star in Vietnam for chasing down and finishing off a wounded and retreating enemy soldier. My father earned a Bronze Star for single handedly charging and knocking out a German machine gun nest that had his men pinned down. You received three purple hearts for what appear to be three minor scratches. In fact, you only missed a combined total of two days of duty for these wounds. The men of my father's unit, the 87th, had to be admonished by their commanding officer because:
"It has been brought to our attention that some men are covering up wounds and refusing medical attention for fear of being evacuated and permanently separated from this organization...."
It was also a common problem for seriously wounded soldiers to go AWOL from hospitals in order to rejoin their units. You used your three purple hearts to leave Vietnam early.

My oldest boy came home from Iraq with numerous commendations and then proceeded to volunteer to go to Afghanistan and from there back to Iraq again. My sons and father have never had anything but the highest regard and respect for their fellow soldiers. Yet, you came home to publicly charge our fighting men with being war criminals and to urge their defeat by the enemy. You even wrote a book that had a cover which mocked the heroism of the United States Marines who raised the flag on Iwo Jima. Our current crop of soldiers has a philosophy that no one gets left behind, and they have practiced that from Somalia to the battlefields of the Middle East. Yet as chairman of a Senate committee looking into allegations that many of your fellow servicemen had been left behind as prisoners in Vietnam, you chose to defend the brutal Vietnamese regime. You even went so far as to refer to the families of the POWs and MIAs as professional malcontents, conspiracy mongers, con artists, and dime store Rambos.

As a Senator you voted against the 1991 Gulf War, and have repeatedly voted against funds to supply our troops with the best equipment, and against money to improve our intelligence capability. I find this particularly ironic since as a Presidential candidate you are highly critical of our pre-war intelligence in Iraq. However, you did vote to authorize the President to go to war, but have since proceeded to do everything you can to undermine the efforts of our government and our troops to win. Is this what our fighting men and women can expect of you if you are their Commander-in-Chief? Will you gladly send them to war, only to then aid the enemy by undermining the morale of our troops and cutting off the weapons they need to win?

Our country is at war, Senator, and as has been the case in every war since the American Revolution, a member of my family is serving their country during the war. Now you want me to trust you to lead my sons in this fight.

Sorry Senator, but when I compare your record to those who have fought and died for this nation, and are currently fighting and dying, the answer is not just no, but Hell No!

Sincerely,

Michael Connelly
Dallas, Texas
February 14, 2004
------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm thinking to myself...great...I can see it now...if I put up something about BushCo, I will never hear the end of it...

Should I ignore it or what...?

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
Lefty_the_Right Donating Member (381 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-06-04 07:14 PM
Response to Original message
1. I think it's time we stop playing defense on this issue
Edited on Thu May-06-04 07:15 PM by Lefty_the_Right
It's time to remind republicans of the old saying, "If you can't say anything nice", as a way of improving the tone of the conversation.

Then ask them to say nice things about Bush.

You know, like specifics, as far as his policies, and his past.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
lastknowngood Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-06-04 07:15 PM
Response to Original message
2. Just put Bush's awol record next to it
n/t
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
maggrwaggr Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-06-04 07:39 PM
Response to Reply #2
20. print up Bush's resume and put it next to his
but it will probably hit the floor. His list of crimes is very long now
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
keithyboy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-06-04 07:15 PM
Response to Original message
3. Hey, everyone has choices to make. Then come the consequences.
If this person can live with gloryfying war and wanting his sons in the heat of an unnecessary battle. So be it.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DAGDA56 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-06-04 07:16 PM
Response to Original message
4. Dear Michael...
...undoubtedly the other members of your family would each make fine presidents based on war records alone. There are just two simple problems;
1...none of them are actually running, and
2...one of the people who is running has no war record at all.
If the race comes down to this one issue, I'm sure you'll make the right choice...you don't appear to be the last in a long line of idiots.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Warpy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-06-04 07:17 PM
Response to Original message
5. Whip out your sharpie
Kerry: purple hearts

Bush: purple nose
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
SlavesandBulldozers Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-06-04 07:17 PM
Response to Original message
6. no, dont respond.
Edited on Thu May-06-04 07:23 PM by soundgarden1
actually, respond sarcastically

"Dear So-and-So, got your letter, and when I looked deep into it - i realized you were right. The experience Bush gained defending the skies of Texas from the threat of Viet-Cong invasion, before going awol, makes the Democratic nominee seem silly. Thanks for the change of heart, what would I do without you and your impartial military research? And to think, I might have actually voted for somebody who saw combat and was a decorated veteran. Thank you. Prick."
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
calimary Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-06-04 07:36 PM
Response to Reply #6
19. GOOD one!
Edited on Thu May-06-04 07:37 PM by calimary
Whenever I get emails like this (and I do NOT, anymore) I NEVER let 'em get the last word. I NEVER let it go unresponded to, and undebunked. I've been rather vigorous about this. As a result, pretty much everybody who knows me - knows better than to pick a political fight with me. I don't get that shit anymore.

Respond! By all means! Don't let this go unchallenged. All you have are The Facts, and The Truth. The originator of this has neither.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
legin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-06-04 07:18 PM
Response to Original message
7. Unfortunaltly
when you compare Kerry's and bush*'s war records, assuming you can call bush*'s a 'war record', it worries me more than slightly that Rove can feel safe even bringing the subject up, I'd be running ten miles away from the comparison.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
legin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-06-04 07:25 PM
Response to Reply #7
12. It's a big advantage that Kerry has over bush*
and Rove is doing everything in his power to negate it.

My attitude would be "well now you brought the subject up, have a little look bush*'s 'wonderful war record' too."
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
puerco-bellies Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-06-04 07:20 PM
Response to Original message
8. NO!!!!
Paraphrase it and use *'s war record. Grampa Bush's trading/financing the Nazis, George the First jumping out of his undamaged plane leaving his crew to die. Shrub's AWOL, lies about WMD, Al Quida, Bringing Democracy to Iraq, not knowing about planes as weapons, relying on a staff that avoided war but gleefully send others to their deaths. Do not let this go unanswered. I am the lone liberal in a Commodity Trading office and I have fought this fight for over a year. The Neo-con's will nolonger post their crap, or even talk out loud because they know that they will have to answer to the FACTS. Fight the good fight. Otherwise you have joined the dark side by acquiescence.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
knight_of_the_star Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-06-04 07:21 PM
Response to Original message
9. Hit back
Put up Bush's career and war record. That will shut him up.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
imax2268 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-06-04 07:25 PM
Response to Reply #9
10. got any good links...
many sites here are blocked...go figure...
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
RUMMYisFROSTED Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-06-04 07:28 PM
Response to Reply #10
15. Here's his service record in detail:
Edited on Thu May-06-04 07:29 PM by RUMMYisFROSTED
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
No2W2004 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-06-04 07:35 PM
Response to Reply #10
18. here's a good one I found from Google
George W. Bush's Resume

By: Kelley Kramer - 04/25/03

I recently had an email exchange with a right-winger from my local newspaper, and of course the war with Iraq came up pretty quick. But he said something in defense of George Bush that really surprised me. In defense of the attack on Iraq he said 'between Hussein and Bush, Hussein is the bad guy'.

My first response was ... So your guy is better than a third world dictator, Wow! what an accomplishment! Does he put that on his resume?

And with that in mind, I started wondering ... what would a George W. Bush resume look like exactly? Listed below is what I came up with.

George W. Bush Resume

Past work experience:

Ran for congress and lost.
Produced a Hollywood slasher B movie.
Bought an oil company, but couldn't find any oil in Texas, company went bankrupt shortly after I sold all my stock.
Bought the Texas Rangers baseball team in a sweetheart deal that took land using tax-payer money. Biggest move: Traded Sammy Sosa to the Chicago White Sox.
With fathers help (and his name) was elected Governor of Texas.
Accomplishments: Changed pollution laws for power and oil companies and made Texas the most polluted state in the Union. Replaced Los Angeles with Houston as the most smog ridden city in America. Cut taxes and bankrupted the Texas government to the tune of billions in borrowed money. Set record for most executions by any Governor in American history.
Became president after losing the popular vote by over 500,000 votes, with the help of my fathers appointments to the Supreme Court.
Accomplishments as president:

Attacked and took over two countries.
Spent the surplus and bankrupted the treasury.
Shattered record for biggest annual deficit in history.
Set economic record for most private bankruptcies filed in any 12 month period.
Set all-time record for biggest drop in the history of the stock market.
First president in decades to execute a federal prisoner.
First president in US history to enter office with a criminal record.
First year in office set the all-time record for most days on vacation by any president in US history.
After taking the entire month of August off for vacation, presided over the worst security failure in US history.
Set the record for most campaign fund-raising trips than any other president in US history.
In my first two years in office over 2 million Americans lost their job.
Cut unemployment benefits for more out of work Americans than any president in US history.
Set the all-time record for most foreclosures in a 12 month period.
Appointed more convicted criminals to administration positions than any president in US history.
Set the record for the least amount of press conferences than any president since the advent of television.
Signed more laws and executive orders amending the Constitution than any president in US history.
Presided over the biggest energy crises in US history and refused to intervene when corruption was revealed.
Presided over the highest gasoline prices in US history and refused to use the national reserves as past presidents have.
Cut healthcare benefits for war veterans.
Set the all-time record for most people worldwide to simultaneously take to the streets to protest me (15 million people), shattering the record for protest against any person in the history of mankind. (http://www.hyperreal.org/~dana/marches/)
Dissolved more international treaties than any president in US history.
My presidency is the most secretive and un-accountable of any in US history.
Members of my cabinet are the richest of any administration in US history. (the 'poorest' multi-millionaire, Condoleeza Rice has an Chevron oil tanker named after her).
First president in US history to have all 50 states of the Union simultaneously go bankrupt.
Presided over the biggest corporate stock market fraud of any market in any country in the history of the world.
First president in US history to order a US attack and military occupation of a sovereign nation.
Created the largest government department bureaucracy in the history of the United States.
Set the all-time record for biggest annual budget spending increases, more than any president in US history.
First president in US history to have the United Nations remove the US from the human rights commission.
First president in US history to have the United Nations remove the US from the elections monitoring board.
Removed more checks and balances, and have the least amount of congressional oversight than any presidential administration in US history.
Rendered the entire United Nations irrelevant.
Withdrew from the World Court of Law.
Refused to allow inspectors access to US prisoners of war and by default no longer abide by the Geneva Conventions.
First president in US history to refuse United Nations election inspectors (during the 2002 US elections).
All-time US (and world) record holder for most corporate campaign donations.
My biggest life-time campaign contributor presided over one of the largest corporate bankruptcy frauds in world history (Kenneth Lay, former CEO of Enron Corporation).
Spent more money on polls and focus groups than any president in US history.
First president in US history to unilaterally attack a sovereign nation against the will of the United Nations and the world community.
First president to run and hide when the US came under attack (and then lied saying the enemy had the code to Air Force 1)
First US president to establish a secret shadow government.
Took the biggest world sympathy for the US after 911, and in less than a year made the US the most resented country in the world (possibly the biggest diplomatic failure in US and world history).
With a policy of 'dis-engagement' created the most hostile Israeli-Palestine relations in at least 30 years.
First US president in history to have a majority of the people of Europe (71%) view my presidency as the biggest threat to world peace and stability.
First US president in history to have the people of South Korea more threatened by the US than their immediate neighbor, North Korea.
Changed US policy to allow convicted criminals to be awarded government contracts.
Set all-time record for number of administration appointees who violated US law by not selling huge investments in corporations bidding for government contracts.
Failed to fulfill my pledge to get Osama Bin Laden 'dead or alive'.
Failed to capture the anthrax killer who tried to murder the leaders of our country at the United States Capitol building. After 18 months I have no leads and zero suspects.
In the 18 months following the 911 attacks I have successfully prevented any public investigation into the biggest security failure in the history of the United States.
Removed more freedoms and civil liberties for Americans than any other president in US history.
In a little over two years created the most divided country in decades, possibly the most divided the US has ever been since the civil war.
Entered office with the strongest economy in US history and in less than two years turned every single economic category heading straight down.
Records and References:

At least one conviction for drunk driving in Maine (Texas driving record has been erased and is not available).
AWOL from National Guard and Deserted the military during a time of war.
Refused to take drug test or even answer any questions about drug use.
All records of my tenure as governor of Texas have been spirited away to my fathers library, sealed in secrecy and un-available for public view.
All records of any SEC investigations into my insider trading or bankrupt companies are sealed in secrecy and un-available for public view.
All minutes of meetings for any public corporation I served on the board are sealed in secrecy and un-available for public view.
Any records or minutes from meetings I (or my VP) attended regarding public energy policy are sealed in secrecy and un-available for public review.
For personal references please speak to my daddy or uncle James Baker (They can be reached at their offices of the Carlyle Group for war-profiteering.)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
noahmijo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-06-04 07:25 PM
Response to Original message
11. Are you by any chance at Davis Monthan?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
imax2268 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-06-04 07:25 PM
Response to Reply #11
13. No...
Luke...
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
nadinbrzezinski Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-06-04 07:26 PM
Response to Original message
14. Hmmm aren't politics an off subject in a military base
I seem to remember something to that effect.

I would point this to the base commander, and JAG

It will go away... since this is contrary to all military directives... you know what to do now.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
imax2268 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-06-04 07:31 PM
Response to Reply #14
16. thanks...
I'm going to ask one of the guys who comes in later if he put it up...then I will ask how he would feel if in fact I did put something up that go's against BushCo...

I already took it down...so I'll see what happens later...
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Poor Richard Donating Member (65 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-06-04 07:34 PM
Response to Reply #14
17. There was a huge difference
between WW2 and Vietnam in terms of the way it was seen back home. Kerry was brave for standing up against the war, and his words meant something because he had fought and was decorated. What Kerry did in the 70's was so momentous that the effects are still being felt today.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
MissMarple Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-06-04 07:42 PM
Response to Original message
21. Quite frankly, the military records of George&Co makes his letter moot.
Edited on Thu May-06-04 07:43 PM by MissMarple
Or beside any point. Thank goodness neither Powell or Rumsfeld are president. Or is his point that one of his sons should be president?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Rebellious Republican Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-06-04 07:55 PM
Response to Original message
22. Here ya go imax2268, print these out and post next to it!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
imax2268 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-06-04 08:10 PM
Response to Reply #22
23. Thanks for the links...
and to you who posted the resume...

but the thing is...should I really instigate some type of political battle here at work...if I just take it down and ignore it...maybe it will go away right...?

If I do post something...I feel that I would be fanning the flames so to speak...I think I'm just going to take it up with my supervisor tomorrow...

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
seabeyond Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-06-04 08:18 PM
Response to Original message
24. go to mr connelly
Edited on Thu May-06-04 08:21 PM by seabeyond
and let him know of course kerry record doesnt compare to his family. he was not a career soldier just signed up because of a war and felt it his duty. so absolutely his people have a better record

and the votes against, he has voted "for" 16 out of 19 military votes

the one in 91 he is bothered with. bush was president, cheney sec of defense adn he is the one that proposed to cut these weapons and aircrafts adn such, adn took the appropraition bill to kerry's committee. kerry was voting in cheneys plan

the upside, maybe having a deep thinker and someone accountable, the soldiers will me safer than they are now with all bush's poor choice.

might even in great respect to a man type it in answer to his letter, and thanking him for all his family has done in security of the nation and your respect to, and put next to his letter he hung
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
zbdent Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-06-04 08:23 PM
Response to Original message
25. Post Bush's Vietnam war record
But use some big words to completely fill the space on the 1" by 3" label.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
NewYorkerfromMass Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-06-04 09:02 PM
Response to Original message
26. Will you send them to war, only to aid the enemy by undermining morale?
"Will you gladly send them to war, only to then aid the enemy by undermining the morale of our troops and cutting off the weapons they need to win?"

Sounds like what Bush has done now.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Cronus Protagonist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-06-04 09:08 PM
Response to Original message
27. Print this out and post it - Bush's illustrated resume
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Thu Apr 25th 2024, 03:06 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion (Through 2005) Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC