Kerry v Bush, take 2

I think Kery was right to apologize. He knows what he said was a joke about the boys in uniform/Iraq. If it was in fact a botched Joke about the President how was it suoppose to go???
If you don't stay in school and do your homework you'll end up being President, or you'll end up stuck in Iraq like the President, or you'll end up being a President with no exit strategy???
I just wish he would explain how the (botched?) joke was suppose to go because I can't figure it out and I certainly don't see anything funny about it.

I think this was quite unsavvy of Kerry, but it's not a gift to the Democrats. So long as they put some serious muscle into their GOTV efforts! But hasn't Kerry done a lot of this impolitic stuff? He was the candidate this Democrat always wanted to get jazzed about (during the 2004 prez election)-- but never could. Love him (enough), but he should listen to the I-man and button it.

On a personal tip, I should note that my brother was in the special forces in the Army. He jumped out of airplanes for his pay packet. And he's one of the smartest fellas you'll ever meet.

I was raised in the military. I have lived on many military bases. The basic soldier is usually someone who's choices are very limited. The majority cannot "chose" college. They get stuck in "Iraq". Oh, yeah, that's what Kerry said! Imagine that! We had a prime opportunity to create a democratic "jewel" in Afganistan, with people desparate for freedom and happy to have us there. We blew it by abandoning them and creating a mess in Iraq. All these things have happened before. If only our "leaders" would look at history, they could have predicted what has happened. You cannot force a country and there people to want you there no matter what kind of military force you use.

People have already made up their minds about who they will vote for so this has no traction. The media is making way too much of a non-issue once again. As the parent of a college freshman, I know first-hand how ardent the Navy (in my son's cse) trying to convince him to enlist in order to pay for his college education. Let the Bush Administration explain their policies on financial assistance. I'm financing an education that will cost more than the home I live in. Monday I watched PBS scroll the pictures of the young men killed that day. More than half of them were 20-23. Their goals were probably the same as my son's. Unfortunately, they will never have that opportunity.

I am so tired of issues such as this taking over the front page of every newspaper and broadcast. I yearn for the good old days when duels settled these types of disputes. I'm fairly certain that it would put an immediate stop to this crap. These blowhards would think twice before opening their mouths and would'nt be near as quick to take offense at their opponents remarks.

I believe that Senator Kerry has apologized for his "botched joke" attempt. Maybe the White House and all candidates can get back to the real issues: Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, North Korea, the economy, etc. The furor this has created clearly put the true issues on the back burner. I don't think our service men and women and their families should waste time worrying about one person's remarks. By the way, I am a military brat and proud of it!!

First of all, Kerry's statement should be interpreted in its context. He was speaking to college students and framing a message to them. If one listens with that in mind, what I hear is: "get your college education or you will be at the mercy of the administration's predatory search for soldier material."

It was really a statement about wants soldiers more than it wants self-actualizing young Americans.

All this uproar about what Senator John Kerry said, is stupid. After all Senator Kerry has served in the arm forces, and what a war hero, and he is well educated. Did President serve, is he, or his family fighting in Iraq? I could go on regarding this administation, but I have to work. Thanks

I am registered Dem & voted for Bush. My vote for Bush was due in part to his Christian belief system but also because Kerry strikes me as arrogant and full of himself; someone I care not to represent me. So, here is the twist...Kerry clearly was stabbing Bush and Bush alone with his comments. I grow very sick of the political twist everyone (especially the media) must put on comments such as this. I find it disturbing that Bush has taken that position although he is likely being advised to. I find it an insult that politicians think so lowly of the American Public that they are "tricking" us in this way. Today - I wouldn't vote for Kerry and never would but his comments were absolutely not an attack on our soldiers intelligence. Come on? You guys all know that don't you?

Who cares? Kerry isn't running for anything this year. How does this help Republican candidates get their message out in this last week?

Vote for me because John Kerry said something either stupid or badly!

I don't get it. It might hurt Kerry if he runs again but that's it. Otherwise it's a waste of a news cycle for trailing candidates.

Kerry had truth in his comment either way. Why is the shinny military 18 wheeler showing up at high schools with chrome wheels? They are not trying to attract the class top percent of students. They are going to get students who don't qualify for scholarships or can't pay the cost of higher education. In my town kids that don't go to college have two choices, one working as a prison guard at five local prisons in the state prison system in town or become an inmate themself. Many parents I know have encouraged average kids or kids with a potential to get in trouble to enter the military. Yesterday CNN had a report regarding military personal that couldn't reinlist because of bad credit from local loan companies. Their pay check wasn't enough to go around and they were borrowing money from nearby base loan companies and rolling the loans over instead of repaying them. As a result of too much debt, they have lost their security clearance and could not rejoin the military. The govenment is now offering them personal money management classes to educate them on personal finace.

I do not understand ,are the comments stating that all drafted Vietnam Vets were idots and uneducated,being one I know that the poor kids who could not defer were drafted.I feel that most of the Kerry bashers are the deferment babys that turned there backs on vietnam vets.And it was both parties that put this country at risk,then and now.I do not see anyone of worth or honour to run this country.

Just another reason we do not need another draft. I would prefer my country be protected by people with brains skills and abilities than by some idiot who can't do anything except embarress and disgrace his country by throwing his medals which he probably did not even earn over the wall of the White House and then turn on his comrades in senate hearings. A shame and disgrace to this country.

If the politicians were serious about winning a war, they would have the courage to stand up and reinstate the draft. The way to do this and insure the most capable military and at the same time create caution in the decision to go to war would be to change the demographic of the "draft eligible." Instead of making 18 year old kids bear the brunt of responsibility for failed - or even fraudulent policies - (See, weapons of mass destruction), draft eligible should be anyone who hasn't already served, between the ages of 30 and 50, regardless of gender. Once we start interrupting the lives of the most powerful economic group, the decision making process would change dramatically. Moreover, we would avoid the situation we now have with the military that Senator Kerry aptly described, evn though the truth hurts; we can't get enough volunteers that meet normal standards, so we are forced to lower the standards. Of course, the 30-50 year old draft would have no deferrals or sweet assignments to the local natioinal guard, like someone we all know enjoyed. I wonder how many of the vocal supporters of the Bush war policies would remain supportive if their collective rear ends were subject to spending a tour in the desert.

Anybody watching the video of Sen. Kerry's speech can see that he was having trouble reading the copy. He definitely made a mistake, but not the way the Republicans are interpreting it.

And the band plays on.... Kerry's remarks, no matter what their interpretation, continue to be wonderful fodder for the Repubs in acting outraged and in trying to "shore up their base" to win the election. 'Tis a pity that some of the other "minor" issues, such as the war in Iraq, the economy, immigration, North Korea, global warming, and energy production, are getting buried in this neverending game of character assassination and partisan one-upsmanship. What I'd give in this campaign season to hear a candidate--ANY candidate--talk about the issues and not about an opponent's misbegotten character!

Senator Kerry's comment was aimed at the Bush administrations lowing of the standards for joining the arm service and only someone as dumb as Bush and the republicans would not know this. You now don't have to be a high school graduate to join, you can also have a police record and still get in. This leads to things like the prisioner abuse and the rape case in Iraq. Mr. Bush has literally destroyed the grand name of the USA in all foriegn nations.

I can't understand why Mass. keeps reelecting Kerry and Kennedy. They must like the letter K. Are there not any moderate or conservatives in that state? Anyone who believes that Kerry was talking about Bush, has to be like Colmes. Colmes would stand up for a liberal Dem. if he believed them or not. Kery keeps saying that he served, he forgets to mention the lives he took after he returned from Vietnam. I'm glad McCain,on H&C , reminded the people of that fact. I kept saying, "why don't you remind them of what he did after he returned." Good going Sen. YOU DID!

Leave Senator Kerry alone. What is wrong is the war, not his comments. He is a veteran, he knows about war. He is patriotic, he cares. Everyone has a right to their opinion. lets look at actions (Bush, HELLburton etc.) they speak volumes! We lost 100 plus soldiers this month. Remember, it is a volunteer army! Do you think people are SMART to put themselves in harms way? Not for this war anyhow...it is wrong. How many innocent people are being killed? Don't be sooooooo superficial people. The Iraq war is not about terriorism. It is costing everyone so much...lives, money, reputation.

John Kerry has based his entire career on bashing United States Uniformed men and women. From his testimony he whitness war crimes in Vietnam, to his statements that Marines are terrorizing women and children in Iraq. Many of us who serve have college degrees, some even have two. Maybe I was not smart enough to drive a boat, but as a Marine Naval Aviator I did manage to pilot may helicopter. John Kerry you are a coward, and if you have any honor you would apologize to the men and women you claim to represent.