Hey, Rudy, it's called "free speech" and "freedom of the press."

You know, two concepts from what the GOP calls that "quaint document" with no realistic application to the GOP's agenda.

Standing on a pile of rubble in NYC, highlighting the failures of the GOP to prevent a terrorist attack on the US seems to indicate your unfitness to be a "statesman" or president.

tuckerndfw...Free speech....?,

The Liberals in America have reached a new low if they want to excersise their freedon of speech by degrade a high rankiing general whow has served our conutry in the highest honor....

A NEW LOW....!!!!!

As a person who has spent the last twenty three years living in Texas, I am amazed to see individuals still clinging to the group SBVT. (Swift Boat Veterans for Truth). A group largely financed by three prominent Texans, Bob Perry, T. Boone Pickens Jr., and Harold Simmons' Contrans. Those three not only were huge Bush supporters, and contributors, but also major supporters of SBVT. SBVT, since the Kerry bashing, has been discredited as a sham and a group who distorts the truth, and a group closely aligned and connected with the Bush organization. Some who have risen above the false picture painted by SBVT, include their own members. Sadly, the group continues in existence, and is now connected with other groups whose agenda and purpose remains the same as that of SBVT. That purpose being to discredit groups and individuals who seek to expose the truth regarding the complex and sometimes hidden connections of the Bush organization to large corporations. Especially Texas corporations and businesses. Another prominent Texan, and one to watch out for, who has recently embarked on an agenda to follow in the Bush footsteps, has now hooked his wagon to the SBVT train. The present governor of Texas, Bob Perry, (no relation to the Bob Perry, Houston home builder and number one major contributor to SBVT.) Watch out in the future, Perry is coming on rapidly and has the same agenda as Bush.

First off, we need to check if this ABCNEWS article actually asked any of the questions of the people they interviewed, or just made it up as they have been caught at before. Second, here is some more info on the NY Times and their "even-handedness" when it comes to liberal vs conservitive ads running in their paper. The New York Times in the past has rejected "advocacy" ads from Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, as well as from the National Right to Life Committee, despite the fact that both would have qualified for the same "special advocacy, stand by" rates that the radical, left-wing organization MoveOn.org was given for its smear ad of Gen. David Petraeus.
According to a former New York Times ad sales staffer, a coalition of pro-life groups attempted to take out a full-page ad in the Times during the Terri Schiavo debate in Congress, but were turned away. "I think that such a group would have qualified for our advocacy discount, but perhaps the policies changed in the past couple of years," says the ad rep.

Similarly, during the 2004 election season, a representative from Swift Boat Veterans for Truth sought to place a full-page ad in the paper, but was turned away.

Petraeus, a general, with an obligation to be politically neutral, wrote a pro-war op-ed in close proximity to the 2004 election.
This year, he intervened with the agencies compiling the National Intelligence Estimate in an attempt to brighten up the bleak outlook in Iraq.
The statistics he presented to make it appear that violence in Iraq is decreasing were full of distortions: see, e.g., the Washington Post story on his methodology.
As for Sen. Clinton's remarks, they are 100% correct. Every reputable organization whose business it is to know these things affirms that violence in Iraq has not decreased. All improvements are small and local, and the most touted (in Anbar for example) are NOT EVEN DUE TO THE SURGE. Those who believe Petreaus (Republicans desperate not to admit their terrible errors) do so only because they want to.
Rudy Giuliani is clearly trying to make Petreaus untouchable by demonizing the general's critics. This is a classic Republican technique: attack your opponents for TELLING THE TRUTH and using facts, without presenting any facts of your own. This leaves them with nothing to say, then you can say whatever you want. I pray that we, the sensible Americans, will not let Republicans get away with destroying reasonable political discourse in 2008.

Rudy, had you served in the military you would know that most of the generals are always very artfully currying favor with the Commander-In-Chief, just as anybody elce does to gain advancement in their chosen profession. When Shinsocki and Casey refused to do this they were soon out of there. Answer us this: If the success of the Surge is as incomplete as Petraeus and Crocker testified to, why did Petraeus recommend bringing the troop levels down by 5,000 by Christmas?
A venal political ploy by Bush?

Poor Rudy, the only way he can get any coverage is by spewing political venom against those who exercise their free speech and disagree with him.
How silly is it, that the Republicans believe that the best they have to offer in the fight on terrorism are the two guys that were in office and allowed 9/11 to happen.

I think this is a major issue. It goes to show how a major player in the US media is pandering to the left and doesnt play fair to both sides. This is an obvious example of how corrupt the media is and how they manipulate the public into pushing their liberal views while manipulating truth. Case in point: Georges Sada speaks out about what Saddam did with his WMD's prior to and through the beginning stages (moved them to Syria...see his book "Saddams Secrets"). Only Sean Hannidy had much interest in reporting this. All other news agencies swept this info under the rug.

If you believe GWB made up the WMD's part as one means of going into Iraq, then you have been manipulated by the corrupt media and democratic party who arent interested in facts (as well as success in Iraq).

Freddie @ 7:52 am -

You sound like one of those bootlicking peasants from the 10th century referring to the royal family.

"High ranking generals" are politicians who promote the latest party line, whatever it may be. Honor and integrity are something they sold about the time they received their gold oak leaf cluster.

You can trust a general officer in any branch of the military about as much as you can trust OBL.

Perhaps you recall that trustworthy testimony General Colin Powell gave to the UN about the imminent (non-existent) threat Iraq posed.

But keep bowing and scraping to your masters if it makes you feel better.

The bottom line is that the US Constitution does not provide for exceptions based on high political or military office. The NYT has the constitutional right to print whatever they want within the limitations of law. Embarassing military officers or politicians is not one of those limitations.

Saddam had WMD's but he preferred hiding in a cave and being executed to actually using them.

Faux News viewers are some of the most ignorant and gullible people on the planet. They (and people like them) are the primary reason the US is engaged in a never ending and useless "war."

Faux News viewing should be classified as a mental illness.

Giuliani will use any excuse to get his name in the paper. Even Petreaus's own superior basically refered to him as an idiot. Give it up Rudy, you're delusional and chasing a pipe dream, you are not the right man for the job.

Can't wait to see the reaction of all the "Bubbas" in middle america when Rudy's drag photo hits the commercials! Love that green dress, Rudy!

Hey "gc" you're really John Kerry, right! C'mon John, why the long face? LOL.

"A Viet Nam Vet" (Sept. 14 @ 11:45 AM) said it ALL!!!