I have an observation to make.
If someone falsifies their resume, and it is discovered, what happens?
They either don't get the job, or they get fired.
And, considering John Kerry's exaggerations (all right -- lies) about his military service, why should he be seriously considered for the job of President of the United States of America?
Truly, he hasn't shown the class or self-discipline that the office requires. Instead of answering the charges of other Swift Boat Veterans with facts and cool logic; instead of entering the debate with a gentlemanly mein, he has chosen to litigate.
His demeanor in the face of the anecdotes provided by Swift Boat Veterans For Truth has been anything but statesmanlike. In fact, his arrogance and unreasonable attitude throughout his entire political campaign serves to convince me that this man is too unstable, too uncontrolled, and too unreasoning to lead.
Actions do speak louder than words. His actions speak of someone who cannot take great personal pressure or confrontation. He falls apart, he goes on the defensive, and he stoops to ad hominem attacks on his opposition.
How would he react the first time some diplomatic scenario went sour?
The office of the President of the United States of America demands a cool head, steady hand, great personal discipline, and the ability to take criticism and confrontation with humor, dignity, and fortitude.
I see none of this in John Kerry. I see a man who accuses his accusers of lying, but provides no factual information to validate his own stance. I see someone who falls off his bike, and curses his bodyguard for it. He claimed that he was involved in clandestine Christmastime operations in Cambodia -- that these events were seared into his memory -- yet, when confronted with the timeline that disproved his synchronicities, he backed away, dissembled; retracted. I see someone whose wife has so little class and poise that she would tell a reporter to "shove it", when the wife of her husband's opponent has gracefully held her silence in the face of far worse heckling.
For all of me, they seem self-serving, self-flaunting, and utterly insincere. These are not the sort of people one ushers into the land's highest office. These are the sort of boorish people you "forget" to invite to dinner, because she's too shrill and he starts telling tired old war stories that get embroidered with each retelling.
John Kerry is advised to step back, calm down, and begin answering the questions posed. If he wants to lead America, then he has to hold himself to higher ideals of conduct. The American people demand no less.
posted by Linda on August 23, 2004 05:39 PMI myself am deeply impressed with President Bush's Vietnam War record. I love it that he fought over there, while Kerry was falsifying his records here at home. It's also a well known fact that President Bush had an absolutly inspiring record as a combat pilot in the Vietnam War after volunteering to go into combat as a pilot.
How could we not re-elect him along with the amazing war record of Vice President Chaney, they make such an outstanding team.
I'm sorry, Brian. Were you stunned by the shockwave from the point as it passed above?
Posted by: Patrick Chester at August 23, 2004 11:48 PMIt's obvious that Brian missed the point completely, which is instead of blaming everything on Bush or bringing up frivolous lawsuits, perhaps he should actually address the accusations. But that would require him to actually think for a change instead of the typical vocal diarrhea noise he usually makes.
Posted by: Ethne at August 27, 2004 05:50 PM