Comments on: Former Mates Allege Kerry ‘Unfit’

By: Wizbang

Wizbang — Thu, 05 Aug 2004 05:01:02 +0000

Willie Horton 2004?
The Swift Boat Veterans for Truth are cranking up the heat. They are running an TV ad that many call devastating. Watch the ad. This group surfaced about 3 months ago and at the time I said they could sink...

By: Jane Galt

Jane Galt — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

I disagree with you. IF this makes front page news (debatable, of course), I think this is going to really hurt Kerry. Remember, you and I know about Winter Soldier and so forth, but the people who haven't made up their minds yet don't, necessarily. Many of those are the people the Dems are relying on Kerry's war record to woo. A large number of his former colleagues arguing that his record makes him unfit to be commander in chief will be a big blow.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Could be. It's easy to forget that most people are largely oblivious to what's been in the news and, of course, presentation and timing are everything. I suspect this will make front page news IF it's the sexiest thing happening tomorrow. If there are several people killed in Iraq or something else that might generate more controversy, that'll steal the thunder.

From what I can gather from this story, though, the only reason they argue Kerry is unfit are because of his activities AFTER they knew him, though.

By: rkb

rkb — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

This letter will force into more visibility the fact that Kerry has never clearly embraced OR repudiated his actions when he got back from Vietnam.

This is a bind of his own making and frankly I think he deserves it -- not to rehash VN war issues, although he himself continually brings his service up, but as an insight into his current character and beliefs. If any.

By: Dodd

Dodd — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Considering the piece on Instapundit today that suggested - almost unbelievably - that a great many voters don't yet even know Kerry was a vet, I think this matters more than you suggest. Besides, it was Kerry himself who ran a TV ad touting his shipmates' support. He even takes them around to campaign events at times. If he himself says their opinions are relevant, then the opinion of others who served with - and above - him is at least as relevant.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Dodd pretty well covers it but the reason I thought it was so big was because this man has based his whole campaign on the fact he spent 4 months driving a boat in southeast Asia 30 years ago.

If that gets pulled out from under him what exactly does he run on?

Kerry, foolishly, has all of his campaign eggs in one basket.

When EVERY commanding officer you had say you are unfit to be Commander in Chief, that will kill your campaign instantly. (assuming the media spends 1/100th the time on this they did the kooky "Bush was AWOL" fantasy.)

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

My understanding of the letter is that it will say Kerry is unfit because of what he did when he got home, not his actions in Vietnam. Indeed, his Silver Star and performance reports would seem to indicate he was held in very high regard by these folks before he grew his hair long and started talking about war crimes and such.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

At any given moment less than 30% of the electorate can name the Vice President.

Do you think those people are going to make that distinction?

When every CO the man had goes against him it will be lethal. (media coverage dependent)

By: Rodney Dill

Rodney Dill — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

I like Paul's sentiments, but I tend to agree more with James reservations. I don't think this will sway any of Kerry's core support. They will just write it off as another unwarranted attack.

It may sway a few of the on the fence voters, (maybe .5 to 1 percent). This may not have a big impact on the Polls or overall view of the race at this point, but of course, it could have a big impact as to the outcome of the election. We just won't know until November. I would be please to see a big swing in the polls because of this, I just don't see it happening.

By: pennywit

pennywit — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

I'm going to give this a big "eh." I'm not a big fan of various veterans hashing, rehashing, and re-re-hashing politicians' actions in a war that ended 30 years ago. James is right to point out that Kerry's attitudes today are far more relevant than his various statements and actions in Vietnam.

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

It will also blunt the 25 million Kerry is rolling out in advertising this week. Kerry is/was expecting to rest on his war record, and let the advertising reinforce the message. Now, he will have to counteract his peers in the media, and I think that will significantly dilute the power of his spending.

Also, if the spending is ineffective, it will hurt further fundraising in the future.

By: Boyd

Boyd — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

I'm not enamored of the "huge impact" theory, but at the very least, it's one more log on the pile, and each one helps a bit.

By: Barry Ritholtz

Barry Ritholtz — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

O'Neil is a well established Nixon Stooge.

Here's the long ugly story:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&q=%22O%27Neill%22+and+%22Colson%22

By: Barry Ritholtz

Barry Ritholtz — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Sorry! Here's the link (for those of you who have yet to master the cut & paste):

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&q=%22O%27Neill%22+and+%22Colson%22

By: Norbizness

Norbizness — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Somewhere in hell, Haldemann is finally laughing his ass off.