Debate 1 – Verdict

After watching most of the debate, 90 minutes for this format is do long, I would say it is pretty much a draw!

President Bush made some points by correcting Kerry on several issues and in my opinion calling him on the “getting permission from other countries” argument. I thought the President lost some points because he appeared to slump over at times – 90 minutes is a long time to talk but he should not have to slump.

Kerry scored points by not being Kerry. Kerry was not condescending and did a much better job then I expected. This may be the biggest point getter in my eyes because he surprised me. Kerry lost points by getting several points wrong in his criticism of the President.

I do not agree with some of the talking heads that President Bush’s annoyed look is bad, I really do not recall the President’s visage, but if he did appear annoyed I would believe it was a sign of strength. To the contrary, Kerry would start nodding his head when Bush scored points, go figure, what does that demonstrate (for the talking head)!
Overall, I did not hear anything that I had not heard before. The polls should not see much movement based on this debate in my humble opinion.

UPDATE: Have gotten some comments from friends and family - mainly by phone (not technical yet) that Bush appeared tired. I agree with this assessment and my main point/concern is that these debates are for the undecided or "fence sitting" voters and I believe with this in mind President Bush cannot show tiredness. Don't get me wrong I fully understand how he could be tired since he does have very important things on his agenda and I understand that Kerry has not worked on anything but the campaign since what March and should be refreshed.

UPDATE2: Michelle Malkin has posted her debate thoughts (worth reading) and I found that one paragraph stated with more eloquence what I meant by "Kerry scored points by not being Kerry". I quote:

Stylistically, Kerry kept a lid on his superior self (remarkable for the candidate for whom "self-effacing" means microdermabrasion). We'll see if this new facade fades faster than that tan.

Who's Draft Is It Anyway (Urban Republican)

The Urban Republican asks and interesting question “Who Draft is it Anyway”? Since the sponsors of the two bills (House and Senate) are democrats I would have to assume democrats are promoting the draft. Hold on, Kerry and Edwards have made claims blaming bush.

The Urban Republican asks another interesting question:

Is this the new strategy? Introduce Bills that you know people won't approve of and hope no one will notice that it was you who put it in. The when it gains some attention blame it on bush.

I have attempted to debunk the “Draft Myth” for sometime but it simply will not go away because it is an attempt to scare people into voting for a certain candidate. This tactic by democrats or republicans is deplorable. Now the all three major networks have jumped on the myth bandwagon; sure, they will fall back on their “unnamed sources”, “anonymous senior staffer”, etc., but to promote a myth is despicable and quite simply they want the innuendo to continue the fear.

Update! - About The Draft

INDC interviewed the CBS Evening News about their controversial story and posted it on their blog. I would highly recommend all to read it. INDC does a great job and reiterates some things that many bloggers have posted; they bring up the factscheck.org statement that the e-mails are fake.

The fact that CBS ran with this story should first and foremost discredit it but definitely adds validity to the bias nature of MSM. CBS proves it believes it is superior to all by running with a rumor, at best, under the premise people wanted to hear about it. If you or I had our integrity questioned, we would not run with a "debunked" "questionable" easily "disproved" rumor; but CBS is a member of the egotistic elitist media that feels they answer to no one and are better than you or I.

I wrote about my concerns earlier this week and still believe we need to look at a way to hold these elitist reports accountable. Because, the media simply has to say “unnamed source”, “anonymous senior official”, and we are “without malice”; when we all know were President Bush is concerned the are FULL of malice or something!!

UPDATE: The New York Post weighs in on the subject!

Mr President - Don't Think So!

How could you vote for this?

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Poor Robert - You Tell Them (Swiftees)

Poor Robert has posted an entry on his Blog that bleeds common sense. Robert is a Marine officer and a Vietnam Vet. Robert appears to be irritated with the media as I am. Here are some excerpts from his post:

I can't think of a single allegation that has been "proven" untrue.
Many have been "declared" untrue.....

The same is true about Bush's guard service. Nobody tries to show evidence of any kind of poor service on his part; especially not since the CBS fiasco.

It is a short a short and to the point post I would suggest you take a glance.

Kerry (Flip) Flops Again!

John Kerry August 9, 2004:

On Friday, Bush challenged Kerry to answer whether he would support the war "knowing what we know now" about the failure to find weapons of mass destruction that U.S. and British officials were certain were there. In response, Kerry said: "Yes, I would have voted for the authority. I believe it was the right authority for a president to have."

John Kerry September 29, 2004 (ABC):

We should not have gone to war knowing the information that we know today.

Now I have not heard ABC call Mr. Kerry on this flip-flop...... but I want hold my breath for the MSM to expose their candidate!

Korean Coalition vs. Iraq Coalition

Mark R. Levin has an interesting column comparing the UN lead Korean coalition to the US lead Iraq Coalition… Fact I find astonishing is that during the Korean War there were only 16 countries represented and in Iraq there are 32; I suppose the Americans should have been highly upset about this between 1950 -53. Some other fascinating facts:

Poland, the Ukraine, and the Netherlands each contribute more military personnel to the Iraq War coalition than France contributed to the Korean War.

The Korean War was fought with minimal support from France, no support from the then-Federal Republic of Germany, and against the Russian-backed Communist regime in North Korea.

Flirting With Disaster - Democrats Hope for Bad News

Flirting With Disaster - The vile spectacle of Democrats rooting for bad news in Iraq and Afghanistan. By Christopher Hitchens

I have linked to a column by Christopher Hitchens that brings the under reported remarks from Teresa Heinz-Kerry. I agree with Mr. Hitchens that she is repeating sentiments she has heard from democratic leaders and it is deplorable.

Their hope for disaster indicates nothing but a lust for power and lack of concern for American or it's military. To think that the military would be willing participants in "hiding Bin Lauden" demonstrate the democrat’s total disrespect of our military.

This infuriates me and I cannot say much more as I will simply be typing unintelligible rants - maybe I will revisit this later!

Can We Trust Any Reporter NOW?

I have always had a problem with this!
"a creditable source said"
"a senior official"
"a highly placed aid"

Now, after CBS and Dan Rather, I believe we should again question this. Years ago when the MSM (Mainstream Media) only agenda was to sell their product it may not have been as large an issue; however, now their agenda is to sway public opinion, seat their political choice, and promote their political agenda. Should the American People not look at these MSM outlets with the same skepticism we would look at the "boy who cried wolf"?

I am just a simply country boy that was taught my word is the only thing I can control and I should stand behind what you say or admit my error. As we have seen recently you do not need to substantiate your charge to get it published as long as it is in line with the MSM’s agenda. I believe that we need to revisit the “defamation” laws and redefine “malice”.

If anyone here believes that Rather and CBS were absent of “malice” when they broadcasted their story about the memos, you need to wake up and smell the coffee. We may want to insist that we know who their source is; if these sources really believe they can be “deep throat” and not be discovered they are mistaken with today’s technology so why bother! I believe it will certainly add creditability to a medium that has ZERO if their sources have put something more than their anonymity on the line.

Besides, using the MSM’s tactics I can say anything I wish about anybody and add “a senior source told me”; of course in court, not being a member of the media, I will have to prove it – Shouldn’t we require the same standard from reporters?

What are your thoughts?

North UN is Irrelevant - I Agree!

Oliver North accurately compares The League of Nations to the United Nations in his weekly column. The below excerpts demonstrate the League’s irrelevance during the 1931 invasion of Manchuria and the United Nation’s arrogant irrelevance during current world events.

The League of Nations responded by censuring Tokyo and demanding the withdrawal of Japanese troops. The Japanese promptly withdrew from the League, declaring its deliberations to be "irrelevant."

This sad, but accurate historical lesson in arrogance and irrelevance is pertinent to what transpired at the League's successor -- the United Nations -- this week. On Tuesday, Sept. 21, the president of the United States stood before the U.N. General Assembly and challenged the world body to try -- once again -- to be relevant in a world threatened by an evil even more dangerous than fascism: fanatical terrorism.

Apparently to Annan, the ghastly, systematic beheading of innocent civilians is morally equivalent to an isolated case of prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib. Ironically, as he was drawing this frightening parallel, a radical Islamic website was posting the horrific images of Jack Armstrong being beheaded.

Did Annan, his cronies or family reap any of this windfall? We don't know because the U.N. Secretary-General -- so willing to lecture President Bush about the "rule of law" -- is accountable to no one.

John Kerry wants to put our NATIONAL SAFETY in the hands of this organization; my vote NO to John Kerry!

MSM Will Never Be Non-Bias

I have been a reader of the Power Line Blog for some time but have never “Track Back” to it because I cannot hold a candle to its author. However, I have to agree with their overall message in the latest post.

The author references Richard Cohen’s concern that “more and more Americans are getting their news through partisan filters…” and Mr. Cohen list several examples. The author rightfully points out that Cohen fails to cite any support that we are not getting our information from both partisan and MSM and never gives me (us) credit for being able to come to our own opinion. This goes to what I have said in the past “the MSM feels the must tell us what to believe and what is meant by each item they report because you (me) are not as smart as they are and need help”. I have been personally offended by this attitude from the MSM for years and especially since many years ago when that exact sentiment came from the month of the then president of NBC news.

The author of this the Power Line post did not go far enough, I believe, and point out that Cohen, Rather, and others in the MSM are also partisan to “their cause”, which happens to be different than many if not most Americans. They are liberal the will be liberal and they will always be liberal. They are partisan to any liberal cause and will take any opportunity to jump on a conservative; when they report against a liberal it is only after mountains to evidence is against them and they most to keep the “fair and balanced” facade up.

Rather, 1994 I believe (the year of the Contract with America), made a comment on the air that “WE lost another one”; he was referring to an incumbent democrat being beaten by a republican. I believe only the “partisan conservative talk radio shows” called Mr. Rather on this but that statement and the newest CBS acts proves their partisanship loud and clear to any thinking American.

Do I realize Rush, Hannity, Coulter, etc. are conservative and have a conservative spin; YES, just as I understand you Mr. Cohen, Rather, Wallace, etc. have a liberal spin. I and a majority of Americans do have the intelligence to decipher the facts and draw our own opinion you do not have to lead us to the “watering hole and attempt to force us to drink”!!

Kerry Smeared a Hero: My Dad

In Bill's World: Kerry smeared a hero: my dad

The above blog entry pretty much sums up the way I feel about John Kerry albeit presented a little softer then I may choose to present my views. Kudos to Bill and Thanks!

Please follow the links Bill provides and read the Whole Story.

Michelle Malkin Nails It - GOP Your Better Than That!

Michelle Malkin: SCARING UP THE GOP VOTE

I agree with Michelle Malkin the RNC is following the leader (DNC) on “scare tactics”. I believe that the “Scare” BS that the DNC is spewing will and has driven undecided to the right. What does the RNC do; copy the DNC’s mistakes. Come-on guys you are smarter than that.

The story comes from GOP mailings warning “liberals will ban Bibles”. This falls right in line with the on going liberal rumor circulating all the forums that a vote for President Bush is a vote to reinstate the draft!

Let’s stay true GOP!

Upcoming Military Draft - Sick of the Myth!

On all the forums, I am reading individuals, mainly liberals, trying to scare Americans into believing that if President Bush is elected the Draft will be reinstated. There is argument is that we do not have a large enough military to accomplish the President's agenda. I have found many articles that dispute this argument but one does it best.

Here are some excerpts from this article:

The war is not only not having a negative effect, but it is helping to reinforce the number of people who want to join," said Cmdr. John Kirby, a spokesman for the Navy's Bureau of Personnel.

Even the Army National Guard, which has had 150,000 citizen soldiers mobilized for up to a year, has seen retention rates "going through the roof," said Guard spokesman Maj. Robert Howell.

The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard all met or exceeded their year-end recruiting goals for fiscal year 2003, which ended Sept. 30. The figures continued to climb in the first half of fiscal year 2004, which was reached March 31.

The Army is at 100.1 percent of its "active duty mission"....

Instead of bringing 41,200 new recruits into the service this fiscal year, the Navy will cut it off at 40,450, said Lt. Bill Davis with the Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tenn.

Navy re-enlistment rates are at an all time high, with 62.3 percent of first-term sailors signing up for additional service. That compares with a targeted goal of 56 percent. The rate has grown each year since 2000, when 48.2 percent of the first-term sailors re-enlisted.

The fear might have started back in January 2003 when Rep. Charles Rangle, D-NY and Sen. Ernest Hollings, D-SC, introduced a bill calling for the draft. Interstingly the only hints of draft reinstatement come from Democrats and the Democrats want to continue the scare tactic that President Bush is the threat for "draft reinstatement". The idea was started by Democrats! Officials continue to deny the rumors as illustrated in this Seattle Times article.

The Seattle Times: Officials Deny Draft Reinstatement!

The Seattle Times: Fears of draft reinstatement persist despite official denials

I hope that this will dispel the myths about President Bush wanting to reinstate the draft! The only mention of a “renewed” draft bill is from the Democrats side of the isle and liberals want to try to scare you into believing President Bush is behind it.

No matter who started to attempt officials continue to deny it will ever happen!

Kerry On Defense - 60 Minutes Despicable

National Security Online released an article by Christopher Holton that details among other things "John Kerry's Shameful National Security Record Revealed" and the fact that "60 Minutes" failed to investigate documents which are forgeries before releasing them as proof against President Bush.

"60 Minutes" willingness to be a pawn of the democratic party is yet another example of liberal media bias! However, ABC has released a story that points out what "60 Minutes" failed to report (raising ABC a notch above CBS). Amazing the desperation liberals are displaying about 30 year old history - John Kerry is really wishing he had not said "reporting for duty"!

Hey 60 Minutes and CBS this is despicable!

Navy Investigates Kerry Record

Both NewsMax and FoxNews have reported the Navy is launching a formal probe into Kerry's record. The probe is in response to a complaint filed by Judicial Watch. What is more interesting, calling my self informed, I had not heard that former Navy Secretary John Lehman has challenged the authenticity of his signature on Kerry's war decorations; but why would the New York Times, ABC, NBC, CBS, or CNN want to let that out.

There might be a possibility that someone copied the Bronze Star citation "with a Combat V" and thought that "a Combat V" was good on a Silver Star - to bad the Demcorats hate the military so much someone might have helped them if this allegation turns out correct.

In 1996 Kerry commented on those who lie about their medals, when referring to Admiral Jeremy Boorda, who committed suicide after disgraced:

"If you wind up being less than what you're pretending to be, there is a major confrontation with value, self-esteem and your sense of how others view you" Kerry told the Boston Globe.

Kerry also told the Boston Herald on this incident "sufficient to question his leadership position". Now, of course the Kerry campaign does not see a need to investigate a 35 year incident.

Chris It Was a Poem - Part Two

MSNBC has posted the transcript of the Matthews and Zell Miller exchange. I will revisit what I earlier wrote - Mr. Matthews, if you were as informed as you pretend, you would know that the lines you had an issue with was a quote from a poem! Matthews picks obsolete things to comment on in an attempt to make a point - Mr. Matthews do you not know that attacks like this make your opinion hollow. Already I have heard liberals say that Zell Miller did not quote the poem exactly - well that is an odd defense for one of their liberal demigods. Let us look at Matthews’ comments:

Let me ask you about this, because I think you have a view on the role of reporters in the world. You have said and it has often been said so truthfully that it is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. Was there not...

But it‘s a statement that nobody would have challenged. Why did you make it? It seems like no one would deny what you said. So what‘s your point?

Well, you could argue it was not nurses who defended the freedom of nursing. Why did you single out freedom of the press to say it was the soldiers that defended it and not the reporters? We all know that. Why did you say it?

Because you could get an applause line against the media at a conservative convention.

As I stated eariler Chris it is a poem!

Moore Displays the Problems With US Education

Michael Moore has been writting a column for the USA Today and one of his titles, "Don't Send More Kids to Die", demonstrates the problem with our education system. Moore writes:

If I made a miscalculation and ran over a child on the street, what do you think would happen to me? Do you think the cops would simply say, "Hey, Mr. Moore, you did your best driving down this street, you made a miscalculation, the kid is dead, but you are trying to save the world, so be on your way?" Something tells me this is not what would happen. What I don't get is that Mr. Bush makes his mistake and thinks he has a right to continue in his job.

Moore compares his driving a car to a president defending this Great Nation, and I am sure the liberals are yelling in support. Should this not make teachers cringe? Not only does a writer attempt to compare two incomparable actions an overwhelming number of Americans will buy into it. Our teachers should be ashamed; however, after talking to many professors I believe the opposite it true, and you wonder why we want alternatives in our education system. I doubted my family’s choice to home schooling my nephews and niece; however, besides seemingly being superior to their public schooled counter parts in academics they destroy them in common sense. My teenage nephew knows these two tasks should not even be in the same paragraph, that Mr. Moore's statement is ludicrous, yet he knows that it will be a Democratic talking point and the protesters will chant it tonight.

Mr. Moore goes on to compare the Presidency to a dog catcher:

Maybe Bush has no worse explanation than he just hasn't been able to do it. Well, if your town's dogcatcher couldn't catch a wild dog that has been on the loose biting people for three years, what would be the dogcatcher's chances for re-election? Not good.

It simply amazes me that many Americans actually accept these types of comparisons as logical. My prayer is that my generation can defend this country and keep Her strong until my nephew, and others like him whose parents saw the decaying education system choosing another path, become of age to take this country to even greater heights.

Chris It Was a Poem

Chris Matthews attempted to attack Zell Miller last night for the phrase "it is the soldier not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press"; Matthews said it was such an obvious thing to say, weren't you just looking for an easy "anti-media" applause line? Hey Chris it is a poem - learn it!

It Is The Soldier not the reporter, who has given US Freedom of the press
It Is The Soldier not the poet, who has given US Freedom of speech
It Is The Soldier not the campus organizer, who has given US the Freedom to demonstrate
It Is The Soldier not the lawyer, who has given US the right to a fair trial
It is the soldier, who saluted the Flag, who serves beneath the Flag and whose coffin is draped by the Flag, who allows the protester to burn the Flag

More Media Bias - "No Christian Republicans only Democrat Allowed"

The New York Times repeatedly attacks any Christian that supports Bush by invoking the "scared cow: "separation of church and state""; however, democrats can organize politicians to speak from the pulpit with no Times protest. Michelle Malkin is more eloquent then I could ever be in her latest column. Here is an excerpts:

The New York Times' sanctimonious reporters and editorialists loudly declaim the mixture of religion and politics whenever conservative Christians are involved. But when the religious Left brings Democratic partisans to preach to the choir, the church-state separatists in the media are quieter than country church mice. The double standard echoes like a steel trap snapping in an empty cathedral.

Why Was John Kerry Even Speaking to VFW or The American Legion

"We will not quickly join those who march on Veteran's Day waving small flags, calling to memory those thousands of lives who died for the "greater glory" of the United States. We will not accept the rhetoric. We will not readily join the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. We will demand relevancy such as other organizations have recently been able to provide. We will not uphold the traditions which decorously memorialize that which is base and grim."

-John F. Kerry, Epilogue to "New Soldier" (MacMillan Publishing, Co, Fall, 1971)

Get a free copy of John F. Kerry's "New Soldier".

Pelosi Campaigns for Bush!

Nancy Pelosi during a speech in Las Vegas, while degrading President Bush, admitted that Kerry has given Americans no reason to vote for him.

House Minority Leader then said she "can't answer" why Kerry continues to support a position that seemingly gives Americans little choice between the presidential candidates when it comes to the war in Iraq.

Amazingly, Nancy continually ridiculed President Bush; Nancy does that ridicule go for Kerry too since there is "seemingly" no difference in their stance on the War in Iraq?

Swift Boats and Double Standards

Benjamin L. Ginsberg, former Bush-Cheney attorney, wrote an op-ed (WashingtonPost)demonstrating the bias of the media in reporting on 527(s). Some excerpts:

• Kerry campaign lawyer Bob Bauer and Democratic National Committee counsel Joe Sandler also represent 527s -- not illegal, but doesn't it deserve a little scrutiny?
• Jim Jordan, John Kerry's campaign manager until last November, works for three of the 527s.
• Harold Ickes, an executive committee member of the Democratic National Committee, heads the Media Fund.
• Bill Richardson simultaneously chaired the Democrats' national convention and a 527.
• Michael Meehan became Kerry's spokesman after running NARAL Pro-Choice America's "soft money" programs.
• Zack Exley went from being a MoveOn.org executive to the Kerry campaign.

Further example of the mainstream media's bias when reporting the facts to the American people. Their choice to "leave out" certain details when reporting is amazing and worse they do not believe the American people are smart enough to know the truth; are we?

In discussing "facts" with other Americans I believe the mainstream media may have a point. So many simply parrot what they hear and accuse me of parroting Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, David Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and others... Unlike democrats, who depend on the NY Times to make their choice for them, republicans do not depend on the aforementioned people to make our choice and we (republicans) don't blindly follow a doctrine based on hate.

Republican Message – Continued

I wrote yesterday the democrats have missed interpreted the Republican National Convention and the mainstream media seems to be giving them a pass. I was disappointed that Bill O’Reilly gave Terry McAuliffe a pass when McAuliffe said:

like a masquerade ball up here. They're going to put people up here who do not agree with the platform that they passed yesterday. But they want people to think that George Bush is some kind of moderate. He's not. He's a right wing conservative. The platform is very right wing that they got through these delegates.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, another moderate republican, spoke Tuesday night and Mr. McAuliffe and the democrats want to tell America that Bush and the RNC are trying to change their image; WRONG! Unfortunately, for the democrats Arnold’s speech supported the President, the RNC platform, and yes once again demonstrated the Republican Party is the party of inclusion unlike the exclusive Democratic Party.

Mr. McAuliffe went on to say during the O’Reilly Factor:

But, you know, if I were them I would try to do the same thing. That's why we're here to make sure that the truth gets out.

Actually Mr. McAuliffe is talking about his and the democrats version of the truth! Mr. McAuliffe how many times are you going to lead with your chin and get a RIGHT cross before you stop spinning the truth?