Bob Dole Owes Veterans An Apology Himself

[toasty]

I'm sure you've all heard about Dole chastising Kerry for accepting a Purple Heart for a superficial injury caused by schrapnel from his own grenade. With that said, check out Dole's own account of his first Purple Heart, from his 1988 autobiography:

"As we approached the enemy, there was a brief exchange of gunfire. I took a grenade in hand, pulled the pin, and tossed it in the direction of the farmhouse. It wasn't a very good pitch (remember, I was used to catching passes, not throwing them). In the darkness, the grenade must have struck a tree and bounced off. It exploded nearby, sending a sliver of metal into my leg -- the sort of injury the Army patched up with Mercurochrome and a Purple Heart."

Evidently, the wound was so minor that he led another patrol two nights later. Looks pretty similar to Kerry's injury, if you ask me.

Setting that aside for a moment, however, Dole ought to be ashamed of himself for implying that serving one's country without serious injury lacks any importance. Many, many men and women have valiantly served our country over the years and most of them have returned, thankfully, without serious injury. Even assuming for a moment that all of Kerry's wounds were insignificant, Dole's belittling of his service is a slap in the face to all of those verterans who have bravely served.

My opinion, anyway.

[asdf_admin]

Re:: Bob Dole Owes Veterans An Apology Himself

Kerry's campaign now says is possible first Purple Heart was awarded for unintentional self-inflicted wound...

# Kerry received Purple Heart for wounds suffered on 12/2/68...

# In Kerry's own journal written 9 days later, he writes he and his crew, quote, 'hadn't been shot at yet'... Developing...

[Jenks]

I agree with ya toasty that Dole has no place to cast stones, neither does Bush when it comes to military records.

The only man who can throw shit around at Kerry, Bush, Dole, and just about anyone he cares to is John McCain.

Wether you're (R) or (D)...that man deserves respect. While he does bat for my team, i think everyone whould be glad to have him in the mix, because if there is an honorable man in politics, it's John McCain. He was the first one to tell the Bush camp to lay off Kerry's vietnam record, saying anyone who served in that war, wether grazed with a bullit, or took one in the head, deserves respect. He just seems fair to me.

[toasty]

The only man who can throw shit around at Kerry, Bush, Dole, and just about anyone he cares to is John McCain.

Wether you're (R) or (D)...that man deserves respect. While he does bat for my team, i think everyone whould be glad to have him in the mix, because if there is an honorable man in politics, it's John McCain. He was the first one to tell the Bush camp to lay off Kerry's vietnam record, saying anyone who served in that war, wether grazed with a bullit, or took one in the head, deserves respect. He just seems fair to me.

True Dat. Why couldn't McCain have beaten Bush in the primaries four years ago?

[Jenks]

I wish he was the (R) candidate for president, or at least on the ticket. With the support he's giving Bush, and if Bush does win in November, Bush should give McCain Powell's job, as Powell is obviously not going for another round.

[asdf_admin]

I agree. John McCain was a POW. That shit was terrible.

[Jenks]

^kinda sad really isn't it?

Bush, Kerry, Dole...all arguing over if so and so really was injured enough or saw enough combat for medals, and here's John McCain, decorated war hero, tortured for years as a POW, just watching all of this unfold in front of him.

He should give them all a swift kick in the ass.

[krelm]

Dole occasionally gets a little too much viagra pumping through his system, becomes a bit too excited, and doesn't know when to shut up. He's a grumpy old man shootin' off his mouth. Cut him some slack.

Seriously - who cares? I'm so fucking sick of this whole battle of military records. Why should we give a fuck if Kerry got a purple heart for an ingrown toenail and Bush was a cokehead while AWOL from his duty? That was what...30+ years ago?? The fact is that both of these fuckwads are such pitiful candidates that they have to try to win votes based on exaggerated "heroics" of their past or by petty attacks on the other guy. The more I see, the more disgusted I become with both sides.

I fucking give up. This election is a joke.

[krelm]

The only man who can throw shit around at Kerry, Bush, Dole, and just about anyone he cares to is John McCain.

God yes. I've liked McCain from day one - the man is probably one of the few people who, as a presidential candidate, would actually give me reason to feel good about voting.

[Jenks]

give up? you've honestly got no place in this election in the first place Mr. Leipzig Germany. no offense tho. :wink:

or are you a US citizen just have that as your home counrty.

i'm not really from czech republic as the flag indicates to my right...i just think it's one of the coolest countries on the planet.

[asdf_admin]

Geez. I know. I have always been a huge fan of John McCain ... he has his shit straight. He also has a lot respect from the Dems ... why isn't he our Pres? Well, as far as I know when we had the Repubs running for office a few (four) years ago, the same Bush marketing campaign was used against John McCain. I do not know how much truth there is in that, but I do see it keeping "us" from focusing on major US political issues ... Economy, Jobs, Security, etc. It sucks. They (Kerry and Bush) battle back and forth about truly an irrelevant issue. Both winged the military and I would really have to say Bush did it more. Kerry was at least in the thick of it. Fuck. What a selection of Garbage. It really is picking from the lesser of the two evils.

That is terrible.

[toasty]

Seriously - who cares? I'm so fucking sick of this whole battle of military records. Why should we give a fuck if Kerry got a purple heart for an ingrown toenail and Bush was a cokehead while AWOL from his duty? That was what...30+ years ago??

No kidding. Wish we could move on. We won't, of course, as long as it continues to move Kerry downward in the polls.

[Jenks]

^that's exactly why Dom. This same republican party attacked McCain with the same tactics, saying, someone who was put through what he was couldn't possibly be fair and impartial in foreign relations. Like he's some sort of wacko or something?

McCain is respected by the Dems. Kerry actually asked, er "earmarked" John McCain to be on his ticket (under the table of course,) and McCain quickly said, thanks, but not a chance.

[asdf_admin]

Re:: Bob Dole Owes Veterans An Apology Himself

Yeah. I heard about that Jenks. I would vote for Kerry if VP was John McCain. It sounds so fuct up, but I think it would change so many things. It is crazy and I love the idea.

I have had many Nam Vet friends in my life. I have always loved the military, and everything to do with it except death. It is an awesome force of power and beauty. That very thin line of life and death. My wife's Grandpa is a Nam Vet. He served three fucking full tours in Nam, and he was in Special forces. lol. He came back after his fist tour and found his wife fucking some other "hippie" guy. So he went back.

He was there before the US even made a invasion. Fuck, his stories are mind blowing. All the shit that happened, all that he saw, and did. It's war ... and in war you must become an animal and live off your own instincts. There is no other way, you have to. If you started thinking ... you or your buddy ... have a 6 inch hole with blood spilling out. That ain't good.

I tell you Jenks, I could do it. But, I can also say I would not come back the same man. But, I always say this. Any Mother Fucker that comes to the Coast of Oregon with guns firing, I will be there with National Guard and my Father's 30-30 blasting those fools back to where they came from. I do not care what is going on in my life, or what I am doing. I would die for this country in a heart beat.

[Civic_Zen]

The fact is that both of these fuckwads are such pitiful candidates that they have to try to win votes based on exaggerated "heroics" of their past or by petty attacks on the other guy. The more I see, the more disgusted I become with both sides.

I fucking give up. This election is a joke.

Welcome to my world.

A vote for one is like a vote for the other any way, why should I even drag my ass out of bed?