Comments on: Gen. Wesley Clark Touches The Third Rail http://www.bloggernews.net/116542 High-quality English language analysis and editorial writing on the news. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:19:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Nancy Reyes http://www.bloggernews.net/116542#comment-402354 Nancy Reyes Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:04:57 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/116542#comment-402354 Um...McCain was shot down over North VietNam, not North Korea. As for Michael Avignon's comment: One reason that you never read of McCain's heroism is because he doesn't talk about it. Indeed, when asked he tends to make jokes about it. For example, he was the one who led prayer services in the Hanoi Hilton; when asked about it, he laughs and says he offered to do this because he was the only one "who remembered the prayers". He could have been beaten for doing this... Um…McCain was shot down over North VietNam, not North Korea.

As for Michael Avignon’s comment: One reason that you never read of McCain’s heroism is because he doesn’t talk about it. Indeed, when asked he tends to make jokes about it. For example, he was the one who led prayer services in the Hanoi Hilton; when asked about it, he laughs and says he offered to do this because he was the only one “who remembered the prayers”. He could have been beaten for doing this…

]]> By: jay2del http://www.bloggernews.net/116542#comment-402309 jay2del Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:08:49 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/116542#comment-402309 Wesley Clark thinks he should be president. Just because you think you should be president, you don't automatically qualify. McCain, despite his warts, provides experienced leadership, Obama tells us that he won't attack your patriotism if you don't attack his. He has no record, no votes, no leadership, nothing. He believes there is an alternative to patriotism; some misguided behavior that condemns our nation, so that he can fix it. He is our very first presidential nominee who skipped a college education for the lefty Ivy League environment of the alternative, "indoctrination". "Wrong for America" is a gross understatement. Wesley Clark thinks he should be president. Just because you think you should be president, you don’t automatically qualify. McCain, despite his warts, provides experienced leadership, Obama tells us that he won’t attack your patriotism if you don’t attack his. He has no record, no votes, no leadership, nothing. He believes there is an alternative to patriotism; some misguided behavior that condemns our nation, so that he can fix it. He is our very first presidential nominee who skipped a college education for the lefty Ivy League environment of the alternative, “indoctrination”.
“Wrong for America” is a gross understatement.

]]> By: Gale http://www.bloggernews.net/116542#comment-402243 Gale Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:54:10 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/116542#comment-402243 Chase Hamil writes, untruthfully: "But what was left unsaid was McCain’s experience as a United States senator, his world travel in that capacity, and his presence on the Senate Armed Services Committee." Like most of the press, the author of this text focuses on the one soundbite (admittedly not very well put) and ignores the rest of what was said by General Clark (indeed, in the same breath). In fact, General Clark did, very specifically, give McCain credit for his Senate service, and for his world travel in that capacity, and for his service on the Senate Armerd Services Committee. He also stated very emphatically that Mr. McCain is a hero -- to himeself and many others. Chase Hamil continues to repeat the same lies and distortions that have been spread by the far right and much of the press all week long. It's a pity that some people can be so ignorant, and it's a shame that others can be so shameful. Chase Hamil writes, untruthfully:

“But what was left unsaid was McCain’s experience as a United States senator, his world travel in that capacity, and his presence on the Senate Armed Services Committee.”

Like most of the press, the author of this text focuses on the one soundbite (admittedly not very well put) and ignores the rest of what was said by General Clark (indeed, in the same breath).

In fact, General Clark did, very specifically, give McCain credit for his Senate service, and for his world travel in that capacity, and for his service on the Senate Armerd Services Committee. He also stated very emphatically that Mr. McCain is a hero — to himeself and many others.

Chase Hamil continues to repeat the same lies and distortions that have been spread by the far right and much of the press all week long. It’s a pity that some people can be so ignorant, and it’s a shame that others can be so shameful.

]]> By: Ward MacNaughton http://www.bloggernews.net/116542#comment-402231 Ward MacNaughton Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:39:18 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/116542#comment-402231 Heroism was displayed on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier when it was in flames, on repeated missions under repeated enemy flak, manouevering the aircraft after being hit, denying the enemy and giving him false information under repeated torture, and refusing release when offered release as a POW, in favor of those prisoners who had been in the "Hanoi Hilton" longer, winning the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, (and read the citations for those medals) continued service after his return to the U.S. - need I continue? Just ask Col Bud Day, the most decorated American (Congressional Medal of Honor) who served as a POW with McCain - how McCain showed leadership in the prison, encouraged others through the walls, had all his limbs broken, reset the limbs for himself and others, including Day etc etc etc. What, pray tell, has Obama done? The long and the short of it? Clark is known for an unweening ambition of meg proportions that could come to where he would put down a fellow American soldier. Even while his own record is spotty - dismissal from NATO, provoking an unauthorized crisis with the Russians in the Balkans, saturation bombing of Serbian citizens and their churches even on Easter Sunday (and then boasting and being flippant about that!), killing thousands - unneeded civilian casualties, and then later on, severe career compromises baed on mere boasting and an extreme ambition. In short Clark is discredited. Obama rightly distanced himself from Clark's remarks. Heroism was displayed on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier when it was in flames, on repeated missions under repeated enemy flak, manouevering the aircraft after being hit, denying the enemy and giving him false information under repeated torture, and refusing release when offered release as a POW, in favor of those prisoners who had been in the “Hanoi Hilton” longer, winning the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, (and read the citations for those medals) continued service after his return to the U.S. - need I continue? Just ask Col Bud Day, the most decorated American (Congressional Medal of Honor) who served as a POW with McCain - how McCain showed leadership in the prison, encouraged others through the walls, had all his limbs broken, reset the limbs for himself and others, including Day etc etc etc.
What, pray tell, has Obama done?
The long and the short of it? Clark is known for an unweening ambition of meg proportions that could come to where he would put down a fellow American soldier. Even while his own record is spotty - dismissal from NATO, provoking an unauthorized crisis with the Russians in the Balkans, saturation bombing of Serbian citizens and their churches even on Easter Sunday (and then boasting and being flippant about that!), killing thousands - unneeded civilian casualties, and then later on, severe career compromises baed on mere boasting and an extreme ambition. In short Clark is discredited. Obama rightly distanced himself from Clark’s remarks.

]]> By: Michael Avignon http://www.bloggernews.net/116542#comment-402078 Michael Avignon Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:08:35 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/116542#comment-402078 So what does hero mean? You will not find many soldiers that will call a man a hero just for doing his/her job or getting captured. To a soldier, being a hero actually means something more than being a soldier. I have never heard anyone describe a heroic act of McCain although there may well be examples of this. I fail to see how being a fighter pilot is relevant to being a president. A president must have courage but not all courageous men should be presidents. So what does hero mean? You will not find many soldiers that will call a man a hero just for doing his/her job or getting captured. To a soldier, being a hero actually means something more than being a soldier. I have never heard anyone describe a heroic act of McCain although there may well be examples of this.

I fail to see how being a fighter pilot is relevant to being a president. A president must have courage but not all courageous men should be presidents.

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