16. What is this jerk doing shaking hands with those guys he call criminals???My brother in Law severed with him said he ran from more fights than the fought in..only fought when he had no choice..came back and called our military murderers..
I wish he could have meet my brother who served in World War II he would have cleaned up the streets with that coward..my brother made six major jumps in world war 1 and 2
Him a president of the greatest country in the world..GOD FORBID

Geoge at 2:29PM on Dec 28th 2006

17. You know, I couldn't help noticing when I read through these comments the same thing that I can't help noticing when I read through other comment threads on other blogs and media websites -- that there seems to be a direct correlation between the narrowness and small-mindedness of many folks' political views and their ability to express themselves clearly and correctly using the language that they were supposed to have learned in school.

Perhaps that indicates some kind of connection between the ability to think clearly, articulate properly, and see things objectively in the real world? Or is it just another example of what a boondoggle the 'No Child Left Behind' program turned out to be?

I'm not saying that you have to be stupid to keep buying into the dumbed-down right-wing spin that gets shoved at us every day -- but apparently, in many cases, it helps.

M. Loutre at 3:12PM on Dec 28th 2006

18. This thread is disrespectful to the troops. Quoting a made-up story that is attached to an old picture just to take a cheap shot at Senator Kerry (or anyone else for that matter) is far more disrespectful to the troops than any botched joke. The Bush war apologists who still have shred of a conscience should think about that.

streamer at 3:38PM on Dec 28th 2006

19. Glenda did you forget to take your medication today?

lmd at 3:55PM on Dec 28th 2006

20. Let me see if I get the point: conservatives are dumb and liberals are smart.

You pose such a compelling argument.

As for all the people who defend Kerry’s war record and place him up there with the likes of real Vietnam heroes like Collin Powell and Norman Swartzkopf, you must realize that anyone who actually has been in combat considers him a joke.

And, who ever said that military service was a requisite for leading this country in war time? Ever heard of Abraham Lincoln or Franklin Roosevelt?

I have spent 25 years in the military and served in Iraq; does this qualify me to run for President and manage this war? No, and Kerry’s 4 months in Vietnam don’t either.

Warrior King at 3:29PM on Dec 28th 2006

21. All of you Kerry lovers have a short memory, or like your leaders, want to change history. John Kerry may have enlisted and served, but none of it was with honor. His picture is on the wall of honor as being the only American who helped change the Vietnam war. Oh, by the way, the wall of honor is in VIETNAM'S capitol city of Hanoi! He is a no good traitor and an admitted baby killer! You can have him. The man wants to be President so bad, but he doesn't pack the gear. He talks the talk, but has never nor will he ever walk the walk.

Richard Lombardo at 3:33PM on Dec 28th 2006

22. I admire and respect John Kerry and yes! I voted for him. I have no respect for ANYONE who supports war criminals. War Criminals are the real traitors of this country not people like John Kerry who served honorably and admirably. War Criminals are people who have very TWISTED minds.

wandalou at 10:46PM on Dec 28th 2006

23. This is a false story. I've been reading about this both in the right and left wing blogosphere. Two accounts, one from the left, one from the right, jumped out at me. Although not identical, they are very similar, and completely debunk the story. I think when you read from both sides of the spectrum and discover an explanation that resembles one another, that's when you have stumbled upon the (uninteresting) truth:

From the Left - Democratic Underground
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2986360&mesg_id=2986498:

A relative was there and said the poor man barely had time to eat for soldiers stopping by the table to shake his hand but even so quite a few soldiers made a point of leaving him be only so he could finish his breakfast. And as you can see by the lunch pic there are plenty of soldier around.

BTW the claim that Kerry cancelled a press conference because no one would come is not quite true. The military initially set up the press conference before they checked with Kerry. My relative who would have been in the crew to set up the electronics for the press conference was told IN ADVANCE of Kerry's arrival that it had been cancelled on request of John Kerry because this was intended to be a support the troops visit not a photo op.

And from the Right - Powerline Blog
http://www.plnewsforum.com/index.php/forums/viewthread/15012/P45/:

This article is half the truth. My friend told me more details and was there.

Kerry apparently showed up during the last 10 minutes of when the chow hall was open. So there were not so many people there to begin with. Additionallly he had a crowd of security surrounding him and I dont believe his intentions in that chow hall were to greet the troops based upon the real facts. Additionally the military folks in the mess hall would not have felt comfortable approaching him in these surroundings. That doesn’t necessarily paint the picture in the article.

Finally - this is typical treatment for famous people there.

Don’t get me wrong - I don’t like his politics but this isn’t factual reporting according to my sources (which are my friends not second hand spew from reporters making money).

** End of account **

There may be issues with the photo itself as well. The most easily proveable problem with it, is that the one originally posted darkened the photo, so that you would not notice that there was only one uniformed person in the entire photo (not counting the waiters!). I'd chock this story up to wishful thinking.

beachmom at 3:54PM on Dec 28th 2006

24. Haven't we had enough of Kerry. Please... and that goes for his friend Edwards. Let's all unite to solve the problem in Iraq. I am sick and tired of all the political bickering. Nope, I wouldn't pull out of Iraq. They say we are losing, it's because some Americans are too stupid to see the light, all they do is demean the Administration so they can get their feet in. United we Will Win!!

Leia Walters at 3:27AM on Dec 31st 2006

25. Throughout history, the people of the original colonies, right through to today, have not wanted to go to war. It was hard to get a majority of the colonists to agree to fight England for their right to be a nation.
Having said all that, we are at war, right place and time or not and pulling out is not much of an option. The people that wish to see us and the rest of the Western civilizations and of course Israel, destroyed, are not going to respond to anything but brute force. Maybe we should start coming home soon, but do so through Syria and Iran. These Governments will acquire, use and/or sell weapons that will make 911, Spain's railway bombing and the London terrorist attacks look like a minor traffic accident. These people do not share our philosophy of live and let live. They would (by their own declarations)prefer to kill or die in the attempt. We need to support our troops as they are fighting for our continued freedom to elect whatever horse's ass a majority of us choose.

Charles Hekking at 1:54AM on Dec 29th 2006

26. Oh my Glenda you are grouping all our men and women who have fought in this war over a few who committed a war crime get a life!!!! What about the terrorists who beheaded our service members,dragged them in the streets,held them captive and tourtured them are they your hero???
Don't judge all of them because of what a few have done.I myself am proud of the service these men and women have done for us. Protecting our freedom and for some it has cost them their lifes. I would stand beside these men and women anytime before I would stand by John Kerry. So before you go calling our soldiers idiots maybe you should look in the mirror!!!

Diane at 4:06PM on Dec 28th 2006

27. Diane:

Thank you, I’d be honored to serve with you.

I’ve noticed a ground swell ever since Kerry made the crack a about education and servicing in Iraq.

More and more people just like Glenda hate soldiers for serving their country. As if it were some sort of sin to wear the uniform or worse yet, risk your life in combat. I honestly believe that, as the war progresses we will folks like Glenda be more open in public about their soldier hatred, until it equals what we saw in the last years of Vietnam.

Warrior King at 4:25PM on Dec 28th 2006

28. Where to start. Kerry did serve our country and did two tours when he did not have to. If he were a coward why would he go back. This is why I get irritated with some people on here. Who lack common sense and who are just plain ignorant. As a service man we can not touch him. He served our country and was dumb enough to go back. As a politician I believe his state can better judge him. As a presidential candidate he was no better than bush. They both had simular views and both come from the same frat. I trust him no more than I trust Bush.

What gets to me especially from so called service people on here is that bush is for ending terrorism and for the troops. Please give it up. This is the administration that banned the use of equipment given to our troops by their friends and family that were better than that which they were issued. This is an administration that never rebuilt afganistan and jumped into iraq why. This is an administration that knows where Osama is but does nothing. This is an administration that has made tons of money for corporations favored by them. How can you people support this administration. You are the reason the world hates and laughs at us. Even under Clinton the world respected us. They may not have feared us like under Reagan but they at least respected us. Under this guy they hate our guts and laugh at our stupidity.
Here's some common sense for you. Lets finish the job the right way. Lets send in more troop and close down the boarders so no one leaves or enters the country. Then let Iran have its people back. That way instead of a civil war of three we now can deal with two. I would still hold on to the oil fields. We do need to get paid. And speaking of them where is that oil going to any way. You hear reports that they are up and running, and then you hear the terrorists are disrupting operations. Which is it are they up and running or not. If not lets get it fixed and making us money so we can pay for this mess. Lets rebuild the country. Its hard for people to hate you when they have their basic necessities and infrastructure in place. Something we have not done by the way. The president needs to stop calling the shots on the ground and let the generals run the show. This guy could not even beat a 7 yr in checkers let alone command an army.

And to say that its better to fight them there than here. Please. Terrorist wait and strike. They waited 8 years before they struck on our soil. Which means I feel sorry for the shmuck that wins the 2008 election. Because if you go on the last time table they used to attack we will be due in 2009 for another try. How then can we avoid another attack, enact the 9/11 commisions recomendations. Which this administration has not. Yeah they care about our safety. We have all this technology and this administration is to either too lazy and stupid to use it or they just love chaos, why because chaos brings destructions, destructions means reconstruction, reconstruction means money. That is all this administration cares about chaos and money. It is my belief that the democrats will be no better than the idiots they replaced. The 67% that did not vote need to get involved and vote in 3rd party candidates that actually love our country, care about its people and truly respect our troops because all that await our troops is not a parade win or fail but lots and lots of red tape. Yeah great job but we do not have the money to fund the Va hospitals we gave it all to Haliburton. Yeah keep supporting bush you idiots

James at 5:15PM on Dec 28th 2006

29. No Liah I have not had enough of John Edwards. You, and the rest of the deluded souls who still think this is a justified cause to "win" as the hawks portray all throughout the media forget one thing. Thomas Jefferson wrote that war profiteering is worse than treason. I am not advocating impeachment of this clown considering he is already a "lame duck" executive, and getting lamer the closer to the next session of Congress.

Oh, and by the way, Jefferson would cringe at the concept of installing "democracy", especially in such a brutal and destructive way. I never thohgt about it before reading here today, but I really believe Bush's crowd really support chaos, to what end who can tell.
What is it that people despise about Sen. Kerry?

Perhaps he speaks the Truth in the midst of deception. Sorry, Liah the tired old Reagan Revolution is dead, babe. RIP

Manfred at 6:15PM on Dec 28th 2006

30. A couple interesting facts about the picture of Kerry supposedly sitting alone AFTER his "Botched Joke":

At Hennen's site, commenter "Anthony" noted that the picture's embedded data, just a right-click away, shows the picture was taken on January 9, 2006 - several months before Kerry botched his joke….

News accounts at the time put Kerry in England around that time - which might explain the giant Union Jack hanging on the far wall.

At PowerLine, another problem surfaced: As commenter "Angus" noted, the flag hanging to the right of the Union Jack belongs to Portugal, which withdrew its mighty 120-man coalition force from Iraq nearly two years ago.

From Thinkprogress.com

Ken Brosky at 12:15AM on Dec 29th 2006