Kerry Should Avoid Directly Challenging Bush On AWOL

[demwing]

First, I think it's a one way path down the low road. Kerry loses ground when he personally goes that route, and there are plenty of surrogates that can take on such roles and deliver such messages. Once you go down such a path, you can no longer claim the highground, just as virgin can't claim virginity just because he's only had sex that one time...

Second, I feel that this is a trap, and Kerry is being manipulated towards making some sort of a fatal error. I'm not sure why I feel this way. Perhaps its because there is so little direct evidence that proves Bush was AWOL, but so much circumstantial evidence that might imply such. It stinks. I feel like Kerry will commit himself, and then Bush will provide some sort of "proof," doctored or otherwise, and Kerry will look like he wears the tin foil crown.

There are SO many things that Kerry can nail bush on directly, I hope he doesn't go after the AWOL issue. Its risky and foolish.

[genius]

1. Wrong. There's proof Bush was about to be written up for desertion

Kerry needs to pound this.

[Touchdown]

5. What proof?

Where is it? I keep getting others "proving" all his records are released with this PDF from Faux News that says AWOL's records are complete...If he was "about to be written up" then there's no document, is there? Also on the DD-214, if the Faux PDF hasn't it there, then it's not really complete then, is it?

If we got him on AWOL, then we should all get it and read it ourselves.

Now, they say that Kerry should release his medical records, among others to prove that the Swift smears are lying. "Your a wife beater...prove I'm wrong! Release your wife's medical records and your arrest reports!":eyes:

[GR]

6. See Raw Story...

http://www.rawstory.com/exclusives/byrne/major_media_outlet_investigates_awol_801.htm

[rawstory]

7. Oh, and there's more coming.

;) Let's just say, if you don't believe us on AWOL, there's more damning and concrete evidence coming.

[demwing]

9. Good to hear there's more to come

But I still think Kerry should leave this one to the 527s.

And btw, I do believe the shrub was AWOL, I just don't trust this opportunity as a path for direct Kerry confrontation.

Not unless some further evidence comes forward, something easy for the layman, and something beyond any ability to be spun.

[olddem43]

2. Don't even worry about it. Kerry is way too smart to

get in the mud himself. He's been very politically aware most of his life, long before the idiot even quit drinking and doping (if indeed he ever did). He is going to win.

[demwing]

10. I absolutely agree

I've seen people say "unless Bush does (fill in screw up), he'll get elected" but I feel as you do. Kerry has momentum and opinion on his side. I never felt this way during the Gore campaign, and my support for Gore was stronger than my support for Kerry.

I just don't want to be sitting in DU three years from now, expatrioted and writing from Canada or Europe, and looking back on Campaign 2004 wishing Kerry wouldn't have stepped into the pile of shit that was Bush's military record.

[AmerDem]

3. Bullshit!

They should take it right to this deserter bastard. There is recent info showing shrub to be AWOL from the guard. It came from the files Rove actually released. An underground reporter went thru everyone of the documents and found thru the use of military codes that he was in fact a no show. He then had this info looked over by someone out of Ronald Reagan's administration and he too said it checked out. Last I heard one of the country's large newspapers were reviewing the findings. It might have been NY Times.

You will have to search out the info.

[Malva Zebrina]

4. You know there are times when maintaining dignity and taking the high

ground is preferable to getting into silly skirmishes. However there are time when taking the high ground can be seen as a supercilious, better than thou, god on high righteousness that establishes a superiority that is actually condescending.

I am all for it--let Kerry do it--too much caution will lead to the same fate as Gore. We need to do it. KErry promised that he will see to it that all the votes are counted in Florida this time. HE gave us that promise. He gave us other promises. We need to be able to believe he has the fortitude to challenge these slimy Bush bastards and I think he does. I think his campaign advisors need to let go of the "electable" thing and over cautious analyzing.

[Senior citizen]

8. If Kerry does it, it will be with proven facts.

Not that Kerry won't take risks when necessary, but this time it isn't. You just run a 30 second TV ad, Kerry in Nam, papers showing Bush not present homeside, Kerry in Nam, Bush absent again, Kerry in the Senate, Bush drunk, Kerry showing leadership, Bush looking blank.

(Kerry kite-surfing and Bush falling off a bicycle.)

Pictures are still worth more than thousands of words of lies.

On edit: Kerry shaking hands at a campaign stop, Bush shaking hands with the Saudis......

:evilgrin:

[TNMOM]

11. I disagree.

This is the most important election of my lifetime. Kerry needs to pull out all the stops. NOW.