Old Weird Ward
Unless otherwise noted, that which is posted here is opinion, which is protected by the First Amendment to the US Constitution. If you don't like my opinions, go somewhere else. Nobody is forcing you to actually read this drivel.
The presumption exists that you can read at all.
That may be a large assumption.
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Tuesday, August 10, 2004
- - - - - Why I Must Oppose John Kerry - - - - -
I know, I promised this a while back. I plead the exigencies of Life It's Ownself. I've been busy taking care of personal stuff.
Notice: The opinions expressed below are filtered through the mind of a man who spent the years 1969 through 1973 as an enlisted man in the US Navy.
Lt. John Kerry, USNR, did indeed serve aboard a Swift boat in the 'Nam. In fact, he was "The Old Man", "The Skipper".
He was, indeed, awarded three Purple Hearts, one Silver Star, and a Bronze Star with combat "V" (awarded for Valor Under Fire).
After four months in-country, he applied for, and was granted, an early discharge based on his having been awarded three Purple Hearts.
Those are the facts.
Here's the opinion:
An officer in the Naval Service is expected to perform certain duties. Foremost among them, he is expected to lead his men.
Leadership is expressed in two ways: Giving orders, and taking care of your crew. This is what the enlisted swine see and here. Most importantly, if you take care of your crew, they will definitely take care of you.
Lt. Kerry did indeed take care of his crew - up to a point.
When he received his third award of the Purple Heart medal, he decided to take advantage of the rules and go home. He worked the system.
And left his crew behind.
This is not a leader that I would care to follow. When the going got even a little tough, he bailed.
And then, in public, claimed that he and the men that he led committed war crimes - a claim that he was not able to substantiate. He did this in 1972, when I was still an enlisted man in the US Navy. At the time, I was absolutely livid - dammit, I did not behave that way. And I don't know anyone who did.
I am still mightily peeved.
So, there's two parts to my opposition of John Kerry.
1. His voting record. I don't like it, and based on that record, I believe that he is the wrong man to be President of the United States at this time. This is enough for me to vote against him. Plus, his claims of "leadership" in the US Senate are, based on his record of bills sponsored and passed, to be charitable, suspect.
2. His actions in leaving Viet Nam, and his actions after his discharge. This is enough for me to actively oppose him. Anyone who would bail on the guys who looked to him for leadership is unfit to be Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States.
I'm not all that fond of George W. Bush. I really dislike John Kerry.
So, come November, I won't be voting so much FOR George W. Bush. I will definitely be voting against John F. Kerry.
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