Couric Gives Kerry a Pass

Before I accuse Sen. John Kerry of lying about the percentage of kids who graduate from high school I want someone to give him a chance to explain himself. I've backed a President who isn't known for his outstanding use of words. The least I can do is give Senator "I lost in 2004 but am sounding like I'm running again" a break. That someone can't be Katie Couric because she blew her opportunity.

"Katie Turns Off BS Detector as Kerry Trumpets Bogus Stats"

Kerry: Troops "Terrorizing Kids"

Serving in the armed forces never made Sen. John Kerry sympathize toward them (at least when it didn't serve his personal political gain). On Face the Nation Kerry told Bob Schieffer, "And there is no reason, Bob, that young American soldiers need to be going into the homes of Iraqis in the dead of night, terrorizing kids and children, you know, women, breaking sort of the customs of the--of--the historical customs, religious customs.
From Kerry's words you'd think American soldiers were running willy-nilly into Iraqi homes to rape and pillage. No, they are going into Iraqi homes in search of insurgents and Islamist terrorists who are killing American soldiers and Iraqi civilians. Could things be done better? Probably. But I'm not about to claim soldiers are terrorizing Iraqis. I'll leave that to the demogogues like Kerry.

Captain Ed writes Kerry deserves no benefit of the doubt:

Had Kerry not shown a long track record of this kind of rhetoric in the past -- and had to answer for it repeatedly during last year's presidential election -- one could possibly believe it came out as a slip of the tongue. However, he obviously has never stopped believing that the American fighting man and woman represents the same relative evil as the Viet Cong, the Khmer Rouge, and al-Qaeda.

Before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 1971 Kerry said he heard stories of American soldiers in Vietnam acting "in [a] fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan." Those stories were from the Winter Soldier Investigation. That "investigation" turned out nothing but lies.

"John Kerry: American Soldiers Are Terrorists"

UPDATE: Oxford at InkDog writes in a lengthy post, "I would have worded it differently, but all Senator Kerry said was that women and children have felt terrorized by the troops entering their homes." I'd give Kerry the benefit of the doubt, but he has a track record or ripping on U.S. soldiers for political gain.

Another Kerry Run?

Prepare for the return of Kerry's House of Ketchup. That assumes he runs for President again and stays married to Teresa. I'm sure he's really considering running again or else why would he even bother telling Tim Russert that he would sign Form 180 and release his military records?

"Mark that Date!!!"

Too Little Too Late

It looks like John Kerry is being brow beaten into giving up some of his post-election cash.

Two advisers who have spoken to Kerry about the money said he likely will donate a substantial amount to Democratic committees and candidates for the 2005 contests and 2006 congressional midterm elections.

That may ease Kerry's conscience, but it won't assuage critics who wonder what the outcome could have been had Kerry spent everything he had.

Because of this flap, Michael Dukakis would have a better chance at winning the 2008 nomination. Take a good final look at Kerry because he'll be fading into obscurity.

"Kerry to Give Dems Leftover Campaign Cash" [via Captain's Quarters]

Quarters for a Cad

Ann Althouse digs out John Kerry's concession speech. At the time I thought it was classy and dignified. Now, in light of the news that he didn't spend all the campaign money he asked supporters to give, he comes off as a cad.

"Can that Kid Get His Quarters Back?"

Nix Kerry in '08

When a candidate is given their party's Presidential nomination he's just not a Presidential preference. The nominee becomes the leader of his party. Losing may not be tolerable to those Bush bashers who hate Jesusland, but the seasoned, smart Democratic players could understand that defeat is possible. What the Democrats won't be happy with is a leader who failed to help his party when he had the opportunity to do so. John Kerry still has $15 million in the bank for his general election campaign. If he wasn't willing to spend all that on beating the President he could have giving it to his party's Congression election committees. Instead they had to borrow $13 million in total.

It makes me wonder if at some point in the race Kerry thought he wasn't going to win. So he held back his money to save for 2008 when Hillary Clinton is presumed to run. Kerry used Bruce Springsteen's "No Surrender" as his campaign's theme song. It would be ironic the candidate had already given up.

What we can be sure of is Kerry will have to answer some tough questions (unfortunately in private) about how his campaign was run. Even if he offers satisfactory answers any chance of him picking the next DNC chairman got flushed down the toilet. (Who would Kerry's pick be the abrasive Tad Devine?) This news helps Howard Dean, the anti-Kerry. But are Democratic leaders dumb enough to do that?

"Democrats Question Kerry's Campaign Funds" [via Captain's Quarters]

Interview with a SwiftVet

If for some odd reason you're still undecided between Bush and Kerry, read this interview of Steve Gardner who served with John Kerry in Vietnam.

"From Kerry's Own Boat: Interview With Swift Boat Vet Steve Gardner"

Kerry's Qa Qaa

The al Qa Qaa story may have run out of steam for Sen. Kerry. That's what Wizbang's Paul thinks.

"Kerry Steps in Deep Qa Qaa"

Kerry Jokes

John Kerry had this quip at the Madison Kerry rally featuring Bruce Springsteen:

When George Bush heard the Boss was playing, and was going to be here with me today, he thought they meant Dick Cheney!

Kerry should leave the bad anti-Bush humor to Jon Stewart and Michael Moore.

"The Boss Brings out 80,000 for Kerry"

Nothing to Brag About

The Chicago Tribune's Frank James has a story today on what Sen. Kerry has been avoiding throughout the campaign: his Senate record. In the story, we find Kerry didn't get much legislation passed. Bush says five pieces, Kerry says 56, and FactCheck.org counts 11. There's quantity, but then there's quality. Here's how James describes some of Kerry's legislation:

Kerry's 11 pieces of passed legislation included a bill signed into law in April 1994 to better protect marine mammals, especially from commercial fishermen, and another, a bill amending the Small Business Act to allow the federal government to fund non-profit groups running projects that helped women business owners.

At the Democratic National Convention, Kerry told viewers to "[J]udge me by my record." His legislative record has little addressing the critical issues facing the U.S. There's nothing about the military, entitlement reform is non-existent, and there's zero about addressing the need for smaller government.

Where Sen. Kerry was most successful was his investigations of corruption, international drug smuggling, and Vietnam POWs/MIAs. However, do we really want a President who is constantly investigating instead of acting? I have a terrible suspicion that if a terrorist attack would occur during a Kerry Presidency that too much time would be wasted making sure enough evidence was gathered to "convince" France and other AINOs (Allies In Name Only) that military attack was justified. That's why I and others have hammered so hard on Kerry's mention of a "global test." That term fit well with Kerry's history of over-the-top internationalism.

Another aspect of Kerry that's been AWOL in the campaign is his strong environmentalist streak. An editor for the Boston Globe speculates Kerry could be the most friendly President toward the environment since Teddy Roosevelt. Do we have an AlGore in Brahmin's clothing?

"Kerry's Senate Record"

All the Pro-Kerry News Fit to Print

Let's end all pretenses (what little intelligent readers still had) that the NY Times cares about getting the story right. That newsroom is so sloppy and Kerry-centric that they ran a story blaming the Bush administration for something it had no power over.

The paper accused the administration of failing to guard very powerful explosives that Saddam had in his arsenal. What New York's smelliest rag didn't bother to check was whether the explosives were there when U.S. troops arrived last year. All they would have had to do was ask NBC News who had embedded reporters with troops at the Al Qaqaa site.

The story gave Kerry plenty to bash the administration with today calling the failure to guard the explosives "incredible incompetence." Instead of having to answer for a full-blown lie about his pre-war vote discussions with the U.N. Kerry got to go on the offensive.

"NBC Blows a Hole in the Kerry Attack about the Explosives" [via Wizbang]

Called on a Pointless Lie

Kerry is like AlGore in that both men's desire for the Presidency is so great that they engage in embellishments that only do themselves harm. Kerry would still be in striking distance of knocking off an incumbant President if he describe his U.N. meetings accurately. What this lie does is force his campaign to go on the defensive wasting time on this when he could be getting his message out. In both men's case obtaining the Presidency trumps truthfulness with the electorate. That's especially troublesome when John Kerry constantly criticizes the President for being untruthful about the Iraq War.

"Security Council Members Deny Meeting Kerry" [via Wizbang]

Now, THAT's a Good Plan

Michele found one John Kerry plan I can totally support.

"Get Out the Vote"

Teens Speak

Kerry Edwards and the Democrats may sneak their way to victory in less than two weeks, but they may have lost an entire generation.

[via Instapundit]

Teresa Apologizes

I have a feeling as soon as the words "real job" left Teresa Heinz Kerry's lips she knew she'd regret it. She came back and apologzied quickly. Laura Bush accepted the apology through a spokesman, but Karen Hughes decided to make political mincemeat out of the gaffe. Give me a break. Teresa graciously said she was sorry, and Laura accepted. There was no need for Hughes to shoot off her mouth. Now there's just one apology left: Hughes to Teresa, but even I'm not expecting it.

"Teresa Heinz Kerry Apologizes for Laura Bush Comment"

Another Teresa Tantrum

Teresa Heinz Kerry opened her mouth and inserted her foot...again!

Q: You'd be different from Laura Bush?

A: Well, you know, I don't know Laura Bush. But she seems to be calm, and she has a sparkle in her eye, which is good. But I don't know that she's ever had a real job — I mean, since she's been grown up. So her experience and her validation comes from important things, but different things. And I'm older, and my validation of what I do and what I believe and my experience is a little bit bigger — because I'm older, and I've had different experiences. And it's not a criticism of her. It's just, you know, what life is about.

What does Teresa consider to be a "real job?" Running a multimillion dollar charity operation? That's something most Americans can really relate to.

The battle-hardened Kerry Edwards campaign didn't let Teresa in on bit of wisdom: "Know thy enemy." If they had, Teresa could have done a quick Google search to come up with this about Laura Bush:

She then taught in public schools in Dallas and Houston. In 1973 she earned a master of library science degree from the University of Texas at Austin and worked as a public school librarian in Austin. In 1977 she met and married George Walker Bush. They are the parents of twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna, who are named for their grandmothers.

I guess working in a public school doesn't qualify as a "real job." Somebody better tell the teachers that back Kerry Edwards so strongly.

Will a non-apology apology to Mrs. Bush come faster than the non-apology apology about John Kerry's Mary Cheney remark? That will be interesting to see.

"The Real Running Mates"

Kerry's Internationalism

Kevin Holtsberry returns to his old haunt and pumps out a very good piece contrasting Sen. John Kerry's "global test" with President Bush's international approach.

"The International Global Truth Standard Test?"

Get It Right

John Kerry messed up another Wisconsin icon. The Packers must put him on a list of people never allowed to watch a home football game. First, he doesn't know where the games are played (it's "Lambeau" not "Lambert" Field), and second, he'll try ordering a "braaat" (as opposed to "brahhht") and the concession worker will just stare at him in disgust.

Next thing you know Kerry will declare that California makes better cheese.

"Kerry Actually did Mispronounce "Brat"!"

"Give the Guy a Break"

Comic Relief

Scott Ott found some levity in John Kerry's Mary Cheney quip.

"Kerry Sorry for Remark About Cheney's Lesbian Child"

Teresa on Children's Privacy

Teresa Heinz Kerry made an interesting quote on her children's privacy:

If some god of taxes would want to come in and look at all of my portfolio, I'd let them...but I don't think I have the right to put my children's privacy out into the open.

However, her husband can use Mary Cheney's sex life for political gain.

"No 1040s, but More Navy Records"

Kerry's Demogogery

Sen. Kerry is not only trying to scare homophobic, waivering Bush supporters, but is also scaring the gay and lesbian community. In The Advocate he's quoted as saying:

The difference between me and George Bush will be the difference to gay and lesbian couples and individuals across this country - whether rights are afforded them or whether or not they are discriminated against. If people take a walk on those things, life's going to be worse.

"Kerry Lesbian Remark Angers Cheney"

[Added to OTB's Beltway Traffic Jam.]

Independents Pick Kerry

Good news for Kerry Edwards. In the second debate, he won over independents. But since it was on a Friday night and there's hardly any talk about the debate today not much should be made of anything from the second debate.

"A Second Look at the Second Debate"

Kerry's House of Ketchup #27

It's been a few weeks, but the greatest, most stupendous, most scintillating linkfest devoted to the windsurfing Senator is back! Since the last KHoK we've endured two Presidential "debates" and one Vice Presidential "debate." These events are glorified dual press conferences when the goals are to spit out the talking points and to not embarass yourself on live television. If the debates wouldn't take place the polls would still be pretty much were they are. If they actually debated each other then we'd have something, but I'm not holding my breath.

Enough of my debate bashing (I watched all of them so far so I shouldn't complaing at all) we need to know who the markets think is winning. On the Iowa Electronic Markets we see John Kerry making a comeback. Either traders think he did well in the first debate (he did) or they think Bush was going to high--a case of "irrational exuberance." On TradeSports.com, President Bush leads 58.4 to 40.7. Both markets think Bush will win, but the gap has narrowed.

Now we come to the best part of KHoK. Here's what some of the blogosphere is thinking:

• Much is being made of material in Sunday's NY Times Magazine. Here's Althouse's interesting take using Kerry's past as a prosecutor.
  

• Mitch Berg noticed what kind of water Kerry drinks.
  

• Based on the same story, Jay Reding wonders how much terrorism a President Kerry would tolerate.
  

• Varifrank noticed Kerry hasn't said the v-word.
  

• Kerry still talks about internationalizing post-war operations in Iraq, but knows no one will come even if he's elected. He better find a Plan B.
  

• John Kerry's been claiming he would be more conservative than President Bush in a few respects. Roger Simon found one that isn't flattering to the Senator.
  

• The Senator's call for 40,000 more troops is more complicated than simply signing up a lot of new recruits. A reservist also points out a portion of Kerry's Senate record he wants you to ignore.
  

• Kerry Edwards has talked a lot about reforming the intelligence community, but they didn't even bother to vote on Bush's nominee to run the CIA.
  

• Speaking of voting, Kerry's voting average is well below the Mendoza Line.
  

• Kerry is taken to the woodshed over Tora Bora.
  

• And there's another Teresa Tantrum.
  

• What kind of "Chinese assault rifle" does Kerry own?

• Tonight, I'll be watching some football. If I ran a team I wouldn't want Kerry as my starting QB.
  

Join in the fun by linking to the House of Ketchup. If you have an MT-powered weblog, just trackback to this post, and it will appear below. If your weblog software is incapable of trackbacks use Kevin's Trackback Form.

[Thanks go to the John F. Kerry Media Relations Center for the Sen. Zoop's "voice." Cheap gimmick not endorsed by Glenn Reynolds.]

Another Teresa Tantrum

What's worse: Teresa Heinz Kerry saying the Iraq War was because of "greed for oil" or the fact she spoke for almost an hour? Listening to her for almost an hour? That requires stamina. Kerry Edwards backers must really hate the President to put up with that. I'm not sure if I should be impressed or sympathetic.

"Heinz Kerry Says Husband Would Be Cautious" [via Drudge]

The Duelfer Report and Kerry's Own Words

No one is opposing the conclusions of the Iraq Survey Group on whether Saddam's Iraq had WMD. What's interesting and scarry is how quickly Saddam thought he could restart his weapons programs once international sanctons were lifted (via Power Line):

Saddam asked in 1999 how long it would take to build a production line for CW [chemical weapons] agents, accordingto the former Minister of Military Industrialization. Huwaysh investigated and responded that experts could readily prepare a production line for mustard, which could be produced within six months. VX and Sarin production was more complicated and would take longer. Huwaysh relayed this answer to Saddam, who never requested follow-up information. An Iraqi CW expert separately estimated Iraq would require only a few days to start producing mustard—if it was prepared to sacrifice the production equipment.

Imad Husayn ‘Ali Al ‘Ani, closely tied to Iraq’s VX program, alleged that Saddam had been looking for chemical weapons scientists in 2000 to begin production in a second location, according to reporting.

It doesn't matter if vast quantities of WMD weren't found if production could be easily and quickly started. After a few months, Saddam could have passed on WMD to Islamist terrorists. Then who would have been a victim, Israel, Great Britain, the U.S.? How about Saddam blackmailing the U.S. to remove all military forces from the Middle East so he could become the dominant player? As a U.S. Senator said in 2002,

Who can say that this master of miscalculation will not develop a weapon of mass destruction even greater--a nuclear weapon--then reinvade Kuwait, push the Kurds out, attack Israel, any number of scenarios to try to further his ambitions to be the pan-Arab leader or simply to confront in the region, and once again miscalculate the response, to believe he is stronger because he has those weapons?

And while the administration has failed to provide any direct link between Iraq and the events of September 11, can we afford to ignore the possibility that Saddam Hussein might accidentally, as well as purposely, allow those weapons to slide off to one group or other in a region where weapons are the currency of trade? How do we leave that to chance?

The Senator who said those words was none other than Sen. John Kerry. He was correct then. What does he say now? "You don't make up or find reasons to go to war after the fact." In 2002, Kerry believed the same conventional wisdom as Bush that Saddam had WMD. Kerry was just as wrong as the President, yet he hasn't admitted he was wrong. At least the President has. Kerry has the audacity to claim Bush and Cheney "won't face the truth about Iraq." He won't even face the truth of his own words.

But Kerry can't say he was as wrong as the President. Agreeing with your opponent doesn't give voters a reason to dump the other guy. Through the Democratic primaries and into the general election we've seen and heard John Kerry take multiple positions on issues to win his party's nomination and to best position himself against Bush. The political posturing continues.

"Saddam Worked Secretly on WMDs"

"U.S. Report Finds Iraqis Eliminated Illicit Arms in 90's"

"Bush, Cheney Concede Saddam Had No WMDs"

"President Bush Shares Hopeful Vision After Seeing America's Spirit Through Good Times and Bad"

"Lambert" Field Billboard

If John Kerry loses Wisconsin much of the blame could lay on him incorrectly pronoucing the home of the "Frozen Tundra." It would be ironic that Kerry could be the candidate who's damaged by a faulty mouth.

MSM: MIA

Last night, John Edwards told voters not to believe Bush's and Cheney's positive words about Iraq. Instead, he wanted them to simply believe all they read in the newspapers and saw on television news. But knowing that the MSM isn't reporting the whole story certainly ruins what Edwards said.

"Iraq Missions that Work Out are Missing from Mainstream Media"

UPDATE: Tim Chavez has not admitted he was wrong in his column linked above. Pretty much ignore this whole piece since I have nothing at the moment to support my claim. Move along. Nothing to see here. Thanks to Lis for pointing out Chavez's correction.

"Mea Culpa: I Was Wrong When I Wrote of Samarra Success"

TAM: "Pathetic"

Now, I can add "pathetic" to "loon" as Lefty descriptions of me. And John Edwards probably thinks I've lost my mind.

Here's some advice to Kerry Edwards: insulting voters is not the best way to win them over.

"Foot/Mouth"

Not Renouncing "Global Test"

Thanks to Poliart I learned Kerry Edwards has released an ad to counteract President Bush's fruitful addition of Kerry's "global test" to his stump speech. The ad declares Bush a liar, but doesn't say what he lied about. More importantly it doesn't explain what Kerry meant by a global test. The ad doesn't renounce it or call it a verbal mistake like when he said he voted for the $87 billion military aid package before he voted against it. It's safe to assume Kerry would require a global test before acting in the nation's defense.

Poliart writes,

The reason this is most disturbing is that Kerry could have come out and said the American people that he misspoke. He could have restated, as he did in his commerical that, "the president always has the right to pre-emptive strike." This would have the an honest approach to the situation. Now, why did Kerry not do this? My belief is that the Bush ad is true. Kerry does want to outsource our authority to declare war to other nations. Kerry must keep up this facade to the public that he is both against but for the war. While listening to the radio, watching television, and talking to people since the debate, it is clear why the Kerry campaign won. I have heard from those on the left that Kerry will pull out of Iraq as quickly as possible and end this illegal war, and I have heard some say that he will stay there as long as we need to be there and help to internationalize the cause. Kerry is effectively putting out two messages. If you are an anti-war Kerry supporter you believe that he will get us out of their quick. If you think we should finish the job in Iraq, he is talking for you as well. It is really quite amazing to see this man talk out of both sides of his mouth, and not be called on it.

It's interesting how what isn't said is so much more important that was is said.

Questions for Kerry

What did John Kerry mean when he said, "And we got weapons of mass destruction crossing the border every single day, and they're blowing people up." Are the WMD mention a metaphor for terrorists? Or are nukes and nerve gas bombs going off in Iraq and the MSM isn't telling us? If Kerry actually means the nuclear/chemical type WMD, then does he believe they're crossing the border from Syria? And if so were they originally in Saddam's Iraq thus giving Bush justification for invading?

Another question: During the discussion on Darfur Kerry said he wouldn't send in U.S. troops. However, moments later he said, "But I'll tell you this, as president, if it took American forces to some degree to coalesce the African Union, I'd be prepared to do it because we could never allow another Rwanda." Which is it, Senator? Kerry's answer would be, "both."

One last question (for now): what subways closed during the GOP convention?

UPDATE: Blaster noticed an interesting Kerry comment. Was Kerry willing to bribe and coerce to get a favorable resolution through the Security Council?

And I have another question. Kerry only mentioned Vietnam once but made reference to his military service. About that war he said, "It reminds me it is vital for us not to confuse the war -- ever -- with the warrior. That happened before." Will Kerry back down from his 1971 Senate testimony?

Lights, Camera, Complain

Kerry Edwards aides want signal lights removed from the lecterns before tonight's debate. Captain Ed calls it a "temper tantrum." (Gee, was there a Teresa sighting?) I wonder how many viewers would have even noticed them. Now, the press will point out focus of the pre-debate scuffle. More will pay attention to the lights. If the Kerry Edwards' strategy was for Kerry get away with being long-winded then the complaining aides made a boo-boo.

"Debate Panel Nixes Kerry Campaign Request"

Drinkin' With Voters

Karl Rove may have started his victory dance too early. John Kerry may have finally gotten the message and figured out how to connect to average Joes:

Susan Lampert Smith, a columnist for the Wisconsin State Journal in Madison, was sprawled on her couch in Mount Horeb on Sunday afternoon, like so many others in her state, watching the Green Bay Packers and looking forward to a nap.

Suddenly, as she tells it, the phone rang and her friend Mary was on the line. "John Kerry's at the Main Street Pub watching the Packers," Mary told her.

"I just thought she was pulling my leg," Smith told E&P Monday. Smith had written a column for that day's State Journal challenging the pointy-headed Kerry to visit a small-town Wisconsin beer joint, watch the Pack and buy a round for the bar, because, as she sees it, he's "got to start acting more like a regular guy. Bush is really good at acting like a regular guy even though he's not."

Then Smith heard some chanting in the background. Suspecting there might be some truth to her friend's story, she headed to the pub, where she found gawkers, cops and Secret Service types.

Sure enough, Kerry himself emerged, waving and shaking hands as he made his way up Main Street to Schubert's café. Apparently Kerry picked up a chocolate malted there and then left town, after the 40-minute stopover.

When Smith entered the tavern, a place she and her family frequent for Friday night fish fries, she spotted a copy of Sunday's State Journal on the bar. She was told that Kerry came for the kickoff, bought a round, and split. "It was a little freaky," she told E&P. "I have no power in real life; I can't make my kids do anything, but I can make a presidential candidate buy a beer."

Kerry even has some good taste in beer. He neither went for the home state Miller or the enemy brew Budweiser. Instead, he drank a full-flavored, Chippewa Falls Leinenkugel's.

Underestimate Kerry's campaigning skills at your peril.

"In Wisconsin, Columnist Suggests, Kerry Complies"

Wrong!

John Kerry didn't advocate pre-emption against Iraq in 1997, and the Washington Times biffed it. Sloppy journalism is bipartisan.

"Kerry Circa '97: Corrected Edition"

The Return of Sen. Zoop!

Wizbang's latest caption contest reminds me of Kerry's "Zoop!" moment:

He folded his lanky frame, sat on the floor and opened "Abiyoyo" by Pete Seeger, a book about a giant tamed by an African boy and his father, whose magic wand makes the giant disappear. Mr. Kerry, whose daughters are long since grown, kept neglecting to show the children the pictures.

Luckily, he was sitting at the feet of a former first lady.

"John, make sure he can see that," Mrs. Clinton prompted at one point.

"John, turn it around one more time," she said later, asking the children, "Can you see?"

Mr. Kerry obliged, but still seemed to have politics on the brain as he narrated the story of the magic wand — "Zoop!" — making things disappear.

"I could go zoop! and Republicans would disappear," he said.

A few moments later, Mrs. Clinton provided a graceful exit.

"We have to disappear," she told the boys and girls.

Right now, I'm sure there's quite a list of people Kerry would like to zoop:

• John O'Neill and the SwiftVets
  
• Bill Burkett
  
• Dan Rather, Mary Mapes, and CBS News
  
• Karl Rove
  
• Zell Miller
  
• John McCain
  
• Rudy Guiliani
  
• Teresa Heinz Kerry whenever she opens her mouth
  

Anyone else?

[Added to OTB's Beltway Traffic Jam.]

Burkett Accuses Lockhart

Bill Burkett claims ex-Clintonists, now Kerry operative Joe Lockhart wanted the documents. Be very very skeptical of anything Burkett says. First, he passed on phony documents to smear the President. Then, when called on it he claims a woman named Lucy Ramirez gave them to him. Ramirez hasn't been found.

If Burkett's claim is true that would put a black mark on Kerry Edwards, but would exonerate them as the prime movers of the forgeries. Why would Lockhart want the documents if the campaign was already behind the forgeries?

"Controversial Texas Rancher Defends Release of Documents to CBS" [via PrestoPundit]

UPDATE: Captain Ed doesn't buy Burkett's story.

Kerry Blasts Allawi

If John Kerry were elected President his demeaning comments on our allies will certainly hamper his ability to execute his foreign policy. He's called our allies in Iraq the "so-called coalition of the bribed, the coerced, the bought and the extorted." Today, he practically called Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi a schill for the Bush administration to put the "best face" on the situation in Iraq. What didn't he just call Allawi "Bush's Puppet" and get it out into the open?

Kerry expounds often that as President he would get international help to stabilize Iraq and fight the Islamist War. But all he's said is that he'll get international support. He doesn't acknowledge the help that already exists, but also won't explain what he will do when France and Germany tell him to jump into the Mekong Delta because Iraq is America's mess. On foreign policy, he has no Plan B and a very sketchy Plan A.

More importantly, Kerry has insulted the allies we do have. I thought President Bush was the cowboy. A Kerry Presidency would leave the U.S. quite isolated in the world.

"Kerry: Allawi's Take on Iraq Unrealistic"

Kerry's Smart Move

In finding a place to prepare for the upcoming Presidential debates, John Kerry decided not to go to any of his vacation homes. He's not going to Idaho, Nantucket, or even France. He'll be spending four days in Spring Green, Wisconsin.

This is smart because 1.) Wisconsin is a battleground state Kerry has to win; 2.) he won't have to worry about the media taking any pictures of him windsurfing.

"Kerry Plans Pre-Debate Spring Green Stay"

More Democrat Desparation

Why do the work when Kevin's done it for me? By the way, the Dems' tactics were so pitiful a week ago that I declared the race over. It's now like watching a NASCAR race with the leader two laps ahead of everyone else. You still watch to see if someone crashes into the wall.

"Desperation Time"

Which Ever Way the Wind Blows

Bush-Cheney's latest ad is hard-hitting, yet funny. It goes after John Kerry's voting record and mocks his love of windsurfing.

Latest SwiftVet Ad

The SwiftVets don't pull any punches. At the end of their latest ad bold letters declare that Kerry "Betrayed His Country."

[via PrestoPundit]

Two-Way Kerr-ay

Someone, stop my head from spinning. I can't keep track of John Kerry's Iraq stance. He voted for the war; voted against the $87 billion in additional funds (before voting for it); called Howard Dean "irresponsible" for saying the U.S. wasn't safer with Saddam removed from power. Last month, he said he would have still voted for the war even knowing all that he knows now. Now, with his candidacy on the ropes, Kerry said that Saddam just being an awful dictator wasn't a good enough reason for invading. There's just too much nuance there for me to know how he can square this with last month's statement or his pro-war vote.

"Kerry Says He Wouldn't Have Ousted Saddam"

Paris, 1970

Another part of John Kerry's past has garnered MSM attention. Fox News is running a story on his meetings with the North Vietnamese during the Paris peace talks. At the very least what Kerry did was a slap in the face to his fellow soldiers. Back then he told stories of atrocities and war crimes committed. Today, he prances his "Band of Brothers" around currying voters' favor.

"Kerry Visited Vietnam Peace Talks"

Navy Ends Inquiry

The Navy isn't getting hip-deep into the SwiftVets questions surrounding Kerry's medals. Probably for good reason. The Navy won't win. Whatever they did one side would scream. Plus, 30+ years is long time to reconstruct events:

Conducting any additional review regarding events that took place over 30 years ago would not be productive.

The passage of time would make reconstruction of the facts and circumstances unreliable and would not allow the information gathered to be considered in the context of the time in which the events took place.

Our review also considered the fact that Senator Kerry's post-active-duty activities were public and military and civilian officials were aware of his actions at the time. For these reasons, I have determined that Senator Kerry's awards were properly approved and will take no further action in this matter.

So the most the Navy will say is the proper procedures were followed. That's fine with me. Kerry could have been the greatest solider in American history, and that still wouldn't make up for his war protesting lies, his dovish Senate votes, and his incoherence on Iraq.

I think the SwiftVets realize the war service story has run its course. Their latest ad deals with Kerry's ribbon/medal tossing when he was an anti-war agitator--an action, Kerry admits, he's still proud of.

"U.S. Navy Inquiry Concludes John Kerry's Vietnam War Medals Legitimate"

Move Over Mario

Wonder what you would do if you were John Kerry in a swift boat in 1969? Well, you can get a glimpse of what those soldiers had to do in Kuma\War's latest re-creation. One thing's for sure holding up a CD at a campaign rally just doesn't look as cool as holding one of these. At least they didn't put Kerry in Burgertime. Someone should. The game is ketchup-less.

When will we see the first blogospheric fiskings of a video game?

"John Kerry, Action Hero"

Kerry's House of Ketchup #26

The Killian memos have hogged the spotlight in the blogosphere making this edition of KHoK more challenging. But I'm here for you guys.

First, a look at some numbers. The Pew poll says the race is a dead heat. The Gallup poll says Bush has a healthy lead. Bill Hobbs doesn't think either of them are right. Electoral Vote Predictor is giving Kerry a sound thumping. KHoK's fave, the Iowa Electronic Markets goes along with that showing a Kerry nosedive.

Now, on to the blogosphere:

• To understand what how a John Kerry foreign policy would operate compare Iraq to Sudan.
  

• Bob Dole chides Kerry over MoveOn.org's latest ad.
  

• And Kerry wonders why he's been successfully tarred with the "flip-flop" label.
  

• John Kerry showed off his economic plan. Captain Ed reports. Expect a different one next week.
  

• John Cole asks a question: "What do George Bush, Al Gore, and John McCain all have in common?"
  

• Kerry seems to think the election is between him and the Vice President.
  

• Mark Noonan analyzes Kerry and his Catholic faith.
  

• John Kerry wrote a book. [No, I don't mean that one or that one.] Varifrank reviews The New War.
  

• Where's John Edwards? JustOneMinute has a theory.
  

• PunchtheBag thinks Kerry is getting back on track.
  

• Why people are ripping on Teresa Heinz Kerry's latest curious statement, I don't know. Maybe it's the snooty air surrounding her. I can't rip on her saying something I might have said.
  

Join in the fun by linking to the House of Ketchup. If you have an MT-powered weblog, just trackback to this post, and it will appear below. If your weblog software is incapable of trackbacks use Kevin's Trackback Form.

[Thanks go to the John F. Kerry Media Relations Center for the Sen. Zoop's "voice." Cheap gimmick not endorsed by Glenn Reynolds.]

Krauthammer Speaks

Charles Krauthammer reinforces my belief that a Bush victory is a done deal. Oddly, if Kerry would have stuck to his dovish instincts Howard Dean probably would have been the nominee, and Bush would be crushing him even more. In hindsight, the Democrats didn't have much of a chance to win with such an anti-war base.

"Nowhere Left to Flop" [via Vodkapundit]

"Lambert" Field

While other factors have something to do with it, Kerry's "Lambert" Field gaffe may be one reason he's down eight points in Wisconsin. The Washington Post looks at the gaffe's effects and offers this nugget:

Perhaps Lombardi, the Hall of Fame coach who put Titletown on the map in the 1960s, is working from the beyond the grave to trip up the Massachusetts senator. After all, Richard M. Nixon considered Lombardi as his running mate in 1968. There's one problem with this: Lombardi was a Kennedy Democrat. In fact, the Kennedys' connection to the Green and Gold runs even deeper. In 1955, Packers Coach Lisle Blackbourn flirted with a talented young pro prospect in Massachusetts: Ted Kennedy, who now plays offensive line for the Kerry campaign.

If Teddy would have become a Packer he certainly have been able to keep up at the Green Bay taverns with his teammates.

"Kerry Drops Ball With Packers Fans"

Stick a Fork in Him

John Kerry's done.

Kerry supporters threw a haymaker and missed with the charge that President Bush wore ribbons he shouldn't have. Well, that's not the case. I didn't need this desparate reach to come to the conclusion that John Kerry will lose the election. I didn't even need to see the widening gap on the Iowa Electronic Markets. What convinced me was that somebody tried to pass off forged memos. Such desparation is not a sign of a strong, winning campaign. Kerry supporters are scared and know they're behind. When one gets scared and desparate, they do stupid things. Trying to make 1970s memos using 2000s technology is stupid.

Bush backers, don't get cocky or into a lull. No parties until after the polls close on Election Night. Work still needs to be done to assure the President his victory. Plant a lawn sign in your yard, put a bumper sticker on your car, and tell your friends why they should vote for President Bush. Hugh Hewitt is right when he says, "If it isn't close, they can't cheat." Also, the bigger the margin of victory the easier it will be for Bush to fight the Islamist War.

"Operation Fortunate Son Self Destructs On Takeoff"

Kerry Document Published

The After Action Report of the incident that earned Kerry a silver star is now available on the internet [I've posted pics of them below]. Here's the key portion:

PCF 94 beached in center of ambush in front of small path when VC sprung up from bunker 10 feet from unit. Man ran with weapon toward hootch. Forward M-60 gunner wounded man in leg. OINC jumped ashore and gave pursuit while other units saturated area with fire and beached placing assault parties ashore. OINC of PCF 94 chased VC inland behind hootch and shot him while he fled capturing one B-40 rocket launcher with round in chamber.

Kerry was the OINC (what that stands for, I don't know) for PCF 94. Based on this, what Kerry did was heroic. The swift boat was ambushed. A Viet Cong (VC)soldier with a rocket launcher jumps out of a bunker. One swift boat gunner wounds him, and Kerry gives chase. Kerry shot and killed him as he fled. Did he shoot him in the back? Probably since the report says the VC fled even though Kerry denies this. But at a moment like that there's no telling whether the VC would have just turned around and launched his rocket at the swift boat. Unlike his political career, Kerry had no time for nuance and killed the VC. It sounds like a good soldier killing the enemy before he killed him or his men.

Does it rise to the level of a silver star? I don't know. What I do know is Kerry did good that day.

UPDATE: Captain Ed analyzes the report and writes:

When you look at the action on the spot report, it reflects well on the young Lieutenant Kerry. Although it's difficult to see how this action should have resulted in a Silver Star, it would seem a commendation of some sort would be appropriate. It's all of the exaggeration, lies, and paperwork alterations after the fact that calls Kerry's character into serious question.

"Silver Star Spot Report Surfaces"

Kerry on North Korea

John Kerry made no mention of Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and their failed attempt at stopping North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Instead, he blasts President Bush for taking "his eye off the ball, wrongly ignoring this growing danger." Ironically, Bush is using a multilateral approach that would put a smile of Kerry's face if it were applied to Iraq. This time it isn't a flip-flop, but it sure is an inconsistency. Or should I say nuance?

"Kerry Criticizes Bush's 'Massive Failure' on North Korea"

Inside the SwiftVets

Knight Ridder does an expose on the SwiftVets, how they got together and how they're operating.

"Anti-Kerry Veterans' Group Now Political Machine with Big Budget" [via PrestoPundit]

Kerry's House of Ketchup #25

We're now in the nasty part of the campaign. Democrats have had enough of the successful attacks on the core of John Kerry's campaign--his service in Vietnam. The SwiftVets attacks along with a GOP convention where America's security was placed before voters has shaken Kerry. Clinton operatives have joined the campaign and the Massechusetts Senator is even more incoherent than ever. (I'll buy someone a dozen Krispy Kremes if they can explain Kerry's Iraq position that takes into account his Bush-sounding pro-war rhetoric along with his Howard Dean-sounding anti-war statements.)

The polls have shown Bush getting a small convention bounce. I guess the electorate isn't that locked into a candidate. On the Iowa Electronic Markets Kerry hasn't been this far behind since July, but the short-term trend is favorable to him. That's probably because of the new focus on Bush's National Guard service.

As always, the blogosphere is more interesting than me. Let's see what they're saying:

• Last Thursday night, John Kerry attacked Dick Cheney for getting five draft deferments. That's different than what he said about Bill Clinton's draft finagling.
  

• Is it really wise to call one of the most popular politicians in America a "liar?"
  

• Is it also wise to rip on someone because of their accent? Where's the sensitivity?
  

• Kerry advisors urge him to tone down the "commander-in-chief stuff." Well, we are at war, and he was the one who ran so long on his military service.
  

• Arlen Specter says Kerry was always talking about Vietnam.
  

• Now, everthing is "wrong" about the Iraq War. Then why did he vote for it?
  

• Bill Hobbs shows Kerry the difference between the federal budget and the economy.
  

• Kerry is not getting his <i>The New Soldier published this campaign season. However, that's not stopping some people.
  

• Robert Musil speculates on why Kerry is seen doing lots of physical activities.
  

• DJ Drummond gives us the historical trend of the Gallup Poll. It doesn't bode well for Kerry.
  

• Erick Erickson notices somethings "dogging" Kerry.
  

• Dave Winer goes off the deep end and thinks Bush is leading us toward a civil war.
  

• At the GOP convention Matt Margolis interviewed the man behind Bush Country Ketchup. Then we find out Oschisms lives below the W Ketchup guy.

Join in the fun by linking to the House of Ketchup. If you have an MT-powered weblog, just trackback to this post, and it will appear below. If your weblog software is incapable of trackbacks use Kevin's Trackback Form.

[Thanks go to the John F. Kerry Media Relations Center for the Sen. Zoop's "voice." Cheap gimmick not endorsed by Glenn Reynolds.]

O'Neill Interviewed

John Kerry's 30+ year nemesis, John O'Neill is the subject of John Hawkins' latest interview. (Whew! That's a lot of Johns.)

Criminals for Kerry

Kerry has the whore vote, the juvenille delinquent vote, and now has (by default) the support of the MOB. I smell a Teamsters connection.

Thanks Google Ads. Not only are they funding TAM, but offering inspiration too.

A Jeopardy! Answer/Question

"Petty."

What did Mort Kondracke and Steven Taylor think of John Kerry's quick response to President Bush's acceptance speech?

Here's another one:

Desparate

What is Kerry Edwards feeling after a successful GOP convention and weeks of attacks on your #1 issue?

SwiftVets Ad #4

The lastest SwiftVets ad deals with Kerry tossing "his" medals. It's ok. It's no where near as powerful as when the vets speak for themselves. It will keep them and their attacks on Kerry in the news.

[via PrestoPundit]

Booing Babes

Either the MTV crowd didn't think the Video Music Awards were the place for politicking or they think the Bush twins are hotter.

"Back to Basics"

"Kerry Daughters Booed at MTV Video Music Awards"

Very Potent

The SwiftVets' first ad finally makes the front page of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. No, chief political reporter Craig Gilbert doesn't examine the SwiftVets' charges and Kerry Edwards' counter-charges--leave that to the blogosphere. Instead, he reports on "how much bang for their buck" the SwiftVets got. For $500,000 and only one-thousandth of the total campaign ad traffic, the SwiftVets have transformed the entire Presidential race. Professor Ken Goldstein asks, "Have you ever seen anything in a presidential campaign just take control for 10 days?"

"Swift Boat Ad Has Outsize Impact"

The New Soldier

A Kerry ally is threatening legal action against those who post or link to the cover of The New Soldier. Don't be surprised at legal action to stop the electronic distribution of the book. (Since Kerry has dragged on the SwiftVet story for this long, he'd be dumb enough to draw attention to his anti-war book.) I'm glad I downloaded my copy. It may be the most interesting reading on Kerry I've done yet.

[via Little Miss Attila]

Now He's Done It

It's one thing for a Presidential candidate to look like a dork by wearing a cheesehead, but to mess up Lambeau Field means you don't deserve a Packers fan's vote.

"The Frozen Tundra of ... Lambert Field?"

Kerry's House of Ketchup #24

And August is supposed to be a slow news month. Maybe it is, and that's why so many of us are all over John Kerry's four-month stay in Vietnam. The GOP convention starts in a few days with Kerry's new Band of Brothers ready with counter-zingers to a tightly-scripted media event.

New polls show Bush is on the ups. As usual, KHoK is interested in what the Iowa Electronic Markets think. Kerry has taken a steep dive in the Presidential Winner Take All Market and in the Presidential Vote Share Market. The SwiftVets just might be doing damage.

Remember some guy named John Edwards and how was the answer to the Kerry campaign? He's vaporized into the background noise like all Vice Presidential candidates do.

Let's see what some of the blogosphere thinks:

• Along with siccing lawyers on the the SwiftVets with an FEC complaint, Kerry's defended himself by going on The Daily Show (and here).
  

• Erick Erickson is correct that asking for lots of debates isn't a sign of a candidate's confidence.
  

• You know Kerry's losing when one of his spinners went off the deep end. (Is she a former Deaniac? That would explain it.)
  

• Tutakai examines the Democrats' new appreciation for John Kerry's Vietnam War past and how the press has let them get away with it.
  

• At Bastard Sword there's a really, really long piece on the events of 03.13.1969.
  

• The letter Max Cleland tried to deliver to President Bush is at odds with John Kerry, the anti-war protester.
  

• Two more war heroes speak up against Kerry.
  

• Petrified Truth finds Kerry eagerly jumping to a conclusion while those who have deeply studied the issue come to a conclusion that's completely different.
  

• Either Kerry lives in a parallel universe or he committed a Bushism. Where's Slate when you need them? Although Kerry could try the parallel universe theory to explain Christmas in Cambodia.
  

• James Joyner delightfully fisks Eleanor "McLaughlin Group Punching Bag" Cliff on her attack on the SwiftVets.
  

• SwiftVet ad #4?
  

• In an example of overly-heated rhetoric, Catholic Kerry supporters compared President Bush to the anti-Christ.
  

• Political Wire links to Dick Meyer who tries to smear both Bush Presidents.
  

• Varifrank is done writing about Kerry but notes, "You sir, are a loser. You will go down in history as the man who made Dukakis look good."
  

• "Seared" is a common word in Kerry's vocabulary.
  

• The War Liberal wonders what's in Heinz ketchup and created a new double entendre. I'll never look at that condiment in the same way again.
  

Join in the fun by linking to the House of Ketchup. If you have an MT-powered weblog, just trackback to this post, and it will appear below. If your weblog software is incapable of trackbacks use Kevin's Trackback Form.

[Thanks go to the John F. Kerry Media Relations Center for the Sen. Zoop's "voice." Cheap gimmick not endorsed by Glenn Reynolds.]

Swiftvets Strike Again

The latest ad deals with Kerry in near next to Cambodia.

"New Swift Boat Ad: Kerry's Own Shipmate Calls Kerry a Liar" [via Drudge]

POWs Against Kerry

On the heels of the Swiftvets is Stolen Honor a new documentary on what former Vietnam POWs think of John Kerry. The clips are powerful. These men give us a glimpse of why they oppose Kerry. It isn't so much the medals, although that's a part, it's his anti-war actions that they think hurt others and the country.

Carlton Sherwood is producing the documentary. I'm doing some digging around on him to see if I can find more information about him besides being a Pulitzer Prize and Peabody Award winner. You know Media Matters and their ilk will be doing the same if they're not already.

Post-Vietnam Kerry

The Swiftvets have a new ad. It's better than the first one because it's not a he said/he said debate. It's just Kerry's (in)famous Senate testamony in 1971 and the Swiftvets' reaction. These men were hurt and demoralized by Kerry's words. Also, it focuses on Kerry's barely-covered anti-war activities and his inability to appologize for "language [that] was sometimes excessive."

As the Washington Post reports, the Swiftvets are getting under Kerry Edwards' skins. One spokesman said, "Maybe if George Bush had seen combat up close his hired-gun mouthpiece wouldn't be so flip." Another took a page (or film cell) from Michael Moore and said, "Mr. McClellan needs to understand that John Kerry is not the type of leader who will sit and read My Pet Goat to a group of second-graders while America is under attack." These statements support the Bush campaign's notion that Kerry is "losing his cool."

If this ad gets people wondering about Kerry's anti-war efforts the next logical step would be to hammer on his Senate voting record on defense and intelligence issues. Bush is running radio ads in Wiscsonsin attacking Kerry for his lack of attendance at Senate Intelligence hearings. Steven Taylor has been writing about how little attention has been placed on that key information as to what policy would be in a Kerry Edwards administration. What happened in Washington, D.C., not Vietnam is where this election will be won.

[As a sidenote: The Washington Post also reports that the Swiftvets raised $300,000 through the internet (TAM's as cool as Wired News). Those Deaniac pioneers must sick to their stomachs that their techniques are being used against them.]

"The New Swift Ad"

Kerry's House of Ketchup #23

Last week, golf became a higher priority than politics. This edition of Kerry's House of Ketchup is short and sweet. I'm also highlighting some weblogs I've rarely or ever linked to help you broaden your blogospheric reading.

• The Swiftvets are getting under Kerry's skin. So, he harshly denounces them as doing Bush's "dirty work" and as nothing but a"front for the Bush campaing." Are they anymore of a front for Bush as MoveOn.org is for Kerry?
  

• Kerry doesn't just have an abortion problem (that's gotten little coverage) but a religion problem too.
  

• Beldar summarized Kerry adviser Richard Holbrooke's view of a