George Jr Sent Out of Texas by Father as a 'Drunken Liabilit

[Ed Pettibone]

[William Thornton]

[bobfrgsn]

[fox]

[Keith]

[William Thornton]

[bobfrgsn]

[William Thornton]

[bobfrgsn]

[Keith]

[Mark]

[Keith]

[mlovell]

[bobfrgsn]

[William Thornton]

[bobfrgsn]

[Guest]

Perhaps the best approach to discovering how important John Kerry thinks military service – his or anyone else's – is as the key requirement in serving as president is found in his selection of a running mate – John Edwards. Edwards turned 18 in June 1971, but did not do the military thing while the Vietnam action was raging. He did go to North Carolina State. Of the democrats who ran against Kerry in the primaries, Dick Gephardt served in the Air National Guard 1965-71, overlapping both Kerry' and Bush's military years. Wesley Clark served in the U.S. Army 1966-2000 and became a general. Yet, Kerry chose Edwards, who not only has no military history, but hasn't even been seen around the Senate for so long he might need a street map to find his office. Ditto for Kerry, who has not emulated Bob Dole when he ran in 1996 by doing the right thing and resigning his Senate seat. He, too, has answered so few Senate roll calls in the last year or more that he might have forgotten how. In the military, that conduct is known as AWOL. At least Bush is on the job at least part of most days.

Kerry might have considered Senator Tom Harkin, who was a navy pilot on active duty 1962-67, or Tom Daschle, who served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Air Force for three years during the Viet conflict. Or, he could have chosen former senator Max Cleland, a Viet vet who suffered horrible wounds but was quite able to be a U.S. Senator. But he chose Edwards, a wealthy trial lawyer.

Kerry might have looked to the Senate Armed Services Committee for democrats with the knowledge and expertise needed for satisfying Kerry's main consideration for the top job. The ranking democrats on that committee are Ted Kennedy and Bobby Byrd, the former with no military service, and the latter spending at least part of WWII in the Ku Klux Klan. Joe Lieberman also sits on that committee, and, of course (egad) Hillary Clinton. However, another member, democratic Senator Jack Reed is a graduate of West Point and served in the 82nd Airborne, and even taught at West Point. Democrat member Daniel Akaka is a veteran of WWII, and served 1945-47. Surely, if he believes his Viet experience is so vital, Kerry could have found a running mate in one of these informed members. Yet, he chose Edwards, thus proving in deed that what he merely says is so much baloney.

[William Thornton]

[Hal Eaton]

[Keith]

[mlovell]