Vietnam Makes Echoes in Presidential Race

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&ncid=703&e=4&u=/ap/20040208/ap_on_el_pr/vietnam_echoes

WASHINGTON - They were two years apart, these two Yale boys, these sons of privilege, and so the moment of truth came first for John Kerry (news - web sites), later for George W. Bush. Each faced the same life-changing question as did so many others of their generation: what to do about Vietnam.

Kerry, part of the class of 1966, signed on with the Navy late in 1965, then had months to ponder his decision before actually entering officer candidate school after graduation. The war, his decision, his doubts, all hung over him as he spoke at commencement the following June. snip

Nearly 40 years later, the choices made by these two young men are reverberating through the presidential campaign as part of a larger debate over patriotism, leadership, duty, character. Each man is defined in part by the path he chose, and by the level of commitment he demonstrated along the way.

"We are all hostage to decisions we made in the past," said Douglas Brinkley, a history professor at the University of New Orleans who has written a book about Kerry's war years. "The bottom line is Kerry went and Bush didn't and it's an uncomfortable fact for a president" who has so eagerly wrapped himself in the flag as commander in chief.

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[billbuckhead]

1. Dems should all in unison say "How can he not have proof?"

(A) I think keeping this play as long as possible is a very good thing. Bush comes off looking poor in comparison with Kerry and Clark. It destroys the action figure image Rove has so lovingly cultivated. (B)Another factor, is that the more denies it without proof, the more like a liar he looks. (C) Most importantly it makes Bush look even more unworthy to ask real National Guardsman to die in this senseless war for oil.

[SoCalDem]

3. The military has draft records and pay records from the Civil War

...his should be there too... unlessssssss.. they "magically" disappeared.. I wonder if any of the fellow Tang guys' records are available..

Wouldn't it look "odd" , if his were the only ones "missing"..

Come on Press... DO YOUR JOB !!! It's Hammer time :)

[nibbana]

2. Priceless

To see Bush defend his "Mission Accomplished" and this war standing next to John Kerry...Priceless

Win or Lose!

[saigon68]

8. "Mission Accomplished"

I agree old AWOL is going to have a rough going

Most Vets hate his type of Chicken Hawk service

And WELCOME TO DU nibbana :-)

[Barkley]

13. "Quaqmire Accomplished"

"There may be no evidence, but I did report," Bush told NBC, adding, "Otherwise, I wouldn't have been honorably discharged."

If there were people who observed Bush serving during this time they would have been found by now.

[bleedingheart]

4. If Kerry gets the nomination I think he should wear his old uniform

if he is allowed (I don't know the rules on that stuff)...and he should wear his medals!

ah that would be priceless..

[murielm99]

5. He should wear them to one of the debates...maybe the last one

after he has won all the preceding debates.

I just can't WAIT to see him debate shrub.

But you know, any of our candidates could make shrub look bad in a debate.

[Laughing Mirror]

6. and if he's really serious he should wear them

to a big anti-war protest march on the White House, a march that he will organize and march alongisde the war wounded, crippled and maimed and the hundreds of homeless Vietnam war veterans he can pull together right off the streets of DC. They fought just as hard as he did, came out with somewhat less glory.


Like Cynthia McKinney said at the big protest on the Mall last year: "George Bush, look outside your window!"

[murielm99]

7. Good idea.

[SoCalDem]

9. By 2008, Viet Nam will probably not affect elections any more

Men who were 18 in 1972 will be 54 in 2008, and since the draft was winding down by then, they willl not have been expected to have served.

After 2008, "patriotism" and the words spoken during the "9/11" era will be the litmus test..

[Nile]

10. Vietnam did not make any difference in the last 3 elections.

It was supposedly an unpopular war that ended almost 35 years ago. Why should it make any more difference now?

[Bridget Burke]

11. Because soldiers are dying RIGHT NOW

On the orders of the little chickenhawk who did not serve & did not protest.

He just let other people fix things for him.

[Bandit]

12. Why indeed?

:shrug: Just can't figure that one out at all. Duty, Honor, Country. Why should those silly things mess up a perfectly good campaign?