Deborah Norville Stands Tall: Kerry Service Record

[autorank]

Fasten your seat belts. Deborah Norville on her own show in CNBC just had a great segment on Kerry. She had Douglas Brinkley, Kerry biographer, Larry Rivers of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the NY Times reporter covering the story. It was a slam dunk across the board. Brinkley said this attack was scurrilous; the Times reporter pointed out that the record and eye wittiness reports all point to Kerry telling the truth; and best of all, the VFW representative said he thought Kerry was right to feature his service in Viet Nam and should be proud of it! Thats a clean sweep. I don't watch her much (that will change). A couple of months ago I saw her kick some serious behind on Valerie Plame. Lets hear it for Deborah ([e-mail]).

[Cha]

1. Wonderful report from you, too!

Thanks!

[volosong]

32. I Sent Norville The Following E-Mail

Triple amputee and Vietnam hero Max Cleland sat in his wheelchair in the broiling hot Texas sun waiting for George W. Bush to do this right thing. In his hand was a letter signed by 9 US Senators, all war heroes, entreating the President to specifically ask the swift (sieve) boat vets to cease their campaign of lies and character assassination.

This was no “stunt,” but an valid appeal against an unprecedented campaign of political poison and smoke designed to distract the American people. George W. Bush hid, as he always has, whether from military duty in Vietnam or from discussing his record of a dismal economy, environmental desecration, social unrest, and of course IraqNam.

A transcript of Kerry’s 1971 testimony proves that the attack ads are totally misleading: Kerry relates only hearsay recollections; he blames the nature of war and the country and not the soldiers for any atrocities; he decries search and destroy tactics and free fire zones; and he opposes continuation of an unwinnable and morally questionable war...Conclusions later adopted by a majority of Americans.

If there had been more people with John Kerry’s insight and courage, there would be fewer names on the Vietnam Wall. And if attempting to staunch the needless hemorrhage of American blood is “treason,” then cowardice and hypocrisy are virtues and George W. Bush really is a “strong leader.”

Tragically, many Vietnam veterans were treated despicably after returning to America. Those shameful events rather than John Kerry are the likely cause of their pain. America owes them an apology. And, one hopes that they will reconsider before committing a political “self-inflicted wound” by voting for Schwartznegger’s true “girlie-man,” George W. Bush.

[StClone]

2. Pretty nice overview and showing that

The SBVFT have strong but conflicted recall, it appears we should appreciation their fine service but concern for their memories.

[spooky3]

4. their memories are not my concern; their current actions are.

[StClone]

31. Their Memories or "recall"

Are suspect and influnced by something other than the facts which has lead them their current actions. We agree.

[BootinUp]

3. I just said on another thread

that she has done two good shows in a row, yesterday was on gay marriage and she was pretty even handed.

[zuzu98]

5. sent an email

Call me optimistic: I'm hoping that if we send positive emails it will have an effect on their choice of guests and topics in the future.

[Teaser]

8. Positive reinforcement is important

If all these people get are screeds from us, they're gonna assume we're all cranks.

[Booster]

16. I sent an email also, but wasn't as kind.

I said they were beating this story into the ground and yet not one anchorperson/reporter has even questioned that the military conveniently "destroyed" Bush's military records or that Texas had conveniently "lost/destroyed" Bush's driving records. I said they wouldn't take the word of military records and eyewitnesses on Kerry's record, but they seem to blindly accept the military's words that Bush's records were lost. They don't even ask about others records who served at the same time - nada, nuttin.

[autorank]

20. Well, good point

My bar is lowered. But fair coverage, even if it's a few days behind, is so much better than we've been getting on any cable outlet. Norville may get to where you are sooner than we think.

[EST]

27. She did well, but

There was, unfortunately, that brushing flies away from face motion and the unfounded statement, "we covered all that in detail last spring" when asked about the deficiency in the coverage of Douche's military record, or the lack thereof.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

29. We only need elevate Kerry

Leave the trashing of Bush to others.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

6. Kerry being openly proud of his service...

Would be one of the most constructive things possible for Nam Vets. Of course, the cretinous that walk amongst us would care to ignore the facts of history and pillory him for opposing the war WITH FACTS when he returned. The maladministration, woefully unpopulated with veterans of any stripe, choose to indict Kerry on the basis of proven lies, thus choosing to tear open the proud flesh of the Nam wound. This only serves to show them for what they are, nothing more. Scum. Jerkoffs, in the best New Jersey sense and use of the term. I can think of no term that describes them any more accurately. Jerkoffs.

These veterans who have aligned themselves with this spurious smear...who are they? The people the grunts called "crazy lifers". The kind of guys who got fragged over their by their own troops. They have remained crazy since they returned to the world.

One of the saddest moments in incredibly sad times.

[LynnTheDem]

30. My term is

malignant fools.

[wishlist]

7. She has done several excellent shows including one on Abu Ghraib too

What a pleasure to catch her show tonight, glad it will be shown in repeats. I also was impressed with a show she did about Abu Ghraib several weeks back. I have emailed her with compliments and asked that she continue doing shows covering these important topics with thoughtful reasonable credible guests like she had tonight. Over the past couple of months, she has gone way up in my estimation compared to Paula Zahn who I find despicable.

[autorank]

9. I agree

"Despicable" is right on target for Zahn. She is consummately arrogant and transparently biased. Where did CNN find her? (LOL)

[Auntie Bush]

19. They found her at Faux News!

[faithnotgreed]

10. youre right + she also had sibel edmonds on about a week ago!

im off to write another thank you email

[A_Possum]

11. Glad to hear Brinkley is finally out there talking

Dunno where he's been!

And good on the VFW guy. To say Kerry SHOULD feature his service proudly. That's been an annoying meme, that he "should" have played it down.

[City Lights]

26. Brinkley was also on Hardball recently.

He was outraged by what they are doing to Kerry.

[oasis]

12. Yes, she deserves credit for a damn good show tonight.

[Bongo Prophet]

13. I stopped watching too early

The first few moments and I was out.
Started with Thurlow and the "11th guy" who's name escapes me now.(SBliar fatigue)
No patience for more Swiftliars interviews, or much cable blather for that matter.
Good to here she is doing- gasp- her job.

Brinkley's book is a great read and highly recommended!

[rocktivity]

14. Where was she two weeks ago

when she should have limited the Smear-Boaters' fame to the standard fifteen minutes? "Did you serve in Kerry's unit? Did you serve under Kerry? Did Kerry serve under you? Were you on his swift boat? Were you an eyewitness to what happened to Kerry on the swift boat? Did you get your information from any eyewitnesses to what happened to Kerry on the swift boat? No? Then we have absolutely no reason in the world to believe you. Thank you for coming, and we'll be back after this break."

Now that there are signs of collusion between the Smear-Boaters and the Bush campaign, that the Navy backs up Kerry's story, and it turns out that the head Smear-Boater has a 30-year old grudge against Kerry--NOW the mainstream media decide it's time to "stand tall" and show them up for the colluding liars they are? Well, Cheney you very much, folks!

:headbang:
rocknation

[eleny]

15. Done

I saw her MSNBC program tonight but just sent her a note of appreciation.

[blm]

17. One of the more THOROUGH discussions of this story I've seen to date.

Refreshing. Went far beyond the soundbites we've been hearing the last few weeks.

[Spiffarino]

18. Does it repeat?

Most MSNBC shows do.

[DeepModem Mom]

21. kick

[AnnInLa]

22. I am SO impressed with Brinkley

Is he related to David? He comes across as fair-minded, but with uncommon common sense and upmost respect for Kerry. After telling Norville that when the media keeps this controversy alive, it is a misservice to the American public, there was a big silence. Then she said, "tune in tomorrow night for more on the Swift Boat Controversy."

[Democrat 4 Ever]

33. Douglas is David Brinkley's son

Douglas is doing a fine job. I'm sure his father was very proud of him.

Does anyone else miss ole Huntley-Brinkley Report? Was just a mere child but I can remember stretching out on the floor in front of the old black and white TV and listening to their news report every night. If only some of the talking heads in mainstream media had just a pinky finger full of Huntley-Brinkley's dignity and integrity.

Have been a lifelong news junkie - just wish I could trust today's news. Worked my first election at the age of six. Grandfather running for local sheriff when I attempted to "buy" votes while handing out election cards on Main Street of my home town. Granddad an avid fisherman and I offered people a peek at the "World's largest fish - probably 10-12 lbs large mouth bass, but it looked huge to me - if they would vote for my granddad. He was not amused - and still won despite the "corruption" in his campaign. I, also, stayed up all election night tallying the returns, in my homework notebook, in the Kennedy/Nixon election at the ripe old age of 10. Wasn't worth squat at school the next day but boy did I crow!

News people in the past went to great lengths to avoid the appearance of bias on any story. Nowadays it is who can screech and scream and get the scoop - truth and facts not necessarily required. And certainly no dignity or integrity.

[Killarney]

23. MSNBC is the only station being fair right now

and they are the only station I will watch. Obviously, skip Scarborough. But Norville, Tweety, and Olbermann are rocking. They are the only ones not being absolute whores for Bush. CNN and FOX are equivolent right now, they're so bad. But people are starting to see the light. CNN's political ratings are dropping and MSNBC is picking it up. HERE WE GO! Let them know they're doing the right thing by being fair... watch MSNBC! :)

[cindyw]

24. She's a hell of a lot better than Paula Zhan, former FOX lady.

She often lets people get a way with lies and smears on her show. During her "town hall meeting", this guy stands up and says, "I'm a Vietnam Vet and I certainly served more than four months" and she responds by smiling and shaking her head, yes. I guess you can take the lady out out of FOX News, but you can't take the FOX News out of the lady.

[NewJeffCT]

25. my old crush is justified now!

I used to have a big time crush on Deborah Norville back when I was just out of college... I'd have to get up very early in the morning, and I'd turn on the TV to watch her on some pre morning show news program. She had something about her back then, and I normally do not like blondes at all.

[City Lights]

28. I sent her a thank you and a link to Walt's thread about

the little problem dubya has with the photo proudly displayed on poopy's website.