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Archive for November 1st, 2006

Nov 01 2006

John Kerry Watch: Kerry Makes Direct Apology to Troops

Posted by Flap in Election 2006, Iraq War, John Kerry, Liberal Morons, Morons

285967668 584ae94f32 o John Kerry Watch: Kerry Makes Direct Apology to Troops

PHOTO CREDIT: 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 34th Infantry Division
Reuters: Kerry makes direct apology to troops

Democratic Sen. John Kerry apologized directly to U.S. troops on Wednesday for comments about Iraq that had prompted a firestorm of criticism from Republicans and President George W. Bush.

“I sincerely regret that my words were misinterpreted to wrongly imply anything negative about those in uniform and I personally apologize to any service member, family member or American who was offended,” Kerry said in a statement.

Kerry said earlier in the day he was sorry for a “botched joke” about Bush that was interpreted as a slam on the U.S. military. Republicans demanded a more direct apology and seized on Kerry’s comments to students as a sign of Democratic weakness on national security.

About damn time…….

The statement is here:

As a combat veteran, I want to make it clear to anyone in uniform and to their loved ones: my poorly stated joke at a rally was not about, and never intended to refer to any troop.

I sincerely regret that my words were misinterpreted to wrongly imply anything negative about those in uniform, and I personally apologize to any service member, family member, or American who was offended.

It is clear the Republican Party would rather talk about anything but their failed security policy. I donâ€™t want my verbal slip to be a diversion from the real issues. I will continue to fight for a change of course to provide real security for our country, and a winning strategy for our troops.

Allah’s got the story:

The White House statement:

Sen Kerryâ€™s apology to the troops for his insulting comments came late, but it was the right thing to do. Our military is the best and the brightest, the most courageous and professional or an military in the world and the President is honored to be their Commander-in-Chief

Was this really an apology?

Not really……more of – “well the DNC made me do it and it is right before an election – so……”

Others not accepting this statement as an apology:

Mark Steyn

Mark Levin

Mitt Romney

Blogosphere:

285967670 43087de1fa o John Kerry Watch: Kerry Makes Direct Apology to Troops

John Kerry Watch: Kerry Apologizes for â€œBotched Jokeâ€

Michael Ramirez on John Kerry – Educate Yourselves or Youâ€™ll Get Stuck in Iraq

John Kerry Watch: Kerry WARNS Students – Educate Yourselves or Youâ€™ll Get Stuck in Iraq

Technorati Tags: JohnKerry, JohnMcCain, IraqWar, HillaryClinton, JohnMurtha

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Nov 01 2006

John Kerry Watch: Kerry Apologizes for “Botched Joke”

Posted by Flap in Election 2006, Iraq War, John Kerry, Morons

US Senator John Kerry (R) and Democratic congressional candidate Patrick Murphy (L) address supporters at a Vote For Change rally in October 2006 in Newtown, Pa. Kerry said he is pulling back from campaigning ahead of next week’s midterm elections to avoid the continued distraction created by his remarks that Americans who neglect their education would “get stuck in Iraq.”

Reuters: Kerry apologizes for “botched” Iraq joke

Democratic Sen. John Kerry said on Wednesday he was sorry about a “botched joke” that drew election-year fire from President George W. Bush and other Republicans who accused him of insulting U.S. troops in Iraq.

Kerry reiterated the target of his joke was Bush, who immediately seized on the senator’s remarks to rally Republican supporters ahead of Tuesday’s elections, in which the party’s control of Congress is at risk.

Kerry said he was returning to Washington from a trip campaigning on behalf of Democratic congressional candidates because he did not want to be “a distraction.”

A “BOTCHED JOKE” my ass.

The Quote:

â€œYou know, education, if you make the most of it, if you study hard and you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, uh, you, you can do well. If you donâ€™t, you get stuck in Iraq.â€

Audio here.

Video here.

Kerry responds

Sounds like a whole lot of spinning going on at the DNC.

And a distraction?

How about Murtha or Hillary disavowing what Kerry said? Or do THEY think this is a VAST RIGHT WING CONSPIRACY and merely a “BOTCHED JOKE?”

Inquiring minds want to know?

PHOTO CREDIT: 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 34th Infantry Division
Fall out:

TN Senate Candidate Harold Ford asks Kerry to apologize…

Kerry Pulls Out Of Minnesota Appearance

Kerry Cancels Casey Event

Some Dems Join GOP Seeking Kerry Apology

A few Democratic candidates joined Republicans Wednesday in pressing John Kerry to apologize for a comment critics said appeared disrespectful of U.S. troops as several Kerry campaign appearances were canceled.

“Whatever the intent, Senator Kerry was wrong to say what he said,” said Democratic Rep. Harold Ford Jr., running for Senate in Tennessee.

“Sen. Kerry’s remarks were poorly worded and just plain stupid,” said Montana Senate President Jon Tester, a Democrat trying to unseat GOP Sen. Conrad Burns. “He owes our troops and their families an apology.”

“I’m sorry he did what he did. But I think the issue … we want to make sure it doesn’t confuse the subject of the war in Iraq,” Democratic Rep. Ben Cardin, running for Senate in Maryland, said on CNN.

UPDATE:

And even Hillary NOW says Kerry needs to apologize. Murtha?

Sen. Hillary Clinton, speaking at a Kingston campaign stop this morning, joined the chorus of Democrats criticizing Sen. John Kerry for what the former presidential candidate has called a joke gone awry.

â€œWhat Sen. Kerry said was inappropriate,â€ she said.

Asked if Kerry should apologize, President Bush and other members of both parties have said, Clinton said â€œI heard he said he was sorry.â€

Clinton tried to deflect attention from the controversy by saying â€œelections are about the future,â€ and â€œwe donâ€™t have to be re-fighting the 2004 election, as much as President Bush would like that.â€

Stay tuned…….

Michael Ramirez on John Kerry – Educate Yourselves or Youâ€™ll Get Stuck in Iraq

John Kerry Watch: Kerry WARNS Students – Educate Yourselves or Youâ€™ll Get Stuck in Iraq

Technorati Tags: JohnKerry, JohnMcCain, IraqWar, HillaryClinton, JohnMurtha

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Nov 01 2006

Air America Radio Watch: Al Franken Cancelled in San Francisco – Soon to Leave Air America?

Posted by Flap in Talk Radio

Al Franken has been cancelled on San Francisco’s The Quake.

There has been lots of speculation about Al Franken’s future with Air America and his planned moved into the political arena. While there is nothing official at this time, it has been made clear to us that Al Franken will not be with Air America in the future. We feel it is important to you that we have the most talented hosts on the air, who will be with us for the long term.

FRANKEN GIVING UP?

Probably…….

After all he is no longer getting the big bucks…….

Michael Ramirez on Air Americaâ€™s Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Air America Radio Watch: The SPIN

Air America Radio Watch: Air America Radio Files Chapter 11 BANKRUPTCY

Technorati Tags: AirAmerica, AlFranken

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Nov 01 2006

North Korea Watch: A Return to 6 Party Talks – A Diplomatic Win for President Bush

Posted by Flap in North Korea, Politics

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill walks to the departure hall after speaking to journalists, at Beijing airport November 1, 2006. Six-party talks aimed at reining in North Korea ‘s nuclear programme must achieve progress in the next round, Hill said on Wednesday before leaving China.

AP: N.Korea confirms return to nuclear talks

North Korea said Wednesday that it was returning to nuclear disarmament talks to get access to its frozen overseas bank accounts, a vital source of hard currency.

The North’s Foreign Ministry made only indirect mention of its underground nuclear detonation last month. Instead, it focused in an official statement on its desire to end U.S. financial restrictions by going back to six-nation arms talks that it has boycotted for a year.

Confirming other nations’ reports of the Tuesday agreement, the North’s Foreign Ministry said Pyongyang decided to return to negotiations “on the premise that the issue of lifting financial sanctions will be discussed and settled between the (North) and the U.S. within the framework of the six-party talks.”

Washington had banned transactions between American financial institutions and Banco Delta Asia SARL â€” a bank in the Chinese territory of Macau â€” saying it was being used by North Korea for money-laundering.

The ban is believed to have blocked access to some $24 million for the North’s leaders, who indulge their taste for luxury goods like cognac and fine wines while the vast majority of North Koreans live in poverty.

U.S. officials also sought to rally other countries to prevent the North from doing business abroad, saying all transactions involving Pyongyang were suspected of having to do with counterfeiting and money laundering.

In Seoul, South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan said that he expects involved countries to discuss the disarmament talks when they gather in Vietnam for an Asia-Pacific summit in mid-November, and that negotiations among China, Japan, Russia, the United States and the two Koreas were expected to take place after that. He did not indicate when.

The top U.S. nuclear negotiator said that the negotiations should start as early as possible.

A North Korean soldier salutes to his senior soldiers at the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) that separates the two Koreas since the Korean War, north of Seoul, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2006. North Korea affirmed Wednesday it would return to nuclear disarmament talks to seek a resolution of a U.S. campaign aimed at choking the communist nation’s access to foreign banks.

No gurantees that Washington will TOLERATE North Korean counterfeiting of American currency but these financial sanctions have worked. Negotiations and talks are always preferable to bellicose nuclear demonstrations. Trust, but verify.

In the meantime the United States should proceed with post haste to build strategic and tactical missile defenses against North Korea. This will include expanding Japan’s anti-nuclear missile defense umbrella at sea and land.

Was this a diplomatic victory for President Bush?

Yes

Will the talks be successful?

Well, if not, Washington should increasingly tighten sanctions. No more caviar and wine/liquor for Kim Jong-Il. Also, existing United Nations sanctions/resolutions must be enforced until North Korea stands down their nuclear program – as they have promised.

Stay tuned…….