"Why liberals are incapable of defending America"

[Skidmore]

Crap brought to you today on CSPAN2--drivel from the Freedom Research Foundation.

Won't dignify it with viewing. Why do liberals not have symposia that are called "Why conservatives can't handle your money" or "Why conservatives are incapable of providing national security"? Why do liberals let them get away with this constant labeling, castigation, and blatant myth creation?

This is exactly what I am sick of. This is why I have no use for the DLC types and those in the Democratic party who play the money game. It renders them incapable of any response or initiative other than nodding acquiescence.

[drhilarius]

1. The ironic thing in your post...

the fact that they don't defend themselves against this shit only reinforces the belief that they can't defend America. I agree, we have to start some "why conservatives can't..." symposia of our own.

[Neil Lisst]

2. Why Conservatives are such big chickenhawks ...

Is what they need to be studying.

Big talking, even bigger strutting phonies who are afraid to put themselves and their families in harm's way to fight these stupid, jingoistic wars of hubris and false machismo.

http://www.webcomicsnation.com/neillisst

[LynnTheDem]

3. Another rightwingnut MYTH.

FACTS:

-With the exception of Ronald Reagan, every Cold War Republican president actually cut military spending. Every Cold War Democratic President increased it.

-Republican Presidents Eisenhower, Nixon, and Ford cut defense while Democrats Kennedy, Johnson and Carter increased defense spending.

http://www.cdi.org/issues/milspend.html

GHW Bush:

"Two years ago, I began planning cuts in military spending that reflected the changes of the new era. But now, this year, with imperial communism gone, that process can be accelerated. After completing 20 planes for which we have begun procurement, we will shut down further production of the B-2 bomber. We will cancel the small ICBM program. We will cease production of new warheads for our sea-based ballistic missiles. We will stop all new production of the Peacekeeper missile. And we will not purchase any more advanced cruise missiles.

… The reductions I have approved will save us an additional $50 billion over the next five years. By 1997 we will have cut defense by 30 percent since I took office."

-State of the Union address on Jan. 28, 1992
http://www.c-span.org/executive/transcript.asp?cat=current_event&code=bush_admin&year=1992

CUTTING DEFENSE under gw bush

2005 budget; Pentagon plans to cut costly weapons programs such as an Air Force advanced fighter plane, a stealthy Navy destroyer and the next generation of nuclear submarines. Bush's missile defense program would likewise lose billions of dollars in funding in coming years.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3319-2005Feb6.html

Pentagon Scales Back Arms Plans

Rising war costs and a stubborn budget deficit have forced the Pentagon to propose billions of dollars in cuts to advanced weapons systems...

With the cutbacks and additions, the Pentagon would trim $30 billion over the next six years from its original $89 billion defense buildup.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48425-2005Jan4.html

Plans to reduce Pentagon spending for weapons in order to pay for the war in Iraq would cut sharply into missile-defense programs managed in Huntsville and kill two Army missile programs outright.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's office wants to slash missile-defense spending by $1 billion in the fiscal 2006 budget that the White House plans to send Congress in the next few weeks. The plan would continue to reduce missile-defense spending by $800 million a year until 2011.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2005/050123-missile-projects.htm

Lawmakers have already authorised the Pentagon to use emergency war budgets temporarily to increase the size of the army by 30,000 to 512,000 soldiers. But Donald Rumsfeld, defence secretary, has opposed legislative changes that would force the army permanently to increase its so-called "end strength" or numbers.

http://aimpoints.hq.af.mil/display.cfm?id=1456


Cheney the dick;

Cheney also moved to cut the armed forces by a half-million troops, and to shut down more than 40 military bases that, as a result, would no longer be needed.

http://www.issues2000.org/Celeb/Dick_Cheney_Defense.htm

More Military Bases in US to Be Closed

The Pentagon plans to shut down or scale back some of the 425 facilities, the first such effort to save money in 10 years. The downsizing is part of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld's long-term transformation of the Cold War-era military.

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=516956

WHO is SOFT on defense? WHO has INCREASED terrorism?

Worldwide terrorism-related deaths on the rise
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5889435%20 /

US Losing the War on Terror in Iraq; The invasion of Iraq has increased, not decreased. the threat of terrorist attack
http://www.intellectualconservative.com/article2629.html

Occupation Made World Less Safe, Pro-War Institute Says
http://www.globalpolicy.org/empire/terrorwar/analysis/2004/0526iissreport.htm

Iraq Invasion Hurt War on Terror
http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0719-10.htm

Musharraf: World more dangerous because of Iraq War
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/9/25/03544/7945

Blix Says Iraq War May Have Worsened Terror Threat
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0319-02.htm

Poll: Aussies, Brits, Italians say Iraq war increased terrorism
http://www.startribune.com/stories/1576/5027215.html

Iraq intervention increased threat of terrorism
http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/archive/scoop/stories/c7/9d/200409100845.68f9c878.html

UK Government; Iraq war 'increased terror threat'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3451239.stm

Iraq war has swollen ranks of al Qaeda
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1063717,00.html

US State Department Corrects Report to Show Rise in Terrorism
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5264512 /

Iraq has become a terrorist spawning ground, CIA admits
http://www.smh.com.au/news/After-Saddam/Iraq-a-terrorist-spawning-ground-CIA-admits/2005/02/17/1108609349394.html?oneclick=true

Iraq Conflict Feeds International Terror Threat
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050216/us_nm/security_usa_dc_9

Answer: REPUBLICANS. SOFT on defense, but GREAT on INCREASING terrorism.

[Skidmore]

4. WE know that, but where are our fearless leaders in

dispelling this myth? They have access to microphones. Where is the Center for American Progress and other like organizations with doing this kind of work?

They don't engage them in the front lines.

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. another myth

liberals ahve access to the microphones

that said, the fighting back has started, even if it does feel at times that it is at a snails pace. But it has

[yodermon]

26. LynnTheDem you have GOT to write a book.

Your posts continually top the charts in terms of slicing STRAIGHT through the bullshit and to the heart of the matter.

Or, collate your posts onto a blog (if you don't already). DU is a wonderful place, but sometimes it's really damn NOISY in here :P

:toast:

[LynnTheDem]

5. Who served? Chickenshit Repubs versus Democrats

Prominent Democrats

Representative Richard Gephardt, former House Minority Leader - Missouri Air National Guard, 1965-71.
Representative David Bonior - Staff Sgt., United States Air Force 1968-72
Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle - 1st Lt., U.S. Air Force SAC 1969-72
Former Vice President Al Gore - enlisted August 1969; sent to Vietnam January 1971 as an army journalist, assigned to the 20th Engineer Brigade headquartered at Bien Hoa, an airbase twenty miles northeast of Saigon. More facts about Gore's Service
Former Senator Bob Kerrey... Democrat... Lt. j.g., U.S. Navy 1966-69; Medal of Honor, Vietnam
Senator Daniel Inouye, US Army 1943-'47; Medal of Honor, World War Two
Senator John Kerry, Lt., U.S. Navy 1966-70; Silver Star, Bronze Star with Combat V, and three awards of the Purple Heart for his service in combat
Representative Charles Rangel, Staff Sgt., U.S. Army 1948-52; Bronze Star, Korea
Former Senator Max Cleland, Captain, U.S. Army 1965-68; Silver Star & Bronze Star, Vietnam
Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) - U.S. Army, 1951-1953.
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) - Lt., U.S. Navy, 1962-67; Naval Reserve, 1968-74.
Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) - U.S. Army Ranger, 1971-1979; Captain, Army Reserve 1979-91
Senator Fritz Hollings (D-SC) - served as a U.S. Army officer in World War II, receiving the Bronze Star and seven campaign ribbons.
Gray Davis, former California Governor, Army Captain in Vietnam; received Bronze Star.
Chuck Robb, US Senator from Virginia, served in Vietnam
Howell Heflin... Democrat... Silver Star
George McGovern, famous liberal, awarded Silver Star & DFC, dozens of missions during WWII.
Pete Stark, D-CA, served in the Air Force
Former President Bill Clinton - avoided the draft through student deferments; in the autumn of 1969, Clinton entered the draft but received a high number (311) and was never called to serve.
Former President Jimmy Carter, most recent recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, seven years in the Navy. "Except for his fellow service-academy graduate Dwight Eisenhower, no President of the twentieth century spent more years in uniform than Carter." (New Yorker Magazine)
Former Vice President Walter Mondale, U.S. Army 1951-1953
Former Senator John Glenn, D-OH (1974-1999) - Served in WWII and Korea; extensive military commendations include the Distinguished Flying Cross on six occasions, and the Air Medal with 18 Clusters.
Congressman Tom Lantos, D-CA - Did not serve in the US military; did serve in the Hungarian anti-Nazi underground in WWII. Saved by Raoul Wallenberg, is the only Holocaust survivor to serve in Congress.
Representative Leonard Boswell (D-IA) - Lt. Col., U.S. Army 1956-76; two tours in Vietnam, two Distinguished Flying Crosses as a helicopter pilot, two Bronze Stars, and the Soldier's Medal.
Former Representative "Pete" Peterson, Air Force Captain, POW, Ambassador to Viet Nam, and recipient of the Purple Heart, the Silver Star and the Legion of Merit.
Rep. Mike Thompson, D-CA: Staff sergeant/platoon leader with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, U.S. Army; was wounded and received a Purple Heart.
Bill McBride, Democratic Candidate for Florida Governor - volunteered and served as a U.S. Marine in Vietnam; awarded Bronze Star with a combat "V."
Gray Davis, former California Governor, Army Captain in Vietnam; received Bronze Star.
Pete Stark, D-CA, served in the Air Force 1955-57
Wesley Clark, Democratic Presidential Candidate - lengthy military career.

Prominent Republicans

Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert - avoided the draft, did not serve.
Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey - avoided the draft, did not serve.
House Majority Leader Tom Delay - avoided the draft, did not serve. "So many minority youths had volunteered ... that there was literally no room for patriotic folks like himself."
House Majority Whip Roy Blunt - did not serve
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist - did not serve. (An impressive medical resume, but not such a friend to cats in Boston.)
Majority Whip Mitch McConnell, R-KY - did not serve
Rick Santorum, R-PA, third ranking Republican in the Senate - did not serve.
Former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott - avoided the draft, did not serve.
Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld - served in the U.S. Navy (1954-57) as an aviator and flight instructor. Served as President Reagan's Special Envoy to the Middle East and met with Saddam Hussein twice in 1983 and 1984.
GW Bush - decided that a six-year Nat'l Guard commitment really means four years. Still says that he's "been to war." Huh?
VP Cheney - several deferments, did not serve, the last by marriage (in his own words, "had other priorities than military service")
Att'y Gen. John Ashcroft - did not serve; received seven deferments to teach business ed at SW Missouri State
Jeb Bush, Florida Governor - did not serve.
Karl Rove - avoided the draft, did not serve, too busy being a Republican.
Former Speaker Newt Gingrich - avoided the draft, did not serve
Former President Ronald Reagan - due to poor eyesight, served in a noncombat role making movies for the Army in southern California during WWII. He later seems to have confused his role as an actor playing a tail gunner with the real thing.
"B-1" Bob Dornan - avoided Korean War combat duty by enrolling in college acting classes (Orange County Weekly article). Enlisted only after the fighting was over in Korea.
Phil Gramm - avoided the draft, did not serve, four (?) student deferments
Senator John McCain - McCain's naval honors include the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross. Why did the Bush campaign smear him so? At least Senators Cleland (D-GA), Kerry (D-MA), Kerrey (D-NE), Robb (D-VA) and Hagel (R-NE) defended him.
Former Senator Bob Dole - served
Chuck Hagel - two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star, Vietnam.
Duke Cunningham - nominated for the Medal of Honor, received the Navy Cross, two Silver Stars, fifteen Air Medals, the Purple Heart, and several other decorations
Senator Jeff Sessions U.S. Army Reserves, 1973-1986
Colin Powell. What are we to make of Powell? On the one hand, a long career as a military manager. On the other hand, accused of covering up the My Lai massacre. Back on that first hand, one of the seemingly sane voices in this administration when it comes to Iraq (or at least he used to be). On the other hand, a clear hypocrite ("I am angry that so many of the sons of the powerful and well-placed... managed to wangle slots in Reserve and National Guard units...")
Representative Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD), served in USMC in Vietnam; wounded in action.
Senator Richard Shelby, did not serve
Senator Jon Kyl, R-AZ - did not serve
Senator Tim Hutchison, R-AR - did not serve
Rep. Christopher Cox, R-CA, fifth-ranking Republican in Congress - did not serve.
Representative Saxby Chambliss, Georgia - did not serve, had a "bad knee" (yet somehow feels he has a right to attack Max Cleland's patriotism)
Former Representative JC Watts - did not serve
Jack Kemp, did not serve (was unfit because of a knee injury, though he heroically continued as a National Football League quarterback for another eight years - source)
Former Vice President Dan Quayle, avoided Vietnam service, got a slot in the journalism unit of the Indiana National Guard when the unit was at 150% capacity (at least he showed up for his duty, unlike GW)
Eliot Abrams, did not serve (however, played a key role in subverting democracy in South America)
Paul Wolfowitz, did not serve
Former Representative Vin Weber, did not serve
Richard Perle, did not serve (is the current bloodshed in the Middle East a direct result of his treasonous meddling in Clinton Administrstion foreign policy?)
Douglas Feith, Undersecretary of Defense for Policy - did not serve.
Rudy Giuliani, did not serve
Michael Bloomberg, did not serve
George Pataki, did not serve
Spencer Abraham, did not serve
John Engler, did not serve
Lindsey Graham (R-SC) - website used to claim service as a "Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm veteran." A current biographical website makes no such claim. In reality, was a National Guard lawyer who never left South Carolina during the Gulf War.
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-CA, did not serve
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-CA/49th, there were some problems with his service.
Rep. John M. McHugh, R-NY - avoided the draft, did not serve
Arnold Schwarzenegger, CA Republican Governor - went AWOL from his Austrian army base to enter a bodybuilding competition
George Herbert Walker Bush, pilot in WWII. Shot down by the Japanese; was lone survivor out of airplane
Tom Ridge, Bronze Star for Valor in Vietnam
Representative Sam R. Johnson, combat missions in both Korea and Vietnam, POW in Hanoi from April 1966 to February 1973
(don't ever run for president Sam, they'll spread rumors that you're crazy)
Senator Ted Stevens, R-AK, WW II pilot, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Air Medals, and the Yuan Hai medal awarded by the Republic of China.
Sen. John Warner, R-VA - Served in the Navy during WWII as a RM3
Congresswoman Heather Wilson, R-NM, served in the Air Force 1978-1989
Former President Gerald Ford, served in the Navy, WWII
Former Senator Strom Thurmond - apparently believes, along with Trent Lott, that America should have been a segregated society. Still, he served.


George Will, did not serve
Chris Matthews, Mediawhore, did not serve.
Bill O'Reilly, did not serve
Paul Gigot, did not serve.
Bill Bennett, Did not serve
Pat Buchanan, did not serv
Rush Limbaugh, did not serve (4-F with a 'pilonidal cyst' Michael Savage (aka Michael Alan Weiner) - did not serve, too busy chasing herbs and botany degrees in Hawaii and Fiji
John Wayne, did not serve
Pat Robertson - claimed during 1986 campaign to be a "combat veteran." In reality, was a "Liquor Officer."
Bill Kristol, did not serve
Sean Hannity, did not serve.
Kenneth Starr, did not serve
Antonin Scalia, did not serve
Clarence Thomas, did not serve
Ralph Reed, did not serve
Michael Medved, did not serve
Charlie Daniels, did not serve
Ted Nugent, did not serve
Radio Host Phil Hendrie, did not serve.
Ollie North - Convicted in the Iran-Contra scandal, at least he served.
Charlton Heston - served in WWII.

Independents
Gov. Jesse Ventura, U.S. Navy SEAL training, did UDT work
Senator Jim Jeffords, U.S. Navy 1956-1959

[TallahasseeGrannie]

28. This is a VERY interesting list

and in my opinion pretty damning for the right.

One caveat I would offer, is that Dole didn't just "serve" he was injured. Gotta be fair.

[Skidmore]

6. This is being broadcast now and this Jack Wheeler

jerk just started this lecture by holding up a "santos"--a shrunken head--from S. America. Stating the peoples from which this originates live in constant fear of black magic of the enemy, "which, of course, sounds like Democrats" with *.

This is sick. Continuing to associate Dems with "black magic" and "fear of the evil eye", so they remain "savage". Boy, this is direct appeal to rile up the RR.

"Just like the culture of the left"--"fundamentally routed in the Stone Age"--"a regression"--"fundamental belief in black magic".

Mantras of "rich get rich" from the left.

[Skidmore]

7. Effin kick because this is what is being told about the left

in the back halls.

[Skidmore]

16. Islam is a morally inferior religion per Wheeler and this led him

to state that liberals are not capable of having morals.

[stevietheman]

8. Tell this to Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, JFK. n/t

n/t

[Skidmore]

9. "Fear of being envied makes a liberal"

This guy is crazy. Envy appeasement by second generations of people with wealth because their wealth is perceived of as being "unearned". So he's associated liberalism with "black magic" and "elitism".

Drives people to "masochistic humiliation", just like the suicide bombers.

Someone on the Dem side needs to loudly denounce this man and his statements and DEMAND an apology.

[Neil Lisst]

10. When a con talks war, ask him ...

When a con talks war, ask him WHY ARE YOU HERE INSTEAD OF THERE?!!



http://www.webcomicsnation.com/neillisst

[Skidmore]

11. This guy has serious issues with masochism....

Now going on about "feminazis", homosexuals, environmentalists. People who don't want to prosper because a masochistic inclination because they don't want the culture to survive.

DENOUNCE THIS PERSON--someone anyone with some name recognition. This is a dangerous language he is speaking.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

12. It's the myth that pumping zillions into the military equals "defense".

That and going to war or threatening war to "protect our vital national interests($$$$$)" is called "defense".

[Skidmore]

13. Here's his bio

http://www.newsmax.com/pundits/bios/Wheeler-bio.shtml

[Karmakaze]

29. I smell agency....

This guy just REEKS of CIA.

[porphyrian]

14. We haven't done so well defending it...

...from fascists and religious fundamentalists. I'm not sure that's what they mean, though.

[sweetheart]

15. So they call "this" defending america?

It leads one to inquire as to what "defending" means if a party
can't stop terrorists from blowing up towers in the largest
american city. I guess "defending america" means to the neocons
something less physical, like perhaps they are defending white
racism in america and that is growing healthily.

It seems, that if god didn't protect teh US with a few thousand miles
of ocean, that the neocons couldn't protect the country from anything.

[Ksec]

17. or Why do conservatives attack the wrong countries?

I suppose that means the conjobs are "tough"????? LMAO.

Theyve made America more vulnerable than at any time in history with their insane security . 911 happened on their watch as much as they hate to admit that.

[Skidmore]

18. This is hateful.

Why is CSPAN broadcasting this hatemonger. Would they broadcast David Duke? I think not.

[Tower]

19. "Why conservatives can't be trusted". How about that?

There are lots of liberal military personnel who are out there right now, instituting the policies of these fat-ass chickenshits. "Incapable of defending America", my ass.

[globalvillage]

20. Did he just say Teddy K

is stealing money from people at the point of a gun??? Or just liberals in general?

WTF? Is that what this bastard said?

I must have misheard. Can anyone confirm?

[Skidmore]

21. Yeah, he said that.

Linked it to the creation of government programs "which are more addictive" than any drug out there.

[Skidmore]

22. You'll be relieved to know that Jack thinks we are a far more moral

nation than we were in the 50s.

[globalvillage]

24. Yes, I feel much better now.

:sarcasm:
I'm pissed at C-Span. They should not be rebroadcasting this hate mongering. There are a lot of important speeches that they don't even touch, yet this gets replayed.
I am writing to them again.

[globalvillage]

23. Son of a Bitch.

What a hateful POS.
:grr: :grr: :grr:

[Skidmore]

27. This was the core of this @#$@#$#@$'s lecture.

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/1/20/231252.shtml

I'm still seething about this hours later. I still feel strongly that someone needs to stand up from a position of power and denounce this ugly hatemongering SOB. Early on Limbaugh was given a pass, so these people think they can engage in this hate speech with impunity and we won't stand up to them. This person tries to pass himself off as a professor.

Who could we get to address this who has some stature in the community?