KERRY "hasn't been subjected to this kind of heat?" Pleeeezee.

[A_Possum]

Hardball 8-19-04

BROWN: John Kerry is the kind of a guy who is always laid back. He is always been dealing with people who were gentle, who were in every way respectful, who have a sense of dignity about themselves and a sense of honor. John Kerry may not be fit for the terrible battles and wars of the world of politics...

...

MALKIN: He is a boy in the bubble, Chris. And...

MATTHEWS: What does that mean?

MALKIN: He hasn‘t been subjected to this kind of heat. And as Willie Brown is suggesting, if he can‘t stand the heat from his fellow veterans, do we really want to trust him to stand up to Islamic extremists?

********

Bosh. These people have no idea what Kerry went through in the '70s. Nixon and Colson were running undercover ops against him. His wife said people threw rocks through their windows and one landed in the baby's bassinet a few inches away from Alexandra's head. They had to put plexiglas up on their windows. Kerry was treated then just the way they're treating him now--questioning his medals, his service, all the same stuff, so much the same it's haunting.

I have to say, just that fact that Kerry is willing to stand up and take it again and again and again from these snakes and toads is evidence enough of guts. Add to that what he did in combat, and he's got to be one of the bravest guys in public office that I've seen in my lifetime

[Norquist Nemesis]

Matthews tore into her and then Olberman said

she made a fool of herself.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. Poor Michelle...

Is gonna end up writing the high school and gardening columns in a small town pennysaver, at this rate.

[Dogmudgeon]

2. That's guts

And it's times like these that make us appreciate what Patriotism and Service really are.

It's not at all difficult to withstand attack from your sworn enemies. But when your fellow citizens are the ones attacking you, it's got to be tough.

Incidentally, what Bush faces isn't "attacks". It's criticism. When a mob of thugs throw rocks at your infant daughter, or surround your house and thump on the walls and scream (like LoudCitizen did to Gore's house and kids in 2000), that's got to take guts to face down the next day.

So now the Republicans have to ask themselves: "Why do we always pick such slimeballs? Why can't even just a few of them be like Ike and T.R.?"

--bkl

[Borgnine]

3. Good GOD.

KERRY is the boy in the bubble? KERRY? Do these people just find the faults in Bush and apply them towards Kerry?

Who walks off in a temper tantrum when asked a question he doesn't like?

Who makes his crowds sign a loyalty pledge so they can tell him how they're praying to Jesus for him?

Who, by some accounts, is even on the outs with people in his own administration for not agreeing with him 100 percent of the time?

Christ. Bush just isn't in a bubble. He's still in the fucking womb.

[enigmatic]

10. I think for most of the RW shills..

They take all the faults that they know W has and project them on Kerry to rationalize their own doubts about their complicity in the RW smear machine..

[drhilarius]

4. It would have been nice if Dan Akroyd...

had been there to say "Thank you, Michelle, you ignorant slut."

[A_Possum]

5. So tell me what's with this Willie Brown quote?

"He is always been dealing with people who were gentle, who were in every way respectful, who have a sense of dignity about themselves and a sense of honor. John Kerry may not be fit for the terrible battles and wars of the world of politics..."

Doh? Is he on our side or what? Ex-mayor of SF?

[iwantmycountryback]

7. Yeah I don't know what was up with that

The guy seemed like a guy who supported Kerry. What was all that crap about Massachussets politics? He's been a UNITED STATES senator 2 decades. United States as in national. The guy is used to attacks. Maybe Willie was trying to be nice to Michelle and give her some respite of sanity or something.

[LoZoccolo]

6. Waiting for someone to tell you what to do for seven minutes...

...is way more bubble-boyish.

[Gloria]

8. I hope the Repugs don't use Brown's comments out of context...

not that they were that great IN context! What was he thinking???
Esp. with Michele ready to pounce.....She's an ass, but she got that stupid comment about terrorists in.....let's see if the echo chamber picks it up...

[fujiyama]

13. I found Brown's comments strange as well

but I think he meant that these people (the Bush admin and their supporters) are worse than anything Kerry's ever dealt with inm the past.

In that sense he's right. I don't think Weld was quite this nasty. This is a new low for the republicans. When Cleland was asked by Matthews if this was the new Willie Horton, he replied, "worse". Cleland is right.

But it won't stop here. It'll only get worse in the next few months. Kerry should be better prepared than he was with this. He should have knows that these Nixon era ass holes would be back. Right when I saw O'neil on a MSNBC special on Kerry and his battle with the Nicon goons I was wondering why they weren't speaking already (that's the first time I'd known about Kerry and O'Neil and their debate on the Dick Cavut show). Sure enough, just two weeks later the SOB was out in full force with an ad and a book.

If I knew they'd be comin, Kerry should have also. He should also not understimate the stupidity of the American people and the bias of the media.

I'm encouraged by today's statement by Kerry but I think he should have said it forcefully immediately after it was released.

[Democat]

9. The point that Malkin makes is valid, unfortunately

If Kerry won't stand up for himself against these right wing lying bullies, why should the American people trust him to stand up for them in the world.

That is a point that many here on DU have been trying to make for a few weeks.

Kerry must fight the right wing to show Americans he is not weak.

Democrats make themselves look weak by trying to be "nice" - Americans don't want a "nice" president, they want someone who they think will fight for them.

Even Democrats want to see some fighting from our leaders. This is not rocket science!

[iwantmycountryback]

11. Have you been asleep all day?

Kerry did come out fighting today. And why is he going to focus on something that is nothing more than a Rove slander machine? Believe me, Kerry's smarter than you. He's won 5 elections. The man knows what he's doing.

[Dr Fate]

12. Kerry is standing up, here is what he says:

Kerry said, "Of course, the president keeps telling people he would never question my service to our country. Instead, he watches as a Republican-funded attack group does just that. Well, if he wants to have a debate about our service in Vietnam, here is my answer: 'Bring it on.'"

Kerry's comments drew boisterous cheers from members of the union that had endorsed him last year at a time his candidacy was struggling.