As the Election Nears, Sometimes I Feel Like Diogenes

Phoenix, if you had made any effort to to be informed at all, you would already know that that video is, in effect, a lie. They used a clip from Hardball and Chris Matthews is absolutely apoplectic that they used material from his show and distorted it by cutting off Kerry in mid-sentence to completely change the meaning of what he said. I am beginning to believe that you are actually a Bush supporter masquerading as as an undecided to score points against Kerry. Either that, or you are astoundingly uninformed, in which case you will probably vote for Bush anyway.

As James Madison wrote in 1798, "The Constitution supposes what the history of all governments demonstrates, that the executive is the branch of power most interested in war, and most prone to it. It has, accordingly, with studied care, vested the question of war in the legislature." This republican legislature, in a knee-jerk reaction, transended the warnings of history by vesting responsibility for war within the one seat of power, the administration of the president. I do believe that (not unlike the Tonkin Gulf incident) the future and lives of americans everywhere are more fraught with the loss of the very basis of democracy, a carefully devised separation of powers.

dys- Oh, how I agree with that. Since the Congress is predominantly Republican, (as of now) that would be one good reason to vote for Kerry!

Harper- You haven't been around here long enough to know how I "tick".

I made up my mind to vote against Bush from the beginning of the campaigns. I don't follow their speaches and ads particularly, because campaigning politicians rarely stick to the truth on either side. Didn't see the Dem convention, will not see the Repub convention. I only follow the political threads now because I have fun arguing a bit.

Phoenix is obviously very confused:

On this thread he/she decries info from non-partisan sources, yet starts a thread here accepting one of the most blatantly partisan videos produced yet in this campaign as "thought-provoking! "

Edgarblythe- Sad, but true.

Harper-Did you read my post at all? Did you see my caveat?????



I would suspect that this piece is about as evenhanded as the moveon articles, and Moore's documentary. I just stated that it was "interesting", and might be worthwhile to review.

You saw f911 and you are comparing it to this piece of trash?

What specific move-on ad compares to this distortion of what Kerry's stance on Iraq is? I can't think of one.

You claim to be impartial but every post that I have read of yours questions Kerry and gives Bush a pass.

BTW Phoenix if you really want people to believe you are impartial, 86 the Ayn Rand quote.

Phoenix gets extra points for talking loud and taking names...in apple green. But all that bluster and self-inflation can't hide the fact that the incumbent President is up for re-election and the alternative simply turns a darker shade of brown by the moment. The lies on top of lies, the decidedly low-class tactics, the growing career record of anti-US defamation is turning into a national embarrassment.

Can you imagine the outcry if Michael Moore or move-on had done something this slimy in one of their productions?

Chris Matthews wants to set the record straight about a sound bite from a Hardball interview with John Kerry that aired on January 6, 2004.

The sound bite was used in an RNC web-video recently to claim that Kerry had 'flip-flopped' on his Iraq war position and that he that he declared himself as the "anti-war" candidate.

In addition, President Bush seemed to make reference to this Hardball bite when he claimed in Sioux City on Saturday that John Kerry "declare[d] himself the anti-war candidate."

Chris felt the interview back in January with Kerry was taken out of context. (Click here for the full RNC video which used the bite.)

Below is the FULL exchange between Chris Matthews and John Kerry:

MATTHEWS: Do you think you belong in that category of candidates who more or less are unhappy with this war? The way it?'s been fought? Along with General Clark, along with Howard Dean, and not necessarily in companionship politically on the issue of the war with people like Lieberman, Edwards and Gephardt? Are you one of the anti-war candidates?

KERRY: I am. Yes. In the sense that I don?'t believe the president took to us war as he should have, yes. Absolutely. Do I think this president violated his promises to America? Yes, I do, Chris. Was there a way to hold Saddam Hussein accountable? You bet there was and we should have done it right.

This is what the RNC-related web video used:

MATTHEWS: Are you one of the anti-war candidates?

KERRY: I am. Yes.

On last night's Hardball, he asked Bush-Cheney '04 Sr. Strategist Matthew Dowd and Sr. Advisor to the Kerry-Edwards campaign Tad Devine on whether or not the way the interview was used is fair.

"The impression John Kerry was trying to leave when he was up against Howard Dean in the primary was he was the anti-war candidate after he voted for the resolution," Matthew Dowd said. "You asked John Kerry a yes or no question. And he said ?'yes, absolutely.'"

"I want to be perfectly fair here," Chris Matthews told Dowd. "Eight million supporters of the president received a videotape. Do you think that was a fair cropping of what he had to say? You cut him off after he said, yes. And you did not let him continue on to say, ?'in the sense that I don?'t believe the president took to us war as he should have.'"

Matthews went further and asked Dowd to ask the president to stop claiming that Kerry "declared himself the anti-war candidate." "Is the president going to keep saying that something that was said on this show wasn?'t said? Would you like to have your sentences cut down like to a third of their length and let people decide on the first three or four words what you meant by the 20 words? I think you guys should consider taking this off your loop. I think the president ought to be shown this tape so he knows what he?'s talking about, instead of having it fed to him by somebody who doesn?'t show them full sentence."

-----------------

And to the Republicans disgrace, this distortion which in effect amounts to a bold-faced lie (and it is but one of many on this video) is still on the video. Shame!!!

Chuckster- Agree.

Harper:



Who said I was impartial? I think that both candidates suck, but in different ways. That is a given. I am just attempting to determine which one will screw up the country less.

Oh, and I really don't give a rat's ass what all people believe about me. I think that the ones who really know me, and what I am about, respect my views, even though they may be different than theirs.

Maybe you hadn't noticed, but I do happen to be an anomaly politically, and do not kowtow to any party line.

I would just like to take a second and thank Harper for demonstrating what is wrong with liberals today. Harper is a boon to the right, keep up the good work.

Phoenix, keep up the search, hopefully you will figure it out before November. I am still waiting to see if Kerry will announce any of his cabinet positions before the elections.

Phoenix, I don't believe you answered either question.

Harper- I started this thread, which asked about what people thought about the RNC documentary. Period. You have turned it around, to espouse your particular political agenda. I do not plan to respond to your questions.

Did YOU read my last post, or do you like listening to the sound of your own voice?????



I will say though, that the song "Flipper" applies to me. As more and more information, spin, garbage, and general nastiness emerges, I find that it is extremely difficult to make an informed decision.

Unfortunately, this is not Eisenhower versus Stevenson, or even Carter versus Ford. What we have in this election is cancer versus heart disease.

As I see it, the voter's job in November is damage control. Which man (together with his political beliefs, and gaggle of advisors) will do the country the less harm?

We have all seen what Bush has done in his first term. I do not imagine a second Bush term would be significantly different. But I fear and tremble at the thought of a Kerry administration.

You know, phoenix, most people don't pay attention. Sorry, I do.

You claim to hate both candidates but the only one you ever attack is Kerry and you always agreee with people who attack Kerry and disagree with those who support Bush!

So it is obvious to me where your heart is, if you enjoy the charade, just keep it up, just know that this girl ain't buying it.

Of course, phoenix can't repond to my questions because his/her stance is indefensible.