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My Rahm Reunion
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The Left Hates Us
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Such a Dynamic Duo
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The Continuing Crisis
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Calvin Coolidge: His Times Are Our Times
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The Current Crisis
The Taranto Principle Vindicated Again
John Kerry owes Richard Blumenthal a letter of commendation.
WASHINGTON — The exposure of Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal as a hoaxster boasting of a non-existent record of service in the Vietnam War is a splendid example of what is known as the Taranto Principle. Someday the Taranto Principle will be taught in all the journalism schools, assuming one or two survive the present detumescence of journalism. Formulated by the inimitable Wall Street Journal editorialist James Taranto, the principle posits that when the Liberal mainstream press indulges a Liberal politician’s deceits or fails to hold the politician accountable for his misbehavior, it encourages the politician to ascend to a higher level of misbehavior.
Thus, for years Senator Jean-François Kerry was wont to boast of his exploits in the Vietnam War. His sympathizers in the press never bothered to remind him or to remind the citizenry that Kerry had embellished his military record and – worse! — upon returning from Vietnam he cast his lot with the rising anti-war movement. As an opponent of the war he even was emboldened to appear before Congress and mendaciously testify that his comrades had “personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals, and turned up the power, cut off limbs, blown up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages in fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan.”
This garbagespiel was televised nationally and he should have known that tapes of it were readily available in 2004 when he ran for president. Nonetheless, rather than stressing less controversial aspects of his years of public life, thanks to the Liberal press’s indulgence of his exaggerated claims to heroism he made the risky choice of running as a veteran of the Vietnam War. That angered those who had served with him and their revelations about his service sank his candidacy. The Taranto Principle is vindicated.
It has been vindicated again with the revelations about Blumenthal. For years he has been fawned over by the Liberal press. Pari passu with the passage of time, he has gone from being a young man who sought five military deferments during the Vietnam War to claiming repeatedly and falsely that he actually served in the war. On the way to making those false claims he did indeed enlist in the Marine Reserve, but he never served in the war.
In 2008, the New York Times reports that he said in a speech, “We have learned something important since the days that I served in Vietnam.” At another point in 2008 the Times reports that he informed an audience that “I served during the Vietnam era,” concluding that “I remember the taunts, the insults, sometimes even physical abuse.” As recently as a few weeks ago he publicly recalled being spit upon when “we returned from Vietnam.”
Now his campaign for the United States Senate is in grave jeopardy. Perhaps it could all have been avoided if years back the press had taken a look at his claims, reported them, and chastened him from making the increasingly bold assertions of nonsense.
As an addendum to the Taranto Principle let me add an observation. Increasing numbers of candidates for public office, particularly at the national level, seem given to fantasy. They are encouraged to tell dramatic stories about themselves. The press loves it. Goaded by the Taranto Principle it is not long before those stories become total fantasies. Blumenthal is obviously one of those fantasists. Had he not been tripped up this week, he might have soon been telling the electorate about his Congressional Medal of Honor. Possibly if he somehow manages to win the Democratic primary he still will, and then when the stakes are so high and the possibility exists that a Republican might beat him, will the Times raise doubts about his Congressional Medal of Honor? Taranto will be watching.
About the Author
R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. is the founder and editor in chief of The American Spectator. He is the author of The Death of Liberalism, published by Thomas Nelson Inc. His previous books include the New York Times bestseller Boy Clinton: the Political Biography; The Impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton; The Liberal Crack-Up; The Conservative Crack-Up; Public Nuisances; The Future that Doesn’t Work: Social Democracy’s Failure in Britain; Madame Hillary: The Dark Road to the White House; The Clinton Crack-Up; and After the Hangover: The Conservatives’ Road to Recovery.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (169) | Leave a comment
More Articles by R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr.
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Kenny| 5.20.10 @ 6:55AM
Another liar.
If Americans tolerate this, then we deserve what we get.
Alan Brooks| 5.20.10 @ 5:41PM
Hey, this is no way to treat a brave soldier who served Napoleon at Austerlitz.
Shame on all of you!
D A Darrough| 5.21.10 @ 12:12PM
It is very obvious that this clown Jeffery Page never served in Viet Nam or anywhere else, or he would have a completely different opinion of Blumenthal's lies. He is indicative of many of the draft dodging pussies in this country who never served, or no doubt ever offered to do anything for their country or anyone else other than themselves. It is easy for him to just pass off the lies and fraud this lying scumbag has perpetrated, because he has never put himself in harms way, and has no conception of how this demeans everyone who served. Blumenthal is a liar. If he lies about this to assuage his ego, he will lie aobut other things equally destructive. And you, Jeffery are a self serving moron who has no concept of what it means to proudly serve. If you had, you would be leading the charge for accountability from this jerk!
glassfinger| 5.22.10 @ 6:59PM
Read the rest of the posts here, thought it prudent to add another name to the list, the gentleman who did a "Kerry" snow job just as bad as Johnny's: Al Gore.
All public record, but Al did serve in Vietnam-for 180 days. He did his basic training and advanced at Ft. Rucker, AL. Back in the day Rucker was the Army's aviation training center.
But Al didn't serve with any aviation outfit when he landed in coutnry; he was assigned to an engineer brigade in III CORPS; there he wrote new articles about other units' firefights for the Stars and Stripes, and pulled guard duty on the berm. To my knowledge he never participated on a single combat op of any sort. Once he reached 180 days, he was rotated back to "the World".
The significance of that number is that you only had to serve 180 days of the normal 13 month tour to qualify as a completed combat tour. Al's father was senior senator from TN; as soon as Al reached 180 days in country, he was sent home. No harm, no foul, but isn't it nice that (a) he never served in the capacity he was trained in, (b) never once saw anything close to combat, and (c) very much like Kerry, used a loophole to get his a** out of harm's way as fast as he could?
The rest of us did our 13 months the usual way.
This is all public knowledge and is easily verified-but the left never does check on the facts, do they?
For the rest of us who did it the right way and came back, welcome home, brothers.
Deborah D | 5.20.10 @ 7:00AM
Politicians "given to fantasy." What a perfect way to describe it, Mr. Tyrrell. Ego maniacs who start believing their own press (case in point, Specter and Bennett) also don't seem to know when to get off the stage.
Power and limelight truly are corrupting influences. Sometimes the American people speak loudly in order to take the wind out of these corrupt politicos' sails. And, even while they're sitting in the ocean trying to blow their hot air in order to inflate the sail, they just drift along until the giant shark of reality bites them and drags them down.
Pay attention, those of you in the fantasy bubble of Washington, D.C. (and elsewhere in politics) -- Americans live in the real world.
tacho universal | 5.21.10 @ 2:47AM
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Ret. Marine| 5.20.10 @ 7:15AM
Given to fantasy, an understatement. Liar, more to the point. Next thing we know we are going to have to ( through legislation don't you know) widen our doors in and around the Washington district of corruption for them to even enter a building.
This man is the AG of his State, WTF. Now he is running for the Senate, get the hell outta here. Yes just what we need another liar telling our lieing eyes what constitutes reality. I though we were in the process of ditching these types? Apparently the usurper-n-theif failed to get him the memo. Welcome to the party of hell no, not another fraud on our watch.
REMEMBER NOVEMBER!| 5.20.10 @ 11:07PM
"People get the government they deserve." Thomas Jefferson
Braindead liberal dumbasses like Jeffry are why there are so many liars and thieves in the democrat party.
Jeffry Pages| 5.20.10 @ 7:19AM
Well now, didn't George W. Bush claim to have been a fighter pilot, or some other fanciful endeavor, all the while avoiding service in Vietnam? Come on you guys! Politicians always embellish their lives. We all know it. And, so what? So what Blumenthal didn't serve in Vietnam? That doesn't mean that he won't be an excellent Senator for Connecticut! Bush on the other hand drank beer in the National Guard and should've stayed with the beer drinking! He did better at that than anything else he ever tried and failed at. So get off Blumenthal's back. He did nothing more than what they all do.
MAJ Mike| 5.20.10 @ 7:26AM
Yes, as a matter of fact, he was a fighter pilot for the Texas Air National Guard. He was qualified in the F-106, a plane prone to explode in mid-air.
Yes, George W. was a fighter pilot while Al Gore was flunking out of divinity school and John Kerry was betraying his comrades on national TV.
Stephanie| 5.20.10 @ 9:21AM
And while Clinton was avoiding the draft and bad mouthing America overseas. Can't forget ole' cigar totin' Slick Willy! The one who "loathes the military" Thank you GW for your service to our country by being in the Nation Guard.
Paevo| 5.20.10 @ 11:06AM
Divinity school?! Why, that explains it all...
MAJ Mike| 5.20.10 @ 2:29PM
Yes. He was released 6 months early from his duties as a writer for an Army information office because he had applied to enter divinity school.
Tragically, he flunked out of divinity school.
Probably just a coincidence.
I'll be clear, I feel no need to alter my service record. I was chasing coeds and drinking beer while Kerry and Gore were serving their time. A broken leg rendered me unfit for duty while I was classified 1-A in 1970. I enlisted in 1976 as a Private E-1 and retired as a Major O-4 in 2000.
Neo| 5.21.10 @ 10:38AM
Yes, but Al Gore, like SciFi writer L Ron Hubbard, went on to establish his own religion.
JP| 5.20.10 @ 2:25PM
Yes, the F-106 was quite possibly one of the most dangerous aircraft the USAF ever purchased. I think their F-106 pilots suffered more fatalities in that aircraft than any other fighter jet in thier history. Bush was fortunate he didn't die.
Nobama| 5.20.10 @ 11:07PM
Fortunate or good!
Tom| 5.20.10 @ 7:34AM
I do not recall Bush ever saying he was a fighter pilot, although he may well have, but the simple fact is Bush WAS a fighter pilot. No one has ever disputed that. There were questions on whether he completed his required service but no one ever said did not fly fighter planes. He also never claimed to be a Vietnam vet.
Whether Blumenthal will or will not make a good Senator is beyond the point. The focus of the column was on how the press encourages politicians, especially liberal ones, into personal narratives that are increasingly at odds with reality.
Deborah D | 5.20.10 @ 7:35AM
I'd say "given to fantasy" applies to your spouting of lies here. As MAJ Mike said, W. was a fighter pilot. He never said he served in Viet Nam. He had a dangerous job in the Texas Air National Guard.
Even if the old claim "they all do it" was true, that's no excuse. Don't you remember Mom asking you if your friends jumped off a cliff, would you? Samey same.
And another thing that's really getting old -- "Bush did it." Get over it.
Stephanie| 5.20.10 @ 9:23AM
Deb, they have nothing else to defend the liberal liars that are in office. Bush is their whippin' boy.
SpiralArchitect | 5.20.10 @ 6:53PM
Not everyhting Busgh did is agreeable with me. I would be suspect to anyone that could say that about any person - non idolizing Liberals aside.
There is ONE thing Bush did an excelelnt job of and I really hope B.O. takes after his insight:
Leaves office and remians silent - for whatever reasons. It sure would be rough to not say a thing if I were in "W's" shoes now days.
P.S. WTG Al Brooks made a funny !
CapitalistPig| 5.21.10 @ 2:39AM
Is this the same SpiralArchitect from the civ forums and later member of the political asylum?
bluecollarbytes| 5.21.10 @ 6:56AM
Both Bushes kept silent after leaving office because they respect our system of governance and the office of presidency no matter who holds it.
LaneyB| 5.20.10 @ 7:50AM
George Bush never lied about what he did or did not do during any war. He was a fighter pilot. He did no serve in Vietnam. He never said otherwise.
If we accept mendacity in any politician's autobiography, then we accept the very principles on which this nation was founded.
I don't know the author of this post, but he has the common sense of a fruit fly and the intelligence and moral courage of a turnip.
ROBERT | 5.20.10 @ 2:01PM
DEAR MR. PAGES, I write in respectful disagreement. In the discipline of rhetoric the moral equivalence theory of defense is a technique of diversion. I think the issue is one of credibility, virtue and finally, the courage and integrity if there is any in the likes of Blumenthal to accept the consequences. That virtue is lacking in the political establishment.
Blumenthal lied about his military history not once but repeatedly. He did not "misspeak" as he claims. This statement to is a lie more desperate, of course, because he has found out. He said over the years "I served in Vietnam." He did not mistake the number on his license plate or his wife's birthday. He plainly lied. He told multitudes that served in a nation called Vietnam.
He claims that he taked"full responsiblity" because it sounds like the words a man of integrity might utter. But he does not want to take responsiblity. And he is willing to lie in order to avoid it.
He is in the company of a Senator who entered his plea of guilty to seeking homosexual union with, as it happens, an under cover police officer. He denied that it happened though he entered his plea. He intends to finish out his term. He does not want to resign.
John Edwards, inveterate and multiple liar and twice a former candidate for President and vice president, a man of truly foul character, does not want to spend a day under indictment, though a grand jury will return one shortly. He doesn't want to spend a day in jail, though his criminal act provides severe jail time. He wants to keep his law license though the standard for disbarment includes holding out the profession of law to scorn and ridicule, an offense for which he is also guilty. An African American Congressman was caught taking a $90,000.00 cash bribe found in his refrigerator. He smiled into the camera and lied that he was innocent. He raised shameful theories of defense, a species of Congressional privilege and immunity for one. And he actually won one election before being found guilty (the government introduced into evidence, his good self accepting a bag of cash from and under cover FBI agent. And finally, a former Mayer of Washington D.C. famous for his efforts to protect black children from the scourges of cocaine and other drugs, was himself caught in a major drug bust, offered no apology, and after a short term in the jug, was returned to the office of mayor. He is presently the target of the I.R.S. for the alleged criminal failure to report income.
Mr. Blumenthal, as he simply refuses to take responsibility for lying repeatedly to the American people should apologize and resign. He betrayed his office, his oath, and the people he was elected to serve.
I think Americans are entitled to a higher standard than that suggested by Mr. Page, than the acceptance of a liar who nevertheless will do a good job. First, I don't think that is possible and second, I think that Americans deserve better.
Thom| 5.20.10 @ 6:12PM
People of Jeffry Pages’s mindset not only can’t handle the facts of such matters but are willingly ignorant of the topics they speak about. Now as during Vietnam, a very large percentage of the active and reserve military forces haven’t served a day in Iraq or Afghanistan. For a host of reasons this is the way it will always be. Even in WWII a very large percentage of the people in uniform never left the states for either major theater of the war. People like Jeffry with their ignorant remarks about people who serve in the Guard and Reserves don’t seem to grasp that by condemning one’s person’s lack of service in a war zone by association condemn all such cases which for ignorant people like Jeffry is the bulk of the forces most of the time.
It is a matter of fact that George W. Bush flew air intercept missions with the Texas Air National Guard. It is also a fact that all Air National Guards in all states where they were based were part of the US Intercept command flying both F-102s and F-106s. To put it in simple Democrat terms for the Jefferys of the world, the Continental US Air Defense systems was Air National Guard based and tied to the defense of our air space. I don’t know of any F-102s or F-106s that were used in Vietnam or for that matter any war. If George W. Bush ducked service in Vietnam in the Air National Guard being qualified to fly that aircraft then all such pilots and their commands did the same thing. Switching from one model of combat fighter to another is not like taking your wife’s Prius to work instead of your F-150. Hundreds of hours are required to qualify from one platform to another and that simply does not happen on “reserve” time.
Those who claim that George W. Bush didn’t serve his time also illustrate their ignorance of the Guard/Reserves and the differences between how enlisted and officers are treated for such matters. My obligation was both drill points and time based. I had to earn enough drill points a year and serve a required number of years. I exceeded the first and met the latter requirement. Technically I could have probably got out a month early but I didn’t ask to. Bush did ask and what the Jefferys of the world don’t understand about that is that Officers serve at the pleasure of the Commander and Chief; earned twice the drill points per year I did because of his specialty rate. He had the “points” to meet his obligations and the F-102/F-106 units and the entire air defense system upon which they depended were being downsized and disbanded right along with the same going on with our downsizing from Vietnam’s peak force levels. 700,000 active duty personal and a lot of our reserve forces disappeared as Vietnam started to wind down thus Bush leaving early wasn’t unusual for those in the business of knowing this stuff.
John Kerry on the other hand stayed around a bit longer than normal and those of us who served know the inside story on him that the Jefferys of the world can’t fathom. Real simple Jeffery, you can remove a politically connected Officer from a combat zone the easy way or the hard way. The hard way is via a court marshal. That brings unwanted publicity and heat from the politicians that sign the checks that keep a war effort going in the right direction. The easy way is to “promote” them out of the zone. Get a clue here, Kerry was encouraged to file for those fake wounds he claims and the skids were greased to get him on the fast track out of Vietnam asap before he got someone killed with his antics. A Purple Heart is not any indication at all of valor under fire or a measure of one’s courage. Self inflicted “scratches” are grounds for a court marshal under the UCMJ that both Kerry and I had to answer to. Scratches aren’t wounds and real soldiers don’t go home after 4 months of scratches. Kerry is a fraud and Bush met his obligations just like millions of others did both in and out of Vietnam. Blumenthal is just another Kerry want to be.
Gr0w1er| 5.20.10 @ 10:37PM
Had Blumenthal ever served in theater, I have NO doubt with his numerous talents he would have been a REMF (all you libs can look it up).
SKIPPY| 5.20.10 @ 7:33AM
Hey man, don't be nockin my man John Kerry. I have no dowt he saw them dudes eatin viet dudes and stuff! He was there and I bet you were home in school or somethin. John Kerry is a onerabel man and shood uv been predident instead of Bush who didnt never do nuthin but what his mama told him do., an we woodn't have no war now if John Kerry was predident an not bush and I bet we'd have no oil out in the watere there too if John Kerry was presdident; so there.
The Bishop| 5.20.10 @ 7:43AM
Well said, Skippy. I'm surprised the NY Times gave you time off to respond on here, but I'm glad they did.
Deborah D | 5.20.10 @ 8:07AM
Lol!!!
coal carrier| 5.20.10 @ 8:22AM
"an we woodn't have no war now if John Kerry was predident "
Do you mean the war he voted for or the one he voted against?
Stephanie| 5.20.10 @ 9:25AM
I was for the war before I was against it.
What a maroooooon!
DLB| 5.20.10 @ 7:44AM
Blumenthal was "swift-boated", in the truest sense of the term.
owyheewine| 5.20.10 @ 10:22AM
He should be swift booted.
But he is running in Connecticut, home of more elitist Ivy League leftists than the entire country between the Appalachians ans the Sierra Nevadas.
TURK| 5.20.10 @ 7:53AM
Any Air Force pilot knows the mission of the 106 was as an all weather interceptor. Scrambles were usually in a 2 ship often in night weather. Close formation in night weather like hanging on a tanker in a B-47, at night; in weather, was a bit on the hazardous side. Something the 60's scum on the left wouldn't think of. Jeffry--------share with us YOUR military service!
Howard| 5.20.10 @ 7:54AM
I believe another "Law" is the longer a person remains exclusively in politics, the more likely he/she is prone to hyperbole. Blumenthal has run unopposed for decades, he has been "anointed" for so long that he honestly believes that people will accept whatever horse manure comes out of his mouth.
BozObammy| 5.20.10 @ 11:13PM
Jeffry, those who can, do; those who can't--teach.
Applies to you perfectly, libtard.
So STFU!
Jeffry Pages| 5.20.10 @ 8:15AM
I did find that Bush flew F-102 airplanes and not F-106's as someone erroneously implied. However, there is no doubt that Bush's father got him into the National Guard, afterall it was Texas for God's sake. And, he no doubt had alot of "help" getting through training that others never received. As to him ever flying an airplane by himself, I found no record. So, his claim to having been a pilot appears to be correct. Yet he still avoided Vietnam service with the help of his daddy! As to me, I never found it necessary to join the armed forces. I received a deferment until the draft ended. I served in other ways that most of you would not understand. I taught classes at UC Davis until I received my Doctoral degree. Since then, I've educated thousands of California students in and assisted them in the truth of many different matters.
David Williams| 5.20.10 @ 8:40AM
Hey Pages, who's your research assistant...Mary Mapes?
Bookmdano| 5.20.10 @ 5:40PM
Dave,
Speaking of research, www.blackfive.net and other milblogs have stories about some who are supporting Blumenthal. One in particular goes by the penname Elliott Storm and his wartime record, like Kerry's, is heavily embellished.
1FreeMan| 5.20.10 @ 9:01AM
Here folks, let me translate what Jeffery Pages is trying to say:
"As to him ever flying an airplane by himself, I found no record. "
-JP means: I am so stupid as to think a pilot never flies solo but the military will wing him anyway.
"As to me, I never found it necessary to join the armed forces."
-JP means "as a pot smoking coward I avoided serving my country by running to college. I am above it all and couldn't lower myself to serve in the , retch, military.
"I served in other ways that most of you would not understand."
-JP means: Stoned out of my mind on pot, I served the 1968 revolution of socialists and communists by parading nekkid in the street singing songs and practicing free-love.
"Since then, I've educated thousands of California students in and assisted them in the truth of many different matters. "
-JP means: Since the failure in 1968 to undermine the USA and subvert this country into a socialist nightmare I am now brainwashing freshmen in southern California, UC Davis. I still grow my own pot and hate the USA.
Tom| 5.20.10 @ 9:27AM
Jeffry,
So when you assign topics for research papers do you allow your students to write about entirely different things. You failed to address any of the author's points; you whole argument seems to be putting your hands over your ears, repeating "BUT BUSH WAS WORSE", and sticking your tongue out.
BTW The F-102B was the original designation of the F-106A. The were the same plane.
Thom| 5.20.10 @ 8:17PM
Tom, for accuracy sake, the F-106 was quite different from the F-102 and while the F-106 was listed as the F-102B it was not in the slightest derived from the F-102 airframe. Their designed in single purpose in life was however the same and they suffered the same fate when SAGE and our NIKE SAM systems went away in the seventies. I believe both were "wet" wings which gave them the range they had and the inherent danger in flying them.
Stephanie| 5.20.10 @ 9:30AM
Are you close personal friends with Angela Davis?
Stephanie| 5.20.10 @ 9:32AM
The above post was for Jeffry. Not you Tom. Sorry.
Tom| 5.20.10 @ 9:57AM
Figured so Stephanie, no harm no foul.
Doorgunner| 5.20.10 @ 10:11AM
Way to miss the point entirely, Jeffy.
The point being, President never lied about his militay service; Kerry, and now
Blumenthal, have.
The lacunae in your logic are showing.
Nick| 5.20.10 @ 11:30AM
Jeffry Pages a.k.a. Dan Rather,
We all know you are still bitter about CBS canning your sorry butt.
And thanks for admitting that you were a yellow-bellied coward.
Also, don't you mean that you "brainwashed" thousands of California students?
Grzmlyk| 5.20.10 @ 1:16PM
WOW, you are a hero! You never found it "necessary" to join the armed forces. Of course not! You were rooting for the other side!
I'm guessing none of the thousands of men who volunteered for service during the Viet Nam war didn't find it "necessary," either; they did it because they were P-A-T-R-I-O-T-S. That's a word that means somebody who loves his country.
But you were able to serve the cause of the VC anyway, indoctrinating "thousands' of California students and "assisting them in the truth" of many different matters. Yes, I believe that would all come under the rubric of "treason."
Here's the apotheosis of liberalism folks: A mediocre mind like this "earns" a Doctoral degree and is empowered to regurgitate leftist propaganda.
If the Obama thugs ever achieve the totalitarian power they seek, won't you be surprised when you're among the first to be liquidated.
MAJ Mike| 5.20.10 @ 2:35PM
Guess my memory is flawed. To use the words of the DemCong, "I miss-spoke."
I still stand by my otherwise accurate statement.
Apparently, Mr. Blumenthal's combat record matches mine. Neither of us served in Vietnam.
What was your military service, Jeff?
Thom| 5.20.10 @ 6:33PM
Jeffery said, "As to him ever flying an airplane by himself". Jeffery have you ever looked up a picture of a single seat F-102/106 interceptor? If you fly it all you fly it alone. You can't qualify to fly it by taking a written test and getting a pass/fail grade like a driver's license.
SoCon| 5.20.10 @ 11:17PM
Forget it, Thom--the libtard fool was obviously born with a silver-spoon in his mouth.
The clown's just another liberal GWB hater.
james| 5.20.10 @ 8:24AM
I lived in CT for 25 years, and I can assure you that they will vote for this guy anyway. He's everything they like: a Soviet-style block watcher and tin pot authoritarian who has less use for freedom than he does for the truth. The people who gave themselves Dodd, Weicker, Lieberman and the ever-coquettish Rosa Delauro will not miss the opportunity to add to the roster. Trust me on this. If Blumenthal is stupid and weak enough to withdraw, the voters will be very disappointed in him. But his lies? Couldn't care less.
Mimi| 5.20.10 @ 9:41AM
The good people in Conn. deserve better than this!! They are wise enough to clamor for some one with Integrity to run for the Senate! If not the voter's will seek his dismissalin November!!!
Bilwick| 5.20.10 @ 9:07AM
Shocking--absolutely shocking. If you can't believe politicians whose philosophy is based on envy-mongering and legalized looting, who can you believe?
Gadabout| 5.20.10 @ 9:53AM
And Hillary helped herself by the video of her running for cover under a heavy barrage of gun fire.
Cris Worth| 5.20.10 @ 9:54AM
Kerry (a comical dunce)...President Nixon sent me into Cambodia Christmas Eve 1968, yet Lyndon Baines Johnson was President on December 24, 1968. A cheap shot against Milhous and one of the great election year political whoppers of all time.
Anthony| 5.20.10 @ 10:20AM
Cris, Kerry said the Cambodian Christmas Eve incident was "seared in his mind".
Kerry's mind is indeed seared, but in the usual D fashion. As Bill Clinton would say, "Hey John, better put some ice on it".
P.S. In my previous post, I attributed the DWI leak on GWB, just prior to the election, to Kerry, it was Algore. No matter, they're all the same.
John Dietrich| 5.20.10 @ 9:59AM
This article is about Richard Blumenthal, yet most of the comments are about George Bush. This has been an example of another successful diversion. Blumenthal lied. Period. End of sentence. He did not "misspeak." Anyone who uses that word is obfuscating. Blumenthal not only lied. He was inconsistent in his lying. Not very bright.
Anthony| 5.20.10 @ 10:10AM
Bob and George make excellent points today. George attributes Blumenthal's lies to what he calls "generational egotism"; Bob calls this behavior "fantasy", prompted by, and abetted by, a fawning liberal media, that will cover their backs.
Unfortunately, Bob is wrong on one account; Blumenthal's candidacy is not in trouble. This weekend, Blumenthal will get the enthusiast support of CT Ds at their convention to replace the ethically and morally challenged Chris Dodd. They will circle the wagons around Blumenthal in a nauseating spectacle, worse than what Dan Rather's fellow media-types did for him. There will be no primary, as no other D comes close to Blumenthal's stature. The Hartford Courant will move heaven and earth to insure this scandal is minimized. No Courant reporter will come close to further scrutiny of Blumenthal's 5 deferments. In fact, the Courant is already in full Blumenthal support mode, attacking Linda McMahon for leaking the info to the NY Times. It made no such protest about the DWI leak on GWB by the Kerry campaign just days before the election, in fact, it splashed it on its front page.
While Linda McMahon has cut Blumenthal's lead to 3 points, Connecticut's reliable liberal voters will send Richard Blumenthal to D.C. to keep the Chris Dodd seat intact. Yep, business as usual in the nutmeg state.
Sheila| 5.20.10 @ 10:25AM
Mimi, the "good people" of Connecticut are about as smart as the "good people" of Pennsylvania who chose a Murtha clone two days ago. It's the 52% of the "good people" of this country who put us in the mess we're in. Obama is the symptom; the problem is the voters: they're uniformed, ignorant, selfish, stupid, and it's the universal franchise that has destroyed this country.
Tom| 5.20.10 @ 10:34AM
"While Linda McMahon has cut Blumenthal's lead to 3 points, Connecticut's reliable liberal voters will send Richard Blumenthal to D.C. to keep the Chris Dodd seat intact. Yep, business as usual in the nutmeg state. "
Maybe so. But I have a two word argument : Scott Brown.
Anthony| 5.20.10 @ 11:09AM
Tom, If only the Scott Brown argument would work. Unfortunately, Connecticut has passed Massachusetts for liberal insanity, but let's hope you're right.
ncatty| 5.20.10 @ 10:47AM
"...the Taranto Principle will be taught in all of the journalism schools, assuming one or two survive the present DETUMESCENCE of journalism...." What a mental image! Thanks RET! I will try to work that into some pleadings today.
Stormy| 5.20.10 @ 11:04AM
Blumenthal said he would not allow anyone to impugn his service. Guess what? He was the one that impugned his own service, he did not need anyone else to do it for him.
Yes, GWB served in the air National Guard, just as Blumenthal served in the USMC Reserve. As has been stated before, GWB never bragged about it or claimed things he never did. Politicians who lie deserve to be held accountable. Blumenthad says he accepts responsibility. The question is what does that mean?
BREDNG10| 5.20.10 @ 11:55AM
At the VFW presser Blumenthal gave with vets A POSER was on stage with him.Wm.Joseph Trumpower aka Elliot Storm claimant of numerous awards and medals purple hearts etc.A POW HALL OF SHAME poser.Birds of a feather!
Tim*| 5.20.10 @ 2:06PM
Blumenthal's Code : Semper Fib !
Ellis Wyatt| 5.20.10 @ 2:11PM
Who would have ever imagined that the same people that defamed and spit on our soldiers during Vietnam are the same folks now that lie about being those same soldiers just to get elected to office. Character says alot about a person and it is clear that Blumenthal's has not changed since the Vietnam era. God help this nation if these are the people we elect to govern.
Joe D| 5.20.10 @ 2:37PM
Come on Jeffry Pages don't be such an idiot. Bush has not drank in 40 years. He was a successful business owner, Governor and a fair President. He never lied about his service record like Blumenthal is now. All Blumenthal can say is he lied and miss lead Juries to hurt businesses in Connecticut. He would make a bad Senator.
Joe D| 5.20.10 @ 2:58PM
Well said Sheila!!!
Bill| 5.20.10 @ 3:00PM
A hell of a lot of people, Democrats and Republicans alike, avoided Vietnam service.
By far the largest number of draft dodgers were people who were then, and who are now, leftists, virtually all Democrats.
Those who once evaded Vietnam service but who repented of their decisions and saw conservative politics as the desirable path wound up being called "chicken hawks" when they saw military action as necessary later, and who called them "chicken hawks?" Those who avoided Vietnam service who remained left-wing!
Who cares if George Bush was motivated to join the Texas Air National Guard in order to avoid Vietnam service? What possible difference could it make, except to someone who wants to avoid confronting his own unwillingness to serve his country? And at least George Bush served, albeit not in Vietnam, something many Democrats who refused to serve at all can't say.
MarineDad| 5.20.10 @ 4:44PM
I commented in a separate post that both of my brothers consciously avoided the draft and Vietnam by joining the California National Guard. Neither of them had to pull strings to get in, either, because they had no strings to be pulled. All they had to do was walk into the recruiting office and sign the papers. I can't recall anyone criticizing them at the time for doing this. To this day, neither of them regrets his decision.
Nick| 5.20.10 @ 7:06PM
MarineDad,
"To this day, neither of them regrets his decision."
Nor should they.
When you consider that only two and a half million baby-boomers TOTAL served in Viet Nam, over 15 years, it becomes clear that Viet Nam veterans are a very select group.
Thanks to the MSM and Hollywood, the lie that the poor were drafted out of the inner-city to fight the rich, white man's war is still prevalent. As is the canard that the average age of the combat infantryman was nineteen.
Most Viet Nam vets volunteered to serve their country. The average age of an infantryman was actually 22.
Bruce | 5.20.10 @ 3:01PM
I'm surprised nobody has yet commented on the fact that there is no such medal as the "Congressional Medal of Honor." The one and true name for our nations highest valorous conduct medal is simply the "Medal of Honor."
Thought the citation says the medal is presented in the "name of congress", the medal is not named for congress - which would of course bring dishonor to the medal and any true hero who ever received it - mostly posthumously. It is and always has been simply, the MEDAL OF HONOR.
Nobama| 5.20.10 @ 11:20PM
I was surprised that RET screwed that up, too.
matthew s harrison| 5.20.10 @ 3:49PM
It is the MEDAL OF HONOR. No one would accept it if it was a congressional offering!
TURK| 5.20.10 @ 3:58PM
I am a proud veteran at this moment! On numerous occasions I have poked the leftists that hang out to spew their anti-military crap on this site, in re their service. Finally we have one confessing that he too was a draft dodging fellow traveler of the 60s that NEVER found his miserable rump into a military uniform. Decades will not wipe this smile off my face.
MarineDad| 5.20.10 @ 4:07PM
Maybe the Prez will campaign for Blumenthal, or, better, yet, Elena Kagan, or, even better, both of em. BTW, both of my brothers served in the California National Guard because neither of them wanted anything to do with the Vietnam War. Funny, they didn't need the powerful influence of my clothing store salesman dad to get them in, either.
dw| 5.20.10 @ 5:12PM
Anyone notice a pattern. The whole leftist message is a lie. Once they buy into the big lie it becomes easy to tell more lies. Look at Obama. If I could lie like that and get away with it the way he does I would be a.... democrat.
We must stop electing them.....
gearjammer| 5.20.10 @ 9:37PM
It's called Magical Thinking. Derives a lot from Maslow and self actualizing. We essentially have a bunch of loons running just about everything.
Marc Jeric| 5.21.10 @ 1:22AM
After so many lefty morons, bloviating gasbags, liars, and disbarred felons (McGovern, Dukakis, Mondale, Gore, Kerry, Clinton), our socialists, communists, and eco-nazis have finally found a dedicated communist revolutionary in the person of Abu Hussein al-Nairobi, our Community Organizer-in-Chief. He already nationalized health care, auto industry, banks, insurance and mortgage companies, and pretty soon our energy industries (oil & gas companies, coal mines, electric utilities). As for that UC Davis Ph.D., Iam sure that he has had many happy factory room breaks with that screeching communist Angela Davis and other enemies of America.
Scott Swett | 5.21.10 @ 2:05AM
Apparently exposing the lies of a Dem politician who once served in the military doesn't qualify as "swiftboating" if it is done by the DNC media.
A minor revision will need to be made in the definition...
Steve Herman| 5.21.10 @ 9:48PM
I am a Vietnam veteran. I volunteered for duty in Vietnam. I was wounded when one of the tanks in the platoon I led hit a mine and put me in the hospital for a month. On discharge from the hospital, I returned to command of my M48 tank platoon. I do not boast of these things, but take enormous satisfaction in what I have done with my life. I regret nothing except the fact that I am now too damned old to take up arms again in defense of the greatest country in the history of the world. People who exploit or fabricate tall tales for personal advantage, like Senator Kerry and AG Blumenthal, are despicable. On the other hand, the term "despicable politician" is an oxymoron. Thank God for the men of honor who will keep this fine country safe and sound forever.
SoCon| 5.22.10 @ 1:19AM
Steve, God bless you and thank you for your service. What a sweetheart you are; American men like you are the best.
Oldefarte| 5.23.10 @ 3:08PM
In laymans' terms, the Taranto Principle means...................BULLEXCREMENT!!!!
Noel | 5.24.10 @ 1:13PM
Col. of Truth Blumenthal: "I personally cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals, and turned up the power, cut off limbs, blown up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages in fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan--and that was just hanging out at Ocean Beach every summer!"
Good thing the Times outed him and not his fellow Marines--otherwise, it would be "swift-boating".
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