Max Cleland Turned Away From Bush Ranch

[GulliverSwift]

Former Georgia Senator Max Cleland, left, and former Green Beret Lt. Jim Rassmann, center, approach a Secret Service Agent, right, on station at the check point to the entrance of President Bush (news - web sites)'s ranch Wednesday Aug. 25, 2004 in Crawford, Texas. Cleland tried to deliver a letter protesting ads challenging John Kerry (news - web sites)'s Vietnam service to President Bush at his Texas ranch Wednesday, but the Secret Service stopped Cleland short of his goal. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

[MadIvan]

In retaliation, I suggest we send a delegation from Communists for Kerry to linger outside his mansion gates.

Regards, Ivan

[dennisw]

Make that an ultra-disgusting move for Cleland. I guess he's used to prostituting his self-inflicted catastrophic amputations for votes. I don't have any sympathy for him.

He's a slimy, lying, spinning, win at all costs whore. Same as the Democrat leadership

[ironman]

"The SS agent is also a Vietnam Vet and has his own letter to give to Cleland explaing why he supports Bush."

I think you're mistaken on this.

[mlbford2]

Where is Edwards. Why isn't he in the Vietnam hoopla.

[dfwgator]

.....and take the rest of your ilk with you!

...and the wheelchair you rode in on.

[cake_crumb]

"No duh - but aft_lizard was right in his idea of Bush reversing the tables on them by inviting them in because THEY WANTED TO BE TURNED AWAY."

I disagree. Bush war right to turn them away.

1:This isn't his fight.

2: He's laughing at them already because they're dishing it out but can't take it

3: He's forcing John "Bring it On" Kerry into a position where he must answer charges against him or risk young voters learning the truth about what he did when he came home OR risk young voters learning the truth about what he did when he came home. Thereby forcing him to try to obfuscate by concentrating on his :

4: Almost non-existant senate record.

[NavySEAL F-16]

The senators signing the letter to Bush included Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, Ernest "Fritz" Hollings of South Carolina, Tom Harkin of Iowa, Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Tom Carper of Delaware and Jon Corzine and Frank Lautenberg, both of New Jersey.

What a group!

What's Kery got in your "Brown Book", fellas?

LOL

[Jaded]

Well, Kerri should have been man enough to deliver it himself instead of sending Cleland. Even if it is illegal, it's not like that's ever bothered botox boy before.

[snippy_about_it]

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/anncoulter/ac20040212.shtml

Exerpt:


Moreover, if we're going to start delving into exactly who did what back then, maybe Max Cleland should stop allowing Democrats to portray him as a war hero who lost his limbs taking enemy fire on the battlefields of Vietnam.

Cleland lost three limbs in an accident during a routine noncombat mission where he was about to drink beer with friends. He saw a grenade on the ground and picked it up. He could have done that at Fort Dix. In fact, Cleland could have dropped a grenade on his foot as a National Guardsman – or what Cleland sneeringly calls "weekend warriors." Luckily for Cleland's political career and current pomposity about Bush, he happened to do it while in Vietnam.

There is more than a whiff of dishonesty in how Cleland is presented to the American people. Terry McAuliffe goes around saying, "Max Cleland, a triple amputee who left three limbs on the battlefield of Vietnam," was thrown out of office because Republicans "had the audacity to call Max Cleland unpatriotic." Mr. Cleland, a word of advice: When a slimy weasel like Terry McAuliffe is vouching for your combat record, it's time to sound "retreat" on that subject.

Needless to say, no one ever challenged Cleland's "patriotism." His performance in the Senate was the issue, which should not have come as a bolt out of the blue inasmuch as he was running for re-election to the Senate. Sen. Cleland had refused to vote for the Homeland Security bill unless it was chock-full of pro-union perks that would have jeopardized national security. ("OH, MY GOD! A HIJACKED PLANE IS HEADED FOR THE WHITE HOUSE!" "Sorry, I'm on my break. Please call back in two hours.")

The good people of Georgia – who do not need lectures on admiring military service – gave Cleland one pass for being a Vietnam veteran. He didn't get a lifetime pass.

Indeed, if Cleland had dropped a grenade on himself at Fort Dix rather than in Vietnam, he would never have been a U.S. senator in the first place. Maybe he'd be the best pharmacist in Atlanta, but not a U.S. senator. He got into office on the basis of serving in Vietnam and was thrown out for his performance as a senator.

Cleland wore the uniform, he was in Vietnam, and he has shown courage by going on to lead a productive life. But he didn't "give his limbs for his country," or leave them "on the battlefield." There was no bravery involved in dropping a grenade on himself with no enemy troops in sight. That could have happened in the Texas National Guard – which Cleland denigrates while demanding his own sanctification.

[FredZarguna]

Had the President respectfully received these two men, who for their flagrant prostituting of themselves deserve no respect, it would have availed him nothing. The spin on the news tonight would be: "Bush receives vets but still refuses to renounce Swift Boaters." Or crap to that effect. When will you guys learn that you will never get favorable coverage from the Media Establishment? Give them nothing.

[jennyjenny]

With people like Kerry and Cleland injuring themselves all the time and then Rassman falling off boats, is it any wonder we didn't win in Nam?

[COUNTrecount]

Next up on the Farewell Ranch Tour 2004

[BurbankKarl]

the US Chamber of Commerce is readying their 527 broadside at that clown....

[FesterUSMC]

LOL !

[mlbford2]

My thoughts exactly. Plus Cleland is a sperm burping, goo gobbli'n , one eyed gutter slut, pimp'n prostitute for the DNC. He's a bum.

[Destro]

I think Bush fumbled the ball on this one in terms of publicity only. Small blimp though - nothing major. You gave no reason why turing away these Kerry tools helps Bush - only recited talking points.

[Graymatter]

"...Senator Max Cleland, who lost three limbs in combat during the Vietnam War."

Al Gore, 5/26/04 (that spittle-flecked "how dare they" speech)

[Oblongata]

" Your words: "The SS agent is also a Vietnam Vet and has his own letter to give to Cleland explaing why he supports Bush. Cleland declined to take it and said he'd just send the letter throught the mail." Where in the article you linked does it say that?????????? SS agents are not allowed t voice opinions regarding such matters and if true a gross violation bythe SS and the bush campaign."

whoops sorry, I misread the article. Here's the exact words. It was a Texas State official.

Actually, I just went back to the article and now it's different.

Before it said something like. "Jerry Patterson, a Texas State Oficial and Vietnam Veteran, offered to accept the letter, if Cleland would accept his own in return."

Now it says " A Texas state official and Vietnam veteran, Jerry Patterson, said someone from the Bush campaign contacted him Wednesday morning and asked him if he would travel to the ranch, welcome Cleland to Texas and accept the former senator's letter to Bush.

"I tried to accept that letter and he would not give it to me," said Patterson. "He would not face me. He kept rolling away from me. He's quite mobile."

Patterson, who spoke with the president on the phone, said the campaign asked him to give Cleland a letter for Kerry written by the Bush campaign and signed by Patterson and seven other veterans. "

I just got the first edition I guess.

[Gucho]

baby
http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/post?id=1199301%2C1

[popparollo]

Shameful, Max go home. Your photo-op is so blatant. How can you of all people back a man who trumped up reasons to get medals and you sitting in a wheel chair from serious wounds from your own grenade...Do you want a medal? Johnny has plenty! You know ribbons, medals it all means the same thing to Johnny. Your own diary does not back up your stories!! Remember, You were turned down for that deferment!! Is that why you came back and spewed forth your venom against real vets. When you came back from Vietnam were not you a member of the ready reserve...Hey! Johnny it was you who went AWOL!! People are finding out the truth to the charges you still refuse to answer!!! AND MORE!!!! The truth is coming for you Johnny!!! You can't hide everything. Your media friends do not have control over radio and the internet... Even though your buddy Al invented it. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!