TPM Reader JF on

TPM Reader JF on JK …

OK, so JK has once again demonstrated how his lack of verbal discipline can cause serious problems in a campaign. It may be best for Democrats to just toss him overboard and weather this storm…(sorry)…but two very positive things can come from what was very probably (based on his history) a botched joke:

1) Senator Kerry has likely diminished his own chances for retaking the Democratic Presidential Nomination in ’08, with this indelible reminder of how not-ready-for-prime-time he is. And much more
importantly…

2) The Senator has unintentionally triggered one heck of an overreaction by Bush & Co., which Dems ought to seize upon. This is perhaps the best example of what this administration has done again
and again since 9/11 — exploiting our troops in a time of war for political gain. It’s time they are called on it, in strong, clear terms.

When a majority of the public demands accountability for the Iraq fiasco, does the Bush Administration answer responsibly, with a strategy for success? No, they ignore the well-being of our troops, instead climbing on their backs, using Americans’ love and admiration for our fighting men and women as a cheap wedge to divide the country. These politicians are exploiting the very danger that they have irresponsibly placed our troops in – to score cheap political points in the week before an election.

We’ve all seen this before. Rather than admit their incompetence they hide behind the generals, exploiting their honor and respect for the chain of command to claim a false endorsement of the Pentagon’s misguided plans. In this atmosphere of lies and manipulation, no serious dialogue about how to fix the Iraq debacle can take place — leading inevitably to the senseless loss of MORE American lives.
This is not the principled leadership of true patriots who respect the US military.

It is frankly despicable – the worst display of a craven and desperate attempt to cling to power. They and all those who parrot them should be ashamed.

(The fact that they are shameless explains why this election has turned into a national referendum on their kind of faux-patriot politics.)

TPM Reader ST from up north …

So Kerry makes a botched joke and the media take their cue from the Repubs and wonder aloud if he’s cost the Dems their chances at winning the Congress back.

Yet Bush can come out a couple days earlier and make the direct statement that if “Democrats get elected – terrorists win” and that barely causes a ripple?

Up here in Canada, if a sitting Prime Minister or heck, an opposition politician had made that statement about voting for the other party, the backlash would have been ferocious – not just in the media but the general public. Is this part of the media believing you need to show more deference to the President and its office?

And finally from TPM Reader DS …

I have talked to many people out here in sunny optimistic California who are getting nervous over JK’s comments. The phone calls are from people sounding uncomfortable who were sounded fired up to get out the vote. It isn’t just the comments but his unwillingness to understand how they sound to anyone who is CURRENTLY involved with the military. Please let our candidates speak for themselves. JK is coming off like a sore loser personalizing a debate on Iraq trying to make it about him and Bush again. I am a loyal supporter and it didn’t sound like a joke it, it sounded like JK was saying dumb people serve their country and the elites don’t have to. Please let’s keep the focus on that disaster in Iraq and our great local candidates.

Please apologize for how it sounded to so many of us – not for what you said and sit down – you are not inspiring anyone except Rove.

Please don’t kill the momentum — JK isn’t running but he can help lose this great opportunity.

Okay, enough of this. Back to what and who this race is about.