As an opening for Laura Bush, President Bush’s twin daughters Barbara and Jenna showed the soft side of their father and joked about their inclusion into the political spotlight this year. It was a basic speech coming from a daughter though they did make fun of the world of politics by joking about not knowing members of the Bush Administration before 2000. Joking about the Kerry daughter’s hamster story, Barbara Bush explains they had a hamster too but it didn’t make it. The opening was an attempt at getting the youth vote, an attempt that should help muster some votes in that demographic.

In a live video fee from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, President Bush spoke to the nation from a softball field thanking his daughters for the warm welcome and introducing his wife. This was completely unexpected and gave credence to a family that is indeed united.

You can say what you want about George Bush, but no competent person can knock on Laura Bush. She portrays an image as a strong woman who greatly supports her husband regardless of the issue. Much has been said as of late about how influential she is to her husband’s policies, often providing as a stress reliever during the hard times in the White House.

Driving the President’s plan for education while highlighting the No Child Left Behind policy, Laura Bush credits much of America’s future on the educational level of our children. On the issue of health care, Laura mentioned that Bush was the first president to provide funding for stem-cell research (something the Democrats refuse to acknowledge) and pass reforms on prescription drugs.

Telling a story about a mother’s prayers for her three sons who enlisted into the armed forces following 9/11, Laura stresses that the United States is in a struggle that must be won and all thoughts are on our troops. Taking an aside to thank the troops and their families, Laura hits a chord with the audience which rises to applause. The struggle is for peace, not for warmongering. She outlines that her husband didn’t want to go to war, but “he knew the safety and security of America and the world depended on it.”

No American President ever wants to go to war. Abraham Lincoln didn’t want to go towar, but he knew saving the union required it. Franklin Roosevelt didn’t want to go to war - but he knew defeating tyranny demanded it. And my husband didn’t want to go towar, but he knew the safety and security of America and the world depended on it. I remember some very quiet nights at the dinner table. George was weighing grim scenarios and ominous intelligence about potentially even more devastating attacks.

I listened many nights as George talked with foreign leaders on the phone, or in our living
room, or at our ranch in Crawford. I remember an intense weekend at Camp David. George and Prime Minister Tony Blair were discussing the threat from Saddam Hussein. And I remember sitting in the window of the White House, watching as my husband walked on the lawn below.

I knew he was wrestling with these agonizing decisions that would have such profound consequence for so many lives and for the future of our world. And I was there when my husband had to decide. Once again, as in our parents’ generation, America had to make the tough choices, the hard decisions, and lead the world toward greater security and freedom.

Highlighting the accomplishments of liberating over 40 million people to a new Democratic government, Bush tells the story of the Afghan sprinter competing in the Olympics because of this new found freedom while respecting the tradition of her religion. This was an opening into Laura’s women’s rights speech.

Laura Bush compared the George Bush now to when she first met him, mentioning that he is the same man she met during a backyard barbecue in Midland, TX. She notes that he has greyed and learned much, but he still holds the values that she married him for.

Laura highlights that today’s terrorist attacks must be defeated and that George Bush is fighting as hard as he can so his children do not have to live their entire lives under the threat of terrorism. This is a principle that many detractors from our struggle often forget. Right or wrong on certan policies, the hatred of Bush is not warrented because he shares our beliefs that we must defeat terrorism so future generations do not have to confront the issue over and over.

Overall, Laura Bush gave viewers insight into the thoughts of Bush and his internal struggle in trying to best serve the nation facing the threat of terror. This was the most powerful part of her speech and one that should resonate with voters. Mrs. Bush has a character trait about her that it’s hard not to like her and respect her opinions. You may not agree with them, but you should respect them. Her speech should prove to be effective in showing the personal side of President Bush that is not seen on a day to day basis. She definitely presents her husband as a kind and generous father, son and husband and not the impeachable lier that some Democrats would like to portray him as.

Blogs of War has the full transcipt of First Lady Laura Bush’s speech.

Other Coverage:
Right Voices has a great synopsis of both speeches

The Politicker linked with Blog-o-sphere Reacts... Day 2

Schwarzenegger started by explaining his immigration to the United States and escape from Communism. This will be good for a party that is currently being shunned by immigrants. The hope and dreams of Schwarzenegger as an immigrant landing on our shores with empty pockets, he later notes his decision to be a Republican largely based on hope and individual rights. The idea of personal rights and the belief that anyone can excel if they work hard is a Republican mainstay, and one that Schwarzenegger drills home.

“Speaking of acting, one of my movies was called ‘True Lies.’ It’s what the Democrats should have called their convention.”

Addressing the issue of Schwarzenegger’s differences with the President, he notes that this difference of opinion is what makes this country great. Expanding on this statement, Schwarzenegger drills home the core beliefs of being a Republican.

My fellow immigrants, my fellow Americans how do you know if you are a Republican? I’ll tell you how.

If you believe that government should be accountable to the people, not the people to the government … then you are a Republican! If you believe a person should be treated as an individual, not as a member of an interest group … then you are a Republican! If you believe your family knows how to spend your money better than the government does … then you are a Republican! If you believe our educational system should be held accountable for the progress of our children … then you are a Republican! If you believe this country, not the United Nations, is the best hope of democracy in the world … then you are a Republican! And, ladies and gentlemen … if you believe we must be fierce and relentless and terminate terrorism … then you are a Republican!

There is another way you can tell you’re a Republican. You have faith in free enterprise, faith in the resourcefulness of the American people … and faith in the U.S. economy. To those critics who are so pessimistic about our economy, I say: Don’t be economic girlie men!

Playing on his recent statement towards Democrats in California that refused to back his governatorial platform, Schwarnegger made the comment “don’t be economic girly men” in reference to the naysayers who claim the economy is putred (read Democrats). It is the ability of Schwarzenegger to provide comical relief while driving home an important message that makes the appearence of Schwarzenegger well worth it to the Republican Party. This was followed by a slam on John Edwards’ Two Americas claim where Schwarzenegger explained the troops only fight for one America.

While Schwarzenegger made some very good comments regarding the War on Terror, I cannot help but wonder where his experience on this issue is. He does however clearly outline why American is the better side and lays out many of our humanitarian issues such as spreading Democracy and proving AIDS treatment in Africa.

They come because their hearts say to them, as mine did, “If only I can get to America.” Someone once wrote — “There are those who say that freedom is nothing but a dream.” They are right. It’s the American dream.

Schwarzenegger has the ability to appeal to all Americans, but I’m not sure if this speech will do just that. He just outlined some of the Republican ideology and didn’t really go into specifics as to why he is endorsing President Bush. Overall it wasn’t as effective as I thought he would be, but still very good.

Blogs of War has the full transcript of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s speech.

Other Coverage:
Slings and Arrows
Right Voices has a great synopsis of both speeches

Right On Red linked with Convention Reaction Roundup Day 2
The Politicker linked with Blog-o-sphere Reacts... Day 2

Tuesday has been a day of multiple terrorist attacks stretching the globe and some good news on the terrorism front as well. Good news first.

- Associated Press

PARIS (AP) - France intensified efforts Tuesday to save two journalists held hostage in Iraq, convening crisis talks in Paris and around the Arab world as a 24-hour execution deadline set by militants neared.

The official Jordanian news agency, Petra, reported from Iraq that it expected the release of the journalists “within the next few hours.” The agency said its report was based on “well-informed” sources.

French President Jacques Chirac said every effort was being made to free the journalists - although his government has steadfastly refused to bow to kidnappers’ demands that a new law banning Islamic head scarves in French public schools be revoked.

This is great news that terrorists released the two French journalists who are guilty of nothing but being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It is interesting to note that these journalists have been involved in anti-war rhetoric and are strongly against the war in Iraq. The troubling news to this case is that Chirac stood stead-fast on his country’s decision to ban head scarves. I applaud Chirac, I’ll hate myself ater, for not swaying the rules of his country due to terrorists’ demands, however what is the point of this law? It seems much like a discrimination case and much like an unjust law. I do not however live in France so I cannot fully comment on France’s policy.

Now on to the bad news.

- Associated Press

BEERSHEBA, Israel (AP) - Palestinian suicide bombers blew up two buses almost simultaneously in this southern city Tuesday, killing at least 16 passengers and wounding more than 80 in the first major attack inside Israel in nearly six months.

The explosions - for which the Hamas militant group claimed responsibility - ended a period of relative calm. Israel has attributed the lull to its crackdown on Palestinian militants and continued construction of a separation barrier in the West Bank. Palestinian militants have acknowledged they have faced increasing difficulties carrying out attacks.

The two buses blew up 15 seconds apart, about 100 yards from a busy intersection in the center of Beersheba. “People were screaming and yelling. Everybody was running,” said witness Tzika Schreter, a 50-year-old college lecturer.

Rescue workers scoured the scene, cleaning up body parts and scattered pieces of the wreckage as dozens of onlookers gathered nearby. A hand with a ring lay on a charred seat, and blood was splattered on the walls of the mangled buses.

I simply do not understand how the Israelis can carry on normal life knowing in the back of their minds that they might end up the next piece of carnage featured on world-wide television and print. I would assume just like in the past, Israel will fire a missle into a Hamas member’s house. It defies logic to me that these two groups, Israelis and Palestinians, live in such a mindset of hatred of the other all the while doing little to nothing to try to mend the differences and at the very least learn to co-exist. The Israelis are afraid of the Palenstinians and visa versa, which is of course understandable.

- Reuters (via Backcountry Conservative)

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Eight people were killed and at least 20 injured by a female suicide bomber in a central Moscow parking lot Tuesday evening, Russian news agencies reported.

Local television footage showed a blazing car parked between a large shopping center and the entrance to a metro station, with several bodies lying on the pavement.

Tass said a number of children were among the injured.

Russian officials did not immediately attribute the blast to Chechen guerrillas but the attack bore some of the hallmarks of previous operations by militants from the independence-seeking region.

“It was like a big thunder clap. I was just coming out of the shop. There was one explosion, then another small one, probably from gas,” Alexei Borodin, 29, told Reuters.

“I saw five people who could not stand up. And there were other people who were in small bits. There was one man without a stomach shouting: ‘Where are the police?”‘

Interfax news agency quoted a source at the Interior Ministry as saying: “With a great deal of probability, we can state that what happened was a deliberate explosion caused by a female suicide bomber.”

If the source at the Interior Ministry is correct, you can count this terrorist act to the Black Widows, group of Chechens who lost their sons or husbands during the Chechen War. This makes three seperate terrorist attacks on Russian soil in less than two weeks (Bus stop, Airlines and car bomb). Putin’s reaction to this increased activity of terrorism on his soil will probably be drastic and could have world-wide consequences. He should react to these acts though and it will be interesting to see how this changes the world we live in and Russia’s support on the War on Terror.

Other Coverage:
Rusty Shackleford
Outside the Beltway

- Associated Press

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A video purporting to show the methodical, grisly killings of 12 Nepalese construction workers kidnapped in Iraq was posted Tuesday on a Web site linked to a militant group operating in Iraq.

Read the background of the story here.

mypetjawa v. 2.0 (beta) linked with 8 Killled in Moscow Metro Bombing
Backcountry Conservative linked with 8 Dead in Explosion near Moscow Metro Station

- Reuters

DUBAI (Reuters) - An Iraqi militant group said it had killed 12 Nepali hostages and showed pictures on an Islamist Web site on Tuesday of one of them being beheaded.

“We have carried out the sentence of God against 12 Nepalis who came from their country to fight the Muslims and to serve the Jews and the Christians…believing in Buddhah as their God,” said the statement by the military committee of the Army of Ansar al-Sunna.

This is the same group that beheaded a “spy” last week.

The recording showed two masked men, one in camouflage, holding down a hostage. One of the men then used a knife to behead the hostage and then hold his head aloft.

The video then showed a group of hostages lying face-down in a dirt pitch being gunned down by a man using an automatic rifle. It then showed bodies splattered with blood and with bullet wounds in the head and back.

“Our brothers, do not feel any mercy or pity for these nasty and spiteful people,” the statement said.

“They have left their homes and their countries and crossed thousands of kilometers to work for the American Crusader forces and to support their war against Islam and the mujahideen.”

The Nepalis were taken hostage earlier this month as they entered Iraq to work as cooks and cleaners for a Jordanian company. The Ansar al-Sunna said it had kidnapped them because they were cooperating with U.S. troops in Iraq.

“America has exploited and used all it has to fight Islam and its people under what it calls the war on terrorism, which is a spiteful Crusader war against Muslims,” the statement said.

“This is why, and in order to thwart the enemies of God, we have carried out this sentence (punishment),” it added.

Chris Short of Our Life has the video.

The video shows the decapitation of one hostage and then the subsequent shooting of the remaining hostages while they are lying on their stomachs. It is not clear if the hostages were alive when they were executed, however it is very probable they were alive and drugged. Ansar Al-Sunna has drugged their hostages before to make them less resistant to their thuggery. The decapitation is not easy to watch so watch the video only if you are prepared.

The Site Institute reports on an Al Qaida training manual where they encourage drugging of hostages to transport them from place to place. It is not inconceivable that the hostages were drugged during their execution as well. Looking back at the video of many of the hostage executions, the majority appear to be either dying or heavily intoxicated by something. The ones that appear to be most sedated have been Muslims, which begs the question of how the terrorists justify drugging Muslims before execution and not other nationalities.

Case in point, Nick Berg was definitely not drugged when he was ruthlessly beheaded. Mohammed Fawzi Abd Aal Metwalli was accused of being a CIA spy and I noted back then that he looked either seriously injured or indeed drugged. Rusty Shackleford notes that it is common practice in Chechnya to drug the victims of beheadings therefore it is probably that this tactic is being used in Iraq as well.

Hat tip: Backcountry Conservative

Update:
- Associated Press

Such comments contrasted with muted reaction in the region Tuesday when a grisly video surfaced on a militant Muslim Web site showing the purported killing of 12 Nepalese workers kidnapped in Iraq. The group that claimed responsibility had accused the Nepalese of working for the U.S. military. One Iraqi cleric told Al-Jazeera TV that their deaths, while regrettable, were understandable because “their work is military work.”

This is absolutely appalling. Not only does this statement reflect an attitude where some lives are worth less than others, but it condones the brutal execution of those who are simply trying to make a living. None of the hostages from Napal ever fired a weapon at an Iraqi and the terrorist taking of an un-connected individual rather than face the Iraqi Army or the United States military is cowardly to its core.

This is the same type of person who expressed huge outrage at the Abu Ghraib prison torture, and rightly so by the way, yet looks the other way when people are killed bound and gagged without the ability to defend theirself. Creating a naked pyramid and beheading someone while alive or drugged is not the same and this Iraqi cleric needs to read the good book to realize the differences in such acts.

ITB Related Entries:
Twelve Hostages From Nepal Taken

In Search of Utopia linked with 12 More Victims of Insanity
Diggers Realm linked with A Dozen Nepali Hostages Butchered By Automatic Rifle, Knife
mypetjawa v. 2.0 (beta) linked with 12 Nepalese Hostages Killed, 1 Beheaded
Backcountry Conservative linked with Report: 12 Nepalese Beheaded

Take that Barrack Obama!

Rudolph Giuliani rightly appeared after three widows of 9/11. It was a fitting opening and hopefully a fitting ending to their testimony. Giuliani is known for being tough on crime and an all around tough guy period. He helped clean New York of many gangs and organized crime that was so rampant before his term as Mayor of New York.

Mixing a few comic phrases with an overall uplifting account of New York as a city as well as the direction the country is headed in, Giuliani hit a tone with the delegates in attendance and made viewers start to become optimistic after the harrowing speeches by the 9/11 widows. This was not an easy task, yet one that Giuliani did well.

Giuliani struck a cord in describing the importance of leadership to get through a travesty. Bush has that leadership ability according to Giuliani. He described his first-hand experience of the events of 9/11 and rightly lauded the NYPD and the FDNY for their heroic work.

Giuliani makes the interesting comparison the the terrorists hijacking planes to Al Qaida hijacking the religion of Islam. He used the history of terrorism dating back to the 1972 Olympics and blammed the actions of Germany for releasing the terrorists from that fateful day to what has festered into what we have today. I have argued this time and time again. It is appeasement that has allowed terrorism to ferment. It is appeasement that has allowed terrorists to see their goals rewarded, thus creating new terrorists and new terrorist objectives. He uses this to explain why he believes we are in the right direction by going on offense against terrorism, and rightly so.

Giuliani slams the media’s coverage trying to belittle Bush comparing the coverage to that of Reagan. This is a justified comparison as the media slammed Reagan on a daily basis while he was in office and has given him great press after his administration on to his death. Bush, like Reagan, is not a media darling not because he isn’t charasmatic or a strong leader, but because he does not push the media’s agenda.

Giuliani attacks Kerry’s record in the Senate and even cracks a joke about his flip-flopping to the crowd’s delight. He mentions many of the changing stances of Kerry and announces that Kerry has the time now to “change his position four or five more times.” Of course there’s the crack on Kerry’s statement regarding his vote agaisnt funding our troops.

My point about John Kerry being inconsistent is best described in his own words when he said, “I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it.”

Maybe this explains John Edwards’ need for two Americas - - one where John Kerry can vote for something and another where he can vote against the same thing.

via PoliBlog

The comparison of Kerry’s indecision to Edward’s Two Americas was pricless. “One for it and one against it,” said Giuliani commenting on the Two Americas.

Giuliani rightly attacksed Kerry’s Convention speech where Kerry claimed he would respond by any attack harshly. “This isn’t the right stance to take against terrorism,” said Guiliani. The sad truth is that who knows if this is what John Kerry actually meant when he said it.

He gave great testimony about Bush’s visit to Ground Zero on September 14 noting that the Secret Service didn’t want Bush to be there but Bush persisted and of course was there. This famous speech given by Bush while standing upon some rubble has stuck in my mind like a favorite memory. This day was only a small snippet that demonstrated the leadership of this president.

Giuliani stole the night, just barely over McCain, by appealing to all the emotions of the human gauntlet. Comic relief, momentary sadness, excitement and at times anger were exalted from the pulpit of Guiliani. His continuous references to Bush’s strong leadership along with his mockery of Kerry’s voting record and public statements spoke volumes and could very well send him to the podium accepting the party’s nomination in 2008.

Complete ITB convention coverage available here.

Other Coverage:
Outside the Beltway
PoliBlog
Blogs for Bush
ConsterNations

Diggers Realm linked with Giuliani Speech Was Incredible
The Politicker linked with Blog-o-sphere Reacts
Right On Red linked with HELLLLLLLLLLL YES
:: Political Musings :: linked with One-Two Punch

Senator John McCain took the stage and gave a rousing speech discussing the threat we now face. McCain puts much of what is thought and believed by all Americans into perspective and strives to pull us all back together in our eternal struggle against terrorists.

Comparing Bush to FDR, McCain argues that both presidents came into office not with one agenda and was forced to change agendas. This in case has the been the juxtaposition within the Bush Administration. Bush came in to office and pledged a more isolationist policy but was thrust into war by 9/11. Too many people forget that.

In a slight jab to the Clinton Administration, McCain states that we have to realize we are in war and not sit back and hope things will be ok. McCain does not mention Clinton, however in context it is assumed this was an attack on the Clinton years.

McCain is a much better speaker than I thought he was and it was ever so apparent when he described how a strong president should act while confronting terrorism. McCain spoke about just a few of the successes Bush has accomplished in his administration after 9/11 through Afghanistan, Intelligence reform and the War on Iraq. He challenges the “status quo” mentallity shared by both France and a few Democrats (of course the Democrats during the election year for political gain at least).

“It was between war and a greater threat. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Not our political opponents, and certainly not, certainly not, a disingenuous film maker who would have us believe that Saddam’s Iraq was an oasis of peace when in fact it was a place of indescribable cruelty, mass graves and prisons that contained unbelievable torture and policies that destroyed the lives of children.”

During this statement, the camera pans to Michael Moore who is sitting in the press booth clapping and laughing while several booos are heard followed by long pause for chants of “four more years.”

McCain’s tribute to our soldiers seemed to bring tears to his eyes. He praised those living and those no longer with us and gave them due credit for protecting our freedoms. McCain credits everything this country now is to our soldiers who fight for our right to exist.

Any questions that have been raised about McCain supporting Bush have now been erased. Any one that suggests otherwise did not see or hear the speech given by McCain. McCain gave a strong endorsement of President Bush, causing the many in attendance to make him pause for applause.

Steven Taylor of PoliBlog notes that the middle of McCain’s speech was better than the rest, which I tend to agree with. He also notes that the clip of his slam on Moore will get the most press.

Complete ITB convention coverage available here.

Say Anything has posted pictures of Michael Moore’s reaction to McCain’s comment about disingenuous film makers.”

Other Coverage:
Outside the Beltway
PoliBlog

Diggers Realm linked with Giuliani Speech Was Incredible

Individual speeches will be given their own due coverage not available in this live blogging post. Please go to the Republican National Convention category for more coverage.

8:15 CST
The theme thus far, and probably the rest of the evening, is a tribute to the military. It is done well and mostly non-partisan with a few jabs thrown into the mix. The difference between the GOP’s tribute and the Dems’ tribute is that the GOP puts the focus on the present rather than Vietnam.

8:20 CST
NYPD Commissioner speaks about 9/11. This is the tribute to 9/11 that everyone expected.
Expect much more from Guiliani. Hopefully tonight doesn’t cross the fine line of using a tragedy for political gain. The link between Bush’s strong leadership and the aftermath of 9/11 is connected as well as our military forces’ action to those that attacked us.

8:30 CST
Rob Khuzami, former Assistant U.S. Attorney, speaks about the Patriot Act. The Patriot Act is widely used by the Democrats as an attack on civil liberties yet cannot give one example where that has happened. Khuzami addresses this issue as well as gives needed clarification on the issue. The Patriot Act is a bill that isn’t understood by 98 percent of America, myself included.

8:40 CST
Zainab Al-Suwaij, Executive Director of the American Islamic Coongress, came to the podium to discuss why the U.S. went to war in Iraq. She is a Shiite Muslim from Iraq. She reminds us of the hatred and tortorous acts committed by Saddam Hussein. She turns this into a speech regarding the future of Iraq and thanks Bush for liberating her people.

“To the United States military and Iraqis that lost their lives liberating Iraq, I tell their families their lives were not in vain.”

9:30 CST
The families of some 9/11 victims spoke about terrorist attacks, including the wife of one of the passengers on Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania. One of the speakers rightly lauded her husband for being one of many heroes on that flight that pushed the plane into the ground instead of its intended target. Let’s roll!

One of the three lost her firefighter husband in the World Trade Center. She is also about see her son ship off to war in Iraq. She led a moment of silence where you could literally heard a pin drop.

Each and every speaker during the tribute to 9/11 was heartwrenching and at times hard to watch. Each of them siad they were honored to be given a speakers role and I hope this helps them heal. Each of them lost their husbands on 9/11 and shared with the nation their memories. As sad as this entire case is, this will some how turn into a partisan attack. This was an amazing tribute that is sure to touch the hearts of every American regardless of ideology. Only if it was covered by network television.

Visit Blogs of War for more live blogging. Steven Taylor at PoliBlog also is blogging live probably from the comfort of his couch much like I am. JayTea is doing his best blogging from home as his compatriot Kevin Aylward of WizBang is at the Convention.

Complete ITB convention coverage available here.

PoliBlog linked with More Live Convention Blogging

- Court TV

The threat of drowning had no bearing on Yaysn Abdul-Mattin and his alleged efforts to smoke his crack pipe.

According to a police report, highway patrol officers in Suffolk County, N.Y., spotted the 32-year-old man driving erratically at 12:16 a.m., Aug. 13. A chase ensued when Abdul-Mattin refused to stop.

The chase ended when Abdul-Mattin drove into a private driveway, went through the backyard and plunged his car into a pond. Then things got bizarre.

Although his car was sinking, the Abdul-Mattin remained inside the vehicle and attempted to light his crack pipe, police say. He also ignored the officers who commanded him to exit the vehicle.

The car was almost completely submerged before Abdul-Mattin decided to budge. He crawled out through the rear window that an officer had broken.

He was arrested and charged with driving while impaired and released without bail.

One must have priorities.

On the opening night of the Republican National Convention, Howard Dean opened up the Monday Night Football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tennessee Titans. Not only does Howard Dean not have any place on a football game between those two teams, he should not be on national television during the Republican National Convention while the networks refuse to give coverage.

Email ABC Sports and show them your displeasure. I have.

There is yet another gruop of Vietnam Veterans against Kerry, this time those that served with John Kerry aboard the U.S.S. Gridley (via Say Anything).

Among the testimonies by the sailors who served with Kerry, on the same boat too Libs, I found quite a few lines interesting.

When I read “Tour of Duty”, I became concerned because the material on Kerry’s time on GRIDLEY appeared in many instances to be exaggerations and in some cases figments of an overactive imagination.

- Phil Carter

This group is much smaller than the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, however based on Carter’s own account of Kerry exagerating his claims for his biography Tour of Duty, they carry many of the same type of claims. It is one thing to be proud of your service as every veteran and current soldier should be, but it’s another to fabricate stories to make you sound like a hero.

Everyday Kerry is reminding me of the father in Big Fish more and more. It’s a great movie, and like Kerry’s life, it’s all made up.