Why would Max Cleland

give fodder to the repugs by saying that Dean weaseled out of going to Vietnam claiming a bad back? I was so angry at what the repugs did to him here in GA and I just cannot understand why he would do something similar to a fellow Dem. Surely he knows many people got out of going to Vietnam and surely he knows Bush got out of going so why did he not say Bush got out of going too.I know he is for Kerry but I thought the goal was to defeat Bush.

My mate did 2 tours in vietnam but his cousin had problems with his knees and didn't go even though that did not stop him from doing what he wanted to do played football and the likes.

Since Cleland has been offered a position by Bush does this mean that Cleland will be following Miller by being Dem in name only? Tell me it is not true, Please!

I can see why it might be an emotional issue.

Certainly it doesn't help, but I think that this should be taken into account in any criticism of Cleland. I am sure you are well aware of this, though.

Max Cleeland is a good man and war hero


" Don't ask what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country"

Clark/Kerry

why didn't he say this about Bush who went AWOl? I know he lost 3 limbs but is that justifiable to attack someone in your own camp? Cleland has an excellent mind and is able to use it for good works but what about the many vets who have their limbs but cannot function at all mentally? Many of the homeless vets are that way because mentally they cannot function, so they have limbs but no mind.

that a similar 'weaseling' case applies to Bush. I am just very hesitant to criticize anything that Cleland says about Vietnam draft dodging. But I also agree that it is not helpful to say bad things about other democrats though, especially in this election.

just to clarify.

Please continue....

That's why. While I disagree with Cleland on this, if anyone has the right to criticize someone for not serving... it's Cleland.

It's not like Dean dodged the damn draft. THAT I could understand. It's not as if Dean "weasled" out of the draft. THAT I could understand.

Believe me, nobody in that line of young men that day or any other day WANTED to be drafted. Dean happened to have a back condition -- and still does. It prevented him from continuing to run track when he was in h.s. How would YOU like to be in a foxhole with someone who you knew couldn't really pull his weight? I sure as heck wouldn't.

Cleland -- whom I've voted for a number of times -- was out of line. Shame on him.

Eloriel

I would understand because anyone in their right mind would have done the same thing in 1969. But, I refuse to join you in criticizing Max Clelland for speaking his mind. I may not agree with Senator Clelland, but he paid dearly for the right to an opinion.

Max Clelland has earned better treatment than "shame on him" when he voices him thoughts. He deserves respect. Not automatic agreement, not subservience or fawning, but simple respect for an informed viewpoint.

Sorry he doesn't care for Dean. I'm sure he'll come around.

Dean's story plays fine in many parts of the country. I just don't think it will in the South. I live here, originally a Southern Californian. But I can tell you that going against a President during a war and having to explain repeatedly why you took the x-rays is just going to turn Southern voters off.

It may not matter, Dean could still build an electoral victory without the South. He is a good campaigner.

In DEANS OWN WORDS he "probably could have served"

Dodged, weasled. Be a man and admit it at least.

Shame on Cleland? Get a freakin' grip. Shame on you for your blind kool-aid swilling.

What would you have had him do? Commandeer a jet and have it fly him to Hanoi where he could parachute in like D.B. Cooper and save Bravo Company from an ambush?

No Democrat, not even a hero like Max Cleland, is above reproach when he or she feeds the GOP machine with misinformation like this

If Edwards, Kerry, Lieberman, and Clark run aggressively in Iowa, they'll split the moderate vote and Dean will win. Sometime between then and South Carolina the centrist Democrats are going to panic and start pressuring everyone out-- Lieberman, Kerry, and maybe Edwards. Either way Kerry is done after NH. He might as well quit now, unless he starts living in NH and campaigning there 18 hours a day like Lyndon Johnson did in Texas.

If Cleeland remarks were political then shame on him. Vietnam was tough I lost my 2 uncles to that war. I still respect Max Cleeland he is a great warrior. It was a shame what the GOP did to him

.

I love it because they both look happy and like they are having fun.

Remember fun?????????

Read it and weep for our once proud country:

http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/timeline/2001/myersconfirmation091301.html

Cleland is about to join Al Sharpton and John Kerry in the pantheon of people who have been destroyed by the Dean juggernaut. Poor men. They had no idea what they were up against. If they did, they would have just shut up like good little boys.

I don't think Cleland can be hurt any more than the smear job and rigged voting that took him out.

He still has a lot of respect though by people that know his record.

Cleland was wrong to speak of Dean like he did. He is also tied to Clark on some Atlantic Council which I am researching now. There was no excuse for his attack on Dean. None. Zilch.

helicopter references...lol, stop it my side is hurting.

I have some other things on it. Just researching, as I said. I am not that concerned about it. I just did not see any reason for him to attack Dean like he did. It was not productive criticism.

who did you direct that comment to?

If it was me, I am just pointing out that people in different parts of the country don't see eye-to-eye on some things.

Anyone who speaks badly of Dean is wrong. And they are all destroyed for it, which is just. Look at the list. I bet Bob Graham had an impure thought or two about Dean; look what happened. And Gary Hart said some unflattering things about Dean ("Gary, what should I do?"). The whole Monkey Business issue was obviously pre-emptive Dean wrath. For Dean is a mighty God, and his wrath is swift and terrible!

*nm*

he missed a golden opportunity to strike a blow to Bush and repugs rather than in his own camp whether he likes Dean or not is not he issue for me. I have great admiration for Cleland but his shot missed the right target.

So he condemns Dean. Doesn't make sense. I have respected him, and still do. But that irritated me.

Ooh, I found the hornet's nest of Dean dislikers, I do believe.

they got something on him - Cleland "resigned" from the 9/11 Intelligence Committee to take a White House job - he was the only one speaking out. So much for that now.

How i love your art.

cleland did go after bush and other chickenhawks on the military service issue.

Might not be anything more to it than that