Comments on: Maybe…maybe not http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/11/02/maybemaybe-not/ Parenting, Politics and News for the Perfectly Challenged Fri, 05 Sep 2008 05:51:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Angela http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/11/02/maybemaybe-not/#comment-5771 Angela Mon, 06 Nov 2006 05:45:26 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/11/02/maybemaybe-not/#comment-5771 I think a lot of people look down on enlisted troops or at the very least have no understanding of being enlisted. Coming from a place that many people go into the military for the opportunity and raised in a family who had a "ditch digger" saying also, I thought Senator Kerry's remark seemed very ignorant. Even, with clarification of his intended remark, I believe he could have found a much better metaphor. If Senator Kerry wants an example of why people in central America say they dislike "East Coast" liberals it is because of remarks like this, even in the full correct manner. I think a lot of people look down on enlisted troops or at the very least have no understanding of being enlisted. Coming from a place that many people go into the military for the opportunity and raised in a family who had a “ditch digger” saying also, I thought Senator Kerry’s remark seemed very ignorant. Even, with clarification of his intended remark, I believe he could have found a much better metaphor. If Senator Kerry wants an example of why people in central America say they dislike “East Coast” liberals it is because of remarks like this, even in the full correct manner.

]]> By: Ames Tiedeman http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/11/02/maybemaybe-not/#comment-5711 Ames Tiedeman Sun, 05 Nov 2006 21:53:53 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/11/02/maybemaybe-not/#comment-5711 I think Kerry has these slips of the tongue do to anger. He has so much to say and a much smaller audience than he wants that he gets very frustrated and says stupid things. Keep in mind, he is not all that bright. His grades and performance at Yale were worse than that of President Bush. He is no genius when it comes to tact or discourse. I think Kerry has these slips of the tongue do to anger. He has so much to say and a much smaller audience than he wants that he gets very frustrated and says stupid things. Keep in mind, he is not all that bright. His grades and performance at Yale were worse than that of President Bush. He is no genius when it comes to tact or discourse.

]]> By: Cristina http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/11/02/maybemaybe-not/#comment-5469 Cristina Sat, 04 Nov 2006 05:31:56 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/11/02/maybemaybe-not/#comment-5469 I thought that Kerry definitely put his foot in his mouth here. I continue to support him in general, but I don't support this particular statement. It sounded like he was saying that if you don't study hard or if you aren't smart then you're only option will be the military. For one thing, as you pointed out, this insults people who have chosen a military career. But also, it assumes that all people who try hard and are "smart" will have a myriad of opportunities available to them. I think that is unrealistic and naive. I believe that there are many "smart", capable people who, because of economic or social/family disadvantages, really DON'T have many options for pursuing higher education. And in fact, the reason people often choose the military is so that they can get an education in the first place. I just don't get his statement or why he said it. They tried to say he was referring to Bush but I think that's a cover. But at the same time it doesn't really make sense that Kerry, himself a war veteran, would put down the military. I thought that Kerry definitely put his foot in his mouth here. I continue to support him in general, but I don’t support this particular statement.

It sounded like he was saying that if you don’t study hard or if you aren’t smart then you’re only option will be the military. For one thing, as you pointed out, this insults people who have chosen a military career. But also, it assumes that all people who try hard and are “smart” will have a myriad of opportunities available to them. I think that is unrealistic and naive. I believe that there are many “smart”, capable people who, because of economic or social/family disadvantages, really DON’T have many options for pursuing higher education. And in fact, the reason people often choose the military is so that they can get an education in the first place.

I just don’t get his statement or why he said it. They tried to say he was referring to Bush but I think that’s a cover. But at the same time it doesn’t really make sense that Kerry, himself a war veteran, would put down the military.

]]> By: James http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/11/02/maybemaybe-not/#comment-5215 James Fri, 03 Nov 2006 01:51:24 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/11/02/maybemaybe-not/#comment-5215 Not only does Bush have an education, but his grades were better than Kerry's at Yale. What a bad joke that got turned around on himself. Not only does Bush have an education, but his grades were better than Kerry’s at Yale. What a bad joke that got turned around on himself.

]]> By: Jessica Carlson http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/11/02/maybemaybe-not/#comment-5141 Jessica Carlson Thu, 02 Nov 2006 19:02:47 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/11/02/maybemaybe-not/#comment-5141 I actually heard that more military people wind up with degrees as compared to the regular population. I'll have to look this up later and see if that's accurate. One thing I do know, some of the most successful people in life -- entrepreneurs, doctors, pilots, POLITICIANS etc. have served in the military. What Kerry said was inexcusable and I am shocked anybody would try to either make an excuse for this disrespectful, rude and mean-spirited (and false) expression. The only reason I can think of, that somebody would still support Kerry is for purely partisan reasons. I actually heard that more military people wind up with degrees as compared to the regular population. I’ll have to look this up later and see if that’s accurate.

One thing I do know, some of the most successful people in life — entrepreneurs, doctors, pilots, POLITICIANS etc. have served in the military.

What Kerry said was inexcusable and I am shocked anybody would try to either make an excuse for this disrespectful, rude and mean-spirited (and false) expression. The only reason I can think of, that somebody would still support Kerry is for purely partisan reasons.

]]> By: Julie http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/11/02/maybemaybe-not/#comment-5138 Julie Thu, 02 Nov 2006 18:48:58 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/11/02/maybemaybe-not/#comment-5138 Ellen, if that's what he meant, he's still not making sense. President Bush has an education. And he alone is not responsible for the fact that we have troops in Iraq. Ellen, if that’s what he meant, he’s still not making sense. President Bush has an education. And he alone is not responsible for the fact that we have troops in Iraq.

]]> By: Prescott http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/11/02/maybemaybe-not/#comment-5135 Prescott Thu, 02 Nov 2006 18:37:05 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/11/02/maybemaybe-not/#comment-5135 Well, whatever Kerry supposedly meant to say, boy is he botching this badly. First, he received immediate feedback to that comment, yet he chose to wait it out and not apologize until after the media shit storm hit. Then, he does one of those pseudo-apologies that I can't fucking stand from politicians, "I'm sorry that you were offended. I'm sorry you took my words the wrong way." How about you say, I'm sorry I offended the troops? Lastly, he points his finger at the Republicans, jumping on them for "misinterpreting" his words. MISINTERPRETING? Again, pointing the finger at the offended instead of back at himself. While I think maybe more is being made out of this than needs to be, nobody misinterpreted anything, he misspoke. "Look at that blue car." "That car is red." "Well, you misinterpreted me and I'm sorry that you heard blue." Well, whatever Kerry supposedly meant to say, boy is he botching this badly. First, he received immediate feedback to that comment, yet he chose to wait it out and not apologize until after the media shit storm hit.

Then, he does one of those pseudo-apologies that I can’t fucking stand from politicians, “I’m sorry that you were offended. I’m sorry you took my words the wrong way.” How about you say, I’m sorry I offended the troops?

Lastly, he points his finger at the Republicans, jumping on them for “misinterpreting” his words. MISINTERPRETING? Again, pointing the finger at the offended instead of back at himself. While I think maybe more is being made out of this than needs to be, nobody misinterpreted anything, he misspoke.

“Look at that blue car.”

“That car is red.”

“Well, you misinterpreted me and I’m sorry that you heard blue.”

]]> By: Ellen http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/11/02/maybemaybe-not/#comment-5132 Ellen Thu, 02 Nov 2006 18:20:03 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/11/02/maybemaybe-not/#comment-5132 My understanding of what Kerry says he was trying to convey is that if you don't get an education, you end up like President Bush and get us into a war that gets us stuck. i.e. Bush is the one who didn't study and now he doesn't know what he's doing. Is that what Kerry really meant? I don't know. But that's what his people are saying the comment was meant to be. My understanding of what Kerry says he was trying to convey is that if you don’t get an education, you end up like President Bush and get us into a war that gets us stuck. i.e. Bush is the one who didn’t study and now he doesn’t know what he’s doing. Is that what Kerry really meant? I don’t know. But that’s what his people are saying the comment was meant to be.

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