Did he really say that?!

The Republican National Convention kicked off yesterday with 9/11 being the predictable theme. From the family members of 9/11 survivors to the popular Senator John McCain to the then Mayor of NYC, Rudy Giuliani, everyone had praises for President Bush for his able leadership during and after those trying times. That they said all that and more, keeping a straight face, is itself praiseworthy. Never mind that the current administration is far from being "humble" as it had promised during the 2000 campaign. Never mind that, in the eyes of the world, they have reinforced the American stereotype of being the damn-the-rest cowboy. Never mind that they wasted away the tremendous outpouring of sympathy from all over the globe immediately after that fateful day.

And, oh the cheesy comment of the night? I would give that distinction to Rudy Giuliani's : "At the time, we believed that we would be attacked many more times that day and in the days that followed. Without really thinking, based on just emotion, spontaneous, I grabbed the arm of then Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik and I said to him, “Bernie, thank God George Bush is our President. I say it again tonight, I say it again tonight: thank God that George Bush is our President. And thank God that Dick Cheney, a man with his experience and his knowledge and his strength and his background is our vice president."

Row, row, row a boat ...

So the Swift Boat Veterans drama continues. A lawyer working for the Bush campaign who was also partly responsible for the ad attacking Kerry, has resigned. Senator McCain wants the President to "tell his sleazy Texas buddies to stop these negative ads". And President Bush comes back with a meek all-such-ads-including-the-present-ad-are-bad response. Senator McMain saying that's not enough commented, "I've said before I would like for the president to specifically condemn that ad, but the president has said John Kerry served honorably and also the president is now committed to acting to try to bring 527s into regulations that are appropriate."

You have to hand it to the Republicans. They are trying (quite successfully, I think) to kill two birds with one stone. Through such irresponsible ads that is filled with untruths and half-truths, they attack Senator Kerry. At the same time, they say they are not to blame but the "soft campaign money" is. It is a well-known fact that there are more ads attacking Bush than Kerry, thanks to organizations such as moveon.org .By shifting the focus from the ad in question to some vague assertion against 527s, they not only control debate about who gets to question the Bush administration but also make wild charges against the Kerry campaign that are largely baseless. They can always issue something that sounds mildly apologetic but the damage intended is done. As President Bush said to Senator McCain during the 2000 primaries, "its all politics, John." Senator McCain's reply? "No George, not everything."

Attack!

First, some background. One of the advantages the Kerry campaign prides itself on is Senator Kerry's Vietnam service. The presidential candidate who commandeered a boat during the Vietnam war is a decorated war hero and his campaign doesn't miss a chance to remind the country about it. Contrast this with President Bush's record and you see that there really is no contest. Again, as the democrats never fail to remind the nation, the President chickened out of the war and enlisted in the Texas Air National Guard where his attendance, apparently, isn't much to speak about. In any case, a lot of water has flown under the proverbial bridge since then - yet, the war card carries considerable weight and anyone who watched the democratic convention would surely agree with me. From his opening line in his acceptance speech - "I am John Kerry and I am reporting for duty" (Gee.. can anything be more cheesy?!) - to his war buddies coming up on stage to testify to Kerry's courage under fire, it was one big chest-thumping party that could put Tarzan to shame.

On to the story that has made headlines this week. A few days ago, a group called the "Swiftboat Veterans for truth" consisting of military men who were also in Vietnam at that time, some of whom were in the boats in the same boatalion (sic) as Senator Kerry, have taken out a TV ad accusing Kerry of fabricating evidence of his own bravery. Never mind that there are inconsistencies in what they say. Never mind that their connection to the White House is a hop, skip, Karl Rove away. Never mind that the President won't condemn such below the belt attacks as Senator John McCain (a well-regarded Republican Senator from Arizona) does. Of course, given that the Republicans have successfully attacked former Senator Max Cleland and questioned his patriotism, there's nothing surprising about this ad per se. And by the way, Cleland also fought in the Vietnam war and lost both his legs and an arm in the bargain. What I find funny is that the people are willing to ignore Iraq, the economy, healthcare (a word of caution: don't get sick in America!) and any issue worth talking about, and spend all their energy, money and power on the length of the Kerry's wound decades ago. One of the people in the now-famous TV ad is the doctor who treated Kerry on at least one occasion. He says Kerry's wound was so superficial that it was a mere scratch. (I paraphrase). Man, he must have a photographic memory if he can remember the extent of some soldier's wounds during a war that happened decades ago even when the wound in question was not something one could write a paper about. And oh, the medical records don't say anything about a scratch either.

McGroovy :)

A couple of days ago Governor McGreevey of New Jersey heralded "I am a gay American" and tendered his resignation. He had an extra-marital affair and just when things looked like they would blow up in his face, he pre-empted all the hoopla by announcing his intention to step down. Of course, it was foolish and unethical on his part and it is safe to assume that the voters wouldn't be kind and forgiving although I don't think people are all too shocked when politicians are caught in sex scandals. If the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal is any indicator, the Republicans would've had a field day with McGreevey's confession.

But the fact remains that Clinton, with Senator Clinton by his side weathered the storm and went on complete his innings. Would we live to see a world where the likes of McGreevey don't have to act straight (no Oscars for that!) - and go on to be openly gay governors and presidents?!