Kerry’s Commitment

 

John Kerry came to Nashville to address a veteran’s organization the day after George Bush had done the same thing.

 

I was unable to catch Mr. Bush’s speech but happened to be in the house while TV was broadcasting Mr. Kerry’s speech.

 

Mr. Kerry said a lot of things he was going to do but he didn’t say how he was going to do them.

 

For instance, Mr. Kerry seems to think that we can depend on the United Nations. Even if the United Nations is peopled by nations, which hate the U.S.A. and wouldn’t give us air if we were in a jug, much less come to our aid militarily?

 

The only thing some of these nations feel for us is envy, jealousy and disdain.

 

For instance, he said that he would have called on our NATO allies to help out in Iraq. Did the call not go out? And how many answered?

 

For instance, Mr. Kerry has stated that he would increase our active duty military by forty thousand people. Since we now have an all-volunteer army and are having trouble now filling the quotas. Would he reinstitute the draft?

 

He spoke in glowing terms about our present day military. What about the thousands he accused of being rapists, murderers and pillagers during the Vietnam war? Wouldn’t a small apology be in order?

 

Mr. Kerry takes great pride in saying that he would raise taxes on everybody making over two hundred thousand dollars a year. He’s always accusing President Bush of supporting tax cuts for the rich.

 

Did you ever stop and wonder why some of the staunchest supporters of tax hikes are extremely rich men who’s family fortune is self proliferating old money, beyond the reach of the federal government’s greedy paws?

 

How can Mr. Kerry claim to be pro military when he has voted against almost all of our major weapon systems?

 

He also voted for a nuclear freeze while President Ronald Reagan was in the midst of the Cold War, which by the way we won resoundly from a position of strength, nuclear bans notwithstanding.

 

In my opinion, America’s true friends can be counted on one hand, with some fingers left over. To depend on anyone other than ourselves for our defense would be the height of folly.

 

At the danger of sounding redundant, the United Nations is about as useless as mammary glands on a boar hog. A toothless, blustering, debating society, which should never, never be trusted with an army. If I had my way not one more man or woman wearing the uniform of America would ever don a blue beret.

 

There is a lot of pretty wrapping on Mr. Kerry’s statements but is there anything inside?

 

Pray for our troops

 

What do you think?

 

God Bless America

 

Charlie Daniels

A much better musician. The great Boss:

 

CHORDS FOR CHANGE

By BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

published in The New York Times, August 5, 2004

 

A nation's artists and musicians have a particular place in its social and political life. Over the years I've tried to think long and hard about what it means to be American: about the distinctive identity and position we have in the world, and how that position is best carried. I've tried to write songs that speak to our pride and criticize our failures.

 

These questions are at the heart of this election: who we are, what we stand for, why we fight. Personally, for the last 25 years I have always stayed one step away from partisan politics. Instead, I have been partisan about a set of ideals: economic justice, civil rights, a humane foreign policy, freedom and a decent life for all of our citizens. This year, however, for many of us the stakes have risen too high to sit this election out.

 

Through my work, I've always tried to ask hard questions. Why is it that the wealthiest nation in the world finds it so hard to keep its promise and faith with its weakest citizens? Why do we continue to find it so difficult to see beyond the veil of race? How do we conduct ourselves during difficult times without killing the things we hold dear? Why does the fulfillment of our promise as a people always seem to be just within grasp yet forever out of reach?

 

I don't think John Kerry and John Edwards have all the answers. I do believe they are sincerely interested in asking the right questions and working their way toward honest solutions. They understand that we need an administration that places a priority on fairness, curiosity, openness, humility, concern for all America's citizens, courage and faith.

 

People have different notions of these values, and they live them out in different ways. I've tried to sing about some of them in my songs. But I have my own ideas about what they mean, too. That is why I plan to join with many fellow artists, including the Dave Matthews Band, Pearl Jam, R.E.M., the Dixie Chicks, Jurassic 5, James Taylor and Jackson Browne, in touring the country this October. We will be performing under the umbrella of a new group called Vote for Change. Our goal is to change the direction of the government and change the current administration come November.

 

Like many others, in the aftermath of 9/11, I felt the country's unity. I don't remember anything quite like it. I supported the decision to enter Afghanistan and I hoped that the seriousness of the times would bring forth strength, humility and wisdom in our leaders. Instead, we dived headlong into an unnecessary war in Iraq, offering up the lives of our young men and women under circumstances that are now discredited. We ran record deficits, while simultaneously cutting and squeezing services like afterschool programs. We granted tax cuts to the richest 1 percent (corporate bigwigs, well-to-do guitar players), increasing the division of wealth that threatens to destroy our social contract with one another and render mute the promise of "one nation indivisible."

 

It is through the truthful exercising of the best of human qualities - respect for others, honesty about ourselves, faith in our ideals - that we come to life in God's eyes. It is how our soul, as a nation and as individuals, is revealed. Our American government has strayed too far from American values. It is time to pick up the pieces and move forward. The country we carry in our hearts is waiting.

He spoke in glowing terms about our present day military. What about the thousands he accused of being rapists, murderers and pillagers during the Vietnam war? Wouldn?t a small apology be in order?

 

apology for what? does anyone (including Mr. Daniels) deny these types of things happened? should he apologize for relating things thirty years ago he'd been told happened over there? things other soldiers have admitted happened over there? apologize??? sounds like "liberal whining" to me, Mr. Daniels.

 

Did you ever stop and wonder why some of the staunchest supporters of tax hikes are extremely rich men who?s family fortune is self proliferating old money, beyond the reach of the federal government?s greedy paws?

 

wow, some supporters of tax hikes are rich? i suppose some of them are middle-class too, and some of them are poor? this is shocking! some rich people are for tax hikes, some are against them. his argument is with old money then? maybe he should be in favor of tax reform, but is he actually thinking Kerry's in favor of rolling back Bush's tax cuts because it won't affect him?

 

How can Mr. Kerry claim to be pro military when he has voted against almost all of our major weapon systems?

 

dick cheney himself has admitted there are many weapon systems he feels are no longer needed. does that make him anti-military too?

 

let's see, charlie daniels says we basically have three or four friends left in the world, we should disband the UN, and build up our nuke program in the face of an envious, jealous, disdainful world.

 

I was unable to catch Mr. Bush?s speech but happened to be in the house while TV was broadcasting Mr. Kerry?s speech.

 

Mr. Kerry said a lot of things he was going to do but he didn?t say how he was going to do them.

 

how convenient that "wasn't able" to catch Mr. Bush's speech which is made up of the same type of general policy talk that he accuses Kerry of, long on rhetoric & short on details.

 

For instance, Mr. Kerry seems to think that we can depend on the United Nations. Even if the United Nations is peopled by nations, which hate the U.S.A. and wouldn?t give us air if we were in a jug, much less come to our aid militarily?

 

which countries hate the U.S.? Italy? France hates us? Denmark? Brazil? Mexico? Japan? the Phillipines? Canada? Russia? he's talking about a handful of nations at best. it's this very attitude of "the world doesn't bow at our feet so screw 'em" that gives the U.S. the reputation that he seems so angry about.

 

why I even read these things from Charlie Daniels I have no idea....