Saturday, September 25, 2004

Not spin, outright lies from Kerry this week:

1) We have spent $200 billion on Iraq so far.
"We have not spent $200 billion on Iraq. We have spent probably somewhere around $120 [billion] or $130 billion," said Norman Ornstein, a political scientist with the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative Washington-based think tank.
"He adds money that hasn't been spent yet and hasn't been asked for yet," said Brooks Jackson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center's FactCheck.org.
Asked by Jackson to provide backup for the $200 billion claim for a FactCheck.org item last week, the Kerry campaign originally included a bill that would have spent money on Afghanistan and on defense programs in the United States. But since that time the campaign has provided new figures that exclude such programs, though the campaign still relies on future dollars not allocated or even requested to reach its figure." via ABC News
2) Claims Rumsfeld lied about the number of Security forces in Iraq.
"On a recent appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman, the Massachusetts senator offered this claim: "Secretary [of Defense] Donald Rumsfeld said not so long ago that there were 210,000 Iraqi security forces that were ready to go. Well, before Congress, he revised that figure just a few days ago saying, 'No, I was wrong. There are 95,000.' In fact, there are only 5,000."
According to the Pentagon, there are 6,316 soldiers in the Iraqi army, but they are just one part of the Iraqi security forces, which total around 95,000 and include 34,553 police, 36,397 National Guardsmen, 15,688 Border Patrol agents, 282 Coastal Defense personnel, 143 Air Force members and others. --Via ABC News

This isn't just twisting the facts, or gilding the lily, these are outright LIES. Now I know politics is putting a postive spin on things, but haven't we crossed a line here?

**Speaking of crossing a line: Kerry claimed yesterday that Prime Minister Allawi was "obviously contradicting his own statement" and putting put his "best face" on the President's Iraq policy.

It almost seems as if Kerry wants things to go badly in Iraq. I could almost understand Kerry's spin on things if not for the fact that Allawi is a walking target and is putting his life on the line every day. You would think that Kerry would want to encourage him instead of undermine his credibility. It really goes to the heart of leadership. At this time in this war in Iraq the last thing the leaders of Iraq need is an American running for President calling into question their leadership. Can Kerry use some of his vast wealth and buy a clue.

This from Iraqi The Model blog: "Allawi's speech was articulate, impressive and honest and most Iraqis I talk to lately share the same opinion with me, but much more impressive was the reaction of all members of congress that were there. That was the American people there, the whole American nation not just republicans, standing and cheering, not Allawi but what he stood for, IRAQ. They were showing support and friendship to Iraq not Allawi and that was a rare moment in history where the two nations Iraq and American stood as equal friends, no it was actually more like a family as one American friend described. Insulting Allawi and Bush and the whole speech, speaking so harshly of that unique moment is an insult not to Bush or Allawi but to both the Iraqi and American nations, and yes that goes for everyone who did that."

Couldn't have said it better myself. Its good to hear it from a Iraq blogger though.

CORRECTION: I had said that I thought Rather was to be a moderator at one of the Presidential debates. I read that wrong. He will be an on air commentator. Sorry about that. Will anyone be able to listen to him without thinking partisan?

I notice that Kerry and Edwards hit the churches every Sunday, as expected by a presidential and vice presidental candidate, but if I was a member of one of those churches I would want to know if those candidates had been attending church BEFORE they started running in a national campaign. It doesn't mean I don't think they should be there, I would just want to know. It would certainly tell me if they were sincere in their faith or just using church to advance their campaigns. Wonder if there is a way to find out?

Moonbats unite!!!!

If you haven't read this true story over at Wizbang about what happens to those who hate Bush, you should.. its sweet.