Posse Incitatus

The goods on the CBS draft story

INDC Journal has them.

One thing that the interview makes clear: CBS did not operate out of a conscious decision to underwrite the Kerry campaign's talking points.

For some, this mitigates their offense.

But to the Posse, it is even more damning.

CBS is now so biased it can't even recognize when it is slanting a story. It is one thing to twist the truth, it is another to not even know it anymore.

This is common among many reporters. Their partisanship and belief system permeates their work in such a way that they can no more remove it than they can remove their own lungs. They are one.

This is perhaps the most dismaying feature of modern media reportage. A ruthless editor making up a story to settle scores is contemptable, but he can be reasoned with. He can admit wrongdoing and be sanctioned and possible reform.

But people ignorant of their own sins cannot reform. We can almost imagine the deer-in-the-headlights look on the CBS officials' faces when INDC asked its questions about disclosing Ms. Cocco's relationship with a radical anti-war organization.

"Why would we do that?"

It isn't malice so much as cluelessness.

Raising the bar for political ads

The Posse earlier went on record as noting the great skill and effectiveness of the Swift Vets' ads.

Powerline links to ad that puts them to shame.

The ad is titled "Different" and it showcases Democrat Sen. Patty Murray in all her liberal flaky glory.

About that draft thing...

A night of rest and the Posse is feeling much better.

Or at least we were until we browsed Captain Ed this morning.

One of Kerry's recurring talking points is how Bush will bring back the draft. Only a man as wise, nuanced and diplomatic as Kerry will extricate our forces from Iraq so that compulsory military service isn't necessary.

So goes the myth, at any rate.

Captain Ed rightly points out that both bills reinstating the draft come from Democrats, not Republicans, and both are an attempt to force social change, not increase military readiness.

Moreover, the Kerry campaign has its own plan for national service, or it least it had one until recently.

Strangely, the item has disappeared from its website.

This of course demonstrates the two-faced nature of the modern Democratic party. On the one hand, national service - specifically military service - is to be so lauded and praised that their chosen candidate bases his bid for the White House on it.

At the same time, however, the Dems act as though it is tantamount to a death sentence. A draft must be fought off at all costs. They never address whether national security requires it, why the very concept of one is anathema to them.

Unless it effects some desired social change, of course.

The Posse continues to wait with bated breath to see if the Kerry campaign will finally strike bottom. So far, it hasn't happened.

Powerline apparently disagrees with us.

It's going to get much worse, gentlemen

The pause that refreshes

The Posse's energy levels are somewhat depleted of late.

We're fighting off some sort of virus that is sweeping the ranch. Fever, congestion, sinus headache and the ever-popular gastrointestinal events are among the symptoms.

Even the critters seem sick.

So posting may be light this week.

Besides, we need to take some time to get back out the range. It's been a while since we offered a gun review and hopefully we'll remedy that shortly.

Nothing cures illness the smell of cordite.

Kerry on guns III

That was fast.

Kerry is already denying the whole assault rifle story. Check out the New York Times:

Senator John Kerry's campaign said yesterday that Mr. Kerry did not own a Chinese assault rifle, as he was quoted as saying in Outdoor Life magazine, but a single-bolt-action military rifle, blaming aides who filled out the magazine's questionnaire on his behalf for the error.

Excuse us whilst we double over in unbelieving laughter.

An aide wrote about the M-16 and then the Chinese assault rifle? That's a pretty huge amount of latitude to give someone - and a pretty specific answer to just make up.

Which aide? Why was it sent in?

Note that Kerry has now changed his answer to be more politically correct and in line with gun control sensibilities:

Michael Meehan, a spokesman for the campaign, said Mr. Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee, owns two guns, a double-barreled 12-gauge shotgun and the rifle, which Mr. Meehan said Mr. Kerry "keeps as a relic" and had never fired. Mr. Meehan said the gun had no make or model markings on it and that Mr. Kerry "got it from a friend years ago," adding that such rifles were first manufactured in Russia more than 100 years ago and were used by the North Koreans and the Vietcong.

So he has two guns, one of which he can't identify?

So which one is his favorite?

Moreover, why did he lie to Outdoor Life?

This isn't a small issue. If the man can't even give an honest answer on a simple survey, how the hell can we trust him on matters relating to national security?

The Posse will posit this theory:

Kerry initially answered with the asault weapon because he believed the south to be in play (hence his choice of Edwards). Since then, his campaign has done a nose dive and he is desperately trying to shore up the base to stop a disastrous down-ticket loss. Thus his "pro-gun" answer had to be revised to meet official gun control standards: only a couple of guns, neither of them "threatening."

The Posse also notices the new version omits any reference to make and model. That's because Kerry doesn't want to be pinned down. It's easier to just evade the question.

This is beyond pathetic.

Kerry on Guns II

Via the hated Instapundit, we learn the New York Times also has taken an interest in Kerry's choice of favorite gun:

Senator John Kerry, a hunter who supported the recently expired assault weapons ban, frequently tells audiences he has never met anyone who wanted to use an AK-47 to shoot a deer. But it is not clear what Mr. Kerry does with the Chinese assault rifle he told Outdoor Life magazine he kept in his personal collection. [Emphasis added]

Of course, the Posse was on this more than a week ago. Yet another example of how the blogosphere leads, mainstream journalism follows.

What we find interesting is the contortions Kerry's gun control supporters have to achieve to defend his possession of a firearm that is usually claimed has "no legitimate use."

Bob Ricker, a former N.R.A. lawyer who is now a consultant for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, said he was not worried by Mr. Kerry's answer because "he knows a lot about firearms and he's also one of the most credible individuals when it comes to talking about gun-violence prevention and what it takes to keep weapons of war off the street."

Got that? Because he supports gun control, it's okay if he has an illegally imported assault rifle.

Do we need any more examples of gun control hypocrisy?

On a side note, the Times tries to portray George W. Bush as somewhat of a flip-flopper on his choice of favorite gun.

The Posse doesn't buy it, though. Like the president, we have very hard time of picking out an absolute favorite gun. Sometimes (usually after a particularly excellent shooting session) we choose one, only to change our minds after another outing.

That's part of the reason one acquires a collection of course: you don't have to settle on just one.

Back to the story, the Kerry campaign offers this pathetic stonewall:

Mr. Kerry's campaign would not say what model rifle Mr. Kerry was referring to, where he got it and when, or how many guns he owned. A spokesman for the senator, Michael Meehan, said Mr. Kerry was a registered gun owner in Massachusetts. On Thursday morning, Mr. Meehan said he had not been able to ask Mr. Kerry about the rifle because of Mr. Kerry's hoarse voice; he did not respond to further inquiries.

Ah yes, the perpetual sore throat excuse.

The Posse wonders if law enforcement would be so solicitous to charges than a common citizen possessed such a weapon.

Fire Joe Lockhart and Allawi quote contest

The Kerry Spot presents the latest outrage by the allegedly superior diplomats from the Kerry campaign:

"The last thing you want to be seen as is a puppet of the United States, and you can almost see the hand underneath the shirt today moving the lips," said Joe Lockhart, a senior Kerry adviser.

The Posse is stunned.

We've gotten so used to bizarre and stupid things coming out of the Kerry campaign that this one almost slid by.

Think of that for a moment, though. The Kerry campaign is using the talking points of Moqtada Al Sadr.

If Kerry had any sense of diplomacy, decency or even common sense, he would sack Lockhart immediately. Claiming that Allawi's words to Congress amount to him being a sock-puppet of the Bush administration is monumentally stupid. It is offering explicit support for the other side.

The question reporters should be asking Kerry and Lockhart is: What should Allawi have said?

Obviously "Bring back Saddam!" is out of the question.

We need something more nuanced:

"Things in Iraq are awful because George W. Bush had no plan. We don't either. Only John Kerry does.

"We want to get your troops out of here and wish the French and Germans would take over because Americans shouldn't be helping us win freedom. Our safety isn't as important as putting more American firefighters to work."

Here is our challenge to the blogosphere: Write your own Allawi quote, the kind Kerry would have approved and put it in our comments section.

A little advice

When you learn of a local veteran who chooses to once again serve his country, say something nice. Don't act like a bunch of partisan hacks. Thank him for his service and shut up.

Powerline links to this inspiring story of a 58-year-old Army veteran who is signing up to go to Iraq. He previously served in Vietnam and the 1991 Gulf War. Now he's serving our nation once again.

He is, by the way, a strong supporter of the president.

Our readers will not be surprised to learn that the Democrats' take on this was less than charitable. True to type, they found a Military Man of their own to disparage this man's courage and sacrifice:

"This guy clearly has heart, and we respect his commitment and service, but he's going to walk into a vastly different situation than the one I left," said Andrew Borene, a former Marine lieutenant from Edina who served in Iraq.

"Maybe he wouldn't need to go if President Bush had a better plan for the war and there was nobody being stop-lossed [kept beyond their commitment]," Borene said. "Most Americans are unaware that both kids and much older service members are being involuntarily extended beyond their contract. It's effectively a draft." [Emphasis added]

Two points for your edification, lieutenant:

1. He doesn't need to go. He is volunteering, a very commendable thing. The Posse thought all Marines had some notion of what honor and sacrifice mean, but maybe you missed that briefing.

2. Calling up reservists is not a draft.

If we can distill this story, it is as follows:

A retired soldier and veteran of two wars courageously comes forward to defend his country once more.

The Democrat response? To whine about it. And say it means the draft is coming back.

This draft business has become a major Dem talking point. It is as though they can't open their mouths without it popping out.

Absolutely pathetic.

Kerry's idea of diplomacy

The Kerry Spot over on National Review is all over this stuff.

For those who don't know, Iyad Allawi, the Interim Prime Minister of Iraq, delivered a stirring address to a join session of Congress today. It was an historic moment, full of promise for democracy in the Middle East.

Compare and contrast the hopeful, resolute language of Allawi with that of Kerry. Here is Allawi (via FoxNews:

We are fighting for freedom and democracy, ours and yours. Every day, we strengthen the institutions that will protect our new democracy, and every day, we grow in strength and determination to defeat the terrorists and their barbarism.

The second message is quite simple and one that I would like to deliver directly from my people to yours: Thank you, America.

Solid stuff. It gets better:

My friends, today we are better off, you are better off and the world is better off without Saddam Hussein.

Your decision to go to war in Iraq was not an easy one but it was the right one.

This is a man who is shaping history. His is a voice that could echo throughout the Middle East as the leading edge of a new age of freedom and hope.

And now for something completely different:

"The prime minister and the president are here obviously to put their best face on the policy, but the fact is that the CIA estimates, the reporting, the ground operations and the troops all tell a different story,'' Kerry said.

Oh yes, that's the ticket. We can see young Iraqis lining up to cheer that uplifting sentiment. But wait, there's more:

"The United States and the Iraqis have retreated from whole areas of Iraq,'' Kerry told reporters outside a Columbus firehouse. "There are no-go zones in Iraq today. You can't hold an election in a no-go zone.''

Yes, that's right. Kerry couldn't even bother to hear the man speak himself. The Posse will conclude with this brilliant-yet-unintentional satire by Kerry himself:

"I don't think he's providing the leadership we need,'' Kerry said. "I will do a better job of dealing with Iraq and winning the war and fighting the war on terror, period.''

How, by pissing on their embattled leader?

This is the man Kerry will have to deal with after the election. We imagine Allawi and Iraq's other leaders won't look kindly on Kerry heckling them for political gain.

If this is Kerry's idea of diplomacy, we want none of it. He may as well spit in Allawi's milk and stomp on his foot while he's at it.

America's credibility is weakened every time this defeatist idiot opens his mouth. Can we speed up the election, please?

More Kerry defeatism

Apparently, this business about a new military draft is a consistent Democrat talking point.

The irony is stunning. Whereas the real JFK once said: "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country," apparently that now excludes military service.

Lovely.

Of course all this business about the Bush administration bringing back the draft is about as authentic as the forged CBS documents. It isn't going to happen, period. Our current military supremecy relies upon highly motivated and skilled volunteers. Conscripts would only erode the enormous qualitative edge we currently enjoy.

Even the hated Instapundit finds this ludicrous, and has many links with rebuttals to it.

This is a blatant attempt to jump-start the 1968 anti-war movement. So too is the barely-concealed desire of the Dems for Guard and reserve component members to being deserting and protesting against their deployments.

The irony is that this very same movement spelled disaster for Democrats at the polls.

The Posse will hazard this prediction: look for Dems to become even more overt about inciting mutiny in the ranks of our reserve soldiers. It may not be a "mainstream" figure who does this, but it will happen. Think Michael Moore or even Howard Dean.

As the Evil Glenn is fond of saying, these people aren't anti-war; they are on the other side.