I think the word "petty" was used.

Dammit, what did I miss?

They've seen excerpts of a speech he will be giving later tonight and said it seemed petty in comparison to Bush's.

Well, I do have Fox on, but I wasn't paying attention. Damn! Does that mean Kerry is being petty?

Nail in the coffin

Petty. Yes.

Bush speaks of America's responsibility to spread liberty throughout the world; Kerry will point to Dick Cheney's military deferments, and (once again) complain that his patriotism was questioned.

How anyone with a working brain can vote for that phony, pampered windsurfer, I have no idea.

He said that he was going to say that Bush/GOP attacked his patriotism and accuse Cheney of avoiding military service in Viet Nam.

Actually, it was "incredibly petty" [emphasis in the original].

It's Fox News. If they hadn't taken a shot at Kerry, they wouldn't be working for the Bush campaign.

I'm curious ... how many viewers from the Fox News constituency are going watch Kerry all the way through (without FOXNEWS-style commentar?)

It's Fox News. If they hadn't taken a shot at Kerry, they wouldn't be working for the Bush campaign.

I'm curious ... how many viewers from the Fox News constituency are going watch Kerry all the way through (without FOXNEWS-style commentary?)

It's Fox News. If they hadn't taken a shot at Kerry, they wouldn't be working for the Bush campaign.

I'm curious ... how many viewers from the Fox News constituency are going watch Kerry all the way through (without Fox News-style commentary?)

He called the end of Bush's speech "lyrical," making the speech Kerry is about to give in a few minutes "petty."

"Lyrical" is a pretty powerful word.

After Bush's heartfelt finish, Kerry's midnight schtick is going to come off as shrill and desperate, which of course, it is.

"Mo-om! They said I'm not a patriot! I AM a patriot! I am! Right mom?"

It's getting harder and harder to remember who's the guy who's running against Bush.

switch to msnbc where the breck girl is orating with Hamlet standing behind him looking like a goof. OMG who is in charge of this?

switch to msnbc where the breck girl is orating with Hamlet standing behind him looking like a goof. OMG who is in charge of this?

I can't wait to see Kerry speak. I just wish I wasn't getting up for work so early.

This was an awful idear John.

If you heard petty, you got it right!

Kerry sounds so shrill while he says he voluntereed for Vietnam and the entire rest of the Bush Administration avoided Vietnam but encouraged it.

Okay, so, does John not get that if we don't have national security then everything he's naming means nothing??

Are you still watching Fox? What is Kerry thinking?? No he isn't running a negtive campaign...

Can anyone tell me what what W said 10 min after K's speech? (tap..tap...tap) That's what i thought.

Holy moly, this Kerry thing, who's idea was this???

It's amazing because the Democrats really missed the boat. John Edwards looked like the Presidential candidate. Kerry looks like he'd be more comfortable at an insurance seminar.

And now he's whining about his patriotism being attacked.

I caught the very few minutes of Kerry on Fox - the line I remember is "now we know what RNC stands for - really not compassionate." Is it really wise to be snarky right after your opponent kicked your butt?

Watching Kerry is very, very, very sad. Very sad. He can't answer about his own record - which if you go to senate.gov and look up the 103rd Congress - 2nd session and find '1452'. Kerry's amendment to cut $6B in defense and intelligence AFTER the WTC bombing of 1993. I guess he hasn't seen what's happening in Russia???

Of course, MSNBC and CNN are showing this drivel in its' entirety.

KERRY! WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A HOLE, STOP DIGGING!!

Of course, MSNBC and CNN are showing this drivel in its' entirety.

And they think they're helping.

No! Keep digging, please!

What?

"We're going to give you jobs that pay more than the $9000 less than the jobs going overseas!"

Never interfere when the enemy is destroying himself. wotta putz.

Does he KNOW that 9/11 happened? I can't buy the argument on healthcare with a trial lawyer standing next to him. Pathetic. And they think they're doing good. MSNBC just stopped playing it. Whew. Now I can stop puking.

Yes, he said "petty" among other uncomplimentary thoughts. And of course Roll Call's Kondrake is surely part of the Murdoch/Ailes VRWC. Jeez, where do these people come from.
Lapham like reporting from USA today,
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-09-02-kerry_x.htm
Kerrys' midnight stroll contains, among other gems,

"We all saw the anger and distortion of the Republican Convention. For the past week, they attacked my patriotism and my fitness to serve as commander in chief. Well, here's my answer. I'm not going to have my commitment to defend this country questioned by those who refused to serve when they could have and by those who have misled the nation into Iraq.

The vice president even called me unfit for office last night. I guess I'll leave it up to the voters whether five deferments makes someone more qualified to defend this nation than two tours of duty.

Let me tell you what I think makes someone unfit for duty. Misleading our nation into war in Iraq makes you unfit to lead this nation. Doing nothing while this nation loses millions of jobs makes you unfit to lead this nation. Letting 45 million Americans go without health care makes you unfit to lead this nation. Letting the Saudi royal family control our energy costs makes you unfit to lead this nation. Handing out billions of government contracts to Halliburton while you're still on their payroll makes you unfit. That's the record of George Bush and Dick Cheney. And it's not going to change. I believe it's time to move America in a new direction; I believe it's time to set a new course for America."
Mike

Why does he continue to refer to himself in the 3rd person?

Went to check on a few on the other side of to get reactions to Pres. Bush's speech...um, Kos is down. Ha.

Josh Marshall has some weird defensive 2-graf post...regarding his post, I clearly remember John Kerry hinting in the DNC speech that he would only respond to attacks?

Am I wrong?

Poor reaction thus far...curious to see what the sentiment will be tomorrow.

Holy shiite....He's rambling.....

He is starting to sound like Howard Dean. I'm waiting for him to say "Bush lied, people died."

Quick, somebody get him a bigger shovel before he slows down!

Yeah, Kerry will defend us, for sure, almost, sorta, mostly, mebbe if it polls well.

Fox just faded away as well.....to an action flick of some sort..bless them

Mike, this (admittedly lit) former destroyer and pbr driver is here to tell you JFK is a feather merchant. I would not follow him into a Kwicky Mart. Follow him at your own peril.

Which Mike are you talking too? Don't worry, I'm watching this from Walter Reed. Got back from Iraq the hard way a couple months ago and I know good and well why I was there.

Jonathan Stroud:

"[H]ow many viewers from the Fox News constituency are going watch Kerry all the way through (without Fox News-style commentary?)"

A few, probably. Not many [not me], but a few. Which will, of course, be a few more than watched the Official Republican Desperate-For-Facetime Response To The Democratic Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speech, because -- oh, right -- there was none.

Waffles The Poodle, having whined endlessly about character assassination and the Importance Of Issues, will of course spend less than 100% of his time talking issues, and more than 0% assassinating character. And we are shocked -- shocked! -- to see inconsistency being committed.

Kerry just finished.
Usual drivel.

Kerry is a pompous ass; the Swift boat guys could tell you that!

Well I'm not watching Kerry, but I can only just imagine.

"Swagger." Texan for "walk." No translatable equivalent in Massachusetts. I wonder how you say it in French--with plenty of nuance, if you please.

Anybody else remember the priceless story Kate O"Bierne (I think it was she) told about Bush just before his inauguration, involving, "Bush. Texas. Cheeseburger."?

I liked Bush's very nuanced shots at Edwards' lawsuit resume quite a bit. I liked it ALL quite a bit. Genuinely elegant touch, that, inviting all of America to wonder with him at the unnamable essence of America's decency: "Where does it come from?"

I'm watching this from Walter Reed.

I'll take another blast off the bottle. Here's to Mike!

Mike Daley not just Mike. Pretty sure you and I are in accord. Scroll up. Get well soon!

So bad Chris Mathew's pulled the coverage. CNN held out longest. Luckily I caught the end on CSPAN2.

Jonathan,

I will have you know that this rock solid core conservative not only watched all of Edwards and Kerry, but on MSNBC rather than Fox (I do different networks on different nights to keep fresh on things).

Kerry made a bad choice with that tonight, as I said earlier before he actually spoke on my blog.

Ah. Feather merchant... I like that.

Mike,

I just tried to email you, but the AOL member-name was no good.

In any case,

I will pray that your healing comes swiftly and completely.

Look, no one stayed with Kerry - not even Pissy Matthews - past his bilious whiny reminder that he served in Vietnam. Gee, what a surprise. He should have left that bit for the end and it should simply have been a restatement of how proud he was of his service. This would have forced the cable nets to stick with him till the end, thus allowing him to present his counterpoints to Bush's speech, however pathetic they actually were. But since Kerry has no ideas to present all he cares about is securing his sound bite about Cheney for posting on Drudge the next morning and in the pages of that painted whore the NYT. But really, besides the unemployed Ohioans at the rally and late night blog groupies like me, who the hell is up at midnight listening to this tripe? But idiots are advising this man. Those sons of bitches have knocked him down again!

here are a couple of headlines from the AP, to give you a heads up on what to expect from the "mainstream" media in the next few days:

Bush Labors to Shift Focus of Election

and

Bush Leaves Out Complex Facts in Speech

But, they are not biased. Nope. No bias here. Just the facts.

Ah, you're right. Sorry, changed it. Thanks for the thoughts. It's going well. They do great work here.

Ah, you're right. Sorry, changed it. Thanks for the thoughts. It's going well. They do great work here.

Handing out billions of government contracts to Halliburton while you're still on their payroll

I had to backup the TiVO on that line. Still on the payroll?

Call me crazy, but I keep wondering whether the Clintons have something to do with promoting the SwiftVets. Is anyone else that crazy, or is it just me? It would be very well hidden, of course, VERY deep background. But it looks to me like we might be looking at the demise of the candidate, and maybe. . .another Torricelli? Another plane crash and memorial service/pep rally?

The buck-oes from Arkansas/Illinois/New York have left me with a terrible residue of paranoia. I admit it.

OK--what on earth does feather merchant mean? I read a whole 8 book series about Marines and WWII and the author used that phrase tons of times. I figured "worthless prick," but wasn't sure where it came from.

Am I the only one who thought the Kerry-Midnight-Cowboy rally smacked of desperation?

It probably sounded really kool when they were sitting around feeling frustrated. they could actually go "DO" something, anything. But they'd show they weren't gonna take it.

Instead, it's midnight in Springfield Ohio for gawds sake-! Who's gonna show up? Only the hardcore ABB-and-we-been-drinking crowd is gonna show up. How does that get the independent and swing voters?

The stench of failure starts to permeate the Kerry camp. Desperation is setting in

I used to think that Kerry's candidacy was one of Rove's diabolical plans. I was wrong. I now realize Kerry is the centerpiece of Clinton's evil plan -- a candidate that will make even the Republicans have good thoughts about Clinton.

And it's working. Arrrrggghhh.

heard it in the Nav, iirc. Somebody pushing supposedly big ideas with no real substance. E.g. think outside the box...

And it's working. Arrrrggghhh.

It's working like all hell. Gore's madness helped, too. Maybe this means over the next few years the sane Democrats can take over.

Anybody notice how bored Edwards looked behind Kerry? Rarely smiled and only clapped after the crowd started.

amyc -
Waay waay back (a long time ago) the "undesirables" sold feathers to travelers to dust off their clothes before they entered into a town.
In military slang, it usually refers to a DoD civilian employee - sometimes a defense contractor.

Well, as I understand it, the term feather merchant means either a civilian who has not earned command respect, a civilian who enters the service as an officer of command rank not having earned command respect, or an officer who is a poseur.

At any rate, it always applies to one who has not properly earned the respect of the rank and file military, or to an officer who behaves as a civilian, in a manner inconsistent with the fine traditions of an officer and gentleman.

The term is used in the movie "The Enemy Below", when the destroyer crew has inital qualms about the new captain. The captain in "Ensign Pulver" is an example of a feather merchant, and Cdr. Neil Owens in "In Harm's Way" is another example.

MORSteve is probably more correct, I only learned it in practice. Though you (or vets) could understand my POV and usage.

Feather Merchant:

All show and no substance.

In Texas we would say. All hat, and no cattle.

I hope that Kerry can make it to election day. I'm starting to worry that he might...dare I say it...commit Hari Kari!

No, No, NO !!!! You fools !!! Kondrake did not say "PETTY"....he said "PRETTY" !!!

Didn't he???

I confess I just woke up after falling asleep 5 minutes into the good Senator's soothing lullaby........zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

FWIW, Matthews and the entire MSNBC panel thought it was a great speech. For once, I agree.

Gene B is spot on. The Enemy Below and In Harm's Way were wardroom classics. No doubt that is where I picked up the term. Rock Torrey, er, rocks.

Since I'm coming in very late to the party, what Kerry just did? Violated election - most probably unwritten - protocol.

One just doesn't do this during the opposition's convention.

What is it about democrats not playing by the rules?

FLA - NJ - now this.

Nothing is sacred. Dropped down even more. What's next, running counter-commentary during the speeches?

Wonder if the 527 money will start drying up, one thing for sure, rich people don't waste their money unless they have a shot.

Handing out billions of government contracts to Halliburton while you're still on their payroll

I had to backup the TiVO on that line. Still on the payroll?
Posted by David [.net]

I think he's referring to deferred compensation. Basically, you agree to be paid X amount of salary earned at some later date. The amount and time of payment are agreed at the time that the money is originally earned, there's no way that later actions will influence it. Basically, it's a misleading cheap shot that has the bonus of being an excuse to say 'Halliburton' again.

The dems think this is the way to victory?

Consider this: Kerry had to have gotten a copy of Bush's speech 5 minutes after it was handed out to the press.

And, after seeing what kind of speech it was going to be, he still spoke the drivel he spoke at his midnight rally.

He is an idiot, and his people are incompetent.

I really look forward to seeing the polling number over the next week.

I think its worth pointing out that Cheney has donated all his deferred compensation to charity, so he's definitely not on the payroll.

From Dan: Why does he continue to refer to himself in the 3rd person?

Maybe he really is trying to repeat Bob Dole's 1996 performance. Run as a war hero--check. Run as 'anyone but the other guy'--check. Refer to myself in the third person--check. Get trounced in November--waiting.

I saw a picture of Kerry somewhere. He was in a spiffy white speed boat wearing a black suit and tie????

Is that eurotrash fashion for boating?

It's pretty bizarre that they keep pushing the idea that Cheney is profiting from the war via Halliburton. A simple scan of Halliburton's fortunes since the 2000 election show that this hasn't been a good time for Halliburton stockholders. If Cheney had really wanted to make a massive payoff from his influence he would have instead pushed for the sanctions againt Iraq to be dropped so Halliburton could pursue hugely lucrative contracts with Saddam.

But that would require liberals to think instead of feel.

Actually, Jonathan, I tend to flip back and forth between PBS and the Peter Jennings network for these things.

First: I no longer need to be convinced of my own convictions...they are firm. Therefore, I listen to the other 'side'.
Second: The other 'side' is far more entertaining. I can't begin to tell you how, initially, they get my blood pumping, and then immediately cause me to break out into hysterical laughter.

And, if you claim that CBS, NBC and...geez, ABC! are not liberally biased, you're simply full of crap.

I mean, c'mon, did anyone else watch Jenning's assinine coverage of the RNC? And his full ten minute tearing down, bit by bit, of everything that Zell Miller said, and his defense of Kerry in every instance?

"Let me tell you what I think makes someone unfit for duty. Misleading our nation into war "

As in Bosnia and Kosovo?

" Letting 45 million Americans go without health care makes you unfit to lead this nation. "

(a) do we REALLY want to conflate the concepts of "health care" and "medical insurance" and (b) how 'fit' was the president between 1994 and 2000 on this issue -- while millions persisted in going uninsured?

"Letting the Saudi royal family control our energy costs makes you unfit to lead this nation. "

ooooKAyyy? So, we have not had a president fit for the office since, what, 1971 or so?

"Handing out billions of government contracts to Halliburton"

Contracts signed, when, exactly, and by whom ... I dimly remember these were no-bid deals concluded while Cheney was in charge of Halliburton and Bill Clinton was in charge of the gov't side of the negotiation. If Cheney's side of the bargain was the better, which of the two negotiators would you want to represent you in dealing with, say, the Syrians?

I'm perfectly willing to entertain discussion regarding Shrub's general lack of fitness for the position he more-or-less inherited. Michael Moore, for instance, makes an entertaining case. But that doesn't make Michael Moore fit to be president. (Michael Moore is unfit in SEVERAL senses.) And neither does John Kerry's suggestion that Shrub is unfit lead to the conclusion that JFK2 IS fit -- or even less unfit -- than Bush II.

Mike546485@aol.com, thanks for being there. Good luck with the recovery.

On topic, there's an old saying that you should never let them see you sweat. Didn't watch any of the coverage last night, and I couldn't believe it when I read Kerry had delivered a rebuttal speech after Bush spoke.

Good lord, what a lack of class. What a stench of desparation.

How did the Dems nominate this turkey?

Swagger." Texan for "walk." No translatable equivalent in Massachusetts. I wonder how you say it in French...

I believe that would be sashaay. (Or sachet to cover the foetid odor trailing them...)

Mr Kerry does not recognize a TAR BABY when he sees it and just keeps on hitting and kickig it. I think we need to just sit back and watch. It is a delightful show ! If his judgement is this flawed--He certainly isn't fit for duty as President.

The reason John Edwards looks rather out-of-it during Kerry's whinning, I mean speech, is because Kerry is trashing Cheney for not being in the service. Little Johnny Boy wasn't in any service either. Bet he'd like to thump Kerry, but I am sure Kerry reminds him constantly who is in "charge". Egotistical ass.

This LACK of Class started with a "Peanut Farmer " basing his Foreign Policy on Conversations(?)with HIS 7(?) year old DAUGHTER-and went down hill with a Perjurious/Womanizing later Successor who BROKE all tradition by COMMENTING on EVERYTHING that OUR GREAT 43rd Pres. has said and done since-once GW was elected Carter and Bubba CONSTANTLY commented on his decisions-something NO FORMER Pres. ever did to the Current President PRIOR to 2001---Would you call that DemocRAT anger and sour grapes......??????

Kerry's actions last night, needless to say, showed a total lack of class. It was a gamble, and I will suggest that it failed miserably. For it to have worked for Kerry, his speach would have had to have been better than Bush's. As it turned out, we had Bush marveling that those who lost their loved ones could be praying for him, while Kerry whined about Bush and Cheney not volunteering for Vietnam.

But I think that this is forshadowing of Kerry's campaign from here on out. I think that he is, deep down, a gutter fighter. When backed into a corner, he fights mean. And he whines. While this may work in heavily Democratic MA, I think it will backfire nationally.

Alex,
You posted "Mike, this (admittedly lit) former destroyer and pbr driver is here to tell you JFK is a feather merchant. I would not follow him into a Kwicky Mart. Follow him at your own peril."
Cannot conceive of what I posted which would give you any idea that I could be a Kerry supporter.
The Kondrake comment was tongue in cheek to the braindead triple post by Stroud "It's Fox News. If they hadn't taken a shot at Kerry, they wouldn't be working for the Bush campaign."
Lapham like reporting refers to Laphams' report on Bush' acceptance speech several weeks prior to it actually being given. And, finally, what could make JFK redux look more petty and incompetent that his own words.
Would that Kerry had the heft a feather!
Mike Daley

Instead, it's midnight in Springfield Ohio for gawds sake-! Who's gonna show up? Only the hardcore ABB-and-we-been-drinking crowd is gonna show up.

Actually, if it didn't cost anything, I'd be tempted to, so I could have a good laugh.

I hope that whatever Democratic idiot came up with the idea for the midnight speech keeps up the good work; it will help the Republicans a lot. Aside from the crazed rant (I've seen people say they thought that Kerry was three sheets to the wind), it displays a fundamental lack of class.

Tradition says that candidates don't bash their opponents during the convention? Well...let's go somewhere and excrete a speech at midnight after the convention--then, technically we're not violating the tradition! It will be shortly after the 2004 Olympics, the worldwide monument to the ideals of sportsmanship, just to make the contrast that much more blatant. It will also remind everyone of Clintonesque "what 'is' is" parsing.

if Barnes had called it "incredibly petty" you could use all the normal right wing conspiracy rants in counter, but Kondracke is the more moderate of the Beltway Boys. Mort has never missed a chance to take a shot at the Bush tax cuts or the stem cells. If Kondracke's calling Kerry's speech "incredibly petty" Kerry's in heap-big trouble. This is a worse sign than his daughters getting booed on MTV.

Hey Mike at Walter Reed.

Thank You for your service.
God Bless You.
Get Well Soon.

ditto Mike, get well soon. God bless.