Yesterday I pontificated about an object Kerry removed from his jacket pocket just before the debate last week. INDC has a great follow-up on what has been discovered.
It was a pen.
Yep. A pen.
And you know what? I don't care. I don't care what the object was. It doesn't matter. It was a breach of the agreed upon rules. Pure and simple.
Should he be punished? No, not really. Did it effect the debate? No, not really. Does it matter? Yeah - to me. Because, as I keep saying, it's another glimpse into his character.
Character matters to me. It really does. I'm about honesty and trust and loyalty. Hmmmm....I haven't seen any loyalty from Kerry. Not for anyone or anything that doesn't benefit him. I don't trust him. Never have. As for honesty, where do you think he falls in that category with me? Yeah, not so much.
He agreed to the rules, and then simply ignored one that was inconvienent to him. No big deal. Didn't have any impact. Except to those of us that care about that whole character thing.
**UPDATE: It's been pointed out to me - by other than my new commenter - that Bush spoke out of turn during the debates, also a clear violation of the rules. NOW......reread what I wrote above. Yes, there are rules. They are put forth to be followed. Both candidates need to work on that. In my defense, I didn't see that, and hadn't heard/read anyone else mention it either. Otherwise I WOULD have mentioned it in both posts.
HOWEVER - It doesn't change the fact that when you make the +/- lists - Bush comes out on the plus side for me. Given history. Given what I've observed. He's not perfect, I've never claimed that he was. BUT, as I've said repeatedly, all these little details, on both sides, are just data being processed.
It is my site - it is my opinion. I've paid for the right to express it. That's all.
Posted by Tammi at October 4, 2004 08:42 PM | TrackBack"He agreed to the rules, and then simply ignored one that was inconvienent to him. No big deal. Didn't have any impact. Except to those of us that care about that whole character thing."
You talking about Kerry or Bush here?
Lady, if you care about character to such an anally retentive level, you might want to keep in mind that Bush violated the rules too. It had zero impact on the debate, just like Kerry's killer pen, but there you go. Can't ever violate any rule anytime, anywhere, because it just says such horrible things about your character, yep.
I bet Kerry has even jaywalked on occasion.
(That reminds me - Bush boozing it up and doing coke isn't a problem for you? Yes, after he was "born again".)
Posted by: Shadowboxer at October 4, 2004 09:09 PMHmmm...I think you are well aware as to whom I'm talking about. You just wanted to make an ass out of yourself at my site. You did just fine too!!! Congratulations.
You say Bush violated the rules? Examples - factual examples please.
I stated I know full well it didn't effect the outcome. Yeah - glad you read that. HOWEVER - as this is MY BLOG, reflection of MY THOUGHTS and MY FEELINGS I wanted to share with MY READERS that it does reflect Kerry's Character. Does that make me anal? No, but that's ok, cause you don't really know me anyway. You've got to earn the right to judge me.
So....consider this your warning. I'm not going to take this comment down, as I'd like my other readers to "meet" you. NEXT TIME you come on my site and smear you shit on my walls - all gone. Bye Bye.
Posted by: Tammi at October 4, 2004 09:23 PMShadowboxer:
I would have thought that you Dems would have learned by now that you need to stay away from the character debate (with all of your candidates!!!)... Did Bush admit to having a drinking problem when he was young? Yes. Did that cause him to shoot a man in the back or burn down someone's village? No. Is Bush a gigalo living off the money made by another man of the opposite political party that is turning over in his grave? NO. Does Bush change his position with each new poll that's published? No. Did Bush have a first wife who wrote a book about the horror of her marriage to him that drove her to the point of suicide? No.
Should I go on...?
You can disagree on policy issues, but if I were you I would steer clear of the character debate....You don't have the candidate that can stand in the glass house.
I have it on good authority that Kerry tried to build a glass house but was turned down for home owner's insurance. Seems they were worried about the giant boulders that were always rolling his way. They were quite certain it was too risky a venture.
LOL
Posted by: kat-missouri at October 5, 2004 01:11 AMTammi,
"You say Bush violated the rules? Examples - factual examples please."
1. Bush spoke out of turn.
2. Bush walked over and shook hands with Kerry on his side of the stage, instead of center stage according to the rules he agreed to.
Egregious examples of his blatant disregard for the rules, and it speaks deeply of the man's character. Someone who can simply flaunt the rules that he himself agreed to in such a fashion is simply not fit to be a leader.
Posted by: Shadowboxer at October 5, 2004 03:55 AMALa71,
Did Bush finally admit to his cocaine use, or to drinking after he was 'born again'? Somehow I must have missed that one.
Posted by: Shadowboxer at October 5, 2004 03:57 AMShadowboxer,
Do you have proof that Bush did these things (besides Kitty Kelly's "nonfiction" book)? You seem to operate under the assumption that if he doesn't immediately confess to any accusation thrown his way that he is a liar. What next, do you demand to know whether he's stopped beating his wife?
I stopped beating MY wife. Now she beats me.
In racquetball, that is :-)
Posted by: Harvey at October 6, 2004 09:15 AM