John kerry on defense

[Guest_ikonboard]

John Kerry on Defense -- I hadn't seen this list printed before.

     

It would make one heck of a mailer if it were sent to voters.  (So... send it to as many voters as you can!)  

               

He voted to kill the Bradley Fighting Vehicle

He voted to kill the M-1 Abrams Tank

He voted to kill every aircraft carrier laid down from 1988

He voted to kill the Aegis anti aircraft system

He voted to Kill the F-15 Strike Eagle

He voted to Kill the Block 60 F-16

He voted to Kill the P-3 Orion upgrade

He voted to Kill the B-1

He voted to Kill the B-2

He voted to Kill the Patriot Anti Missile System

He voted to Kill the FA-18

He voted to Kill the B-2

He voted to Kill the F117

     

In short, he voted to kill every military appropriation for the development and deployment of every weapons system since 1988 to include the battle armor for our troops. With Kerry as president our Army will be made up of naked men running around with sticks and clubs.

     

He also voted to kill all anti terrorism activities of every agency of the U.S. Government and to cut the funding of the FBI by 60%, to cut the funding for the CIA by 80%, and cut the funding for the NSA by 80%.

     

But then he voted to increase OUR funding for U.N operations by 800%!!!  

Is THIS a President YOU want?

     

Please pass this on, as many people may not know how bad it is. And don’t limit your sendingto just your Republican friends.

Everyone needs to know.

[porkchop]

You forgot to mention ...

 

He peels off "Hanoi Jane Urinal Stickers" !!

[skielty1]

If you tell a lie loud enough and long enough,

after a while it may become believable in the minds of those to whom the propaganda is directed.

 

Last Resort's signature line is about the only thing in his post that is not false, misleading, or exaggerated.

[porkchop]

You forgot to mention ...

 

He peels off "Hanoi Jane Urinal Stickers" !!

This is TRUE!! I swear, I did not have Se..............

[porkchop]

If you tell a lie loud enough and long enough,

after a while it may become believable in the minds of those to whom the propaganda is directed.

 

Last Resort's signature line is about the only thing in his post that is not false, misleading, or exaggerated.

Yep, and Al Gore won the election

 

after he invented the Internet.

[No2muchsht]

If you tell a lie loud enough and long enough,

after a while it may become believable in the minds of those to whom the propaganda is directed.

 

Last Resort's signature line is about the only thing in his post that is not false, misleading, or exaggerated.

Last Resort is correct!,you my friend and the rest of the liberals have been blowing smoke up our asses for quite some time!.And alot of bullshit has been flying this week in Boston!.

[skielty1]

you my friend and the rest of the liberals have been blowing smoke up our asses for quite some time!.And alot of bullshit has been flying this week in Boston!.

I tried to blow some smoke up your ass, but your head kept getting in the way!  

[Guest_ikonboard]

you my friend and the rest of the liberals have been blowing smoke up our asses for quite some time!.And alot of bullshit has been flying this week in Boston!.

I tried to blow some smoke up your ass, but your head kept getting in the way!  

       

[Fugdbdt]

Thats funny right there - I don't care who you are...

 

Thanks, Danny

[injun46]

When Kerry was asked about what he would do about defense, he said he would paint it white, just like de house

[No2muchsht]

you my friend and the rest of the liberals have been blowing smoke up our asses for quite some time!.And alot of bullshit has been flying this week in Boston!.

I tried to blow some smoke up your ass, but your head kept getting in the way!  

Typical liberal responce,and besides that it was the head of my dick!,you were trying to blow!.  

[Guest_ikonboard]

Kerry's Defense Vision Laid Out In 1984 Campaign Memo: Cut, Cut, Cut, Cancel, Cancel, Cancel

 

JOHN KERRY'S "OVERALL DEFENSE STRATEGY"

 

Kerry Proposed Cutting $54 Billion From FY 1985 Defense Budget As Part Of "Long-Range Proposal To Cut $200 Billion From The Defense Budget Over Four Years," And Called For Cancellation Of At Least 27 Weapons Systems And Reductions In 18 Other Systems. "[Kerry] recommended cancellation of 27 weapons systems including the B1 bomber, the cruise missile, MX missile, Trident submarine, Patriot air defense missile, F15 fighter plane, Sparrow missile, stealth bomber and Pershing II missile. He recommended reductions in 18 other systems including the joint tactical air system, the Bradley fighting vehicle, the M1 Abrams tank and the F16 fighter plane." (Chris Black, "Kerry Asks Cuts In Defense Outlay," The Boston Globe, 5/30/84)

 

But Kerry Was Open To Even More Cuts Than He Had Already Listed. "There is nothing cast in stone about this list … It is an effort to create a dialogue in this campaign. It may be that there could be additional cuts." ("Kerry Asks $54 Billion Cut In Reagan Defense Budget," Berkshire Eagle, 5/30/84)

 

In Fact, Kerry Expanded List To "Specific Cuts In Some 60 Categories" In Discussion With The Cape Codder Newspaper, Including: SSN-688 Los Angeles Class Nuclear Attack Submarine, Trident I Submarine, Trident I Missile, Trident II Submarine-Based Missile, Midgetman Missile, Pershing II Missile, DDG-51 Aegis air defense destroyer, and CG-47 Aegis air defense cruiser. ("John F. Kerry," 1984 State Primary Newspaper Supplement, The Cape Codder, 9/11/84)

 

According To His Foreign Policy Advisor, Kerry's Proposed Cuts Formed "Overall Defense Strategy." "Joining Kerry was Michael Nacht, chairman of Kerry's foreign policy task force and an instructor at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government, who said Kerry's proposal was 'unique' because it was an overall defense strategy, not just a pro or con statement about certain Reagan administration programs." ("Kerry Asks $54 Billion Cut In Reagan Defense Budget," Berkshire Eagle, 5/30/84)

 

IF KERRY HAD HAD HIS WAY IN 1984 … NO AEGIS DESTROYERS WOULD HAVE BEEN BUILT

 

Kerry Proposed Cancellation Of Aegis Destroyer In 1984. ("John Kerry On The Defense Budget," Campaign Position Paper, John Kerry For U.S. Senate, 1984; "John F. Kerry," 1984 State Primary Newspaper Supplement, The Cape Codder, 9/11/84)

 

In 1985, First Of 52 Arleigh Burke Destroyers Was Ordered. (Federation Of American Scientists Military Analysis Network Website, "DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-Class," http://www.fas.org/man, Accessed 3/20/04)

 

Aegis Destroyer "Intended To Replace Some 30 Ships Due For Retirement Around 1990." ("Congress Authorizes $219 Billion For Defense," CQ Almanac 1984, p. 41)

 

NO B-2 BOMBERS WOULD HAVE BEEN BUILT

 

Kerry Proposed Cancellation Of B-2 Bomber In 1984. (Brian C. Mooney, "Taking One Prize, Then A Bigger One," The Boston Globe, 6/19/03)

 

"The B-2 Development Program Was Initiated In 1981, And The Air Force Was Granted Approval In 1987 To Begin Procurement Of 132 Operational B-2 Aircraft …" (Federation Of American Scientists Military Analysis Network Website, "B-2 Spirit," http://www.fas.org/man, Accessed 4/26/04)

 

FEW PATRIOT MISSILE SYSTEMS WOULD HAVE BEEN BUILT,

AND NONE SENT TO FRONT LINES OF COLD WAR TO PROTECT U.S. ALLIES

 

September 16, 1980: Initial Production Of Patriot Missile System Approved In 1980. ("Production Of New Anti-Aircraft Missile Approved," The Associated Press, 9/16/80)

 

October 1, 1980: "A limited production contract for PATRIOT was issued." (U.S. Army Redstone, Alabama Arsenal Website, "Patriot," http://www.redstone.army.mil/history/systems/PATRIOT.html, Accessed 4/26/04)  

December 1981: "The first PATRIOT missile was delivered." (U.S. Army Redstone, Alabama Arsenal Website, "Patriot," http://www.redstone.army.mil/history/systems/PATRIOT.html, Accessed 4/26/04)  

May 1982: "The Army's first PATRIOT missile battalion was activated." (U.S. Army Redstone, Alabama Arsenal Website, "Patriot," http://www.redstone.army.mil/history/systems/PATRIOT.html, Accessed 4/26/04)  

 

In November 1983, Army Ordered 440 Patriot Missiles And 12 Launchers. "The Army on Tuesday [11/29/83] awarded Raytheon Co. a $238 million contract for production of 440 Patriot air defense missiles and 12 firing units." ("Raytheon Gets Contract," The Associated Press, 11/29/83)

 

For FY 1984 Budget, Reagan Administration Requested 525 Patriot Missiles. "Among the major items requested for fiscal 1984 … [f]or the Army, $1.2 billion for 525 Patriot air defense missiles …" ("New Reagan Budget Increases Defense Spending 14% But Freezes Most Other Domestic Program Funding," Facts On File World News Digest, 2/4/83)

 

Kerry Proposed Cancellation Of Patriot Air Defense System In 1984. ("John Kerry On The Defense Budget," Campaign Position Paper, John Kerry For U.S. Senate, 1984)

 

September 14, 1984: "PATRIOT completed Follow-on Evaluation (FOE) III ahead of schedule. The highly successful test program demonstrated the system's capability to meet its operational requirements with production hardware and operational troops." (U.S. Army Redstone, Alabama Arsenal Website, "Patriot," http://www.redstone.army.mil/history/systems/PATRIOT.html, Accessed 4/26/04)

 

ü October 1984: "The Army recommended deployment of PATRIOT to Europe." (U.S. Army Redstone, Alabama Arsenal Website, "Patriot," http://www.redstone.army.mil/history/systems/PATRIOT.html, Accessed 4/26/04)

 

HUNDREDS, INSTEAD OF THOUSANDS, OF TOMAHAWK CRUISE MISSILES WOULD HAVE BEEN PRODUCED

 

Tomahawk Missile First Deployed For Testing In 1983. (Federation Of American Scientists Military Analysis Network Website, "BGM-109 Tomahawk," http://www.fas.org/man, Accessed 3/28/04)

 

In FY 1982 And FY 1983, Over 60 Missiles Ordered. "McDonnell Douglas is scheduled to build 10 Tomahawk missiles with Fiscal 1982 funding. Contract for 52 missiles was awarded to the company in Fiscal 1983." (Eugene Kozicharow, "Tomahawk Moves Toward Dual-Source Production," Aviation Week & Space Technology, 2/6/84)  

Kerry Called For 50% Reduction Of Tomahawk Missiles In 1984. ("John Kerry On The Defense Budget," Campaign Position Paper, John Kerry For U.S. Senate, 1984)  

FY 1985 Pentagon Budget Request Set Aside $589 Million To Purchase Tomahawks Missiles. (The Associated Press, 5/31/84)  

 

At Time Of Kerry's Proposed Reduction, Navy Was Warned Of Munitions Shortage, Including Tomahawk And Other Missiles Kerry Opposed. "The chief of naval operations had ordered Navy planners to 'rebalance' their programs to make up for crucial shortages of missiles, torpedoes and other munitions, it was reported March 31 … [Adm. James D.] Watkins informed Navy planning officers that funds alloted to the service were 'still not sufficient to fully relieve all critical shortages.' … The admiral cited the Reagan administration's objective of building a 600-ship Navy. He asserted that the service's main priority was to fully arm all new ships as the Navy grew. To that end, Watkins suggested a rechanneling of allocations into the production of munitions, particularly the Sparrow and Phoenix air-to-air missiles, Tomahawk cruise missiles, torpedoes and mines." ("Navy Munitions Shortage Cited," Facts On File World News Digest, 5/4/84)

 

In Early 1990s, Just After Gulf War, "There Were Approximately 2,500 Tomahawks In Inventory." (Federation Of American Scientists Military Analysis Network Website, "BGM-109 Tomahawk," http://www.fas.org/man, Accessed 4/26/04)

 

FAR FEWER BRADLEY FIGHTING VEHICLES WOULD HAVE BEEN BUILT

 

Bradley Fighting Vehicle Initially Produced In 1981. (United Defense Website, "Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle," http://www.uniteddefense.com/prod/bradleyM2A3.htm, Accessed 3/26/04)

 

Twenty Bradleys Produced In Fourth Quarter Of 1981. (FMC Corporation, Press Release, 4/21/82)  

About 300 Bradleys Were Expected To Ship In 1982. (FMC Corporation, Press Release, 4/21/82)  

Reagan Administration Requested 600 Bradleys For FY 1984.(Richard Halloran, "5-Year Arms Plan Reaffirms Growth," The New York Times, 2/1/83)  

Kerry Proposed Reductions In Bradley Fighting Vehicle Fleet In 1984. (Chris Black, "Kerry Asks Cuts In Defense Outlay," The Boston Globe, 5/30/84)  

Reagan Administration Requested 655 Bradleys For FY 1985. ("$107.6 Billion In Budget Set For Military Orders," The New York Times, 2/2/84; Richard C. Gross, "Pentagon Agrees To $14 Billion Defense Cut," United Press International, 5/3/84)  

 

Since 1981, Over 6,700 Bradleys Have Been Produced. "The Bradley Fighting Vehicle System is manufactured by United Defence Limited Partnership (UDLP) and includes the M2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle and the M3 Cavalry Fighting Vehicle. It is in service with the armies of the USA and Saudi Arabia. Since 1981, 6,720 vehicles of both types have been fielded." ("Bradley M2/M3 Tracked Armoured Fighting Vehicles, USA," Army Technology Website, http://www.army-technology.com/projects/bradley/index.html, Accessed 4/26/04)

 

FAR FEWER F-16 FIGHTER JETS WOULD HAVE BEEN BUILT

 

In 1975, General Dynamics Won Original $4.3 Billion Contract For 650 F-16s.("General Dynamics Renews Its Pentagon Romance," Business Week, 2/3/75)  

First F-16 Was Deployed In January 1979. (Federation Of American Scientists Military Analysis Network Website, "F-16 Fighting Falcon," http://www.fas.org/man, Accessed 3/28/04)  

In FY 1979, Funding Approved For At Least 120 F-16s. House version of Defense Appropriations for Fiscal Year 1979 included funds for 145 F-16s, However Senate appropriated funds for 120 F-16s. Cannot determine outcome in Conference Report. ("Defense Funds: $117.3 Billion," CQ Almanac 1978, p. 138, p. 142)  

Defense Appropriations For Fiscal Year 1981 Included Funds For 180 F-16s. ("Congress Votes Hefty Increases For Defense," CQ Almanac 1980, p. 190)  

Defense Appropriations For Fiscal Year 1982 Included Funds For 120 F-16s.("Reagan Defense Plan Given Final Approval," CQ Almanac 1981, p. 328)  

Defense Appropriations For Fiscal Year 1984 Included Funds For 144 F-16s.("Funds Voted For Reagan Defense Buildup," CQ Almanac 1983, p. 488)  

Kerry Proposed Reductions In F-16 Fleet In 1984. (Chris Black, "Kerry Asks Cuts In Defense Outlay," The Boston Globe, 5/30/84)  

Defense Appropriations For Fiscal Year 1985 Included Funds For 150 F-16s.("For Defense, $274.4 Billion In Fiscal 1985," CQ Almanac 1984, p. 403)  

 

FEWER THAN TWENTY APACHE HELICOPTERS WOULD HAVE BEEN BUILT

 

First Apache Rolled Off Hughes' Assembly Line In September 1983 And By January 1984, Just Nine Production Models Were Completed. "The first Apache rolled off Hughes Helicopters' Arizona assembly line two months ahead of schedule on Sept. 30, 1983, just 18 months after ground was broken for the facility, the most advanced helicopter assembly plant in the world. Nine production Apaches are presently being completed at the Mesa complex." (Hughes Helicopters, Inc., "First Production Apache Helicopter Successfully Completes Inaugural Flight," Press Release, 1/9/84)

 

Kerry Proposed Cancellation Of Apache Helicopter In 1984. ("John Kerry On The Defense Budget," Campaign Position Paper, John Kerry For U.S. Senate, 1984)

[porkchop]

:uhoh: Well Fuck me runnin.

 

If I Didn't see the name on this.

 

During th cold war

 

I would have thought it was some commie pinko.

 

:veryangry:

[skielty1]

It's a pretty weak argument to dredge up a bunch of 20 year old position papers that were released by candidate Kerry and concoct a worst case scenario for what might have happened if every one of them had been adopted.  It's even less convincing when you consider his actual voting record as a Senator.

 

While it's true that Kerry his voting record as described below does not reflect when and if he ultimately stopped supporting the various weapons systems, that becomes a more nuanced discussion when you consider that most, if not all of them were eventually cancelled or cut back at the behest of the Republican Secretary of Defense, who, by the way, just happens to be the sitting Vice-President of the United States.

 

You might also consider this quote: "After completing 20 planes for which we have begun procurement, we will shut down further production of the B-2 bomber. We will cancel the small ICBM program. We will cease production of new warheads for our sea-based ballistic missiles. We will stop all new production of the Peacekeeper [MX] missile. And we will not purchase any more advanced cruise missiles. … The reductions I have approved will save us an additional $50 billion over the next five years. By 1997 we will have cut defense by 30 percent since I took office."

- President George H.W. Bush, in his State of the Union address on Jan. 28, 1992.

 

Or the fact that 3 days later during Congressional hearings, Gen. Colin Powell, then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified about plans to cut Army divisions by one-third, Navy aircraft carriers by one-fifth, and active armed forces by half a million men and women, to say noting of "major reductions" in fighter wings and strategic bombers.

 

Finally, the whole issue begs the question: "Since when has the United States not had enough friggin weapons systems?"

 

KERRY'S RECORD ON DEFENSE

 

Kerry has supported 16 of the 19 defense authorization bills since being elected to the Senate.  In 2002, Kerry voted for a large increase in the defense budget, which provided more than $355 billion for the Defense Department for 2003, an increase of $21 billion over 2002. This measure includes $71.5 billion for procurement programs such as $4 billion for the Air Force's F-22 fighter jets, $3.5 billion for the Joint Strike Fighter and $279.3 million for an E-8C Joint Stars (JSTARS) aircraft. Kerry’s vote also funded a 4.1% pay increase for military personnel, $160 million for the B-1 Bomber Defense System Upgrade, $1.5 billion for a new attack submarine, more than $630 million for Army and Navy variants of the Blackhawk helicopter, $3.2 billion for additional C-17 transports, $900 million for R&D of the Comanche helicopter and more than $800 million for Trident Submarine conversion.

 

 

APACHE HELICOPTER:

 

THE KERRY RECORD: Kerry has supported $13 billion in defense authorizations for the Apache.

 

THE CHENEY RECORD: Terminate The Apache; According to the RNC, AH-64 Apache Helicopters Were Crucial to Operation Iraqi Freedom.  In testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee, Defense Subcommittee, Cheney said, “This is just a list of some of the programs that I've recommended termination: the V-22 Osprey, the F-14D, the Army Helicopter Improvement Program, Phoenix missile, F-15E, the Apache helicopter, the M1 tank, et cetera.” In testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, Cheney said, “The Army, as I indicated in my earlier testimony, recommended to me that we keep a robust Apache helicopter program going forward, AH-64…I forced the Army to make choices…So I recommended that we cancel the AH-64 program two years out.” [Cheney testimony, Senate Appropriations Committee, Defense Subcommittee, 6/12/90; Cheney Testimony, House Armed Services Committee, 7/13/89; Kerry’s Military: As He Would Like It,” 7/18/03]

 

AEGIS SHIPS

 

THE KERRY RECORD: Kerry has supported at least $53 billion defense authorizations for the Aegis program.

 

THE CHENEY RECORD: Cheney Cut Program, Costing Jobs. Cheney plan cut 9 of original 25 ships planned, putting shipyard in jeopardy [states News Service, 8/14/90; Aviation Week and Space Technology, 9/24/90]

 

BRADLEY FIGHTING VEHICLES

 

THE KERRY RECORD: Kerry supported $8.5 billion in authorization for the Bradley program.

 

THE CHENEY RECORD: Bush-Cheney Budget Terminated The Bradley. “Major weapons killed include the Army's M-2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle, the Navy's Trident submarine and F-14 aircraft, and the Air Force's F-16 airplane. Cheney decided the military already has enough of these weapons.” [boston Globe, 2/5/91]

 

BLACKHAWK HELICOPTERS

 

THE KERRY RECORD: Kerry has supported at least $13 billion in defense authorizations on versions of the Blackhawk.

 

THE CHENEY RECORD: Terminate The Black Hawk.  The Pentagon’s internal budget deliberations recommended termination of the Black Hawk program under Secretary Cheney.” [Aerospace Daily, 5/15/90]

 

B-2 BOMBER

 

THE KERRY RECORD: Kerry has supported over $16.7 billion in defense authorizations for the B-2 program.

 

THE CHENEY RECORD: Cheney Proposed Cuts to B-2 Program, According to the RNC, B-2s Were Crucial to Operation Iraqi Freedom. According to the Boston Globe, in 1990, “Defense Secretary Richard Cheney announced a cutback… of nearly 45 percent in the administration's B-2 Stealth bomber program, from 132 airplanes to 75…” [boston Globe, 4/27/90; From RNC Research Memo, “Kerry’s Military: As He Would Like It,” 7/18/03:

 

C-17 CARGO JETS

 

THE KERRY RECORD: Kerry supported at least $34.5 billion in defense authorizations for the C-17.

 

THE CHENEY RECORD: Cutting C-17 Program. In 1990, Cheney proposed cutting 90 C-17 Air Force cargo transport planes [Newsday, 2/5/91; NY Times, 1/8/91; Boston Globe, 4/27/90; Boston Globe, 1/30/90]

 

F/A-18 FIGHTER JETS

 

THE KERRY RECORD: Kerry supported at least $60 billion in defense authorizations for the F/A-18 and F-18.

 

THE CHENEY RECORD: Cutbacks Hit Industry Hard: Workers and the industry were hit hard by Cheney’s decision for “major cuts” in the F/A-18 program and upgrades to the F-18 in the late 1980s [Flight International, 6/27/90; Los Angeles Times, 12/17/89; Aerospace Daily, 5/26/89; Aviation Week and Space Technology, 5/1/89]

 

F-16 FIGHTER JETS

 

THE KERRY RECORD: Kerry supported at least $25 billion in defense authorizations for the F-16.

 

THE CHENEY RECORD: Cheney Proposed Cutting F-16 aircraft, According to the RNC, F-16s Were Crucial to Operation Iraqi Freedom. In testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, Cheney said, “If you're going to have a smaller air force, you don't need as many F-16s…The F-16D we basically continue to buy and close it out because we're not going to have as big a force structure and we won't need as many F-16s.” According to the Boston Globe, Bush’s 1991 defense budget “kill[ed] 81 programs for potential savings of $ 11.9 billion…Major weapons killed include[d]….the Air Force's F-16 airplane.” [Cheney testimony, House Armed Services Committee, 2/7/91; Boston Globe, 2/5/91; From RNC Research Memo, “Kerry’s Military: As He Would Like It,” 7/18/03.]

 

TOMAHAWK MISSILES

 

THE KERRY RECORD: Kerry supported at least $6 billion in defense authorizations for the Tomahawk missile program.

 

THE CHENEY RECORD: No New Missiles Requested Even as Stocks Depleted Before Gulf War, Cutbacks Lead To Layoffs: Cheney’s defense budget was so pared-down that it didn’t include any funds for more Tomahawk missiles in 1991, despite stocks rapidly diminished by the military action in the Persian Gulf. Cuts in 1990 led to layoffs throughout the nation. [Washington Post, 2/5/91; Aerospace Daily, 1/23/91; AP, 6/20/90]

 

C-130 CARGO JETS

 

THE KERRY RECORD: Kerry supported at least $12 billion in defense authorizations for the C-130.

 

THE CHENEY RECORD: Move Hurricane Plane Out of Dept. of Defense, Move Considered Dangerous. In 1990, Cheney pushed a potentially dangerous move by trying to shift the WC-130 Hurricane Hunter planes from the Department of Defense and into the Department of commerce. The WC-130 is used to track Hurricanes and warn coastal residents in time to evacuate the area. In July 1990, Cheney ordered that the Air Force halt all WC-130 flights by October 1, 1990 and turn the mission to the Commerce Department. Reed Boatright, a spokesman for the Commerce Department said, “we are not in a position to accept planes either financially or infrastructure wise.” According to Jerry Jarrell, deputy director of the National Hurricane Center, “It would be devastating” if the Commerce Department was unable to pick up the WC-130 after Cheney released it from Defense. Today, the WC-130 remains at Defense. [uPI, 7/11/00]

 

PATRIOT MISSILE SYSTEM

 

THE KERRY RECORD: Kerry supported at least $10 billion in defense authorizations for the Patriot program.

 

SOURCES ON KERRY SPENDING: Congressional

Quarterly Almanacs, 1986-2002; House Armed Service

Committee Authorization Conference Report Summaries;

Conference Reports for Defense Authorizations, FY1986 – present.

[campbell]

So vote for Kerry.  He's a person just like you are.  While you are having beer and salsa, he's eating caviar and drinking expensive champagne.  Or vote for Nader.  Or vote Libertarian.  Or vote for Bush.  

    If  you think you can really make a difference by who gets elected, you're sadly mistaken.  

     They answer to the higher powers--the puppet-masters that have the money.  

      "Meet the new boss.  Same as the old boss."

     They have already sold their souls.  We don't have anything except the illusion of being able to make a difference.  

    campbell

[Greybeard]

Argue all you want about who voted for what.  The fact is that the REPUBLICAN PLATFORM over the years has ALWAYS created MORE and STRONGER defense than the DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM and TODAY stands for strong defense and US independence in the world.

 

Thats what I want!  Vote Republican!

[Rosie]

It was pointed out to me that John Kerry spent 4 months in Viet Nam, and 280 months as a U. S. Senator.

2 Questions:

1. Which of these does he spend all his time talking about?

B. Why do you think that is?

 

Rosie

[Iron Mike]

It was pointed out to me that John Kerry spent 4 months in Viet Nam, and 280 months as a U. S. Senator.

2 Questions:

1. Which of these does he spend all his time talking about?

B. Why do you think that is?

 

Rosie

Well DER!

[thornbury]

The Bush campaign bases its claim mainly on Kerry's votes against overall Pentagon money bills in 1990, 1995 and 1996, but these were not votes against specific weapons. And in fact, Kerry voted for Pentagon authorization bills in 16 of the 19 years he's been in the Senate. So even by the Bush campaign's twisted logic, Kerry should -- on balance -- be called a supporter of the "vital" weapons, more so than an opponent.

 

It is true that when Kerry first ran for the Senate in 1984 he did call specifically for canceling the AH-64 Apache helicopter. And Richard Cheney himself, who is now Vice President but who then was Secretary of Defense, also proposed canceling the Apache helicopter program five years after Kerry did.

 

Kerry's voting record on military spending was defended March 18 by Republican Sen. John McCain. He said on CBS's "The Early Show:"

 

McCain: No, I do not believe that he is, quote, weak on defense. He's responsible for his voting record, as we are all responsible for our records, and he'll have to explain it. But, no, I do not believe that he is necessarily weak on defense.

 

 

Support who you like - I haven't decided - but get the facts straight.  And to the gentleman who stated on an earlier thread that independent voters don't have consistent values, I reply that this is similarly short-sighted.  I have many values, some are espoused by one candidate, some by the other.  Neither has overcome my objections enough at this point to support a decision.