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Giuliani, McCain Fire Up Delegates

Mike Coffman, a Colorado delegate and the state treasurer, said both men captured the antiterrorism theme well, but Giuliani won the evening.

NEW YORK (AP) - They cheered Vietnam war hero John McCain on the first night of the Republican National Convention. But they screamed their lungs out for Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor who guided his city through unspeakable horrors and restored its mental health.

Giuliani clearly had home field advantage, delegates said. He spoke just four miles from Ground Zero. He painted a gruesome picture of witnessing "the flames of hell" on Sept. 11. He touched raw emotions in a crowd craving to cheer President Bush's leadership in the war on terrorism.

"When you think of Giuliani you think of New York City," said Nicolee Ambrose, a delegate from Baltimore. "He lived it and breathed it."

Delegates mentioned other contrasts between McCain, a Republican senator from Arizona, and Giuliani - two potential rivals for the Republican presidential nomination in four years.

Some said they haven't forgiven McCain for his bitter primary fight against Bush four years ago. Others were critical of the McCain-sponsored overhaul of campaign finance laws.

"Giuliani defines a person who took charge in very difficult times," said June Rentmeester, a Richardson, Texas, delegate who joined her state colleagues in wearing denim cowboy shirts.

"McCain, after he lost the primary, showed this bitterness. He was a sore loser in my estimation. When he should have supported Bush, he was still sitting around and complaining."

There was little difference in the message of the two opening-night headliners.

Giuliani recalled the day the president stood atop a pile of rubble at Ground Zero and promised to avenge the attacks. Bush was like Ronald Reagan and Winston Churchill in staying with his convictions, the ex-mayor said. "Some call it stubbornness. I call it principled leadership."

McCain told the crowd, "We need a leader with the experience to make the tough decisions and the resolve to stick with them." Bush provided that leadership at home and abroad, he said, calling the invasion of Iraq "necessary, achievable and noble."

"We're in New York and he was mayor Sept. 11," Coffman said. "He's just more relevant to the delegates."

They were "both great," said delegate Bill Hranac of Aberdeen, Wash. "But when Giuliani's on a roll, he's really on a roll."

Pictures Of The Day

You have sent us many great pictures. We have started a new website "Pictures Of The Day." This will give us a place to share your pictures with others.

Ketchup With Lies?

"W" America's Ketchup

Leno

In the latest issue of "GQ” magazine, John Kerry talks about what a man should look for in a woman. "GQ”? If John Kerry is going to talk about what he likes in a woman, shouldn’t it be in "Fortune” or "Money” magazine?

Al Gore was caught driving 75 miles an hour on the highway up in Oregon and cited for speeding. Well you know Al Gore, he’ll do anything to get his name on a ticket now….poor Al, he didn’t get paid because he didn’t get the pizza there on time. He lost out on that one too…bad day for Al.

Our USA team ended up winning 103 medals – although today, a group of Vietnam swift boat veterans came forward to say that our athletes really didn’t earn all their medals.

Good to see everybody. After watching the Olympics for two weeks, it’s nice to finally see some people in the stands….one guy out there.

As you know security was incredibly tight at the Olympics. And their biggest fear was that people might try to sneak in by impersonating the athletes. In fact, I think that’s what happened to our men’s basketball team.

Perhaps the biggest disappointment at the games – U.S. men’s basketball team won only a bronze medal. But to their credit, they played like pros – okay, like the Clippers, but still pros.

Iraq lost the soccer match and the Iraqi fans went nuts. The Iraqi fans threw beer bottles and cursed at the referees. Well it didn’t take them long to get the hang of the American way of life.

You know what country had a disappointing performance – Mexico. Well sure, all their fastest runners came here years ago.

You know who I feel sorry for? That Brazilian guy. That was really unfair. Did you see that crazy guy who disrupted the marathon? He ran out, grabbed the Brazilian runner, turns out he’s a defrocked priest. That’s true. And because he’s an ex-priest he didn’t get jail time, they just transferred him to another marathon.

It’s so strange seeing a priest grabbing someone over the age of 13. I was surprised to see that happened.

Tonight in New York City, the Republicans began their convention in the traditional way - with a prayer . . . for more money.

A lot of Republicans arrived at the convention in swift boats, or as they call them, yachts.

Here’s a big surprise in the latest polls – it now seems Ralph Nader is now in the double digits. There’s something like 12 people who say they’ll vote for him.

Today Ralph Nader was in Las Vegas where he denounced gambling. Later he’s coming to L.A. To criticize breast implants. Find your audience.

Good news today for Florida, they’ve just selected the observers who will work on Election Day to make sure the votes are counted fairly. The bad news, it’s the Olympic gymnastic judges.

Have you heard about this? There’s a new thing called alcohol without liquid. It’s a machine that combines booze with oxygen to create an alcohol mist that you just inhale. Well this is perfect for airline pilots, no more fumbling with those little bottles, now that mask can just fall down mid-flight.

Here’s a strange thing in the "Wall Street Journal” today, Toys ‘R Us has announced that they may sell their toy division. So what are they going to call the company now? "We Was Toys”.

Letterman

The U.S. Olympic team won over 100 medals in Athens. I believe the only person to get more gold this year was Kobe Bryant’s wife.

The Republican National Convention is in town. There’s a lot of protesters here. It feels just like the 60’s. The air is just full of that aroma of tear gas and weed.

If you’re a delegate and going to the convention you’re going to get frisked, patted down, groped – and that’s just by Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Kerry's "Silver Star With Combat "V"- A New Ballgame

B.G. Burkett, author of the definitive book on fraudulent medals, "Stolen Valor," told Lipscomb there's a problem with the citation for Kerry's "Silver Star with Combat V."

"I've run across several claims for Silver Stars with combat V's, but they were all in fake records," he told Lipscomb.

Several of the military records that appear on Kerry's Web site "appear to be fraudulent, according to U.S. Navy standards," the Sun-Times reporter told Malzberg.

"The Navy is now saying Kerry's records are incorrect," he added. "He's not entitled to this award. He's not entitled to that award. This is a new ballgame."

Newsmax
Kerry Stonewalling on Medals Mystery

Kerry campaign officials are refusing to answer questions about discrepancies in the military records posted to the presidential candidate's campaign Web site after Navy officials and outside experts challenged the authenticity of some of Kerry's decorations.

Chicago Sun-Times reporter Thomas Lipscomb said Sunday that he's tried to reach Kerry campaign spokesman Michael Meehan 10 times about the controversy - all without response.

On Friday, Lipscomb reported that former Navy Secretary John Lehman is challenging citations posted to Kerry's campaign Web site that include his signature.

"It is a total mystery to me. I never saw it. I never signed it. I never approved it. And the additional language it contains was not written by me," Lehman said.

Read more on this subject in Related Hot Topics:

John Kerry's Mysterious Combat “V”

Kerry Hides DD 214 After It Shows "Silver Star With Combat "V"

After the above Articles, we received this email: "It is also interesting to note that Kerry did not obtain an honorable discharge until March 12, 2001 even though his service obligation should have ended July 1, 1972."

Is this another example of Kerry’s multiple, and increasingly transparent, lies about his alleged heroics in Vietnam?

Pictures Of The Day

You have sent us many great pictures. We have started a new website "Pictures Of The Day." This will give us a place to share your pictures with others.

Kerry's Waffle House

Kerry's Flip Flops

Liberals, You've Just Shown Us Your Colors... Yellow, Yellow, Yellow

John Kerry whines to the President, demanding that he make some war veterans stop talking about him; it's okay to impugn George Bush's name, but not his.

Debbie Daniel:
If Kerry Can't Handle the 'Swiftees,' How's He Going to Handle the Terrorists?

I've had more people chastise me for defending George Bush. They say they should have the right to say what they want about the President and he should not be above criticism.

Oh, I get it . . . we should have the freedom to besmirch the President of the United States, but how dare anyone malign John Kerry.

Well liberals, you've just shown us your colors . . . yellow, yellow, yellow. And it looks so natural on you.

Why don't 254 veterans, who served this country, have a right to speak out? They have something to say, but John Kerry doesn't want to hear them.

Do you mean to tell me that Mr. Kerry's four months as a decorated soldier - a man who never spent a day in an infirmary, never missed an hour's duty, and never had more than a band-aid to cover a wound - is beyond reproach?

Bob Dole was absolutely right: "Where's the outrage?" That brave man in WWII laid in a field for nine hours nearly bleeding to death, while it's not even documented that John Kerry spilled a drop of his own blood in Vietnam. The bar for heroism was lowered dramatically from one war to the next.

Have you ever heard so much belly-aching in all your life? Whaah, whaah, whaah . . . the hero can't handle it. John Kerry had to actually call on the President of the United States to tell the Swift Boat Veterans to stop telling their stories.

He's tried to stop distribution of John O'Neill's book, "Unfit for Command"; he's threatened TV stations with libel suits that air anymore of the Swift Boat Vets' ads, and he's tried to have book stores remove copies of the book.

Didn't those men earn the right to speak? Didn't their service in combat give them the privilege to be heard? How can one soldier come back from Vietnam in 1971 . . . spit on thousands of soldiers, and then spit again on 254 who choose to stand against him?

Who does John Kerry think he is? Some of you might want to take note that we have a "run-away" Senator that's decided this is his country and no one else's.

But to kick, scream, and holler that he's being mistreated is beyond me. As Bill Clinton in 1988 spoke of George Bush #41: "Isn't he pathetic?" . . . I can't help but be reminded of those same words in regards to this pitiful example shown by Mr. Kerry.

To go crying to the Commander-in-Chief is pathetic. C'mon Mr. Kerry, you're a big boy; certainly not acting like a "hero."

And after the President calls off the "ads," you have the nerve to send out your minion John-Boy, to say it's not enough?

When Ted Kennedy accused George Bush of being a LIAR, did you hear George Bush yell foul? No, he marched onward! And Ted Kennedy had to prove nothing.

When Al Gore screamed and became "un-hinged" accusing George Bush of betraying his country and calling him a moral coward, did you hear George Bush say anything? No, he marched onward! And Al Gore had to prove nothing.

When Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Madeline Albright, Dennis Kucinich, Al Sharpton, Howard Dean, Richard Clarke and much of Hollywood all used damaging rhetoric of Bush being a murderer; another Hitler; a war monger; a religious fanatic; irresponsible; incompetent and fueling the terrorists' hate . . . did you hear George Bush respond negatively? No, he marched onward! And not one person was asked to give proof of their claim.

John Kerry has called Bush a liar; untrustworthy; that he gutted the morale; an embarrassment to the United States, and because of this President, nations don't respect us anymore. What was George Bush's answer to those indictments? Not one word. And Mr. Kerry did not offer any proof.

Mr. Kerry, you spat on the Vietnam soldiers once, do you really want to spit on them again? You've spat on the President many times, and yet you call on him for help.

Mr. Bush has spent the past four years listening to people "berate with hate" and still marches onward, and will not respond in kind. He only praises; even those who spitefully use him and call him names.

Everyone else seems to exercise their freedom to speak. But when 254 "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" are on the record questioning John Kerry's fitness to serve as Commander-in-chief, and 64 soldiers make definitive accusations with eyewitness accounts of his service in Vietnam . . . they are called liars; they should not speak; Mr. Bush is accused of coordinating a smear campaign, and the "Swiftees" are challenged to prove every single allegation.

And what does Mr. Bush do? He marches onward and says, "John Kerry served his country admirably and should be proud of his record."

Would someone please tell me which man will stand strong against terrorists? The last time I checked, that's the war staring us in the face.

With John Kerry - it's all about Him. With George Bush - it's all about America. Who do you choose?

Gen. McInerney: Kerry Testimony Treasonous

Vietnam veteran-turned-military analyst Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney said Thursday that John Kerry's 1971 testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee portraying Vietnam soldiers as "monsters" would have been consider ground for treason charges in an earlier day.

"There is deep, deep anger for a man who, if he had done this during World War II, would have been tried for treason," McInerney told ABC Radio's John Batchelor.

Noting that two of his brothers also served in Vietnam, where one died, McInerney said, "He betrayed us . . . He betrayed not only my personal family but my [West Point] classmates and all the veterans that were over there."

Referring to the portion of Kerry's testimony where he accused his fellow soldiers of routinely committing barbaric acts on Vietnamese civilians, McInerney told Batchelor, "We did not do those things that he claimed that we did."

McInerney said Kerry's testimony was largely responsible for creating the negative stereotype of Vietnam veterans, noting that many of his fellow soldiers were greeted "babykillers" when they returned from the war.

On Kerry's decision to make his Vietnam service the centerpiece of his presidential campaign, McInerney said, "He picked a scab that he should not have."

Diary refutes Kerry claim

John Kerry's own wartime journal is raising questions about whether he deserved the first of three Purple Hearts, which permitted him to go home after 4½ months of combat.

A primary claim against Mr. Kerry by the Swift Boat Veterans is that Mr. Kerry's first Purple Heart — awarded for action on Dec. 2, 1968 — did not involve the enemy and that Mr. Kerry's wounds that day were unintentionally self-inflicted.

They charge that in the confusion involving unarmed, fleeing Viet Cong, Mr. Kerry fired a grenade, which detonated nearby and splattered his arm with hot metal.

Mr. Kerry has claimed that he faced his "first intense combat" that day, returned fire, and received his "first combat related injury."

A journal entry Mr. Kerry wrote Dec. 11, however, raises questions about what really happened nine days earlier.

"A cocky feeling of invincibility accompanied us up the Long Tau shipping channel because we hadn't been shot at yet, and Americans at war who haven't been shot at are allowed to be cocky," wrote Mr. Kerry, according the book "Tour of Duty" by friendly biographer Douglas Brinkley.

If enemy fire was not involved in that or any other incident, according to the Military Order of the Purple Heart, no medal should be awarded.

"The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the armed forces of the U.S. who are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy," according to the organization chartered by Congress. According to regulations set by the Department of Defense, an enemy must be involved to warrant a Purple Heart.

The Swift Boat Veterans say that means Mr. Kerry is now backing off of his first Purple Heart claim, just as he has apparently changed his claim that he spent Christmas 1968 on an operation in Cambodia.

"It's a house of cards," said Van Odell, one of the veterans. "What he wrote in 'Tour of Duty' and how he used that is nothing but a house of cards, and it's exposed."

Kerry Flip-Flops on Taxes in Same Sentence

The establishment media point out every one of President Bush's verbal gaffes, but they usually give Sens. John Kerry and John Edwards a pass for similar goofs.

Yet here's what a sharp-eyed reader noted in a story by the Associated Press about Kerry's speech in Philadelphia yesterday.

"The truth, which is what elections are all about, is that the tax burden of the middle class has gone up while the tax burden of the middle class has gone down," he said.

The story, posted on ABC's Web site, didn't point out the boo-boo.

Kilborn

John Kerry says that he has a plaque on his desk that says "The buck stops here.” His wife has one on her desk that says "The two billion dollars stops here.”

Paris Hilton’s Chihuahua is missing for the second time. What the hell kind of video is the dog in now?!

Bob Dylan is coming out with his memoirs later this year. Here’s some advice. Avoid the book on audio tape.

Letterman

I’m so glad this audience is here tonight. Last night’s crowd was rough. It was terrible. It wasn’t a crowd it was a Sunni uprising.

The crowd was so bad it was quieter than a dinner at the McGreevy’s house.

Governor McGreevy of New Jersey has yet to submit his resignation. He has however submitted some killer decorating ideas for the mansion.

The Republican National Convention starts next week here in New York City. That means next week you won’t be able to find a cab or a hooker.

Kerry Makes Illegal Phone Call to Swift Boat Veteran

The New York Post reported today: "Sean McCabe, a spokesman for the 264-member organization, said it plans to send a cease-and-desist letter warning Kerry 'to stop calling our members,' because it's an independent '527' group and it's illegal for campaigns to contact them."

The senator was breaking the law and should have immediately ended the call when Brant said he was a member of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.

NewsMax: Of course, if serving in Vietnam were the primary qualification to be president, the United States would need thousands of Oval Offices, but John Kerry, trying to avoid his Senate record, chose to make a four-month stint decades ago the centerpiece of his campaign. And every day now he must be regretting that decision.

Kerry's latest faux pas: calling Vietnam veteran Robert "Friar Tuck" Brant and asking if he knew about that awful group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.

"I said, 'I am one, John,'" Brant said.

The Massachusetts Democrat had failed to note or recall Brant's appearance at a news conference announcing the group in May.

"There was a moment of hesitation, and he said, `I appreciate your honesty.' He said, `Well, why are you?'"

Brant reminded Kerry of his depiction of veterans as war criminals. "I said, `You know that's not true,'" Brant recalled to the Associated Press. "That's been simmering in me about 35 years."

At a Democrat fund-raiser last night in Philadelphia, Kerry tried to defend his anti-U.S. activism even though communist torturers used his discredited congressional testimony in 1971 to add to the suffering of American POWs.

"You can judge my character, incidentally, by that," Kerry told the Democrat crowd.

Gladly.

Letterman

Did you have a tough time getting a cab in town today? I’ll tell you why. Presidential candidate John Kerry was in town today.

They captured Osama bin Laden’s cook. Did you know that? I believe his name is Chef Boyar-sheik.

Are you enjoying the Olympics? Do you have Olympic fever like me? President Bush and John Kerry have Olympic fever. They are both doing synchronized lying.

Kilborn

Hi my name is Craig Kilborn and next week you can catch me on VH-1’s "Where Are They Listening to Sinatra and Drinking Scotch Now?

The Iraqi soccer team lost to Paraguay today. And the Iraqi coach doesn’t know times are different now because afterwards he asked, "Okay, when do they shoot us?”

Iceland will soon be holding its first ever rap festival. Because when you think hip-hop you think Iceland.

Veterans: Kerry and Bush Won't Censor Us

Swift Boat Veterans for Truth has promptly rejected the call of President Bush and Sen. John Kerry to stop exposing Kerry's record.

"We intend to go forth with our ads to the last drop of money and effort that we have," spokesman John O'Neill said.

NewsMax: Swift Boat Veterans for Truth's new ad, being launched today, features veterans condemning Kerry's depiction in 1971 of American troops, including himself, as war criminals.

Kerry, of course, continues to ignore President Bush's challenge to call off the multimillion-dollar hate groups that are doing the senator's dirty work for him, and the media establishment continues to give its Democrat candidate a free pass.

Read more on this subject in Related Hot Topics:

Kerry: Yes, Yes, I committed the same kind of atrocities

Kerry in 1971: 'Our Democracy is a Farce'

'Hanoi John'

(Videotape, MEET THE PRESS, April 18, 1971):

MR. KERRY (Vietnam Veterans Against the War): "There are all kinds of atrocities and I would have to say that,"

"Yes,yes, I committed the same kind of atrocities as thousands of other soldiers have committed in that I took part in shootings in free-fire zones."

"I conducted harassment and interdiction fire. I used 50-caliber machine guns which we were granted and ordered to use, which were our only weapon against people.".

"I took part in search-and-destroy missions, in the burning of villages."

"All of this is contrary to the laws of warfare. All of this is contrary to the Geneva Conventions...."

Lieutenant Calley was tried for committing the "same kind of atrocities". Will Kerry, now be tried?

When will the Media, GOP, and the Courts hold Kerry accountable for his own "Atrocities"?

Letterman

I've been going over this in my head. I'll ask you. Here’s the question. Is it too soon to hit on Mrs. McGreevey?

Do we have a lot of out-of-towners here tonight? You’re here at a great time. We have the protesters, closed streets, the high alerts, the bomb threats – where you going next week? Najaf?!

Are you following the saga of Michael Jackson? The latest is that his plastic surgeon had to take a piece of his (Michael) ear to construct part of his nose and as a result of the surgery he’s actually death in his left nostril.

Have you been watching the Olympics? The U.S. gymnasts won the gold medal due to a mathematical error. It’s the same way I got this show.

President Bush is sending aide to Florida after the hurricane. Not to help the people but to fix the crooked voting machines.

'Stunning' Democrat Vote Fraud Unearthed

NEW YORK (Reuters) - About 46,000 people are registered to vote in two states, New York and Florida, a violation of both states' laws that could affect the outcome of the November presidential election, according to an investigation by the Daily News.

Of the 46,000 registered in both states, 68 percent are Democrats, 12 percent are Republicans and 16 percent didn't align themselves with a party.

NewsMax: And the investigation doesn't include other states (NJ, MS, CT, PA, IL, DL, NH, ETC) or even the suburbs of New York.

The pro-Kerry paper said that efforts to prevent such fraud "rely mostly on the honor system." That's a serious flaw when people who have no honor are involved.

A reader from Plymouth Meeting: "The Democrats are obviously the party of vote fraud, by a more than 5 to 1 margin. Why aren't these people being punished? The Justice Department should investigate and Prosecute (senior citizens or not, they belong in Jail)!"

To vote twice is "a federal offense punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine."

(We can hear the Democrats complaining about Republicans putting Senior citizens in jails.) So again the Justice Department will do nothing.

Florida played a pivotal role in the 2000 presidential election, when a margin there of 537 votes tipped a victory to George W. Bush.

Still Snowbirds Too Stupid to Vote

Meanwhile, notorious Palm Beach County, where thousands of hard-core Democrats, including many snowbirds from or former residents of New York, claimed to be too stupid to use a Democrat-designed ballot in 2000, is at again.

And what's the problem this time? Some users of the absentee ballot are now claiming to be too inept to draw a simple line connecting two parts of an arrow.

Bring on the lawyers ...

Kerry Hides DD 214 After It Shows "Silver Star With Combat "V"

Kerry's DD 214 lists a Silver Star with a combat “V” (for valor). As a major correctly observes, the Combat “V” is never awarded with the Silver Star.

Many wanted to look at Kerry's DD 214 by going to "John Kerry For President web site", (Click Here) but it was well hidden.

This is the direct link to "John Kerry's Official Naval Records." (Click Here)

When you look at Kerry's DD 214, also look at his DD 215. (correction to DD 214) He added 2 Ribbons and 2 medals. Also he added 4 Bronze Stars to his Vietnam Service Medal. Does this mean he had 4 Tours Of Duty in Vietnam?

Look at the Dates at the bottom of the Form DD 215. The Form is dated FEB 2000. The date that the form was filled out is (YYYYMMDD) 20010312 Or March 3,2001.

Why did Kerry wait 32 Years to Correct his DD 214? Why did he Not Correct the Mysterious Silver Star with a combat “V” (for valor)? No wonder Kerry is hiding his DD 214 and His DD 215. Print a copy before they disappear all together.

From Henry Mark Holzer and Erika Holzer, As the authors of Fake Warriors: Identifying, Exposing and Punishing Those Who Falsify Their Military Service.

John Kerry's Mysterious Combat “V”

Kerry's DD 214 lists a Silver Star with a combat “V” (for valor). As a major correctly observes, the “V” is never awarded with the Silver Star.

One Vietnam vet with nearly forty years of military service who retired as a major...in his words. “having seen hundreds of DD 214s” (a veteran’s Record of Transfer or Separation), recently decided to take a close look at John Kerry’s DD 214, which is posted on his website.

What the major called to our attention, which we have since verified, raises some extremely troubling questions about John Kerry’s Silver Star. Keep in mind that the Silver Star is the third-highest medal our Nation can bestow (after only the Medal of Honor and the three service “Crosses”).

There is an abundance of anecdotal evidence that a combat “V” (called a “Combat Distinguishing Device”) is simply not awarded with a Silver Star. For example, a former Vietnam War POW told us that he has “three SSs, and there was no V for any of them.”

Countless other Silver Star recipients all say the same thing. Why? Because, among other reasons, it would be redundant to award a Silver Star for “gallantry” (the statutory term) and then embellish it with a “V” for valor.

Most conclusive, however, is that the law is very clear about the award of Combat Distinguishing Devices. According to the Navy Awards Manual:

Bronze "V" (Combat Distinguishing Device).

Prior to . . . 1974, the "V" was authorized for wear on the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal and Navy Achievement Medal. Between . . .1974 and . . . 1991, the "V" was authorized for wear on the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal and Navy Commendation Medal. [In] . . . 1991, the "V" was authorized for wear on the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. In all cases, the Combat Distinguishing Device may only be worn if specifically authorized in the citation.

Because the “V” is authorized for only the ten awards cited above, but not for the Silver Star, Kerry’s Silver Star citation (the “explanation” of why the award was made) does not even mention the “V” for valor.

The presence of the combat “V” with Kerry’s Silver Star on his DD 214 raises two extremely disquieting questions. How did the unauthorized “V” get there, and why has Kerry allowed it to remain?

The first question should not be taken lightly because we are talking about possible federal crimes. We are talking about the possibility of a forged official document.

Was the combat “V” added by a sloppy clerk or a yeoman’s typo thirty years ago? Was someone pressured or persuaded to add it? If Kerry had nothing to do with the gratuitously added combat “V,” why didn’t he have his DD 214 corrected when he was separated from the Navy?

Which gives rise to the second disturbing question: If Kerry was not a party to the unauthorized “V,” why, for all these years, has he allowed his DD 214 to remain uncorrected and to repose on his website?

In light of the recent Swift Boat revelations and the cloud they have cast over Kerry’s awards, one plausible answer is that this is yet another example of Kerry’s multiple, and increasingly transparent, lies about his alleged heroics in Vietnam.

Let’s hope it won’t take a controversial TV spot to spark a mainstream media investigation of how candidate Kerry received an unearned “V” for valor.

Dead Crewmate Contradicted Kerry

In a development that the establishment press is treating like bombshell news, former Swift Boat commander William B. Rood has stepped forward to defend John Kerry.

NewsMax: Unmentioned by Rood in his Chicago Tribune report is the account of Tom Bellodeau, who, unlike Rood, was actually aboard Kerry's boat when the VC in question leveled his grenade launcher at them.

"You know, I shot that guy," Bellodeau told the Boston Globe during a 1996 interview, correcting an earlier Globe report that echoed Kerry's claim that he alone had neutralized the enemy ambusher.

"He jumped up, he looked right at me, I looked at him," Bellodeau continued. "You could tell he was trying to decide whether to shoot or not. I expected the guy on Kerry's boat with the twin 50s to blast him, but he couldn't depress the guns far enough. We were up on the bank."

Only after the enemy soldier was wounded, said Bellodeau, did Kerry leap from the boat onto the beach and pursue him around the back of a nearby hut, where the would-be president finished him off.

And even though Kerry spoke at Bellodeau's funeral, he has done nothing to incorporate his crewmate's role in subsequent accounts of the encounter with the enemy fighter.

Even former Swift Boat commander William B. Rood contradicted Kerry.

Recalling what he saw from a different Swift Boat, Rood writes:

"Kerry, followed by one member of his crew, jumped ashore and chased a VC behind a hooch – a thatched hut – maybe 15 yards inland from the ambush site.

Who was the Crewmate that followed Kerry?

Kerry's Silver Star citation credits him alone for taking down the Viet Cong soldier, making no mention whatsoever of Bellodeau, who has died in the intervening years.

Within hours of the Chicago Tribune's Saturday afternoon announcement that William Rood had decided to go public with his Kerry defense, more than 1,500 news outlets were touting the story on their Web sites, with the Associated Press offering no fewer than 10 updates.

None of them mentioned Kerry's dead crewmate Tom Bellodeau.

Kerry Will File Legal Challenge to Swift Boat Veterans

CNN is reporting Friday afternoon that the Kerry campaign will file a complaint with the FEC.

Wolf Blitzer reported that the campaign will allege that the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth are illegally coordinating their efforts with the Bush-Cheney campaign.

The complaint reportedly demands that the Swiftvets immediately suspend broadcasts of commericals attacking John Kerry's Vietnam War record and return any moneys raised in conjunction with the ad campaign.

The complaint is an extension of Sen. Kerry's charge on Thursday that the Swiftvets are a "front group" for the Bush-Cheney campaign, alleging that the group has broken campaign laws by coordinating their efforts with the White House.

John O'Neill, author of the book "Unfit for Command," which details the charges described in the anti-Kerry commercials, said Friday that he had no connection with the White House, adding that his group wouldn't suspend the ads even if the White House asked them too.

"This isn't his fight," O'Neill told radio host Sean Hannity. "This is between the veterans who served in Vietnam and John Kerry."

CNN CROSSFIRE TRANSCRIPT

CARLSON: Vic, CNN just got word that the Kerry campaign is asking the federal government to take these ads off the air, by force. I thought you were the party of free speech?

KAMBER: We are. I think it's wrong if that's what they've done.

CARLSON: Good for you.

KAMBER: I haven't seen the news. I think it's wrong. The ads should run, as bad as they are, as dishonest as they are. They should run.

CARLSON: You are a principled man.

BEGALA: I have to say, I'm with Vic on that. You know, it will hurt John Kerry if he's perceived as trying to silence anybody.

BUCHANAN: He's also trying to ban the book. He's trying to pull the book from...

BEGALA: Well, God knows people said a lot of untruthful things about Bill Clinton, and we never tried to shut them down by through the legal means. I don't believe in doing that.

Beauty contest for goats

Ananova: Croat farmers have staged a beauty contest for goats in a bid to publicize the fact that traditional goat farming is dying out.

Dozens of farmers from across the country entered their prize goats in the event at the village of St. Vincenat in western Croatia.

Ivan Perko, owner of Lucy who won the event and is from the western Croatian village of Most Rasa, said: "I always knew she was the most beautiful goat in the world and now it's been proven."

There was no prize for winning the competition but Perko said the honor was enough for him.

"This is a great honor for me and Lucy," he said.

Organizers said they came up with the idea of the contest to draw attention to falling numbers of goats in the region.

They said that at one time there were 800,000 goats in the Istria region, but that today there are only 1,000, local media reported.

John Kerry's Mysterious Combat “V”

Kerry's DD 214 lists a Silver Star with a combat “V” (for valor). As a major correctly observes, the “V” is never awarded with the Silver Star.

Henry Mark Holzer and Erika Holzer: One Vietnam vet with nearly forty years of military service who retired as a major...in his words. “having seen hundreds of DD 214s” (a veteran’s Record of Transfer or Separation), recently decided to take a close look at John Kerry’s DD 214, which is posted on his website.

What the major called to our attention, which we have since verified, raises some extremely troubling questions about John Kerry’s Silver Star. Keep in mind that the Silver Star is the third-highest medal our Nation can bestow (after only the Medal of Honor and the three service “Crosses”).

There is an abundance of anecdotal evidence that a combat “V” (called a “Combat Distinguishing Device”) is simply not awarded with a Silver Star. For example, a former Vietnam War POW told us that he has “three SSs, and there was no V for any of them.”

Countless other Silver Star recipients all say the same thing. Why? Because, among other reasons, it would be redundant to award a Silver Star for “gallantry” (the statutory term) and then embellish it with a “V” for valor.

Most conclusive, however, is that the law is very clear about the award of Combat Distinguishing Devices. According to the Navy Awards Manual:

Bronze "V" (Combat Distinguishing Device).

Prior to . . . 1974, the "V" was authorized for wear on the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal and Navy Achievement Medal. Between . . .1974 and . . . 1991, the "V" was authorized for wear on the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal and Navy Commendation Medal. [In] . . . 1991, the "V" was authorized for wear on the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. In all cases, the Combat Distinguishing Device may only be worn if specifically authorized in the citation.

Because the “V” is authorized for only the ten awards cited above, but not for the Silver Star, Kerry’s Silver Star citation (the “explanation” of why the award was made) does not even mention the “V” for valor.

The presence of the combat “V” with Kerry’s Silver Star on his DD 214 raises two extremely disquieting questions. How did the unauthorized “V” get there, and why has Kerry allowed it to remain?

The first question should not be taken lightly because we are talking about possible federal crimes. We are talking about the possibility of a forged official document.

Was the combat “V” added by a sloppy clerk or a yeoman’s typo thirty years ago? Was someone pressured or persuaded to add it? If Kerry had nothing to do with the gratuitously added combat “V,” why didn’t he have his DD 214 corrected when he was separated from the Navy?

Which gives rise to the second disturbing question: If Kerry was not a party to the unauthorized “V,” why, for all these years, has he allowed his DD 214 to remain uncorrected and to repose on his website?

In light of the recent Swift Boat revelations and the cloud they have cast over Kerry’s awards, one plausible answer is that this is yet another example of Kerry’s multiple, and increasingly transparent, lies about his alleged heroics in Vietnam.

Let’s hope it won’t take a controversial TV spot to spark a mainstream media investigation of how candidate Kerry received an unearned “V” for valor.

Letterman

It was hot today in New York City. On days like this I don’t mind having an icy disposition.

It was so hot today that Martha Stewart was looking forward to the cooler.

Are you all ready for the summer blockbusters? Here’s the plot of "Catwoman". The villain tries to lure Catwoman into a trap with the sound of an electric can opener.

The U.S. government is blocking research of the medicinal uses of marijuana. This according to scientists - if you consider Willie Nelson a scientist.

Kilborn

More bad news today for Saddam Hussein. All of his phone calls with Amber Frey were recorded.

Reports say that J. Lo has already filed for divorce. She got that 7th husband itch.

Kerry: Cambodia Mission Top Secret

John Kerry's presidential campaign claimed on Tuesday that his Christmas 1968 mission into Cambodia was top, top secret - and that's why there are no documents that verify the implausible claim.

"During John Kerry's service in Vietnam, many times he was on or near the Cambodian border and on one occasion crossed into Cambodia at the request of members of a special operations group operating out of Ha Tien," Kerry spokesman Michael Meehan said in a statement.

NewsMax: But Meehan told the Boston Globe that there was no paperwork to confirm the claim and he could not supply a date for the incursion.

What's more, two of Kerry's crewmates who enthusiastically back his candidacy and who served with him on missions near the Cambodian border insist the crossing never happened.

Michael Medeiros, who served on Swift Boat No. 94 with Kerry and appeared with him at the Democratic National Convention, told the Globe that Kerry and his crew chased an enemy to the Cambodian border - but stopped there. He could not recall dropping off special forces in Cambodia or going inside Cambodia with Kerry.

James Wasser, who accompanied Kerry on the Christmas mission aboard Swift Boat No. 44, said that while he believes they were "very, very close" to Cambodia, they did not enter the country. "It is very hard to tell. There are no signs," he told the Globe.

A third crewmate, who opposes Kerry, flatly accuses him of lying about Cambodia.

"Never happened," Steve Gardner told the Globe, insisting they never came within 50 miles of the Cambodian border.

Plastic surgery for pets

Ananova: A Brazilian vet is offering plastic surgery and botox injections for pampered pets.

Edgard Brito, from Rio de Janeiro, offers wrinkle surgery, ear correction and even face lifts for dogs.

He told Las Ultimas Noticias: "Beauty is something desirable.

"We all like to talk to someone who looks good. It is the same for dogs."

Prices for treatment start at £20.

Kerry, Not Kerrey

In trying to defend his horrendous record on intelligence "and spin their way out of his lousy committee attendance record," Kerry's campaign "claimed on its website Monday, 'John Kerry served on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence for 8 years and is the former Vice Chairman of the Committee.'

Fact is John Kerry has never – ever! – served as vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence," the Republican National Committee noted today.

John Kerry Confuses Himself With Bob Kerrey

NewsMax: Turns out, there as a senator named Bob Kerrey from Nebraska who was vice chairman for a while. Kerry’s website later pulled the plug on the page, which might be construed as a metaphor for the whole campaign.

Let's see, is there a positive spin to the fact that Kerry missed 38 of 49 public hearings of the Intelligence Committee, including the June 8, 2000, hearing on the National Commission on Terrorism's warning about the terrorist threat?

Well, at least his 22 percent attendance rate was better than his Senate attendance recently.

Rush: You know, this just follows a series of... what are we going to call them, lies, misstatements, mistakes, what have you... all over Kerry's website about his Christmas in Cambodia. And this just gives more ammo, and I think it gives more weight and adds more curiosity to the charges that are made in the book Unfit for Command.

Romanian Cleric in Trouble For Long Sermon

Ananova: A Romanian orthodox priest is to live in seclusion for a month after delivering a five-hour funeral service.

Agapie Aurel Rusu has also been ordered to live on just bread and water for the month as a punishment.

The case of the long funeral service has also came under the attention of consumer protection authorities after complaints regarding the things he's alleged to have said during the service.

It's reported the priest wanted to get revenge on the 21-year-old dead man's relatives who had wanted another priest to officiate the funeral.

He talked during the sermon about politics, history and even heart surgery. He's also said to have used many poems to illustrate the sermon.

One of the funeral attendants told Jurnalul newspaper: "I just couldn't hang on in there. I don't remember much of what the priest kept talking about but I think it was all a mock."

Zenovie Mosoiu, a spokesman for the Orthodox Church in Brasov said: "It was a little too much for a funeral service to last five hours. In normal conditions such a service cannot take more than an hour with the priest's sermon included."

John Kerry is Slowly Becoming the Reincarnation of Al Gore

When News broke in the New Hampshire Sunday News that John Kerry made up the story of Mary Ann Knowles having to work through her chemotherapy for fear of losing her health insurance, deja vu bells went off.

Bernadette Malone: Kerry takes page from Gore play book

Knowles, the New Hampshire resident and campaign volunteer he cited in his Democratic National Convention acceptance speech and used as justification for his health care plan, didn’t work through chemo because of an insurance problem.

She kept working because her salary would have been reduced if she had gone on disability — a weighty prospect, to be sure. But, her husband told the newspaper, “Her coverage is very good... It’s not something that is a problem with her employer.”

The newspaper asked Kerry campaign adviser Judy Reardon if she had confirmed the details of the Knowles’ story, and she replied, “When a woman has a mastectomy and goes through therapy, I don’t need to double-check on her.” What a blow-off.

It’s deja vu because John Kerry is slowly becoming the reincarnation of Al Gore.

In 2000, Al Gore pulled this very same stunt in Florida. With his well-established willful disregard for truth, Gore claimed that his mother-in-law was paying more for Lodine, a prescription arthritis drug, than he was for his dog’s Lodine prescription. That fact, he claimed, justified his $253 billion drug plan.

But as The Boston Globe and Washington Times discovered, Gore fabricated the cost of the drug, had no idea whether his mother-in-law paid for it out of pocket or whether her insurance covered it, and made up the dosages so the comparative costs looked ridiculous.

When confronted with Gore’s fictitious account, Gore spokesman Jano Cabrera responded, “The only one who’s inventing facts here are the Bush campaign. The facts are that Miss Aitcheson is prescribed Lodine.” What arrogance. Did Judy Reardon study at the feet of Jano Cabrera?

Leaving the topic of health care aside, Gore’s “so what” attitude contributed to the perception that he was a phony. That is another quality Kerry seems to be mimicking.

The more we find out about Kerry’s exaggerated claims of service in Vietnam, such as “spending Christmas in Cambodia,” the more we’re reminded of Al Gore’s inflated sense of self-importance in Vietnam.

While most servicemen spent 12 months in Vietnam, Gore spent only five, posing for pictures in neatly-pressed fatigues with an M-16 even though he was a journalist for Stars and Stripes.

Kerry, who saw real combat, nonetheless recreated scenes of himself to be recorded by an 8 mm camera and left Vietnam as soon as he got his medals.

He then returned home to testify against the war and publicly throw his “medals” away — and the veracity of both those actions remains in question. An air of phoniness, self-serving arrogance and downright dishonesty pervades both this Democratic presidential campaign and the previous one.

And that is why we’re having deja vu.

'Hard-working' job ad banned to protect the lazy

Ananova: A businesswoman has been banned from asking for 'hard-working' staff in a job ad because it discriminates against the lazy.

Beryl King was told by a Jobcentre that her advert for warehouse workers discriminated against people who were not industrious.

Beryl, 57, told the Daily Mirror: "I couldn't believe my ears. Has our world gone mad?

"I've been running my business for 27 years and it's getting harder to find people who want to do a fair day's work for a fair day's pay.

"How long before someone says you can't pay people for working because it discriminates against those on benefit who are paid for not working?"

Beryl, who owns two job agencies in Totton, Hants, offered £5.42 an hour for "warehouse packers who must be hard-working and reliable".

The Southampton Jobcentre is investigating. A spokesman said: "Words such as 'hardworking' can be accepted if used with a clear job description."

Kerry's Quagmire In Cambodia

The pivotal moment in Kerry's life, according to his many testimonials on the subject, was Christmas of 1968, when, he has said, he was in Cambodia. This experience was central to his later becoming a war protester and to his lighting out on a political path destined to culminate in a rise to the U.S. presidency.

Kerry Made False Cambodia Claim 50 Times

It won't be all that easy for John Kerry to revise his demonstrably false claim that he spent Christmas 1968 in Cambodia, since he's on the record more than 50 times making the assertion, according to former Vietnam Swift Boat commander John O'Neill.

"There are more than 50 occasions on which he said he was in Cambodia on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in 1968," O'Neill told WABC Radio's Steve Malzberg on Sunday. "More than 50 - as recently as last summer."

The Kerry campaign has commissioned presidential biographer Douglas Brinkley to adjust his Cambodia claims to make them comport with the known facts in an upcoming report in The New Yorker magazine.

But O'Neill said it will be hard to palm off Kerry's previous accounts as mere inadvertent misstatements.

"It wasn't some casual memory," he told Malzberg. "He said his entire life changed that evening, because he realized the United States government was operating illegally. ... He defamed everybody in our unit by claiming he had been illegally ordered there."

O'Neill said some of Kerry's 50 references to spending Christmas '68 in Cambodia include speeches on the Senate floor, quotes in articles and on-the-record interviews with reporters.

He cited a 1992 Associated Press report and a July 7, 2004, account by the Boston Globe's Michael Kranish.

"We were told, 'Just go up there and do your patrol,'" Kerry said in the 12-year-old AP interview. "Everybody was over there [in Cambodia]. Nobody thought twice about it."

In July 2004, reporter Kranish said that Kerry had told him his assignment in Cambodia was the catalyst that turned him against the war:

"[Kerry] himself would say that you really have to look at a lot of his thought process as what was happening during Vietnam," he told the Fox News Channel.

"And in one short anecdote I'll tell you, that in Christmas of 1968, he was on a small boat with his men, basically in Cambodia at a time when Richard Nixon was telling the American public that we're not in Cambodia," Kranish said. [Editor's note: Richard Nixon was not sworn in as president until Jan. 20, 1969.]

"And he basically became skeptical. Well, the government is saying this, but he knew himself that wasn't true. And it's also why he says he came back to protest the war that he had served in."

Read more on this subject in Related Hot Topics:

Washington Times
Kerry's Cambodia Confusion

Washington Times
Fact & Fiction About Cambodia

Rocky Mountain News
Cambodia Troubles Ignored

Townhall
Kerry's quagmire

Operation for third hairiest man

Ananova: The third hairiest man in the world is recovering from surgery to unblock his ears.

Yu Zhenhuan, 26, from China, suffers from atavism and was born with thick hair covering 96% of his body.

He feared his career as a rock star was over after losing a third of his hearing, reports the Daily Mirror.

But, after doctors in Shanghai removed hair from his external auditory canals, he said: "It's no big deal. I can handle it."

Yu was named hairiest man in the Guinness Book of Records in 2002.

But last year Mexican acrobats Larry and Danny Gomez were recognized as hairier. The twins, 19, have 98 per cent covering.

Can America Survive a "Thoughtful and Sensitive" War Against Terrorists?

Out on the campaign trail, John Kerry has stated that if he were elected president, he would fight a more "thoughtful and sensitive war" against the terrorists. After the shock of the ignorance of this statement passed, laughter followed. A lot of laughter followed.

Barbara Stock: John Kerry cannot have a "thoughtful and sincere" battle plan against people whose only desire is to kill all infidels, no matter how long it takes, no matter how many lives are lost.

The enemy has spent generations preparing for this final battle. It has indoctrinated its children to hate. Radical Islam has ingrained in its children's consciousness that dying for Allah while killing the evil ones is the only route to paradise.

John Kerry has said that he will have meetings with world leaders where he will profusely apologize for the boorish behavior of America under the Bush administration.

Kerry believes that this "rejoining of the world family" will cure all ills, and our allies--mainly France and Germany--will be our friends once again... As has been clearly shown, many European countries are quick to capitulate to terrorist demands.

Terrorists laugh at the Geneva Conventions and behead, rape, and kill men, women, children, and babies without regard. Terrorists kill them all and rejoice in the deed. White flags mean nothing to this killer. Weakness is a sign of victory to this enemy and it will move in quickly for the kill as any predator would do. This enemy is willing to die without hesitation for its cause.

Let's briefly review the tactics of this enemy. It has flown planes into our buildings, killing 3000 people in the blink of an eye. Terrorists strap bombs on to small children and, using remote control, blows them up after they are in a crowd.

This warring faction of Islam has blown up cars and buses, killing kindergarten children in Iraq and young men standing in line for a job. Fundamentalist Islam slaughters fellow Muslims without a second thought. It has extensive plans for further attacks on America with the hope of killing thousands more people than it killed on 9/11.

While John Kerry is busy being "thoughtful and sensitive" around the world, radical Islam will be planting its bombs in major American cities. Terrorists just love "thoughtful and sensitive" people. These people are easier to kill because they are busy being "sensitive."

The time for "thoughtful and sincere" passed almost four years ago when 3000 people died in an attack by an enemy emboldened by the weakness it perceived from the giant that had once again gone to sleep. Americans are awake, but dozing, and the war is far from over. Alas, the real war has just started.

Leno

Yesterday Vice President Dick Cheney attacked John Kerry. He said that John Kerry "lacks deeply held convictions". Today Kerry shot back, he said, "That's not completely true."

The opening ceremony also featured these giant statues. Did you see them? I saw this one giant statue with an enormous 40 foot head, and then I realized it was the new John Kerry campaign commercial.

Welcome to "The Tonight Show" on NBC, home to the big fat Greek Olympics.

The big opening ceremony for the Olympics were earlier tonight. You folks didn't see it because you're here, but it was pretty spectacular. You know they always start out with that parade of nations. All the athletes walking into the stadium behind their country's flag. You know it takes like four hours to do that. Hey, aren't these people athletes? Can't they pick up the pace a little bit? Maybe jog in? Pole vault in?

The British Virgin Islands has one athlete. Not too much pressure on that guy, huh? He's in 1500 events.

Isn't that amazing? They've got one guy on the whole team! Just like the Lakers!

Some controversy already. Apparently the British Women's Swim Team is wearing new skin-tight lycra swimsuits that are see-thru in water. You can see right through when they are wet. If you are thinking of getting one of those high-definition TV sets, this is the time to do it.

Remeber those two taxi cops who arrested Mike Wallace? They said they felt "threatened" by him. Today I understand they were able to subdue an out of control Bob Barker.

Florida is hit by Hurricane Charley. Authorities were telling people to evacuate certain areas. You know when Florida should be evacuated? On Election Day. Just get everybody to leave.

Another hot day...what was it, 102? I was sweating like Scott Peterson trying to remember what city I was calling from.

In a taped phone call played for jurors, Scott Peterson told Amber Frey his favorite movie of all time was "The Shining". You know at this point, the judge should have just said, "Okay, guilty. I don't think we need to go any further.

Peterson's defense lawyer Mark Geragos has argued in court that just because a man cheats on his wife doesn't make him a killer. Which is true. In fact, it's just the opposite. It usually makes the wife a killer.

According to "Men's Health" magazine, Denver, Colorado is the drunkest city in America with the most alcohol problems. Well duh, it's a major airline hub. They've got thousands of drunken pilots landing there every day.

Letterman

Earlier this week the largest diamond ever discovered was found in South Africa. It's four times bigger than the Hope Diamond. It's now on its way to its new home on Mrs. Kobe Bryant's finger.

Conan

Tomorrow the first events of the Summer Olympics begin in Athens. That means at this moment Bob Costas is going over crap that no one else cares about.

The Olympics are airing right here on NBC. There will be 1,210 hours of coverage on the NBC networks. 1,210 hours of programming - which is four less than "Last Comic Standing".

Kilborn

The Democrats are spending $250 million to defeat President Bush. Wouldn't it be simpler to get a mountain bike and a pretzel?

Liberation of Iraq - The Left's Numbers Charade

The losses are catastrophic. Over fourteen times more Americans dead than we lost on 9/11, and almost fifty times as many as have died in Iraq since Saddam Hussein’s statue fell.

In 2003, 42,643 people died on America’s highways.

Ralph Peters: I cite this number to put some of the outrageous claims made by the Left into perspective. To listen to their rhetoric, you’d believe that our efforts in Iraq are a bloody disaster with few parallels in history. But the fact is that more Americans are going to die on our roads this Labor Day weekend than we’ve lost in the occupation of Iraq.

This isn’t to make light of our military losses (or those of 9/11). As someone who actually served in our military for more than two decades, I value the life of every American serviceman or servicewoman. But those of us who served or are serving now understand that you cannot reach great achievements without costs.

The truth is that, although every American soldier lost is painful, our casualties have been astonishingly low considering the magnitude of what we have done and continue to do.

We liberated twenty-six million human beings from a monstrous dictator; we’re fighting the forces of terror and oppression on their home ground; and we are giving the broken world of the Middle East a chance to become whole again.

No American service member died in vain.

Which brings me to the ugly heart of this issue: Overwhelmingly, those who have been crying for a year-and-a-half to “bring our troops home,” and whose fervor is now renewed by the electoral contest, don’t give a flying latte about our soldiers.

The truth is that there are no more repugnant creatures on the American political scene than those who pretend to represent the best interests of our troops while secretly celebrating every one of our casualties.

No soldier I know believes that Howard Dean’s intolerant disciples, or the brownshirts from MoveOn.lies, or the “activists” cowering on campus speaks for him or her.

Let one former soldier say it plainly to the repulsive phonies from sea to shining sea, from Cambridge and the Upper West Side to Malibu and Marin:

"You don’t speak for those of us who wore or wear our country’s uniform. And you never will. Before you discovered us as a useful tool, we were all bullies or babykillers from an Oliver Stone fantasy to you."

"We believe some things are worth fighting for—and yes, worth dying for, if necessary. We believe that the United States of America is the greatest force for good in human history. And we’re proud of our service, our comrades and the flag you deface to make a fashion statement. But we’ll defend your right to have your say and live in safety as our fellow citizen. As we have done so many times before, we’ll bleed to keep you free to be a fool."

The American Left is out of ideas, out of morals and out of simple decency. All they can do is to shout, lie and pretend to care about those American citizens—our troops, inner-city minorities and the average working man and woman—for whom they don’t give a tiny shred of a damn.

Leno

In a stunning announcement, New Jersey Governor James McGreevey announced that he had an extramarital affair with another man. Finally a Democrat who can honestly say, "I did not have sex with that woman!" See politicians are just sleazy. Gay, straight, black or white, they're all sleazy!

Let's see what's new with Mike "You'll never take me alive" Wallace!

"60 Minutes" correspondent Mike Wallace, who's 86 years-old was arrested for disorderly conduct in New York City after arguing with parking officials over where his limo driver had parked. Parking security said he was double parked. Mike was mad! He was ready to fight. In fact, at one point he removed his jacket and teeth!

Police officials said today, this is the first time an 86 year old man was handcuffed by someone other than Anna Nicole Smith.

Well folks it's that time of the year again. Everybody is "going for the gold". But enough about Kobe's accuser.

U.S. Athletes have been warned against "extravagant flag waving" after winning an Olympic Medal or they will be dealt with! I love the priorities. You can burn the American Flag and get away with it, but God forbid you wave it or you are in serious trouble.

Are you excited about the Olympics? Isn't it nice a change of pace? You get to see countries fighting over gold instead of oil.

For the first time in history all 28 Olympic Sports are going to be televised. They can televise all 28 because NBC has so many channels. We have NBC, MSNBC, CNBC. We even have the Bravo Network for the gay sports like synchronized badminton and that ribbon thing.

How about Iraq today? The Iraqi Soccer Team beat Portugal today in a preliminary game in Olympic Soccer. What a big victory for Iraq. People in Baghdad were going crazy. Shooting guns in the air, turning over cars, starting fires. It looked like a war zone.

Let's see what's going on in the Scott Peterson murder trial. Scott's mistress, Amber "I hope he Fries", testified again today. You remember Amber - she's the one Scott didn't kill.

Amber also testified today that Scott called her on the phone on New Year's Day, pretending he was in Paris, on business. That makes perfect sense seeing as how he's a fertilizer salesman. They have to go to Paris all the time.

The California Supreme Court has ruled that all those gay marriages that took place a few months ago are null and void. In just one day the Supreme Court has nullified almost as many marriages as Jennifer Lopez.

I just read Donald Trump's new book - but I'm stuck on "Chapter 11".

Springsteen Helps Edwards Woo 'Losers, Whores and Gamblers'

Bruce Springsteen, one of the singing multimillionaires who is shilling for the Democrat presidential ticket, pitched a hissy fit when Ronald Reagan quoted from "Born in the U.S.A.," though now he's letting the Democrat nominees use two of his ditties for their themes. Yet what unfortunate choices.

NewsMax: Happy days are here again: All right, music lovers, it's time once again to tap your toes to your favorite candidate's theme song. But beware, pols of America: You'll want to be more careful in selecting your tune than John Edwards was.

Yes, it's time for the latest installment in our occasional series "Things John Edwards Did That Most Media Ignore but Would Have Ridiculed Dan Quayle for Doing."

A tip of the hat to our local paper, the liberal Palm Beach Post, which so far is the only media outlet we've seen to point out the embarrassing lyrics.

Edwards' pick, "Land of Hope and Dreams," includes these lines: "This train carries losers and winners/This train carries whores and gamblers."

Senator, what in the world is going on aboard that campaign train?

And what of John Kerry’s song, "No Surrender"? It includes this unintended slap at the unions and Democrats that have intentionally dumbed down America's government school monopolies for decades to create a class of dependent and stupid voters:

"Well, we busted out of class/Had to get away from those fools/We learned more from a three-minute record, baby/Than we ever learned in school."

Considering how much Kerry and Edwards have been photographed touching each other and gazing adoringly into each other's eyes, perhaps they should borrow a line from Springsteen’s best-known song: "tramps like us, baby we born to run."

Leno

Let's see what's going on with the Democrats, John and Teresa - or as they're called now, Cash and Kerry...

According to the Drudge Report, John Kerry and his wife had a huge argument after the campaign rally in Arizona on Sunday night and had to sleep in separate hotel rooms. So apparently they're going after the Clinton vote.

Apparently what happened, while they were having an intimate moment Kerry accidentally yelled out the name "John Edwards".

According to the papers today, John Kerry said today as president he would remove a large number of our troops from Iraq within the first six months. Well that's smart, don't you think, in a war it's always a good idea to tell the other side when and what your plans are. Like in football, "We're going to fake a field goal."

What was it? 103 today? I tell you, I was sweating like Scott Peterson watching Amber Frey testify.

In fact it was so hot, Glorida Allred said she's suing the sun for harassment.

It was so hot, I was sweating like a Muslim limo driver.

Did you hear about this? Some good news - a major terror suspect has been arrested in New York City - Mike Wallace!

That's my favorite new story. "60 Minutes" legend Mike Wallace was handcuffed and taken to the police station after he got in a fight with a city inspector over where he parked his car. They arrested him! Give the guy a break - at Mike's age, he should get credit for remembering where his car is. Come on!

The city inspectors claim that Wallace lunged at them. He wasn't lunging. His hip gave out. He's 86!

They said that Wallace was so belligerent that cops thought he was Andy Rooney.

Some people think this is just a ploy to get the first jailhouse interview with Martha Stewart.

I guess you heard this story that terrorist threats were made against Las Vegas but city officials didn't want them made public. Now some people are accusing Vegas of putting money ahead of people. No!!! It's always the people you least expect. Mayberry maybe, but Las Vegas?

On the tapes these terrorists called Las Vegas "the city of Satan". Well you can't argue with them there.

Secretary of State Colin Powell announced yesterday that he will not be attending the Republican Convention. Uuhh ooh...so I guess they're going to have to find another black guy.

You know NBC paid $793 million for the rights to this year's games? It's amazing what we can do now that they don't have to pay the cast of "Friends" anymore.

Conan

What's in the news? More trouble for John Kerry. The other night in Arizona it was reported that John Kerry and his wife Teresa got into a fight and it was so bad they slept in separate rooms at the hotel. Actually experts are saying that the fight wasn't real and they are just going after the Clinton vote.

The Athens Olympic Committee has asked George Michael to write the theme song for the games. Then they said, "Sorry, we thought this was the 1984 games."

Plans by Al Qaeda to blow up casinos in Las Vegas were stopped last year. Does that make sense though? If you want to destroy a casino - just hire Donald Trump to run it.

Kerry: Yep, I'm Back to Pro-War

Uttering words no sane person ever predicted would pass through his lips, Kerry started his statement with, “I’ll answer it directly.”

Joel Mowbray: Continuing his quest to be more all over the map than the Grateful Dead in the band's heyday, John Kerry has offered yet another new position on the Iraq war. He’s for it—for now.

President Bush had challenged his opponent to announce whether or not he would still authorize the war knowing what we know today. The rest of Kerry's response? “Yes, I would have voted for the authority. I believe it is the right authority for a president to have but I would have used that authority effectively.”

What does that mean, to use “authority effectively”? Is Saddam not sitting in a cell right now? Are not the Iraqi people free? Is Iraq not on the verge of its first-ever free election? Is there a more effective way to win a war?

For those keeping score at home, it has been a dizzying past few weeks. At the convention, he seemed to be against the war. But at least he was definitely a Vietnam vet.

Warming up for the big day, Kerry tested out a number of themes, some pro- and some anti-war.

Speaking to the NAACP, Kerry blasted Bush for “needlessly going it alone” and even suggested that the war was fought over oil. The very next day, he appeared to endorse both unilateralism and preemptive strikes, though each pledge was married to carefully crafted caveats.

In Boston, Kerry talked tough about his willingness to defend America—he’s a Vietnam vet, didn’t you hear?—yet he dragged out his tired staple, “We’ll never go to war because we want to; we’ll only go to war because we have to,” and even trotted out the “going to war over oil” bit for good measure.

No need to delve into the full history of his hemming and hawing—from the voting to authorize war yet voting against funding the rebuilding afterward—as the record is fairly well-established at this point.

The President has one consistent position—albeit one that is not always clearly articulated—yet Kerry has so many that he needs to reach into his hat on any given night to see which previously stated stance he should embrace. Unless he chooses to manufacture a new one, as he did this week.

Leno

John Kerry was at the Grand Canyon yesterday. He said he wanted to go some place that made his head look smaller.

John Kerry met with leaders of the Navajo Indian Tribe over the weekend. Kerry said the Indian people have been disrespected in the past, and, under his administration they will be treated with the dignity and reverence that they deserve. Then he got in his Jeep Cherokee and drove away.

Thank you for coming out on such a hot day. It was hot outside. I looked down (at the audience line outside) and drank more lemonade.

Another scorcher today...in fact it was so hot Tom Ridge raised the terror alert from "elevated" to "sticky".

It was so hot in the valley even people who aren't making porn movies are walking around the house naked.

I tell you, I was sweatin' like Don Johnson trying to pay his grocery bill.

Of course the Summer Olympics begin on Friday. This was in the paper today - Greek officials have announced that many Olympic security problems have been solved. "Many". That makes you feel good huh? When you're talking about security, I think a simple majority is all you need.

Greek officials say they are ready for the Olympics, but they'd be more ready if they had more of a head start. More of a head start?! Didn't Greece have the first Olympics like 2500 years ago? How much more time do these people need?

And today the terror threat in Vegas was raised from "who cares" to "not interested".

Here's something scary - the Justice Department revealed today that two years ago they had video surveillance which suggested that terrorists were targeting Las Vegas, but the public was not told about it because they thought it would hurt tourism. You think?! So even the terror alerts fall under "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas."

Hey Kev, you know where the terrorists stayed? At the Aladdin and the Sahara.

Now there are reports that the older terrorists may target Branson, Missouri.

President Bush appointed a new CIA Director. Congressman Porter Goss of Florida. Porter Goss. Sounds like something Arnold Schwarzenegger would say at a filling station. "Yeah, pour-da gas, I must go! Pour-da gas!"

It happened again. In Kentucky another teacher was accused of having sex with her student. And the kid was home schooled!

The Lakers have traded Gary Payton and Rick Fox to the Boston Celtics. So many Lakers have left! Who's Kobe not going to pass to next season?

Conan

John Kerry recently went to the Grand Canyon. He said that he hasn't seen a crevess that big since he shaved.

It's being said that 50 athletes on the U.S. Olympic Team are supporting themselves by working at Home Depot. That's good because Athens is still only half done with the Olympic Village.

An astounding 65% of people in California approve of the way Arnold Schwarzenegger is running the state. The other 35% are girly men.

It's being reported that Donald Trump is going to release his own line of clothing. It's going to be made from the same wool-polyester blend that makes up his hair.

Left Tries to Censor Veterans: Free Speech Is for Bush Haters Only

Democrats screamed for campaign finance "reform" but then immediately torpedoed it by launching multimillion-dollar Bush-hating 527 groups financed by the likes of George Soros. But now they're trying to censor anti-Kerry groups.

Three self-appointed watchdog groups filed a complaint today accusing Swift Boat Veterans for Truth of violating the campaign finance law that pro-Democrat groups are allowed to violate.

Democracy 21, Campaign Legal Center and Center for Responsive Politics claim that the veterans' $500,000 ad, running in Wisconsin, Ohio and West Virginia, violates the ban on unlimited "soft money."

"We think this is open and shut, that the only purpose of this group is to influence the presidential election," said Fred Wertheimer, head of Democracy 21. Apparently he doesn't mind that the only purpose of the Bush-hating fat cats' countless ads is to influence the presidential election.

Mike Russell, a spokesman for Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, put the critics in their place. The ad is legal because it does not tell viewers which candidate to vote for, he noted.

"The ads are meant to tell the truth about John Kerry's service record so people can make their own decisions," he said.

The Associated Press reported, "The veterans group said it has at least 5,000 new contributors and has raised more than $230,000 since the ad started running last week."

Leno

John Kerry has crticized President Bush's reaction on 9/11. John Kerry said if he were reading to children at that moment he would have told then he had something important to attend to. Let me tell you something - if John Kerry was reading to children, first he would have to wake them up. "Kids I gotta go now...kids?!...kids?!"

Record heat wave here today in Los Angeles. What was it? 102? I was sweatin' like the Lakers when they heard the word "trade".

Actually shouldn't it just be Laker now, isn't Kobe pretty much the only one left?

I'm ready for fall. I'm getting sick of these summer TV shows. It's all reality shows. Makeover shows...dating shows...quiz shows...do you realize the only thing on TV all summer with a plot is al Qaeda?

Now the FBI says that al Qaeda may attempt to use limousines in future terrorist attacks. You know what that means? Jayson Williams could be our first line of defense.

Over the weekend President Bush who got into Yale after his father and grandfather went there, talked about the evils of alumni getting preferential treatment. He said he had to knock on a lot of doors to be successful. This is the kind of thing that drives Kerry people nuts, while President Bush inherited his money, Kerry earned his the old fashioned way - he married it.

Scientists announced today they have successfully cloned domestic housecats. Hopefully, this will end that tragic housecat shortage.

Alice Cooper's pet python needed emergency surgery after it swallowed a heating pad. That's how you know you might be getting too old for rock-n-roll...when your snake eats your heating pad.

Kerry Campaign Rocked by Swiftvet Cambodia Questions

NewsMax: Sen. John Kerry's presidential campaign was scrambling Monday night to deal with new charges that he fabricated claims he was dispatched to Cambodia during the Vietnam War.

Confronted by Fox News Channel's Carl Cameron over the top Democrat's earlier accounts that he was in Cambodia in December 1968, the Kerry campaign at first denied their candidate had said any such thing.

But after Cameron produced Kerry quotes from the Congressional Record and the Boston Globe, campaign officials retreated, telling the Fox reporter they'd have to get back to him.

In 1986, Kerry told the Senate:

"I remember Christmas of 1968 sitting on a gunboat in Cambodia. I remember what it was like to be shot at by the Vietnamese and Khmer Rouge and Cambodians, and have the president of the United States telling the American people that I was not there; the troops were not in Cambodia. I have that memory which is seared – seared – in me."

But in excerpts from the upcoming new book "Unfit for Command" first obtained by the Drudge Report, Swift Boat veteran John O'Neill writes:

"Despite the dramatic memories of his Christmas in Cambodia, Kerry’s statements are complete lies. Kerry was never in Cambodia during Christmas 1968, or at all during the Vietnam War ... he was more than fifty miles away from Cambodia."

The charge that Kerry lied about being in Cambodia could be particularly damaging, since at least three of Kerry's "band of brothers" crewmates back up the Swiftvet critics.

Reports O'Neill:

"At least three of the five crewmen on Kerry's boat, Bill Zaldonis, Steven Hatch, and Steve Gardner, deny that they or their boat were ever in Cambodia."

Leno

John Kerry embarked on an 1,800 mile train trip through several key battleground states. 1,800 miles on a train - that is the longest Kerry has even gone without changing direction.

You know the Kerrys and the Edwards went to Wendy's the other day for lunch - made a big deal about it. "We're regular people going to Wendy's..." But when they got back to their bus, they secretly had a gourmet meal delivered from a nearby yacht club. So I guess there really are two Americas...and they don't like the food of the poor one.

This weekend, John Kerry is going to meet with the leaders of the Navajo Indian Tribe. They like Kerry because his head reminds them of a totem pole.

Governor Schwarzenengger is here tonight. So welcome ladies and girly-men!

You know in less than a year, Governor Schwarzenegger has learned a lot. He's learned tax structure, parliamentary procedure, negotiation strategy, all the ins and outs of state government...the only thing he hasn't learned is the correct way to say "California".

This Department of Homeland Security also announced today it's nearly 90% certain that Peter Parker is Spiderman.

The Labor Department reported only 32,000 jobs were created last month. 32,000! The Kerrys have more servants than that.

Stock market was down 160 points. Lowest it's been all year. You know why it's donw? All our best CEO's are in prison. What the hell are we thinking? Get those guys out of there! Put them back!

More bad news for Ralph Nader today. According to the latest poll - he's six points behind "The Manchurian Candidate".

You know that man accused of fondling a teenage girl at Disney World while wearing a Tigger costume has been found not guilty, after the guys lawyer put on the costume in court to show how difficult it would be to fondle someone with it on. In Colorado today, Kobe Bryant was spotted in court dressed like Winnie the Pooh.

A new study shows that too much homework can make kids obese. What, are they eating their school supplies now?

How is that? Homework makes your kids fat? Then how come so many of our kids are fat and dumb?

Letterman

Of course you're all in town during the big terror alert. Nice timing! Where are you all going next week...Fallujah?!

The bad thing about this teror alert is that all the shrinks and hookers have gone on vacation.

We're on a high alert. But I think things are starting to loosen up. I'll tell you why. Today no matter how hard I tried I could hardly get stripped searched.

Don't worry about New York - we have over 50,000 bomb sniffing rats!

The Republican Convention is coming to town. It's coming up at the end of the month. Everyone is getting ready for the convention. The crack dealers are switching to Viagra.

Here's some good news, the Statue of Liberty has reopened. It was closed two years for restoration. The project was paid for by corporate donors. So that explains why she is now holding a can of Red Bull instead of the torch.

Affidavit Of George Elliott

State Of Delaware

County Of Sussex

(Part of Affidavit - For complete Affidavit - Click Here)

I fully reaffirm my statement in the Swift Boat Veterans For Truth advertisement, "Any Questions?", in which I said that John Kerry has not been honest about what happened in Vietnam, That statement is indisputably true.

Had I known the facts, I would not have recommended Kerry for the silver star for simply pursuing and dispatching a single wounded, fleeing Viet Cong.

Signed George M Elliott
6th Day Of August, 2004

Please read the Total Affidavit- He did not as a story in the Boston Globe, written by the name of Michael Kranish, and the headline of the story: "Veteran Retracts Criticism of Kerry".

Swift Boat Veterans for Truth has more than 250 supporters who are revealing first hand, eyewitness accounts of numerous incidents concerning John Kerry’s military service record.

The organization will continue to discuss much of what John Kerry has reported as fact concerning his four-month tour of duty in Vietnam.

Watch The Ad (Click Here)

Read more on this subject in Related Hot Topics:

Captain George Elliott Did Not Retracts Criticism of Kerry

Boston Globe "Reporter" Paid By Kerry

Kerry Set Vietnam Trap for Himself

Mainstream Press Faces Problem: How to Smear These Swift-Boat Vets?

Vets to Senator McCain: "We Purchased with Our Blood and Service the Right to be Heard"