Ad wars

Check out Kerry's new ad, "Old Tricks".

Probably the best response ad I've ever seen.

Chris Matthews beats up on some old hick

The hick in question is Larry Thurlow. A Washington Post article recently pointed out his lies. Check out the Hardball video from yesterday (scroll down, it's on the right).

A sunrise!

Check out Bush's latest ad, "Victory". It's downright comical.

"Freedom is spreading throughout the world like a sunrise."

HA HA HA

Another bubble?

I've been writing about the housing bubble lately and I'd like to comment on another bubble:

Oil.

Look at the things that have recently driven oil prices up:

1. Instability in the Middle East
This is legitimate.
2. Instability in the Russian oil market.
Putin and his commie friends are in the process of taking over Russia's biggest oil firm. While that's bad for the future of liberalism in Russia, it's not affecting oil production in the slightest way. 3. Venezuela's political instability.
Chavez survived a recall, so this issue should now be moot.
4. Lack of spare production world wide
This is another legitimate problem.
5. A recent spike in demand
Not really. Over the last few years demand has increased steadily. But the price spike has occurred in the last 2 months. Demand hasn't really changed in that time period.

Anyway - three out of the five factors that are influencing the oil price explosion aren't really legitimate. My bet? The price increase has mainly been caused by speculators and hedge funds. We'll see a correction eventually, but it might be months before it happens.

I don't pretend to be an expert on this issue, but I've been reading up on it lately.

Swift Trash for Truth

The scumbags who call themselves "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" continue to be discredited:

In newspaper interviews and a best-selling book, Larry Thurlow, who commanded a Navy Swift boat alongside Kerry in Vietnam, has strongly disputed Kerry's claim that the Massachusetts Democrat's boat came under fire during a mission in Viet Cong-controlled territory on March 13, 1969. Kerry won a Bronze Star for his actions that day.

But Thurlow's military records, portions of which were released yesterday to The Washington Post under the Freedom of Information Act, contain several references to "enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire" directed at "all units" of the five-boat flotilla. Thurlow won his own Bronze Star that day, and the citation praises him for providing assistance to a damaged Swift boat "despite enemy bullets flying about him."

As one of five Swift boat skippers who led the raid up the Bay Hap River, Thurlow was a direct participant in the disputed events. He is also a leading member of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, a public advocacy group of Vietnam veterans dismayed by Kerry's subsequent antiwar activities, which has aired a controversial television advertisement attacking his war record.

In interviews and written reminiscences, Kerry has described how his 50-foot patrol boat came under fire from the banks of the Bay Hap after a mine explosion disabled another U.S. patrol boat. According to Kerry and members of his crew, the firing continued as an injured Kerry leaned over the bow of his ship to rescue a Special Forces officer who was blown overboard in a second explosion.

Last month, Thurlow swore in an affidavit that Kerry was "not under fire" when he fished Lt. James Rassmann out of the water. He described Kerry's Bronze Star citation, which says that all units involved came under "small arms and automatic weapons fire," as "totally fabricated."

"I never heard a shot," Thurlow said in his affidavit, which was released by Swift Boats Veterans for Truth. The group claims the backing of more than 250 Vietnam veterans, including a majority of Kerry's fellow boat commanders.

A document recommending Thurlow for the Bronze Star noted that all his actions "took place under constant enemy small arms fire which LTJG THURLOW
completely ignored in providing immediate assistance" to the disabled boat and its crew. The citation states that all other units in the flotilla also came under fire.

These bastards are doing what the Nazis did in the 30s when they tried to discredit the heroic war records of Jewish World War I veterans. They're doing what they did in 2000 to John McCain. And Karl Rove loves it - every minute of it.

The Puerto Ricans score a victory for Kerry

The Olympics are helping John Kerry:

The U.S. men's basketball team was upset by Puerto Rico, 92-73, and Michael
Phelps and the 400 freestyle relay team settled for bronze.

USA Basketball beaten by Puerto Rico? That's more embarrassing than Abu Ghraib! If my theory on the Olympics proves true, look for Kerry to jump in the polls.