I admit it, I am not a "power blogger." I have lots to do and I don't often sit to write down my thoughts and opinions. Until recently.
That is when a friend steered me to a blog on our local newspaper's website www.timesunion.com/capitol
At first it was kind of fun sparing with the Sweeney supporters, a jab here, a punch there...
But in the last couple of days it has gotten so hateful, I can't believe there are people really believe the crap they are writing.
Let me illustrate.
In response to a recent Gillibrand ad saying that John Sweeney voted down a bonus for troops serving in Iraq, I posted
"People in the 20th need to hear more about how Sweeney and the Bush administration disrespect our troops by not supporting their needs and this ad is a great first step.
Fund the VA? They can't afford to do that, after all, their rich contributors need tax breaks.
Make sure there is enough money so troops who return with PTSD after multiple deployments can get the help they need so they don't put a bullet in their own heads? Nope. Can't raise taxes in a time of war, the fat cats who make the donations to their party won't like that.
Fund traumatic brain injury research? Sorry, they put a band-aid on our troops' brains and send them back into combat because Bush's failed policies have driven the military into the ground.
Eliminate the widows' tax? Nah. They have to make sure those who are born with silver spoons in their mouths don't have to pay estate taxes when Mater and Pater go to the big country club in the sky.
John Sweeney and the Bush administration are hypocrites who send other peoples' children into war and don't support them when they are there or when they come home.
Last night I spoke with a life-long resident who is a life-long Republican. His son is in Iraq driving a truck 3,000-mile loop re-supplying troops. You know what I am talking about...one ofthose convoys that get blown up by IEDs.
This father, who is in the National Guard, whose two other sons are in the military, HATES what Bush has done to the military.
He can't wait to "throw the bums out."
Especially John Sweeney.
You Sweeney supporters more than likely have nothing invested in this fight...your kids are not serving and your grandchildren will be paying for this war. You have no idea how people in the 20th really feel about Bush's Quagmire.
You are out of touch.
The more people learn about Kirsten Gillibrand, the more support she will receive."
Another blogger "gestapoonpatrol" posted a few links to news articles about how poorly the war effort was going.
Then Sweeney's supporters let loose:
* Another Democrat living a lie.
"Supporting the troops"
Yet relishing every opportunity to celebrate death and destruction of ours, and others in Iraq.
Try and reign in your enthusiasm, Gestapo. We all recognize that your are clearly anti-american, but it would be politically wise to pretend that you aren't dancing a jig when bad news from Iraq hits home.
Comment by gary condit -- September 28, 2006 @ 4:39 pm
The rest of the exchange follows:
* Hours after reading condit's vile assertion that all who disagree with him "celebrate" the deaths of troops in Iraq, I am still shaking with anger.
I wonder how anyone could want to retain political power so much that they don't have an ounce of decency left. I have come to expect the shrill, slanderous lies from Sweeney's supporters here. They have to lie and call names because Sweeney's eight year record is just not distinguished.
But accuse me and those who disagree of being gleeful at the deaths of our fighting men and women? How low can you go?
For the record, my family has a long history of fighting for this country. My father and all my uncles (and even several aunts) served in WW II. An uncle died, another lost a leg. My brother served in Vietnam; my good friend came back from Vietnam in a wheelchair. Visiting him at the Bronx VA hospital gave me a first hand experience of what a lack of funding to the VA means to our injured troops.
Fast forward to Iraq. Not one, but several of the young men who graduated from high school in 2000 with my son have served on the front lines, most more than one time. Young men I have known since pre-school, who wanted to serve their country, now so disillusioned after they came back they have left the service.
I have seen what these deployments have done to their families. I have prayed with their mothers for their safe return. I share their frustration at the lack of proper body armor and helmets designed to help prevent brain injuries. Not to mention how they feel about the fact that they are making one tenth the money that "contractors" make doing the same job.
I have seen a hollow look in their eyes when they come home...the same hollow look I saw on the faces of young men a generation ago in the Bronx VA hospital.
My guess is you and the rest of your ilk who come to this blog with your talking points have nothing...or should I say no one...invested in this quagmire that is bleeding our treasury dry and killing and maiming another generation.
You probably think vets agree with you because you speak with guys in the Legion, guys who served, but probably not on the front lines.
You, and John Sweeney, do not care about our troops. All you care about is power, cutting your taxes and gutting social programs for those who are not as wealthy as you are.
You are opportunists, looking out for only your own interests.
You are not patriots.
Comment by LuLu -- September 29, 2006 @ 7:38 am
* Look at your post, LuLu. It speaks for itself.
Call me all the names you want...you call me a disgrace?
Your post is a disgrace...relishing the problems in Iraq and lavishing your anti-american opinion that it will backfire on Bush and Republicans in November. I could care less about your family's military past...your post is disgraceful to them, and all currently in uniform.
You call me an opportunist? Look at your post! Your are grasping the opportunity to use bad news from the war to further your opinion that the Republicans will take a hit in November. Maybe in the future you should think through your partisan ramblings a bit more before posting them, when they are in relation to the war.
Comment by gary condit -- September 29, 2006 @ 10:28 am
* You have exposed your soul, condit.
"Of course the people don't want war. But after all, it's the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship.
Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy.
All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger."
- Herman Goering at the Nuremberg trials
Comment by LuLu -- September 29, 2006 @ 11:31 am
* condit, you are a slanderer and a disgrace.
Talking about the problems with our invasion of Iraq and the completely awful situation there is not un-American. You should be ashamed of yourself for suggesting that, if you are even capable of feeling shame.
Our invasion of Iraq and our policies regarding our troops are matters that concern all of us as American citizens. Anyone who considers himself a citizen and a patriot should speak out about these policies.
It says so much about you that you would try to silence a fellow citizen by smearing him or her as un-American and claiming that he or she wants to see our troops killed. You are someone who has lost touch with common decency and respect for other people.
I find myself trying to understand your mindset, that which says "this is person is unhappy with what's happening in Iraq, therefore this person wants to see fellow Americans dead," but you know what? Forget that. F*** that. I don't want to know how you make that connection. I don't want to know how you have come to think such awful things about your neighbors and your fellow citizens.
You are a disgrace.
Comment by Lame Man -- September 29, 2006 @ 12:20 pm
* [quote]
Yet relishing every opportunity to celebrate death and destruction of ours, and others in Iraq.
Try and reign in your enthusiasm, Gestapo. We all recognize that your are clearly anti-american, but it would be politically wise to pretend that you aren't dancing a jig when bad news from Iraq hits home.
Comment by gary condit -- September 28, 2006 @ 4:39 pm
[quote]
Condit,
We all? Which personality in your head is spouting that BS?
Got anymore of your slander? The term you seek is schadenfreude and that is about as far from the truth as you can get. Do you have anymore Anti-American McCarthyite phrases you would like to project onto your fellow Americans.
As a combat veteran you have insulted me, the generals serving in IRAQMIRE who are clearly stating their opinions about how poorly this fiasco is going, and every other person who has served. You have never gotten into the fight and risked your life for this country.
You Sir, Clearly a coward. Condit doesn't do defense! Your other alternative is to be a contractor in IRAQMIRE Condit.....Get Going!
Gestapo
On
Patrol
Comment by gestapoonpatrol -- September 29, 2006 @ 12:40 pm
If this exchange has made your blood boil, please step up
and help us defeat John Sweeney.
Find out more about Kirsten Gillibrand at www.gillibrand2006.com
Like my GOOD FRIEND devtob did a few days ago, I will donate $100 to her campaign if you can also come up with donations totaling $100.