This page was last updated on August 26, 2004.

Mr. Guinn attempts to be far too clever.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“Cleaning up George Bush’s wrecks will require great effort.

“Americans of all ages should be concerned.  While those of us of voting age will make the decision to oust George Bush and his merry men, everyone can participate.  There are campaign signs to be posted and literature to be distributed.  In this manner, young citizens can become involved in the political process.

“Recall the stirring refrain from the la Marseillaise:

‘With the weapons, Citizens,/Form your battalions,/Let us go, go!/That an impure blood/Water our furrows!’

[RWC] Recall?  How many of us ever cared about the French national anthem, let alone knew the words?  I hope it’s better in French.  I’ll take the Star Spangled Banner any day.

“Metaphorically, it is time for all Americans to form our battalions.  Our weapons are our ballots.”

[RWC] Hmm, I never considered my vote to be a weapon.  I have a much higher opinion of my vote.

“We must cast aside our childish occupation the trivial things in life such as the reality shows, the daily soap operas and the comings and goings of the glitterati.  We must stop living our lives vicariously and start to deal with realities.

“We should critically analyze each word spoken by the candidates.  Look for the big lie in George Bush’s statements.

“Bush and his coterie have raised this practice to new heights.  (Perhaps I should say new lows.)”

[RWC] I agree we must analyze what the candidates tell us.

Why doesn’t Mr. Guinn tell us what that “big lie” is?  What should we look for in John Kerry’s statements, Mr. Guinn?  More important, what will we find?

“They spread rumors about the Heinz Endowments and characterize men like U.S. Sens. John McCain and Max Cleveland [sic], a Vietnam veteran and multiple amputee, as cowards.”

[RWC] If President Bush called John McCain a coward, I doubt McCain would be campaigning for Mr. Bush.

Regarding Max Cleland, please provide a quote in which anyone called him a coward. That’s a myth Democrats have been pushing since 2002.  When he ran for re-election in 2002 against four-term Representative Saxby Chambliss, Cleland’s liberal voting record did him in.  Democrats, however, like to claim Cleland lost because Republicans questioned his patriotism.  This has become the standard Democrat response when you disagree with them on national security issues.  The reason for the claim was an ad criticizing Cleland for claiming to support a homeland security bill when he actually kept voting against it.  In no way did the ad question Cleland’s patriotism.  Don’t take my word for it.  You can see the ad here.  You will need RealOne Player installed to view the ad.  Cleland’s campaign outspent his opponent by 36% ($2.7 million).

Regarding the Heinz Endowments, it does give to some “liberal” organizations.  So what?  This revelation should be offensive to Mr. and Mrs. Kerry only if they weren’t liberals.  Why can’t liberals admit they are liberals?

The defense saying the Heinz grants are not fungible doesn’t hold water.  Unless you are an organization’s only means of funding, or an organization accepts only earmarked contributions, earmarking funds for a specific project doesn’t keep the grants from being fungible.  Knowing that you earmarked a grant for one purpose simply allows an organization to shift other donations to other purposes.  Again, so what unless you are embarrassed by your political and social beliefs?

“Remember that the current president and vice president had other things to do when they were called on to serve their country.”

[RWC] President Bush served and flew fighter jets in the National Guard.  Is the National Guard not honorable service?

VP Cheney applied for and received student and marriage deferments during Vietnam, as did millions of other potential draftees.

Using Mr. Guinn’s logic, may I assume Mr. Guinn voted for George H.W. Bush and Bob Dole when they ran against Bill Clinton?  After all, Bush #1 and Dole were decorated WWII combat veterans and Bill Clinton used deferments and eventually manipulated a R.O.T.C. Commandant (an Army colonel) to avoid service.

 “I remain a concerned citizen.”

[RWC] As a concerned citizen, I hope Mr. Guinn eases up a bit on the “Kerry Kool-Aid.”

© 2004 Robert W. Cox, all rights reserved.