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Al Gore in Vietnam

Nie Trink Wasser

Graduate Poster
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Apr 15, 2002
Messages
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Gore_nam.jpg
 
Yes, it is an amusing photo...but he was there (unlike the AWOL Bush), and he volunteered.

Most members of the military during Vietnam (or in most conflicts) never fired a weapon. They do grunt supply jobs, mechanical work, file papers, load boats and plane, etc. The important thing is service...that is true even for AWOL Bush, and service (and, especially volunteer service) -- should be honored.

You may not like Gore. You may not even like his reasons for volunteering (but if you dismiss his service, how can you accept AWOL Bush's service?). But he went -- unlike Bush, and yes, Clinton -- he put himself directly in a position where he could be killed...not a potential position (a'la AWOL Bush), but directly (I note that this photo is of Gore in a Jungle, not some bar in Alabama).

One wonders what the clever caption would be under AWOL Bush's Air Guard picture?

BTW, is that the best you can do? Recirculate a 30 year old picture that, actually, shows the guy serving his country in a war zone? Pretty pathetic.
 
Wow! Al Gore volunteered and served, and to top that off, he was competent, confident, and brave enough, iun regards to his military skills, to stare down the barrel of a gun, in spite of what we've always been told not to do! (I still don't even walk briskly with scissors, let alone run!)

I'm more convinced than ever Al was the better choice over GW! Thanks, NTW!!
 
So Nie Think Whatsoever has found yet another photo. I don't know anything about guns (I'm from the UK), is that gun loaded ? Has Mr Gore checked to make sure it isn't ? Are you sure he hasn't ?
 
headscratcher4 said:
Yes, it is an amusing photo...but he was there (unlike the AWOL Bush), and he volunteered.

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Er, Daddy Gore got him posted as a photographer. The only difference between Gore's Vietnam years and Bush's Vietnam years was the relative humidity.

There's a lot of valid points of comparison between the two men, but military service ain't one of them.
 
The Don said:
So Nie Think Whatsoever has found yet another photo. I don't know anything about guns (I'm from the UK), is that gun loaded ? Has Mr Gore checked to make sure it isn't ? Are you sure he hasn't ?
Click to expand...

There's a well-known maxim here in the States: Treat every gun like a loaded gun, and never point it at anything you want to keep.
 
I'm no expert either, but one might notice that there is no magazine in the weapon.

True, there might be a round in the chamber, but Al is a smart man, and I would give hime the benefit of the doubt.
 
"I don't know anything about guns (I'm from the UK), is that gun loaded ?"

Yes, it is.

Any answer other than, 'Yes, it was loaded' is making a needless and risky assumption.
Saying that it *is* loaded is a non-risky, and useful assumption

Under the absolute prime rules of firearms safety, (Always treat any weapon as a loaded weapon, and never allow the muzzle to cover something you aren't willing to destroy), that particular weapon falls into the category of a loaded weapon. The chances of it firing in that condition are far too high to say 'It was unloaded"...(The more commonly heard quote is "But I *thought* it was unloaded"...)

It isn't even a good idea if one has just checked the weapon a few minutes earlier...
.

So as a firearms safety warning, the picture has some value.

As an entre' into partisan squabbling over who's favorite candidate blew away more Vietnamese, it is of little use.
 
"I don't know anything about guns (I'm from the UK), is that gun loaded ?"

Yes, it is.
Click to expand...

- No, it isn't. Not unless there's a single round in the chamber, because that weapon has no magazine in it.

Gore_nam.jpg


- And I can tell you that Army procedure (at least when I was in) dictates that you pull the chamber open on any weapon... mag or no... to check for that one round.

- It's entirely possible that he forgot to do so, but this picture doesn't tell us that.
 
Jocko said:


Er, Daddy Gore got him posted as a photographer. The only difference between Gore's Vietnam years and Bush's Vietnam years was the relative humidity.

There's a lot of valid points of comparison between the two men, but military service ain't one of them.
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My understanding was that Gore's father was a vocal opponent of the war and was dead set against his son going to Vietnam. So what is your source?
 
Er, Daddy Gore got him posted as a photographer. The only difference between Gore's Vietnam years and Bush's Vietnam years was the relative humidity.
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1) Gore in Viet Nam was a little more likely to be shot at than Bush in Texas. Just a little. And the shooting in Viet Nam was intended to kill people, whereas in Texas they was jist throwing a rowdy party.

2) The photo appears to show the rifle pointed a little off to the left of Gore's head. NOT at his face.
 
Another point. I agree that it only makes sense to treat all guns as being loading and not point them at anything you don't want to shoot, BUT it is impossible to tell if Al actually has his head over the barrel of the gun from that photo. He could be leaning his head to one side so that the barrel is pointing to the left or right of his head (still not a great idea if you want to continue being able to hear I'm sure). I could easily buy that Al is leaning to his right (out of the picture) and the gun is pointing past his left ear.
 
Regnad Kcin said:
Er, a little proof of that would be nice.
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The same source that tells you Bush got into the national guard due to pulled strings: Common knowledge.
 
Jocko said:


The same source that tells you Bush got into the national guard due to pulled strings: Common knowledge.
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Common knowledge in the GOP perhaps, but this is the first time I've ever heard of it. Now tell us how Kerry's dad got him in that cushy little patrol boat posting that earned him 3 purple hearts.
 
Gore's father wasn't calling on any favors at that point. He was a vocal anti-war Senator. Indeed, if anything, Daddy Gore hurt. Gore volutneered and Nixon held his service in limbo, not wanting to post Gore to Vietnam and expose him to danger UNTIL daddy lost his re-election. Than, Gore was posted to Vietnam. If his service was manipulated, it was by Nixon who didn't want the sone of an anti-war Senator killed in VN, and have that raise another flag against the war...

"Common knowledge" can and often is wrong....
 
wjousts said:


Common knowledge in the GOP perhaps, but this is the first time I've ever heard of it. Now tell us how Kerry's dad got him in that cushy little patrol boat posting that earned him 3 purple hearts.
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As common as the Bush point I raised and you chose to ignore. And I prefer not to defend statements I never made, so we can agree to disagree on it unless you have some point to this.
 
headscratcher4 said:
Yes, it is an amusing photo...but he was there (unlike the AWOL Bush)...

...how can you accept AWOL Bush's service?

...not a potential position (a'la AWOL Bush), but directly (I note that this photo is of Gore in a Jungle, not some bar in Alabama).

One wonders what the clever caption would be under AWOL Bush's Air Guard picture?
Click to expand...

Sounds like "common knowledge" to me, HS. Plausible allegations that are impossible to prove either way, but anyone with half a brain can put two and two together. This is exactly what you've done - and not unjustifiably - so pardon me if I take your assertion:

Common knowledge" can and often is wrong....
Click to expand...

With a grain of salt. I don't deny my partisanship, why should you?
 
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