Bush fails to inspire ex-Marine

[kentuck]

This is one recent active duty Marine that is voting for Kerry.
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http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/election/article/0,1299,DRMN_36_3158844,00.html

<snip>
Two enormous blue eyes - eyes that had looked through the scope of a rifle and seen the devastation of death and war - stared at the president of the United States on television and clouded over with doubt.

"I don't like how he makes it seem that anyone who opposes him is just going to screw things up, like if you're not with him, you're against him," said Tim Slater, 22, a former Marine sergeant, watching President Bush perform his acceptance speech Thursday night. "He sounds like he wants you to follow him blindly, but that's not what this country is about. You're supposed to be educated and learn stuff and think for yourself."

<snip>
"He sounds like he wants to run the world; his job is to run the country," said Slater, his jaw set. "Look at the way the rest of the world is looking at us; they look at us as foreign aggressors, like we're bullying the world."

<snip>
"You have to look at it from the Iraqis' perspective. We invaded their homeland and killed thousands of civilians. And now we act surprised that they're fighting us. A lot of those people, they aren't al-Qaida, they aren't terrorists. They're just avenging their family members who were killed.

...more

[zulchzulu]

1. Good assessment

I'm sure many Marines and others in the military feel this way...especially the ones who have been in Iraq and were told they'd be home 6 months ago.

[A_Possum]

2. Colorado *smile*

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As the speech ended and Madison Square Garden erupted in cheers and hosannas for the president, Slater was asked who he intended to vote for.

"Kerry, definitely. We definitely need a change. I'm sorry, but I don't think Bush knows what's going on. He's never served in combat."

A pause.

"I have."