Admiral Stockdale was a tremendous war Hero, a good leader of Men and could have handled the job with ease.. but he was not a public speaker.. too bad it all about appearance and looking good on camera these days
He wasn't prepared, unlike the slick career politicians he went up against. I don't think he even knew there was going to be a debate until shortly before he went on the air.
@mnpd007 That's correct. He wasn't told he was going to be debating until about a week beforehand. Perot's campaign accepted the invitation on Stockdale's behalf from the Commission on Presidential Debates, but they forgot to tell Stockdale.
It's OK, when Trump picks Gary Busey as his running mate and Busey goes to the Vice Presidential debate, everybody will forget about Stockdale having a bad day.
"This guy was the first guy in and the last guy out of Vietnam...The reason he had to turn his hearing aid on at the debate, is because those *** animals knocked his eardrums out when he wouldn't spill his guts. He teaches Philosophy at Stanford University, he's a brilliant, courageous, sensitive man. And yet he committed the one unpardonable sin in our culture: he was bad on television...
Dennis Miller
I couldn't fit the whole thing in here, google it, but this is enough, I think.
This man is my grandfather. My name is Belle Stockdale, and I am incredibly proud of it because of the history that lies behind it. My grandfather was a truly amazing and world changing hero, and it deeply upsets me that people know him by his few mistakes then his many amazing acts of bravery. Please, before you say anything about him stumbling, just read about his story. Read about what he did for this country. What he did for you.
Gooseage while it's obvious my point was misunderstood what I was sarcastically referring to was the fact that all the political pundits had given the election to Clinton. The real race was to see if, for the first time, an independent could defeat a member of our two party system. So the "real" race was for second place. As it was, voters still preferred a Republican or Democrat over an Independent; which was my point about Bush winning. Smarter people had gotten that. Idiot indeed.
Let me tell you somethng about this man.. Flying back to his ship he gets shot down breaks his back and dislocates his knee.. He's then dragged to Hanoi Hilton where he spends nearly 8 years. He's beaten, tortured, starved to death and was going to be paraded in front of cameras but beat himself to disfigure himself so they wouldn't. A member of some of the more secret think tanks in Washington. A medal of Honor winner and twice awarded purple heart receipient... And voters chose Bush. Idiots.
@thomasjbolt Idiots? Stockdale ran as Ross Perot's VP, not for the Presidency. And this was the 1992 election, which means that the voters chose Clinton, not Bush. Guess you're the idiot.
I am a liberal and was certainly anti-Perot/Stockdale. Yet what many other commenters have pointed out warrants repeating: For a summary of Vice Admiral Stockdale's heroism, read his Wikipedia profile. For detailed information on that subject and to glimpse his brilliance (albeit in a non-academic context) read his spell-binding book (a collectiion of speeches and essays) "THOUGHTS OF A PHILOSOPHICAL FIGHTER PILOT. Value his hard-earned insights on history, philosophy, and leadership.
@tmattrope - type this gentleman's name into the search bar in wikipedia and your question will be answered. He's a genuine hero and if you have the slightest bit humanity in you, you'll apologize to us all.
@tmattrope Here's two - Locked in leg irons in a bath stall, he was routinely tortured and beaten. When told by his captors that he was to be paraded in public, Stockdale slit his scalp with a razor to purposely disfigure himself so that his captors could not use him as propaganda.
@tmattrope Here's another...should I keep going??? When they covered his head with a hat, Stockdale beat himself with a stool until his face was swollen beyond recognition. He told them in no uncertain terms that they would never use him.
Quote Dennis Miller in'93: "He was the first guy in and the last guy out of Vietnam, a war that many Americans, including our current President didn't want to dirty their hands with.The reason he had to turn his hearing aid on at the debate is because those fucking animals knocked his eardrums out when he wouldn't spill his guts. He teaches philosophy @ Stanford, he's a brilliant, sensitive, courageous man. And yet he committed the one unpardonable sin in our culture: he was bad on television."
It is too bad Admiral Stockdale is remembered largely for this awful perfomance in the VP debate. He had an utterly sterling reputation. He was a fine example of what the US Navy can produce.
wow disapointing all you tube has of this great man is the debate nothing of his leadership in the hanoi hilton or how navy pilots to this day worship this man. people should research him before they make a conclusion he is a truly great man!
I just read a short bio of Admiral Stockdale and it blew my mind. He was an exceptionally courageous and brilliant man. It is sad that this misrepresentation is all most Americans will ever know about this amazing person.
Admiral Stockdale had more brains than Gore and Quayle put together. He didn't have adequate time to prepare for the debate or professional spin doctors to help him.
I am so glad to see so many positive comments about this true american hero. I do not agree that he would have made a great president. He was certainly a hero though and should not be remembered for this debate but for his courage and strength during his time as a Vietnam prisoner. His wife is also a hero in her relentless pursuit of his release. Sybil Stockdale is among the true heros of American History...
I admire and highly respect this great man. A college professor introduced him to me in my sophmore year. He is a person I attempt to copy in my actions and conduct. It is sad that we Americans are more interested in who can speak the best or look more 'executive' when we elect our leaders. Adm. Stockdale had more integrity, bravery, and will power than every current senator and rep. combined. Most Americans cannot recognize a great man because most are cowardly, dull, and lazy. GBU Sir.
Go read up on Admiral Stockdale.. he agreed to be a temporary running mate for Perot until he found someone more suitable. Seriously, look him up and what he did in Vietnam. Don't be a sheep.
It's sad that the majority of the young people in this country who have even heard of Admiral Stockdale know only of his blunders during the debate or the SNL sketches which mocked him. The man is a true hero in every sense of the word. He has my deepest respect.
@BigTMan1 I know a lot about him, his son was my assistant headmaster in high school. He told us stories about all these "uncles" he had that were really CIA talking with his mom about how to get in contact with him. Also my headmaster took my two friends who were going to the Air Force Academy and the Naval Academy out to Maryland I believe to see the commissioning of the USS Stockdale
@BigTMan1 A great man who had courage that leaves me feeling wholly inadequate. I could not carry this mans water. When I read his story, it breaks my heart. Still, by this time he was very old. He had no preparation for this debate. He looked like a doddering old man with onset of dementia. This debate was a debacle that effectively, and thankfully, ended Ross Perot's political career. It was a disaster. I cringed watching it. Still, he was twice the man of either of the two other candidates.
I always said and still feel Stockdale did have the best line in that debate. When Quayle and Gore were rambling back and forth obnoxiously, and when the moderator asked him to chime in he said "I'm sorry, can you repeat? I turned my hearing aid off."
Awsome! I couldn't stand listening to Quayle and Gore and niether could the Admiral!
@BigTMan1 and its like, not even a blunder, you can tell he was aiming at truth... people today thirst for that... if that was a current debate, there would be major speculation as to what he aiming at, and it would be assumed that he was a man of at least some moral fibre... it was an 'organic' moment, as they say
@BigTMan1 My history teacher dressed up as Perot and another history teacher dressed as Stockdale. Whenever they saw each other in the hallway "Perot" would run screaming from "Stockdale". It was hilarious.
I agree! The man endured seven years of hell as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. He was a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, and President of the Naval War College. He would have been an excellent vice president.
Well, that's a nice, intelligent response. You must be a recent graduate of our esteemed public education system.
But I didn't say anything to disparage his military service. I'm just saying he' make a shitty choice for President if he can't handle himself, even in the most basic of ways, in a standard debate.
I don't think saying that is moronic. Only a fucking moron would insult me for it.
at least I was a graduate. you sound like a recent dropout. we elected a hollywood candidate this time around, and look at how well he's doing. stockdale wasn't a politician. politicians prepare for things like this by doing public speaking on a regular basis. he also didn't have his hearing aid, which is another reason he appeared confused during the debate. the greatest president in history, thomas jefferson, was a terrible public speaker. I'll take the guy with the ideas any day.
yes, you are an incredibly bright one. you sure seem to be able to tell quite a bit from a 25 second clip. perhaps you are seeing something the rest of us aren't. then again, most delusional dipshits are. hey, you wanted a hollywood actor for president, well we have one in the white house now kid. good call. he's doing a bang up job.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
"I'd actually vote for an actor who portrayed a president "
that is clearly a rational thought. I am sure that several of your internet friends take you very seriously. after all, you are the reasons we have senator stuart smalley, and the governator. your parents must be very proud of your clearly rational thought process. why don't you call upstairs and ask them how proud they are.
I am fully aware of the concept of humor, and I fully believe you should keep your day job. I don't think you realize that humor and sarcasm doesn't come across all that well VIA font. I can stand an opinion different than mine, as long as it's rational. electing actors to public office is not rational, it's fucking idiotic. I actually live at the beach, but would prefer a cave on a mountain. at least it's not my parents basement.
"electing actors to public office is not rational"
--Wait, didn't you just write you were "fully aware of the concept of humor?" Doens't seem so, then.
"I actually live at the beach, but would prefer a cave on a mountain. at least it's not my parents basement"
--You missed the humorous reference in my statement, again. I just called you "The Grinch" because you have no understanding of humor in your life. I feel very sorry for you.
oh I didn't miss any humor, I just don't think you are at all funny. I am actually the funniest person you would ever meet, but the problem with your attempt at humor, is that it's like telling an inside joke to a total stranger. no need to feel sorry for me kiddo, like I said, I live at the beach, and you live with yo mama.
I honestly don't think I'll ever see anyone choke like that during a debate again. I had hopes for Palin but someone actually coached her. Stocakdale just wasn't able to prepare.
Remember this man and how haunted he is for every war inject other humans into. This is a good man. An honest man. And we mock the poor man because of his emotional scars from war and torture.
Why because he was not good on TV? Because he wasn't as "slick" as Obama? When the shit hits the fan I would rather have Stockdale on the border than Obama.
No, because he wasn't able to speak in a complete sentence. You really want someone who loses their train of thought in the middle of a sentence to be the leader of the free world? And you'd rather have an elderly man near death on the border instead of a healthy 47 year old? Wow, dude. You're fucking crazy.
Clinton is largely responsible for the current economy crisis. Read about the Community Reinvestment Act and the artificially low interest rates of the 90s.
ha ha ha, now I'm no Clinton lover but uhh didn't Clinton only cause a $559 Billion freakin dollar surplus and isn't NAFTA's GDP over 15 Billion dollars sounds like Bill Clinton was more of a positive
Because I didn't think Stockdale was together enough mentally to be VP, I'm an enemy of America? Really? Wow. No wonder you guys keep losing elections.
The left hates America?!? Gee, who are the boneheaded, pretender class, red-state, gun-toting, flag-waving, Fox News/AM Talk Radio "Wingnut Welfare" collecting pill-popping pundit knuckle draggers who want to foreclose on liberty and freedom by handing it over to the Tali-Born Again and thereby constitute the "Know-Nothings" that Abraham Lincoln warned us about in his Cooper Union Address?!? EASY: THE RED-STATE "TRUE BELIEVING" PATRIOT/MILITIA TIMOTHY MCVEIGH WING OF RETHUGLICAN PARTY! Nice try!
Being a war hero and being a viable VP candidate are two separate things. With that said, I think it's a shame we can't distinguish the hero from the unqualified applicant. Shame.
Go to Saturday Night Live's website. They have clips of former cast members. Dana Carvey and Phil Hartman play Ross Perot and James Stockdale in 1 skit. Watch it. It's one of the funniest clips I've ever seen. I remember watching it back in 1992.
The gooks broke his back. they pulled his arms out of his sockets. He was starving and he still his food to other prisoners that were in worst shape than he. A great American.
Dude had fucking alzheimers...he died of it in 2006, although it was probably in an early stage in 92'. I have nothing but respect for the mans accomplishments though.
You sure about that? It was the neo-Confederate warmonger/biblethumper crowd in the South that really hated Perot/Stockdale back then...Perot did pretty badly in the region that the GOP considers heaven on earth.
I remember watching this back in '92. It still induces severe cringing. It's such a shame that this is how alot of people remember James Stockdale. This man was a true american hero. Courage, integrity, honor. Medal of Honor recipient. Hero. RIP James Stockdale.
There is no reason to laugh at a man who devoted his entire life to this country. He defied his captors and fought to uphold the freedoms you take for granted everyday. God bless Stockdale and may he rest in peace.
Ghostnote, don't try to fool anyone..i got your pm saying you agree with me but have to type this comment for all the ignorant Republicans. Don't back down from this veteran tyranny! Fight with me Ghostnote! Obama is a more respected, faaaar more intellegent, and stronger man than this fat fuck atrocity of a man called Stockdale ever was.
Stockdale had more courage,integrity and honor in his little finger than Gore,Quayle,Obama etc..had in their whole beings.God bless him and you're right, its so unfortunate that Perot exploited him and subjected him to that.
Perot was correct about everything he said, with regard to the trade agreements that were beiong proposed by both dems and reps. He predicted the dying dollar and collapse of our economy because of erroneous trade agreemnts. The dems and rep sold the sole of the USA and it is over
ksdog7, I am an Obama supporter and you are a heartless, blustering ignoramus. Stockdale had more integrity and intelligence than you could ever hope to muster. The worst crime he ever committed was being bad on TV. You're not really doing Obama any favors by posting ridiculous comments like that.
The reason he had to turn his hearing aid on at that debate is because those f***ing animals knocked his eardrums out when he wouldnt spill his guts. He teaches philosophy at Stanford University, hes a brilliant, sensitive, courageous man. And yet he committed the one unpardonable sin in our culture: he was bad on television.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Stockdale is a disgrace to mankind because he blusters over half his words. I don't care if he's a veteran or not. Actually, he's a worthless shit who should die for all the evil things he did to those poor Vietnamese people. You should get your head on straight and vote liberal.
Your the reason people hate the Democratic party. I'm ashamed that you are even associated with the democratic party. Your sick and twisted. If you feel so sorry for the vietnamese move there and help them. Your probably sitting on your couch watching too much TV than to help a person.
Actually the evil things that happened to the Vietnamese were caused by the French. The US under the direction of the UN was tring to prevent what wound up escalating because of profiieering of folks like Ted Kenedy and MacNamara, LBJ and a host of "liberals.Was it a republican or democrat who got us into VIetnam? who got us out?Do you have the ball to answer the question with out name calling?
I still get uncomfortable thinking how Admiral Stockdale was more or less hung out to dry. Certainly, if the medium of TV, and therefore the cult of personality weren't such a huge part of an election, he would have had a fighting chance. He really was a hero.
Agreed. If Stockdale ( I wont use the term Admiral as I'm not an American) was Gore's "hero" then Gore and Quayle should have omitted him from these excrutiating debates and spared his dignity. It's the least the man deserved.
I am pretty sure Vice Admiral Stockdale's performance on T.V. was a blessing. Because we still talk about it today, and we remember what happened.
Young people who don't know this man will watch this and say "who the heck is this old fart", and when they read who he is, and what he did. I am sure they will be "humbled" about what their first impressions of him were.
my first impression was that he was a shell shocked alzheimer's case with dementia...i read about who he was and this was only confirmed. ps: check out phil hartman's hilarious impression of this feeble minded kook.
This is what the RNC is afraid of............Their cherished V.P. pick stumbling and bumbling like this on global TV. Sarah Palin is "out of ammunition" on the issues!!!!
If Sarah Palin is SOOOOOO great, why is she afraid to discuss the critical issues facing America, with the press? Oh I forgot....she wouldn't have someone else's answers in front of her on a teleprompter!!!!
And one more thing: the only reason why Sarah Palin is so popular, at this moment, is that she is a NOVELTY. When the American public realizes that her candidacy is based on little substance, her popularity will be lower than that of George W.'s.
Just redact 'Sarah Palin' from your post and insert 'Barak Obama' (since he is the one running for president you know) and you will quickly learn why Obama/Biden is falling behind in the polls 8 weeks before the election.
True........the McCain/Palin ticket is enjoying a WIDELY expected dead cat bounce, and the Republican campaign has FINALLY caught up with that of OBAMA/BIDEN. Such euphoria eventually ebbs (as you know). And then the contest is determined by who has the most effective solutions to our country's problems instead of by who can launch the most sensational and DISHONEST negative attacks.
So, see ya at the debates!!!!!
Moderate Republicans (we want our party back) for OBAMA/BIDEN '08!!!!
Eight weeks is a long time in a presidential race. There is a lot more to be said before this is over. In general people put way too much credit in national polls which only have something to say if there is a substantial lead (i.e. double digit lead). Given our election system, state polls matter a great deal more. At this McCain is still behind when you tabulate state polls in terms of electoral votes, by a lot actually. But polls change constantly and this will be a close one.
The reason that he did so poorly was that he was a last minute pick by Ross Perot and he didn't have tie to prepare for the debate.
drjhkdc 1 month ago
"I'll come in again".
HyperboreanUK 6 months ago
Admiral Stockdale was a tremendous war Hero, a good leader of Men and could have handled the job with ease.. but he was not a public speaker.. too bad it all about appearance and looking good on camera these days
elfgirl3 6 months ago
OOOOFF
mcboltron 6 months ago
Sadly, its all about style, not substance.
sonofasaylor 6 months ago
He wasn't prepared, unlike the slick career politicians he went up against. I don't think he even knew there was going to be a debate until shortly before he went on the air.
mnpd007 7 months ago
@mnpd007 That's correct. He wasn't told he was going to be debating until about a week beforehand. Perot's campaign accepted the invitation on Stockdale's behalf from the Commission on Presidential Debates, but they forgot to tell Stockdale.
sean2015 6 months ago
Okay, lousy speaker, but by all counts a great admiral.
zenmachinefilms 9 months ago
PEROT: Now, see? Now, that's just SAAAAAAAD!
dukenthaylor 9 months ago
Somebody has to find his copy of MY PET GOAT and BURN that motherfucker!
dukenthaylor 9 months ago
It's OK, when Trump picks Gary Busey as his running mate and Busey goes to the Vice Presidential debate, everybody will forget about Stockdale having a bad day.
TheMistaSteve 10 months ago
"This guy was the first guy in and the last guy out of Vietnam...The reason he had to turn his hearing aid on at the debate, is because those *** animals knocked his eardrums out when he wouldn't spill his guts. He teaches Philosophy at Stanford University, he's a brilliant, courageous, sensitive man. And yet he committed the one unpardonable sin in our culture: he was bad on television...
Dennis Miller
I couldn't fit the whole thing in here, google it, but this is enough, I think.
Kghrt 10 months ago 3
This man is my grandfather. My name is Belle Stockdale, and I am incredibly proud of it because of the history that lies behind it. My grandfather was a truly amazing and world changing hero, and it deeply upsets me that people know him by his few mistakes then his many amazing acts of bravery. Please, before you say anything about him stumbling, just read about his story. Read about what he did for this country. What he did for you.
elleb567 10 months ago 2
@elleb567
I sent you a Private Message.
Kghrt 10 months ago
this is painful to watch...
LynchColl94 11 months ago
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thomasjbolt 1 year ago
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thomasjbolt 1 year ago
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thomasjbolt 1 year ago
Gooseage while it's obvious my point was misunderstood what I was sarcastically referring to was the fact that all the political pundits had given the election to Clinton. The real race was to see if, for the first time, an independent could defeat a member of our two party system. So the "real" race was for second place. As it was, voters still preferred a Republican or Democrat over an Independent; which was my point about Bush winning. Smarter people had gotten that. Idiot indeed.
thomasjbolt 1 year ago
@thomasjbolt maybe that's because after the fallout from this disastrous debate with stockdale, Perot withdrew from the race for a month lol, idiot.
bphutchins 1 year ago
@bphutchins Perot was in the race to stay by the time they got to the debates (though he did drop in and out during the Democratic primaries).
ChristianTVArchive 1 year ago
Let me tell you somethng about this man.. Flying back to his ship he gets shot down breaks his back and dislocates his knee.. He's then dragged to Hanoi Hilton where he spends nearly 8 years. He's beaten, tortured, starved to death and was going to be paraded in front of cameras but beat himself to disfigure himself so they wouldn't. A member of some of the more secret think tanks in Washington. A medal of Honor winner and twice awarded purple heart receipient... And voters chose Bush. Idiots.
thomasjbolt 1 year ago
@thomasjbolt Idiots? Stockdale ran as Ross Perot's VP, not for the Presidency. And this was the 1992 election, which means that the voters chose Clinton, not Bush. Guess you're the idiot.
Gooseage 1 year ago
I am a liberal and was certainly anti-Perot/Stockdale. Yet what many other commenters have pointed out warrants repeating: For a summary of Vice Admiral Stockdale's heroism, read his Wikipedia profile. For detailed information on that subject and to glimpse his brilliance (albeit in a non-academic context) read his spell-binding book (a collectiion of speeches and essays) "THOUGHTS OF A PHILOSOPHICAL FIGHTER PILOT. Value his hard-earned insights on history, philosophy, and leadership.
erasistratus1 1 year ago
Christ, I can work it out. Why didn't he get elected? Gets my vote.
flashtheoriginal 1 year ago
"hero" of WHAT!??? The guy is a blundering idiot!!
tmattrope 1 year ago
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irishguywi 1 year ago
@irishguywi Get a REAL life, dude!
tmattrope 1 year ago
@tmattrope - type this gentleman's name into the search bar in wikipedia and your question will be answered. He's a genuine hero and if you have the slightest bit humanity in you, you'll apologize to us all.
juiceman1965 1 year ago
@juiceman1965 I have asked more than TWICE to give ONE example of how he was a "hero" -- still waiting.
tmattrope 1 year ago
@tmattrope Here's One - He was awarded 26 personal combat decorations, including the Medal of Honor and four Silver Stars.
juiceman1965 1 year ago
@tmattrope Here's two - Locked in leg irons in a bath stall, he was routinely tortured and beaten. When told by his captors that he was to be paraded in public, Stockdale slit his scalp with a razor to purposely disfigure himself so that his captors could not use him as propaganda.
juiceman1965 1 year ago 2
@juiceman1965 Riiiiiggghht. And you believed that?! What an IDIOT.
tmattrope 1 year ago
@tmattrope Here's another...should I keep going??? When they covered his head with a hat, Stockdale beat himself with a stool until his face was swollen beyond recognition. He told them in no uncertain terms that they would never use him.
juiceman1965 1 year ago
@juiceman1965 Blah blah blah. Who cares? He's LONG forgotten now.
tmattrope 1 year ago
Admirial Stockdale was a great American hero... not a great political candidate... if he were elected, I believe that he would have been a decent VP
elfgirl3 1 year ago
The Admiral is a legend!
gen8joey 1 year ago
Quote Dennis Miller in'93: "He was the first guy in and the last guy out of Vietnam, a war that many Americans, including our current President didn't want to dirty their hands with.The reason he had to turn his hearing aid on at the debate is because those fucking animals knocked his eardrums out when he wouldn't spill his guts. He teaches philosophy @ Stanford, he's a brilliant, sensitive, courageous man. And yet he committed the one unpardonable sin in our culture: he was bad on television."
hibob418 1 year ago 4
It is too bad Admiral Stockdale is remembered largely for this awful perfomance in the VP debate. He had an utterly sterling reputation. He was a fine example of what the US Navy can produce.
jimfarrowlove 1 year ago 3
His son was my assistant headmaster at my high school
bigreddawg91 1 year ago
Stockdale was the one who opened a speech with "Who am I and why am I here?" resulting in uproarious laughter.
lancerooke 1 year ago
"i know things about the Vietnam war better then anybody in the word" PWN'D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cjl99 2 years ago
wow disapointing all you tube has of this great man is the debate nothing of his leadership in the hanoi hilton or how navy pilots to this day worship this man. people should research him before they make a conclusion he is a truly great man!
foxvalley560400 2 years ago 3
I just read a short bio of Admiral Stockdale and it blew my mind. He was an exceptionally courageous and brilliant man. It is sad that this misrepresentation is all most Americans will ever know about this amazing person.
chowderhed08 2 years ago 3
dont blow him too hard
greeniem 2 years ago
Admiral Stockdale had more brains than Gore and Quayle put together. He didn't have adequate time to prepare for the debate or professional spin doctors to help him.
workingstiff76 2 years ago
Then he brought a knife to a gunfight.
nilbud 2 years ago
I had to remind myself that there once was a candidate worse than Martha Coakley!
Tom63010 2 years ago
Read up on Stockdale
guidedbyalan 2 years ago 2
A very brave man.....but not necessarily cut out for the White House.
Pawn1787 2 years ago
A little embarrassed for Ad. Stockdale.. lol
Terrible, terrible opening... speech or w/e you might call it.
maxjohnsonesq 2 years ago
I am so glad to see so many positive comments about this true american hero. I do not agree that he would have made a great president. He was certainly a hero though and should not be remembered for this debate but for his courage and strength during his time as a Vietnam prisoner. His wife is also a hero in her relentless pursuit of his release. Sybil Stockdale is among the true heros of American History...
john48martin 2 years ago 4
I admire and highly respect this great man. A college professor introduced him to me in my sophmore year. He is a person I attempt to copy in my actions and conduct. It is sad that we Americans are more interested in who can speak the best or look more 'executive' when we elect our leaders. Adm. Stockdale had more integrity, bravery, and will power than every current senator and rep. combined. Most Americans cannot recognize a great man because most are cowardly, dull, and lazy. GBU Sir.
cincodemay123 2 years ago 5
Go read up on Admiral Stockdale.. he agreed to be a temporary running mate for Perot until he found someone more suitable. Seriously, look him up and what he did in Vietnam. Don't be a sheep.
Timmyor 2 years ago 6
gridlock!
goatseguy 2 years ago
It's sad that the majority of the young people in this country who have even heard of Admiral Stockdale know only of his blunders during the debate or the SNL sketches which mocked him. The man is a true hero in every sense of the word. He has my deepest respect.
BigTMan1 2 years ago 76
All this proves is the low utility of "debates". The best person for the job is not the best debater.
Stockdale would have made an excellent President.
gene15644a 2 years ago
I know! That and he didn't get a prep debate.
nukenate 2 years ago
Dude, whatever. This guy was a doofus...lol.
PromiseDecember 1 year ago
@BigTMan1 I know a lot about him, his son was my assistant headmaster in high school. He told us stories about all these "uncles" he had that were really CIA talking with his mom about how to get in contact with him. Also my headmaster took my two friends who were going to the Air Force Academy and the Naval Academy out to Maryland I believe to see the commissioning of the USS Stockdale
bigreddawg91 1 year ago
@BigTMan1
He was one of the most decorated in the navy.
MrTabby5000 1 year ago 2
@BigTMan1 A great man who had courage that leaves me feeling wholly inadequate. I could not carry this mans water. When I read his story, it breaks my heart. Still, by this time he was very old. He had no preparation for this debate. He looked like a doddering old man with onset of dementia. This debate was a debacle that effectively, and thankfully, ended Ross Perot's political career. It was a disaster. I cringed watching it. Still, he was twice the man of either of the two other candidates.
spudnutsncoffee 1 year ago 2
@BigTMan1 I agree. He's a hero to retards everywhere.
OscarMaris 1 year ago
@OscarMaris fuck your mom
thelurker25 1 year ago
@BigTMan1
I always said and still feel Stockdale did have the best line in that debate. When Quayle and Gore were rambling back and forth obnoxiously, and when the moderator asked him to chime in he said "I'm sorry, can you repeat? I turned my hearing aid off."
Awsome! I couldn't stand listening to Quayle and Gore and niether could the Admiral!
PawtucketPatriot66 1 year ago 2
@BigTMan1 and its like, not even a blunder, you can tell he was aiming at truth... people today thirst for that... if that was a current debate, there would be major speculation as to what he aiming at, and it would be assumed that he was a man of at least some moral fibre... it was an 'organic' moment, as they say
freewheelin19 1 year ago
@BigTMan1 How is it possible to be as IGNORANT as you are??
tmattrope 1 year ago
@tmattrope yea I'm with you. @BigTMan1 why you so dumb? the Clintons used Ross Perot to win the election.
oldhacks 1 year ago
@BigTMan1 My history teacher dressed up as Perot and another history teacher dressed as Stockdale. Whenever they saw each other in the hallway "Perot" would run screaming from "Stockdale". It was hilarious.
Rohmash 3 months ago
@BigTMan1
I agree! The man endured seven years of hell as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. He was a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, and President of the Naval War College. He would have been an excellent vice president.
enterprise160 2 months ago
say what you want but this man was a true American Hero!
unodepoalli 2 years ago 28
Perot was flying high until this
BitWrecker 2 years ago
OH WOW! I did not know about this guy until my speech class and someone put him on the list of the "worse speaker".....I see why
raydora96 2 years ago
A better man than I or anyone else could ever hope to be. He truly embodies the meaning of honor, courage and commitment..
Flapstick2011 3 years ago
I think I'd actually vote for an actor who portrayed a president rather than vote for Stockdale for actual president.
NoGuff 3 years ago
that's because you're a fucking moron.
jmarquise 2 years ago
Well, that's a nice, intelligent response. You must be a recent graduate of our esteemed public education system.
But I didn't say anything to disparage his military service. I'm just saying he' make a shitty choice for President if he can't handle himself, even in the most basic of ways, in a standard debate.
I don't think saying that is moronic. Only a fucking moron would insult me for it.
NoGuff 2 years ago
at least I was a graduate. you sound like a recent dropout. we elected a hollywood candidate this time around, and look at how well he's doing. stockdale wasn't a politician. politicians prepare for things like this by doing public speaking on a regular basis. he also didn't have his hearing aid, which is another reason he appeared confused during the debate. the greatest president in history, thomas jefferson, was a terrible public speaker. I'll take the guy with the ideas any day.
jmarquise 2 years ago
"you sound like a recent dropout"
--Yes, my use of grammar, punctuation, spelling, and clear points are obviously on par with a typical dropout. Good call, jackass.
"he also didn't have his hearing aid"
--Sounds prepared, don't you think?
"thomas jefferson, was a terrible public speaker"
--This isn't a case of being a poor public speaker. He was woefully unprepared even in the most basic sense.
"I'll take the guy with the ideas any day"
--And exactly what ideas did he present here?
NoGuff 2 years ago
yes, you are an incredibly bright one. you sure seem to be able to tell quite a bit from a 25 second clip. perhaps you are seeing something the rest of us aren't. then again, most delusional dipshits are. hey, you wanted a hollywood actor for president, well we have one in the white house now kid. good call. he's doing a bang up job.
jmarquise 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
"I'd actually vote for an actor who portrayed a president "
that is clearly a rational thought. I am sure that several of your internet friends take you very seriously. after all, you are the reasons we have senator stuart smalley, and the governator. your parents must be very proud of your clearly rational thought process. why don't you call upstairs and ask them how proud they are.
jmarquise 2 years ago
"that is clearly a rational thought"
--Sorry, I guess you never heard of the concept of humor. My mistake.
Or, you just can't stand an opinion different than your own, or one expressed in a humorous way.
Either way, why don't you go back to that cave you live in on the mountaintop overlooking Who-ville?
NoGuff 2 years ago
I am fully aware of the concept of humor, and I fully believe you should keep your day job. I don't think you realize that humor and sarcasm doesn't come across all that well VIA font. I can stand an opinion different than mine, as long as it's rational. electing actors to public office is not rational, it's fucking idiotic. I actually live at the beach, but would prefer a cave on a mountain. at least it's not my parents basement.
jmarquise 2 years ago
"I am fully aware of the concept of humor"
--Okay.
"electing actors to public office is not rational"
--Wait, didn't you just write you were "fully aware of the concept of humor?" Doens't seem so, then.
"I actually live at the beach, but would prefer a cave on a mountain. at least it's not my parents basement"
--You missed the humorous reference in my statement, again. I just called you "The Grinch" because you have no understanding of humor in your life. I feel very sorry for you.
NoGuff 2 years ago 2
oh I didn't miss any humor, I just don't think you are at all funny. I am actually the funniest person you would ever meet, but the problem with your attempt at humor, is that it's like telling an inside joke to a total stranger. no need to feel sorry for me kiddo, like I said, I live at the beach, and you live with yo mama.
jmarquise 2 years ago
"I live at the beach, and you live with yo mama"
--You know, you keep trying to sound smart. Then you end your messages with that. Pretty lame.
The last time "yo mama" was cool or funny was 1978.
NoGuff 2 years ago 5
GOVERNMENT IS IN...GRIDLOCK......
yehudi11 3 years ago
lol
ssddffgghhjjkkll 3 years ago
Bless him. Great man, not great candidate.
Like McCain.
lmoor 3 years ago 3
I honestly don't think I'll ever see anyone choke like that during a debate again. I had hopes for Palin but someone actually coached her. Stocakdale just wasn't able to prepare.
side1981 3 years ago
The way they mocked him was cruel.
LLLLLLLLP3 3 years ago 2
Remember this man and how haunted he is for every war inject other humans into. This is a good man. An honest man. And we mock the poor man because of his emotional scars from war and torture.
When will we learn that all war is crime?
javery303 3 years ago 2
He was a good man but he had no business being in political office.
DIEGOSHAY 3 years ago
Why because he was not good on TV? Because he wasn't as "slick" as Obama? When the shit hits the fan I would rather have Stockdale on the border than Obama.
utherpendragon666 3 years ago
No, because he wasn't able to speak in a complete sentence. You really want someone who loses their train of thought in the middle of a sentence to be the leader of the free world? And you'd rather have an elderly man near death on the border instead of a healthy 47 year old? Wow, dude. You're fucking crazy.
DIEGOSHAY 3 years ago
He stuttered a bit on TV, big deal. You get what you deserve. Clinton started this economic crisis. He speaks very well.
utherpendragon666 3 years ago
...yeah...um..you're not too bright, are you?
DIEGOSHAY 3 years ago
Clinton is largely responsible for the current economy crisis. Read about the Community Reinvestment Act and the artificially low interest rates of the 90s.
Hawk552 3 years ago
ha ha ha, now I'm no Clinton lover but uhh didn't Clinton only cause a $559 Billion freakin dollar surplus and isn't NAFTA's GDP over 15 Billion dollars sounds like Bill Clinton was more of a positive
Flippyurajerk 3 years ago 4
You really are a fool. Read what Hawk552 said. Diego? Are you actually an enemy of America?
utherpendragon666 3 years ago
Because I didn't think Stockdale was together enough mentally to be VP, I'm an enemy of America? Really? Wow. No wonder you guys keep losing elections.
DIEGOSHAY 3 years ago
yeah dude, totally, a terrorist, commie, pinko, worst of all a bleeding-heart liberal, sarcasm of course
Flippyurajerk 3 years ago
Community Reinvestment Act? The economic crisis began with Bush and Wall Street greed. Republicans always try to put a spin on something.
tassbhar 3 years ago
The American people would prefer a gameshow host who lies to them rather than an upstanding individual who tells them the terrible truth.
dorielementary 3 years ago
Community Reinvestment Act? The economic crisis began with Bush and Wall Street greed. Republicans always try to put a spin on something.
tassbhar 3 years ago
you are mentally retarded.
jmarquise 2 years ago
here here!
Sage80 3 years ago
The left hates America?!? Gee, who are the boneheaded, pretender class, red-state, gun-toting, flag-waving, Fox News/AM Talk Radio "Wingnut Welfare" collecting pill-popping pundit knuckle draggers who want to foreclose on liberty and freedom by handing it over to the Tali-Born Again and thereby constitute the "Know-Nothings" that Abraham Lincoln warned us about in his Cooper Union Address?!? EASY: THE RED-STATE "TRUE BELIEVING" PATRIOT/MILITIA TIMOTHY MCVEIGH WING OF RETHUGLICAN PARTY! Nice try!
crazysioux 3 years ago 5
This comment has received too many negative votes show
StockDale Is my Hero he Survived the 5years. torture he is just a national here P.S he was with McCain in north vietnam Go Maccain 2008
lowIQ04 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Im with ya 100%!!! great post!
McCain/Palin '08!!!
raiders4life2010 3 years ago
Being a war hero and being a viable VP candidate are two separate things. With that said, I think it's a shame we can't distinguish the hero from the unqualified applicant. Shame.
beaupedraza 3 years ago 3
Go to Saturday Night Live's website. They have clips of former cast members. Dana Carvey and Phil Hartman play Ross Perot and James Stockdale in 1 skit. Watch it. It's one of the funniest clips I've ever seen. I remember watching it back in 1992.
BeatLAAgain 3 years ago 2
Shame on American ingrates!!
sociablyclussy 3 years ago
The gooks broke his back. they pulled his arms out of his sockets. He was starving and he still his food to other prisoners that were in worst shape than he. A great American.
sociablyclussy 3 years ago
Dude had fucking alzheimers...he died of it in 2006, although it was probably in an early stage in 92'. I have nothing but respect for the mans accomplishments though.
pimptacula 3 years ago 3
This is depressing. This man was a true American hero. Naturally, the Left mocked him. That's because the Left hates America.
rob32909 3 years ago
You sure about that? It was the neo-Confederate warmonger/biblethumper crowd in the South that really hated Perot/Stockdale back then...Perot did pretty badly in the region that the GOP considers heaven on earth.
abangthebeat 3 years ago 3
you ready to take that back fucker ?
Sarah Palin was awesome.
mikeyohioo 3 years ago
Stockdale was a real man. The things he went through, come on. It takes a man of iron to survive the hell he went through. A man of iron.
BigTMan1 3 years ago 3
I remember watching this back in '92. It still induces severe cringing. It's such a shame that this is how alot of people remember James Stockdale. This man was a true american hero. Courage, integrity, honor. Medal of Honor recipient. Hero. RIP James Stockdale.
bpcc88 3 years ago 2
lolololololol
mocitymec 3 years ago
There is no reason to laugh at a man who devoted his entire life to this country. He defied his captors and fought to uphold the freedoms you take for granted everyday. God bless Stockdale and may he rest in peace.
alex5074 3 years ago 3
Mocitymec you are an ungrateful piece of worthless crap. Go back to the Soviet union you commie.
utherpendragon666 3 years ago
That comment wasn't a troll lol.
It's the truth.
Ghostnote, don't try to fool anyone..i got your pm saying you agree with me but have to type this comment for all the ignorant Republicans. Don't back down from this veteran tyranny! Fight with me Ghostnote! Obama is a more respected, faaaar more intellegent, and stronger man than this fat fuck atrocity of a man called Stockdale ever was.
Obama 2008!!!
ksdog7 3 years ago
You're a jackass to even jokingly write something like that.Grow up.
Bobby65NY 3 years ago
ksdog, you are the disgrace. And I'm almost certain you'll be voting for McCain. Nice troll.
Stockdale was a very decent and smart man, but he got dragged into the circus of Ross Perot's campaign. How he was treated was most unfortunate.
GarbageMan550AM 3 years ago
Stockdale had more courage,integrity and honor in his little finger than Gore,Quayle,Obama etc..had in their whole beings.God bless him and you're right, its so unfortunate that Perot exploited him and subjected him to that.
Bobby65NY 3 years ago
Perot was correct about everything he said, with regard to the trade agreements that were beiong proposed by both dems and reps. He predicted the dying dollar and collapse of our economy because of erroneous trade agreemnts. The dems and rep sold the sole of the USA and it is over
hamace 3 years ago
ksdog7, I am an Obama supporter and you are a heartless, blustering ignoramus. Stockdale had more integrity and intelligence than you could ever hope to muster. The worst crime he ever committed was being bad on TV. You're not really doing Obama any favors by posting ridiculous comments like that.
ghostnote43 3 years ago 2
American governments can be .....? Let's go with power hungry motherfuckers!
DominatorMCMLXXVIII 3 years ago
take note palin! u going DOWN!!
nadradt 3 years ago
Even as a kid, I saw this performance and said "DAMN!"
d21lewis 3 years ago
yeah, me too, but he doesn't actually sound that bad compared to palin. and that's scary.
milowent 3 years ago
He didn't even know he was still VP until he had to attend the debate as he was supposed to be a placeholder... poor guy.
Funkytrip 3 years ago
I'm surprised he didn't use his time as a former POW to garner sympathy votes like McCain does all the time.
ckad79 3 years ago 2
LOL
ixcuincle 3 years ago
Lol ppl are really defending Stockdale's performance in this debate rofl
turnsey 3 years ago
Americans vote on style. You can say all the shit you want as long as you say it in a commanding way and act like you know what you're talking about.
That's why America is fast becoming a giant shithole.
merrimac291 3 years ago
The reason he had to turn his hearing aid on at that debate is because those f***ing animals knocked his eardrums out when he wouldnt spill his guts. He teaches philosophy at Stanford University, hes a brilliant, sensitive, courageous man. And yet he committed the one unpardonable sin in our culture: he was bad on television.
Dennis Miller- 1992
hoganfader 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Stockdale is a disgrace to mankind because he blusters over half his words. I don't care if he's a veteran or not. Actually, he's a worthless shit who should die for all the evil things he did to those poor Vietnamese people. You should get your head on straight and vote liberal.
OBAMA 2008!!!!
ksdog7 3 years ago
If you had a brain, you would know he already passed. Whom you are supporting shows your ignorance.
hoganfader 3 years ago
Your the reason people hate the Democratic party. I'm ashamed that you are even associated with the democratic party. Your sick and twisted. If you feel so sorry for the vietnamese move there and help them. Your probably sitting on your couch watching too much TV than to help a person.
alex5074 3 years ago
Actually the evil things that happened to the Vietnamese were caused by the French. The US under the direction of the UN was tring to prevent what wound up escalating because of profiieering of folks like Ted Kenedy and MacNamara, LBJ and a host of "liberals.Was it a republican or democrat who got us into VIetnam? who got us out?Do you have the ball to answer the question with out name calling?
hamace 3 years ago
Where is the "who am I, why am I here" video? I can't find it.
NsaneNtheNbrane 3 years ago
Stockdale shouldn't have been on stage. He should have let Quayle and Gore discuss potatoes and global warming all on their own.
GrossbergerXXX 3 years ago 2
I still get uncomfortable thinking how Admiral Stockdale was more or less hung out to dry. Certainly, if the medium of TV, and therefore the cult of personality weren't such a huge part of an election, he would have had a fighting chance. He really was a hero.
kkosach 3 years ago
Agreed. If Stockdale ( I wont use the term Admiral as I'm not an American) was Gore's "hero" then Gore and Quayle should have omitted him from these excrutiating debates and spared his dignity. It's the least the man deserved.
GrossbergerXXX 3 years ago
That's absurd. Of course you call him admiral even if not from the US.
kirby4d 3 years ago
Why? He isn't MY admiral, he's America's.
GrossbergerXXX 3 years ago
Queen Elizabeth isn't MY Queen, but I still call her Queen Elizabeth.
kirby4d 3 years ago
I am pretty sure Vice Admiral Stockdale's performance on T.V. was a blessing. Because we still talk about it today, and we remember what happened.
Young people who don't know this man will watch this and say "who the heck is this old fart", and when they read who he is, and what he did. I am sure they will be "humbled" about what their first impressions of him were.
rosiem2177 3 years ago 3
my first impression was that he was a shell shocked alzheimer's case with dementia...i read about who he was and this was only confirmed. ps: check out phil hartman's hilarious impression of this feeble minded kook.
Aleister77newaccount 3 years ago
douchebag
roonalwazlib 3 years ago
Stockdale's POW experience makes McCain look like a pussy in comparison.
IAmTheHateCamel 3 years ago
who am i? why am i here?
SpaztasticalJoe121 3 years ago
This is what the RNC is afraid of............Their cherished V.P. pick stumbling and bumbling like this on global TV. Sarah Palin is "out of ammunition" on the issues!!!!
TriniNY 3 years ago
You better hope so. She's already more popular than both empty suits on the dem side.
redbeakman 3 years ago
If Sarah Palin is SOOOOOO great, why is she afraid to discuss the critical issues facing America, with the press? Oh I forgot....she wouldn't have someone else's answers in front of her on a teleprompter!!!!
TriniNY 3 years ago
Because she has an identity crisis: Am I a pitbull or a pussycat? A pitbull or a pussycat? Gee I don't have a clue.
sondano 3 years ago
And one more thing: the only reason why Sarah Palin is so popular, at this moment, is that she is a NOVELTY. When the American public realizes that her candidacy is based on little substance, her popularity will be lower than that of George W.'s.
TriniNY 3 years ago
Just redact 'Sarah Palin' from your post and insert 'Barak Obama' (since he is the one running for president you know) and you will quickly learn why Obama/Biden is falling behind in the polls 8 weeks before the election.
redbeakman 3 years ago
True........the McCain/Palin ticket is enjoying a WIDELY expected dead cat bounce, and the Republican campaign has FINALLY caught up with that of OBAMA/BIDEN. Such euphoria eventually ebbs (as you know). And then the contest is determined by who has the most effective solutions to our country's problems instead of by who can launch the most sensational and DISHONEST negative attacks.
So, see ya at the debates!!!!!
Moderate Republicans (we want our party back) for OBAMA/BIDEN '08!!!!
TriniNY 3 years ago
Eight weeks is a long time in a presidential race. There is a lot more to be said before this is over. In general people put way too much credit in national polls which only have something to say if there is a substantial lead (i.e. double digit lead). Given our election system, state polls matter a great deal more. At this McCain is still behind when you tabulate state polls in terms of electoral votes, by a lot actually. But polls change constantly and this will be a close one.
jdlund 3 years ago
Except they are no falling behind. The bounce has disappeared. Give up.
sondano 3 years ago
Polls today still have them up. Sorry.
redbeakman 3 years ago
And finally, the difference between Stockdale's embarrassing moment and Sarah Palin's imminent one.............LIPSTICK!!!!!!!
TriniNY 3 years ago
LOL! Popular among wingnuts zealots yeah right. But they are irrelevant creatures.
sondano 3 years ago