[benfranklin]

[ QUOTE ]

"So far, the DNC's effort has been focused on accusing Bush of using family connections to get into the National Guard during the Vietnam War, then skipping his duty." - Another reason they are clueless - people don't want to hear any more poltical BS on Vietnam.


[/ QUOTE ]

I think that most people, even partisans on both sides of the political spectrum, know in their hearts that there is little difference between what Bush and Kerry did in the Vietnam period. They both gamed the system to minimize their exposure to flying bullets. This was in no way considered dishonorable by the majority of that generation.

Bush joined the Air Guard because it was safe and at the same time had a macho fly-boy image. Kerry enlisted in the safest branch of the service, and volunteered for duty that had never seen combat up to that point, and at the same time would look good on a political resume.

I repeat, they gamed the system to save their butts. So did I. So did 99% of anyone who could. No regrets, just sorrow for those who didn't or couldn't get out of it. That's how nearly everyone thought of military service at the time: something to get out of.

I think deep down, even those who did not live through that period are starting to get it. And they don't really care about what Bush or Kerry did then, except as an excuse to throw mud at the bad guys. It is not a viable issue for either side. They are preaching to the choir. The GOP understands that better than the Dems, who are beating a dead horse. On a local radio talk show yesterday, the question was to Bush supporters: if the "Dan Rather" memo was proven true, would you still support Bush. About 100% said yes, it would make no difference.

As others stated above, Kerry has a one-note agenda: I am not George Bush. We knew that, John. Tell us something we don't know, like how you would implement some of your sweeping promises, or why we should like you. In polls of people who say that they are going to vote for Kerry, the vast majority give their main reason as wanting to get rid of Bush. Only a small majority give a reason like Kerry would be a great president, or they have great respect for him, or they like him.

More important than the Swift boat vets attack on Kerry is his response to it. He has failed miserably there. He has refused to personally address it except to counter-attack against Bush. He comes across as having an imperial attitude that anyone who dares question him and his background is beneath contempt. The emperor has no clothes. And no answers. And no agenda.

In the Doonesbury comic strip, Bush is pictured as an invisible non-entity wearing a symbolic hat: cowboy, warrior, etc. Kerry is an invisible non-entity wearing an "I'm Not Bush" ball cap. He has zero chance of getting any Republicans to cross over. He has zero chance of getting undecideds to vote for him because they like him better than Bush, or have more confidence in him as a leader. He has zero chance of getting undecideds to vote for him based on his Senate record. His only chance to gain votes is to come out with something more specific and appealing than droning: "I have a plan..."