I was just about over the Swift Vets thing, and then I read this from the Kerry campaign from yesterday

I was just about over the Swift Vets thing and then I read this from the Kerry campaign from yesterday
August 24, 2004

I'd reached the point where I thought:

The Swiftboat Veterans for Truth are important because they've forced Senator Kerry to stop posturing as a War Hero and start talking about the issues. I believe the conclusion of their charges -- that Lt. (J.G.) Kerry was not the greatest riverine warrior to pass through Viet Nam, and that, in fact, he was a bit of an ass who gamed the system to get out ASAP. But he nevertheless volunteered to be there. OK, got it. But that was 30 +/- years ago; now let's talk about us.

Then I read this on OxBlog this morning:

Yesterday, [The Happy Carpenter– that would be Monday, August 23, 2004] Russert reminded his audience of Kerry's intention to "significantly reduce American forces in Iraq" within a year. Russert then asked Tad Devine, one of Kerry's top advisers, "Can [Kerry] do it?" Their exchange follows:

MR. DEVINE: Well, I think if we build the right international coalition we can...

MR. RUSSERT: You say a goal. Kerry said, "Absolutely we can
reduce the numbers." Is it a goal or a promise?

MR. DEVINE: Right. It is something he can do if we have the exercise of presidential leadership. One of the great failures today in Iraq is the lack of the exercise of presidential leadership. This president has done nothing.

MR. RUSSERT: Is it a goal or a promise?

MR. DEVINE: He has stood on the sidelines. If he can--it's something he feels he can do...

I suspect Mr. Devine’s problem here is simple – he doesn’t know if it’s a goal or a promise. More to the point, he does know that in Senator Kerry’s mind there is no difference between a goal and a promise. That’s what “nuanced” means in a political context. It means “I mean what I say when I say it, but circumstances change and we need to be flexible… The Constitution is a living document…” and so forth and etcetera. Senator Kerry, I’ve no doubt, does not consider himself to be a flip-flopper, but rather a realist, the intelligent willow that bends with the breeze. On this pole, the President is the polar opposite – Bush is the oak that will stand firm against the barbarian tide. But I digress…

Then the nuanced Mr. Devine wrapped up with this little zinger:

MR. DEVINE: Ken, there's only one commander in chief in the United States to send our troops to Iraq without the body armor they need to survive and his name is George W. Bush. And if he [President Bush] had spent one day on the front line of a war, he never would have done it.

All right, Senator Kerry, that tears it. You'd like to keep lobbing these grenades into the Bush campaign, but you're aghast that anyone would have the gall to fire back. Well, get out your purple heart application forms, Senator, because we're not going to cease fire until November 4th. You and your fellow travelers started this, but we’re going to finish it.

Bush for President.