I've pretty well given up trying to make sense of the candidates. The only one I'd even consider voting for (Lieberman, because he had a clue about the WoT) is gone.

Right now, I think they're saying whatever they think will get them votes. And pandering to the lowest common denominator. Everything's on the table now - class warfare, Bush Bashing - anything to gain another point or two.

The problem is, unlike traditional media where today's news is tomorrow's birdcage liner and it's difficult to casually reference back on things, the Internet never forgets and Google makes it EASY to check spin tangents. How many votes did AlGore's "I invented the Internet' statement lose him, because it was readily available? He could say he didn't say it - but there it was in transcripts.

My advice to politicians (or political wanna-bes) of any party -

Say what you mean. Make it clean, make it concise, make it clear.

Mean what you say. Being phony may get you votes, but it won't get you re-elected.

And NEVER, EVER Spin. Because what you spin today will bite you in painful places tomorrow.

J.

IMO, you are spinning this just to be clever. Kerry said he voted to authorize the use of force because he thought it would provide a sufficient threat to Saddam resulting in a diplomatic solution.

The real reason he voted for war was that he did not want to go against the wishes of the majority of the American people right before a mid-term election.

His vote against the $87B was simply playing the "don't come". Very similar to his VVAW activities.

At least he is predictable and consistent.

Bush, er..Carl Rove, had many Democrats by the short hairs just before the elections.

With the public whipped into a frenzy you can be sure many had to go along just to stay in the game. Machiavelli knew this, of course--in order to hold power one must first acquire power.

I'd be satisfied if some of the more courageous Democrats would just acknowledge this fact. We should probably be thankful that some of them played along and are still there.

Look at Max Cleland. Case rested.

The worst thing we did in Vietnam was pulling the strings tight on the purse at the same time we pulled the troops out.
The same would hold true in Iraq.