The Kerrion do not realize it yet, but their man's war record has been dealt some serious blows. Actually, I think they may know it's true, but are not yet ready to confess.
It wouldn't matter but for the fact that Kerry has made his experience in Viet Nam the core of his qualification to be Commander-in-Chief. (Is that not so?) But he has pursued this line because it is what his party expected. They purposefully sought out a candidate whose military experience could be favorably compared to George W. Bush's more modest record. (How else can Wesley Clark's ridiculous bid be understood?) So the party exploited Kerry and Kerry was willing to exploit the party.
Now, the price of Kerry's nomination ---the kickback to the anti-war Dean crowd--- was to reverse himself on the issue of the War for Iraq. It is this that infuriates me more than any lies about his military experience. (These lies are of interest to me only because they damage the credibility of his predicate qualification.) But the absurd and hypocritical positions Kerry has taken on the strategic importance of a Saddam-free Iraq ---clearly contradicting those he had embraced for the past six or seven years--- are what should concern every one now. That is, he has much to explain from his early political career, but the utter stupidity of his position on Iraq now ---with its tortured objections of "processes" not observed and failures to gain "consensus"--- is intolerable. It is only willful ignorance of his rhetorical support ---often eloquent and far-reaching--- for regime change in Iraq because of the dangers posed by Saddam and his weapons of mass murder that will keep the anti-war Left happy with their nominee.
But I cannot forget the most basic guiding principle of the Democratic Party in 2004. It is the only thing that matters ---and it trumps any and all other ideological concerns: Anybody But Bush. We will see again, as we did in the days of Clinton's impeachment, the Democratic Party bury its ethical misgivings and make its bid for the preservation of the power they need. No holds are barred, no prick of conscience remains unblunted.