The Repugs tried to Destroy Kerry's Veteran Status, because

[mourningdove92]

it makes AWOL look so bad and it scares them to death. They thought they had accomplished this with the sw liars for bush ads, they thought he would back off his stance as a Veteran who served honorably, they thought he would talk about anything BUT his service, they thought they had closed that door for him forever.

Kerry proved them wrong last night when he hit back and used his honorable service as a club.

We are gonna be just fine.

[olddem43]

1. We need some catchy phrases and slogans about AWOL

That will match and overcome crap like "Flip-Flop" Example: "Flop-Flop."

[Toots]

7. AWOL......AWOL....AWOL...catches me

:shrug: "I'm opposed to nation building"

[NMDemDist2]

2. that is Rove's basic MO-- "Strike at the opposition's strength"

read "Bush's Brain"

[mondo joe]

3. Kerry's vet status attacked because Rove always goes after the strengths

That's Rove's MO - attack an opponent's strengths, not weaknesses.

Look at Gore - an absolute wonk, anal and stiff in the best of ways ---- you could count on his accuracy. Rove made him into a liar and exaggerator in much of the public perception.

Kerry's not only a vet but a war hero - so Rove tries to turn him into a traitor and schemer.

I really think it has more to do with that than AWOL's status. But that is a factor as well.

[mourningdove92]

4. You are probably right about the reasons,

but to me the important thing is that Kerry refused to back off from his service. He has to keep throwing it back at them. Kerry served, awol and cheney did not.

[City Lights]

5. bush didn't go aWol. He deserted

while the nation was at war. 58,000 Americans died. How many died while george was pissing on cars?

[depakid]

6. If he want to use it as a club

And it's sheer lunacy that he hasn't- he needs to make a huge ad buy contrasting his service and Bush's non-service in no uncertain terms.

[Oblongata]

8. That wouldn't be good.

Kerry needs to move on. Every time he talks about Vietnam it brings up the controversy. Like it or not the swifties have made it controversial.