Assassins.

From Colonel Craig:

The character assassination from both the left and the right continue. Of course we have negative campaigning because it is effective. So we spend millions defaming four decent people. No wonder people have so little respect for politicians. And no wonder it is hard to get good people to run for office. And no wonder our young people have so little respect for institutions, government, and their elders.

Imagine what people would think of you if you had researchers looking into every aspect of your life, and attack dogs defaming you at every step. Web pages dedicated to showing what a creep you are. Emails listing the enormous evil you had unleashed on the world. Imagine what people would think of you if you had a political attack machine banging you around.

Bush may have missed some National Guard Drills. Kerry may have stretched the rules for one or two of his purple hearts. Bush may have been wild and irresponsible in his youth. Kerry exaggerated Vietnam atrocities.

So what? These guys are not perfect. Who is? But they are both pretty good people, and the country will thrive and survive under either one of them.

We listen to people on the left and right beating these guys up on their military record. Ridiculous. Kerry volunteered for Vietnam twice, and earned the Silver Star. Bush flew a jet aircraft known as the widowmaker, built for the government by the low bid contractor, maintained by part time
mechanics. Both guys and their service are ok by my book, and exceed what most people have done, especially considering their silver spoon backgrounds.

A central problem is that a lot of people believe the scurrilous load of crap that is put out on these people. There are a lot of people who seem to think Bush and/or Kerry are evil. This is absurd and unfortunate. And apparently there is no way to fix the problem, short of pointing out the obvious. Both tickets are composed of good and capable individuals.

Colonel Craig.