More Swiftness

[khaosworks]

From the New York Times:

Friendly Fire: The Birth of an Anti-Kerry Ad

Not quoted here because the article is worth reading in full.

The links between Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and the Bush campaign aside - that really shouldn't surprise anyone; that 527 groups have common financial or communal links to the politicians they support also shouldn't surprise anyone; and connection does not equate coordination - what's interesting is the section a bit further down on the Times's checking into Larry Thurlow's story surrounding his and Kerry's Bronze Star and a neat summary of the problems with SBVT's allegations.

Comments

[acrobatty.livejournal.com]

Thurlow's story is the funniest - "I have so much respect and love for the Navy that I never checked why I got a medal and lost my citation record."

Van whatshis is almost as good: "Kerry ran away and came back and fished Rassman out of the water a few yards away from me . . . while I sat on my thumb and watched him drown." Yeah, that one makes sense too.

Schmucks.

OTOH, I am peeved at Kerry for claiming that by not violating McCain-Feingold, Bush is condoning the message. Noncoordination menas noncoordination. This is a sleazy tactic.

[khaosworks.livejournal.com]

You know what's really sad about Kerry's claim? It'll probably make him a bit more popular. What with Bush's camp attacking all the time, Kerry needs to show some teeth or he'll impress swing voters as a wuss, or that the allegations are true.

Rationally, you know the 527s are legal, and there's no real evidence to show SBVT is coordinating with the Bush campaign, save for a few financial and communal connections. But in the mind of the average swing voter, legalities are irrelevant and the whole Bush camp is one hulking monolith. Rationalism plays little part in this kind of thinking. This says a lot more about the state of informed enfranchisement in America than it does about Kerry or Bush.