Bob Dole Angry

Some nice commentary from Captain Ed (link in title) on the media exhumation of Bob Dole. This is an unintended consequence of Kerry's verbal assaults on the Swifties.

As noted before and earlier, and yesterday, the veterans as a whole do not support Kerry. This is no shock because vets tend Republican. But more importantly most of the men who served WITH Kerry (in same Swift group) do not support his presidential bid. That is amazing because, as Terry Sater noted (yesterday's comment link above) the bonds of those who serve together are incredibly strong. Thus, Kerry needs to silence the Swifties to maintain the false illusion that he is not only a decorated war hero but also an admirable and respected former serviceman. The fact that only 10% of the men who served with him support him is a trifle to the press, but a salient point to the rest of us.

Kerry's attacks got Dole aroused. After all, Dole knows sacrifice very well -- he gave the use of his right arm for his country in World War II. Dole IS a revered and respected former serviceman and he is extremely well-liked. The post-96 election BobDoleWorldTour that Dole did on the various late night talkies and through commercials (Visa check card, especially) showed an affable, self-effacing down-to-earth gentleman. Traits that are absent in Kerry. Thus, Kerry woke the sleeping bear who is now doing what the Bushies would not: attacking Kerry for attacking the Swifties.

Here's Captain Ed's take:

In a way, Dole's return has an element of poetic justice to it. Kerry's generation has the reputation for narcissistic self-absorption and has embraced victimhood as its highest value, while Dole's generation garnered the mantle of America's greatest. How interesting that Dole has to come back to the house to tell Kerry to stop whining and behave.