News flash - John Kerry says something dumb

Was it inevitable that John Kerry would say something stupid before the election?

Yes – the “I voted for it before I voted against it” remark must rank in the top 10 dumbest things said in politics in a decade. Quite a feat when six of those ten featured the master of malapropism, George Bush his own bad self.

Do I think that Kerry really meant that our military is full of morons?

No – I can’t believe that Kerry, a smart man with bad judgment, holds our troops in such low regard. He wore the uniform for goodness sake. I also believe his excuse that he botched a joke about Bush. Especially considering the text of the speech has been released. More importantly, Kerry has all of the humor of a funeral dirge and all of the mirth of Dick Cheney. Telling jokes is not his forte. I would have been amazed if he actually pulled it off.

Was it inevitable that Bush and the Republican noise machine would hang Kerry for this?

Yes – Someone with a killer instinct as honed as Karl Rove must have jumped out of his Oxfords when he heard that comment. Of course they would attack. In fact, it would have been political malpractice to let this slide. The GOP is down by half a dozen runs in the bottom of the ninth. They needed a spark and Kerry hung a curveball over the plate. They had to swing.

Will Kerry’s gaffe or apology make a difference?

No – the damage is done. The R’s will run on this “controversy” as far as it will take them. They get to talk about something other than their performance. On the plus side, I think the impact will be minimal. Anyone who thinks a decorated war hero would call soldiers dumb is not going to vote on the Democrats side anyway.