When this issue gets anywhere close to the anal examination Bush's service got, you get back to me. Right now, it's been largely spiked by the media, except for reporting Democratic attacks on this group.

There are hard facts here, including his Cambodia statements. This was all out there in May, when the Swiftboat group held their first news conference. I believe two reporters showed up. It has since been ignored until it became impossible to ignore it.

If one veteran had come forward with a tenth of this kind of information against Bush's service record, he'd be on 60 Minutes, Larry King, and God knows where else. No doubt he'd have a book coming out. He'd be getting praised for his "courage," not being labeled a "lunatic" or worse. Now we have dozens of veterans, some of whom object to Kerry's account of his service, and others who object to his slander of the military after he got out of service. How are they being treated? What motive would they have to lie knowing full well that the media and the Democratic party would target them for personal destruction? The latter operation has only just begun. Wait for the "exposes" on these men, no doubt being researched as I type this.

Bush rode a plane onto a carrier. Once. Dressed in the outfit everyone wears in those planes. He mentioned getting to fly the plane for a while. This has been the extent of his drawing on his military service in his entire campaign, and rightfully so.

Do we really need to compare this to the central position Kerry has placed on his Vietnam tour? He has done everything but tattoo a huge red, yellow, and green striped service ribbon on his forehead. Has anyone seen a single major speech where his service was NOT referred to?

Kerry knows damn well that if he focuses on who he is, and not who he was, he's doomed. Trouble is, who he was isn't looking all that clear now either.