Dealing with the Kerry controversies by pointing to Bush and saying, "look! National Guard!" might work on certain simple minds. I'm afraid you might have to do a bit better here.

There are over 200 people associated with the Swift Boat Veterans, of whom a few dozen served with Kerry in one capacity or another. No claim has ever been made that all of these people were on the same boat with him. Of that particular group, only one crewman is associated with SBV. The list of Swift Boat Veterans includes Kerry's entire chain of command above him.

Most of the 200 have, as their major objection, Kerry's behavior after he got home from Vietnam. The original letter reflects this. Others have specific objections to specific actions, or Kerry's portrayal of those actions.

I'm supposed to believe that all these people are lying? How exactly does that work?

The only response that Kerry and his media buttmonkeys have marshalled against this is to call these veterans liars and shills for Bush, and point out that the funding for the website comes from people who want to see Bush elected (duh.). The newspapers will go down the usual blind alleys, ignore facts that don't lead where they want, and concentrate on non-essentials, like the source of the money to put the data on the web. Like I said elsewhere, don't hold your breath looking for the New York Times to check out the Cambodia story.

Is it inconceivable that the dozen men Kerry calls his "Band of Brothers" might have an axe to grind as well? I see no evidence of this, but it's at least plausible. Are you aware that Kerry got them transferred away from hazardous duty? And why are they not considered "shills of the Democratic Party?" Who the hell is paying their way around the country?

The second tour of duty isn't the only place Kerry's fellow servicemen had some doubts about his memory. Check this out. I suppose this page was funded by Texas developers too.

The New York Times and the Democratic Party hope to win this by sheer barrage power. It's worked before. But they aren't the only game in town now.

It isn't a "smear" if it's true. Let's find out.