I understand it's election time. I understand Bush needs major image restoration. But are these attacks on patriotism necessary?

Kerry fought in Vietnam. He came back and protested. He said it was bad. He had passion. It's natural to feel very strongly about something immediately after it but not care much 10 years (or more) later.

Why do people care about all this?

Yes, Karl Rove pisses me off. But, he does know what he is doing. The Bush campaign is going to search for every little thing and attack Kerry on all of it. And nobody, right now, actually really cares (aside from the two campaigns, the media, and political buffs). The majority of voters aren't going to be paying attention until after August. However, Kerry is partially to blame here. He keeps changing his story and he is the one who goes around constantly talking about his days in Vietnam...he made the issue fair game.

yes.

he represents to a great degree, what is wrong with politics in general. his guy stands for nothing but his own, personal, dictatorial (oops, i mean executive authority) agenda.

present lies as facts, repeat, present lies as facts, repeat.

kerry apparently has "magical" powers to have 100 separate votes count for one vote on a multi-faceted bill. does the general public wonder why a patriot WOULD seemingly vote down an apache helicopter bill? no. why get off your lazy ass and see what other things were attached to the bill? why question why the veep in 1984 (interesting year, no?) has voted against all kinds of military funding?

present lies as facts, repeat. i guess lies are the new american way. question nothing, blindly obey a select few who don't see the need to share information with you, the public.