Mixed emotions.

On the one hand, I'm glad that an underhanded slight on the military service of an American veteran is outside the realm of acceptable behavior in the contemporary Democratic Party. On the other hand, sometimes there'd be some satisfaction in giving as good as we get, especially when the last decorated veteran to benefit from our forbearance finds it so easy to maintain his position in the Republican sleaze machine.

One might think that he'd know better, but there's really no reason to believe that Bob Dole would behave better. He's been a GOP hit man for decades, so his latest slur on John Kerry is just a matter of running true to form. Still, as the Boston Globe points out,

"...Dole was given a Purple Heart for a leg scratch probably caused, according to one biographer, when a hand grenade thrown by one of his own men bounced off a tree. And while the serious injuries Dole sustained later surely came from German fire, did the episode demonstrate heroism on Dole's part or a reckless move that ended up killing his radioman and endangering the sergeant who dragged Dole off the field?"

The bottom line? Susan at Suburban Guerilla gets it right.

Bob Dole is a limp-dicked old party hack who should be ashamed of himself. Unfortunately, Republican leaders are singularly lacking in that humbling and human quality.