Magellan, I couldn't agree with you more. The Swift Boaters are a cadre of jealous, disgruntled, losers likely in the pay of the Republican party. Maybe they're not actually on the payroll, but I'm sure these sleazeballs are getting some kind of reward for their efforts. Which brings me to an interesting article I read this morning by New York Times writer Maureen Dowd. In a recent column she stated that the Bushes have a long history of delegating their dirty work. There are always third-party political assassins, ostensibly independent, to do the dynasty's wet work. Lee Atwater, W's old pal and running partner set up the modus operandi: Lay in the weeds while craftily planting plausibly deniable surrogates to slice up your rival. (Karl Rove, is of course the Atwater of the 2004 presidential campaign). Then the candidate, can stand piously above the fray, denying any connection to the smears and dirty tricks. Unfortunately, Kerry was a little sluggish in responding to the attacks, but he at last seems to have realized how truly damaging they are. Maybe he didn't think anyone would be stupid enough to believe the Swift Boaters lies. Unfortunately, to quote P.T. Barnum, You'll never go broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people. UPDATE TO LINCOLNSCADDY: Glad you're enjoying the spate of negative ads. I bet you make sure your subscription to the National Enquirer never lapses either.