Well, exactly. No conservative should run away from the "swift-boating" term. In fact when it comes up, we should agree with the accusation and own it. It means that the people you served with, who knew you best, are exposing you for the fraud that you are.
Exactly if someone is “smeared” by the left with the swiftboating term, then it should be addressed as a compliment and restate that swiftboating is the truth by people that served and were credible eye-witnesses.
Except for GW Bush who admonished the Swift Boat Vets for the purpose of protecting the political class. In Bush’s mind, there is the political class and then there are the rest of us. And we don’t really matter except as fools to play with in the election cycle.
I came from being a 100% supporter and donor of GW Bush to being his biggest detractor here on FR because I saw that he would not stand up for the truth but opted instead for his daddy’s way which is to protect the political class at the cost of telling truth tellers to shut up.