In my opinion, this would have been exactly the wrong approach to take. The only answer due a slanderous accusation such as "Do you still beat your wife?" is stony silence.
The whole point that seems to be missing from this discussion, and the reason Dan Rather can't get any mileage out of his lie, is that NO ONE CARES! We already know Bush had an alcohol and cocaine abuse problem...he admitted it years ago! I think he's a better man for overcoming those obstacles, and he has a better compassion for others with those problems. The difference between Kerry and Bush's Vietnam history, is that Kerry used a picture of Veteran's to bolster his "war hero" status, against their wishes! So they got pissed and did something about it! In my opinion, Kerry is an outright traitor to OUR Country, and at worst, Bush tried to avoid a draft. We don't have a draft today, those are volunteers fighting for our freedom. I sure as hell wouldn't join, but I'm a coward, and thank God others are fighting for my right to be a coward! At least I can admit it.