[kattracks]

GLIDING ALONG: John Kerry, who often appears stiff as a board, loosens up with a little snowboarding yesterday in Idaho, where he's on R&R. George Frey/EPA

[IrishRainy]

OMG, I can SO relate! Except our imported house is much nicer than theirs.

[kcvl]

The risk for Kerry is that he will be seen as part of the Bush backlash -- a candidate whose chances rise with every bomb that explodes in Baghdad or Madrid. The more stridently he criticizes Bush, the more he's in danger of sounding like Spain's intemperate prime minister-elect, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. Not content with announcing that he will retreat under fire in Iraq, the Spaniard on Wednesday called the situation there a "fiasco" and said he hoped Kerry would win. Friends like that Kerry doesn't need.

Kerry's dilemma is like that facing his would-be European supporters. They desperately want Bush to lose, and they worry that by coming to his rescue in Iraq they could unintentionally boost his chances of reelection.

Kerry must reject that logic. His line should be that he wants success in Iraq and will do everything he can, as candidate and as president, to make it happen. He needs to make clear that failure isn't an option for him any more than for Bush -- and that a Kerry presidency would never embrace a Spanish-style policy of cut and run.

In that sense, Kerry needs to take Iraq off the table as an issue. His advisers may say that's crazy -- to throw away their biggest weapon against Bush. But that understates the gravity of this election. Kerry's best shot is that he would be a stronger, smarter leader in wartime. On Iraq, he should tell the truth: Now that we've gotten in, we have to stay and support the Iraqi people in rebuilding their country. Period.

[maggief]

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites), D-Mass., snowboards during the first day of his vacation at Sun Valley in Ketchum, Idaho Thursday, March 18, 2004. Man behind is unidentified. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

[maggief]

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites), D-Mass., heads to the slopes with his snowboard during the first day of his vacation at Sun Valley in Ketchum, Idaho Thursday, March 18, 2004. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

[sgtbono2002]

I thought Kerry was having back problems.

[InvisibleChurch]

does that hair ever move?

[mystery-ak]

What a gigolo!

[normy]

Has anyone noticed how the past three Dem candidates have had some weird sexual innuendo involved with them. On purpose though as if to let the ladys know how sexy they are, its very strange.

You had the Clinton boxer/briefs, the Al Gore brushed out weiner photo cause he was so large, and now the Kerry buy a jock strap with my daughter photo op. These Dems are nuts!

[guitfiddlist]

GLIDING ALONG: John Kerry, who often appears stiff as a board, loosens up with a little snowboarding yesterday in Idaho, where he's on R&R.

Heard on the news this morning that another skier had run into Kerry and completely decked him. Where's the photo of that?

Would love to hear the audio aftermath too: "Are you a Republican?!! Well, are you?!!"

[WV Mountain Mama]

I'm sure his time in Vietnam (he is a veteran, you know)helped him to prepare to be a snowboarder.

[TexasCajun]

Someone should have a picture of the skier that ran him over? I heard he collided with someone?

[NYCVirago]

Where was Kerry's safety helmet? What kind of example is he setting for the children?