Am I being pessimistic,"
no. just perceptive.
the press only reports on allegations against Kerry if and when they can discount or refute them. that is why they didnt even cover them for weeks, and why when they did the ir headlines were along the lines of "new evidence discounts swift vet story" ... breathlessly reporting the kerry side and ignoring the swift vet charges.
"Liberal media have been effective in covering up the many retractions Kerry has been forced to make by the allegations from the Swift Boat Vets for Truth?"
To some extent. OTOH, swift vets *have* forced Kerry to respond, which is more than we might have hoped.
" does it seem that Kerry and the liberal media have been effective at painting the Swift Boat Vets for Truth as the liars even though Kerry and the liberal media have discredited none of the allegations that the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth have made"
to some extent, yes, although they are really minor nicks in the record, they have Rood, Russell and other 'new reports' confirming pro-Kerry elements to certain events.
OTOH, i am *shocked* that the WashPost reconstruction and the events around the Rassman rescue have forced a complete revision in the Kerry story-line and the media says the SWIFT VETS story is suspicious.
Very strange.
" and only Kerry is making retraction after retraction?"
Well, that is what needs to be in the record. Make it precise.
Kerry said X - on date xx/xx/xx/.
Now the story is Y.
I am still waiting for Kerry on cambodia.