CNN reported yesterday that they have seen parts of Kerry's speech and he is going to attack the Swift Boat Vets and question what they have done for the past 35 years (I'm a Senator and you're not!). But he won't rebut their charges. At most, in rebuttal, he will say "They are not telling the truth," but he even avoid that, instead providing only ad hominem attacks.
It'll be an interesting speech.
As for time, the only information I've found is that the preliminary sddhedule for the convention, for today, runs from 8:30 to 12:30, then nothing until 7:00 PM. Kerry was to have flown to Nashville last night.
"CNN reported yesterday that they have seen parts of Kerry's speech and he is going to attack the Swift Boat Vets and question what they have done for the past 35 years (I'm a Senator and you're not!)."
- To directly attack the Swifties would be suicide. The closest he might come would be to make some oblique reference about "those" with whom he disagrees, on events so long ago they are now lost in the mists of time, yada, yada.
As to his reception at the convention, I will echo Mark Steyn's observation that while the Dems aren't much good at running government, they're real good at running scandals. They will have left nothing to chance. Dem supporters will arrive early and cram the front rows and give loud standing ovations at every opportunity so as to catch the cameras. Friendly media allies will have received the Dem talking points in advance so everyone can stay consistently on message. Kerry will keep it short and clear out quick. He will pull it off unless there are enough spontaneous boos to rattle his delivery - which is unlikely.