[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

And of course the first thing that came to my mind was Clinton promising a middle-class tax cut. After the first three weeks in office he emerged with the, "I've worked harder than I ever have in muh life and I just can't do it."

He knew the rule as Kerry does it: Promise whatever you need to promise. Break the promise very early in your time as pres and the people will forget by reelection time (unless of course you're a Rep and the media keeps your no-new-taxes alive for sound bites until you are toast).

[Mr. Silverback]

As Bush has said, Kerry has promised to raise taxes, and that's the sort of promise a Massachusetts pol will keep.