[Pablo64]

I think the problem (actually one of a myriad) with Kerry is that when he joined the military it was not out of a sense of patriotism or duty. It was solely with the intention of parlaying his service into a future political career. He wanted to be able to wear his service as a banner and play up his "veteran" status. Because of that, he has never really seen himself as having been a part of the military. It never soaked into who he is as a person.

I believe that all along he has looked with disdain at the military (even while he was enlisted). What happens then, is that he forgets sometimes that he is supposed to be a concerned vet and he lets his true disdain and contempt slip out. When that happens he has to remind himself to put on his veteran persona and go on the offensive, acting indignant.

What he doesn't understand is that only those idiots who have imbibed of the liberal cool-aid will fall for it. The rest of us see it for what it is.

[maryz]

It was solely with the intention of parlaying his service into a future political career.

Well, that and the fact that he was turned down for a student deferment to do graduate work in France (he'd already had four for college). If he didn't sign up, he would have been drafted into the Army, which was doing the heavy lifting in Vietnam at the time. So he enlisted in the Navy -- his bad luck that they decided to shift Navy troops to Vietnam.