] Compared with Kerry, George W. Bush is a coward. This is
] not a reference to their respective activities during
] Vietnam. It refers to the current election campaign. Bush
] happily benefits from the slime his supporters are
] spreading but refuses to take responsibility for it or to
] call point-blank for it to stop. He got away with this
] when the prime mover was the shadowy Swift boats group.
] Will he get away with it when the accusers are his own
] vice president, high officials of his own administration
] (Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage) and members
] of Congress from his own party (House Speaker J. Dennis
] Hastert or Sen. Orrin Hatch)? The answer is yes: Based on
] recent experience, he probably will get away with it.

LA Times Editorial -- How Dare Kerry Speak Up