It Will Get Worse

With Kerry's standing in the polls rapidly tanking, and even once-solid Democrat states now up for grabs; having picked the lamest attack plan ever; with his supporters making ads that, as Michael Ubaldi points out, are a hairs breadth away from what sent Mildred Gillars to prison for treason, or just beginning to panic on the war; with his list of positions growing towards the infinite on any issue of note; facing a growing economy; with progress in the war of concern but not anywhere near inspiring panic; and with less than two months until the election; it is tempting to ask how Kerry's campaign could get any worse. Here's how: the Presidential debates are yet to happen. But won't that give the "intelligent, good debater, come-from-behind champion" a sure win over the "stupid, simple, cowboy who can't speak clearly at all"? Well, consider this:

MODERATOR: Senator Kerry, with Iraqi elections approaching in January and casualties among our soldiers rising continuously, will you bring our soldiers back from Iraq or continue the occupation?
KERRY: [actual answer does not matter]
MODERATOR: Mr. President?
BUSH: I would just like to know if that is the Senator's final answer, or if he needs a lifeline?

And there's game over. There is one thing - only one - that a politician cannot survive in a campaign: being the object of ridicule. And as with Dean's scream, Kerry's inconsistency on every issue has set him up to be an object of derision and scorn. All that's needed is a trigger, and Bush can pull it any time.