John Kerry's Gift To George Bush

It came during a campaign rally for California Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides. John Kerry opened his speech at Pasadena City College with several one-liners, saying at one point that President Bush had lived in Texas but now "lives in a state of denial."

He then said: "You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq."

Kerry's quip and the controversy over it gave Bush a target in the closing week of Election Year 2006 and he jumped on it, ripping Kerry during campaign appearances. Most Democrats kept quiet, not coming to Kerry's defense. In Oklahoma, Congressman Dan Boren said the statement is 'insulting." He added, "He should know better than to belittle the choice that our heroes have made to serve this country."

For Bush, Kerry's remark is the gift that will keep on giving right up to election day; it takes attention off the congressional page scandal, it knocks "Republicans can't win" stories off the A list and it gives Bush a target, angers Republicans and thus, remotivates them to vote next Tuesday; moreover, it energizes the GOP base, which up to now has not been.

Here's part of a story from a New York newspaper that's typical of what's being written and said today, 24 hours after Kerry's remark: "But a furious Kerry refused to back down, saying he would never apologize for taking on the President - and that the criticism against him was orchestrated by 'assorted right-wing nut jobs.' Kerry is thought to be eying another White House run after losing to Bush in 2004. But the fallout from his flubbed line could endanger his ambitions - and may even torpedo Democrats' dreams of regaining control of Congress in next Tuesday's election."

And then there's this report: "A Democratic congressman told ABC News Tuesday, 'I guess Kerry wasn't content blowing 2004, now he wants to blow 2006, too.'"

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