For the younger folks: Kerry got some seriously badass medals for his military service in Vietnam. People who had been on the same boat as he did, but at a different time, worked with the Republican party to claim that he hadn’t really done what he did. The press ate this up, and distributed it widely, costing him public support and likely the election.
He lost the election because he made a lot of lofty promises with the energy and enthusiasm of a half eaten grapefruit.
It was just hard to be excited for the guy.
Meanwhile Dubya comes out and lies through his teeth and you knew it but boy he could work a crowd.
Ohio. Electronic. Vote. Tabulation. Irregularities. Karl Rove.