Provocation

I've said before (back when we didn't know it would be John Kerry) that that the eventual Democratic nominee should try to provoke Bush at every opportunity. Bush supporters believe that Bush is "likeable." My belief has always been that underneath that frat boy patina lurks a deportment that would not wear well with the public once revealed.

Digby offers Kerry an excellent suggestion to goad Bush. I really believe that if Bush is pushed far enough you'll see him snarl like a crazy, rabid dog. It won't be a pretty sight.

Some other suggestions for provoking the rabid dog response are to give Bush a taste of his own medicine. In 2000 he (and his right-wing media lackeys) got a lot of mileage out of Gore's alleged lies about trivial matters (Internet, Love Story, fuzzy math, etc.). Bush has got a long list of his own peccadillos, including this recently revealed tidbit about his supposed athleticism. And let's not forget the AWOL brouhaha or the trifecta lie. If Gore's minor blemishes reflected poorly on his character (the charge the Bushies made in 2000) then by the same standard Bush is already disqualified for serving as president.