... in Tacoma, at the last public rally he's doing before the RNC begins in New York.

>>I'd be happy to put this whole mess behind us but Kerry needs to start talking about something other than his war hero days, wouldn't you agree?

Kevin g<<

My wife Marcia and I took Marcia's 81 year old mom to see Kerry in a parking lot rally outside the Tacoma Dome. Marcia's mother really wanted to see Kerry though she was worried about standing for a long time and concerned about  the big crowd.

I've been lukewarm to Kerry but have to say I came away impressed today. He spoke for an hour, addressed health care, education, jobs, and foreign policy with specifics. He did bring Wesley Clark and his friend (the man who says Kerry pulled him from the water) to speak to his VN days. I think he had to do that to combat the Big Lie of the SBVT.

But Kevin, just so you know- Kerry did not speak or dwell upon VN. He was clearly focused on the issues I mentioned above. I was forty feet away from him. At the end of his talk he stayed and shook hands and talked with people individually. I left after twenty minutes and he was still doing that when I left.

I'm happy to report that M's mom did just fine. A half dozen people passed out in the heat of the asphalt parking lot necessitating EMT intervention. Virginia came out unscathed and determined to work on the Kerry campaign.