When I first heard Kerry had been caught off mike seemingly unawares, I cringed. It happens in every campaign and to every candidate at some point. Remember Bush calling NYT's Adam Clymer a "major asshole," or something to that effect. So now the Bush II campaign is irked. (I'm so glad the headline writer didn't say outraged.)

But then when I heard what Kerry said and the context (always important) in which it was made, all I could think was: he really does get it. Because the fact is, "crooked" and "lying" are perfect words to describe the current Republican regime -- from Haliburton, to WMD intelligence, to doctored photos of Kerry and Fonda, to "free speech zones," to the labelling of protest as terrorism, the attack on "indecency" by a body of politicians that historically has made indecency an art form. I think Kerry was restrained, actually. I think the F word could have been used effectively here -- for emphasis only -- but god knows what the FCC might have done about that.

The fact is, what's happening in this country is scary as hell and more people should be shouting from the rooftops about it. Kerry doesn't sound like a man who's going to apologize -- and I hope he sticks by his guns. And I just knew that call from Bush on Super Tuesday was a big fat phony diversion -- only to be thrown up in Kerry's face at the first opportunity.