KBK,

You raise some good points at the end of your argument. Unfortunately, a few years of solid political interest, a piddly Bachelor's in political science and a currently low-functioning brain don't combine for a very good answer :)...at least from me.

I disagree, however, with your assertion that Kerry is the most "dull, incoherent, and incompetent Democratic presidential nominee ever," but that is truly a matter of opinion, so we can agree to disagree.