A new low...

I never sympathized much with the kind of tax protesters who felt they shouldn't have to pay income tax because they don't want their money going to fund abortions / war / public education / pick yer own bete noire of choice.



But damn if this doesn't make me think twice:

In a fresh blow to John Kerry's flagging presidential campaign, the Pentagon has ordered an official investigation into the awards of the Democratic senator's five Vietnam War decorations.



News of the inquiry came as President George W Bush opened an 11-point lead over his rival - the widest margin since serious campaigning began - according to the first poll released since last week's Republican convention.



The highly unusual inquiry is to be carried out by the inspector-general's office of the United States navy, for which Sen Kerry served as a Swift Boat captain for four months in 1968, making two tours of duty.

OK, so the Telegraph is owned by Hollinger (of Conrad Black fame), which pretty much puts it in the wingnut corner -- hence words like "flagging" and the crowing about Bush's apparently short-lived convention bounce. And this is a request by Judicial Watch, so who knows if it's going to go anywhere.



But the idea that a sitting president might use the power of his office and spend taxpayer money to strip a decorated veteran of medals AS A POLITICAL TACTIC simply because said veteran stands in his way, ought to have every veteran out there screaming bloody murder.