Just a thought (which will strike you positively or negatively depending on your orientation): Mr. Kerry's protests against the Iraq War and a Texas President give away who the "Real Kerry" is. He is the same smug, strident Viet-Nam War protester he was in 1971 -- only writ a bit larger this time.

As it was then, his experience with battle is only valuable as it gives credibility to his critique. I think there is great potential for some armchair pop-psychology here!