Two pieces from National Review Online (and why haven't I added them to the permalinks yet?)

First, a media crib sheet from Peter Kirsanow. Everything from "The Bush campaign maintains that you spent 20 years in the Senate with no signature legislative achievements. What do you consider to be the five most important pieces of legislation that you've authored?" to "You've stated that you believe that life begins at conception yet you voted against the ban on partial-birth abortions. At precisely what point is a life worth protecting?" to "You acknowledge meeting with representatives of North Vietnam and the Viet Cong in Paris in 1970. Afterward you urged Congress to accept the North Vietnamese proposals. Please explain how this wasn't a violation of the Logan Act and, if you were still in the Naval Reserves at that time, how it wasn't a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice prohibiting unauthorized communications with the enemy."

I also particularly like this question: Do you dispute the National Journal's assessment that you're the nation's most liberal senator? If you do, which senators do you consider to be more liberal and why?

Heh.

The second piece is a very interesting look at one of Kerry's medals, specifically his Silver Star. Jim Geraghty points out a few things the vast majority of the media seem to have missed.

1- Kerry's record for his silver star is incorrect, according to Navy officials. There is no "V" for valor given with a Silver Star. (Is it Kerry's fault that his record is incorrect? Depends on if you're a victim or a believer in personal responsibility. If you're a victim, then it's the Navy's fault. If you believe in personal responsibility, then you didn't correct the record when you reviewed your DD214.)

2- Kerry had some harsh words for an admiral who wore a Bronze Star with combat "V" when it wasn't deserved.

“Is it wrong? Yes, it is very wrong. Sufficient to question his leadership position? The answer is yes, which he clearly understood,” said Sen. John Kerry, a Navy combat veteran who served in Vietnam.

and...

“The military is a rigorous culture that places a high premium on battlefield accomplishment,” said Sen. John F. Kerry, who received numerous decorations, including a Bronze Star with a "V" pin, as a Navy lieutenant in Vietnam.

“In a sense, there's nothing that says more about your career than when you fought, where you fought and how you fought,” Kerry said.

And here's my question: Was it okay for people to question the validity of Admiral Boorda's medals? Kerry apparently thought so. So... what's changed? Or is this just another "nuance" I don't understand?