It's funny how memories change. Eight years ago, I think I would have said that Mr. Gore was slow to respond to the slanderous comments made by "Swiftboat Veterans for Truth" (many of whom never served in the Swifts, some of whom were never involved in riverine operations at all, and whose funding came from a person who never served in the military) because he really wasn't particularly emphasizing his military service and wasn't prepared to counter attacks on that topic. Oh well, memories and history evolve over time.