A lecturer once told me - The enemy of "good" is not "bad"; it's "better". Meaning that by insisting on "better" we can discard "good" on the way, and sometimes are just as likely to be left with "bad".

Politics are about practicalities, not idealism. Negotiation, barter and doing what is possible is the name of the game.

Kerry doesn't sound like somebody I would follow to the ends of the earth. But Bush DOES look like somebody I would run to the ends of the earth in order to avoid. I would take my improvements in small steps, keeping the priorities right (in my view): Getting Bush out has to be the top priority. Getting an ideal candidate in (who?!!) might take generations.

The only logic in not voting Bush out would be in order to allow things to get worse, and precipitate serious upheaval, which might result in truly radical changes, with a hope then of getting some new pres who would be closer to the ideal. But - what a risk to take!