Good article, dianavan. And essentially correct, I think. Kerry would have carried on much the same policy as Bush, but his election would have lulled people into a false sense of security for awhile, imagining that things were about to change for the better.

It is in fact of more benefit that the real facts of the matter, which are dire, should not be camouflaged by merely "changing the curtains" on the White House. Progressive forces can rally more effectively against George Bush than would have been the case against John Kerry, because they already know who George Bush is.