The whole “Swift Boat” bullshit right now surrounding John Kerry overlooks the fundamentals of the situation. Kerry was a young guy when he was put in charge of a couple of river patrol boats, and his fitness to command in combat at that point in his life is hardly relavent today. But there is one important point: at least he showed up. He volunteered for combat duty. George W. Bush didn't, and in fact evaded potential combat duty with the help of his dad's friends. And that's all that really matters.