This whole thing would be funny if it wasn't so sad.

Yes, Kerry did mis-speak and give the impression that he meant U.S. troops are stupid, and since he is in politics he should be much more careful about that sort of thing. Bad toad.

On the other hand, his explanation that he really meant to imply that Bush is an idiot for getting the country stuck in Iraq seems very believable, and Republicans (and some people in the Backroom as well) are now acting like jackasses by ignoring that and continuing to swear up and down that Kerry meant to call the troops stupid.

Big picture effects? Hard to say. I don't think that this will do enough damage to prevent Dems from at least capturing a majority in the House. But I do agree that this has probably ended Kerry's long-term political aspirations. No great loss there. In fact, probably a good thing for the Dems in the long run.