Good for Kerry, but this is likely to bite the Dems on the ass. Joe Klein puts it pretty good. Simple Repub message v.s. complicated Dem message... and a simpleminded electorate. Depressing.

Maybe. But rumor has it (and, btw just as an aside, isn't it about time that we start labelling everything we hear from any kind of 'media' or 'journalist outlet' these days 'rumor,' given their pathetic track record?) that thousands and thousands of people have cancelled their AARP memberships, suggesting that a significant portion of the people this bill affects understand what's being done. I saw a blurb somewhere today where a former member yanked his membership and said "You're nothing more than an insurance company."

We'll see. It's all in how the message is crafted. It's true that Democrats suck at crafting effective messages and too often buy into rightwing framings and terminology, but maybe some are finally beginning to see that.

(In general, I'm pessimistic, too, but occasionally see a small glimmer of hope.)