If the NYT had ran the spy story

in 04, I think Kerry is President. No 100,000 Iraqi dead, no 2155 American dead, no US image destroyed.

next topic please

Kerry would have said it was illegal and shouldn't have been done. Bush would have countered as he did in Sunday's speech that what he did was to protect Americans and said this was proof that he would do MORE to protect Americans than Kerry would.

(Note if Kerry tried to give an ambiguous answer or went against the idea that laws were important which seem pretty central to his world view - he would likely do worse and would have sacrificed his integrity and conscience which seem to intensely matter to him.)

Kerry has said that terror and fear were what bound people to Bush - who otherwise disagreed with him. Most people would reason that anyone the government monitored probably did something to justify it. (note: this is NOT my view.)