Kerry lacks knockout punch.

Your assertion in Comment ("Bush on the Ropes," July issue) that "it now seems likely that George W. Bush will be a one-term President" is, unfortunately, not supported, even by your own arguments. While it is apparent that Bush is losing support, it is equally apparent that the presumptive Democratic nominee, John Kerry, has thus far failed to capitalize on the President's failures.

You state that "a plurality of Americans actually want all U.S. soldiers to pull out." However, Senator Kerry is not advocating such a course. The fact is, Kerry voted for the Iraq War, voted for the Patriot Act, and has failed to articulate anything resembling an alternative position on these issues. He is, in essence, surrendering the most important issues in this election.

You quote Republican Senator John McCain's derisive comments about his party's appalling record of fiscal irresponsibility but fail to mention that McCain is a solid Bushie, out on the campaign trail doing everything he can to get the President reelected.

Finally, near the end, you begin to see the light on Kerry: "He needs to make an affirmative case for himself, and he has been slow to do so." That's not putting the incumbent "on the ropes." When a fighter is on the ropes, it means he's on his last legs, about to be knocked out. The scenario you present looks more like "Rope-a-Dope" to me: one fighter letting the other swing away, knowing he can't land a knockout blow. A split decision, at best, and we know how the last split decision went.

Andrew Samet

Roselle Park, New Jersey 

As a columnist for a small weekly, I understand editors exercise their perquisite to write the headline on a piece. However, no matter how much we would like to think so, it is no "slam dunk," as Bush was told on WMDs, that Kerry will defeat Bush.

The rest of the Comment, including poll results, suggests the election could go either way. The Christian fundamentalists are surely a major factor because they are voting with the new messiah. And remember, Karl Rove may be preparing for a grandiose "October Surprise."

Please, let's not lose because of overconfidence!

Walter Bourdot

Escondido, California