Apparently, his journal isn't consistent with the official story of one of his Purple Hearts. No biggie. He can just say he lied to his diary. After all, the press bought it during the Clinton administration (see Steiner, Josh).

No doubt this will be their strategy, since Drudge is reporting that, in desperation at what horrible (as in "incompetent") liars both the candidate and his spokesmen to date are, the campaign wants to bring back the smooth Mike McCurry, whom the press all loved and were always willing--no, strike that--eager to believe.

I'm starting to think that "Unfit for Command" is likely to be viewed in the future as a much more reliable history of Kerry's Vietnam activities than Brinkley's hagiography.

[Thursday morning update]

Hugh Hewitt notes that Brinkley is AWOL:

As for historian Brinkley, he too is unavailable, even though the media wants him and such appearances could sell a lot of his books. His publisher must be wondering why Professor Brinkley is not accepting invitations to appear on cable or nationally-syndicated radio shows, which are the big wins for anyone peddling a book. (Believe me, I know about how books are sold these days, and Brinkley isn't acting like any other author I have ever seen.) Going to the mattresses hasn't worked for the past two weeks, and I don't think it will work for the next two weeks. The story has legs until we get the run down on John Kerry, secret agent man in Cambodia.

Hugh also has some questions for the historian.

Sorry, that 'Kerry, Secret Agent Man' stuff doesn't float, either.

I went to college with Katherine McGoohan, and I just called her to confirm that neither her dad nor JF al-Kerry were in Cambodge back then.

"They've given you a number,
and taken 'way your name."

al-Kerry's number is 1369... an unlucky kocxugger