This doesn’t bode well for Kerry

David Broder, the Washington Post’s moderately liberal columnist, refers to John Kerry as “a man whose habits of mind and of action are far removed from the challenges of the White House.” Actually, Kerry has done a fairly effective job lately of disguising many of his weaknesses. Among them, according to Broder, are “a tendency to overstudy issues, procrastinate, and avoid hard choices; a willingness to be swayed by conflicting advice; an awkwardness in dealling with colleagues and staff; and a frequent impression that decisions are being guided by opportunism rather than firm beliefs.” Nonetheless, I believe the electorate has seen enough evidence of these traits to make it unlikely that it will entrust the presidency to him in the present circumstances.