Bring. It. On.

This might hurt a little:

Hundreds of former commanders and military colleagues of presumptive Democratic nominee John Kerry are set to declare in a signed letter that he is "unfit to be commander-in-chief." They will do so at a press conference in Washington on Tuesday.

"What is going to happen on Tuesday is an event that is really historical in dimension," John O'Neill, a Vietnam veteran who served in the Navy as a PCF (Patrol Craft Fast) boat commander, told CNSNews.com. The event, which is expected to draw about 25 of the letter-signers, is being organized by a newly formed group called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.

Actually, Kerry's support among veterans has always been vapor thin at best. In fact, it seems rather amazing that his old crew remembers him, given the brevity of his tour - three months before abruptly becomming the only American officer to ever abandon his command in time of war. (See here and here.)

More:

"The ranks of the people signing [the letter] range from admiral down to seaman, and they run across the entire spectrum of politics, specialties, and political feelings about the Vietnam War," he added.

Among those scheduled to attend the event at the National Press Club and declare Kerry unfit for the role of commander-in-chief are retired Naval Rear Admiral Roy Hoffman, who was the commander of the Navy Coastal Surveillance Force, which included the swift boats on which Kerry served.

Also scheduled to be present at the event is Kerry's former commanding officer, Lt. Commander Grant Hibbard. Hibbard recently questioned whether Kerry deserved the first of his three Purple Hearts that he received in Vietnam. Hibbard doubted both the severity of the wound and whether it resulted from enemy fire.

"I've had thorns from a rose that were worse" than Kerry's wound for which he received a Purple Heart, Hibbard told the Boston Globe in April.

B. G. Burkett, Vietnam vet and author of the book Stolen Valor, (the definitive book exposing fake Vietnam Veterans) is quoted in the story:

"There are probably just as many Democrats amongst sailors who sailed swift boats as there are Republicans. What Kerry fails to realize is this has nothing to do with politics -- this has to with Vietnam Veterans who served, who have a beef with John Kerry's service, both during and after the war," Burkett told CNSNews.com.

"The American people do not know John Kerry and hopefully the swift boat crews and other Vietnam veterans will make sure that the American public knows the real John Kerry," he added.

It should always be remembered that it was Terry McAuliffe who started this whole "wartime president" business. It's time to raise the question: was he doing it out of his non-military ignorance of the frailty of Kerry's position (recall Kerry's original claim to want the Vietnam issue left alone) or was he setting the man up for failure?

Of course, for every veteran's group that comes out against him, there's one that will give him full support.