Hi Chuck, Harvey, EnViroNetrs,

<We don't have to agree whether Kerry was a hero or a villain in the Viet
Nam War Swift Boat episode.  But I think that you will agree that the art
of the Smear has been used as a tactical political weapon by some very
inferior candidates to win elections.>

Harvey, I agree, yet not with the word inferior candidates.  Thomas Jefferson 
(Number 3) hired a smear publicity person that smeared John Adams. John 
Adams was a firebrand, with a temper, and later in life letters between the 
two older men showed that Adams was right where Jefferson's team had 
smeared him on items like Adams not starting a war as sign of weakness rather 
than smarts.

<We don't have to agree on Al Gore's honesty. But perhaps we may agree that
"Global Warming Swindle" argument is being used to smear him.>

I don't remember seeing, and for sure not hearing, the term "GW Swindle" 
anyplace so I will keep looking.

It's not his honesty or dis-honesty (as Chuck wrote) that bothers me so much. 
It is Al's hype and over the top showing of the information and how he 
politicizes his act now as Dems vs GOP.  On thinking about his movie, and 
testimony I guess I would have to agree with Chuck that some of his 
information and hype can be darn dishonest.  Gee can I be a politican since I 
agree with both of you. Any babies for me to kiss.

The problem with his hype is: (sustained performance to match the hype). 
Think the shepard boy story of saying Wolf Wolf too many times.

In (performance vs expectation) drawn on an axes system one learns that 
performance should always beat expectations (the 4th quadrant). When it 
does the customer, client, whomever is pleased and wants to buy or have 
more. The 1st quadrant is acceptable yet not as good as the 4th. When 
performance falls below expectation the customer is dissatisfied first a smidgen 
and the in Quadrant 4 completely and will move on.  What is interesting is that 
the absolute level of performance isn't too important. Which means a poor 
performer can gain more clients. It is the relationship between the two that is 
the important human factor.

Anway, I think Al and others are raising expectations so high it's going to be 
difficult to have weather to match.


Yours in Engineering, MA/NY DDave