I got Kerry's October Surprise right here:

[tomfodw]

Time to wheel out The Big Dog.

Time for Bill Clinton to start making the case for Kerry in places where he can do some good: Arkansas, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Nevada, Iowa, Minnesota.

I know he's in recovery. But so is the country. I'm not calling for Clinton to endanger his health or anything, but I think he's up to some targeted campaign stops in key battleground states. He can make the case for Kerry at least as well as Kerry himself, he can energize the base, he can excite African-Americans about Kerry, he can inspire newly registered voters to actually get out and vote, etc.

This election is going to be very close and we need every weapon we have in our arsenal. Clinton by himself can't put Kerry over the top, but in the battleground states he can do a whole lot of good. He's the biggest weapon we have in reserve. Time to aim him at the enemy and pull the trigger.

[liberal N proud]

1. Imagine, a rally where Bill Clinton and John Kerry were the guest!

Is there any place big enough?
They would have to open a pro Football stadium or something.
I would love to see him out there, and I am sure he would if he could.

[Eric J in MN]

2. Yes, Bill Clinton should help Kerry in Arkansas. Record a radio ad

for Arkansas, at least.

[lancdem]

3. Clinton sees his doctor for a six-week checkup

in nine days. Maybe the doc will give him the OK to do some campaigning in the final two weeks.

[Robert Oak]

4. this stuff bugs me

He just had a quad bypass...that's extremely serious.

I hope he's left alone...lord knows you don't want a former president
to kill themselves trying to get someone elected.

[Warpy]

5. OK, reality check time

Coronary bypass surgery isn't like getting your tonsils out. Your ribs are sawn away from your sternum, your chest muscles sliced open, and your heart is exposed. Your leg is also sliced open, in Clinton's case from groin to ankle. Your ribs and sternum are wired together, and everything is sewn shut. We are talking about pain from broken bones, sliced skin and sliced muscle.

After such an incredible assault on the body, the mind reacts with depression. This is so common after major surgery of any type that we wonder what is wrong when it is absent.

The recovery is not a swift one. It takes most people six weeks just to roll over in bed without waking themselves up. Walking is the preferred exercise, and it must be done several times a day. It is also very painful, due to the leg wound.

I expect to see Clinton actively campaigning not before the second week of this month, and even then it will be very hard for him.

Cut the poor guy some slack, willya?

[tomfodw]

6. I know he's recovering

Still, there has to be something he could do. Radio ads, as someone suggested, or even some TV spots. Phone interviews with talk show hosts. One big rally in a key battleground state. Something. He knows how important this is.

Agreed, his health comes first. But the nation's health is at stake, too.