Have there been any recent public opinion polls about the Vietnam war ?

[DaisyUCSB]

If Kerry is in fact the nominee one issue that might overshadow the election was whether Vietnam was a mistake or not, and whether or not therefor Kerry's antiwar activities will be popular or unpopular with the American electorate and whether Bush's stated "support for what the government was doing" will help or hurt him.

[Bunny]

1. I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone today who would say

that the Vietnam war was not a mistake, to some extent. The passage of time has allowed us to reflect on the so-called reasons for the war, and nearly everyone can see that the reasoning was flawed.

The real confusion to me was how people could look at tbe Iraq war and not realize that the same thing was about to happen...

[david_vincent]

3. Wow, I have to disagree, bunnyj

I was listening to Rush the other day and he seems to be drooling
over the prospect of taking on anyone who feels that Vietnam was a mistake. I remember thinking as I listened to him, "I can't believe
we still have to make the case that the Vietnam war was wrong." After all these years, they have learned nothing, concede nothing, and intend to refight the protests of the 60s by wrapping themselves in the flag. Given the huge and mindless following that Rush has, I think
we're in for a major surprise regarding how many people refuse to admit the truth about Vietnam, even after so many years.

[Bunny]

4. Well, perhaps I should refine my answer.

I do not include Rush or any of the other "Chatterati" in my statement about folks not realizing the errors of Vietnam. I also believe that anyone who was at the age of reason during Vietnam knows that it was a mistake. The younger folks may not realize how bad it really was, and if they're getting their info from Rush, they probably won't believe the truth.

But you have a good, if a little frightening, point. Sigh. Sometimes I despair for our country...

[eileen_d]

2. I don't know, but I don't see how the Vietnam controversy

could manage to overshadow this year's election. There are plenty of other controversies (Iraq, 9/11 investigation, unemployment, etc.) going on right now. I'm not saying that Vietnam won't ever come up (it already has), but I don't think it carry have a great deal of weight.