John Kerry, Reporting for Duty

For months now, conservative bloggers and pundits have been badgering John Kerry to sign Form SF 180, which will make all his military records accessible to whoever thinks Kerry might have an actual shot at a 2008 presidential bid. And, now, apparently, Kerry has finally signed the form. But, ha ha, no one ever said anything aboutactually mailingit.

"I have signed it," Kerry said. Then, he added that his staff was "still going through it" and "very, very shortly, you will have a chance to see it."

...After the interview, Kerry's communications director, David Wade, was asked to clarify when Kerry signed SF 180 and when public access would be granted. Kerry drifted over to join the conversation, immediately raising the confusion level. He did not answer the question of when he signed the form or when the entire record will be made public.

Several e-mails later, Wade conveyed the following information: On Friday, May 20, Kerry obtained a copy of Form 180 and signed it. "The next step is to send it to the Navy, which will happen in the next few days. The Navy will then send out the records," e-mailed Wade.

Not so fast, Wade! A stamp and an envelope will have to be secured first. And then a mailing address. Could take a while. Also: his staff is "going through" his signature? It took "several emails" to confirm that Kerry had done what he'd actually said he'd done? We like to think of George W. Bush as God's gift to joke-writers, but now we're almost wishing we'd spent more time trying to get out the dead-people vote in the last election.— GREG BEATO

 The Caveat Emptor [Boston Globe]

 Kerry Signs Form 180 [Political Wire]

 Kerry Has Signed SF-180, Or Has He? [PoliPundit]