A reader makes a point I forgot to make:

I completely agree on the lameness of Bill Burton’s retort to Lynne Cheney, and I think I know what the problem is. Although Mrs. Cheney’s jab wasn’t hilarious, she get’s bonus points for being spontaneous and somewhat impolitic. Burton’s comments are clearly scripted — on message, if you will. They sound like the work of a committee, and the image of Kerry advisors huddled together to come up with something as lame as they did is deeply disturbing.
Made all the more disturbing when you consider that the Kerry camp could have declined to respond at all. The rule in my professional (PR) is you don’t have anything to say that will help you, don’t say something just for the sake of saying something. If Burton follows this rule, does he really think he comments will do Kerry a bit of good.