Kerry's had a hard time convincing voters he hasn't flip-flopped on Iraq. He needs to explain his vote in a way the average voter can relate to. Here's my suggestion.
He should say:
Across America, police officers carry guns. We don't issue them guns because we want them to shoot people. We do it because we know that in dealing with criminals, police sometimes need the threat of deadly force. So we give them the power to kill, and we expect them to use that power in a responsible manner.
Likewise, I felt Bush could negotiate with Saddam more successfully if he had a threat of war. So I voted to give him that power, and I expected him to use it responsibly. Unfortunately, he did not. Yes, I believe a president should have that power, but he should also have the wisdom to use that power responsibly. That is why we need a new president.