Because they're elder statesmen who have nothing left to prove. Contrast that with Jimmy Carter, who is still trying to make people forget about how successful he was using diplomacy with thugs and barbarians (one of which is now president of Iran), and how it was the fear of how Reagan was going to deal with them that ultimately caused the hostages to be released. But I digress.....
C'mon, you say you're educated and informed. You should know by now that campaign promises are an empty bag, regardless who is making them. That's why you have to look at the individual and not what party they belong to or what they're promising to buy votes.
Plus, only a real idiot would have believed the DNC's promises to get out of Iraq. They played on anti-Bush sentiments (no doubt fueled by the media's contempt for the current administration), and people voted based on emotion rather than having the facts. Sounds a lot like union elections... the majority don't vote on the facts -- they vote based on fear-mongering, uncertainty, and doubt...
Perfect! I think we all need to buy you a beer.