I was in basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., while George W. Bush was president.

One day when the drill sergeant was "smoking" us all by making us do push-ups. He would change the rate and speed by telling us when to go up or down, holding us in either position. Toward the end of the "smoke session," he said, "Give me one for President Bush!" We all went up and back down.

"Give me one for John Kerry!" he said, and nobody went up, causing us all to laugh, even the drill sergeant. He ended the "smoke session" with that.