Interesting how Dr. Dean now is being received so well by those who were making fun of him and his stand on Iraq back in 2000.

When Dean first took over as the DNC leader, he seemed stiff and angry. When he was being interviewed, he didn't handle himself very well. At times I thought, boy and they put this guy up front to be the leader of the DNC?

Times have changed. He looked good the other night but more, he sounded good! He made himself and the Democratic party look like winners. It's time.

I'd put up our DNC leaders against that frat boy at the RNC - head to head - anytime. It'd be a no-brainer....

I watched it as well.....good stuff.

For a good "Dubya" laff check out "Dubya's Fireside Theater"

Chairman Dean,

I watched. You did an excellent job. Too bad Jay couldn't interview you longer.

Talk about easily impressed! I guess I'm confussed, I don't watch Leno, (any more) got sick and tired or his obvious PRO Republican Bush friendly, and Anti-Kerry B.S.;
I guess it proves how desperate the DNC is for any publicity!
It's like Kerry appearing on the Today Show, why are Dem's appearing on shows with commentators that ere Obviously Pro-Bush (Curric) in 04'?

Yes, I'm rally thankful that H. Dean is voicing his thoughts and heart.

Like him to mention...

Americans and job security. Manufacturing jobs are key to lon term wealth creation. AND Katrina has really hurt many people that work.

SOOOO... QUESTION???

Karina and Karl R. Need to ask about what Karl R. is working on in relation to Katrina. HE is in charge!!!!

As a life-long Democrat, I can't think of a lower period in American politics than that in which we find ourselves today. The list of examples of Republican arrogance, playing dumb, prodigality, ineptitude and fear-mongering is hackneyed and endless and frightening, so it won't be re-hashed here. It has been said that the truth will out, and there's little doubt now that Americans are finally beginning to realize that the truth is far different than the present administration and the more nefarious of their minions would have us believe.

Today I was solicited by the DNC to sign on to a letter protesting in the name of free speech the refusal of Lamar Advertising to place billboards in the vicinity of Jean Schmidt's office in Portsmouth, Ohio, that call attention to her statements against Pennsylvania Senator Murtha vis a vis his call for an early U. S. military withdrawal from Iraq. Though I think Schmidt's words were just as out of line as most other Republican attacks on those who oppose their war and its deepening national and international quagmire, I do take strong exception to the DNC's apparent need to abdicate the high ground to engage in the same bitterness that has become the trade-mark of the radical right. May I respectfully suggest that it does us no good to try to meet them in the streets like rival gangs when it would be perhaps better to meet them head-on in the hearing rooms and halls of congress in the same manner as did those who brought Senator McCarthy down in the 1950's.

Using good old gentlemanly condemnation by faint praise and double entendre, skillfully composed and directed and often, in front of the cameras before the evening news, mixed convincingly with how Democrats would do a better job - I mean really do a better job, might do more to get the point across.

WEHTOC

Governor Dean...Thanks for all your efforts. Two suggestions : I would love to see the term "corrupt Republican political machine" become commonplace . Also recognition of Young Republican college groups as breeding grounds for political dirty tricks and ways to avoid the military.

why don't we as a party force the extreme right to a fight over stem cell research? the people want stem cell cures fight them on this. Buck

There are more inportant issues out there than stem cell research. The real base of the Democrat party is working people. We are having a working class depression, inspite of the prosperity of large corporations. You have a decreasing median wage, more and more people living below the poverty level, and families living on 3 or 4 jobs, without medical benefits trying to make ends meet. Out here you have kids sleeping in their overcoats. A lot of these people used to donate food to food banks, now they go to food banks to get food.
Start talking about stem cells and people will blow the candidate off as not knowing what's going on, or not caring.
Talk about Bush and his mistreatment of the military and military families and the cut backs in the Veteran's Administration when he is busy creating more and more disabled vets.
Stem cells are not applicable when you can't afford the medical advances they can bring.

Dean needs to start thinking about everybody that makes up the party, not just the Liberal wing. The south, which used to solid Democratic,has been written off by liberals and now is solid Republican. If Democrats had had worked harder, maybe they could have captured a couple of these states last election and we wouldn't be saddled with Bush now. You have to understand southerners not try to educate them to your beliefs, and that is what the leaders of our party have been doing. You have to ask them what what it will take to get their vote, not tell them what they should do.That is the common mistake Liberals have always made. It says, "we are smarter than you, so listen". That's why they lost the south. Dean needs to think about these things if he really wants the party to take back congress and the White House.

Hey, Guess what! There are a lot of smart people out here. If they weren't smart they wouldn't be surviving as well as they are. You have people with college educations scraping along on part-time jobs. I keep asking why the corporations that shipped their jobs overseas aren't being made to pay for re-training these people. Why are they being treated like crap, when they are American citizens. Why isn't someone standing up for them. Why are we throwing them and their job skills away. The out-of-touch liberals should try to live on a poverty level budget with no medical benefits. Wake up and smell the crisis. We need to talk about this 400lb gorilla before he gets any bigger.

Hey, Guess what! There are a lot of smart people out here. If they weren't smart they wouldn't be surviving as well as they are. You have people with college educations scraping along on part-time jobs. I keep asking why the corporations that shipped their jobs overseas aren't being made to pay for re-training these people. Why are they being treated like crap, when they are American citizens. Why isn't someone standing up for them. Why are we throwing them and their job skills away. The out-of-touch liberals should try to live on a poverty level budget with no medical benefits. Wake up and smell the crisis. We need to talk about this 400lb gorilla before he gets any bigger.
This and the abuse of the military including veterans are two hot button campaign issues. Why isn't the DNC raising Cain about them.

Sorry about the double post.... Well maybe not too sorry, the issue does bear repeating.

The Re Puke Icons are like talking heads and every one of them has the same talking points on each issue. The Democratic party needs to emulate this activity, and as I see it, this is Dean's responsibility. If we don't adopt this practice, we will forever be labeled as, "The party that stands for nothing". An example is that everyone states as a matter of fact that health care costs are X% of wages, and appear to blame the workers for 1/3 of their expense being healthcare. The Bush administration has allowed the medical industry to increase profits to near criminal levels. These are the real culprits (healthcare/Republican cozy relationships). These issues need to be highlighted by the Democrats.

The problem is that the Democrat legislators are like a bunch of horses that have been out to pasture for several months. They are resisting the lead rope, and will buck if you saddle them. The Democrats need to produce some leadership that will ride them until they see the errors of their ways.
Until that happens they will not pull together, and the Democrat party will remain completely disorganized and lose a lot of voters who are lookng for a better solution than the Republicans and their mess.

To Chairman Dean:

I am a lifelong partisan Democrat and contributor to the DNC, Bill Cinton, Al Gore, John Kerry, Wes Clark and John Edwards. I believe the Democratic Party is the most relevant political party in the history of our country. It is the party of the New Deal, the party that led America to win two world wars, the party that created NATO - the most important strategic military alliance in the history of our planet. I have never voted Republican and I never will.

If what I read is on the WOAI website is true, your comments on a San Antonio radio station today were ill informed, naiive, and defeatist. You said that we cannot win in Iraq and compared this war to Vietnam. I predict the White House will sieze upon these unstable and inane comments and with the help of the right wing media - be able to turn the debate around against the Democrats.

You cannot ever predict defeat of our military - no matter how much we all as Democrats disagree with the current commander in chief. This is more disrespectful of our fallen and wounded soldiers than anything malfeasnace I can imagine. How could you look the parent of a fallen soldier in the eye and tell them that their son or daughter died in a war that you say we cannot win? You should apologize to every one of these families individually. There are consequences for your actions.

How would you know anything about Vietnam? Weren't you skiing in Aspen with the rest of the Long Island dilettantes while on medical deferment? Your deferrment resord is as bad as your fellow elitist: #1 war criminal - Vice President Cheney.

If the WOAI website is correct - your comments today are an embarrasment to us all. You have become a laughing stock of the political landscape. For the good of the country and the Democratic Party - Get out and go back to Vermont - unseal your gubenatorial records for the public to examine - and go practice medicine.

As a doctor - you should realize that YOU ARE A CANCER ON THIS PARTY - and it is time for you to step aside for new leadership.

I am today urging you to reisgn from the chairmanship.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Ginsberg
131 Rowe St.
Newton MA 02466

I am constantly amazed at how sharp Governor Dean is at repartee. Even Jay Leno acknowledged just how quick Howard was with his "Born to Run" comment. The Governor is so media savy these days. Marcia

Dean and the liberals that voted for him continue to drive moderates from the party and at a time when we can't get the votes to win big elections, it is plain stupid. They think Democrats will vote for the party candidates no matter what they do. Wrong! That is what they thought about the South when it was solid Democrat and now it is solid Republican. I don't think this bunch will wake up and realize that when your positions in congress continue to shrink, you are doing something wrong. You can't continue to send a different messenger with the same message and expect to win anything, especially when our Washington DC Democrats wimp on everything.

I did not see the above interview, however, as a proud American I think that instead of tearing down this country, we should rally behind it. I will not say that I am pleased with the way things are in Iraq, however, we (especially Mr. Dean) should back our troops and not say things like we will not win this war. Am I blindly putting all my faith in President Bush, no, but I will continue to support our troops and yes we will and must win this war we are waging.

Can we get rid of this loser? PLEASE? Pictured with Ed Asner --- ED ASNER?!?! A self confessed socialist? Yeah, that'll help. Keep it up Dean-o and we'll be a minority party for 30 more years.

You are absolutely wrong in your comments regarding not winning in Iraq. Strategically incorrect, tactically incorrect and politically incorrect. To compare Iraq and Vietnam is idiotic - go study your history, and then come back and apologize.

Why all the fighting? Don't we have enough adversaries? Do we have to fight one another? I signed on to listen to people who might possibly have some of the same principles, philosophies and goals and I hear a bunch of brats.

We need to forget our differences and stop criticizing one another at least until we reach our goals.

I think if you look at the reaction to Dean, you can guage his effectiveness. The repubs cannot stand him.

I agree that we should not be posting billboards saying what a bad girl the representative was. If we post billboards why not show people in line at the employment office or young men and women in wheelchairs coming back from the war and put them in the middle of the most accessible roads.

On the other hand humor is good. Good lord, if we cannot use the president's talents at being a complete idiot without even trying (I do believe he is in earnest) to help define him as the trivial lightweight he is, why try? Every thing that democrats say should be a joke about our president because it is a joke. This can be done with style and grace like John Kennedy used to do and Howard Dean is good doing.

But harmony among us is of vast importance.

There isn't much difference in the way we got into Vietnam or Iraq. Neither was based on truth and neither country posed a threat to us. The public was sold both wars as freeing the citizens from oppression. The fact is we do not care about the citizens of either country.If we did we wouldn't kill them like we have done and continue to do and we wouldn't treat them like third class people.It's the polititians who get power crazy and drag us into things like this and don't have the competence to get us out. There is nothing to win in Iraq. You can't stop people that are willing to die for their cause. We couldn't in Vietnam, with all our military might and we can't in Iraq. It's a game to these terrorist or insurgents or what ever you want to call them and for every one you kill, five more will join their ranks willing to die for thier cause. The stupid part was being drawn in to another Vietnam type situation. Iraq will never be strong enough to defeat them. We aren't, with all our technology and weapons. The truth is a hard pill to swollow at times but we can't beat them and when we leave claiming to have won,civil war will erupt because there will be nothing to stop it. It's Bush's Vietnam and all the ones that allowed him to start it are just as responsible.I get so tired of people saying support our troops.Every American supports our troops but what can we do except try to end this thing.Ask any soldier where he wants to be there or here.They know Iraq is no threat to us and they could get killed or wounded any minute. It's the polititians that yell the loudest,especially the ones who were afraid to go to Vietnam. They know nothing about combat and they don't care if someone else dies for their ego and that's what it really is at this stage; polititians that won't say,"we made a mistake." Supporting the troops means nothing more than,"get off my back". We want our troops safe and secure in case there is a real threat to this country and the place for them is here in the US.Bush can't ride the terrorism horse any more,it's dead.

Look, I liked Howard Dean and I worked for Kerry and we gave until it hurt. Now Dubya is twisting in the wind and through intemperate comments on the Iraq disaster, Gov. Dean is throwing a bone to the right wing wackos. They'll make the issue about Patriotism and Support of our troops and tell us how limp the Dems are on defense. So here's the advise:

1. Figure it out!
2. Bite you tongue.
3. Let Dubya hang himself, he doesn't need much help from you.
4. Try to act a little more like a mature statesman and a little less like a political hack from little old Vermont. (I went to UVM and love the state but if you're gonna play on the national stage and you're from VT you've got to EARN people's respect, not just the respect of ultra lefties.)

Lastly, stop shooting from the hip. Put togther a team of QUALIFIED people who understand group psychology and propoganda and PLAY TO WIN!!! Your competition plays you the way the Pittsburg Steelers would play an 8 year old Pop Warner football team. It's embarrassing to watch.

Rob

Howard you are the best! Keep working hard! We love you best in Nebraska!

Jonathan Ginsberg says "you cannot ever predict defeat of our military," but unfortunately he misses Dean's point. We have the strongest, best military in the world, and if the objective were to destroy Iraq, we could turn it into the world's biggest wasteland. But military victory is NOT the point.

The point is that we cannot succeed through military victory. No matter how good your chainsaw is, you cannot use it to build a car. It's a completely different mission.

So let's stop wasting our time and our money and our people's lives on this disaster and turn it over to someone who could make some progress. Don't we have better things to do with a quarter of a trillion dollars? Like for example, giving every man, woman, and child in this country $900 worth of health care?

As a Californian I am embarrassed by our leadership's representation of California. My brother is a proud USMC Staff Sergeant who has served two tours of duty in Iraq and is getting ready to be deployed for his third tour in February. As much as I fear for his safety, my pride in his selflessness and sacrifice for his fellow Marines and all Americans is immense. Because of him and his fellow servicemen and women, I know that my children will be able to grow up and live in the America in which I was fortunate enough to be born.

Either the Democratic leadership in CA have chosen to play politics with this war, risking our brave military for political gain, or they truly believe the naive rhetoric you spew on an almost daily basis. I can only surmise that they are either evil or your thinking is naively immature. I am not sure which is worse but giving you the benefit of the doubt, I ask, that as a reprsentatives of the state in which I live, our leadership educates itself before they continue to fuel the anti war sentiment by your reckless statements. History will find you on the wrong side of this conflict so if you care at all about your legacy, educate yourself on what this conflict is truly about. I find it inconceivable that someone in your position doesn't know the deep hatred that the Muslim extremists have for us and have had for us for a long time, far longer than George Bush has been President. They hate us for what America represents. They hate our freedom, they hate that women have rights, they can't stand homosexuality and the sexuality exhibited in the movies and music we produce incites their hatred. I am sure you know that the airport in Iraq showed murals depicting much anti American sentiment and there were paintings praising what happened on 9/11. People in the West Bank cheered when hearing news of what happened on that fateful day for our country. If you don't understand the disdain our enemies have for us, please do a bit of research. This conflict is far bigger than Democrats versus Republicans. For that matter it's bigger than just Muslim radicals and their hatred towards America. Recently there were bombings in Trinidad an island that is in no way a participant in Iraq. Unfortunately, the media did not cover those bombings. Please have a conversation with people from India and other countries who will tell you what they have seen from Muslim radicals. If you haven't had such conversations then shame on you. Shame on you for not learning about the people who WANT to kill women and children, people who aren't afraid to blow themselves up while taking out as many people as possible and people who can cut a man's head off while they listen to him scream. The people who hate us don't only hate Americans, they detest Hindus, Christians, Jews anyone who does not believe as they do.

The only way we will prevail is if we unite and stop playing petty politics. You also know that the most liberal among us are the most hated to our enemy. The muslim radical faction would like nothing more than to have you cloaked from head to toe and if they have their way, YOU will have no voice, nor will I, my daughters or your daughters. Something you should think about before you continue trying to play the political game you are playing. Again, I am not sure if it's better to believe that you are simply ignorant or that you would play politics with our nation's safety. In either case the rest of the country laughs at California's leadership because of people like you and Nancy Pelosi.

It is truly unfortunate that because of the position you hold you have a national forum. You do not deserve one. Your reckless sentiments will only hurt this country and endanger the brave men and women who sacrifice everything to protect and serve. I hope that you are able to ask yourself the tough questions and that you are able to rise above your political agenda and put the men and women who fight for your freedom of speech above petty political discourse. Like Senator Lieberman, stand up for what's right, not for what's politically expedient. Lives hang in the balance of your choice and if you have any integrity you will do the right thing. Unfortunately, based on your past actions, I will not hold my breathe. Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it.

As a Californian I am embarrassed by our leadership's representation of California. My brother is a proud USMC Staff Sergeant who has served two tours of duty in Iraq and is getting ready to be deployed for his third tour in February. As much as I fear for his safety, my pride in his selflessness and sacrifice for his fellow Marines and all Americans is immense. Because of him and his fellow servicemen and women, I know that my children will be able to grow up and live in the America in which I was fortunate enough to be born.

Either the Democratic leadership in CA have chosen to play politics with this war, risking our brave military for political gain, or they truly believe the naive rhetoric you spew on an almost daily basis. I can only surmise that they are either evil or your thinking is naively immature. I am not sure which is worse but giving you the benefit of the doubt, I ask, that as a reprsentatives of the state in which I live, our leadership educates itself before they continue to fuel the anti war sentiment by your reckless statements. History will find you on the wrong side of this conflict so if you care at all about your legacy, educate yourself on what this conflict is truly about. I find it inconceivable that someone in your position doesn't know the deep hatred that the Muslim extremists have for us and have had for us for a long time, far longer than George Bush has been President. They hate us for what America represents. They hate our freedom, they hate that women have rights, they can't stand homosexuality and the sexuality exhibited in the movies and music we produce incites their hatred. I am sure you know that the airport in Iraq showed murals depicting much anti American sentiment and there were paintings praising what happened on 9/11. People in the West Bank cheered when hearing news of what happened on that fateful day for our country. If you don't understand the disdain our enemies have for us, please do a bit of research. This conflict is far bigger than Democrats versus Republicans. For that matter it's bigger than just Muslim radicals and their hatred towards America. Recently there were bombings in Trinidad an island that is in no way a participant in Iraq. Unfortunately, the media did not cover those bombings. Please have a conversation with people from India and other countries who will tell you what they have seen from Muslim radicals. If you haven't had such conversations then shame on you. Shame on you for not learning about the people who WANT to kill women and children, people who aren't afraid to blow themselves up while taking out as many people as possible and people who can cut a man's head off while they listen to him scream. The people who hate us don't only hate Americans, they detest Hindus, Christians, Jews anyone who does not believe as they do.

The only way we will prevail is if we unite and stop playing petty politics. You also know that the most liberal among us are the most hated to our enemy. The muslim radical faction would like nothing more than to have you cloaked from head to toe and if they have their way, YOU will have no voice, nor will I, my daughters or your daughters. Something you should think about before you continue trying to play the political game you are playing. Again, I am not sure if it's better to believe that you are simply ignorant or that you would play politics with our nation's safety. In either case the rest of the country laughs at California's leadership because of people like you and Nancy Pelosi.

It is truly unfortunate that because of the position you hold you have a national forum. You do not deserve one. Your reckless sentiments will only hurt this country and endanger the brave men and women who sacrifice everything to protect and serve. I hope that you are able to ask yourself the tough questions and that you are able to rise above your political agenda and put the men and women who fight for your freedom of speech above petty political discourse. Like Senator Lieberman, stand up for what's right, not for what's politically expedient. Lives hang in the balance of your choice and if you have any integrity you will do the right thing. Unfortunately, based on your past actions, I will not hold my breathe. Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it.

Re: They think you're stupid
Dear Tom McMahon,
I say we run MY non-parody video, "BushWhacked" and share it with everyone in America. It's yours to use FOR FREE and best of all, it's free!
I’m an American Veteran (Infantry Medic) and a Songwriter opposed to Bush’s war. I’ve been sharing my new song, “BushWhacked”, across the web during the past week and to my surprise, I’ve had 32,000 downloads in 6 days. It seems there is a voracious appetite for truth in cyberspace. I hope you’ll check it out.

High res. 9.3 MB
http://www.tomsongs.com/images/Bushwhacked_0001.wmv

Low res. 4 MB
http://www.tomsongs.com/images/Bushwhacked.wmv

Song only 3.4 MB
http://www.tomsongs.com/images/BushWhacked.MP3

BushWhacked

I served my time far away from the front lines
But I’ve seen them come and I’ve seen them go
Bullets fly when politicians lie and soldiers die that’s war
Their fathers and mothers wake up crying in the middle of the night
Their hearts jump at every knock upon the door
Young Americans bleeding and dying in the middle of this fight
Still trying to figure out what the hell they’re really dying for

Bushwhacked and another soldier dies
They’ve been Bushwhacked
By a whitehouse war built on whitehouse lies
Bushwhacked
And by the time we realize we’ve all been Bushwhacked
Another roadside bomb another soldier dies

If you close your eyes force yourself to look inside
Read between the whitehouse lies that we’ve all been fed
In the name of humanity they peddled our democracy
Claim they’re trying to set Iraqis free
So far we’ve freed a hundred thousand dead
And their fathers and mothers wake up crying in the middle of the night
Their hearts jump with every knock upon the door
Soldiers and civilians bleeding and dying in the middle of this fight
Still trying to figure out what they’re really dying for
They’ve been Bushwhacked and another soldier dies
They’ve been Bushwhacked
By a whitehouse war built on whitehouse lies
Bushwhacked
And by the time we realize we’ve all been Bushwhacked
Another roadside bomb another soldier dies
Bushwhacked and another soldier dies
They’ve been Bushwhacked
By a whitehouse war built on whitehouse lies
Bushwhacked
And we’re gonna lose a thousand more
Yeah we’ve been Bushwhacked
Maybe George should fight his own bullshit war

I respect every soldier in Iraq but supporting a war that is not winable does no good for any soldier except keep them in danger longer. Maybe you can explain how this war is winable. George Bush can only say that we should stay. He has no plan except that maybe one of these days Iraq can pretect itself. Well that is never going to happen and it never happened in Vietnam either. What we have is the guy who got us involved in this war made a mistake and he will not admit that fact and he is willing to keep US soldiers in harms way forever because his ego has to be stroked. Damn his ego when it comes to our troops being killed or wounded.If we really want to support our troops and keep them safe, bring them home and let the cards fall where they may for the polititians.

Can someone please put a muzzle on Howard Dean? He has done more to provide the GOP ammo against the party than anyone. He needs to take a course in discretion and political savvy 101.

If the party ever wants to be accepted by mainstream America he and Pelosi have to go .

Sorry Robson, Governor Dean must stay. Governor Dean is not DLC; Governor Dean is dynamic and bound and determined to see to it that the Democratic Party he is in charge of represents the Working and Poor Class as well as the Professional Class. Governor Dean is bringing democracy back to the people. Thank God for Governor Dean.

Pomeroy to Howard Dean:Shut up
By MARY CLARE JALONICK
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - North Dakota Rep. Earl Pomeroy is accusing Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean of overstepping his bounds, saying the former presidential candidate should not give up on the war in Iraq.

On Monday, Dean likened the war in Iraq to Vietnam and said, "The idea that the United States is going to win the war in Iraq is just plain wrong."

"My words to Howard Dean are simple - shut up," Pomeroy told WDAY Radio in North Dakota on Thursday.

Pomeroy later told the Associated Press that he is tired "of the overblown rhetoric on both sides."

"We have young men and women with their lives on the line," he added. "The debate has fallen far short of what they deserve."

Pomeroy said Dean wasn't representing Democrats like him when he discussed the war.

"He is not hired to make major policy announcements on behalf of all the Democrats," Pomeroy said. "As our party chairman I believe he needs to focus on the nuts and bolts of winning elections."

Dean backtracked on his statements somewhat Thursday, saying his assertion that the United States cannot win the war was reported "a little out of context," and that Democrats believe a new U.S. strategy is needed to succeed there.

A spokesman for the Democratic National Committee declined to comment on Pomeroy's remarks.

Pomeroy said he also is frustrated with Republicans who have politicized the war and a recent House debate on Iraq that became heated and angry. During that debate, Ohio Republican Rep. Jean Schmidt implied that Democratic Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., was a "coward" because he called for troops to pull out of Iraq. Schmidt later said her remark about Murtha was a mistake.

"I thought the debate on the House floor was shameful," Pomeroy said. "It was loud, strident and partisan."

Pomeroy, who has visited Iraq three times, said he believes the United States must stay in the country for now to achieve progress on national security, the creation of a stable government and the establishment of a functioning economy.

In 2002, Pomeroy joined 215 Republicans and 80 other Democrats in voting to authorize force in Iraq.

I fail to understand how the Republicans have the hubris to claim that the Democrats are trying to "politicize" a war that was based on lies for purely political purposes. Does "politicize" in their lexicon mean to tell the truth about something they don't want mentioned.
The Democrats need to loudly blow the cover off the con job done on the American people and go on the attack against the enemies of Democracy in this country. Politicians who consistently and deliberately lie to the American voters in order to get them to vote against their own best ineterest are traitors. They are the true enemies of Democracy.

In Republican world, if you disagree with anything they do, you are a traitor and using the war to somehow better your party. Americans cannot speak out against them or they face some kind of retribution if there is some way for them to hurt you. Politicizing the war is what got Bush re-elected, along with rigging the election and I think it was one of the principles reasons for that war. It's the old Republican tactic they use to get people looking somewhere else at some bad guy and spoon feeding you round by round propaganda of the war. Keep your enemy alive because he will come in handy for you when you try to rob the bank in Washington DC.Castro was Reagan's guy,he and the Russians were knocking on our door every day. At least that was what he said. Guess Reagan didn't have the to means to kill Castro. Bush senior had a couple of guys but didn't finish off Hussien when he could. Why? We went to war to do just that and when we had the oportunity to destroy Hussien,Bush senior stopped the army from doing it. Why did we quit hunting Bin Laden and invade Iraq? Who invaded us, Hussien or Bin Laden? Keep the sheep looking somewhere else and they won't see what you doing right under their nose. In Republican world they got in office therefore they do not have to respond to our citizens wishes as other democracys do. That would mean sharing power and reasonable policies that might do all our citizens some good. It is our job to get them out,not their responsibility to better this country. Republican world is very much like some other foreign governments that we were supposed to be rid of.

When all seems to be turmoil and a war of all against all, when confusion reigns and families can no longer pay the bills and homes foreclose, when everyone begins to argue over the spilt milk while shivering in unheated homes or homes explode because they couldn't afford to check or clean out the furnaces since summer, when planes crash and guns kill it is best to go back and check the premises.
Truth is powerful and straightforward, it cuts through the myriad spins that take one down countless primrosey paths of endless tits for tats and trivial ineffectual details to dead ends and burn outs. We simply forget where we started. Truth is consistent and leads us back for the millionth time to the fact that the original premise is wrong. This has, in the first instance, set everything thereafter off onto a false path of further premises, antithesis, synthesis, etc.. so basically, in the case of this administration and congress, everything that has been done since 2000 for the administration and since around 1995 for the congress which is the last time Dems had a majority, has been a set of policies based on a worldview that the Dems have had very little to do with and no power in the minority to change. It is a retro thing that resembles the nostalgia of the fifties. So pointing the finger at the Dems is moot. This is, by the way, very frustrating to the Repugs...but they keep doing it anyway which is senseless and stupid, wishful nostalgia, or perhaps they are bluffing, however you wish to figure it. It is the myopia of an old farts club going out.
What is consistently true has already happened and has been fluorishing as a growing list of blunders like weeds on the lawn, all on the record in full display a few years now for all to see. It is not hard to, nor is there any point in, pointing that out to America. It has already been showing itself off in all its glitz and glory in every news hour, every razzamatazz newspaper that is read worldwide on the internet.
Each blunder has hurt Americans a little more, taken away a little more and yet we watch TV news shows and c-span interviews with right wing apologists that in the face of this errosion brag on the sensible security plans for a great victory but they cannot define what that victory is and continue to put down Murtha and others for speaking out with courage and experience, (a very democratic right), after he has come on and clearly stated his position and opinion and PLANS.
As for the security, not one political analyst on the talk shows mentioned that there was a failing grade by the 9/11 commission last week that damned the current administration and questioned the non-spending or lack of proper preparations made, guess they have some kind of social amnesia or are acting like it and hoping you will not remember and therefore be able to call the bluff at their mass media polker table...(same old mo's and fancy switch stepping, you would think there would be some stumbling on shoe strings snarled up or other Gordion Knots).
Back to the simple facts...and what about the Egyptian conference - the request that we leave soon, the percentage (45%) of People of another sovereign nation that think of us as occupiers and want us out...and this will lead to victory? Lose the credibility of the world over Kyoto and Human Rights, WMD's, what happened in New Orleans and all the rest, and think there will be a credible victory? And what about this deficit, where is DeLay? And so, they show what they want to show and hide what they want to hide and think it will all go away from their cloistered little world of perfect high fliers while they quickly redefine things. And we are still waiting for the definition of what a victory will be, what it will look like, how it will feel, etc. etc. ad nauseum...

There can only be a REAL victory if the strategists get clever with defense and get focused with the motive and the goal and negotiate a peace truly relating to the interests of the humans that live there, which is all Murtha and others are saying, but no, the finger pointers have the moral high ground, I would just like to know where the Hell it is and what it is based upon? Not a leg to stand on but pointing the finger....must be a new dance step.
No, there were no Dems around and they do not have to work very hard at pointing out what is already obvious to all the Americans of whatever party or religion....that job has been done quite well by Republicans.
Just keep your eyes on the dancer in the red dress and those fancy spins....Did you see that Fandango on the congressional floor a couple weeks ago? So it is not necessary to go after a poor little deranged congresswoman who behaved like something toxic in a loony bin doing the pointy finger dance and shouting false accusations? It just so happens that by accident the camera captured a moment of exposure to something hateful, condemning, self centered and egocentric that is a symbolic symptom of the psychological mind set of the perfect rightists and it was ugly. They think they are perfect even when they are wrong and ignorant of the facts. They are in disconnectivity between feelings, thoughts, knowledge, and action.
And do remember that in reality they are in the minority - about five percent owning about ninety percent of this country...not even living here - and not even citizens of - and on it goes. But it surely is not the practice or mismanagement by wallflowers of the silent majority and the beliefs of a whole world that is watching the TV shows...no, it is not they, the consumers that have any knowledge for they are apathetic and powerless and so easily led to believe their wishful fifties dreams. And ofcourse the Repugs bank on this big time. There were, strangely - no rebuttals to the group therapy chatter sessions around the tables this last week end and so on it babbled as Saddam laughed and walked out of his cage in court.
No, there were no Dems there to watch the show or go dancing at the country club. They, in reality were mostly at home figuring out how they will make it and pay the bills this winter, and they are figuring out how to pay higher taxes instead of fixing something around the house like a furnace, or how to take a child to the dentist to fight cavities that have caused a tooth ache that cannot wait, and they cannot even have the privelege of working longer hours or trying harder or kissing a boss's ass more to keep their precious job when the jobs are not even there.
Fine welfare state this is becoming, or will it be some work fare slave heirarchy? The leaders lovingly keeping everyone in their places and teaching them patriotic loyalty as they sacrifice their brothers and sisters to secure THE PEACE for the Perfect Ones like some cute little human shield, then to play with the elections and to nearly eliminate a secret ballot, what more can be added until the roar, and what then? If you cannot win the war in Iraq, you will in America and will that include their hearts and minds? Will you bank on apathy and fear? For how long will you point those fingers so righteously, until an invasion? What war? Why war? What is it good for? Absolutely nothin'...

Check your premises, Peace is won, never war.

Atleast some Dems already knew that from the git go and have been consistent.

For Christmas, I think one thing would be very helpful, outlaw all green bills and make new ones that are blue and distribute them evenly to American families just once. Now that would give all citizens something to work with and believe in.

The war in Iraq is not Vietnam. How we got into Iraq is similar to Vietnam. So, those in power never learned the lessons from the history of the Vietnam war.
Due to arrogance, a lack of understanding of the tribal culture in Iraq, or the neo conservative policy of the Americanization of the non democratic world our leaders blew it.
We need to help Iraq government stand on their own and then bring the soldiers home. Not until then.
The Party cannot make the same mistakes made during the Vietnam war.
The Party lost its way when LBJ cut and run and refused to seek a second term. Since then we have been lost.
Take a look at George Bush. Yes, he is a cowboy who shoots first and askes questions later but he believes in his convictions and will stand and deliver.
We are too concerned about polls and offending people.

When the Party has vision we will get the support of the people in this country.
When was the last time Democrats got together and had a think tank conference??