I'm reading "Bush's Brain," about Karl Rove. This guy is leading the charge when it comes to sinking to breathtaking depths of political machinations, boasting of using audacity as a weapon, and winning at all- ALL- costs, including destroying the careers of opponents even after he's won an election. He's unelected and seemingly untouchable- I don't doubt his fingerprints are on this somehow.

Democracy itself is at stake here in the face of a profound indifference to process among 'Pubs. Their own approach- permanent attack- *can* be used against them , it's not as if there's no vulnerabilties there.... so who's got the fangs and isn't afraid of being- nay, is proud to be- seen eating Republican flesh? Potential Dems MUST shed their love of appearing pleasant and reasonable.

Agreed - Howard Dean seems one of the few who is going on the attack, but we'll have to wait and see how it plays out. There's enough to be outraged about.

I think it's a mistake to wait. There is bound to be huge backlash when the Democrats finally start saying something -if they ever do. And the press seems totally resistant to taking up any story - look at the non-coverage of Sen Graham's comments about the 9/11 commission. Krugman today sets everything out about domestic protection, but nobody picks it up. The Dems really don't have the luxury of waiting to see what shakes out. They need to unify (for once), appoint some big dogs with nothing to lose to get out there screaming and somehow get their messsage in the press. The Texas House Dems started something, the rest of the country can't let that momentum fade away.

I agree that waiting to be proactive is unproductive. 'Pubs must be delighted at the prospect of Dems frittering yet more time away. The tax cut (or should I say, service cut) that even many conservatives say is ridiculous is just one excellent place to start.

Meanwhile, I have to imagine that if the FCC rule change of June 2 goes through, the problem of media indifference will get MUCH worse. Man, I gotta switch to decaf... and update my passport.

www.moveon.org/stopthefcc

If the Dems get tied up in internecine fighting until the end of the primary season, it's lost. They need to each focus their ire on the President, and let the Democratic voters determine which of them should lead.