Matt, I think America got a good look at what they've been voting for in the first Kerry/Bush debate. I truly believe that petulant performance by Bush pulled away Oz's curtain for all to see the spoiled rich kid behind it. Idiots such as DeLay, Frist, Bolton and the TheoPNAC's have served to hold the curtain open every since, like the hideously deformed Carnival act that just won't leave the stage, and makes the viewer actually, viscerally, confront the sad yet frighteningly real truth standing in front of them.

Bravo, great post, spot on!

I must say great post. Let them all witness the monster and the machine. Then watch as it falls and crumbles.

Matt, yes Americans are getting a look at what they voted for. But sadly I think they are also saying, "but the dems are just as bad!". The dems are not offering any choice - when the dems vote for the repub bills on ANWAR, estate tax, bankrupcy, the new energy bill, etc. What are the dems offering? nothing. So the repubs can just easily yell "gay" or "kill arabs" "immigrants are killing america" and the hate of so many of the American people will kick in and they will vote the hate party. The dem leadership is not uniting the party and offering real choices. In my opinion, until the dems formulate a progressive alternative, they will continue to lose. The repubs only have to play the hate card to keep winning.

jj,

I feel that way about 60% of the time, too.

Slowly--torturously slowly, unfortunately--the Dems are learning to stand up for themselves, and for America. One thing is certain: Every time these goons find themselves in a situation like Bolton's or DeLay's, where the ugliness is laid bare, standing up for ourselves gets a little easier.

Until the Democrats learn how to do guerrilla fighting the way they're starting to do now, their ideas won't matter. The fact is, a lot of the longstanding ideas of Democrats are great--pro-choice, Social Security, etc. They're not only good on their own, but they're popular with the majority of Americans. This isn't really about who has better ideas. Democrats' ideas are already the mainstream respected policy ideas of most Americans. This is more about opposing a charismatic and passionate but unhinged minority.

Ill say it again but Bush gets a pass from the sheeple still because admitting he is a screwup and the force behind these 2 ruthless people, would then require the self admission by people who supported him they themselves foolishly screwed up and were wrong. That type of reflection, introspection, and admission of a mistake is in short supply among most Americans.

I believe that DeLay and Bolton still are not in most Americans' minds associated with the Boy King and the rest of the republican party yet either. Democrats/progressives need to change that and to "hammer" (pun not totally intended) the connections in their words everytime they speak. For Instance Bush's nominee republican John Bolton. Bush's friend from Texas Republican Leader Tom DeLay. Bush=Bolton=Republican, Bush=Republican=DeLay. Bush and the republican party backs this type of ruthless, immoral,unethical behavior. Bush and the republican party support these guys. The 2 names need to be a symbol and to be synonymous with the word Bush and Republican, just as Cheney =Halliburton. So when these guys names are heard at least perhaps on a subliminal level, the American sheeple will also hear the word Bush/Republican party. Repetition works, that's a lesson Junior mastered with Hussein=9/11=Al Qaeda.

Unethical Tom DeLay and John Bolton=the poster boys for the Republican party/Buscho.

1. What amazes me is that not one reporter has ever asked McClellan what exactly are these distinguished achievements of John Bolton. All it takes is one reporter to ask the question. I guarantee that there will be no legitimate response. All you'll ever hear is that he is very intelligent and has had a "distinguished career".

2. The snippets of PR that I have heard did refer to "Democrats" subverting the process. There have also been some garbage smears circulating on Voinovich.

3. Chafee had nothing to do with the delay. Don't give him the credit he does not deserve. Just because someone else had the spine, does not mean that he does. His spokesperson yesterday made a statement that Chafee is no longer feels confident that Bolton is the right man for the job. This seems to be just more spineless doublespeak. Just because he's not confident does not mean he will vote against him. Hagel is even worse--he said he wanted to vote for the approval by the committee, but then, feeling confident that his pals would approve this shithead, he could make a play for moderation by voting against him. That would still give Bolton a 4-vote margin. Even if Chafee were to jump ship, it would not subvert the nomination. Besides, getting the nomination out of the committee accomplishes two things--1) it's been discussed and passed, so there is no issues to discuss, 2) Democrats are just obstructionist so they can be ignored. The key is to shut down the process in the committee and relying on Chafee suddenly getting a spine is a losing proposition.

Well said. DeLay and Bolton are guys who don't know how to act humble and admit when they're wrong. With them, it's always attack, attack, attack, no matter how crazy and unhinged they look when they do it. DeLay in particular is looking more and more insane by the day. It's getting to the point where I'm half expecting him to whip out a gun on the House floor and hold the rest of the GOP leadership hostage unless he's left alone.

It doesn't help either guy that they look like thugs too. DeLay just looks mean (especially since every photo I've seen of him has that red-eye effect in it, making him look positively satanic) and Bolton looks perpetually cranky. That mustache of his doesn't help him either, since it makes him look like he drank a pint of milk and forgot to wipe his lip.

They call Delay the hammer. But the only hammer he will see is the one he will be using to break rocks at Club Fed. This cuold be the beginning of the end for the do nothing stain glass Republican congress and the beginning of a New Progressive Era for Anerica!

Since this has sunk to the personal attack level, I'd like to refer back to the original post and say thanks for the "faux-cowboy" reference. As a Native, I hate that w thinks he's from here. My father, uncles, brother, grandfathers, cousins, et al NEVER acted like w.

There's an idjit in my parking garage with a bumper sticker that reads "I love cowboys" with pics of w and old ronnie. Every time I pass it, I consider vandelism but have so far restrained myself.

emal is right, if it weren't for the emotional investment a lot of Americans made in Bush II when he was with the rescue workers right after 911, our nation would already be on a possible road to recovery. If there's any blessing from Bush's 911 based second term it is that when the myth dies it will die forever. Twenty years from now there will be no nostalgia for 'the zero decade.' America's case of Bushism will be cured forever.

Emal, you are so right. That is exactly what the Republicans do to the Democrats, time and time again.

Matt, I think America got a good look at what they've been voting for in the first Kerry/Bush debate. I truly believe that petulant performance by Bush pulled away Oz's curtain for all to see the spoiled rich kid behind it.

T2, I think you are right - but I think the difference was that large numbers of people never even tuned in to the debate. They were already convinced that Bush was okay and Kerry was unacceptable and they didn't expect to get anything from the debate. The Schiavo case on the otherhand was a seen by many of those who hadn't really looked at the WH, Bush or the congress. The ones not totally disconnected from reality were completely shocked and repelled by the blatant power play. Now they aren't quite really to turn their backs on the people who stink of corruption because they know these guys are dangerous. Everything the Republicans do by promoting the theocrats and by using thuggery in their outright power grab reinforces the sense that things are not right with this gang. The ugly side of this gang has been exposed to a much broader audience.