It was Nader who popularized the mantra in the 2000 campaign, "there's not a dime's worth of difference between the two parties''... a phrase he was roundly mocked for by the "reasonable" and "intelligent" elders of the Democratic establishment.

At the time, I too bought into Nader's spiel.

But since then, I have realized how absurd that Naderism was, and continues to be.

I mean, eight years later, we have Joe Lieberman, an "Independent", as one of McCain's most useful allies on the campaign trail. And when Centrist Joe isn't On The Road with McCain, he periodically, and not-so-subtly, stumps for his Best Bud's' energy policy (drill!, drill!, drill!!!) as the Chairman of the Homeland Security & Govt. Affairs Senate Committee.

Coincidentally on Tuesday- just as this Obama guy was making news oversees- Centrist Joe dusted off the chairs in the committee room for a hearing on energy, energy efficiency and the need to "win" in Iraq.

To be fair, Centrist Joe did hand over the mike a couple of times to his "dear friend", "trusted colleague", "valuable member of the committee" and all around swell gal, Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine).

No doubt this is a prelude to summer days of these two sharing bowls of clam chowder with the common folk at Lobster huts near places like Bar Harbor, Portland and Bath.

"But, but, but Collins (R-Maine) is running for re-election this year against a credible, real Democrat", say the Lefties. However those are arguments made by only the emotional, silly partisans.

In other words, Naderites, Chomsky sympathizers and Kucinich supporters.

So nowadays, when I look for advice on successful Democratic strategies, I listen to the likes of Sen. Harold Ford (D-TN), who upset the applecart with his stunning landslide victory over nationally recognized statesman Bob Somethingorother, the former Mayor of Chattanooga (I think?).

Of course, if Ford is on vacation there is always the reasonable Lanny Davis, Bob Beckel or Susan Estridge somewhere on cable to offer guidance.

During those times when I forget to pay the cable bill, newspaper columns written by Nick Kristoff or Tom Friedman or Richard Cohen or Mike Barnicle help me see the light on the transcient issues of the day.

On race relations and issues, I search to see what freshman Sen. Michael Steele (R-MD.) has to say. Sure, he's a Republican but Sen. Steele is a serious, substanstive person with major league street cred when it comes to being black.

And there are only two real lawyers worth listening to when it comes to important legal issues: Greg Craig and Cass "The Most Quoted Legal Scholar In The Nation" Sunstein.

Sunstein has a proven track record when it comes to the War in Iraq, Torture, FISA, impeachment and the need for the legislative branch of government to be completely subserviant to the Executive.

Craig's wise strategy to steer Obama "to the middle" on legal issues is neccessary in order to make this election much closer so the nation will have something to watch in November.

Because of all these reasons and all these people, I have never been more enthusiastic or optimistic about the future of this country and, particularly the future of the Democratic Party.

Normally, I'd say Sam Nunn would make the perfect Vice Presidential running mate. But considering the people Obama currently has advising him, Nunn might be too liberal to be a part of the ticket.

What's Zell Miller doing now?

Alter has a point that mainstream media journalists have resources and connections that bloggers generally don't. It's too bad that most of them suck at translating all that into meaningful information, though.

The problem is most of the mainstream journalists don't even attempt to translate. It's classic Russertism as practiced so perfectly by the late, great pumpkin and his contemporaries such as Ron Fournier of the Associated Press.

The important thing isn't that we, the people knows what is "really" going on in Washington, but that they know what is happening "on the inside".

And to top it off, if you ever happen to meet these serious journalists, or listen to them pontificate about the really important issues of the day (see Mark Halperin), you quickly realize that they ain't that smart.

This Fein guy is obviously a Code Pink subversive, a former member of the Chicago 7 and is part of the modern-day Hate America Crowd.

Crazed Liberals like Fein should just shut-up and leave the real lawyerin' to important people like Cass Sunstein.

Glenn writes:

"...the American invasion and occupation of Iraq -- one of the most egregious violations of international law of the last decade, at least."

This is too kind to the warmongers in charge.

The final assessment of the damage done due to the invasion is a long way from being finalized, but I would say trillions of dollars and tens of millions of lives destroyed is a more realistic estimate.

Sorry, in terms of blood and dollars, the Iraq invasion will go down in the annals of world history as the Most egregious violation of international law -- ever.

Dems should know the important issues for 2008 include - lapel pins, Rev. Wright, abstinence, God and Diner etiquette.

All this hogwash about wars, some old document called "The Constitution" and the alleged application of "enhanced interrogation techniques" against some people who might know someone who might hate Amerika is for the radical Pot-Smoking, long-haired, peace lovers.

Sorry, Glenn you are wrong on this one.

This might be reason enough to start a war with China.