David Neiwert has a new post up about Glenn’s post, stating quite clearly where they part company, and why.

One of his main points:

The real problem with the success of Paul's candidacy is not only that it helps to legitimize and mainstream his extremist beliefs, but that it also dramatically empowers the very extremist elements that Greenwald dismisses as an insignificant faction of his support.

And considering this comment thread, I should quote this:

Anyone who has been critical of Paul online has become well aware just how organized online he and his followers are. Mention his extremist background and the flying monkeys descend en masse.

Get ready, Dave, they’re on their way……

http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2007/11/ron-paul-and-his-followers.html

Somewhere a grinning Joe Lieberman is pumping his little fists in the air, saying, “Yes! Yes! We’re winning.”

We’ve seen this movie before, too many times. And the pre-mature claims of “victory” and “winning” always collapse in a heap of false delusions and wishful thinking on part of the pro-war crowd that insists upon ignoring the most important fact of all: that the very purpose of the “surge” -- to give a chance for political reconciliation has been totally undermined – there has been no progress on that front at all.

Put your fists down Joe, and look at some of the reasons for the new statistics:

* A sharp increase in air strikes that have resulted in fewer U.S. casualties but more collateral Iraqi civilian casualties. In the first nine months of 2007, American planes hit targets more times than in the previous three years combined, and the ill will that the one-time liberators sew each time innocents are blown to smithereens by fire from helicopter gunships is not supposed a part of the counterinsurgency playbook.

* A sharp increase in curfews that limit civilian movement. Haven’t heard any bad stuff out of Falluja lately, have you? Could this be because the one-time hotspot is under virtual lockdown with a ban on private vehicles?

* A failure to train up the Iraqi army sufficiently and the continuing dismal state of national police forces means that they cannot be relied on to replace U.S. forces and not merely supplement them.

And let’s not forget the importance of the decision and role of the Mahdi Army discussed in the Kos Diary below, as well as the fact that our current troop levels are not sustainable.

http://themoderatevoice.com/war/iraq/15776/iraq-the-dirty-secret-of-the-surge/

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/11/5/22022/5007

Oh, dear. Even more bad news for Democrats in the latest CNN poll:

Support for the war in Iraq has dropped to 31 percent and the 68 percent who oppose the war is a new record.

Despite the drop in violence in Iraq, only one quarter of Americans believes the U.S. is winning the war. There has been virtually no change in the past month in the number of Americans who believe that things are going badly for the U.S. in the war in Iraq.

The public also opposes U.S. military action against Iran. Sixty-three percent oppose air strikes on Iran, while 73 percent oppose using ground troops as well as air strikes in that country.

Overall, 56 percent, of Americans are dissatisfied with progress in the war on terrorism.

Republicans everywhere are celebrating. They just love those numbers and it's now time to “pop those corks” – “champagne!” - “we’re winning!” – “it’s another great day to be a proud pro-war Republican!”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/11/08/iraq-war-opposition-at-re_n_71704.html

In the 4 1/2 years the U.S. has been “winning” in Iraq, 14% of Iraqis have been displaced from their homes. As Juan Cole pointed out that would be the equivalent of 42 million Americans forced from where they lived.

Would anyone call that “winning”? Would anyone be bragging about that or gloating?

Well, today, with those figures fresh in the news, ol’ Hugh Hewitt can restrain himself no longer and he’s broken into “full gloat” mode (worthy of Glenn Reynolds’ Wingnut Award-winning post), and he’s ready to rub anti-war Democrats face in all the “winning” news coming out of Iraq.

That’s right. One part of one wall of his little rubber room is now entirely vomit-free and he’s ready to show-off, brag and gloat:

“When do you suppose we're going to see the first report somewhere in the mainstream media about how they and the Democrats got it so wrong about Iraq destined to become a failure?

When do you suppose Tim Russert is going to use current events in Iraq, and videos such as this, [ ] to hold senior Democrats accountable to the outrageous statements and predictions they've made for the last couple of years that are proving to be false before our eyes? You won't. When it comes to declaring defeat and failure in Iraq, the Democrats and MSM have made their bed, and it's up to the Bush administration and new media over the next year to make them lie in it.

As Iraq continues to show signs of promise and prosperity, the Bush administration should spend much more time showcasing what the American media won't.”

Like all the people who’ve lost their homes?

http://www.juancole.com/2007/11/major-bombing-of-kdp-hq-in-kirkuk-12.html

http://hughhewitt.townhall.com/blog/g/645fe332-765f-4ee4-940c-5819a72c2d44