what're we going to do about it? With the current crop of spineless nincompoops I like to laughingly refer to as Democratic leaders, I'd say same-old same-old. Bluster a bit and then cave.

In the meantime, American kids die. In the meantime, Iraqi civilians, young, old and in-between, die. In the meantime, the wealth of our nation continues to be poured out uselessly like water onto the burning desert sands. In the meantime, I begin to wonder-- and I have to believe I'm not alone in this-- exactly why have I bothered to vote these boobs into office in the first place.

After all, if I wanted to support this ongoing madness, Republicans certainly do it with much more fervor and elan...

Let's at long last lay our cards on the table and call the empty Democratic posturing what it is-- a betrayal of their base and the electorate. They were put into office this last time around with a crystal clear mandate to DO SOMETHING about this Iraqi nightmare. Paralyzed by the fear of doing anything lest they do the wrong thing, we-- their base and electorate-- get in place of any shred of reality based action another set of windy threats and vapid promises. Yet more sound and fury, signifying nothing.

And with each blustering sound byte, juxtaposed beside daily casualty reports and the GOP's unalloyed and continuing opposition to any solution save "stay the course," Democrats appear increasingly ineffectual and impotent.

Unless this party can find the intestinal fortitude to make a stand and hold the line against further involvement in this ever deepening, neverending quagmire, I believe that the Democratic Party as we knew it is doomed to whither and die. After all, why vote for a party who can't seem to find the courage of their own convictions? Or, worse, who can't seem to define with any consistency what their convictions even are.

If we Democrats can't muster up that courage, then maybe that's not such a bad thing. Better to be unrepresented than to be led by these toothless, faithless lapdogs.

The fortitude of Democratic leaders? Please. They've caved on every other important issue, why should this be any different?

I've reached the conclusion that to place the merest scintilla of faith in this current crop of impotent drones that pretend to leadership of the Democratic majority is to build a castle upon shifting sands. Sure, it looks formidable-- but it'll crumble as soon as the wind blows.

Somewhere in America, a fundamentalist Christian is chortling over his morning paper and this story of those wacky "backward" Indians.

Wow, deja vu! Demo leaders talking tough then folding, then talking tough once again.

And what's the guarantee that they won't fold again? Or rather, how virtually inevitable is it that they will?

By the way, how much political acumen does it take to realize that this behavior plays right into the Right's theme that Dems are indecisive and stand for nothing?

Why we don't just introduce a bill with timetables, allow the Repubs to vote them down and then reintroduce another bill with timetables. Lather, rinse, repeat. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Let the Republicans keep trying to justify the continuing carnage. Put THEM on the defensive for crissake. Over and over. Demonstrate, once and for all, that WE want to end this war and THEY don't.

Hey, why not steal a rhetorical note from Cato the Elder and end every speech not with "Carthago delende est" but with "This Iraq incursion must be ended."

It's the burning issue of our time and it's the raison d'etre for the current Democratic majority. At minimum, let's just acknowledge that in deed as well as fact. Better yet, wield it like a burning sword to scourge the opposition out of office!

This Iraq incursion MUST be ended.

It seems to me that, rather than fussing over the possibility of a veto in time of war, it might be better to worry about dithering, placing party politics above supporting the troops and decision avoidance (aka political cowardice) in the midst of one.

But that's just me.

This Iraq incursion MUST be ended.

Well, SOMEBODY voted to authorize the invasion of Iraq-- and it wasn't just Republicans!

Note to the apparent Democratic nominee designate-- when residing in a glass house, best not to pick up the slingshot.

One mind at a time. And slowly, slowly the balance begins to tip.

Personally, I've never understood the fuss. If somebody wants to marry their partner, more power to them. We would never dream of telling a black couple, Jewish couple, Asian couple or Episcopal couple that they can't marry. Why is it okay to discriminate against gay couples?

Besides, if they have half the love for their erstwhile spouse as I do for mine, it's a blessed and magical union no matter what the flavor. And who are we as a society to gainsay that?

"Any restriction on the above or any variation you can think of would be purely arbitrary."

It's already arbitrary. And from your emotional reaction, I'd say-- physician, heal thyself.

It certainly sounded to me like she's eager and ready to follow in the dauphin's footsteps. She really seemed to have no problem leaving thousands of GIs stationed there for many years to come. If you hate this war, you'd best wake up and pay attention!

Personally, I believe this Iraq nightmare is the defining moment for our country in this century. Mark my words, like the Athenian expedition against Syracuse in the Pelopponesian War, our policies in Iraq and the events that spring therefrom will shape the future and-- for better or ill-- seal the fate of this nation.

This Iraq incursion must be ended.

We'd better get ready for four years of President Giuliani.

Oh, yeah. And four ensuing years of cow-eyed submission to Republican legislative will by stunned and clueless Democratic leaders before more inevitable (and inevitably unsuccessful) triangulation begins again.