For those who have said they won't vote again... that is EXACTLY what the Kroven GOP wants you to say. You are playing right into their hands, and, ultimately, saving them in resources that they won't have to spend in quashing the Democratic vote next time. Is that really how you want to go down?

As I've written before, here on Salon and elsewhere, all the talk of policy, values, etc., really doesn't mean much to Krove and Co. Such talk is mere smoke screen... distractions from what's really important. They have more tried and true methods of "winning" elections.

Instead of criticizing the Democratic Party for not winning every battle against the administration (especially when they've put up a pretty good opposition to Bush this year), remember instead, that Gore actually did win more than enough votes in 2000 (granted he stopped fighting in Florida too soon), and if the REAL results of 2004 were known in Ohio, and the GOP intimidation tactics had not been used in Florida, it's likely that Kerry also won in 2004.

Conventional wisdom says that the Democratic Party, even though it does not speak or walk in a GOP-like lock-step, actually is more in synch with the majority of Americans on most issues. Not all, but most. Forget about the so-called conventional wisdom that the Democratic Party is weak, that it has no message, and doesn't stand for anything. You are merely repeating the Kroven GOP's talking points. (Read Digby's post about "The Gentlemen's Agreement.") Remember, instead, that Democrats are allowed to make up their own minds about issues, or, as one reader wrote, to "consider complexity." Aren't we tired of simple, black & white, Bushian declarations that are parroted by every GOP pol or pundit who is trotted around to the media, regardless of evidence to the contrary, despite the facts on the ground?

But, there is one issue which every Democratic politician and voter should stand for. Democrats must start standing up for the one fundamental, small-d, democratic value: Everyone gets to vote; every vote gets counted. Without that, nothing else really matters. Policy, strategy, tactics, fund-raising, message, etc. None of it. Unless everyone gets to vote and every vote gets counted.

Instead of picking on your Democratic candidates for not having enough power to overcome the overwhelming force of an administration that controls all three ( yes, all three) branches of government (not to mention a good bit of Media), ask them instead to help you by making sure that your vote counts fully and is not diluted by voting irregularities elsewhere.

First, thank them for their efforts in opposing Bush on Social Security, for holding Bush accountable to the degree they have been able, given the media's tendency to give him a free-pass. But, then tell them that for the past six years, your vote has been compromised by the GOP strong-arm tactics that kept other like-minded voters away, as well as by technology that, unaccountably, is under the control of only a few GOP-leaning partisans. No paper trail. Easily hackable. Unbelievable. And, in most countries, unacceptable. And remind them of the extreme anomalies that deducted votes only from Kerry's column, and added them only to Bush's, and are completely incomprehensible to professional statisticians in explaining 2004's results. [The problem was not with the exit polls.]

Remind them that they have only to make sure that everyone's votes are counted. And that the American people really can be trusted to make good choices. Recent history shows we already have. But our choices were set aside. Our votes were lost. Or not counted. Or disallowed. Unless the Democratic Party and registered Democratic voters all across the country deal with this issue, the rest is futile.

Remind yourselves, and your Democatic candidates, that the current administration cares more about the (appearance of) accuracy in the voting process in Iraq, and in Palestine, and in Egypt, and in Iran, etc., etc., than they do here. That is the Kroven GOP-hypocrisy that everyone of us should be focused on.

Sort of makes you wonder how much and what kind of lobbying has been going on in the gymnasium... if the first step of an ethics reform measure equates it with the House floor.

Given DeLay's much tighter reelection race this year... perhaps he's just looking ahead and trying to keep his options open?