==>> unless there's another terrorist attack on our soil in the next 18 months, the connection to George Bush is going to be a tremendous liability ...<<==

And if there is? If GWB fucks up as badly as he did in 2001 and lets us get attacked again, then he’s no longer a liability?

What is WRONG with Americans?

What's so difficult to comprehend is that this seems so obvious to everyone but the candidates, and the Democrats in general (along with their inept consultants).

As is pointed out, if you show that you're willing to drop the gloves, people think well of you: You stand up for yourself. You have to be willing to fight for what you believe in. That's the American ethos. You can lead America if Americans believe you'll stand up and fight. Think "Shane." You can be reluctant, but there's a point where you just have to fight.

I, for one, couldn't believe Kerry just didn't just launch into Bush in the debates at the first opportunity (a fantasy moment follows):

"Since there seems to be some doubt, Mr. President, let me point out to you here in front of the American people the indisputable facts about my service: I volunteered for Vietnam; I volunteered for combat; I looked out for my men and I met and killed the enemy face to face. Can you say that? You did have the same chance to fight for this country, didn't you, sir? But when the chips were down, where were you? You chose to hide, and I do indeed mean hide, and then had the nerve to go AWOL to play politics once you were safe. You couldn't even be bothered to complete the commitment you made to avoid figthing.

But you sure supported that war. You just thought it was worth other people's lives, but not yours. I dare you to look me in the eye and lecture me about character and leadership, George. Perhaps you can point out where you've been tough rather than talked tough, because looking back on your resume, I can't seem to find one. Maybe there's something in all those missing records.

What I do know is that if you had any real backbone you'd attack my service to my face. But once again, though, you've chosen to let other people fight your battles for you. And frankly, sir, that reeks of cowardice.

I am fed up with being insulted by cowards, and fed up with them pontificating about leadership and courage when they have flat-out lied to the American people, then sent her finest to die—yet never demonstrated the courage of their own so-called convictions. That anyone who has never faced a shot fired in anger can stand by and allow his surrogates to attack a combat veteran's service in a desperate attempt to hide his own shortcomings is something I don't think many Americans will respect at the end of the day. I fought and I killed for this country shoulder to shoulder with the finest men I've ever met. I've been under fire, and I acquitted myself with honor. Which means I know a damn sight more about myself, and about war and courage and leadership than you ever will."

Naturally, the rant would've run long, leaving Kerry to raise his voice and stampede over the moderator in righteous indignation on a point of principle. What would have been the only story after a broadside like that? What clip would've been replayed over and over?

I would have salivated at the prospect of actually getting to call out the Chimp on national TV with the freaking jerk standing 10 feet away, looking stupid, petulant, annoyed and busted.

As Glen Greenwald has been pointing out tirelessly, the Democrats' and the pundits' 'conventional wisdom' on this is all wrong. Americans want to see someone stand up and fight, not calculate. Why is that so damned hard to understand?

First, read the review of Drew Westen's book, written by David Brooks in the NYT Book Review. One quote; "...it's rare that one comes across a book that so avidly flatters the prejudices of its partisan readers."

Second, after you finish laughing at Drew Westen, by all means do what you all say you want to. Get tough. Become street fightin' men. Take to the streets at the next Democrat Convention. Burn some cop cars and throw some firebombs until they realize that you are serious about demanding a true progressive candidate. Get McGovern to deliver a speech just so that the message isn't lost. Skip Hillary Clinton; she's a closet hawk. Get yourselves a real progressive candidate. I'm thinking of a Gore-Obama ticket.

Please don't disappoint me, Democrats...

Clinton wasn't running in 2000, but that hasn't stopped the Republicans from running against him for eight years.

Westen's point is that making the election about Bush is a winning strategy, because it appeals to the visceral dislike/distrust the nation has developed toward him. Take a page from the Republican playbook and associate the candidates with Bush as much and as early as possible.

The article is all nonsense. The dems promise you heath care and don't deliver. For their part, the repubs don't promise you health care. Either way you don't get health care.

Does anyone reading this drivel actually believe that all the so called Democrat party needs is a good psychologist?

They caved on FISA because they support FISA, or more correctly the power elite that they are owned by support FISA.

All America gets anymore is bad cop, good cop. It's a charade, a show, kabuki theatre for the factually challenged, and the propagandized.

There will be another false flag terror attack, and bush can declare his emergency and keep his steel shod boot in your face. Even Brezinski thinks another false flag attack is possible, and he is a card carrying member of your killer elite. Even if there is not, it does not matter, the war will continue, support for Israel is unending, and nothing will change. Hilary is bush, bush is Hilary, even Obama will boma Pakistan.

The biggest surprise was how effective Chris Dodd's ads were. I had seen him in a debate and was also surprised to see how coherently he communicated his message. Unfortunately, if he can't get a pulse in the retail politics of Iowa, he has no chance nationwide. But compare his discussion of the Family & Medical Leave Act to Obama's discussion of his legislative record in the Illinois legislature. One touched 50 million Americans (in Dodd's own words); the other, no one gives a crap about.

It is not a matter for Hillary's handlers to change her personality; this is just how Hillary is. That's not a sexist comment. Lyndon Johnson and Al Gore were exactly the same way: great one on one, and totally incapable of leaving the same impression in group settings, let alone in set speeches. I cringe listening to her even when I agree with her.

I totally disagree with the criticism of Obama mentioning Harvard Law School. The elephant in the room here is race, and he is using his background to make the point that he's part of an establishment, even if he was an activist. And because there are many, many Americans who won't vote him because he's black (and would never tell that to a pollster), he has to fight that fight everyday.

Richardson's stuff was that of a man with an outsized ego who can't understand why he can't relate to others. I agree also about Biden's head; someone needed to point this out to him, although he may just not like people to see his balding head.

Finally, the Edwards ads reminded me so much of Edwards's vice presidential campaign in 2004. Just like these ads, there was no John Edwards in it. Which is a shame, because he can in fact be a very effective speaker and I tend to agree with his positions on many matters.