It's an odd day on DU. I'm defending Howard DEAN of all people --

[saltpoint]

-- against his detractors.

I respect Dean a lot, so it's no trouble, and I feel it from the heart. The Kerry-Edwards ticket was more to my personal preference, but I could have gone with almost any Democrat, save you-know-who-from-Connecticut, against that pukehead Bush.

Bush triggers a strong defense of almost any Democrat. I take Dean's side when he's blind-sided like this, but the past week's big story for me has been Kerry's raising the DSM issue and the rumored photos a judge has now ordered released.

If all the stars line up just right, we could be rid of Donald Rumsfeld before the first of summer.

[whometense]

1. You really think so?

The wheels do seem to be coming off. And then I cruised by MSNBC this morning and it was all Mike Tyson and the pigeons.

Think anyone who's not online has an idea what's going on?

[saltpoint]

2. whometense! So nice to bump into you again.

Oh, I don't know about Rumsfeld.

He shouldn't have been nominated for that post in the first place, and once there, should have been fired after the Abu Graib incident was revealed.

If there's another round of photos, and they go over the web overnight like the last set, there will be considerable pressure to hang Rumsfeld. Someone has to take the blame, even if no one has so far.

I love the last line of your post. THAT is a winner.

[whometense]

3. Glad you liked it.

My brain spends way too much time trying to unravel electoral mysteries without the proper background to do so. Sometimes it feels like I've got a nest of rabid squirrels up there biting each others' tails and clawing at the walls.

I hear you on Dean, though. I admit that I would have had to swallow hard before voting for him for president, but he's a good guy who's working hard and has the best interests of the country and the party at heart. They need to lay off him in the same way they need to lay off Kerry (though it's likely they'll do neither.) If you hire a guy to do a job, for god's sake give him a chance to do it. Oh my god, the second-guessing...

[saltpoint]

4. Kerry's work this week -- or any week for that matter --

-- has been terrific. He is going to talk about the DSM for some time to come now and his comments on it will be a lot more articulate than the White House's denials and subterfuge.

It's been two consecutive very poor weeks for the Bush administration.

If we could just top it off with a defeat of John Bolton...

(insert cock-eyed optimist totally delusional Smiley HERE...)

[whometense]

5. I 've still got my

"cock-eyed optimist totally delusional Smiley" face on for that one. If I stopped reading Steve Clemons every day I'd probably think it was hopeless, but he keeps feeding my delusions. So who knows? Someone catches a case of integrity? A few someones?

Edited to add: Kerry is amazing. He's got more energy and more optimism than anyone could expect. He gets hit, he bounces back. He is a marvel.

[saltpoint]

6. In agreeing with your added edit, I got the strong urge to pick you --

-- up with as many other Kerry Group folks as want to go with us & we'll drive through the red states, burning down city halls and stuff.

Only its flagrant illegality restrains me.


:)

:evilgrin:

[whometense]

7. I'd go on that road trip.

:evilgrin:

I have three kids, the youngest of whom is 19. I'm seeing a real turn in the values of his group of friends back to what I think of (for lack of a better term) as 60's values. It's pretty interesting. They're alternative. They're passionate about their art and take their friendships very seriously. Most of them don't drive. Of course, I live in MA so I can never assume anything I see here translates into a larger movement out there, but it's fascinating nonetheless. I see in them a complete rejection of the valuing of money for money's sake.

Just saw that tomorrow's NY TImes is featuring a special section on the ultra-rich. Should be an interesting read.

[saltpoint]

8. This is what it sounds to me like, whometense --

-- It sounds to me as if there's been some terrific parenting in your household.

I love what you are seeing in those younger folks & you tell 'em I'm all for what they're doing.