As Harry Shearer likes to say on LeShow - "from the Buried Lede department..."  

I know the front page diarists here are prolific writers, and everyone likes a good essay, and it's fun to try to find some point or theory that nobody else has mentioned...but sometimes the truth is pretty darn simple.

HRC lost because she made a political calculation to vote for Iraqi war, instead of doing her constitutional duty as a US Senator.  It backfired.  I can't think of a more important lesson for other politicians to learn, but here at Kos it seems to be getting buried under an avalanche of campaign minutia.

In recent years the Republican party has achieved great political success by appealing to the fears of voters.  It was certainly not a new tactic, but it was shameless and effective.  In fact it was so effective that a famous Democratic presidential candidate is now mimicking that tactic.  

Ironically, in this same election cycle, another candidate has come along who doesn't appeal to our fears, but instead appeals to our best instincts.  In fact supporting him actually requires us to put aside some old fears.  

The choice could not be more clear.  Are you tired of being afraid?

The Iraq War was by far the most important issue to me in 2004, and that has not changed this time around.  While Edwards' domestic rhetoric has appeal to me, his record on the war means I cannot ever vote for him in good conscience.

There were two clearly pivotal moments when it was possible to stop the war:

1. Before the congressional vote to authorize the war.

2. During the 2004 election cycle.

Edwards was on the wrong side of the war both times.

This week's McLaughlin Group is a must see.  Lots of coverage of the increasing talk of impeaching Bush.  But more significant to me was the discussion of Gore.

The first pundit (Steve something, sorry I missed his last name - not one of the regulars) said he was confident Gore is not running, because he's talked to "Gore people" who say Gore is not making the needed calls to line up big money.

Eleanor Clift then jumped in to say that Gore should probably be prefacing his speaches with a clarification that he is not a candidate for president, but that he can't bring himself to do it, because in his heart of hearts, he's hoping for a popular groundswell of support that will draft him to run.

 

Cenk Uygur rightly blasts Senator Schumer for his incredible statement about voting for the war on this week's Meet the Press:

TIM RUSSERT: Based on what you now know today, do you regret having voted for the war?

SEN. SCHUMER: Well, no, Tim, because my vote was seen and I still see it as a need to say we must fight a strong and active war on terror.

Uygur's response is spot on:

"Are you kidding me? Tying in the original invasion of Iraq with the fight against terrorism and al-Qaeda? Does this guy work for the Bush administration? It’s impossible to be more wrong and more spineless."

My only question is - how can we make Schumer pay for this idiocy?!?