THE CHILD LOOKS AT THE EMPEROR -- AND THE CHEERING CROWDS:

It's fine and indeed required to respond to propaganda speeches such as the reprehensible one Karl Rove gave this past week — although I would respectfully suggest that if a loud demand for an apology is the greatest demonstration of political bravery and loyalty to principle that you can muster, you might be in more than a little bit of trouble. ...

But the Democrats undercut their opposition in many ways. One notable method of self-destruction is the hawkishness of many Democrats themselves: since so many Democrats join in the Bush chorus insisting that "failure is not an option," that we cannot "cut and run," and that we must "stay the course," they are hardly presenting a meaningful alternative. ...

The world may be on the edge of a disaster of a kind we have never before witnessed, and everyone in Washington is lying at worst, or avoiding the truth at best. It would be a blessing to have a government which is simply worthless. But given that we have an administration which may well unleash destruction across large parts of the world, while the nominal opposition fiddles about comparatively meaningless issues, I can come to only one conclusion:

Go read it for yourself at HOW WE GOT HERE, AND SOME UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR BUSH'S "OPPOSITION".