If we're going to be respected by the candidates, we have to show that we are capable of being more than just a stick. We need to provide the occasional carrot too...
Chris Dodd stood up for us in a way we haven't seen from anyone else on the current slate. I'm extraordinarily disappointed to admit that even my favored candidate (of those declared), John Edwards, hasn't come out swinging for YearlyKos and DailyKos the way Chris Dodd has.
The simple fact is that Dodd wiped the floor with O'Reilly O'Reilly's turf. It's been a long time since I've seen anyone take the fight to O'Reilly (at least since Tuesday morning) and I can't be prouder as a Democrat than I was after watching that clip. So often we demand spine in our Democrats... Dood went into the lion's den and cleaned up - not by being conciliatory or validating the right wing frame O'Reilly was forcing, but rather by unequivocally standing up for you and me.
So I'm standing up for Dodd. Tomorrow, he's going to address YearlyKos. I'm going to do my best to be the first out of my seat when he takes the stage. I hope the rest of you join me in thanking him with wild, unhinged applause...