Over the past few weeks and months the Democratic leadership, especially Dem Senate leader Harry Reid and now, DNC Chair Howard Dean, have demonstrated their determination to fight back against the GOP attack machine.
It is no secret that it is an approach that I endorse. It is also no secret that many other Front Page Guest Bloggers and markos himself endorse this approach. It is reflected in many of our posts.
Today, DavidNYC wrote up the appalling comments from this GOP Neanderthal Rep. Gibbons from Nevada. And some folks expressed some disdain for this "fight back" approach. Apparently these folks want a genteel civil discussion with Bush and the Republicans. Well, I don't know what they have in mind and they are welcome to advocate any approach they favor.
But I must say the constant hand wringing is quite tedious. I think it is pretty clear that for some of us on the front page there is no other way to go with THIS President and the Republicans. Continue your tsk tsk-ing if you must, but may I suggest you just avoid those posts if they bother you so much. You're not likely to change many minds, at least not the minds of Front Page Posters. We're pretty committed to this approach.
More on the flip
I believe that the fight to rightly pin the extremist label on the Republicans - as to Social Security, judicial nominations, abortion, conservation, the deficit, etc. - is critical to gaining seats in the 06 elections.
I believe that a strategy of "compromise" and moderation in our political attacks has been proven ineffective. Indeed, I think the GOP has beaten us lately in large part because they relish attack politics and know no other way, while it is generally a distasteful exercise for Dems, who prefer reason.
This is not the politics I would want, but it is the politics that is. And wishing it were not so won't change it. Those are the rules. We have to play the game by them. There is no other choice.