The political "wisdom" of not pursuing BushCo. on their war crimes has been that the potential gains in November outweigh the risk of backlash by GOP voters who might be provoked to stand by McCain when they otherwise may have been tempted to vote Obama, Barr, or just stay home.
I've been reluctantly willing to accept this approach.
However, even putting aside the fundamental ethical duty of the issue, it is now clear that the potential gains in November are more at risk by not pursuing prosecution.
The reasoning here is simple. Sooner or later, the question of ethics and "changing how Washington does business" go hand-in-hand. If the dems want voters, especially independents and disillusioned Republicans, to buy into the Message, they cannot ignore the overwhelming outcry and avanche of evidence that begin to issue forth from all corners -- including top military officials, and not to mention many of our crucial allies around the world.
Indeed, if they choose to fail to act, the real message American voters and those allies will take away from it is that the whole Change message is a blatant political ploy.
And make no mistake, our enemies will use it against us, as will the GOP, deftly implying if not outright accusing Obama and all Dems of duplicity, and worse.
The choice is clear - and there is only one choice: Hold them accountable, or lose credibility, and possibly the most crucial election thus far in American history.
One last point comes to mind as I write this. Considering that there was one viable candidate in this race earlier who was willing to speak out and show that the will to fight is needed, I hope that he will be included going forward. I am not even saying that Edwards must be the VP. But the appeal he generated from voters who agreed with the need to take the gloves off cannot be wasted.
As to VP, whomever it is should indeed have the capacity both to do battle, and inspire support among those voters who feel the need to wage it... and he/she must be able to do so at least as deftly as Mr. Edwards proved he could.
And one last critical note: Please DNC, save the protracted arguments for the legal proceedings. When addressing the issues, in fact any issues, with the American public, use plain and simple and the briefest of language. Otherwise you fall prey to seeming too damned elitist and out of touch, no matter how right you may be.
Update: added poll.