The Longest of the Long Knives have emerged.
Members of a group of unknown Democrats have launched a despicable fear-mongering attack ad against Howard Dean, claiming that because the nation is fearful and he doesn't have a military background, Dean cannot successfully engage Bush on foreign policy.
Quote me on this now: this is the last gasp of the anti-Dean wing of the Democratic party; if he can weather this, the nomination is his. This is the only thing he hasn't been directly attacked on, the idea that somehow because he wasn't a solder, he can't effectively criticise Bush's handling of the post 9-11 situation.
If this ad fails to halt Dean's momentum, there's nothing that stands between him and Boston. And fail it will, because it is total bullshit, nothing but a scare-tactic, a phantasm of lies. Dean's campaign eats lies for breakfast, and we offer the truth in return; the truth always feels better.
Bush is the one with the embarassing military record. Bush is the one who alienated our allies and galvinized those who opposed us. He took Osama's bait, hook line and sinker -- with a pack of greedy oilmen and half-mad neo-romans providing the necessary encouragement. Bush is a complete and utter failure at foreign policy in every respect. He doesn't have a damn leg to stand on, only bravado and a rapidly souring quagmire.
And what's more, he used us. George Bush lied to the American people to get us here. The evidence is plain. He whored out the tragedy of New York City, the Pentagon and one lonesome field in Pennsylvania to goad us into supporting a misguided and foolish war.
News Flash: you cannot beat terrorists with missiles, or any other superior firepower. Look it up; it's true. You beat them with education. With better jobs. With equality, justice and opportunity to draw away their supporters, and an international community united to make their lives difficult. That is how you combat terrorism, Mr. President. Your war on terra would be a farce if it weren't so fucking tragic.
Howard Dean understands this. He's not the only one, but from where I stand he's the one who was standing by his ethos it when it counted. The others were too afraid, or didn't speak loudly enough or with the right language. I still remember the first time I saw Howard Dean speak; the CA Dem Convention in March 2003. I watched a clip off the internet. He was using the same words that had been rattling around in my head, that I'd been tossing at my friends.
"We need the politics of hope, not of fear... I'm tired of being divided... Stand up for America; stand up for your communities... Health coverage, a balanced budged, no war in Iraq... Don't be ashamed of what you believe... I want my country back!"
I'm a Movement Deniac, but this is what got me started. The memory still energizes me because this is what it's about, my friends. It's about whether we are going to come together or not; whether we will unite as a nation or remain isolated and afraid. This is about whether we will own the future, or the future will own us.
And so in response to this horseshit ad, I say "Bring 'em on." I ain't afraid. You know why? 'Cause we're right.
You heard me. We are right. Bush is wrong. Repeat that a couple times and see how it feels. "We. Are. Right." This isn't a radical oversimplification; it's the only way to render such stark contrast.
When Dean emerges victorious from this latest onslaught, he will have faced every possible critique: too liberal/too conservative, too stingy/too generous, too dovish/not dovish enough. He will be battle-tested as a candidate and his campaign will have weathered its shakedown cruse in grand style.
But first we've got a little business to attend to... letters to the editor anyone?