I really think the creditability gap within this administration, both during the run-up to the war and ever since, may be the biggest obstacle the US faces in Iraq.  I will start with my letter to the editor I have submitted today and then offer a few pennies more worth of thoughts.

This is admittedly a selfish diary seeking information from wise Kossacks out there - and particulary Connecticut based Kossacks who might have some info on the specific topic.  My local utility Connecticut Light and Power offers a Clean Energy option which allows me to pay a little more on my bill each month to basically subsidize the addition of energy to the grid from "clean" sources.

To me Bush's press conference this morning and Cheney's appearance on CNN (officially tonight, but widely reported all day) basically puts the administration on record as saying "nothing to see here.. move along" with regards to the abuse scandals in our prison camps.

One thing I'm really gathering from reading Clinton's book is that all throughout his career he did a great job of hitting back when an opponent attacked him.  He would take the specific attack and really turn it around to hurt the attacker.  In that vane...

John Kerry, via the DNC, sent around an email inviting all of us to join "A grassroots campaign to change America."  That's great.  Howard Dean had a lot of success with it and I always argued that this component is what will be necessary to excite past non-voters to come out and vote.  I really think Dean was right that the key to a Democratic victory in November is to convince just a small number of those who don't vote that there is a good reason why they should.  I'm all for Kerry really jumping on this grassroots theme.  I still hope he goes to Dean and steals every last one of his tools to build the kind of movement that Dean started.

As a devoted Dean follower and proud member of Philly4Dean, I did something today I never imagined possible.  I donated money to John Kerry.  After having this past month to deal with the emotions and anger, I am returning to the rational conclusion that John Kerry is the only one now that can defeat George Bush in November and GEORGE BUSH MUST BE DEFEATED.

I know each Dean supporter will have to come to this conclusion in their own way and in their own time, but for those that are there or close to being there, I would argue that today is an important day to consider donating to John Kerry.

Kerry has been running a $10 million in 10 days fundraiser with a different prominent Dem coming out each day to ask for support.  Well.. today.. day 10... is Howard Dean day.  I think it is telling that Howard Dean is the anchor to this fundraiser.  I gave today, and I would encourage all Dean supporters (who are ready) to give today and let's make this the biggest day of the fundraiser because that will send a strong message of support for both defeating Bush and supporting Howard Dean.

Well... that's how I'm rationalizing it.

http://www.johnkerry.com/dean/

Uggh... these guys need to get it together.  The DNC seems to struggle often when it comes to delivering a clear and convincing message, which is a shame, because they have so much material to work with in this Bush administration.  This latest Flash animation entitled Bush's $5.2 Trillion Deficit is a perfect example.  Yes, the deficit is out of control and needs to be addressed.  Yes, specific spending cuts in child welfare and job training programs are immoral and need to be reversed.  However, when these two things are jammed together in the same clip without any transition, they really just end up as conflicting complaints.  You want Bush to cut the deficit, yet increase spending.  That's how this clip views.  That doesn't make much sense. (This entry will likely make more sense after you've viewed the clip  http://www.democrats.org/.)

If it were phrased such that the clip points out that the deficit is sky high, while AT THE SAME TIME, none of that money is being spent on important priorities like child welfare, etc... then it might be effective.  But this clip doesn't do that at all.  The way a message is delivered is just as important, if not more important, than the content itself.  The DNC had better figure this out fast!

As a science geek myself, I am delighted that such a group of prominent scientists have decided they could not remain silent any longer.  The Union of Concerned Scientists have recently written to George W with a list of specific complaints about the Bush administration's habit of censuring, editing or flat out distorting objective sceintific findings in order to keep consistent with their radical agenda.  The list of prominent signatories includes former NIH director Harold Varmus, Neal Lane - former Presidential Science Advisor and many more Nobel Laureates and both Democratic and Repbulcian appointed scientific advisors.

As depressed as I am about the fact that Howard Dean will not be our nominee, I will continue to work toward the goals set forth by Dr. Dean.  At the same time, I will swallow my pride and anger and work to support whomever the Democrats nominate because as much as I dislike our two Senators John, I am quite confident they would never resort to such Orwellian tactics as highlighted in this UCS study.  George W. Bush and Co., are the most dangerous men to ever lead this great nation.  They must be stopped.  We all must stop them!

The C, PhD

For more on the UCS report, visit: http://www2.ucsusa.org/index.cfm