We'll need every vote we can get this November.  Talk of a "cakewalk" is misguided and potentially fatal.  When we look at every vote, that means the pro-military vote too.  Historically, we've let the Right say that supporting our troops means voting Republican.  I propose a new meme for November: If you're pro-military, you're against the war.

Message to swing voters:

                     If you're FOR the military, you're AGAINST the war.

Beyond Hate – The Rwandan Women’s Basket Weaving Collective

We do not want for villains. Nor for examples of greed, depravity, and hate-mongering.  But today the good ole’ MSM reminded me today that human beings can also be compassionate, inventive, and triumphantly sane.  I have been wondering about the role of compassion and forgiveness as we fight Republicans, fight over our own Democratic candidates, and sometimes seem to fight over nothing on this site. This Rwandan widow’s story gives much-needed perspective.

The article describes the work of Pascasie Mukamurigo, a Tutsi whose

husband and one of her three children had been killed [by Hutu mobs in the genocide in 1994]...Twelve of her best friends had lost their husbands as well. She brought these widows together to form the weaving group Avega (Association des Veuves du Génocide d’Avril) to support the orphans each took in; Mrs. Mukamurigo adopted 13. She also invited members of the Hutu families who had committed the atrocities to join the group.

What can progressives and kossacks learn from Mrs. Mukamurigo?

I have a dream.  That one day, kossacks could talk to each other live like callers to a progressive radio show.  I have nothing against our trusty text site as it is.  But sometimes I’d love to be able to ask a diarist a question, or hear the passion in someone’s voice as they tell a story.  Every reason I come to dkos would be well-served by talking to and hearing you: - I come here to learn. - I come here to laugh. - I come here for a sense of community. - I come here to take action.

If the idea of chewing the fat with other kossacks appeals, send me an email at angelinoKos at (go away spambots) gmail dot com or read the rest of this diary in the comments.  This is an experiment and I’m open to any feedback from kossacks interested in live discussion.

Ok, that was my intentionally inflammatory headline. I'm a political and blogging neophyte, but already familiar with the use of invective and exaggeration to further my cause.

In fact, like the Giuliani campaign and the $9.11 fundraiser, I didn't even approve that headline. Probably some left-wing blogger thought it up in between hanging out with OBL. I can only hope to avoid a strongly-worded letter from Congressional Bai fans.

In fact, truth be told, I like the way Matt engages with those who disagree with him. For example, me.  I don't agree with everything Matt says, but I feel like he's open-minded and fair about criticisms and that he shows me things I haven't seen before on my own.

I am asking this question in a sincere search for information and analysis. Not invective. Not bitching. Not name-calling, no matter how impassioned or possibly even well-deserved.

I know many of us are frustrated and mystified. I myself am frustrated and mystified. But I have already read enough posts that say "Democrats are being spineless" or "Nancy just wants to win in '08 and doesn't care about the Constitution." There may be truth to that. But those posts aren't helping me to take action, and I'm concerned that there is something missing in our current strategy of "just keep calling your representatives and tell them to get on with it."  

I feel like the call to impeachment is dying.  That worries me profoundly. I'd like to have a better handle on how to move it forward, or a cogent argument for why it may not be the right thing to do.

(And if there's a storm of people saying "all this has been covered just go read it all again" then I'll delete this and do that.)

I have been reading kos for maybe a month now, and this is my first diary.  

In the current New York Times Magazine Matt Bai publishes an ode to Giuliani that seems to come from a complete historical vaccuum in terms of what it overlooks and brushes aside.  It suggests that Giuliani is not only one macho badass (like we need that), but that he will make up for Bush's colossal failures because...he's supposedly a better manager.

Why is it important for us to counter this perpetuation of the Giuliani myth (myth being a polite term for bullshit)?  

Because Giuliani is riding the misguided fantasy of the Big Tough Daddy into a strong national appeal. A Democratic lock in '08? Fuhgedaboutit.  It is very bad tactics to underestimate the power of the Big Daddy narrative, especially given the MSM's track record of caricaturing our candidates.  What's worse, if Giuliani were elected, he would pose an enormous threat to peace, safety, and everything most Americans hold dear.

I believe fighting Giuliani is the most important thing we can do, and this article needs to be attacked.