We cringed when Democrats let pass attacks on their patriotism and loyalty to King and country in 2002. No protest was voiced when Max Cleland's face somehow morphed into that of a monster who killed 3,000 Americans on 9/11. We were outraged that there was no counterpunch.
We were livid at our Minority/Majority Leader Tom Daschle, who seemed so weak in either leading the Senate, opposing President Bush, or leading the minority opposition.
We were and still are angry at Democrats in Congress and elsewhere, as Kos has illustrated on the Front Page today, who are so far behind the curve on Iraq that we can no longer see them in our rear view mirror.
We were horrified to watch in August 2004 as an election that was won lock, stock and barrel for John Kerry was Swift Boated. We were then kicked in the gut by the lack of John Kerry's response to these low road attacks.
You see, John Kerry decided to take the high road. He wanted to speak to our better angels. He wanted to talk about the bread and butter issues that makes us all Democrats, and on which the American public then and now prefers us. He thought that the best way to combat the Swift Boat lies was to not dignify them with a response. He ignored it. He did not fight back. He did not call out the Republicans for what they are: liars with evil intent.
And because John Kerry took the high road, he drove us right off the cliff. For when you take the high road, sometimes you eyes are focused on the clouds rather than on the road in front of you and below you.
How happy were we when Dean, a fighting Democrat, was named our Chairman of the Democratic National Committee? How happy were we when our new Minority Leader, a former boxer, showed us that he knew how to throw a wicked counterpunch?
How estatic were we were with our new breed of fighting Democrats? Paul Hackett. John Murtha. Barbara Boxer. Rahm Emmanuel.
We realize that to oppose cruelty, to combat lies, to fight evil, you have to be tough. You have to counterpunch. You have to fight back. And finally, our elected Democrats were showing their teeth.
And now, I read some consternation about fighting the Republicans on their level. Some Kossacks want to take the high road again, even though it is bombed out and impassible. Some of us think we hate too much. Some feel we are too angry.
Fucking Bullshit.
We are going to fight the Republicans and fight hard. Yes, we will not lie, or use the horrible smear tactics the Republicans use. But we will fight back. We will use their lies against them. We will get down in the gutter with them. If they throw mud in our eyes, we will take out a bazooka and blow them away.
There is no going back. Either fight with us, or go home. No more bullshit talk about the high road, or how mean some of our tactics are.
Fight. Or get out.
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