Let me say from the start, I'm not a Hunter sycophant. The man's a bit too wordy for me (I've told him so in comments), and I'm usually snoring before he (finally) gets to his point.
But when all is said and done about Yearly Kos, Hunter is the one person I will remember. He so perfectly hit what's wrong with Bush, and what's wrong with our country. And after all, isn't that the point? The point of this site, the point of progressives, liberals, and anyone who isn't a wingnut?
What's wrong with our country?
Hunter hit a grand slam home run in the bottom of the 9th.
His answer was actually in response to a question about Armando and anonymity (an extremely boring topic that's been analyzed to death here), but Hunter's response should resonate with us all. It's the state of all political discussion today. If you aren't on our side, we will destroy you.
That's the true state of politics in the good ole USA today.
As Hunter said, and I don't have a transcript, so I cannot quote directly, Bush doesn't speak for all Americans, he speaks only for his base. He acts only for his base. He's not the president of all of us, but only for those who agree with him. And if you don't agree with him, he will use his power as president to destroy you.
Hunter said, and it's as true as the sun comes up in the east, what happened to Joe Wilson is what happens to any who don't toe the line. They will try to destroy you, me, or anyone who doesn't fall into line. That's why they've attacked Murtha, Wilson, Plame, the Dixie Chicks, and most recently, the widows of 9/11.
Do they argue the message? Of course not, on that level they'd lose. And probably lose big. No, rather than argue the message, make the messenger a demogogue. Most importantly, political discussion now is a no holds barred discussion. When Scott Ritter denounced what we were saying about Iraq WMD prior to the war, did they attack his message? Of course not, they couldn't. They attacked the messenger. The same with Joe Wilson.
The neo-cons have said it best. Say something long enough, and it becomes reality. Fact. Get the machine out there, the right wing noise machine, and you'll scare enough people into either obeying, or being afraid to act against you.
Attack the messenger. The mantra of our political discourse today.
Good for you, Hunter.