No matter how badly I think of Republicans, the Dems are far far worse an alternative. I am upset at how badly at times Bush seems to be prosecuting the war on terror, but at least he is prosecuting it instead of pretending it isn't real. I just don't get this nonsense about Iraq somehow not being a part of the wot. Both Afghanistan and Iraq were the weakest links for the enemy and they were the first to go in order to strategically set the battlefield. So what that its not perfect--at least the battlefield is over there instead of here.
Jan | Email | Homepage | 08.16.06 - 8:15 am | #

This is news to me. The Democrats are capable of understanding that they've lost an election?
Gagdad Bob | Email | Homepage | 08.16.06 - 9:22 am | #

It's the Global-Except-Iraq War on Terror.
corndog | Email | Homepage | 08.16.06 - 9:50 am | #

No, Bob, they will likely think it has been "stolen" from them, like all true paranoids would. I'm open to other suggestions, but keeping them out of the power loop seems sensible to me, considering that reason and logic have failed to have an impact at this point.
Dr. Sanity | Email | Homepage | 08.16.06 - 9:54 am | #

If, despite 4 years of their "talking down the market" [remember that? That was their spin on the faltering economy of 2000 when then candidate Bush mentioned the obvious], 3 years of full court press talking down the successes in the GWOT, and increasingly shrill anger and hatred for Bush...they STILL lose this November or at least don't seize control of the House... there will be a power struggle.

Those who argued cynically for hatred and polarization as a path towards electoral victory will have to give ground to those who think they're nuts.
John | Email | Homepage | 08.16.06 - 10:06 am | #

My question to you all is, the war on terror doesn't end in early January 2009. Who do you think will be the Republican nominee and in which ways do you think he or she (go Condi go!) will differ from GWBush? Will McCain scale back the WOT? Will Giuliani go further? Will Condi return us to the sane, savvy aggression of the great George Herbert Walker Bush?
Kohut/Kernberg | Email | Homepage | 08.16.06 - 10:56 am | #

You have a thing for Bush 41, K/K that I just don't share. In fact, I think that his refusal to finish what he started in the Gulf War delayed our recognition of what was happening in the ME. That kind of realpolitik I suggest has been and is counterproductive to actually achieving any change. Who knows, maybe we might be much farther along in this chess game with the Islamofascists, if he had been more bold and confrontative. He might even have won the next election and the delusional Clinton years might never have been. As it is, the enemy has been able to castle their king(s) and advance some pawns to strategic positions, and set up the entire board the way they like it, while we have been playing some other game. In answer to your question, however, at the moment I think that a Guiliani-Rice ticket could be a good option. I'm not familiar with Romney, Allen and some of the other wannabee's right now. I don't much care for McCain. Maybe there will be someone else to capture my attention in the coming year. I'll let you know.
Dr. Sanity | Email | Homepage | 08.16.06 - 11:14 am | #

As you note, the Dems have controlled the House for much of the last 50 years.

In all that time, they proved incapable of dealing with the educational crisis and the failure of public education.

If they could not deal with teachers, it is unlikely they will not be able to deal with terrorists.
sigmund, carl and alfred | Email | Homepage | 08.16.06 - 12:16 pm | #

It seems obvious to me, having watched how the Vietnamese war was terminated, that what has to happen is this: The Republicans lose the presidential election, the newly installed Democrat president declares victory in Iraq, and we then cut and run.
Seriously folks! the politics have sclerotocised (sic?)to this extent.
howard_coward | Email | Homepage | 08.16.06 - 12:36 pm | #

...the threat is not going to magically disappear when Bush--or the Republicans, for that matter--are no longer in control.

Of course it will.
Is Party Line, Comrade.
Oceania has never been at war with Eurasia.

Oh, and by the way, I think the only strategy to burst that Democratic bubble of denial is for the Democrats to lose elections.

How can they lose? If they do, they sue until they win. While Party Cadres and welfare bums burn down the cities with Spontaneous People's Demonstrations (TM).
Headless Unicorn Guy | Email | Homepage | 08.16.06 - 12:38 pm | #

What's for lunch today?

Ah, yes...a great helping of more Chez Sanity brain food TM.

Here's a bite that I found most delicious - "There is a small, vindictive part of me that almost--almost--wishes that the Democrats succeed in winning the White House in the next national election; because then they would be dramatically forced to actually do something besides whine and wail."

4 stars and my hat's off to the chef!

~~~

As far a K/K's question - If people could get past the "mormon" thing, I believe Romney would be very candidate. I've seen him in action during the 2002 Olympics - very impressive management style. Crisp and clean - get's any job done he set's his sights on. Also, very staunch conservative. A true man of his word and a man who means what he says. Sound familiar? Unfortunately, his odds are pretty slim.

Now after Rice's limp-wristed approach to the Hezzies, she's lost a bit a credibility with me unless, of course, it can be shown that she was merely playing her part in a Bush rope-a-dope plan set for Nasrallah and his gang. I'm watching but so far, eh.

McCain - not. For the obvious reasons: he loves the press too much ala Jimmy Clinton, he cosponsored McCain/Feingold (brilliant). I mean really, can you say RINO?

Guiliani - If the vote were tomorrow, I'd punch his chad. But like the Doc, I'm not extremely impressed with the current "faves" but am keeping my eyes opened to all options coming down the pike. I'm looking for that kick-ass take-names-later kind of guy (yes, guy) that takes no sh*t and gives no quarter. Anyone less will not do and moreover, what ever else is included on their platform is immaterial to me until the war is over.

It can be no other way.
The Dude | Email | Homepage | 08.16.06 - 2:46 pm | #

My wife wishes for me to clarify:

"Until we have won the war".

There.
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 08.16.06 - 2:52 pm | #

That was me before.
The Dude | Email | Homepage | 08.16.06 - 2:53 pm | #

Guilliani has way too many skeletons in his closet (affair while in office, dumping wife for secretary...drag queen, marching in gay pride parades, pro-abortion to the hilt... i.e. he won't get the conservative base vote.

I think we'll all be surprised at who ends up with the nomination - as he's probably not a house hold name.

Condi...unmarried, no domestic policy positions known, no family life (so right there can't say "as a wife and mother...")
John | Email | Homepage | 08.16.06 - 3:46 pm | #

" As a psychiatrist, I am perfectly aware of the deeply entrenched nature of denial, and the sometimes psychotic machinations that some go through to maintain it at all costs. Very often, the immature psychological defenses that protect a person from recognizing the truth only get stronger and more inflexible..."

I say they've already hedged their bets on this one, because a pertinent subpart of their world view is that the US is inherently evil, what with its capitalistic and consumer-oriented economy and its history of slavery and racism, so they see it as one ship that not only ought to be sunk, they'll happily take it down. And at the same time they wonder why people question their patriotism.

But I'm just wondering if the blade arcing toward their throats, or some other such insult on them, will change their minds. I know words won't.

And don't forget that Nick Berg's Dad continued to blame Bush after Zarqawi hacked his head off.
Zeb Quinn | Email | Homepage | 08.16.06 - 4:40 pm | #

I think Giuliani is savvy enough to rise above his past indiscetions -- a la Clinton.

I think Romney's Mormonism is deadly.

McCain is beloved only by the beltway media.

I just hope it isn't George "Macaca" Allen.
Kohut/Kernberg | Email | Homepage | 08.16.06 - 6:41 pm | #

I think Condi is the strongest candidate from my POV but her single status and alleged lesbian affairs may prove too radical to the Christian right.
Kohut/Kernberg | Email | Homepage | 08.16.06 - 6:42 pm | #

Condi's 'alleged' affairs. Aren't trying to start a whispering campaign, are you? Stuff a damn sock in it, K/K. Go masturbate elsewhere.

I swear, it gets harder and harder to have respect for you when you blab crap like that.

J.
JLawson | Email | Homepage | 08.16.06 - 9:09 pm | #

I'd seriously like to see Jeb Bush enter the fray, though I don't know if he has the desire for it, nor how exactly he has done as Gov. of Fla.. The Bush's are a solid crew and surround themselves with strong, capable people, as evidenced by the current Cabinet. Barbara Bush has always impressed me at least as much as anyone else.

Of course the threat of a "Bush Dynasty" would be a negative for many people. But compare that to four terms of Bill Clinton.
J. Peden | Email | Homepage | 08.16.06 - 11:52 pm | #

"There is a small, vindictive part of me that almost--almost--wishes that the Democrats succeed in winning the White House in the next national election; because then they would be dramatically forced to actually do something besides whine and wail. In other words, maybe they would be forced to face reality for a change."

I, too, share this degree of vindictiveness. But from what I've seen, Fliberals would only cry, play the victim, or turn their efforts to some really evil local/National machinations, either as "payback" for their sad state or as further manifestations of the control needs which characterize them.

I consider Fliberals as anti-free thought obsessive-compulsive sadomasochists who fear death and life, and worship death as a solution. For them cure is not a possibility.

Everything they touch turns to shit.
J. Peden | Email | Homepage | 08.17.06 - 12:10 am | #

Dr. Rice has "alleged lesbian affairs?"

#1 Would play very well with the under-25s.

#2 Too bad every Democratic candidates has alleged ties to Al Qaeda and was allegedly involved with the abduction of Jon-Benet Ramsey.

And if it hasn't been alleged about them yet, it will be.

Boy, this politics of personal destruction sure is easy!

/huge annoyed smarmy sarcastic grin
Merovign | Email | Homepage | 08.18.06 - 2:22 am | #

In my experience, Alleged Lesbian Affairs (TM) means the female in question wouldn't let the guy who later started the (whispered) allegations get into her pants.

Happened 20 years ago with my former girlfriend. When I met her, rumors were flying around that she was Lez; turned out she said "No Way" to some wanna-be stud who started whispering rumors about her being Lez. (Said wanna-be later tried same trick one time too many with someone else and got his clock cleaned.)
Headless Unicorn Guy | Email | Homepage | 08.18.06 - 12:54 pm | #