Beware the Rovian slime machine.

[democrank]

As I was reading various opinions about Jason Leopold`s scoop on Rove`s indictment, I started thinking about Dan Rather and the CBS/typewriter mess. In the end, it didn`t matter that Bush never completed his National Guard responsibilities. Instead, the messenger was the story. The only story. I don`t think I could ever be convinced that Rove wasn`t behind that disaste. How better to pre-empt the comparison of a decorated Vietnam War Vet and a babied, AWOL bad boy?

Some folks look at Bush`s recent poll numbers and assume Democrats are going to engineer a sweep come November. There were even a couple stories in the MSM last week about our Democratic leadership making transition plans. Not so fast, I say. Not so fast.

There is a lot at stake in `06, the control of Congress, which means control of investigations which could lead to impeachment. That`s a very big deal and Rove knows it. That makes him very, very treacherous. More treacherous than usual.

I`ve almost always been a hopeless optimist, even to a fault, so this certainly isn`t an opinion that Democrats can`t win. We can, but we must stay on guard and not substitute premature celebrations for determined activism. There is still about a third of the country that supports Bush. A little turning of the tide and we could be behind the eight ball again. I`m going to tune out stories about Tom Cruise and alligator attacks and concentrate on where I think I can be of the most help.

[MrModerate]

1. I'm with you there, unless . . .

An alligator eats Tom Cruise. Then I will take a little time off to enjoy the irony.

[Der Blaue Engel]

3. .

:spray: :rofl:

[Stinky The Clown]

2. Optimism ......

... like you, I've had an oversupply. PollyAnthony with Rose Colored Glasses.

But that supply has been overtaxed of late.

My greatest fear is that, once again, we **almost** get there but it is, as it was in 2000, 2002 and 2004, close enough to steal.

[emulatorloo]

4. They are ruthless and they cannot risk having Dems in charge

What would happen if they did not have Sen Pat "Cover-up" Roberts in place to stop investigations. They cannot risk that.

So they will do whatever it takes to stop Dems from controlling congress. Lying about dems, posting on DU and elsewhere to divide Dems, pressuring the media to not cover stories because of "national security", etc etc.

We have to be ready to push back, and certainly not fall for divisiveness on DU.

[democrank]

7. Ruthless.....perfect.

I agree with the Pat Roberts risk. They certainly will do everything to protect his position, especially since Roberts would step out in front of an oncoming truth train if he thought he could stop it from revealing his ineptitude.

As for the divisiveness at DU, I`d hope we could disagree with one another without baiting or demeaning. That gets us nowhere.

[GOTV]

5. Our rampant optimism worries me...

... it sounds just like 2004. So many thought Bush could not win. Kerry was so much smarter and the WMD stary was shown to be false. No way would people vote for Bush again.

Then the swift boat lies and the MSM spinning and it was hello president Bush all over again.

Generic congressional polls don't tell us anything since no one votes for which party should control congress. It's always this guy angainst that guy.

Opinions can change drastically once the GOP message machine spins up. Until then we have no idea what we're really facing.

[blm]

6. Exactly - never forget WHO controls most of the broadcast media.

If the lies are being repeated 24/7 and the truth from Dems get little or no coverage - BushInc walks.

[democrank]

8. You`re right. We don`t have any idea what we`re facing.

I`ll bet in `04, Max Cleland never thought he`d be ridiculed. They`ll stop at nothing so we`d better be ready.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. I'll be pleasantly surprised if we take either of the houses

let alone both of them

I USED to be an optimist, not any more

He who controls the media controls the message, he who controls hte message controls the past, the present and the future... he who controls the past, controls the present.