An Aesop's Fable for our times --- The Soldier and His Horse

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

A soldier tended his horse with great care in times of war, for he needed him to be both strong and swift to bear him safely in and out of places of great peril. The horse was given good food and lavish praise while the soldier wore the warriors garb and carried a sword. But when the war was over, the soldier turned the horse into a back field and thought little of him. The horse had chaff for food and was given no shelter from harsh weather. Over time, the horse became wizened and morose.

War broke out once again and the soldier came to reclaim the horse for more battle duty. He saddled the horse and climbed aboard in his suit of heavy mail. The half-starved beast sank under the soldier's weight and said "You will have to go into battle on foot this time. Thanks to your lack of care of me, you have turned me from a horse into an ass and you cannot turn me back into a horse in just a moment."

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That Aesop. Gets it right every time.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

1. A kick for Aesop and Howard Dean who stands up for all the ignored

Democratic war horses (or as we laughingly refer to them as "the base") who get put out to pasture and ignored until their services (and votes) are needed again

[necso]

2. Generally,

it's a good idea not to ask of the "troops" what they're unable to give -- but rather to foster their capabilities; facilitate their actions.