[From the diaries by susanhu. Right on, sister.]

I read Pat Lang’s story, and watched the glorious video of O’Reilly and Wes Clark at Crooks and Liars and I’m humming to myself today.

At a time when our military in many ways has become tarnished, untrusted, and seems to be giving off a foul odor that smells distinctly like just plain evil, Clark reminds us all about the military that we once had under different Commanders and Chiefs.

He reminds us of how following the Geneva Convention and sticking strictly to our standards made our military once the envy of the disorderly unethical world.  That was awhile back though.

I will agree with one thing that Bush said lately and that is that the leadership sets the tone … he said that pertaining to racism and poverty but in the real world it pertains to everything really in some way.
Now I am further delighted with this from THE HILL.  A nice little piece of journalism about the souring of the Republicans 2006 Senate prospects.

This is not how Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) hoped things would turn out.

High-profile candidates she hoped could defeat incumbent Democrats are shying away from 2006, and some of her own Republican colleagues are looking vulnerable.

Tennessee, which has twice backed President Bush, is giving some Republicans heartburn, with the GOP Senate contenders attacking their opponents’ conservative credentials while Rep. Harold Ford (D-Tenn.) outfundraises his Republican rivals and aggressively canvasses the state.

Democratic consultant Peter Fenn had a different take. “Republican recruitment this cycle has been nothing short of disastrous,” he said. “They have been about as successful as General Custer calling in reinforcements. … Democrats are in an excellent position to pick up a substantial number of seats and, possibly, take back control.”

Many conservatives, dismayed by the president’s willingness to expand the federal government, say that months, if not years, of growing discontent may finally take its toll in 2006, when they expect Republican House members and senators to face unexpected primaries from the right.

Not only should obvious, less conservative targets expect a primary — for instance, Sen. Mike DeWine (R-Ohio), reviled by right-wingers for his position on the president’s judicial nominees — but also prominent party leaders such as Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Penn.), Johnson, the GOP pollster, said.

Booman has cautioned me about getting my hopes up too high for 2006 but Booman, I just can’t help myself today!  It won’t rein in and now I want to stand on top of tables in pubs and scream down the idiots who want any Democrat so long as they “say” they are a Democrat (I’m feeling a Nighthorse migraine behind my eyes every time I think about that bullshit!)  Will I be dashed against the rocks again?  Will Cabingirl and I be found living in the woods running our own gin mill, a couple of drunken half toothless broads wearing gunnysacks by February 2007?  I struggle to read the tea leaves!  Howard Dean is so quiet these days!  Quiet like a Fox?

P.S. Mr. Obama, you too can be replaced!  We can all be replaced!  Remember your constituents and pay a little less attention to all the strutting roosters please……they are due for the cook pot and never in my whole life did I meet a rooster who comprehended that right up to his last moments!