Chickenshit

Big John gets angry and good for him. There's a lot to be angry about. Not the least of which is the deliberate smearing of our men in uniform.

The Patriot Project has an incredibly important and concise mission. "Freedom of speech and the right to dissent are cornerstones of our democracy. The Patriot Project will defend any man or woman, regardless of party or affiliation, who is attacked or defamed and whose patriotism is questioned simply because they exercise their rights as Americans. This is our mission."

That's pretty damn fundamental in itself to who we are. But there's a human face behind it. The fight is intensely personal to me. Veterans are running for office all over our country. A lot of them got interested in politics as part of my campaign, and some got involved in Wes Clark's race. Some of us had disagreements for thirty five years -- like me and Jim Webb, we didn't see eye to eye over the war we fought in. But no matter where we came from, something much bigger now brings us together -- we're all a band of brothers now. When I got off the phone with Patrick Murphy after the chickenshit attacks on his military record, something felt awfully familiar and it got me pissed off. I care about these men and women. They've got guts and they've got brains and they've got heart and I'm telling you they will change the character of this pathetic Congress, and I'm boiling mad watching people who didn't serve attack those who did because they can't win a debate on the merits.

Some weak-kneed liberals are getting all a-scared because Karl Rove's got a hundred million dollars and he knows how to use it. Look, guys: they're bullies and they're trying to bully the media into getting their "we're fine" message out. They're chickenshit bullies who'll tear down their opponents rather than engage them on where to take the country. They have no agenda other than aggrandizing power and turning the executive branch into something approaching that of a despot.

If you're strong, which John Kerry now understands, they'll wilt. The media, you'll notice, isn't even buying Karl, instead openly speculating about a lame-duck President. Karl Rove and all his money are swiftly becoming irrelevant. That's right, IRRELEVANT. No amount of ad money is going to change the "helluva mess" in Iraq. No amount of ad money is going to give 46 million Americans health insurance (though ACTUAL money might). No amount of ad money is going to stop the buzzards swirling around Dennis Hastert and anyone else who covered for Mark Foley.

Rove and the gang have bravado because they HAVE TO. They have to show a united front to keep the volunteers working and excited. We can't let up with the historic possibilities we're being given. It's all about outworking. I think I've signed up for 5 phonebanks this week already. The more we match their energy and effort, the more the realities of where we are as a country and where we need to be will come to the fore.