GUEST, you're a real piece of work.

Up there a bit, you chide people for "stooping to an ad hominem attack." And just above, you say, "I guess that sort of discussion is beyond the abilities of some here, who just keep parroting the reactionary 'Anybody But Bush' mantra." That assumes, rather arrogantly I would say, that those who hold the "anybody but Bush" position have not thought the matter through. Not true! And it's ignorant and supercilious of you to keep insisting that this is so.

Have you ever met any Democrats? I have. Among a number of others, I've followed the activities of my local Congressional Representative, Jim McDermott, and believe me, when you say that there is no difference between the Republicans and the Democrats, you don't know what you're talking about.

Granted, a large wad of Democrats tend to be pretty centrist, but that's a helluva lot better than far-right, and as long as there are progressives such as Jim McDermott and Dennis Kucinich in the party, we have someone working their tails off for us. If Kerry gets in, McDermott (and many others) will be on his back every inch of the way. And Kerry will listen. He'll have to. Bush, on the other hand, considers McDermott a traitor because before Bush launched his pre-emptive attack on Iraq, McDermott went there to see things for himself, and came back saying that he was unalterably opposed to the war. Bush won't listen to people like McDermott. Kerry will.

When the ship is sinking, the smart thing to do is to plug the leak first. Then you can argue 'til hell freezes over about your port of call.

Don Firth