Sometimes lately I get very depressed about this. By nature I think I'm fairly upbeat in most things that I do but this one has me fried.

I do most of the things already that you listed, bobert. I don't own a car so I can't do bumper stickers, and I live in a state-owned house museum (non-partisan) so I can't put things in the windows or on the lawns. But I send money to several organizations (TruthOut; DCN; MoveOn; the John Kerry campaign; I write letters and I talk. I wear a button, and that has led to some interesting conversations. I haven't volunteered yet to do phone calls- I'll call around and see who is in charge of that.

Thanks, y'all. Getting down doesn't help, I know. I can't say that I'm cynical; I do have hope. I feel that this gang can be gotten out if we can get the word out so that then we can get people in who fit the standards of normal government. The ones we have now (every single damn one) made absolutely sure they wouldn't have to go to war when it was their turn, but they are cavalier and uncaring about sending others. Revealing that when it comes to prisoners of war they have no concept of law or decency is just over the top.

Here's one view:

http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/052404C.shtml

"I believe we are absolutely on the brink of failure," retired Marine Gen. Joseph P. Hoar, a former commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "We are looking into the abyss. We cannot start soon enough to begin the turnaround."

What in the world is the matter with some Americans? Knee jerk neocons who decide ahead of time that they will believe everything that their leader says and support everything he does aren't worth - never mind. God, I'm glad I'm not married.