Damn it. When will Democrats stop complaining about Republican tactics and just fight back? Here's Rep Slaughter denouncing a TV show. A TV show. What she should be denouncing is how the Bush Administration refused to take the threat of terrorism seriously. The reponse to this 9/11 schlockumentary is not a whinge about how unfair ABC is being, the response to this is
--My Pet Goat
--The August 5 PDB and Bush's response ("You've covered your ass now)
--Rice's testimony before the 9/11 commission.
--The fact that Bush wouldn't testify alone or under oath. What was he hiding?
--Ashcroft refusing to increase the anti-terrorism budget of the FBI before 9/11 and increasing funds to fight prostitution in New Orleans instead.
--Rice saying no one could have imagined terrorists would use planes as weapons when that very summer the Genoa G-8 Summit was guarded against that very threat
The Republicans have screwed up. They have opened the door to retaliation. No one can now accuse Democrats of politicizing 9/11 when they go after the Bush Administration's criminal (and probably intentional) incompetence leading up to the attacks. Not smart, not smart at all to fire the opening shot in the blame game when the FACTS are so demonstrably NOT ON YOUR SIDE.
I am so tired of elected Democrats like Rep Slaughter going boo hoo when the Republicans use every bit of power they have to try to stay in power. Jesus Christ. Stop being a crybaby. Have the last 20 years taught them nothing about their opponents? Unscrupulous attacks are what they LIVE for.
Such claims are not just morally reprehensible and deeply irresponsible. They are also damaging to our nation, making it difficult, if not impossible, to have a serious and non-partisan discussion about how best to protect our country.
Morally reprehensible? Duh. Ya think? Deeply irresponsible? Damaging to our nation? Making it difficult to have a non-partisan discussion? Have you been living under a goddamm rock? THIS is what Republicans do for a living.
The answer to a cheap shot is not an appeal to a non-existent referee. What do you think? Exposing the Republicans' dirty tactics is going to finally turn the bought-and-paid-for, millionaire Washington Press Corps against their paymasters? Are you INSANE? Because that's the term for people who do the exact same thing over and over and expect a different result.
The answer to a cheap shot is a pair of brass knuckles.
UPDATE A hearty thanks to all for your comments. Many of you disagreed, and I'll think of what you said. Many of you also pointed out what a star Rep Slaughter has been and how much she has spoken out forcefully in the past.
I believe you, and I will read more of her diaries, but I still believe this particular one was a poor diary from someone in her position. I think it treats this schlockumentary as something bad for Democrats, something to be defended against. While that's true in one respect, I believe it also opens up an opportunity to attack Republicans in a very vulnerable spot. George Bush and the Republican Congress can now be openly challenged on their pre-9/11 anti-terror priorities.
Democrats must stop playing defense and begin to use the Republicans arrogance and mendacity against them.