The Third Way, With Pike, Mace and Claymore

Nice article in the Asia Times, cooly summarizing the Administration's seemingly endless trainwreck on Iraq, and documenting a Democratic resurgence.

But instead of watching the Democrats fall silent under assault as they have for years, they unexpectedly found themselves facing a roiling oppositional hubbub threatening the unity of their own congressional party. In his sudden, heartfelt attack on Bush administration Iraq plans ("a flawed policy wrapped in illusion") and his call for a six-month timetable for American troop withdrawal, Democratic congressional hawk John Murtha took on the Republicans over their attacks more directly than any mainstream Democrat has ever done. ("I like guys who've never been there that criticize us who've been there. I like that. I like guys who got five deferments and never been there and send people to war, and then don't like to hear suggestions about what needs to be done. I resent the fact, on Veterans Day, he [Bush] criticized Democrats for criticizing them.") Perhaps more important, as an ex-Marine and decorated Vietnam veteran clearly speaking for a military constituency (and possibility some Pentagon brass), he gave far milder and more "liberal" Democrats cover.

To our friends in the Democratic Party: appealing to moderates is NOT equivalent to being middling, indecisive and deferential to elites. The American people crave trustworthy leadership; and they will reward good leadership with latitude in policy.

The Republicans can be divided between the criminally corrupt, the persistently deluded, and the last few traces of ideologically honest conservatives. We can go Left and Middle as a good policy dictates, we can listen to people from all sides, but the time for Miss Nancy Fancy McMilquetoast is long, long over. We are in a battle for the nation's and even the world's soul, the GOP is showing weakness, and the Democratic Party needs to go medieval on their ass.