corrente

Well, it looks like the smart money in the Bush camp is on Howard Dean (though if their track record on Iraq is any guide, that should point to Dennis Kucinich as the ultimate nominee). In an attack ad running in Iowa--the first to attack a Democrat by name--the Club for Growth is predictably associating Dean with a string of alleged Democratic tax hikers (McGovern, Mondale, Dukakis). The lies are typical, from the reflexive deployment of the "average" scam to inflate the cost of Dean's proposed tax cut rollback, to the inclusion of archetypal "loser" McGovern (who actually ran on a negative income tax for those living below on the poverty line). Interestingly, the Big Dog is omitted from the list, despite the false claim throughout his Presidency that he was the worst tax hiker of all. (Needless to say the biggest tax hiker, Ronald Reagan, is not mentioned.)

Anyway, the Dean camp has prepared a response and is soliciting funds to get it on the air. Frankly I think the response could be better, and have my own qualms about the wisdom of Dean rolling back even the child tax credit. But this is the opening salvo in the campaign, the first whiff of grapeshot across our bow. It must not go unanswered.

This is no time for Celebration
This is no time for Shaking Hands
This is no time for Backslapping
This is no time for Marching Bands
This is no time for Optimism
This is no time for Endless Thought
This is no time for my country Right or Wrong
Remember what that brought.
--Lou Reed, "There is No Time"