Dems - This is your wakeup call

Patrick Kennedy
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/8/10/221851/889

(snip)
We don't fully understand what the facts are in the arrests of the suspects in the United Kingdom, but we do know one thing. The republican machine was laying the stage for capitalizing politically on the arrests in the United Kingdom before the arrests were made public. Vice President Cheney, Tony Snow and Ken Mehlman were all out yesterday laying the predicate to do just that. At the time, most of us assumed that it was the Lamont victory that had triggered their remarks. However, I don't believe in coincidences that are this convenient. Cheney, Snow and Mehlman were setting the stage for some hardball political theater immediately after the arrests.

And we know it won't stop now. The republican machine has moved into full campaign mode. It is the middle of August and the republicans have launched an "October surprise" attack. We are all fortunate that the United Kingdom authorities were able to stop this terrorist plot. The republicans are fortunate indeed that the arrests took place now. It allows them to command the news dead time that is the August recess with the one remaining arrow in the republican quiver, terrorism.

Most Dem were probably taking some time off or at least were not in full attack mode. They were probably thinking they would start going at full speed after Labor Day. The republicans aren't waiting for Labor Day. And they aren't going to play nice because they are afraid of the effect it will have on bipartisanship. Karl Rove and the republican attack machine will be ruthless to a fault.

Well, now we are going to find out what the Dems are made of. Yesterday they made a big show of unity by backing Ned Lamont over Lieberman. Is that unity real? And are the Dems ready to be as ruthless as the republicans and play to win? They better be because the republican attacks are going to come hard and fast.

Maybe supporters need to wake up and learn how to be a supportive echo chamber instead of whining before they even know what they're talking about, there was a statement by Reid and Kennedy early today and this one by Kerry, I'm sure others will follow if they haven't already.

"We are all incredibly grateful and fortunate that British authorities were able to prevent these attacks before more innocent people could be killed by these ruthless murderers.

"This is a stark reminder that the war on terrorism is global, and extends far beyond Iraq to our very shores. Terrorism is the biggest threat to Americans' security, and this event exposes the misleading myth that we are fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them here. In fact, the war in Iraq has become a dangerous distraction, and a profound drain on our financial and military resources.

"Nearly five years after the attacks of 9/11, we are not as safe as we can and must be. Osama bin Laden is still on the loose. The 9/11 Commission's recommendations to secure our most vulnerable infrastructure remain virtually ignored. And, homeland security funding has been cut for cities like Boston and New York.

"It's clear that staying the current course in Iraq is not making the American people any safer at home or abroad, and has hurt our fight in the war on terror. We need to put the focus back where it belongs, and make America as safe as it can and must be."