I’m most interested in addressing rhetorical strategy now that KRove is back and hitting his stride. Let’s get over the fact that Fitzmas ain’t coming this year, and get back to focusing on winning in November. As many pointed out yesterday in discussing the lame new Joe-mentum ad, Rove’s strategy has always been attack the opponent’s strength by calling it a weakness. In 2000, they called war hero and POW McCain unstable because of his days as a POW. In 2004, they called decorated vet Kerry a coward and a fake. The response was a lame “no i’m not, you are”, rather than taking the page out of the Rove playbook and attacking W’s perceived strength — he’ll keep the nation safe from terrorism — as his greatest weakness. Kerry starting coming close to that in the debates, but (as Robert Wright has written) he only argued that W wasn’t doing a good job of allocating resources, rather than asserting that W’s whole approach of American infallibility endangers us because W creates more terrorists than he eliminates.

KRove comes out swinging, calling Murtha and Kerry cowards. Dems fall back in the same patterns, pointing out turdblossom’s many deferments, rather than attacking W’s alleged strength on the issue of Iraq — resoluteness — as a huge weakness instead: inflexibility, pigheadedness, dogmatism, all of which create more terrorists.

Who will refuse to fall into Rove’s trap and turn the tables? Bloggers, including soon-to-be-former Lurkers, like me. Spread the meme.

But I think we’re going to have a lot of heroin addicts coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan just like we had after Vietnam. Thanks for that too Republicans! [/snark]

Pach, kudos to you and Christy and the Service Desk staff for extra valor during Jane’s absence, and of course very special healing-and-comfort energy to Jane and her mom.

Speaking of which — while out-and-about around Daytona Beach yesterday/last night, once again I spotted a number of anti-Bush bumper stickers. Mine’s the only “Worst. President. Ever.” I’ve seen so far, but all kinds of others are showing up around here lately. That’s some pretty good “special healing-and-comfort energy” right there!

I have this thing about Food.I was lucky enough to have grandparents who lived in what was once farm country in SE Ohio.They were organic small scale farmers.There were always people at their house,gathered around the table,eating,laughing,talking.In an otherwise crappy childhood,it’s the one place I felt safe,included,accepted and loved.My Grandma took in two of her son’s friends who had horribly abusive home lives,she took me in when my Mom(her daughter in law)kicked me out of the family at age 17.It was all”unofficial”,no formal adoptions or foster parenting agreements.She just took the kids in and protected them.Had my uncles not brought these kids home for dinner around the family table,their lives would have been much different.

Right now in South Central LA there’s a fight going on to preserve the largest urban farm in the US.A land dispute of some sort that threatens to tear down the farm and put up a WalMart warehouse.This farm provides jobs and food for poor South Central families.It’s also an excellent model other cities could use to not only feed people,but to provide jobs and brighten up poor neighborhoods.A heart to a community.Food can be,should be, central to that sense of place.

My grandma died a couple of years ago,and I miss her terribly.Reading all the recipes and thoughts about food yesterday took me back to that time,a gathering around a table,passing bowls of food around,sharing,laughing,talking.I have to tell you,it made me cry like a baby.Sad at my own loss,but happy that others understand that food can be our common ground.Entire movements can be born around kitchen tables.

Grandma used to tell me that women,no matter what society says or how much it’s devalued,are the backbone of families,communities and the world in general.Without us there is no hearth,no home,and as much as some people try to deny that,all of us need that soft place to land.It’s not a weakness,it’s a strength.I think it would do Progressives a world of good to reclaim it,make it ours.But we must also remember that as we do,we’ll be seen as a threat,because of the strength this depth of connection brings with it.Grandma called it creating families of choice.I like that idea,alot.

Put: 1 Cup Pecans, (toasted for 8 mins at 350 on cookie sheet), A full large head of garlic, cloves peeled, One cup (mushed down) fresh clean Basil leaves, 1 Cup grated parmesan or Pecorino, 1/2 cup good olive oil (I like Zoe) and one T salt INTO your cuisine art and pulse until it is a well-mixed coaurse mixture. You can double or triple as you like. Using a blender works too, but you will need more olive oil.

Imm

These people work in Public Affairs. Guess it’s getting harder and harder to slap a happy face on that hell.

I especially liked that part about how employees felt like the news should somehow match their experience. But hey freedom’s on the march.

:~)